Chapter 53 Chapter 53 What surprised her even more was yet to come...
But what Ning Shaoming said was heard by Huang Wenfa's son, and the boy insisted on going to buy fireworks right away.
Huang Wenfa said: "I will definitely buy it for you later."
His son Huang Shengde was unwilling to do so. Actually, he didn't have to buy fireworks at this time. After all, fireworks are set off at night, and he couldn't play with them right away after buying them.
He was just jealous of other kids playing with firecrackers, and thought that if he went to buy fireworks now, he could take the opportunity to ask his dad to buy him some firecrackers to play with.
Huang Wenfa hesitated for a moment, and his son was about to roll on the ground, not caring whether the ground was dirty or not.
Huang Wenfa couldn't do anything to him. If he told him to roll on the ground, the old lady would be upset when she found out: "Okay, okay, okay, I'll take you to buy it now. Don't roll on the ground, or I'll beat you!"
"Wait for me a moment," Huang Wenfa said to Ning Shaoming, "I'll go back and put these down first, and then I'll go with you guys."
The group arrived at the market and met Wu Li and Huang Wenfa's mother, who were carrying large and small bags and buying things.
He looked at Huang Wenfa, and always felt that what he said was that they had bought most of the things and it was just an excuse for him to go out and comfort himself.
As expected, when Wu Li noticed them, she started to complain about Huang Wenfa: "Didn't you say you had something urgent to do? Why are you here again?"
Huang Wenfa replied hesitantly: "No, that, that thing is not urgent, we can do it after the New Year's Eve dinner."
Wu Li was skeptical: "Since you are not in a hurry to do it, then help me and mom take these things back later. We still need to buy food for tonight."
Huang Wenfa took the things resignedly, ran back home, put the things away, and when he came back, the wonton noodles were cooked.
When they arrived, the market was still crowded. After eating the wonton noodles and walking out of the noodle shop, the market outside was almost over and many stalls were closing up. Most of the stall owners or locals from surrounding villages would go back home at noon to kill chickens and worship gods and ancestors.
Those who are still shopping in the surrounding shops are almost all people who live on the street, and most of them are carrying things in their hands and are about to go home.
Ning Shaoming and Huang Wenfa looked around several fireworks and firecrackers stores and chose one to buy everything. It didn't take much time.
When they got home, it was just past noon, and after putting down their things, they were ready to start killing the chicken.
Zhao Ruyue had already chosen the chicken to be slaughtered today.
As soon as Ning Shaoming came back, she immediately prepared a small bowl to collect the chicken blood and put some water and salt into the bowl.
Ning Shaoming first drove the two children into the house, then picked up a sharp kitchen knife, plucked the hair on the chicken's neck, and used the knife to wipe the plucked hair on the chicken's neck.
The chicken blood fell right into the bowl placed on the ground.
Zhao Ruyue was holding a stick of incense in her hand. When she saw the chicken blood was as big as a bowl, she immediately went out to light the firecrackers placed at the gate.
The firecrackers she is lighting now are the leftovers from last year's Spring Festival. The custom in her hometown is that the first firecracker on New Year's Eve must be the leftovers from last year.
Zhao Ruyue didn't know why, but the elders taught her to do so, so she just did it.
She felt that the elders who taught them, the younger generation, might not know why they had to do this.
Because no old person could explain it clearly, when children asked about it, the old person could not answer, and would get angry and scold: "Everyone else does it this way, you just do it too, why are you asking so many questions! This is the rule passed down by our ancestors, children should not ask too many questions!"
The sound of firecrackers ended and the smell of gunpowder filled the air. This is the smell of firecrackers and also the smell of the New Year.
Wipe the neck, collect blood, scald the hair with hot water, pluck the hair, and cut open the belly.
Three chickens were slaughtered at once today, and the process was in full swing in the patio. The family members joked with each other from time to time, and the families of the eldest and second eldest Nings were also having a great time chatting.
It seemed as if the quarrel on the day of separation had not affected the relationship between the two parties at all. Both sides said that one thing should be dealt with separately, and no matter how much they quarreled or made a fuss, their blood ties could not be severed, and they would still be brothers after the issue was resolved.
In fact, only they themselves know what they really think.
Ning Shaoming had handled chickens quite a lot during his time in the kitchen in Pengcheng, so he had already become skilled at it and was now able to do it very quickly.
The eldest and second sons' families were still processing the internal organs, while his family had already put them in the pot and started cooking.
When Wang Haiyan saw that her family was falling behind, she couldn't help but complain to Ning Shaoxian that he was slow and that they would miss the first wave of worship.
Ning Shaoxian didn't care about speed at all. He became annoyed by Wang Haiyan's nagging, and the couple started arguing while working.
Fortunately, they knew that it was the New Year, so they restrained themselves a little and didn't argue too intensely.
This kind of scene is common during the Chinese New Year. There are a lot of things to do during the Chinese New Year. In previous years, people would quarrel over other things, if not the killing of chickens. Others would mind their own business and not bother to intervene.
After Ning Shaoming finished processing one chicken, he went on to process another. After worshipping the first one, it would be placed on the altar as a sacrifice to the gods. It could not be taken down and eaten until the second day of the New Year. The weather was cold, so it would not go bad if left alone.
He is now killing the chicken to be eaten tonight.
In addition to chicken, there is also meat and vegetables purchased by each family.
When the adults are cooking, the children cannot sit idle either. They have to help pick and wash vegetables, run errands inside and outside the house, set the table, arrange the dishes, and serve the dishes.
Several dishes from each family were brought to the dining table, filling up the entire table. In the end, there was no more space on the table, so they found an old table and moved it next to it to make it barely fit.
Ning Danping brought out the last dish of soup and placed it in the middle of the table.
Looking at the table full of dishes, she couldn't help swallowing her saliva: "This year's dishes are really rich, more than the New Year's Eve dinner in the past two years!"
His brother Ning Shichun came out with a big pot of rice and just happened to hear it. He also said, "Yes, if I had known that we could eat so well during the New Year after the separation, I should have separated the family earlier."
Ning Shaoxian came out and just happened to hear his son talking nonsense. He sneered and said, "You wish! We can only get together like this this year. After the family splits up, each family will have their own New Year's Eve dinner."
Ning Shichun was puzzled: "Why? Grandpa and grandma are still alive. Shouldn't we eat together at their place during the New Year?"
All three families are going to my grandparents' house. It's impossible to let my grandparents prepare all the New Year's Eve dinner, right?
Ning Shaoxian exhaled a puff of cigarette to clear up his son's confusion: "Who said that we have to go to your grandparents' house to eat together during the New Year? They live in your second uncle's house. Going to their place is equivalent to going to your second uncle's house. If we go there every year, will your second uncle be happy?"
"What should we do then?"
Ning Shaoxian: "What else can we do? We can take turns. Your grandparents will come to our house next year, and the year after that to your second uncle's house, and the year after that to your third uncle's house. The two families that don't get to take turns can just send something to your grandparents for the New Year. If you want to eat together, it's fine once the three families discuss it."
But after the family split, after this year or in the next few years, we can forget about getting together for a meal.
Ning Danping asked after hearing this: "Then where should I go to eat when my aunt comes back?"
“Try all three.”
"Eating out at three restaurants a day? Can you handle that?" She suddenly felt that eating was also a burden.
"Three families is not a small number. This is the old rule. Didn't you notice when you went back to your mother's house with your grandmother during the Chinese New Year?"
Ning Danping pouted: "Dad, you forgot that grandma never took me to her mother's house."
Ning Shichun: "Never took me with him either."
Wang Haiyan walked out and happened to hear the following sentences, which immediately aroused her resentment towards her mother-in-law for being partial to her.
But she couldn't go and scold her mother-in-law, so she could only scold her husband and children: "It's because you two are too stupid and can't please others. When you were young, you were very naughty and unpopular. You are just like your father. You can't even eat hot shit!"
The three who were scolded wanted to refute, but at this time someone came in from outside, so they had to swallow their words and hold their anger to get their food.
Zhao Ruyue heard their conversation, but she didn't know what to say because it was her children who were being favored.
Her parents-in-law always like to take the two little ones with them wherever they go to a banquet, and she can't do anything about it.
After all, people’s family conditions were not good in the past, so they could eat a lot of meat at banquets. To some banquets the whole family could go, while to others only one person was needed to represent the whole family. When going, the host would not have any objection if one person brought two children, but more than that would not be acceptable.
She was so happy that her children could go with them.
Fortunately, life is better now, and will get better and better in the future. We have also divided the property, and in a few years, everyone will no longer have to fuss over who gets to eat more meat.
The happiest people during the Chinese New Year are the children.
After watching the lively fireworks on New Year’s Eve, take a nap.
The next day, New Year’s Day, is the day when children’s pockets are the fattest in the year.
That morning, Zhao Ruyue had just woken up and was still dazed.
Her daughter lay in bed, bowed to her and shouted: "Happy New Year, Mom! I wish you good health, good luck, good luck in the New Year, everything goes well, and congratulations on making a fortune. Give me the red envelope!"
Zhao Ruyue was confused and subconsciously wanted to take out the red envelope, but saw a red envelope being handed to her from the side.
She turned around and saw Ning Shaoming's helpless face, and the red envelope was handed to her by him.
Apparently, he was the first person to encounter children wishing a happy new year in bed.
Ning Shixia happily received the red envelope, and turned around to urge her brother to get up and take her to pay New Year's greetings.
Although she felt that she had learned it and could go by herself, she was too young and the elders were afraid that she would lose the money, so they said that she had to be accompanied by an older child or a parent.
Ever since his sister could speak, Ning Shiqiu has been urged to do something every year. He has gotten used to it and can automatically block out his sister's urging and get up, get dressed, and wash up at his own pace.
Before breakfast, I took my sister to pay New Year's greetings to my grandparents. When I met my uncles and aunts at the dinner table, I also paid New Year's greetings to them.
Then we went to my grandparents’ house.
Originally, they were supposed to wait until the second day of the Lunar New Year when their mother returned to her parents' home, and then go with her to pay New Year's greetings to her relatives and receive red envelopes.
But their mother's parents' home is nearby, so they can go there today without having to wait until the second day of the New Year. The same is true for other families.
After the round, their pockets were bulging, and the brother and sister went home and got together to open the red envelopes and count the money.
Zhao Ruyue had nothing else to do today, so she was very free. This was the most relaxing time of the year.
When the two children were opening their red envelopes, she sat beside them and watched the two younger ones count the money.
Ever since Xiaoqiu knew how to spend money, she has never accepted any New Year's money from the child. It wasn't much anyway, and she thought it was a rare New Year, so the child could spend the money.
They don't compete with each other when it comes to giving out New Year's money. Generally, they don't give too much, just fifty cents or one yuan.
Close relatives, such as parents, grandparents, and grandparents may give more, but it is still between two and five yuan. More distant relatives may give 20 cents.
In the past two years, Zhao Ruyue accepted Xiaoxia's money. This year, Xiaoxia was taken care of by her brother and it seemed that she knew the use of the money, so Zhao Ruyue stopped accepting Xiaoxia's money.
Xiao Xia trusted her brother very much. She kept some money for herself to buy toys and delicious food, and gave the rest to her brother to keep.
Ning Shiqiu also left some for himself, then opened the wardrobe and took out a small cloth bag.
Zhao Ruyue recognized the small cloth bag. When she and Ning Shaoming were cleaning the room before, her son told them not to touch the bag, so they did not touch it.
Now I know that this was used by her son to hide his money.
Ning Shiqiu opened the cloth bag and tipped it over, and the money in the bag poured out. Zhao Ruyue was surprised to find that the money was in small and neat bundles.
The most common ones were small bundles of banknotes, but there were also a few that were worth one, two, five, or even ten yuan.
However, what surprised her even more was yet to come.
After Ning Shiqiu poured out the money, he counted it, and then divided up the New Year's money he had received this year, tying them up with small pieces of paper.
Then he pushed all the money in front of her: "Mom, can you help me open a passbook and save this money? I heard that there is interest if you put money in the bank."
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