第二章 花和尚倒拔垂杨柳

 

第二章  花和尚倒拔垂杨柳

 

次日，众泼皮商量凑些钱物，买了十瓶酒，牵了一个猪来请智深，都在廨宇安排了，请鲁智深居中坐了，两边一带，坐定那二三十泼皮饮酒。智深道：“甚么道理叫你众人们坏钞？”众人道：“我们有福，今日得师父在这里与我等众人做主。”智深大喜，吃到半酣里，也有唱的，也有说的，也有拍手的，也有笑的。正在那里喧哄，只听得门外老鸦哇哇的叫。众人有叩齿的，齐道：“赤口上天，白舌入地。”智深道：“你们做甚么鸟乱？”众人道：“老鸦叫，怕有口舌。”智深道：“那里取这话？”那种地道人笑道：“墙角边绿杨树上新添了一个老鸦巢，每日只聒到晚。”众人道：“把梯子去上面拆了那巢便了。”有几个道：“我们便去。”智深也乘着酒兴，都到外面看时，果然绿杨树上一个老鸦巢。众人道：“把梯子上去拆了，也得耳根清净。”李四便道：“我与你盘上去，不要梯子。”智深相了一相，走到树前，把直裰脱了，用右手向下，把身倒缴着，却把左手拔住上截，把腰只一趁，将那株绿杨树带根拔起。众泼皮见了，一齐拜倒在地，只叫：“师父非是凡人，正是真罗汉身体，无千万斤气力，如何拔得起？”智深道：“打甚鸟紧?明日都看洒家演武，使器械。”众泼皮当晚各自散了。

 

注释：

1．叩齿：上下齿敲击。道家所行的祷告形式之一，认为可以驱祟降妖。民间在遇有不详兆头时，也习用这种方法解之。

2．赤口上天，白舌入地：“赤口”和“白舌”都是指邪气。赤口上天，白舌入地，是祈求神助的咒语，意思是让“赤口”上天，让“白舌”入地，即消除邪气。说这句话之前先要“叩齿”。下文的“怕有口舌”，其中的“口舌”即指“赤口”和“白舌”。

 

 

 

        Next day, after putting their heads together, the hooligans pooled some money and bought ten bottles of wine. Besides, they also brought a pig. Making a good preparation in the official residence, they invited Lu Zhishen to a dinner. Taking a seat in the center with the two to three decades of hooligans sitting along his sides, Lu drank wine joyfully. Zhishen said: “What’s the reason to make you go to this expense?”  The rascals replied: “We are the blessed to have you here to back us up.” Having had a glass too many, Zhishen was delighted with some people singing or talking and others clapping hands or laughing. During their uproarious talk and laughter, they heard some crows crying outside. Some people chattered their teeth and prayed together: “All evil things go away!” Zhishen said: “What the hell are you doing?” They replied: “The crows are crying. We’re afraid evil things will happen.” Zhishen asked: “What do you mean by saying this?” A monk said: “There is a new crow nest in the willow tree at the corner of the walls. The crows cry from dawn to dusk.” Others said: “We’d better find a ladder and climb onto the tree to break it down.” Some people said: “Let’s go and find a ladder.” With tipsy feeling, Zhishen went out to have a look and really found a crow nest in the willow tree. Quite a few people said: “Wait for the ladder and climb onto the tree and break it down so as to make this spot peaceful and quiet.” Li Si said: “I can climb the tree without a ladder.” Having a careful look and stepping up in front of the tree, and taking off his out wear, Zhishen stretched his right hand downward and held  the tree trunk with his left hand,  his body went backward and his waist moved a little, and in the end, the green willow was pull up by the roots.