I am a coffin bearer, a mysterious profession that few people know about.
As the saying goes, after birth, old age, illness and death, you should rest in peace. In the past ten years, I have traveled all over the country and seen countless coffins, including blessing coffins and longevity coffins, yin and yang coffins, mother-child coffins, hanging coffins, and hanging coffins...
When dealing with the dead, you will always see many strange events, but the one that I will never forget is the eight ghosts carrying the coffin when my grandfather died.
My name is Zhang Jiuyang. I was born in Renxu, Gengxu, Bingxu, and Wuxu. I have the eight characters of pure Yang in the heavenly stems and earthly branches, so my grandfather named me Zhang Zhiyang. And because my grandfather said that my destiny is nine, he changed my name to Zhang Jiuyang.
That year, my grandfather was already in his mid-eighties. Counting on his fingers, he had been working as a coffin bearer for fifty-nine years.
But not long ago, my grandfather suddenly contracted a strange illness, and his limbs were weak and unable to move.
Grandpa's illness is both weird and painful, so he screams in pain every midnight.
Every time at this time, my heart twitches. He is a man who doesn't frown even if his fingers are broken. What kind of pain has he experienced to be like this?
But grandpa wouldn't let me enter his room, and there was nothing I could do.
Grandpa has been ill for several months, and I am also guessing whether this is the five disadvantages and three deficiencies rumored to have.
After that, grandpa's health worsened, and he became confused and confused.
Only on the 15th day of each month would he be quiet all night. The strange thing is that early the next morning, I would definitely find a pair of black paper shoes in my grandpa's room.
More than half a year has passed, and my family has a total of seven pairs of paper shoes.
Moreover, on each pair of paper shoes, there is a number in red letters, ranging from one to seven, which is very strange.
I didn't dare to ask why, but my whole person was enveloped in a huge sadness, because I could feel that my grandfather's time was running out.
And I am also ready to bid farewell to my grandfather.
In this way, grandpa spent another New Year in a daze.
On this day, grandpa called me to the bedside again and asked me what day it was.
"Tomorrow is the Lantern Festival!" I said.
"Where's the Gregorian calendar?" Grandpa asked again.
I looked at my phone and said, "Today happens to be February."
"February? Is the Lantern Festival the second day of February in the Gregorian calendar?"
Grandpa's eyes suddenly glowed, "Here we are, we finally made it."
"When is the time up?" I wondered.
"Sixty years, one month, February two, the dragon raises its head." Grandpa smiled.
"Grandpa, the dragon's head is based on the lunar calendar, not the solar calendar." I reminded.
Grandpa's eyes dimmed, "I know, but I can't wait for that day. This last burden will be left to you!"
I was confused, but before I could ask, grandpa suddenly said:
"Tomorrow at noon, when you send condolences to relatives and friends, you can tell me that I passed away."
I was stunned, "Grandpa, what do you mean?"
"Just do as you are told. I will tell you exactly why." Grandpa waved his hand and fell asleep again.
I didn’t dare to ask any more questions, maybe grandpa had already had a premonition. My heart was heavy, and although I was well prepared, I still couldn’t help but feel sad.
That night, I had some insomnia, and I didn’t fall asleep until midnight. I don’t know how long it took, but I suddenly heard voices coming from my grandfather’s room. The voices were louder and quieter, and I couldn’t hear clearly what they were saying. I wanted to
I wanted to get up and go to grandpa's room to have a look, but I couldn't move no matter what.
It wasn't until the middle of the night that the sound gradually stopped, and I fell asleep again in a daze.
Before dawn the next day, I sat up with a convulsion. I got up and rushed into my grandfather's room. I was surprised to find that there was another pair of paper shoes in my grandfather's room.
However, this pair of paper shoes is yellow, with "eight" written in cinnabar on it.
"Grandpa, what's wrong?" I asked.
When grandpa saw me coming in, he patted the edge of the bed and asked me to sit down.
"Xiaojiu, my time is up and I have to leave!"
When my eyes become red, tears will flow down my face.
"Son, after I die, you must remember three things. Please listen to me clearly." Grandpa's voice suddenly became a little tougher.
I nodded quickly and asked Grandpa what three things they were.
"The first thing is that many people will come to pay their respects the day after tomorrow. We will only accept meals and no gifts, no matter how much. We will let everyone leave after lunch. Do you understand?"
I nodded quickly, "I understand!"
"The second thing is, at twelve o'clock tomorrow night, you go dig out the stone monument at the entrance of the village, and then transport it to the street and have it carved into a tombstone for me. Then transport it back overnight. Remember not to see the sun."
"Ah? How can this be done?" I was a little embarrassed.
"Remember! When digging the monument, try to avoid people. During this process, no matter what you see under the monument, don't meddle in other people's business, otherwise it will easily cause huge variables."
Although I was confused, I didn't ask any more questions and could only agree reluctantly.
"Also, I am going to have a funeral at midnight on the second night of February. Find a friend you trust, who must have Yang in his horoscope, to carry the stone tablet with you. Go straight west after leaving the door, and remember where the stone tablet is.
Just bury me somewhere?”
I nodded, and Grandpa added, "When I am buried, don't let anyone be present except this friend of yours."
This put me in a bit of a dilemma, "Grandpa, this is difficult to handle. The Eight Immortals (coffin bearers) are all present."
"When did I say that the Eight Immortals would carry the coffin?"
"If you don't find anyone? How can that be done? I can't carry it either?" I was embarrassed.
Grandpa suddenly smiled strangely.
"The stele guides the way, the eight ghosts carry the coffin, and it falls to the ground to form a tomb, bringing great blessings to the sky."
I was stunned for a moment, too shocked to speak. Grandpa continued:
"The third thing is, after I die, you go to the city to run a shop. If someone asks you to do something, you must remember that no matter how much money someone gives, you can't agree. Your first customer must be someone with the last name
Dragon’s.”
I nodded numbly, somewhat unable to digest it.
Suddenly, grandpa sat up suddenly and asked loudly, "Do you remember?"
"Remember, remember!" I was startled and said quickly.
Grandpa smiled.
"But grandpa, why did you do this? Just to make me prosperous?" I was puzzled.
"Don't reveal the secret. Just do as I say and you will understand."
"Also, remember, when I am going to the funeral, you just have to walk. No matter what sound you hear, you must not look back. Do you understand?"
"Oh, I know!"
Grandpa sighed, then looked at me reluctantly and slowly closed his eyes.
"grandfather"
I quickly reached out to help Grandpa with my hands, but when I came into contact with his skin, I froze.
Because grandpa's body was cold and extremely stiff.
Grandpa, he has been dead for a long time!
My hands and feet instantly became cold. Who was talking to me just now?
Before he could recover, the eight pairs of paper shoes piled in the corner suddenly burst into flames.