Lipu Old Street, Lipu Town

Time is carved in the corner, mottled is the memory of it.

Long and narrow aisles, windows engraved with patterns, old houses smoking ... On the black tiles, a ray of sunshine shines, and pedestrians shuttle through the light and shadow, as if walking through the places they have just visited.

This is Lipu Old Street, an ancient market street in Lipu Town. The whole ancient street is neat and clean, emitting a simple and rich style. Because it is located in the traffic artery, the footsteps coming and going have branded the mark of time on the bluestone board.

The market gathered tourists from all directions.

Lipu is an ancient market town. As early as the Southern Song Dynasty, Fang, Jiang, Du and Wang lived here. Later, the ancestors of Wangxing Village crossed the south with the Song Dynasty and moved here to settle down. At that time, the village was called Lipu.

Lipu has been a transportation hub since ancient times, from Wenzhou in Nantong to Ningbo and Shaoxing in the north. According to the genealogy of King Lipu, "Out of the county seat, crossing the Yangqiao (the upper pontoon bridge) and heading east for 30 miles, there is a township named Lipu. Located at the foot of Nanshan, it is divided into two roads: one is warm, the other is gold, and it enters from Xinting Bridge; First, Ning, Shao Zhijin, entered from Fuhu Rock. " The two roads merged here, and Lipu Old Street became a throat artery.

People coming and going brought business opportunities, and the old street later developed into a well-known rural market. "The first shop, as far away as Anhui, Jiangxi, Hunan, Hubei, Fujian to this person, as close as Jin, Lan, Dong, Yi, Yong, Wu and Puyang to this person. The city is lined with dust and is an adjacent crown. " (From the story of Lipu Market) The north-south old street became the main market in Dongyang Jiang Nanan in the middle of Qing Dynasty. It was still called Lipu City in the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, and it was renamed Lipu City in the Guangxu period, and it was called Lipu Street by the people. This name has been used to this day. Because of the prosperity of Lipu Street, this name even became the code name of Lipu Village. Today, the old Lipu people still call Lipu Village Lipu Street.

In the article "The Story of Lipu Market" written in the thirty-fifth year of the Republic of China, it was recorded: "On the 147th of each month, nine markets will be opened. Habitual comings and goings, buying and selling, picking and picking, Gu Mi, hulled oats, cloth, silks and satins, farm tools, tools, magnetic tools, ironware, pigs, cattle, sheep, chickens, ducks, fish, turtles, vegetables and fruits, as thick as straw sandals and mats, as thin as hemp thread, silk floss, tin foil and candles. When Ruofu harvested in autumn, many rice cutters camped out, and the vegetables could be sold when they were ripe. The crowd of salt was very large. There are dozens of products on the market, dozens of Yalang (similar to brokers), hawker tea soup, wine syrup, and Beijing-Guangzhou foreign goods. "

Before and after liberation, Lipu Street was once prosperous until the next day was market day, and the mantissa of the lunar calendar was single, so merchants from all over the world crowded Lipu Street.

There are still shops in Lipu Street today, but there are not many. We can only simulate the prosperous scene of that year from the mouth of the older generation. "It takes an hour to walk this 200-meter-long old street." Fang Gongfang, 77, recalled that the 3-meter-wide old street was crowded with people, which could really be described as rubbing shoulders. Shops on both sides of the old street can't sell things in the street at all, they can only be placed in the shop, otherwise it will affect the passage of pedestrians. "In the 1950s, the old street was very famous, and businessmen from surrounding counties and cities would come here to do business." Gong Fang imitated this theory.

The custom of the ancient street was born in two temples.

Lipu Street is divided into three parts by local people. There are two temples in Shangjie, Zhongjie and Xia Jie, which cannot be ignored. Shang Jie's He Ling Temple, commonly known as the Upper Temple, was built for Emperor Gong Hu and is still well preserved, while the temples in Xia Jie have changed. Not only is the temple gone, but even its name is gradually forgotten, only that it is a treasure hall.

These two temples are not only the landmark buildings of Lipu Street, but also closely related to the folk cultural activities in Lipu area.

Lipu Street has two lively time points, one is the sixth day of the ninth lunar month, and the other is around the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

The sixth day of the ninth lunar month is the temple fair of He Ling Temple, which is jointly organized by 18 villages nearby. According to legend, He Ling Temple was built by Babao in the fifth year of Tianshun in Ming Dynasty (A.D. 146 1). Eighteen guarantees refer to Lipu, Chang Gung, Zhengdian, Matoufang, Yuqian, Hubei, Zhouzhi, Jiangtan, Wangzhaiqian, Xu Shang, Shangbutou, Xucun, Zhangdian, Songzhai, Xue Cun, Shannan, Xiaoguantian and Tahu 18 villages. "In fact, every village has temples, and each temple has its own traditional programs. Four villages don't hold temple fairs because of their small population, and 14 larger villages hold temple fairs, but 18 He Ling Temple Fair jointly organized by National Insurance Company is the most lively. " According to the memory of the older generation, there will be a ceremony to worship Emperor Gong Hu on this day, with a bullfight in the morning and an opera in the afternoon. There are at least forty or fifty cows in eighteen villages, and its grand occasion can be imagined.

There is also a grand occasion in Lipu Street, that is, welcoming dragon lanterns.

According to the old farmer's memory, before liberation, on the 14th and 18th day of the first month, the Dragon Lantern Festival in 14 villages went to He Ling Temple in Lipu Street to worship Buddha. After worshipping Buddha, fourteen Wolong will turn to the lampstand in turn. On that day, the villagers in Lipu helped the elderly, took care of the young and looked at the lights in the street and in front of the shops. In front of the He Ling Temple, there was a sea of people, and firecrackers rang through the sky. Wherever the lamp holder goes, there are incense tables in front of farm shops and factories and enterprises. After the prayer, the householder will issue a red envelope to the lampholder and pray for God's blessing.

"The dragon lantern goes out from the street, east to the road behind the street, south to the next street, and finally back to the street." Fan Zongqi, a 67-year-old villager from Lipu, vaguely remembers the route of welcoming the lights at that time.

Later, after several changes, the fourteen dragon lanterns of Lipu Eighteen Treasures gradually became less and less, and finally there was only one dragon lantern left in Lipu Village. In recent years, I haven't even danced. "Young people don't like to play dragon lanterns, so they stop when no one lifts them." Xu Jingui, the old village party secretary of Lipu Village, said with regret.

Three old crafts are accompanied by the changes of old streets.

Prosperous business makes handicrafts take root here. Three of them continue to this day, such as hooping barrels, ironing, and repairing shoes. In the past, you could find three kinds of handicrafts everywhere, but now you can only find one or two in the old street.

If it weren't for the shoe repair machine in front of the store, it would be hard to see that this two-bedroom store is actually a shoe repair shop. The shop is deserted, only the shoemaker Huang Dahua and another old lady are chatting. The machine that has been wiped clean seems to be useless for a long time.

"In the past, mending shoes was very popular. There are six or seven shoe repair shops in the old street. Although the competition is fierce, the income is considerable. " Huang Dahua admits that at that time, the concept of "small holes don't make up, big holes suffer" was deeply rooted in people's hearts, and people's income was much lower than now. Most people can only buy cheaper shoes, which are of poor quality and will break down after wearing for a while, thus driving the shoe repair business. Recalling the "golden age" of shoe repair, the smile on Huang Dahua's face never disappeared.

"Now, on the morning of market day, there will be several people to mend shoes. Shoes are cheap. If they break, throw them away. Shoes are getting more and more boring. " Huang Dahua, 7 1 year old, as the only cobbler left in the old street, is very confused.

Now there is only one blacksmith shop, which is located in a small house in Xia Jie. The word "blacksmith shop" above the gate has become mottled. In the darkroom, He Guo Yue, who is in his fifties, is working while the iron is hot. He bluntly said that although there are fewer shops, the business is still very good, and many villagers play farm tools. Every day, he is busy from four or five in the morning to eat in the afternoon. He said that there used to be a farm tool factory in Lipu, which brought together blacksmiths in Lipu like an organization. Later, the factory closed down and the blacksmith retired. Not many people persisted, and now he is the only one left.

Among the three old crafts, hoop barrels are the most popular. There used to be thirty or forty people engaged in this business in Lipu Old Street, but now there are only two, and Hu Fuxing is one of them. His shop is very small, only a dozen square meters, full of wood, sawdust and barrels. "In the past, we all took tools to the streets and made buckets at home. We can make several barrels a day. " Hu Fuxing said that all the people in Lipu Old Street are from Yongkang, because the market here is lively and the business is good, so these people settle here and support their families by craft. "The business in Lipu Street is booming, and fewer people go to the market, so they go out of business." He said.

The three old crafts, like witnesses, flourished because of the prosperity of Lipu Street business, and declined because of the shift of Lipu business focus and the change of people's living habits.

Four ancient houses guard the fate of the old street.

In addition to old memories, there are old buildings in the old street. Near Lipu Old Street, there are four ancient buildings, which are distributed in four corners of the old street, like four donkey kong guarding the old street. "In the past, there were four brigades in Lipu Village. These four buildings belong to a brigade, just like the heirloom of each brigade. " Fan Zongqi said.

Just like the old man, the ancient buildings that grew up with the old street have experienced the vicissitudes of time and come to different endings.

The first to reach the finish line was Guangchengtang, an old house in the southeast of Laojie, which was destroyed by a fire in 1985+02. Then, the fifth hall opposite it came to an end.

Wufentang means a house where five families live. According to the data, Wufentang was built in the middle of Qing Dynasty, covering an area of 952 square meters, facing south. There are three entrances in front of and behind the building, and the width of each entrance is three bays. According to records, the most striking thing about the Fifth Hall is the hall, which is fat, tall and open. Almost every girder has a whole row of bucket arches, and the overall momentum is spectacular. Cowlegs, sparrows, etc. They are exquisitely carved, with beautiful lines, and many purlins are exquisitely carved, and the content is as exquisite as nine lions playing ball; There is a melon-shaped column base and a hexagonal basin cover under the eaves column. Unfortunately, the hall has been demolished and a new house has been built on the original site, leaving only the outer wing.

The residents of Lipu Street are mainly surnamed Wang, but there is a family on the northwest side of the old street, all of whom belong to Zhu. The name here is Zhu Ting. Zhu Ting's past can't be tested, but now the house is dilapidated, the walls are tilted, and the interior has been transformed, blending ancient and modern styles. Through the arches and tiles in the corner, we can also piece together some past appearances of this Zhujiajian family.

Perhaps the luckiest of the four buildings belongs to Jihuai Hall. Located in the southwest of Laojie, this building in the early Qing Dynasty is currently under repair. The wooden components of the building, such as brackets, arches, birds, etc., carve animals, flowers, dragons, palindromes, etc., with exquisite carving techniques. The material of Jihuaitang is thick, and the brick facade and the sill window of the wing are very fine.

Although it is being repaired, the momentum of Jihuaitang is still amazing. The pillars in the hall are not only big and tall, but also have fat beams, which are very imposing. This domineering temperament is rare.

There is another place in Jihuaitang that the old Lipu people never forget, and that is the stage. "The first entrance is the patio, the second entrance is the central hall, and the third entrance is the rain platform, which is a stage." Fan Zongqi recalled that the special feature of this stage is that its audience is on both sides of the stage, and all the audience need to watch the play sideways. "I remember that in the era after liberation, there were often movies, and there were people selling tickets there. There may be hundreds of people watching a play. " During the Cultural Revolution, a theater was built near Lipu Bus Station, and the stage of Jihuaitang gradually withdrew from the historical stage.

A hundred years have witnessed the changes of the old street.

This is an antique old commercial street. After a hundred years of washing, the dense storefronts on both sides have different styles, reflecting the changes of this old street for a hundred years. From the ancient retail market, to the supply and marketing cooperatives in the planned economy period, to the retail market in the market economy period, and now has lost its position as a commercial center, this market has quietly changed with the times.

Before liberation, the old street was a department store street with many food shops, rest shops, cigarette shops, tea shops, iron shops, hotels and so on. People can do business, buy daily necessities, and everything can be realized. After liberation, with the development of pig industry in Lipu, there is another pig market in Lipu Old Street.

"At that time, farmers in Yamaguchi village and Yue Ling were particularly famous for their pigs. It is said that the piglets there are big and easy to sell, and everyone raises pigs. " Fan Zongqi recalled that at that time, except for bachelors, almost every household kept one or two pigs and sold two batches a year. Everyone takes care of raising pigs while farming, and the manure produced by raising pigs is taken to the supply and marketing cooperative as fertilizer in exchange for work points.

Later, due to its rapid development, the pig market moved to the back of He Ling Temple. This market, with an area of only two or three hundred square meters, was very popular at that time. The daily trading volume of each market exceeds 100.

In the 1990s, the seedling industry replaced the pig industry, and the pig market gradually withdrew from the historical stage. The completion of the vegetable market has become a turning point in the old street. The business center of Lipu Village has also moved from the old street to the periphery of the vegetable market, and the reform of supply and marketing cooperatives has completely ended the glory of the old street.

The old street polished by time is less impetuous and more indifferent. But the old street is not old, it is a classic.