Chapter 351: has arrived
Once the Lantern Festival is over, the year is over.

At that time, people called the Lantern Festival "Nianxiao Festival", not only because of its homophony, but also because it was the day after dinner on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, when the last string of firecrackers left in the house was set off, it meant that the New Year was over.

"During the Lantern Festival last year, the lights in the flower market were as bright as day. The moon was above the willows, and people made appointments after dusk."

"In the first month of the lunar calendar, on the first day of the first lunar month, on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, there are lanterns."

In those days, social resources were scarce and people's lives were generally very difficult. Although ready-made lanterns could occasionally be purchased at the market, most people were reluctant to spend the one or two yuan.

However, this is not a problem for the great working people.

On the eve of the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the adults in every household would personally make lanterns for the children in the family.

Liu Zhiye remembers that when he was a child, his father Liu Jingzhai made lanterns for him and his siblings, which were always called "red fire eggs."

Liu Jingzhai first took out the old bamboo curtain he had prepared in advance and soaked it in water. He then bent it into a circle and fixed it with thin iron wire to make the lantern frame. He then glued red paper around it with paste. It looked like a red fireball, so it was called a "fire egg lantern."

Next, he threaded two parallel thin "rice threads" on the left and right sides of the small wooden board, and then passed them through the round hole in the middle of the red "fire egg". The small wooden board then became the base of the lantern, on which candles could be stuck. He made a loop on the thin iron wire, tied a rope on it, and held it up with a thin stick. The small lantern filled with his childhood joy was made.

After the lanterns are made, people look forward to the eve of the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

Before the night fell, little Liu Zhiye was busy taking out the box of thin, short, small red wax candles that his father had bought for him. He lit the candles, stood them upside down, let the melted wax drip onto a small wooden board, and then quickly dipped the bottom of the candles onto the small wooden board.

When night fell, he picked up the lantern and walked carefully into the alley. At this time, the long and narrow alley gradually became lively. From afar, the lanterns flickered and dotted like stars in the sky.

It seems like a lantern exhibition here: square, round, prismatic; pumpkin lanterns, fish-shaped lanterns, butterfly lanterns... all kinds of strange shapes, everything you can think of...

According to the custom passed down by the older generation, the lanterns must be lit from the night of the 14th to the night of the 16th.

So children have to be extra careful, especially with paper lanterns. They have to "hold the wooden stick flat and be careful of potholes when stepping on the ground."

Otherwise, the lanterns will sway left and right. If there is a little wind, the lanterns will catch fire if you are not careful. This phenomenon happens from time to time.

As soon as night falls on this day, all kinds of lanterns will be seen passing through the streets and alleys, and the sounds of gongs, drums and firecrackers make children's hearts excited.

Liujiazhuang had a bumper harvest this year, and the village committee specially planned a grand fireworks show for the first time, bringing a visual feast to the villagers.

The fireworks bloomed brilliantly in the air, as if filling every inch of space and embroidering a colorful picture for the dim sky.

Fireworks flew into the sky, dazzling. Some were like meteors streaking across the night sky, fleeting; some were like waterfalls falling from the sky, majestic; and some were like blooming chrysanthemums, delicate and charming.

On the ground, the crowds were bustling like stars. Children holding lanterns shuttled among the crowds, occasionally releasing brilliant fireworks, adding a bit of childishness and vitality to this bustling night.

There were also naughty kids who would light firecrackers not far from the crowd from time to time, making a "ding-bang" sound.

The activities for adults are also rich and colorful, including "land boat racing", "stilt walking", "model operas", "yangko dance", "dragon lantern dance", "Peking opera", "song and dance troupe performances" and other entertainment programs.

It was later estimated that nearly 40,000 people participated in this national event, and people even came from nearby villages and towns to watch the fun.

Liu Zhiye's family had their reunion dinner earlier this year so they could come out earlier to watch the fun.

This was a celebration scene that Liujiazhuang had never seen before, and no one wanted to miss it.

After the 15th day of the first lunar month, all family members will come back to have a reunion dinner, and the whole family will get together to happily have a reunion dinner, which represents a successful new year.

If an individual member is outside and cannot make it back, a seat should be reserved for him at the dinner table and bowls and chopsticks should be set out as if that person is present.

The Liu family reunion dinner is the most sumptuous and elaborate one of the year. Every dish has a meaning. For example, there must be a braised carp on the table every year because “fish” and “surplus” are homophones, which means “surplus every year”.

Sixi meatballs are four large braised pork meatballs in a basin, symbolizing the four happy events of "luck, wealth, longevity and happiness".

A large bowl of braised pork belly, with alternating fat and lean meat, looks delicious and fragrant, implying a prosperous new year.

A whole chicken is stewed in a casserole and served steaming hot. "Chicken" and "吉" have the same pronunciation, symbolizing "lucky celebration".

Roast mutton is made by simmering large pieces of mutton over low heat, taking them out and air-drying to remove the moisture, then frying them in a pan with sesame oil until browned, then putting them on a plate and sprinkling them with salt and pepper. It’s so delicious! Why use mutton? Because "sheep" is the same as "xiang" in ancient times, it means auspiciousness.

In the center of the dining table is an eight-treasure hot pot, which contains both meat and vegetarian ingredients, as well as a rich variety of seafood. The charcoal fire is boiling the soup, implying that the days to come will be warm and joyful.

Vegetarian dishes must include mustard dumplings, which are a cold dish that goes well with wine and is an appetizer. The main vegetables in the north in winter are cabbage, radish, and potatoes; there are also some greenhouse vegetables, such as chrysanthemum, spinach, lettuce, etc.

So choose a good round piece of cabbage heart, pour golden mustard juice on it, add rice vinegar and sesame oil to remove greasiness. The color and shape of it are like gold ingots, and it tastes auspicious when eaten.

There is also a plate of "Xinxinmei" shredded radish, which is mixed with vinegar and sugar. It is bright red and juicy, sweet and sour, and tastes crunchy. It also prays for a colorful and prosperous life in the coming year and everything goes well.

You have to eat dumplings on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, but the Liu family doesn’t like sweets very much, so they bought some dumplings instead of making them themselves, just to suit the occasion.

Although they didn’t make their own tangyuan, they ate dumplings.

Today's staple food is dumplings, which are shaped like small gold ingots, symbolizing prosperity in the new year.

This afternoon, the whole family participated in preparing the New Year's Eve dinner, washing vegetables, kneading dough, cutting meat, and chopping stuffing. There was laughter and joy everywhere.

When making dumplings, it is always my uncle who makes the fillings, because whether the dumplings are delicious or not depends entirely on the fillings.

The whole family joins in making the dumplings, sitting around the eight-immortal table, chatting and working, and then carrying the dumplings to the kitchen one by one.

When the food was set on the table in the evening, everyone sat down according to age. The old man sat in the main seat facing north and south, followed by his uncle, his father Liu Jingzhai and his mother Deng Ru, and finally Liu Zhiye's generation.

When eating, grandpa picks up his chopsticks first, and then everyone starts eating and drinking. Family rules must be followed.

There is a story for every item on the big table of reunion dinner in their family, and it is full of people's expectations for a better life.

Liu Zhitai was unable to attend as he was far away in East Germany, but the rest of the family members were all present.

This year, their family has added two new members, the two little brothers Liu Wen and Liu Wu, and another one is about to join this big family.

Because Liu Tielin's wife Guo Lin is also pregnant with a new life and is expected to give birth around September this year.

After the Spring Festival, Liu Zhitai will officially take up the position of squadron leader of the special police brigade. At the same time, he is also studying at the School of Political Science and Law to continuously enrich his professional knowledge.

Liu Zhiye stared at his calm, reserved, and heroic brother, and felt relieved. His little brother had finally grown into a real man.

"Zhitai, if you need any help at work, just let me know. Although I have left the public security system, I still have connections, and I may be able to provide you with some help at a critical moment."

In fact, under past circumstances, Liu Zhiye would never have said such words to Liu Zhitai.

He was worried that Liu Zhitai would abuse his connections and act recklessly, which might have a negative impact on his future development.

However, Liu Zhitai now makes people feel completely at ease. He is mature and steady, hardworking, not afraid of bloodshed and sacrifice, fully committed to work, and has a good character, which has won the hearts of the people.

Liu Zhiye wants to focus on training his younger brother and help him go further in the public security system.

"This is Cao Zixiao from our Liu family!"

Hearing this, Liu Zhitai's dark face was stunned. His brother had always been strict with him, when did he become so lenient?

"Brother, if I did something wrong, just tell me. I will definitely listen to you." Liu Zhitai said nervously.

Seeing this, Liu Zhiye knew that he had misunderstood, and patted him on the shoulder and said, "It's not what you think. What I mean is that if you encounter any difficulties in the future, just tell me, don't keep it in your heart."

Liu Zhitai admired this brother the most. Seeing that his brother was so lenient towards him, he was immediately moved. "Hey! Okay! Thank you, brother..."

"Brother, let me toast you!" He stood up excitedly to toast Liu Zhiye, but almost knocked over the bottle in front of him. "You little brat! You're going to be a father soon, but you're still so impulsive." Liu Zhiye laughed and scolded him when he saw this.

Then he also stood up and clinked glasses with Liu Zhitai, and drank the wine in his glass down.

The old man sat firmly in the first seat, witnessing the deep friendship between his two grandchildren. He felt very pleased and took a sip of wine leisurely.

His heart was filled with satisfaction and joy, his children and grandchildren were successful in their careers, his family was harmonious, and his clan was prosperous. At this moment, even if he died, he would have no regrets.

The only thing that concerns the old man is his deep affection for Chinese medicine. His whole life is closely connected with Chinese medicine and he cannot let it go.

He met the love of his life through Chinese medicine, but as fate would have it, she passed away too early and was unable to witness the brilliant achievements of her children.

Grandson Liu Zhiye's desire to develop and revitalize traditional Chinese medicine really touched the old man's heart.

He has spent his whole life saving lives and healing the wounded, and has an extremely deep affection for traditional Chinese medicine.

Over the years, traditional Chinese medicine has been declining. The old man witnessed it all and was filled with sorrow.

Although he had good intentions, his personal abilities were ultimately limited, and faced with this situation, he could do nothing.

Liu Zhiye returned and advocated the revitalization of traditional Chinese medicine. The old man was very excited when he heard the news, as if he had returned to his youth. Even though he was over 80 years old, his love for traditional Chinese medicine was still as fervent as before.

Every day, he went to Yaoshan before dawn, climbing mountains and wading through water, ignoring the wind and frost.

Sometimes, he would go to the village's traditional Chinese medicine school to take care of the children and discuss traditional Chinese medicine knowledge with the school's teachers, and he never got tired of it.

Perhaps it is because of this old man who brings happiness to all families that the Liu family can be so prosperous.

In this era, people still have superstitions. As Liujiazhuang prospers, superstition becomes more prevalent. People firmly believe that it is the blessing of their ancestors, the superiority of Feng Shui, and the good atmosphere of the village that have made this land prosperous.

As the clan leader, the old man did good deeds, set an example, and won the deep respect and endless love of the clan members.

During the holidays, there are huge crowds of people coming to visit him.

The uncle looked at the smiling old man and suggested directly: "Dad, the children are all here, please give them a few words of encouragement."

The old man nodded slightly. This has long become a New Year tradition in their family. At the beginning of each year, the elders always encourage the younger generations and place high hopes on them.

He first focused his eyes on his eldest grandson Liu Zhiye, who was his pride, and no need to say more. He said simply and firmly: "If the motherland is in trouble, you should be the vanguard."

Then he said to his grandson Liu Zhitai: "Be kind and have a righteous heart, be cautious in your words, be upright in your actions, be fair in your dealings, be honest in your official duties, be loyal to your ruler, be frugal in your expenses, be kind to others, and live in harmony with your neighbors."

He said to his granddaughter Liu Zhiruo: "Respect teachers and value morality, love the masses and be close to benevolence. Scholars are like planting trees. In spring, they enjoy their flowers and in autumn, they harvest their fruits."

Finally, he turned to his uncle, father and others and said: "A family that accumulates good will surely have more blessings; a family that accumulates evil will surely have more disasters."

"If a rich man does not educate his children, his wealth will be gone; if a noble man does not educate his children, his clothes and honors will not last long."

The eldest uncle led the whole family to stand up and said in unison respectfully: "We will remember our father's (grandfather's) teachings!"

After the reunion dinner, the family rushed to the village stadium with laughter and joy, where a series of exciting activities were taking place.

Liu Zhiye stared at the laughter and joy in front of him, feeling mixed emotions. He might have to wait ten years before he could see such a lively scene again.

----

No. 95, Nanluoguxiang.

Bang Geng was wearing a brand new cotton-padded jacket and trousers, holding a string of bright red firecrackers. He proudly waved them in front of Yi Yuanchao and said directly, "Yuanchao, help me finish my winter vacation homework, and these firecrackers will be yours. Deal?"

Yi Yuanchao stared at the firecrackers in Banggeng's hand with envy. Today was the Lantern Festival, and the small firecrackers he bought for the Spring Festival were long gone, but Banggeng was still holding the remaining ones and playing with them to his heart's content.

Banggeng, this kid, is now completely terrified in front of the kids in the compound. In the past, he was the one who envied others, but now it's the other way around, it's others who envy him.

However, school was about to start, and he hadn't finished his winter vacation homework yet. Fearing that the teacher would call his parents, he had to turn his attention to the top students in the class.

Yi Yuanchao has now become a top student in his class. He experienced many hardships in his childhood and knows that everything now is hard-earned, so he cherishes it even more.

Therefore, he studied very hard. Apart from helping Aunt Yi with daily housework, he spent the rest of his time immersed in books, studying knowledge with great concentration.

In fact, the Yi family is not short of this money. If Yi Yuanchao likes to set off firecrackers, Yi Zhonghai will let him set off as many as he wants.

But this child was so sensible that it made people feel distressed. He refused to let Yi Zhonghai buy him too many firecrackers. He was satisfied with just one string.

Although he was sensible, he was a child at heart. How could the boy resist the temptation of small firecrackers? At this moment, the small firecrackers in Banggeng's hand undoubtedly became his favorite, and Yi Yuanchao's heart was also shaken.

"You said this, you can't go back on your word?"

Bang Geng raised his lips with a smug smile, and said lightly: "It's just a string of small firecrackers, I'm not that bad, can you please give me a word…"

"I..." Yi Yuanchao was about to agree to him.

Yan Zhaodi, who was standing by, immediately stopped him and said, "Yi Yuanchao, you can't agree to him. This is helping him cheat. I'm going to tell my sister-in-law."

Seeing this, Yi Yuanchao quickly begged for mercy: "Zhao Di, Zhao Di, I didn't agree to him, please don't tell the teacher, okay?"

Bang Geng was furious when he saw that his good plan was ruined. He immediately changed his face and said, "Yi Yuanchao, are you still a man? Why are you afraid of this little girl? Let her sue."

"If she dares to tell the teacher, I will beat her, humph..." He threatened Yan Zhaodi with a bad look.

Yan Zhaodi was not afraid at all and responded immediately: "Okay! If you have the guts, don't run away. I'll go home to find my brother and sister-in-law." After saying that, she turned around and walked towards the compound without hesitation.

Bang Geng was also panicked when he saw this. He was a man who looked fierce but was actually very reserved. Although he dared to threaten Yan Zhaodi, if he really called her three brothers over, he would definitely wet his pants.

Bang Geng was in a panic and subconsciously reached out to pull Yan Zhaodi, saying anxiously: "Zhaodi, listen to me..."

"Ah!" "Ah..." Yan Zhaodi was caught off guard and was suddenly pulled to the ground by him in an instant, with screams and astonishment mixed together.

Bang Geng used too much force and accidentally pulled Yan Zhaodi to the ground. What was worse was that she fell directly into a pile of snow, water and mud, looking very miserable.

"Wow! My new cotton-padded jacket... wuwu... what should I do..." Yan Zhaodi glanced at her new cotton-padded jacket in astonishment, only to see that the originally clean cotton-padded jacket was now covered with smelly mud. She was immediately at a loss.

School was about to start and it was too late to wash. Her classmates were all wearing new clothes to school, but she was wearing old clothes. The thought of doing so made her sad.

When Banggeng saw that someone was in trouble, he rushed forward and tried to brush the mud off Yan Zhaodi's body.

However, his panicky movements backfired, and the originally clean area was stained by his random slapping.

Seeing this, Yan Zhaodi cried even harder, "Wuwu... wait for me, I'll go find my brother..." She ran home crying.

Banggeng panicked for a moment and didn't know what to do. But he reacted quickly and realized that it was not suitable to stay here for long, so he turned around and ran away.

Yan Zhaodi rushed back home in tears. Her mother and sister-in-law were busy making dumplings and were startled by her sudden intrusion.

The two men rushed forward and asked her with concern what had happened.

After finding out the reason, sister-in-law Ran Qiuye stood up angrily and said angrily: "Let's go, sister-in-law will seek justice for you."

(End of this chapter)