Because my sister-in-law's son-in-law's parents and relatives were living with my grandfather, there was a guest room next to Xu Qingzhi, and that room was arranged for Huo Fengyan to live in.
The Xu family does not have the tradition of staying up all night to celebrate the New Year. Xu Fuqiang and Wang Yanmei watched TV for a while and then went to take a shower and go to bed.
After twelve o'clock.
In the quiet night sky, fireworks are blooming in the distance.
Fireworks are not something rare. Xu Qingzhi has seen them since he was a child, but he still feels very happy every time he sees them.
She whispered, "Happy New Year, Feng Yan."
Huo Fengyan gently hugged her from behind, "Zhizhi, Happy New Year."
The fireworks in the distance were brilliant, and looked like they were set off in a row. Xu Qingzhi thought to himself, they are so rich.
In previous years, no family had such lavish fireworks. Most families only set off one box, or at most two boxes at a time.
The fireworks slowly rise, reach a high point and then bloom, twinkling like stars in the sky.
Finally, those stars blossomed into seven words.
"Xu Qingzhi, Happy New Year."
Xu Qingzhi's eyes lit up, and he turned around and asked him in disbelief, "Did you arrange this?"
"Well, do you like it?"
Xu Qingzhi nodded, "I like it."
She likes it very much.
Huo Fengyan's eyes were throbbing and his eyelashes were trembling. He held her face lightly with his slender white fingers and leaned over to kiss her lips.
Xu Qingzhi put his hands on his shoulders and closed his eyes.
The fireworks were still being set off in the distance, and gradually, fireworks were also being set off in other places.
Under the sky full of fireworks, the two pounding hearts gradually moved closer.
On the second-floor balcony, Xu Zijun, who had come out specially to watch the fireworks and take pictures, had his ears red and quickly went back to his room.
It's late at night, and you're torturing the dog.
Forget it, my brother-in-law gave me too much, so I’d better not bother him anymore.
Otherwise, with Xu Zijun's personality, he would inevitably shout "Sister!" and then watch his sister get humiliated.
After all, he has always been the one who suffers the consequences since he was a child, and his grandparents always side with his sister.
Wang Yanmei poked her head out from between the curtains, then quietly retracted it, smiling as she closed the curtains. -On the first day of the Lunar New Year, you must get up early to worship the gods.
Wang Yanmei and Xu Fuqiang got up before dawn.
Xu Qingzhi couldn't sleep, not sure if it was because it was too noisy or something else.
It was the same on New Year's Day in previous years. Once it was past midnight, the sounds of fireworks and firecrackers would never stop. They would stop for a while, and then someone would start setting off firecrackers again after a while.
It was even louder at this time in the morning, with the sound of firecrackers going off one after another. Because Meicheng is a hilly area, you can hear them clearly even from a distance.
Xu Qingzhi simply cooked food for the two little ones in the spiritual space, and then watered the fruit trees and vegetable garden in the space with spiritual spring water. When she felt that someone at home had gotten up, she came out of the space, washed up, and went downstairs.
It’s new clothes for the New Year, and Xu Qingzhi’s outfit today is particularly festive.
A red woolen coat with a circle of white rabbit fur along the edge, and a red woolen skirt that goes below the knee.
Use red butterfly hairpins in your hair.
Wang Yanmei saw her coming downstairs and said with a smile: "Oh, our Xu family's little lucky doll is coming downstairs."
Xu Qingzhi clasped his hands and spoke auspicious words: "Happy New Year, Mom. Wish you good fortune and prosperity."
Then he saw Xu Fuqiang who had just come back from the field with some green onions, and he clasped his hands together again: "Dad, Happy New Year, may wealth and prosperity come to you."
"Did you pour the water you used to brush your teeth into the washbasin? Did you tell Xiao Huo?" Wang Yanmei asked.
Xu Qingzhi nodded, "I've told you, don't worry, Mom."
On the first day of the New Year, the Xu family has to collect the water for brushing teeth and washing face in a basin and it cannot be thrown away. This has been the case since he was a child. Xu Fuqiang said that the water was wealth and it could not be thrown away.
All in all, it probably means that you will not lose money in the new year.
Xu Qingzhi certainly didn't believe in these, but she was willing to abide by these customs.
A whole hen was plucked of its feathers, steamed in a pot, and then chopsticks were inserted into its throat to force its head to stand upright, and then placed in a stainless steel basin.
Then I placed the dish on a wooden serving tray that had been used for decades. The ancient purple-red paint on it had fallen off a lot, making it difficult to see the original paint color. It only felt a bit old.
"Auntie, uncle, happy new year." Huo Fengyan also came down from upstairs.
Wang Yanmei saw that Xu Zijun had not come downstairs yet, and subconsciously wanted to yell, but reason prevailed faster than habit, as today was New Year's Day.
She went upstairs and knocked on the door, her voice much gentler than usual: "Zijun, get up and go downstairs, it's time to worship the gods. Don't worry, the whole family is waiting for you."
Xu Zijun immediately threw off the quilt and got up. She gasped and shivered as she put on her clothes while saying, "Got it, Mom. I'll be down soon."
While waiting for Xu Zijun, Xu Qingzhi helped put the plates filled with snacks and fruits on the square high table under the shrine at home.
Light three incense sticks, bow three times to the statues of Bodhisattva and the God of Wealth, and then insert them into the incense burner.
While praying, Xu Qingzhi silently said in his heart: I hope the people I love are happy every day, I hope the country is prosperous and the people are safe, and the world is peaceful.
Light a few red candles and place them on the shrine and in the incense burner on the left side of the entrance.
After Xu Zijun came down and the whole family gathered, Xu Fuqiang held the square wooden tray and walked out the door step by step. He stood on the dam in the courtyard at the gate and raised the square on the wooden tray in his hand above his head.
The wooden plate was very long, wide and heavy, with a chicken standing upright on it. In the past, on the morning of the first day of the new year, my grandfather would hold the wooden plate and the whole family would stand behind him to worship the gods.
Later, after moving to a new house, the person who took care of the recipe became her father.
It was not yet completely light, and there were still a few stars hanging in the hazy black sky. Xu Qingzhi looked up at the chicken head, which was connected with the stars.
Xu Fuqiang was chanting words of respect to the gods.
It is like this every year, and we cannot avoid being careless. We hope that in the new year we will have a happy life, good weather, make more money, and have good health for our family. We sincerely pray to God for a better life in the new year.
After worshiping the gods, Xu Zijun returned to the house and was directed to set off firecrackers.
A roll of firecrackers stretched out on the dam in the yard. He covered his ears with one hand, held a stick of incense in the other, and stretched his arm to light the fuse of the firecrackers.
Soon, the sound of firecrackers popped.
Xu Zijun was unable to dodge and the exploding firecrackers hit his calf. He screamed and quickly ran into the house.
The fruits and snacks under the shrine were brought to the table in the guest room on the first floor.
The square table was covered with a festive cotton cloth, and a birdcage for heating was placed under the table.
Everyone sat together eating fruit and chatting. Wang Yanmei went to cook noodles and reminded them, "Qingzhi, remember to wish Xiao Huo's family a happy new year."
Xu Qingzhi glanced at the time. It was not yet seven o'clock. Considering that it was still early, he sent a text message of New Year's greetings and a New Year's red envelope to Mr. Huo.
(End of this chapter)