How much do you know about the legend of domestic snakes? Let me tell you a true story!

It is said that the snake is one of the important totems of the ancient Yue people, and later evolved into a god. Du Mu in the Tang Dynasty wrote a poem called "Li Changji's Songs and Poems", which said: "Ox, ghosts and snake gods are not enough to be empty." It is also recorded in "Lingnan Miscellaneous Notes" by Wu Zhenfang of the Qing Dynasty: "There is a snake god in Chaozhou. His statue has a crown on the south side, and he is called the Youtian Emperor. If you want to see it, the temple priest must say goodbye and come out, circling the tripod." In the room, it can be hung upside down from the beam or supported by bamboo poles. It is winding and slender, not afraid of people, and does not sting people. It is about three feet long, green and lovely... Snakes often swim in the homes of those who worship gods.

? Some people divide snakes into domestic snakes and wild snakes, which are called "inside barbarians" and "outer barbarians". The so-called domestic snake refers to a kind of snake that lives in houses. It usually coils in hidden places such as beams, wall cracks, tiles, attics, etc. It is not poisonous.

It is said that this kind of domestic snake will protect the people living in the house. With a domestic snake, you will have no worries about food and clothing. Once you find a domestic snake, never kill it! Snakes are extremely vindictive creatures. Once one is killed, the others will come to take revenge if they are not killed. Therefore, old people often say that if a domestic snake is found at home, it should be caught in a jar and then sent to the mountains to release it.

There are many folk rumors like this, and the opinions are different, but one thing is certain, domestic snakes are definitely not ordinary things.

I remember that the old people in our village often said that domestic snakes bring good fortune and wealth. If the domestic snakes go, the family will fail; if the domestic snakes stay, the family will prosper. Some people even say that if you see a domestic snake leaving your home, it means great misfortune!

Most of the larger houses in rural areas have domestic snakes. If you see a domestic snake running away, you should turn your head away immediately. Do not be disrespectful. Burn incense and worship immediately to repay the snake for protecting the house over the years. kindness.

Of course, many people don’t cut it and don’t believe these claims...

Some time ago, my dad asked me to go back to my hometown to pick up some things, because I haven’t been back for a long time. , as soon as I arrived in the village, I met an old man who used to have a good relationship with my grandfather. He insisted on dragging me to his house for dinner. I couldn't refuse, so I went along.

His house is very large, somewhat similar to a villa in the city. It is not only large but also well-decorated. Many doors and windows are made of mahogany, giving it an antique feel.

When I entered the old man’s home, I smelled the smell of herbal medicine before I even sat down. I thought to myself, could this old man be an old Chinese medicine doctor?

I forgot who told me that there was a wealthy family named Gu in our village decades ago. They are very famous here, especially because their family has cured many people. Moreover, his family has three sons, and each of them is a very capable person. It is said that the eldest son is working as an armed policeman, the second son is teaching, and the third son seems to be the top scorer in the college entrance examination.

Anyway, this family is very famous here, but I didn’t hear any news about this family after that. It was as if no one was willing to mention this family all of a sudden.

In the evening, the uncle prepared a sumptuous meal. After a few glasses of wine, the old man and I started chatting. This old man, also named Gu, is a very easy-going person and seems to be a relative of that family.

The old man's hair has fallen out, but he still looks in good spirits. His eyes are wide open, his face is covered with wrinkles, and his fingers are slender and very flexible. After chatting for a few words, I asked Hui Qi if he knew how the family named Gu was doing now.

He glanced at me, his eyes a little dodgy, he lowered his head mysteriously and fiddled with the food on the table with his chopsticks, and asked me why I thought of asking this.

I smiled and said, I was just a little curious.

The old man pondered for more than ten seconds, then sighed and said: "This is a long story to say. Their family used to be prosperous and united, but in fact they often quarreled in private.

”

I couldn’t help but ask: “Why?” "

"Because Mr. Gu did a stupid thing when he was young... Not many people knew about it. Even if a few people knew about it at the time, they didn't dare to say it. After all, the Gu family was very popular in the local area at that time. Still very influential. The old man picked up a peanut and threw it into his mouth: "At that time, there was a widow who often went to see Mr. Gu for medical treatment. After going back and forth, they became familiar with each other. The two of them got together somehow. They were afraid of publicity after the incident was revealed. When he went out to be embarrassed, he hid it and left the widow at home. Although Mr. Gu's wife was unhappy at the time, there was nothing she could do. However, the woman later died of bleeding while giving birth, so the Gu family secretly buried the body. The Gu family claimed that the widow had stolen the child while she was working as a long-term worker in the Gu family. He stole the Gu family's money and ran away. This widow was helpless in the village at that time, so naturally no one paid attention to her. In addition, the Gu family had a big business at the time, so many people did not dare to offend the Gu family, so they chose to believe her. However, although the widow died of bleeding, the child in her belly still survived, the third child of the Gu family. "

"The Gu family felt guilty about the widow's affairs, so they were very kind to the child, especially Mr. Gu. But as time went by, Mr. Gu’s wife became a little unhappy, and Mr. Gu’s health was getting worse day by day…”

At this point, the old man couldn’t help but stop, picked up the wine glass and took a sip. Liquor, looking at the distance was a little confused. I was a little strange. Although I still wanted to know something, I couldn't push him. After all, I was a junior.

After a few minutes, he finally came. He spoke: "Country people always strive for a well-off family, especially a house. The Gu family's house can be said to be the best house within dozens of miles. It is warm in winter and cool in summer, and has excellent Feng Shui. Many Feng Shui masters have It is said to be a treasure land. Therefore, what the sons of the Gu family value most is this house. "

"What about now? How's that family doing? "I asked.

The old man looked at me and smiled, the smile was a little weird: "What else can I do? The Gu family died and fell apart. Such a big family fell into ruin. "

"It is said that when the third eldest son of the Gu family was taking the college entrance examination, a strange thing happened at home. No one cared about it at the time, but then one strange thing happened one after another, which was very scary. The old man took a sip of wine and said, "I remember it was May. It was very hot in the village. There were no electric fans at that time, let alone air conditioners. Everyone was very hot, but Gu's family was not hot at all." "

"Why? "I couldn't help but ask.

It's really hot here in the summer, and I'd sweat just sitting in the room.

"Because the Gu family's house is very strange, like a refrigerator , no matter how hot it is outside, you will feel cool and refreshed as soon as you enter. Moreover, people who usually feel unwell will not be cured even if they go in and sit for a while. In winter, it's very warm inside, and you don't even need a stove. Although the house was built for nearly a hundred years and has gone through many times, it is still very sturdy, and it is famous in our area. "The old man spoke very quickly and seemed to know the Gu family's house very well.

"Basically everyone in the village knows about the Gu family's house. Just ask anyone and they can tell you a lot. . As for the three brothers of the Gu family, few people know about them, but I do know a few. The eldest brother liked martial arts and drinking since he was young, and later became an armed policeman. The second brother was a nerd who only cared about reading, and later went to teach in the county. As for the third child, he is not only smart, but also good at studies. He has experienced rejection from his family since he was a child and knows what he should and should not do. But since the third child became the top scorer in the college entrance examination, and the daughter-in-law of the eldest brother and the second child also passed the marriage, naturally he had some opinions on this ambitious third child... In short, it happened a month before the third child's college entrance examination, it was a summer day That night, Mr. Gu wanted the third child to come back from school and stay at home. Although the third child refused several times, he finally came back.

"

"The family finally sat down to have a meal together. The Gu family's family discipline was very strict and women were not allowed to serve at the table, so the three women went out to eat with their rice bowls. In the living room Only four people, father and son, were left. The eldest brother was immersed in drinking and didn't talk, while the second child was very polite and kept picking up food for the third child. However, his tone of voice was a bit like entertaining guests, which was a bit too polite. Mr. Gu didn't eat anything, he just smoked and looked at his three sons. ”

After hearing this, I had some doubts in my heart. How did he know so clearly? It was as if he was at the scene. Although I had doubts in my heart, I didn’t show it, but continued to listen to the old man. Narration.

"After three rounds of drinking, when he saw that his three sons had almost eaten, Mr. Gu cleared his throat and told his three sons that all his property would be divided into three parts, and each of the three would take it. One serving. In fact, no one cares about those properties. What everyone cares about is this magical house. But before Mr. Gu could finish speaking, the third child suddenly said, "I don't want that property or the house. If I can go to college, I will never come back again." 'As soon as he finished speaking, the eldest son looked surprised and in pain, as if he had something to hide. The second son was very happy, but didn't want to show it. He just lowered his head and pushed the glasses on his nose with his hands, covering his face with his hands. An uncontrollable smile. And just then! "

At this point, the old man suddenly raised his voice, which startled me: "Just when everyone at the table was thinking about their own thoughts, a black thing suddenly fell from the sky,' It hit the dining table with a bang. Because it was dark, no one could see it clearly, but they were all startled. After everyone took a closer look, they all took a deep breath! There was actually a snake coiled on the table! Still spitting out the letter! This snake is not small. Although I have not measured it, it is estimated to be more than three meters long. Everyone left their seats in fright. Only the third child sat motionless. Even the usually bold boss turned pale. At this time, the second child shouted "house snake" in a trembling voice, and then kept moving back..."

"The snake seemed to be asleep. It lowered its head and opened its eyes. He kept staring at the third child in front of him, but the third child had long been frightened to death and could only stare at the snake. After a while, the snake glanced around the crowd, then left the table with a flick of its tongue, and slowly crawled out of the living room from the ground. When Mr. Gu saw this, his face became very ugly, and he couldn't help shouting: 'The snake has gone away, and the Gu family will fall! Retribution! retribution! Shouting, shouting, Mr. Gu ran out like a madman... After this incident, the third child also went back to school. However, seven days later, he received news of his death at home. The eldest brother was dead... and he was dead. Inexplicably, it is said that the boss drank too much one night and fell in front of his house. The bottle was inserted directly into his mouth and penetrated the entire mouth. The boss's wife discovered his body the next day when she went out. The death condition was very strange. When he was buried, the bottle couldn't be taken out of his mouth. In the end, he had to use pliers to pull it out. His mouth was wide open. The eyes are also..."

Hearing this, I couldn't help but feel a little scared. I looked around subconsciously, and I didn't know why I suddenly felt a chill.

"The third child got it. When the news came, I almost rushed back in tears, but as soon as I got home, my sister-in-law slapped me hard in the face, saying that he was a disaster who not only killed his biological mother, but also his half-brother. . The second child squats in his room every day, wrapped in a quilt, and dare not go out. The death of the boss had a great impact on Mr. Gu. Not long after, Mr. Gu suddenly fell ill. He was ill for more than half a year, and then passed away..."

I noticed The corners of the old man's eyes were moist, and he couldn't help but wonder. Could it be that he had a close relationship with the Gu family?

"What happened next?" " I asked.

The old man glanced at me, smiled reluctantly, and wiped his eyes with his hand: "After Mr. Gu and the eldest son died, the second son was in a trance all day long and kept mumbling. He said he saw a woman and said that the woman was transformed from a snake spirit.

Seeing that her last son had become like this, Mrs. Gu went to find a Taoist priest. It was said that this Taoist priest had come to see a doctor in the Gu family and owed the Gu family a favor. After the Taoist priest arrived at Gu's house, he frowned as soon as he entered the door and asked Mrs. Gu why she didn't come to him earlier. In the next few days, the entire Gu family gathered around the Taoist priest. They first dug out the widow's body, broke the bones, wrapped them around a slender log like a snake, and covered it with a hollow wooden tube. , using this wooden tube as a measure. I originally thought that the matter would end like this, but the Taoist priest said that now his Taoism can only guarantee that the family will be worry-free for ten years, but it is unclear what will happen after ten years..."

"That old man What about three? Did he know that the widow was his biological mother? "I asked.

The old man sneered: "The third child? Ha...he knew about this when he was eight years old. "

"Then you mean that he watched his mother's bones being weighed? "I was a little puzzled.

The old man nodded, as if he had aged a lot.

"Ten years...for ten years, the Gu family has become worse day by day. I left the Gu family ten years ago and never came back. Gradually, people forgot that such a family existed, and no one mentioned the past events. ”

After listening, I was also a little emotional. I picked up the rice wine on the table and took a sip. I couldn’t help but look up and found that there was only half a beam on the top of the room. I felt nervous, and then looked again. I looked at the old man in front of me.

The old man and I looked at each other, smiled, and said nothing. This made me even more nervous, thinking that this old man could be the third child. ?

Just when I was about to say something, there was a knock on the door, and a woman walked in with a child in her arms, looking anxious: "Doctor Gu, Doctor Gu... please hurry up. Please help me take care of my baby..."

The child in the woman's hands was sweating profusely and her eyes were closed tightly. She didn't know what was wrong with her. The old man quickly stood up from the table and took some food from his body. He took out a palm-sized cloth bag, took out some herbs from it, put it on the child's nose and sniffed it.

Then a magical thing happened. The child's brows slowly opened. It seems a lot more comfortable. This is the first time I have seen this miraculous technique. I live in the city all year round and know little about Chinese medicine. I didn’t expect that Chinese medicine can be so powerful.

I recovered from the shock. When God came, the woman thanked her and left with her child in her arms. After sitting at the dinner table again, I stared at the old man for a while and asked, "Uncle, where did Gu Laosan go now?" "

He smiled reluctantly: "I don't know. "

"He grew up in the village. Doesn't he have any good friends? " I asked.

Just when I finished saying this, the old man glanced at me, his eyes remained on me, and he gestured and said: "Time flies so fast, remember to go up. You were only so old this time, and you have become an adult in the blink of an eye..."

I really have no impression of this old man. After all, I left the village when I was a child. When I heard what he said, I felt a little... Sorry.

"Okay, it's getting late and I have to take a rest after dinner. "He issued an eviction order, so naturally I couldn't stay too long.

When he stood up, picked up his things and was about to leave, he suddenly stopped me, as if he had something to say to me. There was silence for about ten years. After a few seconds, he sighed: "Is your father okay now? "

"Very good..." I don't know why he suddenly asked me this question.

He nodded, looking pleased, and handed me a The box wrapped in red cloth: "Please give this to your father for me. ”

I took this strange box, looked at it and put it away without thinking much. I stayed in the village committee hotel for the night. When I was about to leave after doing some errands the next day, But I heard the news of the old man's death last night.

The news came so suddenly that I didn't realize it. The old man who had dinner and chat with me last night actually left the next day.

Although I felt a little uncomfortable, I couldn't help him since we were not relatives, so I packed up my lost thoughts and left my hometown in the car.

Sitting on the long-distance bus, I didn’t know why I felt very uneasy. When I thought about the old man and the Gu family, my thoughts became chaotic. In the end, I couldn’t help it and took the red cloth. I took out the package box and wanted to see what was inside.

When I opened the box, there was a photo of my father as a child inside! And a birth certificate from my father!

When I saw this, I was stunned at first, and then I went crazy. I stood up and shouted to the driver: "Stop! Stop! Let me out!"