Chapter 72: Ground Breaking Ritual

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

“Second Sister, Fifth Sister.” Chu Xuyuan and Chu Xuyao had returned from school. The two children were wearing the school uniform and looked very energetic.

Chu Qingyue looked at her two younger brothers with heartache. “Your faces are red from the sun. Go wash your faces quickly. I will get water for you.”

The two children smiled. “Thank you, Second Sister.”

Chu Qingzhi waved at the two children. “Let’s go to the shed to rest.” She had cast a spell in the shed, so it was relatively cool.

“Okay.”

The villagers had already gone back. There was no one in the shed. When they came to the shed, the three of them casually sat on stools.

Chu Qingzhi asked softly, “How was your school today? What did the teacher teach you? Were you bullied by your classmates?”

After she finished asking, the other family members also came over and surrounded the three of them, their faces filled with concern.

Li Qingyu asked anxiously, “Xuyuan, Xuyao, tell us. How’s school?”

Chu Xuyuan was more outgoing, unlike Chu Xuyao who was reserved.

He smiled and said, “There are a total of 30 people in Class A. They’re all very easy to get along with. The teacher is also especially good. He asked us to recite the poems that Fifth Sister taught us and even instructed us to learn from Fifth Sister more.”

Chu Xuyao glanced at Chu Xuyuan and added, “Other than us, all the students in Class A are children from the county cities. They are between the ages of seven and nine. The teacher taught us the Three Character Classic, the Hundred Family Names, and the Thousand Character Classic. He also taught us simple arithmetic.”

Chu Qingzhi looked at the two children approvingly. “Do you have homework?”

Chu Xuyao nodded. “Yes, but I don’t know how to do it.”

Chu Qingzhi asked with concern, “Let me take a look.”

Chu Xuyao took out a piece of paper from his bag and handed it to Chu Qingzhi. Then, he said in embarrassment, “I can’t read.”

“It’s alright. I will teach you later.” Chu Qingzhi lowered her head and looked at the content on the paper. There was only one sentence on the paper. “Memorize the Three-Character Classic for the test tomorrow.”

Chu Xuyuan interrupted, “So the homework is to memorize Three Character Classic? We already memorized it.”

Chu Qingzhi was stunned.

“When did you memorize it?”

Chu Xuyuan said proudly, “We memorized it on the way back. It wasn’t difficult. We read it three times before we memorized it.”

Chu Qingzhi looked at Chu Xuyao inquisitively. Chu Xuyao nodded slightly. “Seventh Brother and I read it on our way back. By the time we get home, we can already recite it.”

Chu Qingzhi was stunned.

These two children’s memories were too outstanding.

“Then can you write it?”

Chu Xuyuan shook his head. “No, there are many words I don’t know.”

Chu Qingzhi patted Chu Xuyuan’s small shoulder and smiled. “I will teach you the words in the Three Character Classic tonight.”

The two children nodded in unison, their dark and bright eyes filled with deep desire.

The other members of the Chu family looked proud. Their children seemed to be very smart and had a bright future.

• •

In the morning, when it was almost five o’clock, everyone in the Chu family got up, washed up, and dressed. They walked towards the wasteland in high spirits.

When they arrived at the wasteland, Granny Chu and Grandpa Chu placed the sacrificial items in their hands on the wasteland and began the procedure of the ground-breaking sacrificial ritual.

The young ones just stood there and watched as the four elders did everything.

The ground-breaking sacrificial ritual was a solemn and sacred event designed to inform the gods that construction of the new house was about to begin.

The construction would probably disturb the peace of the gods. The ritual was to pray for the forgiveness and protection of the gods. After the construction was completed, they would hold another ritual to thank the gods.

After praying and offering the sacrificial items, they could break the ground and officially begin the construction.

Chu Qingzhi watched curiously. This was the first time she had seen such a ritual. Although it was very simple, everyone was very serious and solemn.

She glanced at the faces of the other Chu family members. Their faces were filled with joy, mixed with hope and excitement.

Granny Chu felt a lump in her throat. After the sacrificial ritual was over, she immediately turned around and wiped her tears. Excitement, gratitude, and sadness intertwined in her heart, eventually becoming tears of joy that flowed down her face.

Li Qingyu walked over and patted Granny Chu’s back, comforting her silently.

Chu Rong felt his heart pounding. His eyes were filled with excitement as he walked towards the spot where the central room would be built with a hoe in his hand.

When he arrived at the spot, he first wiped the sweat on his palm on his pants before raising the hoe to dig.

Grandpa Chu walked over happily and looked down at the small pit. He could not help but wipe his tears.

Chu Rong said happily, “Father, it’s done.”

Grandpa Chu nodded. “Good, good, good.”

Granny Chu waved at everyone. “Let’s go back. We still have a lot of things to do later.”

Grandpa Chu could not bear to leave. He wanted to stay for a while longer. “You guys go back first. I’ll come back later.”

Granny Chu understood Grandpa Chu’s feelings, so she didn’t say anything else and brought the others back home.

After breakfast, Grandpa Chu sent Chu Xuyuan and Chu Xuyao to school.

Granny Chu and Li Qingyu went to the county city to buy groceries. There would be construction workers eating at home today, so the dishes had to be prepared in advance.

Chu Xuhua brought Chu Third to pick pears.

Chu Qingyue went to the clothing shop in the county city to work.

Chu Qingning brought the little ones to the shed to clean and tidy up the tools.

Chu Qingzhi was designing the furniture, the renovation of the house, and the workshop.

Shen Ruyue was in charge of all the other matters at home, such as shipping, importing, and recording accounts.

The Chu family members were all busy with their own matters.

As the sun rose, villagers started to come out one after another.

At dawn, An Shanwu and Nie Huiyang brought 20 people to the Chu Village. As soon as they arrived, they threw themselves into building the house.

“Qingzhi.” Tang Jinghong strode into Chu Qingzhi’s house.

Chu Qingzhi heard the voice and came out of the room. “Have you had breakfast?”

Tang Jinghong looked up, his sharp eyes glowing. “I’ve eaten. I came over to tell you about the porcelain master.”

Chu Qingzhi was a little surprised. “Did you find out anything?”

Tang Jinghong said, “Yes, that master only has one hobby. He likes to drink. As long as he’s given good wine, he usually will agree to anything.”

Chu Qingzhi frowned slightly.. “Good wine? What is a good wine? Is it strong wine or a specially brewed wine?”

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