Xiao Yunying first prepared two pots of braising liquid, put the cleaned pig offal, pig trotters and pig tails into them to cook, and asked Luo Chen to watch the fire.
Once the pig's trotters are cooked, remove them and set them aside. Put the remaining offal into the broth and cook.
Many relatives or female relatives who were close to Mu Lianrong, including Aunt Yang and Fang Rou, arrived early to help set up tables and chairs, wash vegetables, and peel potatoes.
Many of the people were unfamiliar to Xiao Yunying, and she greeted them one by one after being reminded by her mother.
With more people, things get done faster, and chatting together gives us a lot of energy.
The local custom is that outsiders are not allowed to enter before the roof beam is completed, to avoid any clashes due to incompatible birth dates. Therefore, no one goes in to cause trouble for themselves or the homeowner.
Cheng Yue put down her congratulatory gift, exchanged a few pleasantries with Xiao Yunying's family, rolled up her sleeves, and began to help. Xiao Yunying couldn't dissuade her, so she simply left her alone and let her do as she pleased.
After stir-frying the base ingredients for braised rabbit, Xiao Yunying put the rabbit meat into the pot. It took a lot of effort to turn over the whole pot of rabbit meat.
After putting the lid on the pot, Xiao Yunying let out a breath: "It feels like a wedding celebration, I'm exhausted."
A woman peeling potatoes nearby overheard this and said, "Of course it's a happy occasion. Building a house is a big deal. Besides getting married, there are things like passing the imperial examination, but building a new house is the biggest happy event."
"Oh, so you know about passing the imperial examination with flying colors."
"Isn't that what they say in plays?"
Someone noticed the hairpin in Mu Lianrong's hair: "Sister-in-law Mu, did you just buy this gold hairpin? It's so beautiful."
Mu Lianrong touched the gold hairpin in her hair, which she had specially saved to wear today: "My daughter bought it for me."
Xiao Yunying's second aunt said to Mu Lianrong, "Sister-in-law, your Yunying is very lucky. She encountered a tiger and was unharmed. It's like God sent her money. You can enjoy the good life with your daughter from now on."
"That's right, my boys are always saying they want to be like Yunying, that they want to be tiger-fighting heroes when they grow up."
Mu Lianrong's mouth almost stretched to her ears: "My daughter is just lucky and filial. She doesn't have any great abilities. She just happened to witness the tiger jumping off a cliff and dying. She can't be considered a tiger-fighting hero."
"Good luck is enough. A while ago, many people went into Xishan to look for snow fungus, but none of them found it. Many people sprained their ankles, and a young woman was even bitten by a snake."
"A person's life is predetermined, and your Yunying has finally reaped the rewards of her hard work."
Cheng Yue nudged Xiao Yunying's arm: "You're quite popular in the village."
Xiao Yunying replied in a low voice, "The men in these relatives' families are helping me build the greenhouse. I'm paying them wages. Can you say I'm doing them a bad job?"
Cheng Yue smiled and said, "I see."
As noon approached, people gradually began to arrive. Xiao Shanhai greeted the male guests, and Mu Lianrong greeted the female guests. They accepted the gifts and returned the red envelopes in family units.
The family who had arranged it yesterday brought over tables and chairs and neatly arranged them on the open space, making a total of twenty tables.
It's said that the whole village is invited to dinner, but few people will send their entire family. Usually, a few representatives are sent, mostly men or elders. Twenty tables are enough.
The gifts given for building a house are not as elaborate as those given for weddings and funerals. Most people bring food, such as homegrown vegetables, dried vegetables, eggs, and some bring rice and flour, hoping for a meal.
The nephews each carried a small basket and distributed pine nut candies to the people.
Mu Lianrong set a limit for them: each person could only receive two pieces. If there were any left over after the others had received theirs, they could be given to the children.
It's not that she's stingy; there are always plenty of adults who love to take advantage of others, grabbing at things every now and then, so no matter how much you buy, it's never enough to go around.
It was almost time, so Mu Lianrong took off Xiao Yunying's apron and pulled Luo Chen, who was still tending the fire, to the offering table that was set up opposite the main gate.
Xiao Yunying stood to her father's left, with the clan elders and other seniors to her right.
Luo Chen read the inscription for raising the main beam meticulously, lit incense as instructed by Xiao Shanhai, and the craftsmen shouted and began to pull up the main beam.
A string of firecrackers was placed on each side of the gate. Xiao Yunying was still listening carefully to the craftsmen singing the roof-raising song when she was suddenly startled and bent over, covering her ears.
Luo Yang stood to the side, holding Luo Xin's hand: "Mother, what's wrong?"
Xiao Yunying patted her chest: "It's nothing, I was just startled."
She discovered that ever since she was struck by lightning and brought into this world, she had become extremely sensitive to sound and was easily startled by sudden noises.
Is this a side effect of being struck by lightning?
Luo Yang lowered his head in thought. The villagers all said that firecrackers were for warding off bad luck and evil spirits...
Once the main beam was successfully installed on the roof of the main house, Luo Chen, the homeowner, removed the red silk and placed a copper coin on each side of the beam to bring good fortune, along with two strings of firecrackers. Only then was the entire beam-raising ceremony considered complete.
The onlookers outside were whispering amongst themselves; none of them had expected Xiao Yunying to put the new house under Luo Chen's name.
After the wooden frame for the roof beam was dismantled, the women went inside to clean up together. The craftsmen and the men who came to eat the feast helped move all the furniture into the new house from the Yang family's house, and placed it in the designated location under Xiao Yunying's arrangement.
After the furniture was moved in and the craftsmen were given red envelopes, bringing the new house project to a perfect conclusion, more than half an hour had passed.
Xiao Shanhai moved several tables into the courtyard, and the banquet officially began after the clan elders and seniors were seated.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
