I ran myself ragged on New Year's Day.
According to the custom in the north, people go to the homes of their neighbors to celebrate the New Year on the first day of the Lunar New Year, first to the most senior person in the village, then to the oldest person, and then to their own relatives, friends, neighbors and partners.
In the past, Fang Yixing represented the Fang family to visit every household. Some people comforted them, some made fun of them, and some even pulled Fang Yixing to fight with him.
It is a well-known fact that Fang Yixing did not like Kung Fu and gave up martial arts to pursue literature. Isn't it an intentional insult to others to drag Fang Yixing to compete with him in martial arts
Fang Yixing could only decline again and again, and then let others make fun of him for a while.
This year Fang Huwei asked Fang Yan to go with Fang Yixing to celebrate the New Year. Fang Yan could not disobey the old man, so he had to get up early and put on the blue gown and thousand-layer cloth boots that his mother had prepared for him in advance. The boots were made in an antique style to prevent the deep snow outside from getting into the shoes and soaking the socks.
Fang Yixing was still wearing simple round-toed cloth shoes. The head of a family always has the demeanor of a refined elder. He had to endure the cold. This is what is called seeking grace over warmth.
The most respected person in Yanziwu is Xiansheng, and everyone in Yanziwu must go to Xiansheng to wish him a happy new year. The Ye family is known as the first family in Yanziwu, and they must also send someone to represent Xiansheng to wish him a happy new year.
Fang Yan followed Fang Yixing holding the gift box. The father and son walked towards the cottage where the master lived, stepping on the snow with one foot deep and one foot shallow.
When the father and son walked over, many people had already passed by them.
The gentleman finally took off his old grey-brown fur coat and put on a silver-white Tang suit. He sat upright on a mahogany chair in the living room, receiving the kneeling salutations of young people and children. Some middle-aged people knelt down and kowtowed, but most of them bent over and bowed.
After the children kowtowed, they presented the gift boxes in their hands.
Bai Xiu, who was standing next to the teacher, took the gift box. The teacher reached out and touched the child's head, saying, "You can go to the clan school for enlightenment."
So the child kowtowed again, and the child's parents also thanked him with joy.
Some children who were already studying in the clan school would also present gift boxes. The teacher touched the student's head and said, "You are smart but not patient enough. You should learn the stone grinding Qigong method from your family to polish your character."
When students bow their heads to receive instruction, parents should also express their gratitude.
All unenlightened children in Yanziwu must be approved by the teacher for admission. Students who are already studying will receive comments from the teacher, who will point out their strengths and weaknesses and provide solutions to their problems.
Fang Yan and Fang Yixing stood outside the house. It was freezing cold, but they didn't feel cold. Fang Yan looked at the line behind him getting longer and longer, and said with a smile: "Sir, isn't this an industry monopoly? There is only one clan school in Yanziwu, and all school-age children must get his approval to go to school. His job is a guaranteed income."
Fang Yixing glanced at Fang Yan sternly and said, "Don't talk nonsense. Sir, you are dedicated to the public, what is the value of a gift of money? In my opinion, we should come to thank you every year and festival."
Fang Yan was helpless. His father was too old-fashioned. He was just joking around when he was bored.
Not only his father, but many people in Yanziwu have developed this habit of being too rigid. This is why Mr. always emphasizes that every family should send some children with excellent qualifications abroad, and why Ye Daoling wants to bring some outstanding young people abroad.
Only with a broad vision can one have a broad mind and a broad perspective. It is not a good thing for Yanziwu to be closed off. There are many good things outside. Taking the good and discarding the bad is the current situation that Yanziwu needs to change the most.
Fang Yan understood, so he went out.
Fang Yixing might understand this, but character cannot be developed overnight. Instead, he was led forward by the old conventions of the village and was unwilling to make new changes.
Finally it was the turn of Fang's father and son. Fang Yixing and Fang Yan both knelt down and kowtowed to the master sincerely.
After Fang Yixing said auspicious words on behalf of the Fang family, Fang Yan handed over the gift box in his hand.
The gentleman looked at Fang Yan with a smile and said, "You are too cunning. I can't get a single slap from you."
Fang Yan said aggrievedly: "Sir, you are wronging me. Every Spring Festival, I come to kowtow to you. I kowtowed to you just now. If you think it's not enough, I will kowtow to you a few more times."
The master was very happy to see Fang Yan and said, "No need to kowtow. You have three hearts and a dozen courages. I have nothing to say to you, and I have nothing to teach you. Just remember our agreement."
Fang Yan nodded seriously and said, "Sir, I remember."
The gentleman looked at Fang Yixing and said, "Yixing has a good son."
Fang Yixing's face flushed and he thanked her repeatedly.
From beginning to end, the gentleman never mentioned the sword he had lost.
If the gentleman hadn't mentioned it, Fang Yan wouldn't have mentioned it on his own initiative.
Both pretended that it had never happened.
Bai Xiu looked at Fang Yan and everyone else with a gentle smile.
After Fang Yan got up from the ground, he said to Bai Xiu: "If you are tired of standing, let me stand for you for a while."
Bai Xiu refused calmly and said, "When there is something to be done, the disciple will do the work. As a disciple, I will naturally do my best in the master's affairs."
Fang Yan was helpless. Bai Xiu's words hit Fang Yan's sore spot.
Bai Xiu is Mr.'s disciple, but Fang Yan is not Mr.'s disciple.
Bai Xiu was able to be a teacher in the clan school, but Fang Yan did not have the opportunity to be a teacher in the clan school.
The master passed on all his life's learning to Bai Xiu, and Bai Xiu was the successor of the master. He said this openly and honestly, and other people really couldn't compete with him for this position.
After leaving the master, Fang Yixing took Fang Yan and rushed to the Ye family.
The ancestor of the Ye family is now the oldest person in Yanziwu, and the Ye family is also a family that is relatively close to the Fang family. With the secret instructions of Mr. Fang Huwei, Fang Yixing naturally would not oppose his father's opinion.
When the Fang family father and son passed by, Ye Fengsheng, who was wearing a red cotton Tang suit and looked like a giant lucky doll, was about to go out. Seeing Fang Yan, he said happily: "Why are you up so early? I said that after I kowtowed to the master, I would go to kowtow to your Grandpa Fang."
"I was also dragged up by force." Fang Yan said with a smile. "I have already been to the master's place. Now I come to kowtow to the ancestor."
Actually, they said they came to kowtow to the ancestors of the Ye family, but the ancestors of the Ye family have not been willing to see guests in recent years. So they just came to the Ye family for a formality.
"We just missed it." Ye Fengsheng said regretfully.
"Where's Third Uncle?"
"Uncle San rushed back to Yanjing overnight after having the New Year's Eve dinner last night. Today he will accompany the Prime Minister on a visit abroad." Ye Fengsheng said.
Ye Daowen walked out the door, saw the Fang family father and son, and said, "Yixing, Happy New Year. Fang Yan, Happy New Year."
"Brother Ye, Happy New Year." Fang Yixing and Ye Daowen clasped their fists and saluted.
"Uncle, I'm here to wish you a happy new year." Fang Yan said with a smile. "I wish you good fortune as vast as the East Sea and a long life as long as the Southern Mountains."
Ye Daowen waved his hand and said, "Say these words to the old ancestor. The old ancestor just said that you and your son should go directly to the warm room when you arrive. I will not entertain you. I have to go and wish the master a happy new year."
Fang Yixing was overjoyed and said, "Brother Ye, go and do your work. Let's go to the warm room and kowtow to our ancestors."
So the two groups parted at the gate of the yard.
Fang Yixing was filled with emotion and whispered to Fang Yan, "This time I am really benefiting from you. In the past, I came to kowtow to the ancestors during the Spring Festival, but I never entered the warm room."
"Maybe the ancestor is in a particularly good mood this year." Fang Yan said with a smile.
Fang Yixing smiled and looked at his son without saying anything, thinking that maybe what his father said was really feasible.
It’s just the attitude of the Ye family brothers----I’m afraid this hurdle will be difficult to pass.
The Fang family father and son entered the warm room, while the Ye family's ancestor, Ye Wenrou, and the maid Xier were sitting on the warm kang playing cards.
Fang Yixing was the first to kneel down, kowtowed three times to the ancestors, and said a lot of blessings.
The father has already knelt, how can the son stand? Fang Yan also quickly knelt behind Fang Yixing.
When the Fang family father and son knelt, Ye Wenrou and the maid Xier stepped aside. The Fang family father and son were kneeling before the ancestors, and the two of them could not bear it.
"Alright, alright, get up now." The old man smiled with narrowed eyes. "I hear you say things like 'live as long as the Southern Mountains' all day long. Who can live longer than a mountain? Wouldn't that make you a living fossil?"
"Old man, some mines are mined out in just a few years." Fang Yan said. "You have lived much longer than those mountains."
The old man couldn't help but laugh out loud, pointing at Fang Yan and saying, "This naughty boy has always known how to make me happy since he was little."
"It's my fault for not disciplining him properly. Grandfather, please don't bother with these little kids." Fang Yixing apologized with a smile. He also realized that the grandfather was not really angry with Fang Yan.
"Whether a child will become a talent or not cannot be controlled. It has to be taught." said the old ancestor. "Fang Yan is a very good kid. Whether in Yanziwu or outside, he is a first-class talent. During dinner last night, the third brother praised him a lot."
The third one the ancestor mentioned is Ye Daoling, the third tiger of the Ye family. Ye Daoling praised Fang Yan during the New Year's Eve dinner. On the one hand, he was really grateful for Fang Yan's help, and on the other hand, he also wanted to encourage the children of the Ye family to work hard and make progress.
No wonder when Fang Yan came in just now, he saw those people from the Ye family looking at him with a strange look in their eyes, as if he had stolen their chickens to set up an ambush.
But, have you considered Fang Yan's feelings when doing this
In Fang Yan's opinion, Ye Daoling, this old fox, was definitely trying to draw hatred from him. (To be continued)