Chapter 105 The rooster crowed

Author: Mahjong Jun

Chapter 105 The rooster crowed

On the 30th day of the twelfth lunar month, the world gathers.

Starting from the past two years, Pingyang County has set up markets in some larger villages, usually every five days.

That is to say, a set will be held every five days.

For example, the market in Toucun, Shandong is held on the second, seventh, twelfth, seventeenth, twenty-second and twenty-seventh days of each month (lunar calendar).

The market at Zheshan Commune is held on the fourth, ninth, fourteenth, nineteenth, twenty-fourth and twenty-ninth days of each month of the lunar calendar.

Usually, out of the six days of each market, four are small markets and two are large markets.

On big market days, more vendors come to sell things and more people buy things.

The 30th day of the twelfth lunar month is a special day.

On this day, fairs are held wherever gatherings are held.

This is specially prepared for families who cannot afford New Year's goods but have to buy some for the occasion.

Or if you suddenly remember that there is something you haven’t bought at home, you can seize the time to buy some.

Not only the market, but also the supply and marketing cooperatives must open on the morning of the 30th day of the twelfth lunar month.

The Zhao family had already bought all the things they should buy, but they still went to the market in Toucun, Shandong with great interest.

This is the most prosperous year they have ever had.

After returning home at noon, Zhao Wenmu, who had nothing to do, started playing cannon-throwing with Zhao Zimeng, Zhao Ziting and the little girl.

In the afternoon, the sky gradually became gloomy and snowflakes began to fall in the sky.

At first, the snowflakes were so fine that it was really like "sprinkling salt in the air to make a difference".

Then the snowflakes became bigger and bigger, and they fell one by one, just like the saying "It's not like catkins blowing in the wind."

The fluttering snowflakes made everyone feel better.

After all, auspicious snow heralds a good harvest!

On the afternoon of New Year's Eve, there is one of the most important and serious annual activities.

That is ancestor worship.

That is to say, invite the family hall.

The snow was falling one after another, and soon there was a thick layer of snow on the ground. However, this did not affect people's enthusiasm for worshiping their ancestors at all.

"Inviting the family hall" means holding a ceremony to invite the deceased ancestors and relatives to go home for the New Year.

This event was held centrally at the Zhao family's old residence.

Zhao Xuehai set up the incense table in the old house, laid out the tributes respectfully, and hung up the family hall paintings, also known as family hall axes, which are paintings depicting the hereditary reproduction of the family, the courtyard, and the characters paying New Year greetings.

For example, in the Changwei area, there is a saying that "surnames have genealogies, and every family has a family tree."

The offerings on the table are also very particular. Chickens and fish must be neatly kept whole. "Plating the chicken" is also a craft. The chicken is plated beautifully and the chicken head is high, which represents the respect for the ancestors.

Respectfully.

Zhao Wenmu also placed the prepared pig heads here.

Although it is not a very standard three animals, the ancestors are all tolerant and the descendants can be sincere.

The pig head is naturally the most sincere.

Then put out birthday peaches, fruit plates, snacks, and most importantly dumplings and wine, to entertain the ancestors; and the first dumplings cooked on New Year's Eve every year are naturally used to honor the ancestors.

The yard has been strewn with hay, and a blocking stick is placed at the gate to stop the ancestors' mules and horses from escaping, and to prevent the family's blessings from escaping.

Once everything is properly arranged, it’s time to “welcome the family hall”.

In previous years, Zhao Wenlin would go to the street, burn some paper money, light a stick of incense, say some words respectfully, and invite the "old man" to go home.

This year Zhao Wenlin wants Zhao Wenmu to go.

Zhao Wenmu refused to accept the offer.

Generally speaking, this task is completed by the elderly or the eldest son or grandson of the family.

The person in charge of the family can also do this.

But Zhao Wenmu admits that he does not meet these requirements.

When it comes to helping everyone make money, he is the one in charge, and he recognizes this.

But when it comes to family affairs, he is definitely not in charge, nor is he qualified.

"Brother, you better do it."

Zhao Wenguang also felt that Zhao Wenlin should come.

Zhao Wenlin said no more. He took the paper money and incense and went out respectfully.

When Zhao Wenlin came back with the incense, put it in the incense burner on the big table in the main room, served fruits, snacks and dishes, put the paper money in front of the table in the main hall to burn, the whole family came to the memorial tablet one by one to kowtow respectfully, and the "family hall" became

The greeting is over.

From this time until the afternoon of the second day of the Lunar New Year when the ancestors are sent away, no one is allowed to sit on the two Taishi chairs in the main room, because that is where the ancestors sat.

If you go to someone else's house to pay New Year greetings during the Chinese New Year, if you sit in these two seats, the owner of the house will be unhappy.

After everything is done, everyone can stay at home peacefully and prepare for the New Year's Eve dinner.

The local New Year's Eve dinner is very simple, just a hearty dinner.

Around eight o'clock in the evening, after everyone finished dinner, they started sitting and chatting.

There is no TV at home at the moment, and even if there is a TV, there is no New Year's party.

The Spring Festival Gala only appeared several years later.

Everyone just turned on the radio, listened to the radio, and chatted at the same time.

The children fell asleep early.

It was approaching twelve o'clock, and Liu Xiumei woke up the two little ones who were sleepy. The adults had already made dumplings.

As soon as the twelve o'clock bell came, there was a burst of firecrackers everywhere outside.

Zhao Zimeng carried a bamboo pole with long firecrackers hanging on it.

Zhao Wenmu lit a cigarette, took a long puff, then lit firecrackers with the cigarette, covered his ears and ran away.

Zhao Wenlin came out and covered his son's ears.

With the sound of firecrackers, the new year has arrived!

After the firecrackers burned out, a few people stood in the yard and listened to the noise from all directions.

When I got back to the house, the first pot of dumplings had been cooked.

It is also necessary to offer offerings to the gods and ancestors first, and then give everyone a bowl of dumplings.

If someone cannot go home for some reason, you should serve him a bowl to express your thoughts.

In addition, an extra bowl should be served to symbolize the prosperity of the population.

Then, everyone packed up and had a rest.

There are only two big Kangs in the old house. There are so many people in Lao Zhao's family, so there is nothing special about it. Everyone just squeezes in and sleeps in the same clothes.

Before five o'clock on the first day of the Lunar New Year, the adults got up.

To cook dumplings, we need to offer offerings to the gods of heaven and earth and our ancestors again.

And make a hearty meal.

When it gets dark, everyone starts to pay New Year greetings. For everyone who comes to pay New Year greetings, the host family will treat them to some food and a drink of wine.

From the perspective of future generations, there are so many people coming and going to pay New Year's greetings, and one table of food will serve many people, and even the chopsticks may not be washed again, which is a very unhygienic behavior.

But in this era, being able to eat sumptuous dishes is a happy thing.

As for hygiene, it’s really not that particular.

Of course, people paying New Year greetings won’t actually sit down and eat and drink.

Just take a few bites to get some ideas.

Otherwise, how could one table of food be eaten by so many people paying New Year greetings?

New Year greetings are the highlight of the first day of the Lunar New Year.

It's a carnival for children.

Before daybreak, the children or young people set off in groups.

First, I went to pay New Year greetings to my closest elders, such as my grandparents.
To be continued...