On the 30th of the year, bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new year.
"Cracking ~ Bao Biao ~ Cracking ~ Biao Biao ~", the sound of firecrackers sounded all over the capital and outside the city, and it was endless. Although the night is dark, it is the most lively time of the year.
There is a folk saying that "burning firecrackers and eating wine". "Xin" means "Xin", which is the eighth heavenly stem; "Xu" means "destroy", which is the eleventh earthly branch. The heavenly stems carry the heavenly path, and the earthly branches carry the earthly path. The ancients used the heavenly stems and earthly branches to observe the stars, calculate the years and months, and predict good and bad luck. Among the twenty stems and branches, "Xin" is listed before "Xu".
There are two general explanations for the custom of burning firecrackers. One is that the Nian beast will come to the world to do evil on New Year's Eve, and people set off firecrackers to drive away the Nian beast and ensure peace; In the future, people will pray for good fortune and a healthy life in the coming year. They will set off firecrackers to let the sound of firecrackers carry their good wishes to the sky for the gods to hear.
"Xu eats wine", "Xu needs to eat wine", "Xu needs to eat wine" means that the last meal of the year should be eaten with good wine and meat to comfort the family after a year of hard work. .
On this important festival, red lanterns are hung everywhere inside and outside the Jaw Prince's Mansion, with gilded red couplets on them, making it look magnificent. The guards and servants all wore new uniforms and had their hair newly combed, and they all had smiles on their faces as they walked, as if joy was spreading among them like a disease.
In the main hall of the palace, King Jia and the princess are sitting on the throne. Xia Chengxuan, Xia Chengyi, Mei Yuanchen and Haitang are seated on the left, and Chu Zhong, Du Chong, Zhou Xukuan and Lu Jianting are seated on the right. A dozen musicians were sitting next to the main seat, playing popular New Year music, with strings of silk and bamboo strings flowing like water waves. The singer in the hall dances gracefully to the music, with a light body, graceful figure and beautiful dancing posture. Although the dance music was so graceful, no one seemed to be listening to it at this time. Everyone in the hall was talking to each other, except Mei Yuanchen and Haitang, whose expressions were gloomy and not at all festive.
Mei Yuanchen was sitting on the seat, not picking up the exquisite cup of colorful preserved fruits, nor trying to taste the beautiful and delicious exquisite pastries. General was sitting with a weak and decadent posture. Since her parents left her yesterday, Mei Yuanchen seems to have lost her soul, her thoughts are dull and she doesn't know the five senses.
Although Haitang is not a relative of the royal family, she is sitting with the prince and the princess at this moment, and the position is on the left side of Mei Yuanchen. Yesterday, after Mei Yuanchen read the letter, he suddenly hugged her and refused to let go for a long time, which was unexpected by Haitang. At that time, all thoughts of Mei Yuanchen were gone, and Haitang didn't think much about it and just let him hug her. Whenever she thought about it afterwards, she always felt strange. Haitang has a light nature, and the sounds, looks, music, and dance are not what she likes. Sitting in the hall, she felt a little cramped, and she was so thoughtful that she focused on Mei Yuanchen. I remembered that my wife called me to the room on the night before leaving and said a lot of personal words.
"Haitang, you grew up in Mei Mansion since you were a child. I treat you as my own child. Now that you have grown into a Luoluo girl, I am very happy!"
I was adopted by the old lady when I was a child, and I have been with her since I can remember. She has always been kind and kind to me, and she has never made me feel wronged in the slightest. Wearing brooch in summer and fur in winter, how can I look like an ordinary servant?
"You are already in your prime, and you have reached the age of marriage before you know it. I really can't let you go!"
Madam treats her as if she were her own child. Doesn't he regard Master and Madam as his own parents? He just wants to serve them all his life and always be by his side. How has he ever thought of leaving Mei Mansion?
"You and Chen'er are the same age. Because you were born, I never knew who the two of you were. But I can see your relationship. He loves you and respects you as a sister, and you love and pity him as a relative. Brother. But you should know that you two are not brothers and sisters after all. In a few years, when you grow up, you will eventually get married separately. I originally wanted to think about it in another two years, but I didn’t want the master to go to Anxian to perform his duties. It's really unexpected. Chen'er is just studying, so he can't follow us around. It's inevitable that our flesh and blood will be separated. How can we bear it if we just leave Chen'er alone in the capital."
The young master and his wife have never been far away. Haitang knew that if she had no choice but to do so, how could the master and his wife make such a decision.
"I just want to ask you something. Please tell me honestly. Don't be shy."
Thinking of Madam's words during the day, Haitang naturally thought of something, and felt her cheeks warm and her heart swaying slightly.
"Everyone is selfish. I don't want you to marry anyone else in the future, and I don't want Chen'er to marry someone else in the future. I hope in my heart that in two years' time you and Chen'er will be happy and get married. Haitang, I just want to ask you, would you be willing to make this matchmaking appointment for you?"
Haitang blushed, lowered her head and remained silent. After a long time, she softly replied, "I have been blessed by Master and Madam. It is up to Master and Madam to decide this matter. Haitang dare not disobey."
Thinking of this exchange at this moment, Haitang still felt her mind wandering. Then she looked at Mei Yuanchen next to her. Among the many emotions, besides love and affection, there was also a different kind of emotion.
Mei Yuanchen is still immersed in the complicated memories of the past. He has been unable to extricate himself for a long time. How can he know what Haitang is thinking? Thinking that my parents have traveled hundreds of miles now, I wonder where they will stay tonight? Did you still keep your usual seat at the New Year’s Eve banquet? Have you still stewed your favorite Qingxi Bamboo Shredded Chicken? In previous years, my parents were always with me during the Chinese New Year, but this year, Mei Yuanchen experienced the pain of separation for the first time in the world, but she didn't expect it to be so heartbreaking and heartbreaking.
"Cracking ~ Bao Biao ~ Cracking ~ Biao Biao ~", the sound of firecrackers sounded all over the capital and outside the city, and it was endless. On the 30th of the year, bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new year. Mei Yuanchen slowly raised his head and looked at the sky outside the hall. At this moment, he only had one wish in his heart, that he would say goodbye to the new year and leave the old one behind.
