Chapter 126 Chinese New Year
As soon as Sheng An returned to the small building, Grandma Sheng immediately called out to her, "The paper money is almost burned out. Go inside and kowtow to your ancestors so that they can bless you with all the best."
Before moving here, Xu Chenglin had a carpenter build a shrine with three incense burners on it. Incense was burning in the shrine at the moment, and the room was filled with the smell of incense.
Sheng An went in as instructed to kowtow to the ancestors, but it was just a formality; she didn't have any wishes that the ancestors needed to fulfill for her.
After she finished paying respects to her ancestors and burned all the paper money, a lively burst of firecrackers rang out in the courtyard.
Sheng An walked to the door and stood side by side with Xu Jinnian.
Looking at the firecracker casings flying everywhere in the thick smoke, a bright smile appeared on her face: "These firecrackers are really loud, they will definitely bring good luck in the coming year."
The last time I visited my aunt, she complained about my uncle, saying that the firecrackers he bought for Chinese New Year last year were no good; they only went off a few times after being lit.
That's why she didn't receive the protection of the Zhang family ancestors, and that's why she was pushed and ended up with a bloody head.
Xu Jinnian brushed away the crumbs that had fallen on Sheng An's shoulder, his eyes, as cold as stars, looking deeply at her: "I will."
May you be safe, sound, and free from worries, and may all your wishes be fulfilled.
The worship ceremony went smoothly, and everyone was very happy.
At the dinner table, Xu Chenglin took out his treasured wine that he had kept for many years: "This was a gift from an old friend. I've kept it for ten years and I couldn't bear to drink it."
Grandpa Sheng also enjoyed this kind of wine, and his eyes lit up as he looked at the wine jar: "The longer the wine is stored, the better it tastes. Today, this old man is in for a treat."
Xu Chenglin laughed heartily, deftly unsealed the wine, and the room was immediately filled with the aroma of wine; one could tell it was good wine without even tasting it.
For the first time, Sheng An was lured by the aroma of the wine, and his eyes lit up as he looked at the wine jar: "Father, is this wine intoxicating?"
Xu Chenglin picked up the wine jar and poured the first drop into the bowl in front of her: "Whether it's intoxicating or not, you'll know after you taste it."
Smelling the rich aroma of the wine, Sheng An picked up her chopsticks, dipped some in, and put it in her mouth. A fiery sensation spread across her tongue, making her eyes redden. "Oh dear, I'll only drink the bottom of the bowl at most."
She thought that after months of practicing her drinking skills, she could drink a bowl of this wine, but she didn't expect that this jar of wine, which had been treasured for ten years, would be so strong. She couldn't handle it after just one sip.
Everyone was amused by Sheng An's appearance, and Grandma Sheng quickly ladled her a bowl of soup: "Fill your stomach first, you can't drink it directly."
Sheng An picked up the bowl and took a big gulp, barely suppressing the spiciness in her mouth: "I dare not drink more."
Xu Chenglin poured wine for Grandpa Sheng and Grandma Sheng one by one, and also poured half a bowl for Xu Jinnian: "You will be driving the donkey cart to take your grandparents back to the village to pay respects to their ancestors later, so please drink less wine at this meal."
Xu Jinnian naturally had no objection. He took the wine jar from his father and poured him more than half a bowl: "You are getting old, and you just had a serious illness at the beginning of the year. You need to be more restrained when drinking."
Xu Chenglin glared and puffed out his beard: "I'm in great shape, you just want to keep it for yourself!"
Xu Jinnian ignored his childish father, resealed the jar, and placed it behind Sheng An: "Hide the rest of the wine for your father. Give him no more than half a bowl each month."
Sheng An suppressed a laugh and readily agreed, "Yes, I promise I won't let Dad find it."
Xu Chenglin pretended to be angry and glared at his daughter-in-law: "That boy is a scoundrel, why do you listen to him so much?"
Sheng An blinked and gently comforted her father-in-law, "Jin Nian is thinking about your health. If he ignores it, he will only harm you."
Xu Chenglin snorted: "You just keep spoiling him."
He said that, but he was secretly very pleased.
His son and daughter-in-law are both filial children; how could he not know this at his age?
He only hopes that the young couple can give him a grandson or granddaughter soon, then he will have no regrets in this life.
Amidst laughter and cheerful conversation, the family enjoyed the most lively New Year's Eve dinner of their lives.
After resting for a while after the meal, Xu Jinnian went to the stable to hitch up the donkey cart and took Sheng An and the two elders of the Sheng family to Huai Shu Village to pay respects to their ancestors.
The Sheng family was small. In the generation of Sheng's grandfather, he was the only male heir. In the generation of Sheng's mother, there were no male heirs. In the third generation, Sheng An was the only male heir.
The ancestors of the Sheng family are buried in the Sheng family's land, in fewer than ten mounds of earth of varying sizes.
Compared to the dozens of mounds of earth in the neighboring field, it's pitifully few.
The four people arranged the offerings in front of the ancestral grave, then blew on the tinderbox to start burning paper money.
This year, the Sheng family elders made some money, and they bought several bundles of paper money, which they specially burned in front of each grave.
The two elders were muttering incantations, all asking their ancestors to bless the young couple.
The firelight illuminated their incredibly devout faces, and the ashes on the ground swirled gently, as if in response to their prayers.
Sheng An and Xu Jinnian arrived at Sheng's mother's grave carrying a pile of paper money. Seeing a few hardy weeds growing on the grave mound, the two reached out and pulled them out in unison.
Sheng An had never met his mother in either of his lives. Looking at the woman buried in the grave in front of him, he felt more sympathy and regret for her death in childbirth at such a young age.
Xu Jinnian thought his wife was upset, so he squeezed her hand and said, "If your mother-in-law is watching over us from heaven, she would surely want you to come and visit her with a smile."
Sheng An said softly, "She loves her daughter very much."
Despite having such an unreliable husband, she still tried her best to keep the baby in her womb, making sure she ate enough every day. During childbirth, she had a difficult labor and cried, begging the midwife to save the baby.
Grandma Sheng told her all of this.
If she had met a reliable husband, this woman would not have left her beloved daughter to die tragically, and the three of them would not have had such a difficult time in those years.
Watching the pile of paper money turn to ashes, the couple stood up and extinguished the remaining fire completely before turning around and heading back to the village with the two elders of the Sheng family.
As soon as they arrived at the door of their old house, Zhang Zhaodi, who had seen them first, quickly came to greet them: "I knew you would come back. Come with me to my house and have some hot tea."
Grandpa and Grandma Sheng were a little embarrassed: "No need, we'll just look at the house and leave."
Zhang Zhaodi smiled and said, "It's still early. You can come to my house after you've looked at the house. It's so cold outside, you should definitely come in and sit for a while."
Seeing the grandparents hesitate, Sheng An advised, "Zhao Di is not an outsider, let's go over and sit down, and take a look at the bamboo weaving she has made."
When the topic of bamboo weaving came up, Zhang Zhaodi said excitedly, "I have already made five pairs. Two of them were made with my grandfather, and I think they are better than the previous two."
Zhang Zhaodi had previously composed two pieces of calligraphy. One was bought by Sheng An and given to Master Jiang by Xu Jinnian as a birthday gift. The other was a custom-made piece called "Xiangchun" for Ye Yunhua.
Both of these paintings sold for a high price of twenty taels of silver.
Having said all that, Grandpa Sheng and Grandma Sheng did not refuse Zhang Zhaodi's kindness. After inspecting the old house and confirming that there was nothing that needed repair, they went to Zhang's house.
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