The sounds of firecrackers bid farewell to the old year, and the spring breeze brings warmth to Tusu. The bustling Dashui Village finally begins its New Year's Eve dinner…
The spring breeze here is not warm, but terribly cold.
But the hearts of the people are warm.
After the hour of the Ox, one can gradually hear some villagers starting to set off firecrackers, with a crackling sound outside…
Old Man Yun, holding a stack of paper money, comes to the main entrance. After lighting it, it turns to ash and is blown everywhere by the cold wind.
This is called welcoming the God of Wealth. After welcoming him, they can return inside to eat dumplings.
Madam Gu also calls Ruyue and Rihua over. In this household, there is no distinction between master and servant, no high or low. Everyone gathers around the table. A large circle is filled with just the dumpling soup…
“Mmm! Delicious, so delicious! I’ve never eaten such delicious dumplings in my entire life!” Han Chijiao, without any regard for her appearance, grabs dumplings with her hands and stuffs them into her mouth.
Seeing this, Kong Xingzhu sighs helplessly, “Eat them with chopsticks. How old are you, and why do you eat so messily?”
“What’s it to you?” Han Chijiao glares at him and says sarcastically, “Since you’re so sensible, why haven’t you found a wife yet? Could it be that your character is problematic? Hahaha!”
Kong Xingzhu: “……”
His Highness the Crown Prince said he shouldn’t date for three years.
Although the order was rescinded long ago, Kong Xingzhu still hasn’t met a girl he likes.
The children stand in a line and kowtow to Madam Gu and Old Man Yun to offer New Year greetings…
Red envelopes are definitely given. Although not much, it’s enough to buy a few pounds of candy.
After paying respects to her parents, Xiao Xitian calls her nephews over.
“Jinhe, Jinshan, Jide, Xiaobao!” Xiao Xitian beckons with her little hand, then glances at the infant Xiaozhuzi in the swaddling clothes, and says with a smile, “It’s New Year, and your little aunt has also prepared New Year’s money for you. Come, take it…”
With that, Xiao Xitian opens her small satchel and pulls out a handful of silver fragments. “Here, this is for the eldest nephew, this for the second nephew. Xiaobao and Xiaozhuzi get the least, but it’s enough to buy dozens of candied hawthorns…”
Yun Jinhe scratches his head, unsure whether to accept the silver.
His little aunt is only six years old after the New Year, but he is already sixteen. At this age, if he doesn’t study, he should be earning money to support his family and honor his elders. Yet, he is still reaching out to take his little aunt’s money…
“Take it if I give it to you!” Madam Gu chuckles. “This is the New Year’s money your little aunt is rewarding you with!”
Yun Jinhe says, “Oh,” takes the silver, and respectfully bows to his little aunt, “Thank you, little aunt. When I pass the provincial examination and earn money, I will honor you well…”
“Me too, me too!” Yun Jinshan squeezes over, pinches Xiao Xitian’s cheek, and says, “Auntie, when I pass the preliminary examination, I’ll buy you pies!”
“Hmph!” Yun Erman is furious and kicks Yun Jinshan’s backside. “What’s the use of just passing the preliminary examination? It’s not even as good as a scholar. Where can you earn money? If you don’t pass this year, hurry up and come down to farm with me, don’t waste the family’s money!”
Yun Jinshan: “……”
Dad, why do you always stimulate me with this matter!
I’m naturally not cut out for studying.
Alas, my heart is weary…
Dad and Grandpa always compare me with Eldest Brother. The more outstanding Eldest Brother is, the more inferior I feel…
Can people be the same? Even if I don’t study, I won’t go farming. Even learning a trade in the prefectural city or the capital is better than digging in the dirt.
Besides Madam Gu and Old Man Yun, there are also two elders, Old Man Sun and Guan Zhongbo, in the household.
The children kowtow to offer New Year greetings in turn and also receive large red envelopes…
Zhao Guihua sits proudly beside her son, serving him roast chicken and scooping garlic paste for him, constantly urging, “When you return to the academy after the New Year, you must strive for excellence. Mother heard that Dean Fan values you highly and will be taking one student as his closed-door disciple this year. You must strive for this spot by any means necessary, do you understand?”
Yun Jinhe: “……”
Mom, can we just eat dinner peacefully?
Is it easy to become a closed-door disciple?
“Jinhe, your mother says this for your own good. Dean Fan is exceptionally talented and knowledgeable, understanding both ancient and modern times. He is a contemporary great scholar of our Daliang Kingdom. If you become his disciple, why would you worry about not passing the provincial examination?” Yun Daman also advises in a low voice.
Yun Jinhe hears this, puts down his chopsticks, rubs his temples, and says, “Dad, Mom, I understand…”
Zhao Guihua pats her son’s shoulder and smiles, “Son, when you return to the academy this time, bring more things for Dean Fan. A few days ago, your sister Huaihua dried some beef jerky, and your second aunt made a lot of braised sheep trotters, as well as those peanuts. Dean Fan must not have eaten them before. I’ll pack them in jars. Be careful not to break them!” httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Yun Jinhe hums in response, remaining silent…
The livelier the household, the more he misses Miss Murong.
Murong Qing took care of him for so long in the prefectural seat. Originally, he was returning to Dashui Village with his family for the New Year. Now, Miss Murong and Sister Fang have vanished without a trace, and even his third and fourth uncles haven’t returned for New Year’s Eve dinner…
Xiao Jinfeng and Gu Mingyan sit at the dinner table like two unfortunate souls, with no appetite.
In the afternoon, Guan Zhongbo brewed a bowl of anti-diarrheal medicine for the two young masters. After drinking it, their stomachs felt somewhat relieved, but they still ached with a gurgling pain…
Three large tables are set up in the main hall to barely accommodate everyone…
“Little village boy, I’ll stay up with you later!” Xiao Jinheng sits beside Xiao Xitian. Seeing the oil stains on her lips, he takes out a handkerchief to wipe them for her.
Xiao Xitian yawns and shakes her head, “I won’t stay up, I’m so sleepy…”
Actually, she turned one year older after New Year’s Day, and if she were to stay up, it would have been on New Year’s Day. But the Lunar New Year’s Eve is the biggest festival, so people like to say: It’s New Year, and I’ve just turned one year older.
Xiao Jinheng purses his lips and smiles, then looks up at Xiao Jinfeng, and then gazes out the window, missing his father and mother…
When he returned to the palace last time, he intended to spend the Spring Festival with his father and mother. But who would have thought that Xiao Jinfeng would come to Dashui Village.
On festive occasions, one misses loved ones even more. Xiao Jinheng feels a chill in his heart and plans to quietly return to the palace when the weather warms up to apologize to his father and mother…
And at this moment, in the barbarian tribes far away in the northern frontier, the scene is entirely different.