When the sun reaches the south, the first sign is that earthworms will knot knots, the second sign is that elk horns will fall off, and the third sign is that springs will begin to circulate.
On this day, gentlemen rest and quiet their bodies, officials stop working, and business and travel are prohibited.
Xu Jiang got up before dawn, burned incense and bathed, and offered sacrifices to her ancestors. The only person who enjoyed the sacrifice was her master.
She bowed three times and said with a smile, "Ever since I came to Kyoto to settle down, I've bothered you every time the solar terms come. I'm sure you must have annoyed me a thousand times, so I'm going to burn some incense to apologize and also to let you know that I'm doing well."
"You and I, master and disciple, father and daughter, have been separated by life and death, separated by Yin and Yang. I don't know how you are doing. If you have time, please come back to visit. If you have gone far away, please rest in peace and forget all these things. Don't worry about them."
"Master, I wish you all the best."
A wisp of cigarette smoke swayed upwards, touched the roof, and suddenly dispersed, blowing southward with the north wind.
After the worship, she made two bowls of hot wontons, one for the altar and one for herself. After eating the wontons, her spleen and stomach felt good, and her hands and feet were warm. Then she began to sort out the gifts she would take with her friends when she went out to visit them.
Dongyang wine is indispensable. This wine is usually brewed with red yeast rice or millet. It is red in color and sweet in taste. It can be drunk, cooked, or used as medicine. It has the effect of nourishing and strengthening the body.
In addition to the winter wine, she also steamed rice cakes, radish cakes, and fried chestnut cakes last night. The rice cakes were stamped with the bookstore's seal using red yeast rice, the radish cakes were steamed in teacups, and the words "Winter Solstice" were pressed into them using steamed red beans. The chestnut cakes were wrapped in oil paper, each sealed with the seal.
You can tell at a glance that it is a holiday gift from her bookstore.
She packed up the cakes and winter wine and divided them into covered bamboo baskets according to the number of relatives and friends she was visiting. She sealed the baskets with the words "Winter Solstice" written on red paper. Then she harnessed the donkey to a cart, changed into new clothes, and prepared to go out to pay her respects to the winter solstice.
As she left the house, an oxcart pulled up in front of her shop, with an old man and a young boy sitting on it. The old man was Uncle Cao, and the young man was naturally Lu Zhen. Lu Zhen was wearing a red jacket with rabbit fur trim and a small rabbit fur hat on his head. His face, flushed red by the wind, looked like a little rabbit, very pleasing.
As soon as he saw Xu Jiang, he smiled shyly and called out crisply, "Sister, I wish you a happy winter solstice."
"You are all well too." Xu Jiang walked over, pinched his face, and carried him out of the car. "Walk a few steps for me to see if you are feeling well."
Lu Zhen spun around twice and jumped a few times, just enough to shake off the cold. Xu Jiang held him down and said hurriedly, "It's okay, it's okay. I know you're okay now. Don't jump around too much. The ground is icy. Be careful not to slip and fall."
Uncle Cao said with a chuckle, "Last night he stayed up all night, and no matter how much I tried to persuade him to sleep, he refused to go to bed. This morning, when he saw me leaving for the winter's greetings, he insisted on following me. As soon as I left, he begged me to come to your place first. It's quite a good opportunity. If he had come any later and missed out, he would have been pouting again."
"It's okay. Even if you didn't come, I would still go. I happened to meet you, so I can take the festival gifts back. Please say hello to my aunt and sister-in-law for me." Xu Jiang took out a bamboo basket from the cart and handed it to Lu Zhen, who then took it to Uncle Cao.
"Thank you, boss." Uncle Cao accepted the gift from Xu Jiang, then turned around and took out a wooden box from his cart, handed it to Lu Zhen, and asked him to give it to Xu Jiang.
Lu Xiaotu was happy to run errands.
Xu Jiang saw the wooden box, which was simple and exquisite, and knew it was Cao Shu's work. She praised it, saying, "It's so well made. You really put a lot of thought into it."
"I do this job, so I can't be careless even during festivals. There are so many old customers waiting and watching, I can't be careless." Uncle Cao has always been a serious person. He is very delicate with his hands and cautious in everything he does. He is admirable.
Xu Jiang placed the wooden box in the carriage, then carried Lu Zhen onto the carriage and sat him down. She stroked his furry cap and said to Cao Shu, "Now that Lu Zhen's injuries have fully healed, it's time to get started on his apprenticeship. I'm going to Master Lin's house for a banquet today, and I'll set an auspicious date with him."
The grandfather and grandson were delighted to hear this. Uncle Cao said, "Then we'll trouble you, Master. Shu Xiu's family has already made all the necessary arrangements. As long as the date is set, we can bring Jin'er to your house to become your disciple anytime."
"Okay, then wait for my news."
Since both of them had other ways to go, they didn't delay any longer. After saying goodbye to each other, they went down the street in different directions.
It is said that "Winter Solstice is as important as New Year's Day". As soon as the sky gets bright, the streets are already crowded with cars and people coming and going, all of whom are going out to celebrate the winter solstice.
Xu Jiang went to visit Shopkeeper Wang first, but Shopkeeper Wang left home earlier than her. Fortunately, Qin was at home and came to greet her with her two children. They also exchanged festival gifts with each other.
Qin said, "Sister, come to my house for dinner today. I invited you earlier, but never had the chance. Today is a solar term, so let's kill a sheep and cook a mutton pot."
"I'm afraid I'll be letting my sister-in-law down. I promised to go to Master Lin's house for dinner a while ago. It's hard to refuse an elder's invitation. Let's eat another day. It's so close anyway, so it doesn't matter if we come to your place or mine."
"Why not tomorrow? The last time I went back to my parents' house, I brought back a lot of farm vegetables, including chickens, ducks, geese, and a black sheep. They were all grown and raised at home, so they're fresh."
"That's fine, it's settled."
"Well, seeing as you're going somewhere else, don't delay and go now."
Xu Jiang said goodbye to Qin and the two little ones and went to Qianjin Hall again.
Qianjintang is open for consultations as usual today. According to Doctor Chen, people celebrate holidays, but illnesses don't. If we close the clinic for the holidays, if we encounter an emergency, it will cost lives.
Xu Jiang gave him a festival gift and went to see Jiang Gu again. He was already able to walk, and at this time, wearing the clothes of an apprentice, he was cooking medicinal porridge with several of Master Chen's disciples.
"Oh, the famous Mr. Jiang has changed his appearance and looks like a serious person."
"This young master has turned over a new leaf and is now a serious person." Jiang Gu's voice had improved a little, but when he spoke, his voice was no different from the two geese in Xu Jiang's courtyard. As soon as he opened his mouth, all his disciples laughed so hard that they fell to the ground in laughter.
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