Jiang Miao stayed here for more than ten days, and then returned to Jiangjiawan with a lot of luggage. This time he called Uncle Zhang's car to take him directly to the village entrance. Although it was not as comfortable as riding in a horse carriage, it was more comfortable.
He agreed with Uncle Zhang on a date to pick him up, and then took Little Stone into the village. There are many things to pay attention to during the New Year in the countryside, and Jiang Miao learned a lot while watching.
Early in the morning on New Year's Eve, Uncle Jiang and Jiang Miao put up Spring Festival couplets together. These were bought by the scholar from the next village. They didn't have many words on them, but they cost a lot of money. When he heard that Xiao Shitou was going to school after the New Year, he immediately became happy and said that there was finally someone in the family who could read, so they didn't need to buy Spring Festival couplets next year.
The New Year's Eve dinner was cooked by Second Aunt and other sisters. Jiang Miao tried to help, but was stopped by Second Uncle Jiang. He asked Jiang Miao to carry three animals and go with him to the clan's ancestral hall to worship the ancestors.
The person who presided over the ceremony was naturally the clan leader. He held a yellowed piece of paper and read a few flowery words aloud. Jiang Miao did not quite understand the difficult words, so he just knelt down and kowtowed along with the other clan members.
The long ceremony finally ended, and Jiang Miao kowtowed until his eyes were dizzy. After returning home, Uncle Jiang also set up a table for offering sacrifices in the yard. This time, all the family members had to burn incense and offer sacrifices, and they had to pray while they were doing so.
The second uncle and second aunt naturally prayed for good weather and good health for the family. The girls all prayed for different things, and they all kept them in their hearts. Jiang Miao thought about it and followed the trend to pray for the health of his family and a prosperous business. Little Stone hoped that he could study hard, learn more words, and grow up quickly to help his brother. Among the group of people, only Jiang Xin was different. He wanted too many things, such as small wooden swords, clay figurines, slingshots, etc. He just needed to make a list and let his ancestors realize them. When everyone was well, he was still mumbling wishes.
Second Aunt Jiang was watching him anxiously from the side. If it wasn't for the fact that beating children was not allowed during the Chinese New Year, this kid would have most likely not escaped a slap on the butt today.
After burning incense and paper money, the next step is to set off firecrackers to send off the gods. Uncle Jiang carried a bunch of bright red firecrackers and insisted on setting them off outside the yard. Jiang Miao didn't understand what he meant, but later he learned that firecrackers were expensive, and most families burned "crackers", and only a few could set off firecrackers. Jiang Miao brought these firecrackers back, and in addition, he also bought some fireworks. In the past, these were not allowed in the city, and he regretted it for many years!
The New Year’s Eve dinner is very sumptuous. Ordinary people prepare for this meal all year long. The whole family sits around the table and eats with gusto.
After dinner, Jiang Xin was about to rush out to pick up the duds at the door to set off, otherwise someone would pick them up. Jiang Miao stopped him and ensured that he had something to set off, so he didn't rush out.
As the sky gradually darkened, Jiang Miao untied a string of firecrackers and gave them to Xiao Shitou and Jiang Xin to play with. Then he found some fireworks, placed them on the path outside the yard, and lit them with incense.
The fireworks shot straight up to the sky and exploded with a "bang", adding a touch of splendor to the dark sky. The extremely brilliant and dazzling flowers rose into the sky and fell down, which really looked like "the east wind blows thousands of flowers at night, and blows them down like rain of stars". How aptly the ancients described it!
At night, Second Aunt Jiang began to distribute New Year's money, and each person received eight brand new copper coins wrapped in red paper. Jiang Miao also prepared some red envelopes, and put six coins in them according to the elders' practice. In addition, he also prepared red hair strings for several girls to add some joy to them. Several girls were very happy to receive them, and soon tied them on their hair, which looked really good.
After eating dumplings and staying up all night to celebrate the New Year, the family washed up and went to bed.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Jiang Miao followed his second uncle to visit the elders in the clan. On the second day, he followed his second aunt to his maternal family. Jiang Miao's mother had fled from famine, and her maternal family had long since disappeared. On the third day, the mouse married his daughter and had to go to bed early. On the fourth day, he welcomed the Kitchen God, on the fifth day, he welcomed the God of Wealth, and on the sixth day, he sent away the God of Poverty.
The seventh day was the day Jiang Miao and Uncle Zhang agreed to pick them up. He carried the things his family had prepared for him and took Xiao Shitou to the village entrance to wait.
"Hello, Uncle Zhang. I wish you great fortune in the new year!" Jiang Miao hurriedly greeted Uncle Zhang as soon as he saw him.
"Brother Jiang, your business is booming!" Uncle Zhang smiled so much that his eyes narrowed into slits.
Jiang Miao and Xiao Shitou got on the donkey cart and chatted with Uncle Zhang. On the way, he asked about Zhang Daniu's situation. He had a good impression of this simple and hardworking man. Before the New Year, his business was small and he didn't need so many people. After the New Year, he planned to open another business, and he might need to hire people.
Speaking of Zhang Daniu, Uncle Zhang sighed: "He was hired to run errands and carry goods a few years ago, and he did earn some money. But he seems to have become more and more silent, and he has lost a lot of weight." His grandson has always been tongue-tied and not good at dealing with people. It is inevitable that he will be marginalized and ordered around when he is with those cunning people.
"Brother Daniu is an honest man who is willing to work hard. Employers who know how to judge people will definitely like him."
Uncle Zhang smiled bitterly, "These days, being too honest is not a good thing. If he had been smarter, he wouldn't have been kicked out of the reception. It's better to be someone like you. You've already achieved something at such a young age."
"I like to employ honest people. If there is a chance in the future, I will ask you for his help."
Uncle Zhang thought he was comforting himself and felt better, but he didn't take it too seriously. Unless there was a grand event like a Buddhist meeting, why would a small bun stall need two people
The donkey cart swayed all the way back to Liangjing City. The traces of the New Year celebrations were still clearly visible in the city, with red lanterns hanging in front of every house, not to mention how festive it was.
When Jiang Miao returned to the Bai family's yard, the other tenants had not arrived yet, only the owner was there. When Mrs. Bai saw Jiang Miao, she invited them to have dinner at her home in the evening. Jiang Miao did not refuse and went to wish them a happy new year with the gifts he had prepared.
The Bai family are all good people, so he has no plans to move. But now that conditions are a little better, he doesn't want to sleep in the kitchen all the time, so he discussed with Boss Bai to see if they can separate the kitchen and bedroom, or build a separate kitchen.
Boss Bai thought for a moment and asked, "Brother Jiang, do you want to change houses?"
Jiang Miao was a little surprised: "Isn't this yard fully rented?"
"The Mo family next door to you moved out at the end of the year. I heard that the son of that family got into trouble and was afraid of being harassed by others, so he moved out overnight." Boss Bai felt a little depressed when he said this, but fortunately no one came to harass him later, otherwise wouldn't it bring bad luck to him during the New Year
"Oh, it's a pity that I couldn't say goodbye to Mr. Mo." Jiang Miao felt a little regretful. This was the first person he met since he arrived.
"Old Man Mo is an honest man, but unfortunately the sons born to his wife are all unreasonable." Boss Bai also sighed. That family had rented a house from him a long time ago. If it weren't for Old Man Mo, he really didn't want to rent to them.
Jiang Miao didn't know how to agree, so he changed the subject: "What does the house next door look like?" He had only looked at it from outside the door and had never gone in to take a look.
"Come on, I'll take you to see the house." Boss Bai took a bunch of keys, stood up and took Jiang Miao to see the house.
When the outermost door was opened, it was a main room, with a bedroom on each side. The kitchen was behind the main room, separated by a wooden board, and there was a small door next to it, with a gray-blue curtain hanging on it, which was covered with grease, and it was obvious that it had been used for many years.
The rent for the single room next door is two hundred wen a month. There are two rooms and a main room here, so it costs five hundred and fifty wen a month. But Boss Bai said that if Jiang Miao rents it, he only needs to pay five hundred wen.
Jiang Miao rented the house without much thought. Xiao Shitou was about to start school, so he had to find a place for him to read and write. The original house was too small and he was afraid it would affect him.
If someone else had moved out, he wouldn't have to be so cautious, but Old Man Mo's son was a scoundrel, and maybe he had hidden the key and would come in one day? He had to be on guard.
"okay."
"Oh, by the way, after dinner, we will go and help you move your family, and we need to clean that house thoroughly as well."
"Brother Bai, thank you." Jiang Miao smiled and did not refuse.
"What are you thanking me for? I'm not at home on weekdays, and my mother and wife told me that you did a lot of work for them, but I haven't even thanked you yet." Boss Bai patted him on the shoulder and thought that Brother Jiang was really a nice person.
After moving to the new house, the living space was much more spacious. Jiang Miao originally planned to sleep in a separate room from Xiao Shitou. The child didn't say no, but he kept pouting and looking at Jiang Miao with wet eyes. He still wanted to sleep with his brother.
Jiang Miao felt soft-hearted after being looked at by him, so she had to let him adapt for a while. The weather was still cold, so the two of them huddled together to keep warm.
A few days later, Aunt Liu came with Liu Yijie. This year, she enrolled her grandson in a private school on the street, and he was also in the same class with Bai Jiajingyu. Jiang Miao had planned to go to Yu Xiucai to test the waters for them, but when they heard the distance of the private school, they thought it was too far and decided not to go.
"Brother Jiang, do you want to go to the lantern festival in Shangcheng?" Aunt Liu asked. Shangcheng is the inner city. Those who live outside are used to calling it Shangcheng.
Jiang Miao immediately became interested when he heard it: "Is it a lantern festival? When does it start?"
"From the 14th to the 16th, the curfew in Liangjing City will be lifted and the streets in the upper city will be hung with lanterns. They are so beautiful! Scholars can guess riddles and win prizes. By the way, they can also hang lanterns to pray for blessings. It's so lively!" Aunt Liu is worthy of being the number one gossiper in Tianshui Lane. Just ask her and she will know if there is anything exciting going on.
"Then I have to prepare!" Jiang Miao was very excited. He knew how to make lanterns. One year, he and a few friends set up a stall during the Lantern Festival to sell their DIY lanterns. He could make several simple ones. Although he couldn't compare to the professional craftsmen here, he had a way to sell them. He would set up a stall to sell lanterns first, and then use the money he earned to take Xiao Shitou for a stroll. It couldn't be more perfect.
“Yes, you young people should prepare well and buy a lantern handle. If you meet someone holding the same lantern as you, you may even find a happy marriage!” Aunt Liu’s hint was very obvious. During the Lantern Festival, girls from all families would come out for a stroll!
Jiang Miao smiled helplessly, feeling hopeless about this world where people are urged to get married everywhere.
In the afternoon, he walked a few streets with Little Stone and bought a large stack of white paper for drawing. Jiang Miao drew a rough outline on it with charcoal and asked Little Stone to sit aside and cut it with scissors.
After the painting was finished, Jiang Miao took out a large pile of bamboo strips and hemp ropes bought from the bamboo craftsman and started to make frames. He didn't plan to make it too complicated, just a few simple and easy-to-make ones, such as palace lanterns and rabbit lanterns. Stack the frames together, paste the painted pattern on top, and stick a candle inside, isn't it
Liu Yijie was a little surprised and kept circling around. Jiang Miao asked him to get a pair of scissors to help cut for a while, and then he would give him a lantern. The boy immediately ran back to get it. Several people were sitting in the yard and having a good time. Bai Jingyu and Bai Wenyu couldn't stay in the house anymore, so they ran out to help.
Afterwards, Jiang Miao fulfilled his promise and gave each of them a finished lantern so that they could take it out and play during the Lantern Festival.
On the morning of the fourteenth day of the first lunar month, Jiang Miao borrowed a cart, put all the things he had prepared on it, and asked Xiao Shitou to sit inside to hold on to prevent him from falling off, and then they set off happily.
Among this pile of things, only paper, pens and paints are relatively expensive. As long as he can sell half of the lanterns, he will not lose money.
There is a small gate between the upper city and the outer city. Although it is a small gate, the number of guards inside is no less than that of the big gate. There is no other way. Who can take responsibility if anything goes wrong
The guards looked through the things Jiang Miao had with him and found nothing dangerous, so they let them in.
When Jiang Miao went to the east of the city before, he thought that the east of the city was already a wealthy area. But when he entered the upper city, he realized that he was narrow-minded. The clothes worn by people on the street, not to mention the material, the colors alone were much more varied than those worn by people outside. The flowers gathered together in clusters, outlining a scene of peace and prosperity.
Jiang Miao quickly changed his wish from owning a carriage to owning a house in the upper city. Although he knew it was difficult to achieve, he would work harder with a wish hanging in front of him.
Following the clues provided by Aunt Liu, Jiang Miao found the streets where the lantern festival was held. The streets had already begun to be decorated, and there were many vendors setting up stalls on both sides.
Jiang Miao found a food vendor and approached him to ask, "Brother, I'm new here, and I want to ask you how to set up a stall here?"
The man turned his head impatiently, and when he found out that he was not selling food, his expression became much better: "I won't charge for setting up a stall these three days. In the past, you were not allowed to set up a stall here. You had to go to a special place."
"Thank you, big brother." Jiang Miao got the information he wanted to know, and continued to pull the cart to find a place to set up the stall.
Most of the good spots were taken. Jiang Miao searched for a long time before he found an empty space under a tree. He quickly drove the car over and occupied the space.
Xiao Shitou helped his brother unload the things. In addition to the lantern frames and cut paper surfaces, they also brought two small tables, several brushes, some paints and other items.
After seeing what he took out, someone laughed and said, "Young man, why did you put out the lantern before it was finished? Do you think those rich people are willing to wait here for you to make it?" He took a look at the lantern that only had a frame and could not help shaking his head.
Jiang Miao looked over to find the person who was speaking was an old man. There was a chopping board and glutinous rice flour on his stall, so he must be selling Yuanxiao.
"I can sell them even if I don't make them wait for me." Jiang Miao replied with a smile, looking confident.
The people around laughed, thinking that the guy was just talking big, and he would cry if he couldn't sell the products.
(End of this chapter)