Chapter 74: The End of the Year
New Year's Eve, as the last day of the year, is called "the day when the month ends and the year ends" and is also called "New Year's Eve". Among people in the capital, it is commonly called New Year's Eve.

For the people in the capital, this "New Year's Eve" is regarded as the official New Year's Eve, because it is the time when "one night connects two years, and the five watches divide two years."

On this day, many important celebrations of bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new are held, filled with a strong sense of the New Year.

On this night, the family will do three things: offer sacrifices, eat New Year's Eve dinner, and stay up all night.

On New Year's Eve, Liu Zhiruo got up early and knocked on his eldest brother's door.

The knocks on the door came one after another.

"Brother! Get up! We still have to do the cleaning today..."

Liu Zhiye looked at his watch sleepily and saw that it was only six o'clock. It was a rare day off and he wanted to sleep a little longer. However, the energetic voice outside the door made him unable to resist.

He muttered a few words: "I finally got a day off, can't you let me sleep a little longer?"

Then he got up from bed, yawning, and complained about the morning cold as he got dressed.

"Wow! It's so cold today!"

Then, he picked up his washing utensils and prepared to go to the middle courtyard. As soon as he opened the door, he saw his sister outside, laughing and making faces at him. Her smile was like the spring sunshine, warm and dazzling.

Her bright eyes sparkled with excitement, and Liu Zhiye was immediately infected by them. He was shocked and a smile spread across his face.

Liu Zhiye gently rubbed his sister's little head, and while she was watching him, he went to the kitchen to say hello to his mother Deng Ru.

"Mom! What delicious food did you make this morning?" he said with a smile.

Liu's mother Deng Ru smiled and joked with him, "Hey! Why didn't you get up early and go for a walk today?"

Liu Zhiye teased her: "Hey! I've been waiting for a leap month for ten years - it's a rare opportunity to have a rest!"

"At least give yourself a break and relax." He said as he was about to go out.

Liu's mother whispered to him from behind: "Go quickly and come back soon. I made noodles with soybean paste specially for you. Don't come back too late or the noodles will become lumpy."

Liu Zhiye nodded and agreed: "Okay! I'll be back soon."

He walked briskly to the front yard and happened to see the Yan brothers and sisters who were about to go out to set off firecrackers.

Yan Jiecheng greeted him warmly: "Brother Liu, good morning! Have you eaten?"

His younger brothers and sisters beside him also followed his example and greeted Liu Zhiye with excited smiles on their faces.

Liu Zhiye smiled and responded: "I have eaten. Thank you for your concern, brother and sister."

"Jie Cheng, you guys are setting off firecrackers really early!"

Yan Jiefang was holding a stick of incense, ready to light the firecrackers, with an excited smile on his face. In previous years, they were always the first family in the compound to light the firecrackers, and this year was no exception.

Then the sound of firecrackers popped one after another, and the crisp sounds echoed over the courtyard, adding a festive atmosphere to this New Year.

He then walked into the faucet in the middle courtyard, where many people were already busy.

When meeting the neighbors in these compounds, there was naturally some politeness. Everyone had a smile on their face and greeted each other warmly.

The only exceptions are the Jia family and the Yi family.

After Yi Zhonghai was released from the detention center in the previous period, the hospital held a special meeting to criticize and educate him. For a man like him with a strong self-esteem and a face, this was more painful than killing him.

Moreover, the aunt even wanted to divorce him, but with the mediation of the Women's Federation and the deaf old lady, she finally gave up the idea of ​​divorce.

At this moment, Yi Zhonghai went out early and came back late, living his life behind closed doors with a middle-aged woman. He rarely interacted with others, and it seemed that he and Jia Dongxu had also fallen out.

Not to mention the Jia family. Jia Zhang was sentenced to three years in prison and has been sent to a labor camp to work on a sewing machine.

Jia Dongxu and Qin Huairu were left with their children, and although their lives were somewhat bleak, without Jia Zhangshi, who was always gluttonous and lazy, at home, their lives were much better.

He Yushui, the bean sprout, also got up when he heard the crackling sound of firecrackers. He was so hungry that he had to ask his unreliable brother Shazhu to get up and cook.

Sha Zhu played cards with some young people in the courtyard until late last night. He felt a little tired, and had to get up after his sister's scolding.

He got up, opened the door, washed up, and saw Liu Zhiye, and immediately became energetic.

"Brother Liu! I haven't seen you for a while!"

"Come to my house at noon, I'll cook you some of my specialties and we can have a drink together!"

Liu Zhiye smiled and refused, "Don't bother. It's Chinese New Year and everyone should eat at home. Wait until after the New Year. I'll go get some wild produce and you can show me some of my cooking skills when I come back..."

Sha Zhu nodded: "Okay! I'll wait for you..." After Liu Zhiye chatted with him for a few words, he hurriedly said goodbye and left.

When I got home, Aunt Liu had already put the meal on the table. In addition to the noodles with soybean paste, there were also fried crispy boxes, fried cloth bags, and braised dried tofu.

Wow! It’s quite rich!

Liu Jingzhai was playing with an exquisite purple clay teapot in his hand and couldn't let it go. Early in the morning, he enthusiastically brewed a pot of fragrant jasmine tea.

The purple clay teapot in his hand is a fine work made by Gu Jingzhou, who is known as the master of teapot art and a great artist of his generation. It was also bought by Liu Zhiye specially as a New Year's gift for him.

When Liu Jingzhai saw him coming back, he first asked his eldest son to get on the kang, and the whole family waited for him to come back for dinner.

Then he picked up the bowl and said, "Let's eat!"

The three brothers and sisters then started to eat breakfast.

Liu Zhiye slurped two mouthfuls of noodles and felt that something was missing. He said, "Mom! Give me some garlic!"

Liu Dengru said, "Wow! Eating garlic so early in the morning, who can stand the smell?"

Liu Zhiye laughed and said, "If you don't add garlic to your noodles, the taste will be half as good!"

At this time, Liu Jingzhai also echoed: "Hey! I'll have one too! Otherwise, I can't stand the garlic smell."

The whole family suddenly burst into laughter, and the atmosphere was full of joy.

After a hearty breakfast, it’s time to get busy and prepare for the day.

The second brother, Liu Zhitai, helped his father clean the house with sweat on his face, and decorated the house with a new look. The door was covered with red spring couplets, and the wall was covered with festive New Year pictures, adding a strong New Year atmosphere.

Younger sister Liu Zhiruo was helping her mother prepare some things for the ancestor worship. They were busy moving around in the kitchen, and the aroma filled the air.

Liu Zhiye, on the other hand, was chopping the ribs with a kitchen knife in hand, concentrating on it. The ribs flew under his knife like a graceful dance. Looking at his focused expression and results, each piece of rib became uniform in size and ready for cooking.

This is for lunch. The Liu family still keeps the New Year tradition of their ancestors in Dongshan. At noon on New Year's Eve, they must eat pork bones, stewed with cabbage and vermicelli. The taste is really delicious.

While chopping ribs, he thought about the trivial matters at home with a faint smile on his face.

The whole family is busy not only to welcome the new year, but also to bring a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner to the family. Such a scene makes people feel warm and satisfied.

At noon, Liu Zhiye sat on the kang and looked at the steaming hot tea. He couldn't help but pick up the teacup and took a sip. This jasmine tea was sweet and delicious, making people feel relaxed and happy.

Then, he looked out the window at the sky, which gradually became darker. It was New Year's Eve, and snowflakes began to fall from the sky.

Snow fluttered down, covering the whole yard with white. This beautiful snow scene made people feel extremely comfortable and relaxed.

At this moment, Liu Zhiye's mother Deng Ru brought a pot of steaming pork bones stewed with cabbage and vermicelli and placed it on the kang table.

Suddenly, the tempting aroma filled the whole house, making people salivate.

The family sat around the kang table, eating delicious food while admiring the snow scene outside the window. This warm scene made people feel extremely happy and satisfied.

In the afternoon, the whole family happily made dumplings together, with laughter and joy all the time, and everyone's face was filled with happy smiles.

They divided the work and cooperated with each other, some kneaded the dough, some prepared the filling, some rolled out the dough, and some wrapped and pinched it. Every step was filled with human touch and family warmth.

As night falls, I listen to the radio broadcast: Dear audience friends, in order to celebrate our victory and achievement. Today, our station specially held the "Spring Festival Gala" and invited the famous Peking Opera actor Yu Zhenfei..."

Brothers Liu Zhiye and Liu Zhitai were the first to go out and set off firecrackers. Amid the crackling sound, their mother hurriedly put dumplings into the pot.

When the dumplings come out of the pot, they are steaming hot and fragrant, making people salivate. The family sits together and tastes the dumplings they made by themselves. The satisfaction and happiness they feel are beyond words.

After all the busyness, it’s time for the most important moment – ​​staying up all night to see the New Year in.

Staying up all night to celebrate the New Year is one of the customs of the old Beijing people. Everyone has to stay up all night to wait for the arrival of the new year.

Liu Zhiye's family was no exception. They sat around the table on the kang, eating melon seeds, peanuts, and candies while chatting.

As the hands of time slowly slid by, the New Year's bell finally rang melodiously. At that moment, the sound of firecrackers and gorgeous fireworks outside came like a tide, deafening and striking the heart.

At this moment, Liu Zhiye, along with his brothers and sisters, kowtowed to their parents and wished them a happy new year. They shouted in unison: "Dad! Mom! Happy New Year!"

Father and Mother Liu looked at the three children who were gradually growing up, their eyes full of relief and joy, and said with a smile: "Good! Good! All good."

Afterwards, everyone had a thick red envelope in their hands.

That night, Liu Zhiye's family spent an unforgettable New Year's Eve. They were reunited together, enjoying warmth and happiness.

(End of this chapter)