Liu Yue glanced at her third brother Liu Xingju's brand-new clothes and couldn't help but feel a ripple in her heart: "Second Aunt is really obviously biased!"
But this little bit of emotion was quickly interrupted by her aunt's enthusiasm.
Auntie brought over a plate full of melon seeds, peanuts, and candy, giving each child a handful so they could eat with relish, their mouths full of candy and their hands cracking melon seeds.
After wishing their grandparents a Happy New Year, everyone went on to wish their uncle's family a Happy New Year, with blessings echoing from one after another.
After everyone had gathered, they followed the village custom and went together to pay New Year's respects to the village's eldest elder, Grandpa Liu.
Old Master Liu, nearing sixty, was a highly respected elder in the village. He had never married and was a lonely old man. His father had once been a high-ranking official, a legend in Liu Village, but when Old Master Liu was young, his family suffered a tragedy...
Now, his life is becoming increasingly difficult, and he earns a living by carrying a load on his shoulders and traveling around selling small commodities.
When we arrived at Grandpa Liu's house, we saw him already standing at the door to greet the groups of villagers who came to wish him a Happy New Year, with a kind smile on his face.
"Grandpa, Happy New Year! We wish you good health and all the best!" everyone said in unison.
Grandpa Liu grinned from ear to ear, repeatedly agreeing, "Alright, alright, everyone! Come inside and warm up!" He warmly invited everyone inside and took out the snacks he had prepared to share with them.
First, cigarettes were given to the adults, and then "spiced melon seeds," "fruit leather," "bubble gum," and "lollipops" were given to the children.
For every child, paying New Year's respects to Grandpa Liu is a particularly joyful occasion, as they always receive a delicious snack.
In that era of relative scarcity, these snacks were precious and cherished memories.
When Grandpa Liu saw Liu Feng, his cloudy eyes instantly lit up.
He took Liu Feng's hand, looked him up and down, and praised him repeatedly, "This child has a certain talent; he's a promising prospect. I like him from the start."
After saying that, he gave Liu Feng two extra lollipops and a bag of spiced melon seeds as a special "care".
Liu Feng did not refuse his great-grandfather's kindness. After accepting the snacks, he bowed slightly and politely thanked his great-grandfather: "Thank you, great-grandfather. I wish you good health and longevity in the new year."
Before parting, he secretly flicked a Qi-nourishing pill into his grandfather's teacup.
This was his way of showing his love and care for his great-grandfather, hoping to help him recover from his illness and regain his good health.
They had barely stepped out of Liu Taigong's house when they were followed closely by groups of villagers who came to pay their respects for the New Year, creating a lively and bustling scene.
One of the uncles, his eyes gleaming with admiration, exclaimed to Grandpa Liu, "Grandpa, your calligraphy is simply divine! You can't find another person in the surrounding area who can compare to it!"
As he spoke, he pointed to the Spring Festival couplet on the lintel. The red paper and bold ink, each character vigorous and powerful, not only showcased the charm of calligraphy but also conveyed the best wishes for the New Year.
When it comes to calligraphy, Grandpa Liu is quite confident. In the surrounding dozen or so villages, he is invited to be the host and write couplets and wedding invitations for weddings, funerals, housewarmings, and other important events.
However, Liu Taigong still humbly said, "I have practiced calligraphy since I was a child and have some experience. It is a pity that there are fewer and fewer people practicing calligraphy among the younger generation, and even fewer who can write good calligraphy!"
Before the words were even finished, someone in the crowd mentioned the Spring Festival couplets at Liu Changqing's house, causing a small commotion.
Everyone initially thought it was written by Liu Taigong, but after some inquiries, they learned that it was actually written by Liu Feng, the fourth son of the Liu family, which amazed them all.
Upon hearing this, Liu Taigong's curiosity was completely piqued. How well could a child write calligraphy?
So, disregarding the villagers who came to pay their respects for the New Year, he went to Liu Changqing's house to find out what was going on.
Standing in front of Liu Changqing's house, Old Man Liu stared at the Spring Festival couplets on the gate, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief.
The characters, each stroke powerful and penetrating, possess both the spirit of the ancients and the dynamism of modern times, seemingly reaching straight to the heart and making one reluctant to look away.
He exclaimed repeatedly, "This boy is truly a calligraphy prodigy! These characters possess both spirit and emotion; they are truly rare, remarkable, truly remarkable!"
Seeing Old Man Liu nodding repeatedly, the onlookers echoed his sentiments, their praises rising and falling. They thought of their own children, whose handwriting looked like chicken cutlets—it was truly infuriating to compare themselves to others!
He Qunfang stood by, listening to everyone's praise of Liu Feng, feeling incredibly sweet inside.
Right now, Liu Feng and his siblings are visiting each household to offer New Year's greetings. Wearing leather shoes with rubber soles, they are walking along the village paths, their feet making a clattering sound.
The eldest sister, Liu Yue, walked carefully with each step, afraid of getting her new shoes dirty.
Meanwhile, his younger brother Liu Fei excitedly carried his bulging bag, which was filled with melon seeds, peanuts, candy, and a red egg.
When a kind old lady gave Liu Feng an extra red egg, a warm feeling welled up in his heart.
He recalled the wonderful times he had missed because of his illness, but now he had grown up healthy and was able to enjoy the joy and blessings of the New Year like other children.
Finally, the group of people who came to pay their respects for the New Year returned home.
Outside, snowflakes continued to fall gently, draping the land in a white veil.
Inside, the warmth of family love dispelled the winter chill.
Everyone was immersed in the joy of the New Year.
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