“After I got the key, I couldn’t wait to open the door. After opening the door, I found that there are large boxes next to each other. There is also a set of tables and chairs near the window. They look very clean. There should be people often cleaning them. I open the box and saw it is full of books. I got so excited. I pick up a book and read it on the chair by the window. The first story I read back then is about a snake.”
“The ancestor who recorded that story was Zhou Tonghe, an ancestor living during the reign of the Daoguang Emperor. Zhou Tonghe went to the capital to take the exam at age of 30. At that time, the sky suddenly turn dark, and the rain pour after he left the town. Zhou Tonghe used to walk along that road whenever he went to his mother-in-law’s house. He knew that there is a cave on the nearby mountain, so he went there to take shelter from the rain. The people at that time are simple and kind. Some people who usually take shelter in the cave often leave firewood whenever they go up the mountains. Although that firewood is worthless, if someone encounters bad weather and hides in a cave, this firewood can come in handy.”
“Zhou Tonghe hurriedly into the cave when the heavy rain pour. He put his luggage on the ground covered with straw, pick some firewood, lit a fire, and dry his wet clothes. While at it, Zhou Tonghe heard a strange bird cry outside, and then a huge thunder sounded. An eagle with its wings scorch by the thunder fell from the sky and fall in front of the cave. There is a big white snake clutch tightly in its paws.”
“The white snake seems to have fought with the eagle. It looks scarred. What’s more, it is already thin but is still strike by lightning. It suffers a serious injury and looks like will die any time soon. At that time, the story about “The White Snake” was very popular among the people. The white snake is not dead yet, so Zhou Tonghe uses a knife to open the eagle’s claws and rescue the white snake. Zhou Tonghe drags the huge white snake into the cave. His clothes had been soaked, but he only pay attention to the snake that look even less energetic.”
“Zhou Tonghe had no experience in treating snakes, but he didn’t want to just let it go. He sprinkle some gold sore medicine on the snake, then tore a piece of clothes to help the snake bandage its wound and share half of his hot roast chicken on it.”
“It rained for three days and three nights. One person and one snake work together to finish the roasted chicken Zhou Tonghe brought with him. Zhou Tonghe give the white snake medicine for the last time and touch its head, then half-jokingly said: I’m going to the capital to take the exam, you take care of yourself. If you become an immortal god in the future, remember to come to me and repay me. ‘
“Zhou Tonghe is just joking. After he got out of the cave, he left the matter behind. That year he passed the exam, but his rank is average. After he share this good news with his family, he went to other places to become an official. ”
Seeing his children and grandpas and a few outsiders listened with gusto, Grandpa Zhou spoke more and more vigorously: “Zhou Tonghe is a very thorough person. Although his career is not prosperous, he also didn’t encounter a big disaster in his entire life. After spending his 50th birthday at work, he went back home.”
“There are many descendants of the Zhou’s family. Zhou Tonghe is not the eldest son. It is very inconvenient to live in the old house after returning home, so he decided to build a house and move out. There are many trees in Shanbo County, and there is no shortage of wood for building a house. Zhou Tonghe’s house is built after half a year of work. On the day of the blessing, Zhou Tonghe laid tribute to the gods according to the rules and waited for the beam to be lifted. After that, they throw candy, peanuts, and copper money on it. The next moment, who knows why, but a stout white snake climbed onto the beam. It hung on the beam and looked down at them, then retracted its huge body and disappeared quickly.”
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