Chapter 43
The Thirtieth Day of the Year.
The Ji family rose early in the morning to clean both the inside and outside of their home. Then, they cut paper window decorations, pasted couplets, and hung up lanterns.
By noon, after all the bustle, they ate lunch. Huang Manjing went to fetch Yuan Huiru, and together they began preparing the early New Year's Eve dinner.
They slaughtered chickens, cleaned fish, and picked vegetables, bustling in and out of the house. In the village, some families had their reunion meal at noon, and from late morning until afternoon, the sound of firecrackers could be heard intermittently.
Ji Taoyu was busy in the kitchen, while Huo Shu was not idle either, because all the slaughtering of livestock and poultry was left to him.
Once the whole chicken was fully cooked in the broth, it had to be taken out for ancestral offerings.
Ji Yangzong carried the chicken and meat, leading Huo Shu to make offerings to the Kitchen God. Then, just before the dishes were fully ready, they set out a table with simple wine, vegetables, and meat to invite their ancestors and elders to eat first.
[The Kitchen God (灶王 Zào Wáng): a domestic deity in Chinese folk religion who oversees household affairs, records the family's behavior throughout the year, and reports to the Jade Emperor on the 23rd or 24th day of the twelfth lunar month. Offerings are made to ensure he gives a favorable report to the Jade Emperor, as his judgment influences the family's luck, prosperity, and harmony in the coming year.]
Afterward, they cleared the table and set out the New Year's Eve feast.
Though dinner was prepared early, by the time everything was ready, the sky had already darkened.
The dishes were all laid out on the table, piled high. The New Year's meal not only had more variety than usual but also larger portions, symbolizing the wish for "abundance year after year."
Ji Yangzong lit a long string of firecrackers in the courtyard. The loud, crackling noise lasted for a long time, and the red paper wrapping, filled with gunpowder, burst into tiny fragments, scattering like red petals falling from the sky.
"Look how loud these firecrackers are, no hesitation at all! Next year will surely be prosperous and thriving!"
Ji Yangzong stood with his hands behind his back, watching as the firecrackers finished exploding. The white smoke gradually cleared, and he raised his hand, announcing cheerfully, "Let's eat!"
Huang Manjing invited Yuan Huiru, while Ji Taoyu grabbed Huo Shu's hand and pulled him toward the main hall. "Hurry, hurry! It's so cold, the food will get cold soon."
After a few bites, Ji Yangzong brought out wine and looked at Huo Shu. "This year, I finally have someone to drink with me. Come on, come on!"
Since New Year's was a joyous occasion, Huang Manjing didn’t stop Ji Yangzong from drinking.
Besides, the New Year's Eve dinner was all about taking one’s time - sipping wine, chatting, and stretching the meal out.
Huo Shu didn’t refuse his father-in-law’s request. As he drank, he used his free hand to peel shrimp for Ji Taoyu.
Ji Taoyu finished eating, his stomach full, and stepped away from the table. Only the two men drinking stayed behind, while the dishes were warmed up again.
Ji Taoyu, his mother, and Yuan Huiru set off some fireworks they had bought in the city, using the opportunity to digest their meal.
The village was much noisier at night than during the day, with firecrackers going off everywhere, signaling that families were having their New Year's Eve dinners.
Looking toward Tongzhou City in the distance, wealthy families set off large fireworks, and the night sky above Tongzhou bloomed with dazzling bursts of color against the dusky darkness.
Ji Taoyu craned his neck, mesmerized, when suddenly he felt warmth on the back of his hand. He turned to see Huo Shu standing beside him, gazing into the distance.
"Why’d you come out? Where’s Father?"
Huo Shu carried a faint scent of alcohol. "He said he was feeling drowsy and went to rest for a while."
Ji Taoyu couldn’t help but laugh. "Did you drink him under the table?"
Huo Shu withdrew his gaze. "Should I have gone easier on him?"
Ji Taoyu waved his hand. "Definitely not. Otherwise, he’d think his drinking skills are truly unmatched. He’d drag you into drinking every time and brag about it to everyone."
Huo Shu ruffled Ji Taoyu’s hair and wrapped an arm around him as they watched the endless fireworks in the distance, the night wind brushing past them.
After so many years, this was the first time Huo Shu had celebrated such a lively New Year. In the army, even with thousands of soldiers gathered around bonfires roasting lamb, there was always a sense of desolation.
During such festivals, soldiers missed their families even more. How could it compare to the warmth of countless families reunited under one roof?
He tightened his arms around the person in his embrace and concluded: Jiangnan is good.
"Ah, is it snowing?!"
Huang Manjing suddenly lifted her hand and exclaimed.
"It is! Look at those little snow pellets."
Yuan Huiru noticed it too.
Worried that the snow might make the roads slippery later, Huo Shu escorted Yuan Huiru home first.
Meanwhile, Ji Taoyu and Huang Manjing cleared the dining table.
The wind picked up, and the snow gradually shifted from round pellets to uneven, fluttering flakes.
Ji Yangzong, determined to stay up for the New Year’s vigil, woke from his short nap after sobering up to find the snow falling heavily.
Huo Shu’s bamboo hat was already dusted with a thin layer of snow when he returned.
As soon as the snow started, the air seemed to drop two degrees colder. Ji Taoyu had originally planned to stay up late for the New Year, but the creeping chill made his limbs ache with cold. After soaking his feet, he retreated to his room.
Huo Shu brought a charcoal brazier into the room, and Ji Taoyu, while his hands and feet were still warm, quickly climbed into bed.
Given the snow, even if they didn’t go out to see the sights tonight, the fields would surely be blanketed in white by morning. It was better to sleep early and rise early.
"Come here."
Whether it was the actual cold from the snow or just the psychological chill, Ji Taoyu felt the bedding was much colder than usual. The moment his hands and feet touched the quilt, he shivered.
Huo Shu obeyed and got into bed.
Ji Taoyu immediately burrowed into Huo Shu’s arms. "Let’s sleep early. Tomorrow morning, we still have to visit the ancestors’ graves."
Huo Shu gave a quiet "Mm" and blew out the candle by the cabinet.
Thank you for the update!!
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