The New Year is coming soon, and the village is overflowing with wishes for the New Year. The atmosphere of joy is gradually getting stronger, and Grandpa Xiao's family is gradually regaining some vitality in the midst of extreme sadness.
This morning, Aunt Xiao got up early to freshen up. She said she was going to Haizi's house and wanted to discuss with Haizi's mother to see if it would be okay to take Haizi up the mountain. I also want to hear if Haizi’s mother has any better plans.
If there is a better way out, there is no need to be a beard. The more people there are, the more ideas there are. No living person can die from suffocating his urine. Grandpa Xiao knew that he couldn't stop the third girl. He had been willful since she was a child, so he could only let her go.
When Aunt Xiao came back, she not only brought back some good New Year food, but also bought a lot of firecrackers for the children. She said she bought them with the private money she had saved in the past few years.
Grandpa Xiao and Grandma Xiao just said something like, "You can't live well and you're a prodigal," and they didn't complain too much. They were afraid that if she got angry, she would really become a beard. The family is still waiting for the new year in silent sorrow, but they try not to show it on their faces.
It's New Year's Eve in a blink of an eye, and my grandma and aunt got up early and were busy preparing tributes to the ancestors who were to be worshiped.
After Grandpa Xiao and Uncle Haizi got up, they cleaned the yard again. When they were satisfied, they returned to the house and called the children up.
Grandma Xiao and her aunt took out the new clothes they had prepared and asked everyone to put them on. Haizi also changed into a new set of clothes and put on the cotton shoes that Monroe gave him. He looked much more energetic. The whole family suppressed their worries for the time being and prepared to welcome the New Year happily.
The third aunt held Tiedan, led Haizi, Dazhu and Yingzi to the yard and placed a small whip. The big pillars were also removed and placed one by one in their hands. The children's faces were filled with joy. With a satisfied smile.
From time to time, sparse firecrackers were heard in the village, and greetings, chatter and laughter were heard from time to time on the streets. The whole village was enveloped in the festive atmosphere of the New Year. That is the taste of the New Year, the aftertaste and hope of the New Year.
Grandpa Xiao and Uncle Haizi were busy posting couplets, money and New Year pictures inside and outside the house. The interior and exterior of the house are covered with red and green couplets, hanging money, and the characters "福", adding a deep sense of joy to the New Year.
I had breakfast very late, and it was a normal meal, except that there were a few more pieces of meat in the dish than usual. Farmers usually have two meals on the Chinese New Year day, with the main meal being served at midnight.
After breakfast, Grandpa Xiao and his uncle tidied up the house again and offered offerings to their ancestors on the cabinet on the west side of the back room.
Grandma Xiao and her aunt washed their hands carefully several times before bringing the tributes one by one and placing them on the cabinet that had been covered with yellow paper. The tributes are also chicken, fish, meat, etc. that are common in farmers. There are eight items in total, all served in bowls.
The ancestors offered are two old people who symbolize the ancestors. Below are two rows of officials holding wat boards. At the bottom are two children, a boy and a girl, setting off firecrackers. The boy is lighting the firecrackers with incense and the girl is covering her ears. Watching from the sidelines, the picture is vivid and interesting.
The blank spaces of the entire picture are rows of blank vertical grids, with the names of ancestors who have passed away from generation to generation written from top to bottom, both male and female. The picture is both solemn and awe-inspiring, and the farmers' admiration and adoration for their ancestors is engraved in their bones.
After hanging up the ancestral tablets, Grandpa Xiao respectfully lit a stick of incense, and then called the whole family to kowtow to their ancestors. The whole family kowtows in order of seniority on the ground covered with sacks, and the ceremony of respecting their ancestors is over.
From this moment on, the real year begins. Adults tell children not to say unlucky words, not to curse, not to mention unpleasant things, to walk, eat, and dress appropriately, not to cry, to say hello to people when they see them, and to say auspicious words.
At his mother's instructions, Dazhu led his sister out to play. Grandma Xiao and his uncle also went out. Grandma Xiao told Haizi that they might not be back until dinner.
Grandpa Xiao is good at playing cards. In previous years, he often went out to play for a while as soon as winter came. This year, there were many things at home, so he didn’t go out much. During the Chinese New Year, he also went out to relax.
My uncle doesn't usually play, but he likes to watch the fun. The two of them have good tempers. Grandpa Xiao often takes him with him when he goes out to play. Sometimes he lets him play for a few times when he is tired, and both of them can relax.
Grandma Xiao found a cloth bag from the kang cabinet, which contained a lot of Galaha, including pigs, sheep, and roe deer. There were more than a hundred, and some of them had lost their dregs. I don’t know how many years have passed. Only then can I accumulate so much.
Auntie also brought the newly fried melon seeds to the kang, and also took some large pieces of candy, giving each person a little bit to put in their mouths. Of course, she left a large piece for Tiedan and asked him to play aside and don't come over. Excuse me sir.
"Let's play Galaha. Haizi, you can play too. Let's play for a while and then cook."
Grandma Xiao poured all the Galaha onto the kang, and then carefully divided the portions equally between each person. Then several people sat around and played Galaha. There was talking and laughing, fighting and giving in, and the fun was harmonious.
Dazhuzi had brought his sister back from playing outside. His little hands and face were red from the cold, and he was also vying to play with her.
"Please warm yourself up before playing. Your hands will be too cold to use. Don't throw the peeled melon seeds on the ground. Today's custom is not to sweep the floor. You play with your third aunt for me, and we will win more. We will do it later." Let’s go to dinner and let your grandma take you to play.”
Auntie patted the big pillar on the back and asked him to warm up before playing. Of course, my sister Da Yingzi also wanted to participate, and her aunt agreed, but she was told not to cheat, to be obedient, and to admit defeat. So Dazhu and his sister took over from their aunt and third aunt.
Grandma Xiao led her three grandchildren and played until the sound of sporadic firecrackers came from outside, the clatter of pots and spoons cooking in the outer room, and the rich aroma of frying pans, stir-frying and stewing meat. Grandpa Xiao and his uncle came back and stopped when they were about to eat.
The days are short in winter, and when we put the table on the table and prepare to eat, it is already dark. Grandpa Xiao and his uncle quickly lit the lanterns, took a few pieces of yellow paper, and went out to meet the gods with the lanterns.
"What is receiving a god? I want to go too!" Dazhuzhu shouted to follow.
"To receive the gods is to respectfully invite the ancestors to go home for the New Year. You are still young, go when you grow up." Grandpa Xiao did not let Dazhu follow.
When the most sumptuous meal of the year was put on the table, Grandpa Xiao and his uncle also came back. Grandpa Xiao put incense in front of the ancestral tablet, burned a few pieces of paper, and led everyone to kowtow in front of the ancestral tablet. Then he and Grandma Xiao sat down at the neatly arranged table.
At this time, the juniors knelt on the ground and kowtowed to the two elders together before going to the table to eat together. This is the rule. After kowtowing to Grandpa Xiao and Grandma Xiao, Haizi and Dazhuhu have to kowtow to their uncle and aunt.
"Come on, let's all drink some wine for the whole family to celebrate the New Year. Haizi should also drink some wine to promote blood circulation."
Grandpa Xiao asked his third aunt to pour some wine for everyone, even women. Dazhuzi also picked up the bowl at this time and asked Aunt Xiao San to pour some for him.
"Grandpa, I want to drink too."
"You can't drink. Children should drink wine. Eat more meat and vegetables."
Grandpa Xiao smiled and tried to stop him, but he seemed not to be very determined and even conniving, which everyone sitting here could see.
"It's okay to try less. You have to let Dazhu go to school in the spring of the new year."
The third aunt casually expressed her thoughts while pouring wine, which made the whole family feel very sudden. Grandma Xiao was the first to express doubts.
"Going to school costs money, can we afford it?"
"How come we can't afford to go to school? We can't afford to support one child at a time. Our family has been illiterate for several generations, so why should Dazhu learn a few words?"
Aunt Xiao San insisted on her point of view, and it was difficult for everyone to refute her. However, Grandpa Xiao quickly changed the topic. Is it the Chinese New Year? Everyone should talk about happy things.
"Let's talk about it later. Today is the Chinese New Year, let's clink glasses together! I wish the whole family peace, good weather, and a good harvest in the new year!"
Grandpa Xiao picked up the bowl and drank it all in one gulp amidst the blessings of the whole family, with a firm and happy smile on his face.
At this moment, all the troubles and troubles, as well as the hard work and pain of the year, have faded away in this harmonious atmosphere, and the whole family can enjoy this happy and joyful New Year celebration.
At night, every household lit more lamps than usual. Some families even skipped the usual oil lamps and lit candles extravagantly.
Most people hung red lanterns on their doors and lit ice lanterns on the walls of their yards. The whole village is much brighter than usual, showing a strong flavor of the New Year.
The children played happily on the street, going from house to house and commenting on whose house had bright lights, whose house had more blessing characters and money hanging on it, whose yard and front door were beautifully decorated, the whole village was rippling. In the midst of a peaceful and happy New Year.
Haizi also walked out of Grandpa Xiao's house on crutches. He looked at every house that was cleaner and brighter than usual, savoring the strong flavor of the New Year, but he still couldn't feel happy.
I wonder what my mother, sister, and brothers are doing now? But one thing is for sure, they are all missing him, and they will probably cry secretly. This is human nature, and everyone's relatives will do this.
But all the consequences were caused by himself, causing deep harm not only to himself, but also to his family. Haizi blamed himself and even felt a little desperate.
I wonder if I can reunite with my family for the Chinese New Year in the future? Where should you go in the future? Such a result is self-inflicted, but the harm caused to loved ones is irreparable!
Haizi just stared blankly in the direction of his home. It wasn't until Aunt Xiao called him to come in that he wiped away his tears and agreed to return to the house, looking as if he had nothing on his mind.
