Li Weidong never dreamed that so many people would come to celebrate the raising of the roof beam of his new house!

Looking around, there were at least several hundred people, a dense and frightening sight.

Zhao Xiulian was also startled: "This is the first time I've ever seen so many people come for the roof-raising ceremony!"

Just then, someone overheard this and turned around to see them. They immediately laughed and said, "After all, in this whole area, your family is the first one to be as fortunate as yours!"

"Everyone, we're all waiting to share in your family's good fortune!"

Zhao Xiulian then realized what was happening, and felt somewhat flattered.

After all, the more people who come to help with the roof-raising ceremony, the better the family's reputation is, and the more face they will have when word gets out.

This scene is probably the first of its kind in the surrounding area!

She laughed, then looked at Li Weidong with some concern: "Weidong, with so many people here, did you buy enough candy?"

It would be embarrassing if there wasn't enough sugar.

Li Weidong laughed too: "Mom, don't worry, there's plenty of candy and coins!"

He had already bought them and placed them in the new house; there were two whole baskets of them!

"Weidong, why are you only arriving now!"

Li Baotian finally saw Li Weidong and hurriedly came over to greet him: "Hurry, hurry, it's almost time, we need to prepare for the roof beam raising, we can't miss the time!"

The others quickly made way for them.

Li Weidong led his family to the front of the new house, and when the time came, he immediately lit the firecrackers he had prepared.

"Let's set off firecrackers!"

Children and timid young women quickly covered their ears and backed away.

Amidst the sound of firecrackers, Li Weidong began the ritual to worship the gods.

The offerings for the gods had been prepared well in advance.

A whole pig consists of a pig's head and a pig's tail.

In addition, there were fish, goose, tofu, eggs, salt, and soy sauce, all placed on a red lacquered wooden offering plate and placed on the top of the altar.

Then twelve more bowls of fruits and dishes were brought out, filling the offering table to the brim.

Those around looked at the offerings and sighed in admiration.

"Wei Dong must be rich to have arranged all the tribute items!"

"So many fruits and vegetables, it must have cost a lot of money, right?"

"When I have money in the future, when I build a new house and raise the roof beam, I will also set up offerings!"

There were rules about the quantity of tribute, but life was tough these days, so usually it was just a pig's tail cut off as a token gesture.

This is the first time I've seen someone like Li Weidong who has prepared a complete set of offerings, including a pig's head, pig's tail, and all the other tribute items.

After the offerings are arranged, it's time to paste the couplets.

Li Weidong took out the couplets he had written and pasted them on the door of the new house.

One of the illiterate people asked curiously, "What does this couplet say?"

Immediately, someone recited: "The raising of the ridge beam coincides with an auspicious day, the erection of the pillars coincides with the Purple Star... What a fine couplet, what a wonderful meaning!"

After pasting up the couplets, Li Weidong hung the red silk on both ends of the roof beam.

At the bottom of the red silk, a copper coin of Emperor Shunzhi was hung on each side, symbolizing 'peace and harmony'.

After all this is done, it is time to recite the inscription for the beam.

The "Raising the Beam Text" is also a text passed down from our ancestors, which is read aloud by the craftsmen building the house.

The entire beam-raising ceremony is considered complete only after the beam-raising incantation has been recited.

One of the more active children couldn't help but shout, "When are you going to throw out the candy?"

By the time the parents tried to cover their mouths, it was too late; everyone burst into laughter.

Li Weidong laughed and pinched his cheek: "They're about to give out candy, so you'd better watch out, or you might miss out!"

He then went inside.

Everyone looked up at the beam.

When Li Weidong carried out a load of sugar, there was an uproar!

"so much?!"

"Two whole baskets, how much did they cost?"

"Wei Dong is the best, so magnanimous!"

"I've lived half my life, and this is the first time I've ever seen so much sugar prepared for the roof beam. Life is finally getting better."

Everyone was deeply moved.

Li Weidong, holding a megaphone, announced loudly, "We'll start distributing candy soon. I bought a lot, everyone will get some. Please don't push or shove, so as not to trample anyone, understand?"

Li Baotian seized the opportunity to speak up: "Wei Dong is generous; everyone gets candy. If anyone pushes or steps on someone, they'll have to pay for their own medical expenses!"

After everyone acknowledged that they understood, Li Weidong had someone light firecrackers.

As the firecrackers went off, he grabbed the candy from the basket and started throwing it down.

The area below immediately became lively, with everyone vying to receive the food.

However, thanks to Li Weidong's prior warning, the scene wasn't too chaotic.

Handfuls of candy mixed with coins were thrown down, and soon those who managed to grab some exclaimed in surprise, "It's White Rabbit milk candy!"

"There's a one-yuan coin! Weidong is so generous!"

Those who didn't manage to grab one immediately became excited, and exclamations of amazement rose and fell.

After all, when raising the roof beam, even if you sprinkle candy, you usually buy some no-name brand, and the coins are all a few cents or a dime, and there are very few of them.

It's unheard of for someone like Li Weidong to use White Rabbit candy and coins that are only 1.5 yuan!

Suddenly, even those who weren't so eager started scrambling to grab it.

Li Weidong stood tall and scattered handfuls of candy and coins into the distance.

Zhao Xiulian secretly handed Li Baotian a pre-packaged bag of milk candy and coins.

"Second Uncle, this one is for you."

Li Baotian was somewhat surprised: "I have one too? I was just worried that I couldn't compete with these young people!"

Zhao Xiulian laughed: "Of course I have some, I prepared it especially for you! To share in the joy."

Li Baotian's old face beamed with joy, and he nodded repeatedly, "Alright, alright, then I'll accept it."

Li Xiaoli, who was standing next to him, took out a peeled milk candy from her pocket and put it in his mouth: "Second Grandpa, try it, this candy is very sweet!"

Zhou Xiaoye also peeled one and gave one to Zhao Xiulian.

Zhao Xiulian was startled, and then the taste of milk candy filled her mouth.

It's sweet, just like life itself, so wonderful!

Once the two baskets of sugar were scattered, the roof-raising ceremony was complete.

Next, all that's left is the renovation.

It's called renovation, but these days there's not much to renovate. Just paint the walls white, lay cement on the floor, let it air dry, and then you can move in.

Although the decoration is simple, it's always a joy to move into a new house.

Li Weidong was beaming with joy. After dropping Zhou Xiaoye and Li Xiaoli off at school, he busied himself tidying up the house so that they could move in as soon as the new house was ready.

But soon he realized something was wrong.

On this joyous day, why does Mom look so worried?

Speaking of this, he thought of something else.

The raising of the roof beam in one's own new house is a joyous occasion, and by all accounts, both the third uncle and the maternal grandfather should be invited.

But when the roof beam was raised yesterday, he only saw his third uncle, not his maternal grandfather.

He was so busy that he forgot about it and only just realized it now.

Li Weidong felt increasingly uneasy, so he simply asked, "Mom, has something happened to my grandpa?"