Chapter 63: The New Year is Coming
Big Brother Jiang Jinghuai came and went in a hurry, but there was nothing we could do. He was a soldier, and no matter how reluctant Jiang Ruoxi was, there was nothing she could do. Since she had put on this olive green uniform, she had to be prepared at all times.
Eldest brother Jiang Jinghuai hurriedly visited Jiang Ruoxi and then left. The days passed quietly and the end of the year was approaching in a flash.
Lu Tingxiao's work became increasingly busy, and before the Lunar New Year he had discussed with his parents on both sides that he would not return to his hometown for the New Year this year. Both parents readily agreed and also agreed to bring Grandpa Lu and Grandma Lu with them to spend the New Year with Lu Tingxiao and Jiang Ruoxi.
During this period of time, Lu Tingxiao was as busy as a spinning top, never touching the ground.
Even so, he still carefully reminded Aunt Chen and Aunt Lan: "There have been some snowflakes from time to time these two days. Just after we finished cleaning, a thin layer of snow fell on the ground. There is snow piled up everywhere on the ground outside. Don't let Ruoxi walk around outside. It's not safer outside than in the yard at home!"
Looking at the snowflakes falling from time to time outside the window, Lu Tingxiao was filled with worry, fearing that Jiang Ruoxi might slip and get hurt outside. So, he personally took a shovel and a broom and cleaned the snow in his yard cleanly, leaving out every corner, not even a tiny piece of ice, just so that Jiang Ruoxi could walk and bask in the sun in peace in the yard.
Watching the snowflakes falling from time to time, Lu Tingxiao could only ask Aunt Chen and Aunt Lan to sweep the snow themselves to prevent Jiang Ruoxi from slipping!
As New Year’s Eve approaches, the house starts to get busy.
Lu Tingxiao took time out of his busy schedule to write Spring Festival couplets and the word "Fu" with Jiang Ruoxi in advance. In the study, Lu Tingxiao's pen moved across the rice paper.
The characters he wrote have strong and powerful strokes, decisive and neat turns, and stretched strokes like an eagle spreading its wings, showing his heroic spirit; when he uses the brush, the ink color is thick and thin, and the density is well-arranged. The hidden tips of the brush show his restraint and calmness, while the exposed tips are sharp and unrestrained. Each character is so powerful that it can be seen through the paper, and it seems to carry his unique decisiveness, perseverance and courage.
The Spring Festival couplets read: Upper line: The strong east wind blows and the mountains and rivers are beautiful; Lower line: The frequent beating of war drums marks the new year. Horizontal banner: A variety of scenes.
After the ink on the red paper had completely dried, Jiang Ruoxi carefully picked them up one by one, her movements as gentle as if she were treating rare treasures. She carefully rolled up the blessing couplet with skillful and focused movements. The corners of her mouth lifted unconsciously as she said softly, "It's really well written. This year's New Year will definitely be very festive in our home."
After preparing these, Lu Tingxiao began to clean the house. Although Aunt Chen and Aunt Lan cleaned every day, there were still some high places that Lu Tingxiao had to clean!
Aunt Chen and Aunt Lan hurried to buy food for New Year's Eve. It was cold now, so meat and other foods would not spoil easily. Lu Tingxiao nailed a large box with wooden boards and placed it outside the kitchen window, like a natural refrigerator, specifically for chicken, duck, fish and meat. There were two jars next to the box. One jar contained steamed buns, dumplings, etc., and the other jar contained sauerkraut pickled by Aunt Chen in the fall.
Jiang Ruoxi felt warm at heart as she watched Lu Tingxiao busy at work and Aunt Chen and Aunt Lan making dumplings for Mao Dong'er. When both sets of parents and grandparents come over, this home will be more homely!
Time passed quickly, and soon it was the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month. As the saying goes, the dough should be fermented on the 28th. Aunt Chen and Aunt Lan fermented two large basins of dough before going to bed at night, preparing to use the fermented dough to steam steamed buns, date clips, sugar triangles, and bean buns on the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month. They would also steam rice cakes, cut cakes, etc. In addition, for good luck, people would dip the tip of chopsticks or aniseed petals in water made with red yeast rice powder and use it to put a red dot or flower on steamed buns, sugar buns, and bean buns.
The day before New Year’s Eve, both sets of parents and Grandpa and Grandma Lu finally arrived. The family sat around the dining table, laughing and talking happily.
Grandpa Lu looked at the happy scene in front of him and said with emotion: "This is how the Chinese New Year should be, with the whole family together!" Grandma Lu also smiled and nodded: "Yes, as long as the children are doing well, we as elders are happy. It's a pity that Zhixu has to be on duty this year, Jingxiao can't come back, and Jinghuai and Jingyi can't come back to celebrate the New Year with us!"
"Grandma, our Lu and Jiang families don't have much else but a lot of soldiers. In addition to soldiers, our families also have doctors. Soldiers are in the front to defend the country, and doctors are in the back to save the dying and heal the wounded. They give their great love to the country and the people, and can only give up the small love of their families. We will always get together when we have the chance in the future, and we will work hard!"
"Well said, without great love, there would be no small love. You are worthy of being the descendants of soldiers!" Grandpa Lu, Father Lu and Father Jiang couldn't stop praising Jiang Ruoxi when they heard her words.
Because there were not enough beds at home, Lu Tingxiao rented three camp beds from the army in advance. In this way, there were already two beds in the guest bedroom, and another camp bed was moved in. Aunt Chen and Aunt Lan had one bed, Mother Lu and Grandma Lu had one bed, and Mother Jiang slept on the camp bed. The other two camp beds were moved to the study room, which already had one bed, and two more camp beds were moved there. Grandpa Lu, Father Lu and Father Jiang lived in the study room. After dinner, both parents went to bed early because they had to get up early the next day.
Early in the morning on New Year's Eve, just as the dawn broke, the "fireworks prelude" was played in the kitchen.
Aunt Chen was chopping onions, ginger and garlic skillfully, while Aunt Lan was lighting a fire beside her. The flames in the stove danced happily, illuminating their faces.
Lu Tingxiao and Jiang Ruoxi also got up early to paste the Chinese character for "Fu" and spring couplets. Lu Tingxiao carefully unfolded the Chinese character for "Fu" and spring couplets that he had written in advance and handed them to Jiang Ruoxi. From time to time, Lu Tingxiao said to Jiang Ruoxi, "Wife, move a little to the left. Yes, right here, just right!" With the tacit cooperation of the two, the bright red spring couplets and Chinese character for "Fu" were firmly pasted on the door, instantly adding a bit of festivity to the home.
In the evening, the table was filled with a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner, colorful and fragrant. The family sat together. Lu Tingxiao raised his glass and said with emotion, "It has been difficult for everyone in the past year. Fortunately, our family is safe and sound. In the new year, I hope our lives will get better and better!" Everyone raised their glasses and drank them all in one gulp. Laughter and joy echoed in the house, filled with the happiness of reunion.
After dinner, Aunt Chen and Aunt Lan prepared to make dumplings. Mother Lu and Mother Jiang also came to the kitchen. Mother Lu skillfully picked up the dough and began to knead it, while Mother Jiang was mixing the fillings, muttering as she did so: "Put more shrimps, Ruoxi loves it the most." For a while, the kitchen was filled with laughter, the sounds of cutting vegetables on the chopping board, the sounds of kneading dough, and the atmosphere of the New Year became more and more intense.
After a while, Father Lu and Father Jiang also joined in and helped make dumplings. In the army, even if you don’t know how to make dumplings, you have to learn how to roll out the dough. Father Lu and Father Jiang were rolling the dough, while Mother Lu, Mother Jiang, Aunt Chen and Aunt Lan were making dumplings. From time to time, the sound of firecrackers could be heard from a distance outside.
On New Year's Eve, Lu Tingxiao and Jiang Ruoxi stood side by side in the courtyard, looking up at the night sky. The dark sky was instantly lit up by gorgeous fireworks, and sparks and silver flowers bloomed one after another. Every explosion made people's hearts tremble slightly.
Jiang Ruoxi was attracted by the beautiful scenery and couldn't help but hold Lu Tingxiao's hand tightly, with surprise and excitement flashing in her eyes. Lu Tingxiao turned his head to look at her, a gentle smile on his face, and whispered in her ear, "I'll watch it with you every year from now on!"
Not far away, Grandpa Lu and Grandma Lu were sitting under the porch, wrapped in thick cotton clothes, watching the fireworks quietly. Grandpa Lu gently held Grandma Lu's hand and said with emotion: "When we were young, the New Year was not so lively, but we were still looking forward to reunion!" Grandma Lu smiled and nodded, her eyes full of memories, "Now that the children are around, life is getting better and better!"
Inside the house, Father Lu and Father Jiang were rolling the dumpling wrappers while chatting about family matters, while Mother Lu and Mother Jiang were making dumplings with their fingers flying and their movements skillfully. They were also discussing the taste of the fillings. Aunt Chen and Aunt Lan were not idle either, one was busy boiling water and the other preparing the dipping sauce. The kitchen was steaming hot and full of laughter.
With the sound of firecrackers coming one after another, the last second of the old year passed quietly, and 1976 arrived as scheduled with fireworks and blessings. Everyone in the family had a happy face, and the new year was full of hope.
Amid the sound of firecrackers ringing in their ears, the two closed their eyes and made New Year wishes devoutly. They hoped that the elders in the family would be healthy and worry-free; they hoped that their brothers and sisters would get married soon and live in peace and prosperity; they hoped that their children would be born safely and grow up happily. They hoped that every year in the future could be like this moment, with the whole family sitting together, eating the New Year's Eve dinner, watching the fireworks, and spending the Spring Festival together.
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