PCJ – Chapter 138 Chen Dianzi’s Troublemaking

Zhang Youping thought Zhang Jiaohua was joking and didn’t take it seriously. Dragging this out wasn’t a solution, so he steeled himself and stabbed the wild boar’s neck with the knife. He felt no resistance, and the knife smoothly went in. Zhang Youping wondered if he had stabbed the wrong place, but before he could pull the knife out, crimson blood started gushing from the knife’s bloodletting groove.

Zhang Youping didn’t hurry to pull the knife out. The key to slaughtering a pig is to kill it with one strike, minimizing its suffering. The knife needs to reach the pig’s heart for a quick death and efficient bloodletting. This wild boar weighed four to five hundred pounds, with thick skin and dense meat, so the knife had to reach deep. Zhang Youping forcefully thrust the knife into the boar’s chest until it was fully embedded before pulling it out.

Blood spurted out like a red fountain. Zhang Youping and Zhang Manyin exchanged glances, both showing a hint of surprise that it was accomplished with one strike.

Zhang Youping glanced at Jiaohua, understanding that the ease of the task likely had much to do with Jiaohua’s earlier incantation.

Though bloody, it was nothing unusual for rural children who often witnessed pig slaughtering. Zhang Jiaohua curiously watched the wild boar’s blood continuously gush from the knife wound. Initially, the boar struggled and roared but gradually grew weaker and quieter. Witnessing the boar’s death, Zhang Jiaohua didn’t feel afraid or any other strong emotion.

When Liu Qiaoye and Ma Donghua finished boiling water, Zhang Youlian and his wife arrived with Zhang Yuanbao and Zhang Runtian.

This time, Hu Xiaoqing was very enthusiastic, “Wow, Youping, you really brought back a huge wild boar. Yuanbao just told us, and I didn’t believe it. But it’s true. This big, it could yield two to three hundred pounds of meat, right?”

Zhang Youlian said nothing, just rolled up his sleeves and started helping.

Zhang Yuanbao’s eyes shone, “Jiaohua, did you really find it on Mountain?”

Although Zhang Youlian and his wife weren’t always kind to their family, they were still the elder brother and sister-in-law. Since they came over, Liu Qiaoye couldn’t say anything harsh. She knew their real motive for coming, but even if they hadn’t, she would have sent some meat over, as they were family.

“Brother, sister-in-law, I was just about to call you for help. I got caught up with boiling water for mom and forgot about it.” Liu Qiaoye tried to ease the awkwardness.

But Zhang Jiaohua wasn’t happy at all. He pouted and didn’t greet anyone, only nodding when Zhang Yuanbao called him. Zhang Yuanbao’s protective stance in front of older students last time had significantly changed Zhang Jiaohua’s opinion of him.

Zhang Yuanbao, unconcerned with the adults’ awkwardness, kept his eyes on the wild boar. At this point, the ropes binding the boar had been removed. Its four legs were spread out, its huge body fully exposed. Zhang Yuanbao exclaimed, “So much meat! The fat is so thick.”

This was a winter wild boar, with a thick layer of fat to withstand the cold, the most well-nourished time of the year.

The next day, several rows of wild boar meat were neatly hanging above Zhang Jiaohua’s stove. His grandfather’s and uncle’s families also received about twenty pounds each. Relatives and friends in the village were given some too, along with a portion for Zhang Jiaohua’s maternal grandfather. Keeping half for themselves was considered good.

Zhang Youping and his wife continued to help at Zhang Zhiyi’s house. It was the second day of Zhang Jingbing’s wedding, and many guests were expected. Skilled helpers like Zhang Youping and his wife were indispensable. Zhang Jiaohua was also taken along.

“Jiaohua, others wait by trees for rabbits, but you wait by stones for boars.” Zhang Jiwang, the wedding master of ceremonies, teased. Zhang Jiwang, a carpenter knowledgeable in ceremonial customs, was highly respected in the village, making him the perfect master of ceremonies.

Yesterday’s news of Zhang Jiaohua finding a large wild boar on Meishan had spread throughout the village. Today, anyone who saw Zhang Jiaohua and his parents asked about the boar.

“I found it by the creek. Grandpa Jiwang, you should try your luck there today,” Zhang Jiaohua, tired of being asked repeatedly, snapped back.

“I wouldn’t dare. There are big wolves in the mountains. I might end up feeding them instead of finding a boar,” Zhang Jiwang replied, unfazed by Zhang Jiaohua’s impatience.

“Uncle Jiwang, it’s about time. Let’s start the divination,” Zhang Jingbing urged.

“No rush. It’s starting soon. The bride’s already on the bed, why the hurry?” Zhang Jiwang teased Zhang Jingbing, making him blush as memories of the wedding night surfaced.

Meizi’ao had a wedding custom called “divination on the second day.” Guests from both families attended, including those who hadn’t left after escorting the bride and the groom’s relatives and friends.

After a sumptuous wedding tea in the morning, three Eight Immortals tables were set up in Zhang Jingbing’s living room, two by the door and one on top of them, with two high chairs placed on this table. Zhang Jiwang had just finished arranging this setup.

Standing in the living room, Zhang Jiwang loudly announced, “Calling the bride and groom to take their seats!”

The musicians played joyful tunes, and helpers set off firecrackers. Relatives, friends, and villagers crowded the living room and courtyard. Zhang Jiaohua squeezed in with the crowd.

Young people pushed Zhang Jingbing and his bride, Chen Fenglian, forward. They resisted half-heartedly, a custom they had also subjected others to at previous weddings.

Zhang Jiwang laughed and called out, “Parents, please take your seats!”

He then invited the siblings and matchmaker, each escorted out by relatives and friends.

Finally, he announced, “Honored parents, please ascend!”

Musicians played, and firecrackers exploded as Zhang Zhiyi and Ma Zhihua were helped onto the chairs on the table.

Burning some paper money at the shrine, Zhang Jiwang declared loudly, “On this auspicious day, we gather to bless the couple. We invite the ancestors of eighteen generations to bestow their blessings!”

The real excitement came next. The onlookers had been eagerly waiting for Zhang Jiwang’s cue.

“Present the dragon robes…”

At his words, villagers hurriedly draped tattered straw raincoats over Zhang Zhiyi and Ma Zhihua. They didn’t resist, knowing the straw symbolized continuity in the family line, with “straw” sounding like “lineage.”

The sight of them in these shabby garments made everyone laugh heartily.

Still chuckling, Zhang Jiwang continued, “Present the cloud shoulders…”

Despite the grand name, the cloud shoulders were just prickly cedar branches, symbolizing prosperity and offspring, based on old legends.

With the dragon robes and cloud shoulders in place, the couple also donned a tattered bamboo hat as an official’s cap and bamboo-strip glasses, along with other symbolic items.

Although Zhang Zhiyi and Ma Zhihua didn’t submit easily, any movement on the precariously placed chairs made them wobble.

The villagers roared with laughter, and Zhang Jiaohua laughed until his stomach hurt.

After the symbolic gifts, it was time for the main event, the divination.

“With auspicious clouds and good omens, we bless your descendants with prosperity. May the ancestors bestow three types of luck: Yang, Sheng, and Yin!” Zhang Jiwang proclaimed loudly.

The divination was done not with traditional methods but using a split radish, resembling the shape of a divination symbol.

Instead of the master of ceremonies, Zhang Zhiyi would cast the divination.

Taking it seriously, as it concerned his family’s future, Zhang Zhiyi cast the divination piece.

However, it was immediately snatched up by the crowd.

“Not right, not right, it’s a Sheng divination. Try again.”

No one actually saw the result, the crowded room made it impossible.

After several rounds of this, Zhang Zhiyi and Ma Zhihua were finally let off, their legs trembling as they descended.

Amidst the boisterous crowd, a sudden, loud song echoed in Zhang Zhiyi’s living room:

“A red Geng calendar page, split in two makes a pair, today’s fortune doesn’t match, it harms the wife and the husband, harms the father and the mother too,

Born not a pair, matched not a couple, together they make a pair of enemies!”

The song stopped everyone in their tracks.

Singing such words at a wedding was a grave offense, cursing the marriage and casting a shadow over the couple’s future.

Zhang Jiaohua recognized the voice. It was Chen Dianzi!

“Chen Dianzi, you’re always crazy, but ruining someone’s wedding? Young men, tie him up!”

The trouble was, Chen Dianzi was related to Chen Fenglian, being a close relative.