Chapter 65: Missing Family During Every Holiday
The first day of the first lunar month.
Wear new clothes and celebrate the New Year.
Lu Qingyao got up when she heard the rooster crow and set off firecrackers in the yard.
Afterwards, the sound of firecrackers rang out one after another from every household.
There were sounds of chickens crowing and dogs barking.
The birds on the peach tree were frightened and flew back to the woods. I'm afraid they wouldn't dare to fly back to the village for the whole day.
Jiujiu hid in the house and tucked his neck into his feathers.
The little wolf cub trembled in his second brother's arms.
Some are frightened and some are happy...
The small mountain village was immersed in a joyful atmosphere.
This year, every family in Taoxi Village can have a happy New Year.
There are new clothes to wear, fine grains to eat, meat to eat, and the sound of firecrackers...
The children in the village all went out to show off their new clothes to their friends.
Jiang Miaomiao was carried into the house by her eldest brother, hid under the quilt, and covered her ears with her hands.
Afraid that she would be frightened.
Although she is not afraid of the sound of firecrackers, the baby should be afraid of it.
Otherwise she would seem too abnormal.
She cried a few times as a gesture...
"Miaomiao, don't be afraid, mom is here..." The little baby fell into the arms of his mother.
Mother put new clothes on them.
Jiang Miaomiao got a red flowered jacket and a tiger-head hat on her head.
As she was dressing, the mother muttered, "Nannan is the little lucky doll of the family. She must dress festively today. She must have a red hat, red clothes, red pants, red socks... She must be red from head to toe!"
Jiang Miaomiao: “…”
Forehead!
She must look like a New Year doll now!
Put it in the house to attract wealth and treasure...
According to Daliang’s custom, on the first day of the first lunar month, all the elders and the younger ones dressed neatly, paid respects to each other in order, offered pepper and cypress wine, Tusu wine, drank peach soup, and ate an egg each. [1]
Each of the brothers got an egg.
Jiang Miaomiao got a big bowl of goat milk.
Jiang Miaomiao felt that the ancient New Year customs were a bit complicated, but her brother said that this was only half of it.
Compared to before, it has been simplified a lot.
In the past, the New Year celebration was more complicated, with greetings and ceremonies held afterwards.
Grandmother prayed to God for blessings.
Dad visits relatives and friends, and wishes New Year's greetings everywhere, just like a socialite.
Even if they are unable to take care of it, they will still send a note to express their congratulations.
He is a natural official who knows how to run a business.
There were only mother and her two children left in the house, and they didn't even see their father for the entire New Year's Day.
He was probably struggling over whether to go to his wife's room or his concubine's room.
Fortunately, the door of my grandfather's house was opened for them early, and the two elders stood at the door looking forward to welcoming them.
But this year.
There are only four people in this family.
Although my uncle's family and villagers started coming to pay New Year's greetings early in the morning.
It still cannot make up for the loss of reuniting with my grandparents.
I miss my family more during the holidays.
Their mother took them to kowtow and pray for their relatives far away.
After the ceremony...
Jiang Miaomiao saw her mother take out three things wrapped in red paper from her arms.
The eldest and second brothers smiled and took it, "Thank you, mother!"
Jiang Miaomiao thought, this must be the New Year's money, is it silver or gold?
Three red envelopes.
She has a share too!
I remember seeing on TV that New Year’s money was given in the form of gold and silver ingots.
Given her family's current situation.
If the gold ingot is not expensive, then the silver ingot should be too expensive.
This will be the first New Year's money she has received since she came into this world.
“Aaaaaaa…”
The little baby was a little excited and stretched out his hand to grab the red paper.
Seeing her daughter like this, Lu Qingyao thought that she must have thought that the red paper contained food.
I couldn't help laughing.
Then he opened the red paper and showed it to her...
Little Miaomiao couldn't laugh anymore. She opened her eyes wide, opened her mouth, and drooled uncontrollably.
In red paper.
A red string strung with eight copper coins...
Only eight!
How come there are only eight?
How can brothers laugh so happily?
Then her mother solved her doubts.
Mother must have thought that she had just come into this world and was full of curiosity about everything around her.
So I started to educate her.
A beautiful woman was smiling and chattering to the baby in her arms.
While wiping her saliva, she muttered...
No matter whether she can understand or not!
"My dear, this is New Year's money, also known as money to ward off evil spirits. In our Daliang Kingdom, no matter whether the family is rich or poor, they must give their children eight copper coins as New Year's money, no more, no less... Legend has it that eight copper coins are the incarnation of the Eight Immortals. Mother will help you put it under your pillow to protect our Miaomiao from harm and bring her safety, health, and a smooth growth..."
Just like that, the New Year's money was placed under Jiang Miaomiao's pillow before it even passed her hands.
Jiang Miaomiao also gained some knowledge.
It turns out that the New Year’s money in ancient times was like this: the more the better.
"Dong Dong Dong~~~"
Jiang Zifeng thought it was Li Sanlang who came to see him, so he happily went to open the door.
After sharing hardships, their friendship has reached a new level.
"Uncle Fu!"
Jiang Zifeng was stunned for a moment, then bowed and said, "Uncle Fu, Happy New Year!"
Lu Qingyao hurriedly came out with the baby in her arms. She was supposed to be the first to visit him to wish him a happy new year, but she didn't expect him to arrive first.
"Miaomiao's mother, there's a letter from home..." Uncle Fu handed the letter to his mother as soon as he entered the door.
When he left, his mother gave him a New Year plate.
There were bacon, Tusu wine, fruits, and the word "Fu" written by my second brother Jiang Ziyan.
Uncle Fu couldn't stop laughing.
Courtesy is important, friendship is important too...
Jiang Miaomiao saw her two brothers gathered around her, and her mother opened the letter with trembling hands.
There were tears of joy in his eyes.
It's a letter from my grandfather.
This was the first time they received a letter from their grandparents since they moved to Taoxi Village.
In ancient times, transportation and correspondence were slow.
My mother sent it and then waited for their reply. It took at least a month for them to get back and forth.
The letter said that although the place of exile was located in a desolate and remote place, it was fortunately surrounded by mountains and rivers and had a pleasant climate...
It was also very warm in winter, and the coats my mother sent me were of no use.
He also said that fortunately his maternal grandfather's family were all military generals who were stationed at the frontier and on the march all year round. The hardships of exile were nothing to them.
Don’t worry, mother and brothers, just be at ease and take care!
Finally, I wish them a happy new year.
I have to say that my grandfather was thoughtful and sent the letter at the right time.
but......
The climate in the place of exile is pleasant...I'm afraid this is not for Kuan Niang's sake.
In ancient times, the places of exile were mostly in harsh environments.
It's so warm in winter that you don't even need a coat...
Jiang Miaomiao had already vaguely guessed where it was.
It’s either Lingnan or Yazhou.
It is said that those places were very wild in ancient times. The winters were okay, but the summers were scorching hot and full of diseases...
Medical conditions are extremely backward. Once a person gets sick, you can imagine...
She now somewhat understood why her mother chose to be exiled to Jiangzhou.
Jiangzhou is located in the southern region.
Compared to the capital, it is very close to the place of exile.
It was convenient for me to exchange letters with my grandparents and send them supplies...
My mother is a filial son, and Jiang Miaomiao's respect and love for her mother increased a little more.
However, in her reply letter to my grandfather, my mother only reported good news and not bad news.
Living in a big house... with servants waiting on us...
Qingshi Town has pleasant scenery and picturesque scenery all year round...
After receiving the letter, the whole family was very happy.
Even little Jiang Miaomiao was happy.
Perhaps because her mother and brothers were happy, she couldn't help but empathize with them.
Mother kissed her on the cheek and looked at her. "Nannan, I'll take you to the temple fair, okay?"
Note [1] From the Southern Liang Dynasty’s Zong Yan’s Records of the Sui Shi in Jingchu
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