Before anyone even appeared, Li Tang called out loudly, "Sixth Brother, Sixth Sister-in-law, what are you eating? It smells delicious!"
Li Jin smiled broadly, "Hot pot! Come inside quickly!"
As soon as the curtain was lifted, a gust of cold air wafted in, and Li Tang, Li Qing, Liu Changhai, and Guo Daming walked in.
Li Lan and Li Zhen quickly got off the kang (a heated brick bed) to get new chopsticks and bowls, and Li Xiangdong poured a glass of Maotai liquor for each of the four of them.
Liu Changhai couldn't wait and downed the wine in one gulp!
"Hiss—good wine!"
Ever since Liu Changhai returned from Dongfang City, he's been thinking about those bottles of Moutai that Li Xiangdong bought. Today he finally got to drink them, hahaha!
"Another glass, please! This expensive wine is just so delicious!"
Li Xiangdong suppressed a laugh and poured him another cup.
Having already eaten their fill, Li Yan, Li Jiabao, Zhang Huan, and the others retreated to the back of the kang (a heated brick bed) to play cat's cradle, while Li Tang and the others sat down at the dining table, eating, drinking, and laughing, which further enhanced the joyful atmosphere.
Since Li Jin returned to Lijiapo Brigade, it has become a habit.
During the Lunar New Year's Eve dinner, people like to visit each other's homes, eat and drink, and have a lively time together.
After eating for a while, they took Li Jin to visit other people's homes.
After everyone had finished eating and the table was cleaned up, Li Xiangdong led the children to release flowers in the yard.
Zhao Sufang and her daughter Li Lan sat on the kang (a heated brick bed), cracking melon seeds, watching them jump and play through the window.
"Mother, I never thought I could live such a comfortable life."
Zhao Sufang patted her eldest daughter's hand tenderly, "You'll have such a comfortable life from now on! Your father will apply for a plot of land for you to live on, and you can stay here with your mother from now on!"
Li Lan nodded emphatically, tears welling in her eyes.
Because it was the Lunar New Year, crying was considered unlucky, so Li Lan didn't let her tears fall and quietly wiped them away.
When Li Jin got home, it was exactly midnight. At that time, the village was already filled with the crackling and popping of firecrackers.
"Father, unleash the thunderous lightning!"
Li Xiangdong took out a box of small thunderclaps and placed it in the middle of the yard, planning to set them off once Zhao Sufang's dumplings were cooked.
"The dumplings are cooked! Let's set off the firecrackers!"
Zhao Sufang was enveloped in heat as she kicked the firewood at her feet into the stove and used a willow-woven mesh strainer to scoop out dumplings.
"Whoosh—bang!"
The thunderous sound was so loud that it jolted the sleeping big yellow dog to its feet, and the tabby cat's little head also stood up, its eyes looking around alertly.
Midnight is the Zi hour, the time when the year changes and people eat dumplings, a tradition that has been passed down in northern China for thousands of years.
After midnight, the new year officially begins!
The children were already very sleepy, and after being fed a few dumplings, they all drifted off to sleep.
Li Xiangdong ate a bowl of vegetarian dumplings, washed up, and went to bed.
I have to get up at 4 a.m. on the first day of the Lunar New Year. If I calculate the time, I only have a little over three hours of rest left.
He lay down and fell asleep quickly, sleeping soundly without even having a dream.
The first day of the first lunar month in 1977.
Li Xiangdong was awakened by the sound of firecrackers. He was still half asleep when something cold and sweet was stuffed into his mouth!
If you chew it carefully, it's an orange.
"Happy New Year, brother! May everything go well for you!"
Li Xiangdong barely opened his eyes and saw Li Ping with Li Jiabao, Li Yan and Zhang Huan standing at the head of his bed.
The four little ones were all dressed in brand-new clothes, and each had a big red dot on their forehead, making them look as cute as New Year's picture dolls.
Li Xiangdong stretched, sat up, and solemnly said to the little ones, "Happy New Year! May everything go well for you, and may your life be sweet and joyful!"
Then he pulled out four ten-yuan bills from under his pillow and handed one to each of them, saying, "This is your New Year's money. I hope you will grow up safe and healthy in the new year!"
Li Jin walked to the door, lifted the curtain, and said with a smile, "Giving out lucky money before even exchanging New Year's greetings?"
Li Yan held a large ten-yuan note, clasped her hands together, and said in a childish voice, "Happy New Year to my second brother! I wish you a year full of good food and drink!"
This remark made everyone burst into laughter.
Zhang Huan held the ten-yuan bill in his hand, feeling it was a bit hot, but seeing that his grandfather didn't seem unhappy.
She smiled, pursing her lips, "Wishing my second uncle a Happy New Year! May everything go smoothly for him and may he make a fortune!"
Li Jiabao and Li Ping each said a lucky phrase.
In the common understanding of the people of Huichuan County, if someone says something unlucky on the first day of the Lunar New Year, then that person will have bad luck for the whole year.
Therefore, the first thing you say on the first day of the Lunar New Year must be auspicious.
Li Jin was overjoyed. He thought every child was better than the others, smarter and better looking!
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, people set off firecrackers before eating dumplings, so you can tell when someone is up and you can go in to offer New Year's greetings by seeing which house is setting off firecrackers.
Nowadays, kowtowing is no longer customary; people simply go in and say a few New Year's greetings.
By the time we finished our prayers at one end of the village and walked to the other, it was already dawn. When we reached the main road, the air was thick with the sulfurous smell of firecrackers.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, people are not allowed to visit relatives. After exchanging New Year's greetings, there's not much for people to do, so the men get together to play Pai Gow.
Of course, gambling is not allowed; everyone is just playing a game of blind staring contest.
The afternoon is for catching up on sleep and recharging for visiting relatives on the second day of the Lunar New Year.
It was 7 a.m. on the second day of the Lunar New Year.
After finishing her meal, Zhao Sufang fried dumplings on the stove until they were golden brown and crispy. She prepared five plates of twenty dumplings each.
This is an old tradition, to ensure that the married aunt can eat dumplings at her parents' home during the Lunar New Year.
The five plates of dumplings were prepared for Li Jin's four sisters and Li Ying.
Sure enough, Li Ying arrived with her husband and daughter before eight o'clock.
Li Ying is now a hidden millionaire, so the New Year's gifts she brings to her family are particularly generous.
There are common snacks, liquor, and rare fruits, especially a few long, black-skinned sugarcanes, which are the most popular.
Hong Shui and Li Ying entered the house and kowtowed to their parents to wish them a Happy New Year. Li Jin smiled and helped his son-in-law up, saying, "We're family, no need for so much formality! The sentiment is enough!"
Daxia clenched her little fists and went around wishing her maternal grandparents, uncles, and aunts a Happy New Year, receiving a pile of lucky money in return.
"Daxia, Mom will save it for you and give it to you when you grow up."
As he spoke, he confiscated all the money.
Looking at Daxia's clear but bewildered eyes, Li Xiangdong laughed out loud.
It seems that adults all use the same excuse when confiscating children's New Year's money.
Li Ying felt sorry for her older sister and niece, so she gave Zhang Huan an extra ten yuan.
The family was chatting happily when a woman's shrill voice came from outside the door.
"Big brother, sister-in-law! Happy New Year!"
As they were speaking, two women in their thirties lifted the curtain and walked in.
These are Li Jin's third and fourth younger sisters, and Li Xiangdong's third and fourth aunts.
The two of them each carried a small paper bag, which, judging from its shape, should be a type of steamed rice cake.
Li Sangu looked remarkably like Li Wanshi, and even their manner of speaking was similar.
"Sister-in-law, I was wondering why I hadn't seen you at Mom's. Turns out you were enjoying yourself at home!"
Upon hearing this, Li Xiangdong frowned.
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