It's a hell game, who can still be a human being?

Chapter 682 It’s New Year!
"Senior, I'm back."

Liu Zheng knocked on the stone tablet and shouted loudly.

"Why is it such a big fuss when it's just the two of us celebrating the New Year?"

Feng Jizi came out and was surprised to see the mountain of New Year's goods.

“Both of you should have a good New Year too. Besides, you’ve worked at Dukang Distillery for so many years, you must have some good colleagues, right? Let’s invite them to celebrate the New Year together, it’ll be more festive.”

he said with a smile.

"I didn't expect that what you thought coincided with mine. However, even if we call on other people, we don't need so many."

Feng Jizi shook his head.

"If I can't use it all today, I'll use it tomorrow. Every day is like New Year's Day. Alright, alright, senior, stop nagging. Hurry up and pack my things and take me inside."

Liu Zheng said casually.

"You lazy child."

Feng Jizi laughed and scolded, then waved his sleeves and packed the New Year's goods and Liu Zheng into the bag.

When Liu Zheng was released, he was already in the same bamboo forest as before.

This time, however, there was not only bamboo, but also a two-story building made of bamboo.

"This is my own small building, and this bamboo grove is part of my staff dormitory area."

Feng Jizi explained.

"Your accommodations are far superior to mine."

Liu Zheng said enviously.

He doesn't even have a bed of his own, let alone an apartment.

Although he doesn't really need it.

“We have no freedom here to begin with. If we can’t even get this much treatment, then we can’t continue doing this job.”

Feng Jizi rarely uttered a complaint.

"That's true. Let's get started then."

Liu Zheng shouted.

"I'm getting old and senile now, and I can't remember what I was supposed to do. You can arrange it, young friend."

Feng Jizi laughed.

"I don't quite remember either, but let's put up the 'Fu' character and Spring Festival couplets first."

He found a red paper with the character "福" (fortune) written on it among the pile of New Year's goods and pasted it upside down on the front door.

"Young friend, the 'Fu' character is pasted upside down."

Feng Jizi reminded him.

"It's good that it's fallen over, it means good fortune is coming."

Liu Zheng said.

"I see, that's quite novel."

Feng Jizi smiled slightly.

Hui San directly packed dozens of "Fu" paper for him, and Liu Zheng simply pasted them all around the small building, just like small advertisements.

Feng Jizi's lips twitched slightly as she watched, but in order not to discourage his filial piety, she remained silent.

After pasting up the "Fu" paper, the next step is to paste up the Spring Festival couplets.

Hui San had prepared the ready-made items, but also prepared pen, ink, and blank red paper.

"Senior, why don't you write a couplet for the Spring Festival?"

Liu Zheng asked.

What, then, are Spring Festival couplets?

Feng Jizi asked in confusion.

"Didn't you put up Spring Festival couplets back then?"

"No, back then we would hang peach wood charms during the New Year."

Feng Jizi shook his head.

Peach wood charms are wooden boards made of peach wood, usually inscribed with the names or images of the two gods Shen Tu and Yu Lei, and hung on the left and right sides of the main gate, which can be considered the predecessor of Spring Festival couplets.

As for Shen Tu and Yu Lei, they were two divine beings who lived on Mount Da Tao and were responsible for guarding the gates of hell.

The *Lunheng* (Discourses Weighed in the Balance), in its chapter "On Ghosts," states: "In the middle of the vast sea, there is a mountain called Dushuo, on which grows a great peach tree, its branches stretching for three thousand miles. To the northeast of its branches is the Ghost Gate, the place where all ghosts enter and exit. There are two divine beings on it, one named Shentu and the other Yulei, who are in charge of inspecting and leading all ghosts. The most malevolent ghosts are bound with reed ropes and fed to tigers. So the Yellow Emperor established rituals to drive them away at the right time, erected a great peach tree figure, painted Shentu, Yulei, and tigers on the doors and windows, and hung reed ropes to ward off evil spirits."

In reality, most door gods have been replaced by Qin Shubao and Yuchi Gong, but in some coastal areas and parts of Taiwan, the gods Shen Tu and Yu Lei are still used.

"It's alright, we'll combine the old and the new."

Liu Zheng made the decision.

He first found the peach wood charms and hung them on the door. Then he brought out the table, ground the ink, moistened the brush, and laid out the paper.

"Senior, I don't know how to write calligraphy, so please take the brush."

He said.

"Writing is fine, but I don't know what to write."

Feng Jizi is not having a good idea.

“Then let me think. Let me think, I came here in the Year of the Snake.”

Liu Zheng fell into thought.

"I've got it! The golden dragon returns to the sea, bringing good fortune; the silver snake emerges from the mountain, bringing auspicious purple energy. What do you think, senior?"

He figured it out quickly.

"Yes, it's fine."

After hesitating for a moment, Feng Jizi decided not to damage her child's self-confidence.

"Then please begin writing, senior."

He could tell that Feng Jizi was being insincere, but he didn't take it to heart.

The important thing about Spring Festival couplets is that they sound auspicious, as long as they don't say things like "After the Year of the Monkey comes the Year of the Rooster, and after the Year of the Rooster comes the Year of the Dog."

"Ok."

Feng Jizi picked up a brush and carefully wrote a couplet.

"Your handwriting is quite unique, senior."

After reading it, Liu Zheng said.

It's not regular script, but it's also somewhat different from the clerical script he's familiar with.

"This is the eight-part style of calligraphy that I learned from Wang Cizhong, and it also incorporates some elements of oracle bone script, bronze script, and seal script. I'll call it the 'Bamboo Style' for now."

Feng Jizi replied.

"These bamboo shoots are quite plump; they must be spring bamboo shoots, right?"

Liu Zheng laughed.

"Haha, young friend, that's a brilliant analogy. Indeed, since it's the New Year, the handwriting should naturally be more plump and elegant."

Feng Jizi laughed loudly.

"You're making my mouth water just thinking about it. Let's hurry up and finish this so we can make our New Year's Eve dinner."

He licked his lips and said.

"I'm not very good at cooking."

Feng Jizi was a little embarrassed.

He was born into a noble family and had a personal chef to cook for him from a young age.

Now that his cultivation level is high, he no longer needs to cook; he can be full simply by eating the wind and dew.

"It's okay, I can do it. Even if I can't cook fancy dishes, I can still cook simple home-style dishes."

Liu Zheng said.

As a single, poor, and food-loving older single man, cooking is an essential skill.

"Not bad."

Feng Jizi nodded with satisfaction.

He originally wanted to ask a colleague for help, but since Liu Zheng volunteered, he naturally wouldn't refuse.

On such a good day, as long as what's made isn't poison, he can happily eat it.

Clean the house, hang lanterns, and set up an incense table with offerings; the festive atmosphere of the New Year will immediately come to life.

The offerings were a steamed fish, a salt-baked chicken, and a braised pig's head.

This was included in the New Year's goods; after all, it's not something people eat, so buying it ready-made is more convenient.

"Senior, please light the incense."

Liu Zheng said.

"Ah."

Feng Jizi nodded, took the incense sticks, and placed them in the incense burner.

Just as he was about to perform the ritual and light incense, he suddenly felt a sense of disorientation.

"Senior, what's wrong?"

Seeing this, Liu Zheng asked.

“I suddenly had a thought: this worship might be able to communicate with the spirits of my ancestors.”

Feng Jizi pondered for a moment.

"Isn't that perfect? ​​Let our ancestors celebrate the New Year with us and have some fun together."

he laughed.

“Yes, in that case, we should have some fine wine to entertain our ancestors. I’ll go buy some wine and be right back.”

Feng Jizi said.

Each employee at the distillery has a certain purchasing quota each month; the higher their seniority and position, the greater their purchasing quota.

"Senior, please use mine. I still have a procurement quota of ten million."

Liu Zheng suggested.

Yuan Bao'er and the city hall are untouchable, but he can still use his own ten million. The promised amount can be directly compensated with money.

"No need. I don't like drinking, so I have plenty of credit saved up, more than enough."

"Alright then. I'll take this time to cook some hot dishes for our ancestor," Feng Jizi said.

Liu Zheng laughed.

"Alright, alright. I'm off."

Feng Jizi rode the wind and flew away.

After he left, Liu Zheng used his kitchen to cook.

Fortunately, although Feng Jizi doesn't cook, she still has a full set of kitchen utensils, and all the ingredients and seasonings she needs for the New Year are included.

After he finished cooking a stir-fried beef with yellow peppers, a cumin lamb dish, and a stir-fried pig's ear, Feng Jizi returned.

"Hmm, young friend, your cooking skills are quite good."

Feng Jizi said after taking a sniff.

With his sense of smell, he can tell whether something tastes good or not just by smelling it.

"The main reason is that the ingredients are good."

Liu Zheng honestly replied.

Although it's just regular meat, the quality is much better than freshly slaughtered beef and mutton in real life; it tastes good even when boiled in plain water with salt.

"Young friend, you are too modest. Such delicious food is a perfect match for fine wine."

Feng Jizi patted the wine jar in his hand and said.

"What kind of wine is this?"

Liu Zheng took the wine jar, but no item description popped up.

"This is the Netherworld Wine, brewed from the tears of a thousand benevolent souls and a thousand evil spirits. It is an unparalleled brew for wandering spirits."

Feng Jizi said.

"I know about the tears of benevolent spirits, but what about the tears of evil spirits?"

he asked curiously.

“If you send them through the eighteen levels of hell that the distillery imitates, they will naturally cry.”

Feng Jizi said calmly.

"That makes sense. By the way, why didn't I see this when I bought the wine last time?"

Liu Zheng asked again.

"This wine hasn't been produced for a long time. I bought it from a colleague. It's a pity that good wine and good food don't have a good aroma."

Feng Jizi glanced at the incense burner and said regretfully.

"It smells so good, does this count?"

He took out incense to invite the gods.

"Please offer incense! Young friend, you actually possess such a thing. Where did you obtain it?"

Feng Jizi exclaimed in shock.

"It was given to me by Uncle Hachijo. His granddaughter was being bullied at school, so I helped her out, and he gave me this as a thank you gift."

Liu Zheng replied.

"Good, good, good! Indeed, doing good deeds and accumulating virtue will surely bring blessings."

Feng Jizi said appreciatively.

He himself was neither good nor evil. When he traveled in the world, he neither committed many evil deeds nor did he often act chivalrously, but that did not stop him from being happy that his descendants were good people.

"If that's the case, then it must be a matter of fate. Can you trust me, young friend?"

Feng Jizi suddenly asked.

"Of course. I can't think of any reason why you would want to harm me, unless you can leave me here to work while you go out and have fun."

Liu Zheng laughed.

"Haha, if such a good thing were possible, I wouldn't have waited for my young friend to arrive."

Feng Jizi smiled too.

"So what is it you need to do, senior?"

"I will use your life force to light the incense for the gods. This is extremely dangerous; if it fails, your life will be in danger. But if it succeeds, you will also benefit greatly."

Feng Jizi said.

"What are you waiting for? Come on."

He agreed without hesitation.

Anyway, he has two lives, so he can take a gamble.

"Okay, close your eyes and listen to my guidance."

Feng Jizi said.

Liu Zheng did as instructed and closed his eyes.

"Relax your mind and let your thoughts wander. Imagine there is a lamp in front of you, and you want to light it with fire."

Feng Jizi continued.

Guided by Feng Jizi's imagination, a moment later, an oil lamp actually appeared before his eyes.

Moreover, he had seen this oil lamp before; it was an old item from the orphanage, and he had even taken it out and lit it for fun when he was a child.

With a thought, Liu Zheng conjured a cheap lighter in mid-air.

"Light up!"

Feng Jizi shouted.

Without further hesitation, he pressed the lighter.

A cluster of orange flames appeared, lighting the oil lamp.

As soon as the oil lamp was lit, an endless fire immediately ignited in the void, roasting him over the flames.

"Your life force is already linked to the incense, and what is burning now is your essence and soul. If you really can't hold on, use your divine sense to extinguish the oil lamp, but all your previous efforts will be in vain."

Feng Jizi said.

"Don't worry, senior, I can handle it."

Liu Zhengqiang said with a smile.

"Excellent! You truly are the men of China!"

Feng Jizi praised.

The earliest name was naturally not Huaxia, but since later generations became accustomed to using it, he followed suit.

"Feng Jizi, a descendant of the Fire Ancestor Suihuang and the 39th generation descendant of Feng Hou, sincerely worships his ancestor and begs for divine intervention."

Feng Jizi began the worship ceremony.

The smoke from the incense flickered, then straightened out again.

"The rules of the Metropolis are indeed strict."

Feng Jizi frowned.

If he were outside, with his bloodline and strength, he could have successfully summoned the gods even without using any incense, let alone now.

"Please, ancestors, show your power."

Feng Jizi recited the sacrificial incantation again, the smoke trembling, but eventually returned to normal.

"Sigh, never mind. Greed only brings trouble. Let it be."

Seeing that things were hopeless, he could only sigh and unleash his own life force.

With the two flames of life combined, the burning of the incense accelerated instantly, and the smoke surged accordingly.

"Feng Jizi, a descendant of the Fire Ancestor Suihuang and the 39th generation descendant of Feng Hou, sincerely worships his ancestor and begs for divine intervention."

Feng Jizi recited the sacrificial verses again, then bowed deeply.

A gentle breeze appeared out of nowhere and dispersed the smoke.

The smoke changed shape and eventually became as large as a screen, and a figure appeared in the smoke.

The figure's face was indistinct, but the cross-collar linen robe and the jade bead necklace around its neck were clearly visible.

“I am Changyi, son of Feng Hou,”

The man in the smoke spoke, his voice booming like a great bell.

"Descendant Feng Jizi pays respects to his ancestors."

Feng Jizi prostrated himself on the ground.

"Who is this?"

The person in the smoke pointed at Liu Zheng.

"This is also a descendant of the Fire Ancestor."

Feng Jizi replied.

"I see this child as not being human."

The man in the smoke shook his head.

"I was forced into this situation by others. Although this child has non-human blood, he is upright and virtuous, a true paragon among men, and has been of great help to me. I am willing to vouch for him. If he does anything to disgrace our ancestors, I will destroy him completely, body and soul, and ensure he is never reincarnated."

Feng Jizi said firmly.

"In that case, remember your oath."

After finishing speaking, the man in the smoke stopped looking at the two men and instead gestured towards the dishes on the table.

The aroma of various dishes rose up and gathered towards the people in the smoke.

The person in the smoke opened their mouth and inhaled all the aroma of the food.

"The food is good."

The man in the smoke nodded in satisfaction.

Then he grabbed a wine jar and drank it down in a frenzy.

"The wine is good too."

The man in the smoke nodded again.

"I'm going."

As soon as he finished speaking, the incense burned out rapidly, and the person in his sight vanished into thin air, leaving only a jade bead.

(End of this chapter)