Lighting fire is a traditional ritual for entering a new house in Chaoshan area. It is also called "moving into a house". The ceremony is a bit similar to dancing with the gods. To put it bluntly, before the new house is built, a series of metaphysical rituals are performed to ensure that the whole family is safe.
Signs for peace of mind.
Because throughout the ages, building a new house in rural areas and moving into a new home have been regarded as a relatively grand and happy event for a family. The sense of ritual that has evolved from this is very different in different places.
It’s just that with the development of the times, more and more people have lived in community housing, and their knowledge levels have improved, so this ritual has gradually been eliminated. The festive saying of asking for a good omen has a long history.
For example, when moving into a new house in a community, there are rituals such as "rolling coins to the ground" and "good luck" to seek good omens. However, the biggest sense of ritual among Chinese people always falls on one word: eating.
After all, food is the most important thing for the people. This is a tradition that has not changed for thousands of years, no matter whether it is happy or funeral events, it is no exception.
For such a grand event as moving into a new home, most families will set up three or five tables and invite relatives and friends to have a meal to celebrate the occasion and add to the popularity of the new house.
Families who are capable will also set up more tables, but according to Chaoshan custom, gifts are generally not accepted easily, so similar ceremonies are basically spent to earn money.
For some families with relatively tight financial resources, they can choose not to spend this money, choose to rent a new home, and hold the ceremony at a later date, so that they can live there for decades.
If you don't live a good life, no matter how particular you are, you can only be very particular. The so-called rituals are nothing more than doing them for outsiders to see.
Although Zhou Dongsheng grew up here, he had never been interested in these rituals since he was a child. He just went through the motions, so Liu Huaiying followed Zhou Dongsheng's temperament.
Choose a good day, just go through the motions, set up a few tables and invite people to have a meal, and you're done.
In the past two days, Zhou Dongsheng has basically been busy with this matter, buying some furniture and items for the new house. The master of Liushui Xi has arranged everything. After everything is ready, he will officially move into the new house tomorrow.
Zhou Dongsheng and his old mother stood in the open space in front of the new house, looking at the three-story building. The smile on Liu Huaiying's face never disappeared.
"How are you, mom? Are you happy?" Zhou Dongsheng asked with a smile.
"I'm happy. In this house, mopping the floor every day is enough for your mother." Liu Huaiying sighed inexplicably.
"It's not that simple. I just need to arrange a nanny for you." Zhou Dongsheng laughed dumbly, and the old mother's focus was particularly strange.
"Your mother doesn't have old arms and legs anymore, so she's not that delicate. Looking at this new house, I would be happy to mop the floor every day." Liu Huaiying said angrily.
"But you kid, don't think about spending it all day long after you make a little money. There will be more places to spend money after you start a business..."
Faced with his old mother's habitual nagging, Zhou Dongsheng happily accepted it. Only after losing something did he realize how precious it was, and now he is very happy to get it again.
"By the way, Mom, I have to pick up two friends tonight, so I won't eat at home." Zhou Dongsheng looked at the time and said.
Tomorrow is the day when they will move into their new homes. Huang Haoze and Chen Yuhang's flight tonight was belatedly arriving. It is said that they were preparing a surprise for Zhou Dongsheng, which was mysterious.
However, Zhou Dongsheng secretly remembered the affection that came from afar, and as the host, it was only natural for him to go and pick him up.
Zhou Dongsheng drove to the entrance of Yuedong Airport and waited for a while before seeing two familiar figures walking out.
"Wow, isn't it? Dongsheng, you are too low-key to drive this car in your hometown?" Huang Haoze couldn't help but exclaimed when he saw the plain CRV.
As the saying goes, if you don't return to your hometown in rich clothes, you are like walking at night in rich clothes. In Huang Haoze's opinion, according to Zhou Dongsheng's current net worth, driving this car is really too low-key.
"It's just a mobility scooter that I bought to practice after getting my driver's license. Isn't it the cheapest car that Brother Hao has ever ridden in?" Zhou Dongsheng didn't care and joked with a smile.
"That's not the case. I've been in a lot of taxis, but it's useless no matter how low-key you are. I'm going to make you stand out tomorrow." Huang Haoze said with a smile.
"Isn't Brother Hao going to give me a luxury car? I don't mind if I have more surprises like this." Zhou Dongsheng said with a smile.
Chen Yuhang on the side smiled and said: "Principal Wang has already given you a luxury car, and I bought you a watch. I mean it." After saying that, he shook the gift bag in his hand.
Zhou Dongsheng, who is not very fond of luxury goods, looked at the English letters starting with V on the gift bag and was not familiar with it, but he still said: "How embarrassing is this? Being able to come is already a big honor for me."
Even though he said so, Zhou Dongsheng accepted it calmly. With his current relationship with several people, Zhou Dongsheng was not afraid of not being able to repay the gift in the future even if he accepted some expensive gift.
"Hey, one is giving away a car and the other is giving away a watch. I don't have anything to give as a gift. The house I built is just a small tribute to my brother." Huang Haoze was also generous.
"Okay, then I'll accept it without any courtesy." Zhou Dongsheng also agreed very readily. The excessive politeness made him lose his feelings.
"I'll go, I thought I'd save the money by waiting for you to be polite. Why did you agree so readily this time?" Huang Haoze joked, pretending to be dissatisfied.
"If it's a gift, I'll be polite, but cash is my favorite!" Zhou Dongsheng said with a smile.
While chatting, the two of them also got in the car and headed towards Guzhen. Zhou Dongsheng had already made arrangements for the hotel where they were staying.
…
Early the next morning, in the open space in front of the new house, the Liushuixi chef was already in place, preparing various ingredients for Liushuixi.
There were three jet furnaces alone, and in addition to the ladle master, there were five or six people helping out. There was a lively and lively scene in front of the door.
Pedestrians passing by also looked sideways, and many people stopped to watch and talk about it.
"Who built this Feitianhu? It's really impressive." Someone asked casually without knowing.
"The family next door to me is divorced and has a son. The mother and son have been dependent on each other for many years, but they are getting ahead. The son is making a lot of money in business..." Aunt Zhang next door said with emotion.
"That's not easy. How can you get a divorce?"
"I heard that that person is a white drug addict. How can he be cured after being exposed to that stuff? He even gave up his home just to take a sip. He deserves to be separated from his wife and children!" Aunt Zhang said unfairly.
"You should definitely leave!" passers-by agreed.
Here Zhou Dongsheng walked out of the door, holding his mobile phone in his hand, "Brother Hao, Brother Hang, I'll go pick you up? What? No, you have to come by yourself? You don't have a car? Do you know the road? We're almost there?"
Zhou Dongsheng was confused by what he heard, but the house was built by Huang Haoze, so it was reasonable for him to know the road, so why not take a taxi?
At this time, a horn sounded, Zhou Dongsheng raised his eyes and saw a familiar Rolls-Royce slowly driving in, followed by another one.
Zhou Dongsheng finally understood what Huang Haoze meant when he said that he wanted to steal the limelight today. When the two cars moved toward the door, they really stole the show.
This high-profile style is indeed in line with Huang Haoze's handiwork. What can he say when he comes? Zhou Dongsheng can only welcome him.
As soon as the car door opened, Huang Haoze got out of the car proudly and raised his chin towards Zhou Dongsheng, "How about it? Is the limelight big enough? If it weren't for the fact that sports cars are hard to drive in the countryside, I would have to fix it for you."
"I don't know, I thought this was the opening of a new store. Thank you Brother Hao for your kindness. Why is there still a Martha?" Zhou Dongsheng didn't object to being in the limelight, but he really didn't expect this kind of operation.
There was actually a black Masa following behind. The trident on the front of the car was particularly eye-catching, revealing a hint of luxury in a low-key manner.
Chen Yuhang got off the Martha and walked over with a smile, "The car looks good for you to try out. The principal asked us to bring the car here. How do you like it?"