Chapter 8, The Eucharist

One, Two, Three, ..., Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen

After the conclusion of the communion ceremony, everyone praised the deity in charge of the twelfth month in unison, and lined up to return the utensils to the woman with the surname Li and Ren Jie

Ren Jie walked up to Shang Jianyao, smiling gently and said

He, still wearing that dark green thick cotton coat, took his plastic lunch box and walked out of the room towards Area C

Long Yuehong glanced at him while walking alongside him and asked

He first glanced at the nearby cold, dark metal walls, then raised his head to gaze at the sky above

They are all very delicious

Shang Jianyao pondered briefly and said

You have learned the way to pay respects, which is to imitate the gentle rocking motion of holding a baby. The corresponding phrases can be categorized into three main types: when discussing death or passing, one says 'Ultimately, all returns to the Master of Fate'; when referring to the nobility of life or the grace of our Lord, one uses 'Praise Your Tolerance'; and when it involves new life, one may say 'New life is like the sun' or 'Life is of utmost importance'

Moved! Shang Jianyao held the bowl in one hand, raised the other hand, and wiped the corner of his mouth again

Upon returning home, Shang Jianyao walked to the sink, picked up a tube of toothpaste that seemed to be reduced to a mere thin layer, and after much effort, finally squeezed a small amount onto his sparsely bristled toothbrush

After each feeding, the infant should be held upright for 20 to 30 minutes

Shang Jianyao's eyes flickered slightly as he spoke

Questioning the meaning of life

Add more to the Holy Communion

It is very delicious

Shang Jianyao fell silent for two seconds and then said

The countless brilliant points of light resemble the stars described in textbooks, forming one galaxy after another, while these galaxies constitute multiple river systems

Rest assured, this is all very simple. I, the Master of Destiny, am the true deity who governs time and do not concern myself with such matters, nor do I adhere to unnecessary formalities

Ren Jie slowed her speech and said

Ren Jie opened her mouth but said nothing

Shang Jianyao did not ask any further questions and turned to leave Room 35 in Area A

Everyone may leave. The merchant Jian Yao will stay, as the 'Guide' has something to say to him

Ren Jie and the woman with the surname Li said nothing more, returned to the bedside, divided the remaining black sesame paste, slightly lowered their heads, and spoke in a low voice:

After diligently brushing his teeth and washing his face, he noticed that the ceiling was still dimly lit. He then sat down at the wooden table, leaned back against the chair, and closed his eyes

There are boundaries between these "galaxy"-like star clusters, yet they are not so distinct

This concludes today

It is getting late, and we need to return home before the streetlights come on

Similar items, including ordinary snacks, require 60 contribution points for one pound, which is even more expensive than pork

The woman with the surname Li paused for a moment, then asked:

Today the allocation results will be announced... Long Yuehong deliberately waited for Shang Jianyao on this road, hoping to have someone share the tension in her heart

Shang Jianyao thought for a moment and said

After a normal person learns about the definition of "Zhi Sui," they would certainly think there are twelve of them, but in fact, there are not. Ren Jie smiled and said, "There are a total of thirteen Zhi Sui, among which one represents the leap month, the Zhi and Tu Shu Sui. Hehe, in places where the leap month is not mentioned, He symbolizes the entire year.

After waiting for a while, Shang Jianyao saw that the outside world suddenly became bright.

Aunt Ren, how many people are there in total who are of age?

... ...

That is the aroma of sesame and sugar mixed together

The underground building has welcomed the dawn

Praise for your tolerance

After speaking, she and the woman with the surname Li entered the room through the passageway.

Praise your tolerance! Before Shen Du and others could speak, Shang Jianyao had already stretched out his arms, mimicking the gentle rocking of a baby, appearing very enthusiastic

Ren Jie’s voice resonated softly in the room, and Shen Du and others listened with great attentiveness, occasionally taking out the paper and pens they had prepared in advance to jot down what they considered important points

On the first day of December, there will be a grand ceremony to welcome the arrival of my Lord of Destiny, and on the last day of December, there will also be a grand ceremony, may my Lord open the gates to the new world

As for high-end goods, they are approximately 720 points per pound, while Shang Jianyao spends only 8 to 10 points on breakfast each day

What suggestions do you have for us

This is today's communion, black sesame paste

Indeed. Shang Jianyao looked ahead and saw a woman at the doorway of the room gently coaxing a crying baby.

The fluorescent lights on the ceiling of the street illuminated simultaneously

Shang Jianyao maintained the same posture as at the beginning, gazing intently at Ren Jie, though his eyes seemed to have lost some focus

"... ... What else?" The woman with the surname Li forced a smile as she spoke

Feeding should occur before the infant experiences extreme hunger

You have just joined the congregation and need to quickly master the knowledge related to prayer

We place the utmost importance on the birth of infants and the departure of the deceased; therefore, our formal rituals or religious ceremonies are held when a new life reaches its first month or during the burial of the deceased, while similar sermons are conducted at irregular intervals.

... ...

After finishing his meal, he glanced around and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand

Shang Jianyao nodded, indicating that he was listening

Shen Du and others left one after another, while the woman with the surname Li, along with her husband, entered the inner room holding the tableware

Praise for your tolerance

What is His esteemed title?" asked Shang Jianyao.

The woman with the surname Li observed the changes in Shang Jianyao's expression and smiled as she asked a question

We do not have a fixed time for prayer, but we often choose the early morning, just after waking, to express our gratitude to the deity of fate for allowing us to continue living

thirteen

The remaining congregation was stunned for two seconds, but ultimately imitated Shang Jianyao, standing side by side with their arms crossed, bending their elbows, and gently swaying as they said, "We praise your tolerance"

I had a nightmare last night

As a newly initiated member, Shang Jianyao was the last to receive a portion after Ren Jie and the woman with the surname Li. The scoop was quite substantial, nearly filling the small bowl in his hand

Every time she gives something to someone, she always says a phrase

The rich aroma quickly wafted into Shang Jianyao's nose, prompting him to involuntarily raise his right hand and wipe the corner of his mouth

His expression changed in an instant, resembling someone deep in thought while also revealing a hint of confusion

What is wrong with you

After carefully tasting a spoonful, Shang Jianyao paused slightly, then swiftly scooped the black sesame paste, continuously bringing it to his mouth

Shang Jianyao responded with unparalleled sincerity

Destination: "Supply Market"

I commend your tolerance

The communion seems to have been prepared long ago, slightly cool to the touch, but this does not affect its flavor, which is rich, sweet, and possesses the unique essence of sesame

Basically, that's it. As for the communion, it varies each time; it could be black sesame paste, or it might be milk, juice, soy milk, meat broth, vegetable soup, or yogurt. Hehe, have you noticed their commonality

There is no need for reservation; since we have joined the congregation, we are all family, and there is nothing that cannot be said among family.

The distribution of the Holy Communion by Ren Jie is, to some extent, equivalent to the embodiment of the "Zhi Sui" (the deity in charge of the year's fate), thus, "you" refers to the deity in charge of fate, rather than Ren Jie

What are your thoughts on attending the gathering for the first time

Ren Jie shook her head

Shang Jianyao replied earnestly

The unequal ratio of the merchant's opening was pointed out by Ren Jie as she gestured towards the door.

He raised his hand and pinched his temples on both sides before lowering it again

On the way, Shang Jianyao encountered Long Yuehong, who lived not far from the area. It was evident that the latter had woken up early and did not have to queue at the public restroom.

The woman with the surname Li could not help but cough

After twenty to thirty minutes, Ren Jie stopped and glanced over the crowd, saying:

Soon, the woman with the surname Li distributed the utensils to everyone, while Ren Jie held a semi-transparent plastic container in one hand and a soup spoon in the other, scooping the dark food inside into the bowls and lunch boxes of the followers, one spoonful for each person

In less than a minute, they came out one after the other, one carrying various utensils, including small bowls, large bowls, as well as plastic lunch boxes and porcelain spoons, while the other held a cylindrical large container filled with dark substances

When it was Shang Jianyao's turn, the woman with the surname Li asked with a smile

Those who receive the Holy Communion will solemnly respond

The next is the final segment, the Eucharist

Isn't it very moving

It is necessary to brush your teeth in advance

I am also unclear; we believe in the God of Fate and do not need to understand other deities of time

With the aid of the flashlight, he returned to No. 196 in Area B along the same route. Each time he approached an intersection, he imitated Shen Du, turning off the flashlight and passing close to the wall

When, when, when, he did not spare even those that were stuck to the bowl's wall, scraping it clean.

"This is today's communion, black sesame paste," Ren Jie said as usual

In the vast hall densely populated with "stars" above, the figure of Shang Jianyao emerged

Ren Jie maintained her smile, "They are all liquid foods or close to liquid foods, and liquid food is the main sustenance for new life and the dying."

Shang Jianyao glanced back but did not take a step forward; instead, he asked:

Alright, you may go back

The above are the teachings of the deities

... ...

He fell silent, his figure gradually fading away, disappearing into the hall that encompassed the stars.

Shang Jianyao had long counted how many "Galaxies" there were here, and now he began to count silently once again

She glanced at the old electronic watch on her wrist and said

Everyone echoed in agreement and then began to partake in the Holy Communion