The Year of the Dog had an extra April, so by the time the Dragon Boat Festival arrived it was already the end of June.
A few days ago, Zhou Jiao prepared the rice dumplings and various fillings early.
Once her youngest son goes abroad in August, she won't know if she can return for next year's Dragon Boat Festival. Furthermore, Dragon Boat Festival is also her and her father's birthday.
This year is even more special because it is her father's 66th birthday.
As the saying goes, "On the sixty-sixth day, eat a piece of meat; on the seventy-seventh day, eat a chicken; on the eighteenth day, eat an old duck."
In addition to preparing the rice dumplings, she also prepared a piece of meat weighing six pounds and six ounces according to custom.
Last night, hehe...
She began to carefully wrap 68 small dumplings. After offering one to heaven and one to earth, there were 66 small dumplings left.
In order to wish her father a long life, Zhou Jiao was so crazy that she woke her father up at one in the morning and insisted that Zhou Xiaozheng bite him one by one.
If she could, she would certainly want her father to eat them all. But it really couldn't be possible. No matter how small the 66 dumplings were, if her father were to eat them all in one go, he would definitely be stuffed!
The reason why she was so particular was because in this year, there was a saying among the people that "crossed the embankment".
People believe that 66 years old is a difficult hurdle in life.
According to the old Beijing saying, the only way to pass this test is to eat the six pounds and six ounces of meat given by his daughter. Therefore, Zhou Jiao didn't care about anything and just did as she was told.
It is said that during this year, one must wear a red belt given by his daughter, and on his birthday, one must write a petition to the Ten Kings of Hell, who are in charge of life on earth, praying for increased blessings and longevity.
They also have to fold yellow paper into a large sheet and burn it together with the lanterns. When sending the lanterns, they also have to throw some cash on the street for anyone to pick up. It is said that whoever picks it up will have their disasters warded off.
So after the fourth night of the New Year, in the early morning of June 25th, the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, Zhou Jiao packed up and took action.
The bright red underwear is ready, and a red belt is sewn inside the waistband of the military pants. Well, the petition to the Ten Kings of Hell in the human world is also ready.
"I'll go with you!"
"No, I can drive there quickly. I just need to take the petition and the lanterns downtown and burn them somewhere safe. I'll throw the cash away as I drive."
"No room for negotiation."
How can Zhang Guoqing be at ease?
Isn't it said that whoever picks up cash will be blessed with good fortune? Given his wife's personality, she wouldn't be satisfied unless she threw a few handfuls of cash into the streets.
If his silly wife were to meet those night owls and second-rate guys, she would be lucky if she was robbed of her money, but it would be terrible if she was raped.
Zhou Jiao didn't dare to protest to him. If the noise got too loud, her three wild boys would be alarmed. They might even turn around and vent their anger on the whole family. How stupid would that be?
Zhang Guoqing's prediction was spot on. In the early morning hours of late June, besides the sanitation workers preparing to clean up, there were actually a few night owls on the streets...
Zhou Jiao pinched her fingers and used the little knowledge she had about Four Pillars of Destiny to give some random instructions, and finally stopped at a three-way intersection.
According to her, it depends on her father's birth date, the ebb and flow of today, and it also has to be coordinated with different times and directions.
The complexity is comparable to setting up a large battle array!
According to Zhang Guoqing, his wife pinched her fingers, had a stern face, and acted very serious, even with a bit of the "crazy" look of a charlatan.
He was so amused along the way that his stomach hurt from trying to hold back his laughter.
Zhou Jiao was mumbling prayers and burning a pile of paper money, which made Zhang Guoqing very nervous. He looked around like a radar.
Oh my god, he was really worried about running into those enthusiastic old ladies from the neighborhood committee. These women were so powerful that he had to be terrified!
As soon as it was over, the guy immediately grabbed his wife and ran to the car...
"Hey, wait, I haven't thrown the money yet."
Zhang Guoqing stopped immediately and said, "We have to give this. We need to pay the sanitation workers for their hard work." "Throw more and use some small stones to hold it down."
Before he could finish his words, Zhou Jiao transformed into Doraemon and started rummaging through her pockets, pulling out handfuls of one-cent, two-cent, and five-cent coins.
Zhang Guoqing, who was protecting her, looked at his wife and twitched his lips: "How can you play like this? When did you get so many coins?"
"Let's go, let's go." Zhou Jiao circled around and estimated that she had thrown enough, so she quickly pulled him into the car. "I'm smart, right? Using a stone is no match for tossing a coin."
"Wife, when did you change so many coins?"
"Is that too much? I asked my uncle-in-law to exchange a full 666 yuan, but he was afraid I couldn't lift it, so he only gave me half in coins. I plan to wait until I get in the car and find the right wind direction before throwing the remaining half. Otherwise, it will be inconvenient if the wind blows against me."
After hearing what she said, Zhang Guoqing immediately realized that he had to hurry up and spend the money, otherwise he would be regarded as a lunatic when dawn came.
“Is there a street you particularly want to visit?”
Zhou Jiao took out a piece of paper and handed it to him. "Here! I've marked it all. Go around the city gates in the east, south, west and north. Slow down as you go around the alleys. Put any extra ones at the nursing home."
Zhang Guoqing looked at the simple map marked on the paper and nodded with a smile. This drawing skill was really a waste of talent.
"I originally wanted to prepare some steamed buns to send to the nursing home, but my aunt said it would be better to give money. Today is the Dragon Boat Festival and some kind-hearted people will send rice dumplings there."
"Okay, let's spread more as quickly as possible and then run away."
When the couple finished their work and returned home, the sky was already struggling to reveal a hint of dawn, and the night had passed in the hazy darkness.
As soon as she entered the yard, the lights were bright and the kitchen was filled with laughter. Her mother Miao Lishan, the three Ping'an brothers, and Aunt Chen were busy working there.
"Grandma, go and accompany my grandpa. Just give it to us here."
"Okay, I won't interfere. I'll just watch."
"Grandma, today is also your Good Friday, go and have some rest."
Zhou Jiao covered her mouth and laughed: "Her mother is really being disliked again!" After all these years, why hasn't she mastered any cooking skills?
Miao Lishan's eyes lit up when she heard that. She immediately turned to look at Zhou Jiao and said with a cheerful smile, "Little birthday girl, you're back. I'll be there soon."
Zhou Jiao glanced at her angrily, "Why are you making so much trouble? Where's my dad?"
Miao Lishan winked and complained mysteriously in a voice that everyone in the kitchen could hear, "He must be hiding in the study again, preparing a gift for you."
"Hahahaha... Happy birthday, Mom."
"Mom, I wish you always smile."
"Mom, I wish you stay young forever."
"Thank you, sons." Zhou Jiao said as she walked towards Miao Lishan and took her arm. "Mom, thank you too. Thank you for going through so much trouble to give birth to me."
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