"Well, this year, in addition to the word 'Fu', we also have to prepare the Spring Festival couplets early." Lin Yan silently remembered in his heart.
"Yes, yes, you can't forget the Spring Festival couplets. It's best to find someone with good calligraphy to write them so that they will be festive," Li Yuemei added.
In this village, people can write the Chinese character "Fu" (blessing) for the Spring Festival by buying red paper and asking the village scholar to write it, or they can buy pre-written couplets in town. Most people ask the village scholar to write them, and sometimes they even have to queue up, so most people prefer to buy pre-written couplets. Most of the people selling Spring Festival couplets with the Chinese character "Fu" in town are scholars from poor families.
"Well, when are we going to the town to buy things? I think the weather should be good tomorrow, so how about tomorrow?" Lin Yan looked at Li Yuemei and asked.
"Okay, let's go tomorrow. I'll take you this year, but next year you'll have to go by yourself with Shi Yun." Li Yuemei joked, "Everyone is tired today, so let's rest early so that we'll have the energy to go around the town tomorrow." Li Yuemei made the decision.
Yu Ge'er cheered. He looked forward to going to town to buy New Year's goods every year, especially the delicious and fun things. He was twelve years old this year. Although twelve years old was considered sensible in a farming family and would be able to arrange marriage in a few years, he was still a child after all.
The next day, the family set out for town early. They chatted and laughed along the way. Zhao Qiming and Li Yuemei walked behind, watching the three children chasing and playing, and smiled at each other.
Although Yun was married to Yan Ge'er at this time, she often revealed her childish side. She especially liked to tease Yu Ge'er, and had to coax him when he got angry. In essence, she was also a big child.
The weather has been wonderful this year, with mostly sunny days throughout the winter. Today, the sun finally came out, bringing a warm warmth to the skin. The streets were crowded, probably heading to town to do some shopping. The New Year is almost here, and everyone's feeling happy.
When they arrived in town, it was bustling with activity, filled with the sounds of vendors. Yu Ge'er was dazzled by the sight, and he grabbed Lin Yan's hand, insisting they go buy some candy figurines first.
"Don't worry, let's get down to business first," Li Yuemei said with a smile. They then headed towards the stall where Spring Festival couplets and blessing characters were being written. It was crowded with people. The stall owner was a young scholar with beautiful calligraphy.
"Hey, Aunt Zhao, your family came early this year." An acquaintance greeted her.
"Yes, I'm afraid there will be too many people if it's too late." Li Yuemei responded.
Lin Yan was choosing a style for Spring Festival couplets, while Yu Ge'er curiously watched the scholar write. The scholar not only sold blessing characters and Spring Festival couplets, but also paintings, including figures, landscapes, flowers, birds, fish and insects.
After buying the Spring Festival couplets with the Chinese character "Fu" (meaning "blessing"), he picked up two large red lanterns from the stall next door and some red paper, preparing to go back and cut window decorations. Lin Yan looked around and suggested to Li Yuemei, "Mom, buy some more red string. I'll braid it into tassels and hang them on the branches to add some festive cheer."
Li Yuemei agreed very much. "Okay, braiding tassels is good. You can hang them on tree branches, window frames or doors. I have this red string at home. I'll find it for you when I get back."
Lin Yan nodded, and then they went to buy other New Year's goods. They had bacon at home, so there was no need to buy more. They bought two boxes of cakes. The whole family liked the sweetheart cookies they had last time, so they also bought a box of almond cakes to change the taste.
Lin Yan doesn’t plan to buy a new dress this year. It’s not easy to make new clothes often because they were just made when he got married. But he can buy some for his father and mother.
Lin Yan said to Yu Ge'er, "Yu Ge'er, I still have half a bolt of aquamarine cotton cloth. You can use it to make some clothes." Yu Ge'er's eyes sparkled, "Brother, really?" Lin Yan smiled and said, "Of course, I'm not kidding you."
This aqua blue color is suitable for young girls and boys, but it might not be suitable for Li Yuemei, so he didn't tell her to give it to her mother. Instead, he suggested, "Dad and Mom, let's go to the cloth shop and buy you some new cloth to make clothes."
Li Yuemei did not refuse. She hadn't made new clothes for several years. When Shi Yun got married, she gave a betrothal gift and had to prepare a banquet, so she was reluctant to make new clothes and wore the best of her old clothes.
Lin Yan had brought a few taels of his own money with him today. He had fourteen taels of it, six taels from the Zhao family as a betrothal gift, five taels from his own savings over the years, and three taels from his mother. Lin Yan had initially refused to take it, but his mother persuaded him repeatedly, and in the end, she stuffed it into his dowry box.
Zhao Qiming and Li Yuemei both picked out dark-colored cotton cloth at the cloth shop. Farmers work a lot, so dark colors don't worry about getting dirty. Lin Yan rushed to pay, and Li Yuemei couldn't resist, thinking she would give him the money when she got home.
"We also need to buy jars of wine, candies, nuts, and melon seeds. We need to offer sacrifices during the New Year, so we need incense, candles, paper money, and other offerings..." Li Yuemei counted on her fingers. Yu Ge'er was overwhelmed by what he heard. "Oh my god, why do we still have so much?"
Li Yuemei patted his head and said, "It's always like this. You're already complaining about being tired. When you get married, you'll be tired too."
Yu Ge'er pouted, wanting to buy some candy figurines. Seeing him like that, Li Yuemei knew what he was thinking, so she said to Lin Yan, "Yan Ge'er, we don't have much left. You and Shi Yun can take Yu Ge'er shopping, and Dad and I can go shopping."
Lin Yan felt a little embarrassed, but wanted to go shopping. Zhao Shiyun responded and took Lin Yan away, while Yu Ge'er followed behind them. Lin Yan turned around and took his hand, "Yu Ge'er, I'll hold your hand. There are so many people here, don't get lost."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
