New ink fragrance in old times

Lin Mo nodded, with a bit of curiosity in his heart, and followed Lin Siyuan to the side.

"Sanlang, I'm here to teach you. Let's not affect the eldest brother." Lin Siyuan's words were full of respect for his eldest brother Lin Sixuan.

As Lin Siyuan turned the pages of "Three Character Classic", Lin Mo couldn't help but feel a little amused.

This was an enlightenment book that he had memorized by heart when he was in modern primary school, but now he had to pretend that he was encountering it for the first time, trying hard to hide the fact that he had already memorized it.

Every time he almost blurted out those familiar sentences, he had to hold it back desperately. The feeling was both subtle and a little overwhelming.

However, Lin Siyuan seemed unaware of Lin Mo's inner struggle. He started from "Man is born good" and carefully taught Lin Mo to read word by word.

Lin Mo tried hard to pretend that he didn't understand and learned.

Under Lin Siyuan's patient guidance, he learned word by word, sometimes frowning in thought, sometimes suddenly realizing. His seriousness and persistence gave Lin Siyuan a great sense of accomplishment.

Mrs. Lin came over to the group and said softly, "Today is the 15th day of the seventh lunar month. It's time for everyone to get ready."

(The 15th day of the seventh lunar month is commonly known as Ghost Festival, the Day of the Dead, the Zhongyuan Festival in Taoism, and the Yulanpen Festival in Buddhism. On this day, every household will perform various rituals to commemorate their ancestors and pray for the safety and well-being of the family.)

Hearing this, Lin Siyuan said, "Okay, Sanlang, let's learn these six sentences first today." After that, he looked at Lin Mo with a gentle gaze, "Brother will test you in the evening to see how you have learned."

Lin Mo nodded and breathed a sigh of relief.

Lin Mo and the Lin family began the solemn preparations.

Mrs. Lin was the first to enter the ancestral hall. Holding a clean rag, she meticulously wiped every corner of the altar, ensuring it was spotless. Then, she personally arranged the ancestral tablets one by one, each carrying the family's memories and honor.

Mr. Lin assisted, carrying a bucket filled with clean water and gently wiping the incense burner and wine cup with a soft cloth. Every movement was reverent and solemn. He knew that the cleanliness of these sacrificial utensils was directly related to the smooth progress of the sacrifice and the response of the ancestors.

At the same time, the women in the family were busy preparing tributes.

The three daughters-in-law, Shen, Han and Lu, each had a clear division of labor. They selected the freshest fruits and vegetables, washed and cut them one by one, and arranged them on exquisite plates.

Xing'er was in charge of decorating the home, hanging lanterns and inserting paper flowers to create a warm and solemn festive atmosphere;

Huaer takes good care of the children at home.

The three brothers, Lin Xueqian, Lin Xuejin, and Lin Xuebo, were also busy. They worked together to carry the heavy offering table and placed it steadily in front of the altar. Afterwards, Lin Xuejin and Lin Xuebo began to arrange the items on the offering table, placing the flowers, incense, and candles one by one.

Lin Xuebao also specially prepared a bouquet of chrysanthemums, which he gently placed in a corner of the altar, hoping that the elegant fragrance could accompany his ancestors through this special day.

Lin Xueqin was writing documents for ancestor worship, and his words revealed his respect and inheritance for family history.

Although the children in the family were young, they also actively participated in the event. They helped pass items and tidy up the environment around the altar. Although their movements were a little clumsy, their innocent intentions were very touching.

As the sun gradually rose higher, the Lin family's altar was finally set up.

On the altar, the ancestral tablets were wiped spotlessly clean, with flowers and offerings placed on both sides, the fragrance filling the air and creating a solemn and warm atmosphere.

Afterwards, Shen and Lu sorted out the funeral clothes and paper money one by one and placed them next to the altar, ready to be burned during the sacrifice.

The sunlight filtered through the sparse clouds and shone onto the altar, adding a touch of warmth and brightness to this sacred ceremony.

Everyone changed into clean clothes, looked solemn, and prepared to begin the formal sacrificial ceremony.

Old Mrs. Lin stood in front of the altar, holding incense and candles, and was the first to bow her head in silence to express her deep respect and remembrance for her ancestors.

She slowly lit the incense and candles, offering the first wisp of smoke to her ancestors, while softly calling the names of her ancestors, as if she was having a conversation with them across time and space.

Mr. Lin followed closely behind, holding a wine glass filled with sake, and respectfully offered it to the altar to express his offering and respect to his ancestors.

Others also came forward one by one, and under the guidance of the elders, they carefully took the lit incense and candles and respectfully inserted them into the incense burner in front of the altar.

Then, the three brothers Lin Xueqin, Lin Xuejin and Lin Xuebao, Lin Sixuan and Lin Siyuan took turns to step forward and recite the eulogy.

Their voices were deep and powerful, and their words were filled with gratitude and respect for their ancestors. The memorial not only reviewed the glorious history of the family, but also expressed the remembrance and inheritance of the ancestors' kindness.

While the eulogy was being read, the daughters-in-law of the Lin family began to burn paper money and funeral clothes. The grandchildren showed great interest and participation, helping to pass on the paper money and funeral clothes.

In the blazing flames, the paper money turned into ashes and drifted away with the wind, as if bringing the family's thoughts and blessings to the ancestors far away.

The underworld clothes dance in the flames and eventually turn into nothingness, symbolizing the warm shelter provided for the ancestors in the other world.

Throughout the ceremony, the Lin family remained solemn and silent, yet their hearts remained connected. They collectively remembered the kindness and teachings of their ancestors and prayed for the prosperity of their family and their descendants.

After the ceremony, the Lin family's daughters-in-law and Xing'er carefully prepared meals, including traditional ancestor worship foods such as glutinous rice cakes and steamed fish, as well as delicious dishes prepared for the family, symbolizing the abundance and reunion of life.

Particularly noteworthy is the fragrant dish of duck meat, which Old Mrs. Lin had specially obtained by trading her own chicken with a neighbor. (Eating duck meat during the Mid-Autumn Festival can ward off evil spirits and drive away bad luck.)

Besides the duck, there was also a plate of steaming dumplings on the table. The dumplings were stuffed with chives and eggs and were shaped like ingots, symbolizing prosperity and a happy life.

……

During the meal, Lin Mo ate delicious food and listened quietly to Mrs. Lin and Mr. Lin telling the history of the Lin family and the stories of their ancestors. They told them where the Lin family's land was and how they moved here, and taught the children to remember the kindness of their ancestors and cherish the happiness in front of them.

Shen, Han and Lu were adding more dishes and rice.

Old Master Lin looked at Lin Sixuan and several younger generations with a kind and far-reaching gaze, and said earnestly: "You all should study hard and achieve something in the future. By then, if our family can return home and return to our clan, my life will be complete." Old Master Lin said to Lin Sixuan and others.

Hearing this, Lin Sixuan's eyes gleamed with determination. He clenched his fists and responded on behalf of his brothers and sisters, "Grandpa, please rest assured. We will take your teachings to heart, live up to our youth, and study hard. We will bring honor to our family and fulfill your wish to return to the clan soon."

The other children also nodded, their eyes filled with longing and determination for the future. Their voices merged into a force that could not be underestimated, echoing in the air: "Yes, Grandpa! We will definitely work hard!"

After hearing this, Mr. Lin's eyes flashed with a gleam of relief. He said earnestly, "Good children, I see your determination. Remember, studying is not only for your personal future, but also for the glory and inheritance of your family."

Lin Sixuan took over the conversation, his eyes firm: "Grandfather, don't worry, we will definitely remember your teachings and study hard not only for ourselves but also for the honor of the entire family."