When it comes to the twelfth lunar month, it is the beginning of the new year, and all parties will be lively, but the excitement belongs to the excitement, but there is no chaos at all. Which day to worship the ancestors, which day to worship the gods and Buddhas, are the rules passed down by the ancestors. If you make a mistake, you will be recorded in the notebook by the narrow-minded earth immortal, and you will be sued in the heavenly court.
Laba Day is the first festival in the twelfth lunar month. On this day, Xin'an County woke up early. The steps are covered with thin white frost, and the breath from the mouth and nose is white. Even cats and dogs like to curl up. If you can't come out of the stove, it's a cold world. Only people like to go out early in the morning and walk around. When they meet neighbors, they say hello to each other with white breath.
The wind came without warning, as if the snow was about to fall, and it hung whistling all night. Some people's windows were thin, and a few holes were blown out.
It is said that there are evil spirits making troubles on this day, and there must be five grains and red beans to suppress and ward off evil spirits. Therefore, every family cooks porridge with seven treasures and five flavors, and large and small temples outside the city also set up large pots and stoves, and open the temple gates to welcome visitors. Believers distribute Laba Buddha porridge. People in Daxia believe in immortals and worship Buddha. On Laba day, people should be extra devout. Even in some little-known small temples, a few people will occasionally come in, settle down, and eat a bowl of good food boiled by the Taoist priest. For porridge, a handful of five-flavored beans will be given in return.
Today, on the outskirts of two cities in Xin'an County, in a dilapidated small Taoist temple that was on the verge of collapse, three or five travelers came for the first time. They stepped into the Taoist temple with bay red horses on their crotches, golden jade bridles, and fine iron horseshoes. The small garden in front. The old Taoist priest and the young Taoist priest in Guanli ran out to have a look, and saw a pit on the left and a depression on the right, and a few young seedlings staggering to and fro. Yo! My radish seedlings! My early oil winter!"
Then came another horse after a long time, the horse was black and shiny, the man on it was wearing a rustic riding outfit, dazzling red, with a cloak that was blown up by the wind wrapped around his shoulders, he looked not like ordinary people, expensive angry. The black horse raised its front hooves and hissed long, scared the Taoist priests shut their mouths in an instant, only howled in their hearts that the radishes and cabbages that they had worked so hard to grow so easily were all ruined by these dudes.
"Second Brother!" The son who ruined the vegetable garden caressed the horse, and called back, with joy that could not be concealed in his voice, "You are too slow! Look at my new horse, it's really good. It's actually faster than your second brother, your baby, Gaifeng!"
The young man in red stopped slowly, and frowned: "Get out yet. Brother Mao, get off the horse and apologize to others." He raised his head again, and said gently to the old Taoist novel: "My foolish brother is reckless, and the horse ruined it." For Mr. Yu's vegetable garden, I would like to apologize to you two first, if this garden should be damaged, we will definitely compensate."
"Ah?" The corner of the other party's mouth collapsed, and only then did he notice the old and young in front of the Taoist temple, muttering, "This is a vegetable garden, I thought it was a piece of weed..." The second brother glared at him again, he Cai just jumped off the horse, ran over honestly, and said "I'm sorry" sincerely.
The second elder brother in red got off his horse, and his followers came up to tie the horse. He walked into the garden, took out a bag of silver beads and said, "Master Daoist, it's snowing a little north, and we came here with the wind and snow , Seeing that there is a Taoist temple here, I want to come in to avoid the wind and cold. These vulgar things should be the garden for the Taoist priest to pay for my younger brother."
This bag of silver beads is not to say that they are paying for their vegetable garden, even if they renovate the Taoist temple, it will not be a problem.
Min Mao shrugged and waved back, fearing that his second brother would not want to see him, he slaughtered his horse and gave it to the Taoist priest to make meat for him: "Poetic and picturesque, don't come and take Amber out!"
Amber is the burgundy BMW he had in mind. Its hair is so red and shiny. It is a majestic horse, but it has a cute name for no reason. It's a few hundred levels away.
The two bosses, poetic and pictorial, reluctantly coaxed Amber out of the vegetable garden, and stayed with Blast.
Xu Shiwu looked like the master, and when Amber saw the high wind, she didn't have that awe-inspiring and arrogance that ruined the vegetable garden. She collapsed and lowered her head to chew on a bunch of weeds at her feet. On the other hand, his master followed the young man in red into the Taoist temple like a dog's leg at this time, and he said "Second Brother, Second Brother" with a smile.
The little one was a bit silly, but this "Second Brother" was a reasonable person, polite and personable, although the old Taoist had a hundred regrets for his destroyed vegetable garden, he really couldn't pick this one out. The young man in red made a mistake. After all, he has apologized and lost the money. Holding on to it is really a shrew's behavior, which will damage the reputation of the Taoist school, so he had to welcome him in with a smile.
It was the day of the twelfth lunar month again, so I took a bowl of Laba porridge in small bowls to keep them out of the cold.
The little Taoist priest carried a few bowls on a food plate and gave them to the followers who were guarding outside. The poetic and picturesque sentiments were all used to Min Maoye, and seeing that the baby was only seven or eight years old, his hands and face were all fleshy. Bun-shaped, very cute, so I started to play with it, and took out a few gadgets I bought on the way to make him laugh.
The temple is very small, and the statues of Sanqing are crowded together, and the color is also faded, and the painted mud on the face falls down in a rustle. Min Mao is a spoiled person who has never suffered from money. Naturally, he looks down on these faded Sanqing statues, and he can't eat the black and muddy Laba porridge in the bowl, but he only dares to mutter in his heart. Don't dare to say it, because the second brother Min Ji respects the Tao, if he dares to speak wild words to Sanqing Tianzun, he is afraid that the second brother will be fined to copy the Qingjing Sutra 300 times on the spot.
Min Ji was incensed, and then sat down to eat the bowl of Laba porridge, which was poor in appearance. Min Mao swears that the taste is absolutely terrible, it is all boiled, and it tastes bitter, but his second brother has the ability to eat it with all manners. Without frowning, he finished his meal slowly, then raised his head and asked, "Master, is there an inn at the foot of this mountain? Besides, how much time is left for Xin'an County?"
Seeing that he finally got to the point, Min Mao couldn't help but straighten his body, and waited with his ears open.
The old Taoist said: "It's not far to go to Xin'an County. Go down the mountain ahead, see a fork in the road, go to the right, follow that road, and you will arrive at Pantian Town in the evening. After leaving Pantian Town, walk for three or two days , is Xin’an County, you have horses, you can go faster. Today is La Ri, and Pantian Town is very lively. If you go at this time, you can still catch up with the Laba Festival temple fair.”
The little Taoist priest had had enough of playing with poetry and painting, and ran back happily, with a small porcelain whistle hanging around his neck, and it blew loudly. He plunged into the old Taoist priest's lap, held the whistle, and pointed to the outside and said happily : "Master, look, it is exchanged with Laba porridge!"
The old Taoist saw that the porcelain whistle was very delicate, with patterns baked on it, there were sparrows and cherries, the colors were bright, and the details were clearly visible. How could they be so poor that they even borrowed Laba porridge and beans from the mountain? , hurriedly stretched out his hand to beg: "This is something from the grown-ups, why are you taking it carelessly, return it to them quickly."
Children are playful, so naturally they don't want to, Min Ji smiled and said, "It's okay, since they gave it to you, just accept it and make it a little thing, it's not worth much." Pantian Town ahead settled down.
"Hey, thank you, masters!" The old Taoist sent them out gratefully.
As soon as he got on the horse, Min Mao yelled suddenly, as if he had scratched somewhere.
Min Ji asked, "What's wrong?"
Min Mao held up his paws to show Min Ji, and said with a frowning face, "I traveled lightly on this journey, I didn't bring anything with me, and I didn't take a good rest and bath. My hands were brittle from the cold, and when I pulled up the reins, I was stabbed hard. , It just broke open! This winter, it must be painful to death!"
The old Taoist said as if offering a treasure: "Don't worry, little master. I heard that there is a little genius doctor in Xin'an County. He is the most effective for these difficult and miscellaneous diseases! The wife and wife in Xin'an County, I heard that he is very angry. All of them are gone, let him rescue them, they can live to the dead! Cracking your hands is nothing."
Min Mao loves to hear about these rare people, so he hurriedly asked: "There is such a strange person, where is he?"
The old Taoist said: "When you enter the city, you will be the little boss Yu from Yiwan Noodle Restaurant at the entrance of Xijie Street."
Min Mao became even more interested: "This is really strange, we are going to a bowl of noodle shop to find someone! Do you know—"
"Let's go." Before he finished speaking, Min Ji waved the reins beside him, and rode away. Min Mao hurriedly closed his voice, pinched the horse's belly between his legs, and chased after him, "Why did you run so fast all of a sudden! Didn't you wait for me? Oh, second brother..."
They are speeding along the road.
At this time, the back kitchen of a bowl of noodle shop is also in full swing. The Laba porridge on the stove was boiled last night. On the first day, Yu Jinnian used more than a dozen pots to fill such things as dried lotus seeds, chestnut kernels, walnut kernels, pine nuts, and almonds. , as well as peanuts, red beans, longan seeds, raisins and red dates, and other three or two beans, all washed by hand, peeled off the skin one by one, torn off the coat, dry the dry goods with clean well water After soaking, the longan and red dates are cut open and the core removed, and cooked together with fragrant white rice at night.
The grains in Laba porridge are treasures. Needless to say, it can strengthen the spleen and nourish the stomach. Various nuts that nourish the kidney and protect the lungs, as well as beans that nourish blood and blood, are beneficial to the gastrointestinal tract to promote digestion and peristalsis.
The lid was lifted today, and the aroma in the pot is strong, the rice grains are blooming, and the dried beans look round and still have a shape, but when you grind it with the back of a ladle, it instantly turns into porridge, which is glutinous in your mouth It is also soft, because of the best raisins and red dates in Xilai, the porridge itself has a slight sweetness, so there is no need to add sugar cubes to add to the liking.
A large pot of thick and thick, with the light aroma of all kinds of nuts, sees Tinker Bell, who is a meat eater, and can't help but want to poke his head in to have a look at his true face.
Yu Jinnian hurriedly carried away the little jingle that was probing the cat's paws, stuffed it into Duan Ming's arms who came to deliver the dishes, and told him to hold the cat farther away, and said that the front hall is so busy today, why not hold it on the front cabinet so that It also plays its role as a useful lucky cat.
Every household made Laba porridge these days, but the materials used are different from one family to another, but it is the first restaurant in the city that puts more than ten seasonings into the porridge in one bowl. Moreover, this Laba porridge can be eaten and sold in the past, but only today, it is mostly used as a gift between acquaintances and neighbors, with the intention of peace and auspiciousness and a bumper crop.
Therefore, a bowl of Laba porridge from a noodle restaurant with all seven treasures and five flavors is extraordinarily luxurious in this cold winter in Xin'an County. Even the Chunfeng Deyi Building on Baihua Street is a little inferior to this kind of heroism—of course, the Chunfeng Deyi Building at this time is small. The master has no intention of comparing this with him.
The green-skinned duck eggs that had been pickled earlier were also good. Yu Jinnian opened a jar of pickled duck eggs, fished out a batch of eggs, washed them and boiled them, and sold them in pieces or in portions. Eating them with porridge was another kind of enjoyment.
The five grains are fragrant, and many people who pass by a bowl of noodle restaurants are attracted by the smell of porridge coming out of the store. They also heard that the Laba porridge is not only sold, so they all sit down and order a cheap side dish, just to eat this bite. Complimentary Qibao five-flavor porridge soup. This porridge is thick and thick, sweet and glutinous, one mouthful is worth three mouthfuls in other stores, and the bowl of porridge is so big that people can’t believe it. The porridge doubled in taste.
Naturally, Yu Jinnian is not an idiot, nor does he run a temple or a Taoist temple. Such a gorgeous and beautiful woman town shop... He is an easy-to-satisfy person, and this kind of life is very nourishing for him now. As the saying goes, it is better to be happy alone than to be happy together. He is very happy, and of course he is willing to give back to those who support his business. diners.
So today, every customer who comes to a bowl of noodle restaurant can get a bowl of luxurious Laba porridge for free. Moreover, the neighbors in the surrounding neighborhood also received a bowl of auspicious Laba porridge from the noodle shop one after another, so that they can communicate with each other.
In short, just be happy.
Boss Yu was happy, and other people in the store also became more cheerful, and they added a lot of energy to passing the dishes in the hall. They are so generous, and others will not forget their kindness. There was an echo soon, a piece of five-grain porridge on the left, a piece of Qibao soup on the right, and a snack box filled the back kitchen of a noodle shop. I am afraid that they will have to eat porridge until they are full all day today. There are those who send sparrow heads.
Yu Jinnian had never seen Quertou before. He bit one, and it was similar to dumplings, but the shape was not the same. Dumplings were like ears, while Quertou was round and pinched with a point. It really looks like Que'er's pointed beak, but the fillings are common, such as radish and cabbage, walnut tofu and so on. Qing Huan talked to him, and he realized that this is also a small thing for auspiciousness in La Ri. If you eat it, the next year's birds will not eat the grain in the field.
The diners in the store said that there were Nuo opera dancers in the north of the city this afternoon, and the markets on the east and west streets were also open. The fur customers who come here carry fur coats made of various mink, fox, and rabbit skins for sale, and people from the surrounding towns and villages also come to join in the fun.
Yu Jinnian was very excited when he heard the excitement. He happened to be going to do some shopping for the New Year, and in the afternoon, he gave Qing Huan and the others their vacation, and they could go wherever they liked. Anyway, it was the end of the year, and he didn't have a strong sense of utilitarianism about money. When he went back to his room and counted his remaining private money, he suddenly became more concerned. It is also enough for a few of them to eat and drink.
Well, there is a kind of salted fish thinking of eating and waiting to die.
Everyone in a bowl of noodle shop gathered together to eat Laba porridge and shared five-flavored beans.
After dinner, Qing Huan and Duan Ming took Sui Sui to go out to have fun first, two big and one small, Qing Huan led Sui Sui to look around, making a fuss, while Duan Ming was shy and shy , looking like they want to get closer to Qing Huan, but are afraid of being discovered, they look like a young couple who just got married. Yu Xianyu sat paralyzed in the store after serving the last batch of diners, and waited for Erniang to take the medicine and fell asleep before closing the store and going shopping with Ji Hong to buy new year's goods.
This place is not like the previous life. The merchants in the previous life were all busy, and they could buy things now even on New Year's Eve. Everything here is slow, the time is elongated and slowed down, and the things of the day can't be broken apart, crumbled, and handled meticulously. No matter how incomplete, look through the almanac, and stay at home when things are inappropriate. When it comes to the holidays, they close their doors and close their doors happily early on. The excitement is still lively, but they have to be lively in their own homes, in the streets where they go out to set off cannons, and in the mouths of children chattering.
Although Yu Jinnian was adopted by his adoptive father when he was still in his infancy, he was afraid of loneliness as if he was born with it. Although he would not make a big fuss if he was not with him, he was still afraid of loneliness to some extent. So the Chinese New Year is the time he looks forward to the most, and only at this time, his adoptive father Yu Heng will spend a few days to accompany him, and he will be extraordinarily serious about preparing for a prosperous and lively New Year.
Nowadays, every day in a bowl of noodle restaurant is cheerful, but Yu Jinnian's expectations for the festival have not diminished, and he still seriously wants to do every detail well, so that everyone can have a happy new year. He wriggled his fingers to figure out what to buy. There was no shortage of rice and noodles at home, and there was a big piece of ham. He also needed to buy some bacon, salted eggs, snacks for the New Year, and cut a few feet of red paper to write couplets on. , firecrackers and the like have to be prepared, and the pen and ink are also lacking, so I need to add a little more...
Along the way, he didn't hear much what Ji Hong said to him, he just kept his head down and counted things, and almost bumped his head into someone's stall. Fortunately, Ji Hong pulled him away, so he didn't ask him to talk to him. The chickens in the cage fought.
Embarrassed, Yu Jinnian hurriedly took out a pack of evil spirits five-flavored beans from the basket and gave it to the chicken vendor. The five-flavored beans are similar to the ingredients of Laba porridge. They are five kinds of beans fried in a pot with salt and put in a bag. Give each other gifts during the day, throw the ones you like into your mouth, chew them crisply, and pretend that you don't like them to ward off evil spirits.
But not everyone wears five-flavored beans on their bodies. It just so happens that the chicken vendor came from the countryside. He left early and forgot to bring beans when he went out. , Although he didn't bring fried beans with him, he gave the boy an egg in return. Yu Jinnian saw that the grandmother who was selling dried fruit next to him was kind and kind, so he also gave her a bag. The grandmother smiled and gave Yu Jinnian a bag of fried salty soybeans.
It doesn’t matter whether these villagers are warm or down-to-earth, anyway, Yu Jinnian is quite happy, he walks around and gives away all the way, and after a while, the five-flavored beans in the basket are all gone, but he receives all kinds of small things in return from others. Although it is not worth much, it is everyone's wishes. After walking around like this, it seems that everyone in the whole market knows him, and they will greet him when they walk past.
Ji Hong followed him as an ambassador to carry the basket, and said with a helpless smile: "You are really..."
"Huh?" Yu Jinnian looked back at him, also smiling, with a stick of sesame candy that the uncle who sold the sugar gave him just now was in his mouth, he held the stick between his upper and lower white teeth, his eyes were squinted.
Ji Hong's heart throbbed, but he couldn't get close to him in public, he could only get closer, holding each other's hands in his wide sleeves. His hands were cold, while the young man's hands were scorching hot, the temperature of the two blended together, and they became a ball without distinction between you and me. There was a lot of noise around, Ji Hong lowered his head slightly, rubbed his fingertips on Yu Jinnian's palm, and then pinched it suddenly: "It's hard to put it down."
Yu Jinnian proudly said: "Then don't let go."
The two of you came and went and flirted with each other, so they just wanted to go home immediately and couldn't put it down. When I looked up, I saw a person I hadn't seen for a long time. The other party seemed to be picking new year's goods. strips of bacon.
The man saw them too, so he pushed aside the crowd and walked over, pursed his lips stiffly and smiled: "Master Ji, Boss Yu."
Yu Jinnian said: "Lord Yan, long time no see. I haven't congratulated Miss Fifth on her marriage yet."
Yan Rong didn't look too happy, but suddenly said: "After the new year, I'm going back to Beijing."
"Really," Yu Jinnian said with a smile, trying to be as knowledgeable and reasonable as possible, after all, the person on the opposite side is a polite and honest school secretary, "then I wish Lord Yan a smooth journey in advance."
Yan Rong seemed very unhappy, like a child who didn't hear what he wanted to hear, and didn't get the candy he wanted, his brows were wrinkled, just like the first time we met behind the screen in the Spring Breeze Building He twisted like he used to, but the hostility in his eyes was slightly less, and he didn't look as ugly as before. But people who hate people will not be liked just because they suddenly look a little better, and those who scold him will not disappear suddenly just because they change the cup a few times.
For Yu Yanrong, Yu Jinnian has done all the duties that a doctor and a cook should do, and even did a lot of unnecessary things. He thinks he has a clear conscience. What's more, no one present is a child anymore, and Yu Jinnian has no obligation to please him, so he still looks like you like to talk or not, and I like to listen: "Master Yan, is there anything else you want to say?"
"..." Yan Rong seemed to be choking, his throat rolled, as if swallowing back what he was going to say, he just stared at Yu Jinnian for a moment, then suddenly rolled his eyes again, shook his sleeves and said, "I have nothing to say. Since you all wish me a smooth journey, I wish the two dragons and phoenixes auspiciousness, husband and wife singing together, mandarin ducks and ducks fighting each other, and I hope you two will have a son soon!"
Well, every word is ironic.
But no matter what, it started with mutual dislike, and then said goodbye with mutual dislike, and the end to end corresponded, reducing a lot of unnecessary resignations and hypocrisy. I don't like you, and you don't need to get used to me. alright.
Yu Jinnian rummaged through the basket, and finally picked out a pack of five-flavored beans from the corner. Because it was under many things, it seemed that the inside was a little broken. He didn't care about the many, and handed it to Yan Rong: "Anyway, it's the twelfth lunar month. Since we've met, we're considered acquaintances. Here's to you."
Yan Rong took it, and pinched it under his fingers. The beans were indeed broken. He was stunned for a while while holding the package of broken beans, and then he remembered to grope around, and then turned back to look at the things in the hands of the two boys. There are no mascots for the La Ri that can be given as gifts for these big New Year's goods.
Seeing him looking around, Yu Jinnian waved his hand and said, "Forget it, I don't want your rebate. I hope you can just stop scolding me when you see me next time."
Yan Rong seemed to have eaten Coptis chinensis, the knot between his eyebrows twisted for a long time before it dissipated, and he said fiercely: "Remember, I will definitely pay you back next time!"
"..." Yu Jinnian turned his head and saw that he led the two servants away quickly and disappeared, he wondered, "Is this man strange? I saw him embarrassed that he had nothing to give me, so he kindly made a rescue and said no, what happened to him?" Angry? You act like an angry bun all day long, you get old fast!"
Ji Hong smiled and said: "Who knows, Yue feels ashamed by you."
Yu Jinnian tilted his head to look at him, and muttered: "Every time we meet, he always scolds me, what embarrassment does he have?"
"You are also good-tempered." Ji Hong hugged his waist, "Okay, let's go."
The two walked around two or three markets, their feet ached from walking, and they even went to Beicheng to watch the Nuo opera with gongs and drums. At this time, people are already selling ice. At this time, Xin'an County is cold and cold, and there are three or two layers of frost, but the thick ice has not yet formed, and the river channel is only covered with a thin layer of ice at night. In other words, these ices are probably also made of saltpeter.
But there is still an endless stream of people buying it, because the ice that is made today is called Laba ice. It is said that if you eat the ice of La Ri, you will not get sick. I don’t know where this wild saying comes from.
But this guy who sells ice is smart. He sells it together with an old man who sells sweet porridge next to him. The old man doesn’t know whether it’s because of his weakened sense of taste or his shaking hands. The porridge is so sweet, but if The old man's sweet porridge is paired with his Laba ice, but it becomes an ice drink, like red bean ice in summer, sweet and refreshing.
Yu Jinnian also joined in the fun and bought a bowl, and took a shortcut back while eating. Eating iced drinks on a cold day makes people grin their teeth. It can't be called enjoyment, but there is an inexplicable excitement, as if they have to fight against the sky. They are shivering and enjoying themselves. Ji Hong asked him "" Why bother". He didn't understand Yu Jinnian's coolness, so Yu Jinnian took a small piece of ice in his mouth, and before it melted between his teeth, he put his toe on Ji Hong's slightly parted lips.
The ice melted on the surface of Ji Hong's tongue, like a needle pricking him, making him tremble all over. Yu Jinnian just smiled, and was dragged over by a man when he turned his body, and his lips were picked. It was cold inside as if he had broken into a cold cellar, but it became hot after a while.
I can't put it down yet, I can't put it down first.
Because of the two of them lingering, the bowl of frozen curd porridge turned into water in the end, dripping thinly, and it was not very tasty. Yu Jinnian followed the principle of eating the porridge he bought on his knees, and when he arrived in front of his shop, he finally swallowed the last sip of sweet porridge and stuck out his tongue.
It was already dark at this time, and the door of the store was still closed. Qing Huan and the others seemed to have not come back yet, and they didn't know where they went to play. I heard that there was a temple fair outside the city, so I guess they must have gone to watch a sideshow.
Surrounded by darkness and no one around, Yu Jinnian began to move his hands and feet, wrapping around Ji Hong like a sticky bean bag, raised his head and pouted: "Come here, just a fragrant one."
"There is someone." Ji Hong said helplessly.
Yu Jinnian didn't spare him: "I've seen it everywhere."
Ji Hong: "Really, look back, under your feet."
Yu Jinnian turned around half-believingly, suddenly a pair of cat-like round eyes lit up in the dark shadows under the shop floor, staring straight at them. The head is round and round on the top. He was startled, walked over to take a closer look, and was startled again: "Young Master Jiang? Why are you squatting here?"
Jiang Bingren twitched his nose a few times, opened his mouth suddenly, and let out a howl of "Wow."
Well, I just left an angry bun, and then came a crying bun.