Chapter 5 Stories and Past Events
This is a long-standing story. Sixteen years ago, there were no peach trees in Peach Blossom Lane.
Oh, to be precise, sixteen years ago this was not called Peach Blossom Lane, and a young newlywed couple chose to live here.
Their life is basically that the men go out in the morning and come back late in order to make a living, while the women stand at the door waiting for their husbands to come back after preparing meals in the evening.
Such a life day after day is very dull, but also very happy.
Until the woman became pregnant, the old man who heard that his daughter-in-law was pregnant finally left the house in Liuye Lane where he had lived with his wife for many years and came here to take care of the young couple's daily life.
The reason why the old man was reluctant to move before was because he was worried that he would not dream about his long-dead wife at night, but he was about to become a grandfather. The old man was very happy about this, so he moved here.
But things backfired, and fate played a trick on people.
Just as the young couple and the old man were happily preparing to welcome the new member, the arrival of an uninvited guest broke the scene.
He is the 75th head of the Purity Hall, Hu Tao’s grandfather.
The young couple and the old man looked nervously at the master of the Hall of Purity. He did not say much, but said concisely:
"This child who is about to be born does not belong to this world. He is an unclean thing that is not recognized by this world! If this child is born, he is destined not to live long. His life is destined to be full of natural and man-made disasters, and he will also suffer from it after his death. Produce filth and harm the surrounding area.”
After hearing this, the young couple felt confused and eagerly begged each other if there was any way to solve the problem.
"Yes, yes."
"Really?! Hall Master Hu, what can I do? Tell me! Even if I risk my life, I have to keep my child safe!"
The old man on the side said excitedly after hearing this.
"Then I don't want this child anymore. Don't worry, I will do my best to ensure the safety of the adults."
Hutao's grandfather couldn't bear it, but he still answered reluctantly.
"No, no! Is there any other way? Hall Master Hu, please, please, please, this is my child."
The young woman was shocked after hearing this, shook her head, then clasped her hands and knelt down.
"Alas", Hutao's grandfather hurriedly helped the woman up, lamented, and then said after a long time of calming down:
"If I could pass here earlier, I could erase this child's intelligence. Although he is not smart, he can live a safe life. Now there is only one way."
"Yin and yang are in order, and yin and yang wax and wane. Now we can only transfer the child's trouble to another person. In other words, it is to exchange life for life, and require that person to be willing and still a close relative."
Hall Master Hu gritted his teeth and pointed it out directly.
"Also...and even if this child can be born safely, as a mother, you have already been contaminated by his unclean aura. Well, I mean you don't have many days left."
The usually steady man was also in a state of confusion at this moment. After being in a daze for a moment, he spoke decisively:
"Hall Master Hu, then use my life to exchange for the life of the child. No matter whether he is an unclean thing or not, I am the father of the child... Can you transfer the bad things about my wife Hatsumo to me? I'm sorry to trouble you."
"No! Use my life. I'm old and of little use."
The old man's eyes were red.
"You... this is not acceptable. Close relatives means those with the deepest blood relationship, and only one person can be transferred. I'm sorry."
Hu Tao's grandfather couldn't bear to see this scene, so he turned around and raised his head and replied.
"It doesn't matter, that's fine, as long as the child can be safe. Xuanhua is sorry, it seems that I am an unlucky woman. After marrying me, both you and the child will be implicated."
Li Chutao said with a bitter smile.
"How could it be? Don't say such silly things now... Chutao, we will be together in the next life." Wu Xuanhua hugged Li Chutao and choked.
"it is good……"
……
Hutao's grandfather left, leaving a message before leaving,
"I can understand you, because the fetus in my daughter-in-law is also ready to be born. I will come back when your child is born, and I will arrange for the people living nearby to move out to avoid any accidents that day."
"Finally, get ready. Time is running out."
……
After that day, Wu Xuanhua did not go out again, but chose to stay with his wife Li Chutao. There was no sadness on their faces. They sat together on chairs by the fountain in the yard and laughed, just like they were back when they were passionately in love.
Only the old man Wu Yong hid in the house and washed his face with tears all day long. He still did not dare to face this cruel reality.
"What do you think we should name our child?"
Li Chutao took Wu Xuanhua's arm and asked.
"Well, let me think about it... let's call him Wu Ye. If you think about it, 'Ye' means sunshine, which refers to the radiant appearance. We hope that our children will be optimistic and positive, have a bright future, and be a person who can bring benefits to others. Warm person.”
"It's a nice name, but it sounds like a boy's name. What if it's a girl."
"Yeah, but you often say that your child kicks you in the stomach and is so naughty, so he must be a boy. Okay, then I'll think of a girl's name."
……
The deceased passed away like a man, day and night. No matter whether the people in the yard were happy or in pain, the day of labor finally arrived.
"Father, let's take a family photo. If the children want to know what we look like in the future, the children can also see it."
Wu Xuanhua respectfully invited Wu Yong out of the room, pitiful for this old man who was over fifty years old. He had lost a lot of weight in a short period of time, and his spirit was as haggard as if he was about to die.
"Father! I'm sorry, the child is unfilial! I'm afraid I won't be able to take care of you in the future, and you will have to take care of the child who is about to be born."
Wu Xuanhua took a few steps back with tears in her eyes, knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times.
"...Xuanhua."
Wu Yong struggled to say these words, paused for a long time, and bent down to help his son up.
"You know, I never blame you, I only blame the unpredictable nature... I will do it, don't worry, after all, I am the child's grandfather."
Wu Xuanhua stood up, secretly wiped the corners of her eyes, and then helped Wu Yong to the center of the yard.
Li Chutao had difficulty moving due to her heavy belly, so she sat down on a chair next to the fountain in advance.
"I specially asked someone to borrow a camera. I heard that it is the latest technological product from Fontaine. The photos taken can be saved for a long time and are very clear."
Wu Xuanhua supported Wu Yong and walked over with a smile.
"Okay, as long as you know how to use it. Father, please be careful, it's slippery here," Li Chutao said with a gentle smile.
"Hatsumomo, just sit down. My old man will stand in the back, and you and your wife will sit in the front. This way the photo will look better." Wu Yong walked slowly behind the chair.
"Okay, I've preset to take the photo after fifteen seconds. Father, please be happy and smile."
Wu Xuanhua fiddled with the camera, then quickly ran back to the chair and sat down. She held Li Chutao's hand with her right hand. The couple smiled and looked at the camera, as if they saw their future children looking at them through the camera.
"Crack!"
The photo is taken.
……
This story is almost done.
Wu Ye gently touched the photo, feeling its remaining warmth, and finally couldn't help crying.
As for the end of the story, Wu Ye knew that on the day he was born, Hutao's grandfather came over.
The father knelt down to pay homage to his grandfather for the last time, and then begged Hall Master Hu to bury the couple together and not to bury them too far apart, otherwise he would be afraid that the child would not be seen.
Then he asked grandpa not to erect a monument, but just plant some peach blossoms on it.
Because my father and mother met under the peach blossom tree for the first time, and their names together are peach blossoms, and they also like peach blossoms very much.
We met under the peach blossom tree and were buried together under the peach blossom tree.
……
Later, people in Liyue Port heard that something unfortunate had happened in this alley, and no one dared to live here, so only Wu Ye and his grandfather Wu Yong lived here.
A few years later, peach trees covered the entire alley and surrounded the yard, but they cleverly left a way in and out.
Hu Tao's grandfather personally went to the General Affairs Bureau to discuss naming this alley "Peach Blossom Alley".
Moreover, he took his granddaughter Xiao Hutao to Peach Blossom Lane to point out Xiao Wu Ye and said:
"Xiao Tao, have you seen that kid? He was born in the same year as you and is a few months older than you, but his fate is very bad."
"Although grandpa helped to modify it, it is still easy for him to encounter disasters when he leaves Peach Blossom Lane before he becomes an adult. So if grandpa is gone in the future and you see him when you go out, ask him to go home early and protect him."
Ps: The age classification in Liyue is the same as in ancient times. In ancient times, men reached adulthood at 16 years old.
"I understand, Grandpa, but grandpa, didn't you say you would always stay by Xiao Hutao's side?"
Xiao Hutao nodded and asked doubtfully.
Grandpa Hutao didn't answer. He picked up Little Hutao and then walked slowly and leisurely towards the direction of Shengtang. The sun was setting and the shadow was stretched very long.