Jin An looked down and saw that the dead man in the coffin was indeed smiling.
The dead man was like an ancient object that had been dusty for too long and suddenly came into contact with the outside air and the sun, causing violent changes. A few beams of sunlight passed through the cracks in the door, which were not tight, and shone on the old corpse. As the corpse expanded rapidly, its face
The muscles at the corners of the eyes and eyes are stretched full, giving people a weird smile like a dead person mocking the living.
The corpse swelled rapidly and was covered with spots. Then it festered rapidly and melted into blood... This shocking change happened so fast. In just a few breaths, the body in the coffin melted by itself, and blood flowed all over the floor along the seams of the coffin.
"This, this..." The old Taoist priest covered his mouth and nose, dumbfounded and stepped back repeatedly to avoid the rotten blood flowing to the ground.
At this time, the air in the coffin shop was foul and smelly.
It's like the special smell of rotten eggs that have been left out for one month in summer and rotten pork that has been left out for three months. It can make people vomit.
Jin An put the index and middle fingers of his right hand together and picked up a plague-repelling charm to drive away the bad luck in the coffin shop before approaching the coffin again.
There was no one in the coffin at this moment, there was only an empty coffin in the tomb.
"That's fine. Whether it's a trumpet urn or a living burial, it's a tragic burial method. One day, being able to see the light of day again, with the evil spirits dissipated, can be regarded as a relief, and it will accumulate good virtues for future generations. If the ancestors are not peaceful, the descendants will suffer, hey.
." The old Taoist priest sang a line to the Supreme Taiyi Du'e Tianzun toward the empty coffin.
Jin An's eyes sharpened: "I want to see who is raising the corpse under my nose... Old Taoist, please re-attach the ink line on the coffin, and we put the coffin back into the horn urn. I want to see what happens next."
What kind of people come to my shop to pick up the coffin?"
From digging the soil to filling it back in, it was already the afternoon.
As for the plaque on the coffin pavilion, Jin An also hung it up again.
This is called waiting for the rabbit.
Brake with stillness.
Just when the coffin shop was reopened, the government's trial on the case of the child-eating and poisonous woman had already concluded. In the face of solid evidence, the government judged the case very quickly, and sentenced Zhang Yuhong to be imprisoned in a women's prison and hanged in the future.
When the yamen has a penalty, it will post a notice on the notice wall outside the yamen to inform the world and serve as a warning to others.
When the people of Jiangzhou Prefecture saw a new notice posted, they all gathered around the notice wall to watch the excitement. When a scholar read the contents of the case aloud, the people present were both angry and sympathetic to what happened to Kita Mangui's family. At the same time, they also remembered
Visit the Wu Zang Taoist Temple and the coffin shop in Yonglefang.
"Has anyone ever heard of the Five Zang Taoist Temple?" A big man said in a loud voice.
Everyone present shook their heads, saying they had never heard of it.
In front of the notice wall, a firewood man carrying firewood said: "I know that Yongle Square is in the southwest corner of the city. It is a bit remote. I sold firewood to almost everyone there last autumn, but I have no impression of the Taoist temple at all.
No, I don’t remember there being a Taoist temple there.”
Another salesman also answered: "I have been walking around Jiangzhou Prefecture for so many years, and I have never seen a Taoist temple called the Wu Zang Taoist Temple."
Some people wondered: "Logically speaking, it shouldn't be right. The two Taoist priests who can reverse the case of the deceased and catch the real culprit are both experts. If there is such a Taoist temple in this city, it should be very famous, right? Even if the fame is not too great,
, and it will definitely not be unknown, and no one has heard of it.”
Just when everyone was whispering to each other and asking each other who knew the Wu Zang Taoist Temple, someone in the crowd shouted: "That's because the Wu Zang Taoist Temple came to Jiangzhou Prefecture. It has only been a day since the groundbreaking was started, and it has not been completed yet!"
Everyone was attracted by the voice and turned to look at the speaker: "What do you call this big brother? Do you know the Wu Zang Taoist temple who solved the case of the poisonous woman?"
He was a man about fifty years old with a strong body. He had never been in such a big limelight in his life. It was the first time that so many people paid attention to him. He immediately straightened his back and replied proudly: "I am not the only one."
I know you, Wu Zang Taoist Temple even hired me to be a carpenter."
"I'm not bragging. I could tell at the first glance that both Taoist priests Jin An and Chen were very capable, low-key and approachable people..."
Next, the carpenters, who had received the attention of so many people for the first time, recounted what they saw and heard when they were building the Wu Zang Taoist Temple, like pouring beans through a bamboo tube.
It's so vivid that it would make people's hair stand on end in broad daylight.
Yongle Square.
Different views of Taoism on the five internal organs.
Jin An and the old Taoist priest, who were re-leveling the ground in the coffin shop, suddenly heard the noise of many people. When they went out, they saw a large group of Jiangzhou Prefecture people coming to watch the coffin shop and the Taoist temple that had not yet started construction.
The leading tour guide looked familiar to Jin An. When he recognized that he was one of the carpenters he had hired, his name was Liu Shoushan. Thinking of this, he and the old Taoist priest looked at each other in confusion. Yesterday, the other party had also
He was clamoring to leave. Why did he become the tour guide of their Five Zang Taoist Temple with his face glowing today?
The reversal was a little too fast, and the two of them didn't even make the turn.
"Everyone, please be quiet, please be quiet. These are the Taoist priests Jin An and Chen who I will introduce to you. They are the Taoist priests who solved the case of the poisonous woman. These two are both Taoist priests and can help these two Taoist priests."
It is my pride, Liu Shoushan, to build the Five Zang Taoist Temple!"
The carpenter named Liu Shoushan beat his chest loudly and spoke as if the Wu Zang Taoist Temple had been built by his hands.
After listening to the introduction by carpenter Liu Shoushan, the crowd gathered around to watch the excitement and started discussing.
"It turns out that they were the Taoist priest who used a coffin to lay a plaque to clear away the grievances of the wronged souls and catch the real murderer Zhang Yuhong. But the little Taoist priest named Jin'an Taoist Priest is so young."
Jin An: "?"
Old Taoist priest: "?"
Carpenter Liu Shoushan: "Taoist Jin'an, Taoist Chen, you don't need to explain, I already know the cause and effect. The day before yesterday, Old Zheng Mingming and I burned the coffin pavilion plaque, and the coffin pavilion plaque was hung up again the next day. There must be something wrong
The wronged souls redress their grievances. That’s why it’s a coincidence that as soon as Taoist priests Jin An and Chen promised us to find out the truth, they went straight to Tian’s house with two coffins to solve the unsolved murder case.”
Liu Shoushan said it with great respect, and he regarded Jin An and the old Taoist priests as real Taoist priests who had great abilities, could see things that ordinary people could not see, and could distinguish Taoist masters who could not be distinguished by ordinary people. They were real Taoist priests with real abilities, not fake ones.
God stick.
Jin'an, old Taoist priest: "..."
Although Liu Shoushan was half right and was not completely fabricated, Jin An and the old Taoist priest were still moved by this honest and simple carpenter uncle.
It just saves them a reason to explain.
"Taoist Jin'an, Taoist Chen, don't worry. The construction of Wu Zang Taoist Temple will start today. I will call Lao Zheng, Sun Brick, the Wang brothers... all of them to hurry up. We can't delay the work of the two Taoist priests."
Liu Shoushan had an anxious temper, and as soon as he finished speaking, he ran out to call for help.
Jin An and the old Taoist priest were moved again. The people of Jiangzhou Prefecture were indeed simple and enthusiastic.
At this time, the two of them also learned through people's mouths that the government had posted a notice that Zhang Yuhong would be imprisoned in the women's prison and sentenced to death by hanging. When they heard the words "hanging after autumn," Jin An nodded slightly and said nothing.
Generally speaking, local yamen rarely issue judgments such as execution and execution. This is neither in accordance with national law nor in accordance with the laws of heaven, because after the prisoner is sentenced, he must go through three trials to prevent local officials from making unjust, false, and erroneous cases.
After passing the reexamination, the execution was not carried out immediately, but was left for questioning after autumn. A gentleman is ordered by heaven, and rewards and punishments should also comply with heaven. Rewards should be in winter and summer, and punishments should be in autumn and winter. The death penalty can only be carried out in autumn and winter.
The way men and women are sentenced to death is also different.
A man was beheaded in the market, and his head was beheaded at noon in the vegetable market. The scene was bloody, and the killing was to serve as a warning to others.
If a woman commits a crime other than to be beheaded, the woman will be hanged in hiding. The female death row prisoner will be left to be executed at night and hanged. This is regarded as a dignified death and respect for the woman.
Things like that, where the beautiful heroine is always going to Caishikou to rob the execution site, it's just necessary for the plot.
People in this era had little entertainment life. As soon as they heard that Jiangzhou Prefecture had a Wu Zang Taoist temple, and that it helped solve a murder case, many people came to Yongle Square to watch. Especially since this case was also reported to
The yamen posted it on the bulletin wall to warn the public that there are more evildoers. Jin An and the old Taoist priest did nothing in the afternoon. They just kept talking and talked until their mouths were dry. They repeated the case to the newcomers over and over again.
detail.
Jin An talked so hard that his mouth was scratched, but the old Taoist priest was in high spirits. He had not been so lively for a long time. He had a blue and white porcelain teapot in one hand and a blue and white porcelain tea cup in his other hand. His face was glowing red as he talked, and his eyes were bright. Not to mention he was very energetic.
I wish I could praise the Five Zang Taoist Temple to everyone I meet.
Even before the Wu Zang Taoist Temple was built, it was already famous in Jiangzhou Prefecture.
Compared with a year ago when they first arrived at Wu Zang Taoist Temple in Wuzhou Prefecture, where they were unfamiliar with the place and had a difficult time, it was a good start.
This time the Yamen decided the case so quickly and posted notices with great fanfare. Perhaps this was also related to the letter of introduction from Mr. Yin of Wuzhou Prefecture.
The two of them were busy until the evening, when Jiangzhou Prefecture entered the curfew time, and finally had some free time. At the coffin shop, Jin An brought a pot of rice wine and several packages of snacks wrapped in lotus leaves, and called the old Taoist priest to come over and eat together.
After digging out a trumpet urn in the coffin shop, Jin An and the old Taoist priest decided to stay here overnight to see who would pick up the coffin next.
"Old Taoist, stop sweeping now. You have been busy all day. Cleaning after eating is not as important as eating." Jin An moved the table and bench, put the things in place, and shouted to the old Taoist priest who was sweeping the sand at the door.
.
During the day, they were digging coffins in such a noisy manner that a lot of dust was scattered on the ground.
"Little brother, if you want to talk about serving dinner, then I will get excited." The old Taoist priest put down the broom and dustpan and ran over.
Bang, Jin An took a picture of the old Taoist priest reaching for the food wrapped in lotus leaves: "Wash your hands before eating."
The old Taoist priest rushed to the official well to get water to wash his hands. There was no well water for the coffin shop, so he had to go to the public official well to get water. In addition to the official well, there were also canals. There were official wells of various sizes in the city. The water canals were as dense as a chess game of stars.
in Apple pie order.
The Jiangnan area has developed commerce and trade, and even detailed jobs such as water deliverymen and water sellers have developed.
The old Taoist priest who brought the water first applied the coarse powder of ground shells and then added the soap locust beans to make a foam, which was a simple disinfectant hand sanitizer. If there is no soap locust, you can also use wood ash instead.
The people in Jiangnan live a prosperous life, which has led to the improvement of production levels. There are many conveniences here.
After washing his hands, the old Taoist priest wiped them on his Taoist robe and ran over impatiently. Jin An saw this detail and didn't say anything. He smiled and shook his head and continued to untie a few packets of lotus leaves.
Pork head meat, pig ears, and roast chicken are all the best dishes to go with wine.
The old Taoist priest's eyes lit up: "Little brother, when did you buy these?"
Jin An smiled and said: "In the afternoon, I saw that you have the talent of a storyteller, Taoist, and I couldn't bear to interrupt you, so I went to the tavern on the next street to buy some food and drinks."
Old Taoist priest: "Haha, there is wine and meat, and the world is happy and carefree. You can't buy it for a thousand pieces of gold. You can't buy it for a thousand pieces of gold."
Next, the two of them had a drink and started talking, laughing, eating and drinking. They ate meat and drank wine, completely regardless of what the world thought of this coffin shop with a coffin style in the underworld. They felt so carefree.
Even the silly sheep was greedy and came over to have a drink. I don't know if it tasted like rice wine. After drinking it, it kept bleating, making Jin An and the old Taoist priest laugh heartily.
Wine is like life, first pure and then soft, first soft and then strong, first cold and then warm, first bitter and then sweet. Although wine hurts the liver and stomach, it is soothing. After three cups of old wine, you will be slightly drunk in the world of mortals.
A drinking man only needs a pot of wine and a small plate of peanuts to drink comfortably all day long. Jin An and the old Taoist priest chatted until midnight. Suddenly, in the dead of night, outside the coffin shop, there was the sound of chains being dragged on the ground.
sound.
Today, another piece of business came to the coffin shop. It was a pig butcher. The pig butcher's feet were locked with heavy stone locks, and the skin on his ankles was worn out. Every step he took was extremely heavy and difficult, and his face was painful. He needed encouragement.
It takes courage to take the next step.
Even so, he still reached the coffin shop step by step with difficulty.
"Boss, I want to order a coffin." Perhaps because the stone locks on his feet had numbed him from the pain, the pig butcher said expressionlessly after entering the shop.
The old Taoist priest looked at Jin An in surprise.
Jin An naturally understood why the old Taoist priest was surprised. The dead people buried under the coffin shop had obviously been taken care of by them. How could the coffin shop still have "undertakers" coming to buy coffins in the middle of the night?
Is it a coincidence that Mingdian has a strong Yin energy and is prone to encountering ghosts? Or is the fundamental problem of this Mingdian coffin shop yet to be resolved?
Jin An took a bite of pig head meat and then took a sip of wine to moisten his throat. He pointed at the coffin hanging above his head with his chopsticks and said: "I have black coffins here for people who have not yet finished their life, and there are black coffins for those who have died.
There are red coffins for funerals, white coffins for unmarried people, and affordable yellow coffins made of pine wood. Which coffin do you want to order?"