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墨書 Inktalez
Folklore carries beautiful wishes and hopes.
According to the elders, the location of the original supply and marketing cooperative in Laogu Township is where the Jade Emperor Pavilion was established in the 18th year of Sui Wendi (AD 599), making it over 1,400 years old.
The Jade Emperor Pavilion features nine gates and nine halls, with large courtyards surrounding smaller ones, all interconnected. Smaller pavilions arch over larger halls, creating a brilliant display with a clear and logical layout. There are more than seventy halls and towers of various sizes, each with its unique style. Inside, deities from Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism are worshipped, making the original Jade Emperor Temple one of the "Four Great Yin Cities" in the country, renowned for being the largest temple in northern Henan, with a thriving incense offering.
There are two accounts regarding the construction of the Jade Emperor Pavilion:
One account states that during the Sui Dynasty, a geomancer passed through Laogu and recognized its exceptional geography as the Dragon Head of the Nine Dragons Society. He believed that an emperor would surely emerge from this area. The news reached the court, alarming Emperor Sui, who summoned his capable ministers to discuss how to counter this potential threat. A strategist proposed building the Jade Emperor Pavilion at the site of the Dragon Head to suppress any emerging emperor.
Emperor Sui accepted this advice. Later on, one of the dragons involved, Zhai Rang from Weicheng (Wangu Town Sister Village), led a popular uprising and founded the Wagang Army to resist Sui rule, creating a tremendous impact and leaving a lasting legacy.
Regrettably, Zhai Rang was too kind-hearted and merciful; he had no desire for power and willingly relinquished his claim to leadership to others, which ultimately led to his downfall.
The other account suggests that initially there was only a small temple at Laogu. One family had a sick member who could not be cured despite seeking various treatments. In desperation, they prayed at the Eternal Temple and soon saw recovery. A family living east of the Yellow River also had a sick child who heard about Laogu Temple's miraculous powers and traveled there to make a wish. The child's condition improved as well. Word of Laogu Temple's efficacy spread throughout neighboring areas, leading to an increase in offerings. With more donations coming in, those in charge decided to use these funds to build a larger temple, which became known as the Jade Emperor Pavilion.
However, during a tumultuous historical period, this ancient architectural complex was "destroyed." It is said that when it was torn down, many large snakes emerged from within.
After the reform and opening-up period, local groups raised funds from devout believers to restore some buildings. However, elders noted that although the restoration was done with great care regarding labor and materials, it never captured the original structure's spirit.
Legend has it that when constructing Laogu's Jade Emperor Pavilion, craftsmen from miles around gathered there without pay but were provided food by devoted believers.
One day, an old man arrived at the construction site carrying a broken box. The foreman noticed that this elderly man appeared to be at least eighty years old—thin and frail with cloudy eyes—and trembled as if suffering from palsy. The foreman thought to himself that this old man would be useless for heavy tasks like handling beams or intricate work due to his condition. He pointed dismissively at a pile of tree knots and said, "You can chop those." Then he ignored him completely.
As construction on the Jade Emperor Pavilion neared completion, they encountered a problem: the purlins supporting the eaves were an inch lower than designed, and they were also shorter than expected. The craftsmen looked at each other in confusion while sweat dripped from the foreman's brow. Remembering the old man's task of chopping tree knots, he thought perhaps they could use chopped wood to raise the purlins.
The foreman hurriedly led several workers to gather chopped wood from one corner of the site. Upon arrival, they were stunned—there was no chopped wood! The tree knots remained untouched but were covered with numerous ink lines and circles drawn in various sizes.
Frustrated, the foreman kicked one of the tree knots! With that kick, all the tree knots scattered apart, revealing purlins shaped like dragon heads with thick tails.
Overjoyed, he and his companions quickly gathered all these purlins and brought them back to the Jade Emperor Pavilion. They placed the dragon tails under the eaves while aligning their heads perfectly with the ends of existing beams—just enough to compensate for what was missing. The fit between eaves and dragon heads was seamless and natural.
People suddenly realized that Master Lu Ban had anticipated this matter long ago and had come down to the mortal realm to help resolve it.
It was precisely because deities like Lu Ban descended to assist in the construction of the Jade Emperor Pavilion that its grandeur was unlike any other. People regarded Lao Gu's Jade Emperor Pavilion as one of the Four Great Pavilions of China. These four renowned pavilions are:
Nanchang's Tengwang Pavilion,
Penglai Immortal Pavilion,
Buddhist Fragrance Pavilion in Front of Mount Wanshou,
and Lao Gu's Jade Emperor Pavilion.
In Yichang Village, Mianchi County, Henan, there is also a building named "Jade Emperor Pavilion," which shares an identical story with Annan's Lao Gu Jade Emperor Pavilion.
Anything not witnessed firsthand can only be considered legend. In rural areas, regardless of truth, these tales serve as beautiful spiritual sustenance for the farmers.
Hu Ruoyun included these legends in his works. No matter what, he strives to change the trajectory of his future life. Perhaps, if he achieves greatness, these stories he writes could also promote his hometown.
In Laogu Township, the Jade Emperor Pavilion serves as a cultural center, forming an annual Ancient Fair on the third day of the third month of the Lunar Calendar (the legendary birthday of the Queen Mother). During this fair, three days of grand performances are held, attracting not only locals from Laogu Township but also people from dozens of miles around who bring their families to join in the festivities.
Stalls selling food, trinkets, traditional performances, sugar figurines, comic books for rent, clothing and shoes... fill the streets and alleys.
Residents along the streets of Laogu Township also set up large banquets to host relatives and friends who come to join in the fair.
Gaoqiao Town is adjacent to Laogu Township, connected by a Provincial Road (though it is a dirt road). The teachers also wanted to partake in the lively atmosphere. Hu Ruoyun's Eight Middle School in Annan County even gave the first and second graders three days off.
Hu Ruoyun's home in Hujiazhuang Village is nearly five miles away from Lao Gu; they can only be considered residents of Laogu Township and not part of Lao Gu’s street festivities. On the third day of the third month, they would merely join in for fun and not host guests at home.
However, this year was different. On the last day of the second month of the Lunar Calendar, Third Aunt Zhao Meixia arrived with her child and gifts, having timed her visit to attend the three-day fair at Lao Gu.
Hu Ruoyun's parents felt helpless; it wasn't a fair for Hu Family Village. They wondered what prompted her visit. Yet she came as a guest and brought gifts, so Hu Qihua had no choice but to buy vegetables at Lao Gu Market to entertain them.
During these three days of "March Third" Spring Festival celebrations, Zhao Meirong accompanied her sister Zhao Meixia on a culinary adventure for three days. Additionally, she spent nearly fifty yuan buying a set of clothes for her one-year-old nephew.
On the fourth day of the third month, Third Aunt Zhao Meixia was finally set to leave. However, on the evening of Junior Three, she made a request that left Hu Ruoyun's entire family dumbfounded: she wanted to borrow another 800 yuan!
With a hesitant tone, she explained that the row of brick houses in Gaoqiao Town had been completed, with cement floors and whitewashed walls all done. The only thing left was to pay the construction workers, and her family was in dire straits financially… Thus, she turned to her elder sister and Sister-in-law once again.
Hu Qihua and Zhao Meirong were furious. Was this really a request? It felt more like an unreasonable demand! The main issue was that their own family truly didn’t have 800 yuan to spare.
In the end, it was Zhao Meirong who spoke up: “Third Sister, our family really can’t come up with 800 yuan right now. We barely have over 500 hidden under the bed. Plus, we need to water and fertilize the wheat soon, which will cost nearly 200 yuan. If you don’t mind it being less, I can give you 300 yuan for now. If that’s not enough, you’ll have to think of another way…”
Third Aunt refused: “Sister, if our family doesn’t have enough money, just let my brother-in-law borrow it!”
That was a bit too much.
To be honest, if there were an urgent situation where money was desperately needed, it would be reasonable to borrow from close relatives. However, what Third Aunt was doing felt excessive. Not only did it seem endless borrowing, but it also felt like a sticky plaster that wouldn’t come off: borrowing was non-negotiable!
The first day of the sixth month on the lunar calendar is traditionally when married daughters return home to visit their mothers. Zhao Meirong quietly vented her frustrations about her youngest sister in front of their mother.
Hu Ruoyun, who had been struggling academically, resolved inwardly: it wasn’t just Third Aunt’s lack of understanding; her own parents’ disregard for sisterly bonds stemmed from their poverty!
In today’s rural areas, every household’s grain storage was filled to the brim, yet they couldn’t escape the low grain prices! Meanwhile, prices for pesticides and fertilizers were skyrocketing.
Hu Ruoyun thought: since my studies aren’t going well anyway, could I perhaps find some way to make money by tapping into memories of future opportunities?
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