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墨書 Inktalez
Ahem, as for that couplet, the last character of the upper line is usually in the third or fourth tone. The last character of the lower line is generally in the first tone or neutral tone.
Oh!
Yu Songbai had just stepped out when Little Old Lady walked in right after him.
Xinbei said, "That Gu Feng Deng, let's write down some auspicious phrases like 'lifting one's head to see joy.' We have plenty of red paper, so let's write more!"
"Alright!"
Yu Xinbei, having lost his parents at a young age, hadn’t experienced this feeling for many years.
Wang Yan and Xiao He were still young and couldn’t help much; they followed along while Yu Suihuan felt they were more of a hindrance.
"Heng Er, there are firecrackers and fireworks in that cabinet. Take your younger siblings to play!"
In this era, although there were firecrackers, it wasn’t like in later years when every household would buy so many for the New Year. People at that time would buy only a small string, saving it for New Year's Eve; some wouldn’t even buy them at all.
Yu Suihuan’s family was different. Right before the New Year, she returned to modern times and purchased a batch of firecrackers and fireworks. To avoid raising suspicion, she chose small fireworks meant for children, just to let the kids have some fun in the yard.
Wang Heng had never played with them before and was naturally very interested. He readily agreed and took his younger siblings inside.
Before they knew it, they had been busy until evening when Little Old Lady turned on all the lights.
She wouldn’t usually be so extravagant; aside from Yu Suihuan’s little courtyard, she would nag for half a day if others kept their lights on longer!
On New Year's Eve, there were quite a few customs to observe. For instance, both adults and children had to wash themselves clean and change into new clothes. In the morning, they would stew meat and prepare dough while also putting up the door gods Wei Chi Gong and Qin Shubao.
As for door gods like Cai Shen and Zao Wang Ye, who needed to be welcomed on that day, they had to be pasted up on the same day as well.
It was essential to speak auspicious words that day; if by chance a plate or bowl broke accidentally, one had to quickly say "Sui Sui Ping An."
The New Year's Eve dinner must include fish; indeed, the fish should not be finished eating as it symbolizes abundance year after year!
The most important ritual was that unmarried younger members of the family had to carry a jar of meat oil and run around twice just before midnight. Only after everyone had done this could they start cooking dumplings.
And so it was that Yu Suihuan, Wang Zhao, Yu Qingsong, Yu Songbai, and even Wang Heng couldn’t escape this tradition.
"Hurry up! Qing Song and Yu Songbai have finished; you three are slow! Hurry up so I can cook the dumplings!"
The Little Old Lady urged from the side, taking the jar of meat oil from Yu Songbai's hands and stuffing it into Yu Suihuan's grasp.
"Ah? No way!"
Yu Suihuan felt an intense resistance in her heart. On such a cold day, it would be so nice to stay indoors waiting for dumplings. Why did she have to run around the yard holding a jar of meat oil?
Although Yu Qingsong and Yu Songbai also resisted, they had no choice but to comply under the pressure of Yu Xinbei, so they obediently followed along. However, Yu Suihuan was never one to be obedient; she made her reluctance even more apparent.
"Why not? Hurry up!"
Seeing that the time was almost up, the Little Old Lady looked like she was about to whip her with a small whip.
Not wanting to dampen everyone’s spirits, Yu Suihuan reluctantly complied. After she handed the jar to Wang Zhao, she couldn’t help but ask, "Why can't we just cook the dumplings and eat them? What’s the point of running around with this jar?"
The Little Old Lady smiled slightly, rolling her eyes at her, and said mysteriously, "Running with the jar of meat oil is called 'moving for marriage,' which means you all should establish your families soon!"
After saying this, Wang Heng couldn’t hold back any longer. "But Great-Grandmother, my Godmother and my two uncles are getting married, that makes sense since they are of marrying age. But me running around seems a bit early!"
"Early? Early is better than late! Besides, there are people your age who are already fathers!"
Uh-oh, but Yu Suihuan and the others aren’t married yet. Heng Er—
Yu Xinbei intended to speak up for Wang Heng; after all, he was her precious great-grandson, right?
But before she could finish her thought, she felt someone grab her by the rear and twist it hard, making her wince in pain and nearly bring tears to her eyes.
Glancing at his wife with a look of grievance, he had no choice but to change his tune. "Heng Er should indeed run a lap; you’re right, Great-Grandmother! It’s better to prepare early! Hehe!"
Wang Heng finally realized that his external support wasn’t reliable; it was better to count on his Godmother!
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