Chapter 1 (1/2)

Chapter 1

The Sin of Purple Rice Dumpling

Hu Sha died when she was only 15 years old.

Her parents had been busy planning for her marriage from when she was only 13.  At that time, exchanging the portrait of oneself with each other was a norm between young men and women.  If you see any portrait that you like, you only need to say so.   So every day, a huge number of scrolls will be presented before Hu Sha, asking her which one she preferred.

Hu Sha will smile and says, “No one is as good as an immortal.”

That was the truth, how can ordinary people be as attractive as immortals.  Her parents thought she wants one with unrivaled face, and from then on, continue to pathetically exert more efforts to find her the one she wants.

At early spring, when she was 15 years old, her mother secretively pulled her into a room.  This time, there is only one scroll in her hand.  She carefully opens it for Hu Sha to see.  The man in the painting wore a robe with wide sleeves while a tall headpiece is worn on his head, indeed is handsome in a startling way.

“If even he does not appease you, there’s no one out there who can,” her mother sighed.

Therefore, Hu Sha had to agree.  Their two families discussed about their betrothal and in the end decided to hold the wedding on the fifth month.  Such a pity Hu Sha had to die before meeting that gorgeous husband of hers.

Speaking about her death, Hu Sha can’t help but be embarra.s.sed.

Her father is a Fire Taoist Priest.  For as long as Hu Sha can remember, their lives had always been full off Taoist scriptures and secret books about alchemy.   Regardless if she was willing or not, she was made to wake up early every morning and dedicate a portion of her day presenting joss sticks to the celestial beings above.

That day, for which celestial fairy was the offering for, she did not know.  All she knows was that, on the offering table, there was a bowl of her favorite dessert, purple rice dumplings.

She looked left and right, both her parents weren’t there. She took one and put it directly into her mouth.

She suddenly heard the faint sound of someone coughing, she looked up in uncertainty and saw the painting of a celestial being of which the offering is dedicated to.  The celestial deity with white beard inside the portrait was holding two pieces of purple rice dumplings, his beard trembling with every bite he took while purple rice trickled down his beard.

She froze, and the celestial in front seemed to have noticed her as well.  He raised his white eyebrows, appearing to be in similar state of shock, before the shock turned to shame, and then to anger.  His flipped his sleeve violently before disappearing into the paper.

Because Hu Sha was so shocked, the purple dumpling inside her mouth got stuck in her throat.  No matter how she pull, slap, hit and roll, the dumpling remains there, neither spit out nor swallowed.

So in the end, she died from choking.

The weather is so good.  Auntie Lu who sells buns woke up early.  She opens the door and take a basket of her steaming hot buns out with her.   She glance at a certain distant summit idly, just like how she and everybody around her always do.

Even though this land is spring all year round, that particular mountain is an exception.  The peak will be covered in constant ice.  According to folktales, celestial beings all lives at the peak of that mountain, eating winds and drinking dews.   The mortal people rarely see them, but often receives their blessings.

Auntie Lu recite a prayer to the deities, put down her basket neatly and was just about to promote her buns when she hears the soft sound of footsteps behind her.   “Little Hu Sha, why did you wake up so early today?