Chapter 125 Temple Fair, Visiting Relatives
In ancient times, the capital city called the first day of the first lunar month "New Year's Day". Relatives, friends, and colleagues began to greet each other, but this was limited to "official guests" (men). As for "guests" (women), they had to wait until the sixth day of the first lunar month to go out to pay New Year's greetings.

In modern times, the custom has gradually changed. Both men and women usually go out to pay New Year's greetings with their families.

New Year's greetings at this time are not only a traditional etiquette, but also a form of emotional exchange and family reunion.

People wear new clothes, bring gifts, visit relatives and friends, and wish each other well. It is very lively.

Such customs not only reflect people's family affection and friendship, but also inherit the traditional virtues and cultural heritage of the Chinese nation.

The Liu family's return journey was bustling with people, who came out early to visit relatives, and the crowds were like a flowing ribbon, embellishing the way home.

People with better conditions ride their bicycles leisurely through the streets and alleys, while more people drive horse-drawn carriages in an endless stream, and the sound of horse hooves is eye-catching.

As for those who chose to walk, they were no less impressive, walking briskly and in high spirits. The villages they passed through were even more lively, with crowds of people and laughter.

The most interesting thing is the "flower show" performed by people from various villages. The actors are all farmers who are idle in winter. Most of the programs are "running on a land boat" and "Auntie Wang mending the big jar". The female roles are played by young people from the village, wearing thick makeup.

Drums and music led the way, followed by many children. When they arrived at the door of a house, a large crowd gathered around them, so they walked around and sang, with instrumental accompaniment, and most of the songs were funny and aroused constant laughter from everyone.

When it comes to visiting relatives during the Spring Festival, the order of visiting relatives is from the inner to the outer, from the near to the far.

New Year greetings at home: On the morning of the first day of the New Year, people first worship heaven and earth and their ancestors (tablets) at home, and then pay New Year greetings to the elders in the family.

When paying New Year's greetings, the younger generation pays respects to the older generation, usually starting with the most senior generation, such as grandpa, grandma, parents (uncles and aunts). After receiving the greetings, the elders will distribute New Year's money to the younger generation.

Paying respects to relatives: On the second and third days of the New Year, people will pay respects to their uncles, aunts, uncles-in-law, parents-in-law and other in-laws.

When paying a visit, if you are of the same age as the host, you only need to bow; if the host is older, you should kneel down and the host should get up from his seat and pretend to support you.

Visit colleagues and friends: On the fourth and fifth days of the Lunar New Year, people visit colleagues, friends and neighbors. When visiting colleagues and friends, it is not advisable to sit for a long time. You can leave after a simple greeting.

When he got home, Liu's mother Deng Ru had been waiting for a long time. He quickly sent Liu Zhiye and his wife back to her parents' home, as it would be rude to be late any later.

In fact, according to the old Beijing custom, on the first day of the New Year, the son-in-law and daughter first visit their father-in-law and mother-in-law. Now it is usually on the second day of the New Year that the daughter and son-in-law return to their parents' home to pay New Year's greetings.

This time, my mother and I are visiting my father-in-law and mother-in-law, so of course we have to bring gifts.

Liu Jingzhai didn't have to look after his father-in-law and mother-in-law.

Because his wife Deng Ru's parents passed away early, she was left as the eldest in the family and shouldered the responsibility of taking care of her younger siblings.

His younger brother Deng Shicai, Liu Zhiye’s uncle, chose to become an oil worker after the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

Now, he and his family have moved to China's "Daqing" oil field, where they started a new chapter in life.

Liu Zhiye's aunt Deng Jie once studied in a girls' middle school. She was a talented and intelligent young woman.

After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, she lived with an outstanding reporter from the Ta Kung Pao. Her husband took good care of her and she spent a happy time. After moving to Hong Kong, the family lived and worked in peace and contentment. However, the twists and turns of fate caused them to lose contact with their family.

Deng Ru no longer had any direct relatives in the capital, only some distant relatives. Therefore, the people she visited were mainly the relatives and friends of the Liu family.

Liu Zhiye and his wife needed to go back to her parents' home to pay New Year's greetings. The rest of the family had nothing to do today, so they happily decided to go out to the temple fair together.

Temple fairs or temple markets, originally called "community sacrifices", originated from traditional folk religious activities. In the old days, wherever there were temples, there were Buddhist events, and whenever there were Buddhist events, there were many pilgrims, which attracted merchants to do business, thus forming temple fairs.

Among the numerous temple fairs in the old capital, only the temple fair in Changdian is not named after a temple. It is held only once a year during the Spring Festival, but it is grand in scale and popular.

The Changdian Temple Fair has lasted for more than 400 years. It has evolved from a temple fair during sacrificial offerings to a book fair, and gradually became a folk activity of visiting Changdian during the Spring Festival that combines both culture and commerce. It is praised as "a combination of elegance and vulgarity, and a fusion of commerce and entertainment."

Temple fairs and lantern markets flourished in the Qing Dynasty. "From the first day to the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, there were all kinds of goods gathered, lantern screens and colored glaze, thousands of hanging lamps, jade scrolls and toothpicks, thousands of door links, books on display, and treasures filling the streets."

The temple fair here starts from Hepingmen in the north, reaches Liangjiayuan in the south, extends to Nanbei Liuxiang in the west and Yanshousi Street in the east, with Xinhua Street, Haiwang Village, Fire God Temple and Lu Zu Temple as its core areas, and is mainly centered on the "Changdong Gate" or Liulichang East Street.

As the Changdian Temple Fair is very close to the city center, it is a place frequented by men, women, young and old from all walks of life in the capital during the Lunar New Year.

During the temple fair every year, there are rows of stalls, crowds of people, and it is very lively.

The temple fair in Changdian not only sells calligraphy and paintings, old books, and antiques, which are favored by dignitaries and intellectuals, but also handicrafts, New Year paintings, sundries, and various toys that attract people from different classes. However, Liu Zhiye knows that this year is the last time the temple fair will be held in Changdian. Due to special reasons, it was forced to be suspended for several years and then resumed.

In fact, according to the old Beijing custom, on the first day of the New Year, the son-in-law and daughter first visit their father-in-law and mother-in-law. Now it is usually on the second day of the New Year that the daughter and son-in-law return to their parents' home to pay New Year's greetings.

In the first year after marriage, when you go back to your parents' home, you should pay New Year's greetings to your parents-in-law. The gifts you bring should be more substantial, including cigarettes, alcohol, tea and snacks.

When you arrive at your mother-in-law's house, you should kowtow three times to the Buddha statue as soon as you enter the house, and then go to wish your father-in-law and mother-in-law a happy new year.

"Dad! Mom! Happy New Year!" The young couple kowtowed three times to their father-in-law and mother-in-law.

"Mom! I miss you so much!" Gan Ning stood up and put her arm around Professor Cui's shoulders.

Professor Cui glanced at her, and with a teasing smile, he said to her: "If it were someone else, I would believe it, but it's only been a week, and you miss me already?"

Then, ignore her.

The son-in-law is more important, the daughter is nothing.

"Zhi Ye! Is everything fine at home?"

"Old man! Are you still in good health?"

"Everything is fine. Mom! Thank you for your concern." Liu Zhiye replied with a smile.

Professor Cui: "Hey! Why are you being so polite to me?"

"Today, I'll cook some of my specialties. You can drink more with your dad!"

Liu Zhiye looked at his father-in-law Gan Weimin and saw that he was smiling. He then joked with him, "Wow! Dad! It's rare that my mom lets you drink a few more glasses..."

"Well, let's each drink a bottle of the Xinghua Village I brought."

When the father-in-law Gan Weimin heard this, he tilted his head slightly and looked at his mother-in-law's expression carefully. Then, he shook his head and said, "No, no! Drinking should be done in moderation, not excessively."

"As the ancients said: Good wine should not be drunk too much, a little tipsiness is better than being drunk; nine out of ten things in life are right and wrong."

Professor Cui, the mother-in-law, heard this and a look of satisfaction flashed across her face. She stood up with a smile and greeted Gan Ning warmly. The mother and daughter walked towards the kitchen together, talking and laughing.

They were busy working intimately. Gan Ning helped her mother-in-law to pick vegetables and cut meat, while her mother-in-law gave instructions. A warm atmosphere filled the entire kitchen.

The father-in-law Gan Weimin finally breathed a sigh of relief, with a satisfied smile on his face. He winked at Liu Zhiye and smiled triumphantly, as if he had foreseen it.

Liu Zhiye also couldn't help laughing. His father-in-law Gan Weimin seemed to be a rigorous engineer, but his personality was quite interesting.

He is not only calm in appearance, but also full of energy and vitality, not at all rigid. His words and deeds always reveal a sense of humor and wit, making people feel relaxed and happy.

My father-in-law's laughter and behavior make people feel that he is a full of energy and enthusiasm, which makes people feel good about him.

It is said that daughters' personalities are more like their fathers, and this is absolutely true.

Gan Ning is the best example. She inherited her father-in-law's warm, generous and friendly character, which made her very popular in the Liu family.

"Dad! Can't my eldest brother and his family come back to celebrate the holidays this year?" Liu Zhiye said with some regret.

He couldn't help but admire this heroic brother-in-law.

Perhaps because they both have a military background, the two get along more happily, as if there is an invisible tacit understanding flowing between them.

Unfortunately, Lang and his uncle only met once. Faced with this unexpected fate, they had many intimate things to talk about, but they had not had time to discuss them in detail.

It is a deep regret and also a speechless sorrow.

(End of this chapter)