Ah Hao's hard study finally ended on Chinese New Year's Eve, he gave himself a holiday, sealed his study, and moved back to the main room. Because the three days of the thirtieth year, the first day of the new year, and the second day of the new year are not studying. The so-called Huazi has three days of age, which means that everyone has to celebrate the New Year, and there is no need to do anything serious. All everybody's business these days is to eat, have fun, and be happy.

Two days ago, Ah Hao took the time to write a few couplets. More than half of the people in the village have come to his house to ask for couplets. Fortunately, there was a lot of red paper I bought last time, and Ah Hao waved his pen and responded to his requests. Everyone who came returned satisfied. I don't pay attention to buying couplets here, I just take something in exchange. For example, a handful of fried beans, two eggs, etc. In previous years, many people didn't stick couplets at home. Because there is no money to buy it.

Some people just make a palm-sized small painting and paste it on the door, with the God of Wealth and the God of the Door, or hang a peach charm or something, to show auspiciousness and joy. Those in the poor countryside can't even get their stomachs full, but they can't be as particular as the powerful people. Many New Year's and holiday activities have been simplified.

Like the king of the stove, everyone is just burning some incense paper at the door of the stove, and offering something at will is over. Geng Qiu's house, it was just that the third uncle offered a few snacks at the door of the stove, burned some incense, candles, money and paper, and passed quietly. Geng Qiu and Ah Hao didn't know about it at all.

On the day of the Chinese New Year's Eve, Ah Hao tried his best to take care of the children at home, and early in the morning took Ning Ge'er to clean the doors and windows, ready to paste the blessing characters, he could not draw the door god, and the year painted these things, so he wrote several blessing characters. After doing it, he didn't assess Ning Ge'er's homework and exercises. Holding Ah Niu and Ning Ge'er flying in front of and behind the house, there was a lot of play in the courtyard and outside the courtyard.

It just so happens that the weather is good these days, and the children have been bored for a long time, and they can finally have a good time, and the two babies are laughing non-stop. Because Ah Hao has to study hard, his family doesn't dare to disturb him, and even the two children are affected by the big atmosphere, and they are usually honest. This time, it's not a good thing to make a fuss.

The third uncle was around the house. Geng Qiu and the third aunt were cooking a big meal. Today's New Year, every family has to get a table of sumptuous meals. Geng Qiu deliberately took out the kelp and dried scallops given to them by the master of the ceremony last time, and soaked them early. He was going to stew a kelp pig's knuckle soup and drink it. There are also dried scallops that can also be stewed with some porridge to replenish everyone's body, especially Ah Hao's long stay up late, which is very good for him. It's a good thing, I took it back, I haven't eaten it yet.

According to custom, it was about two o'clock when their family's Chinese New Year's Eve dinner was served. It's a little earlier than most people, because everyone is hungry. Ah Hao took Ning Ge'er and Ah Niu to the kitchen several times, coming to steal something to eat from time to time, and shouted vigorously: "Haven't you cooked it yet, I'm so hungry." ”

"Ah Hao, I'm ready to eat." Geng Qiu gave an order and took the lead in coming out with a pot. Today, you have to eat in the main hall, and the hot soup pot with pork knuckles stewed with kelp is served directly to the table.

Ah Hao hurriedly threw Ah Niu to the third uncle and went to the kitchen to serve the dishes. After a while, ten dishes were served. Today's Chinese New Year's Eve dinner is, of course, the sumptuous. Steamed pork belly, steamed shredded radish, bean sprouts in soup, braised fish pieces, steamed whole fish, stewed tofu with ham and cabbage, white-cut chicken, spicy fried rabbit meat, ruzi scallop lean porridge, and finally a dessert, snow fungus, red dates and wolfberry soup.

The dishes were all on the table, and the family, under the leadership of Ah Hao, first sacrificed their ancestors, burned incense and candles, and then sat down seriously and started eating. Xiao Ah Niu can now sit on his own, Geng Qiu made a special baby stool for him, in fact, it is a high bamboo chair with a backrest and armrests, and a few bamboo sticks are tied in front, and the child sits in it and will not fall out.

I must drink wine during the New Year, Ah Hao and Geng Qiu, the third uncle poured a bowl of wine alone, and the third aunt also symbolically poured a little, and Ning Ge'er and Ah Niu could only drink soup. Ah Hao raised his glass first, everyone took a sip, said a few auspicious words, and then let go of their bellies and ate a lot. Today's meal was not only hearty, but it also tasted exceptionally good. After all, it took a lot of effort to brew it, and it was no better than the small fights on weekdays. They also don't pay attention to the rules of eating and sleeping. Everyone commented on which dish was the most delicious while eating. The family was full of laughter.

Ah Hao's eating movements were bold and polite, he took a big sip of wine, sandwiched a piece of steamed pork and said, "This is the best." "This guy is a carnivore, he especially likes to eat big meat, this pork belly is steamed fat but not greasy, and it melts in his mouth, not to mention that he thinks it is delicious, even Brother Ning has eaten two large pieces.

"Ham and cabbage stewed tofu is the most to my taste." The third aunt said.

"I love this rabbit meat the most." The third uncle said.

"I like pig's feet." Brother Ning said. This little guy is also a carnivore, and has a similar taste to Ah Hao.

"Woooo Ah Niu pointed to the scallop porridge in his bowl, saying that he was most satisfied with this dish. It made everyone laugh.

"Baby son, this is called porridge, follow me, porridge." Geng Qiu said with a smile and slowly taught Ah Niu to speak.

Everyone looked at Ah Niu, and after he muttered a few words, he really said the word "porridge" vaguely, and everyone who was excited began to teach him to speak, and all of a sudden the whole family was saying: "porridge." ”

After Ah Niu's porridge words became clearer and clearer, Ah Hao said regretfully: "Brother Qiu, what are you teaching badly, the first word you teach Ah Niu is porridge, is it not good to say that Dad is good, even if you say that eating words is better than porridge." ”

"Haha. You, come by yourself. Geng Qiu kissed Ah Niu and smiled at him.

"Ah Niu, come, call Daddy to listen." Ah Hao turned his head and teased Ah Niu.

Ah Niu had a mouthful of porridge in his mouth, but he pointed to the fish in his hand, meaning that he wanted to eat the whole steamed fish, and ignored Ah Hao at all. This dish is actually a dish, the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner is placed on the table, only look at it and don't eat it, it is a good intention, meaning that there is more than every year, and I hope that next year the family situation will be better. At this time, the child actually fell in love with this dish, in fact, this dish did not taste good, Geng Qiu was going to go back to the pot tomorrow, add seasonings, and eat again.

"Baby, this isn't tasty. Let's eat this fish. Geng Qiu sandwiched a piece of braised fish, removed the fish bones, and fed it to Ah Niu. This is Oe's fish, and the taste is exceptionally delicious. Ah Niu ate a few bites in a row, and sure enough, he forgot about the whole fish.

Ah Hao was bored, and stomped Geng Qiu under the table hatefully, so painful that Geng Qiu bared his teeth, and shouted: "It's your son who ignores you and blames me." But he took the opportunity to clamp his feet and rubbed a few handfuls. The two of you are going back and forth, making small movements under the table. It's all flirting and scolding, and I'm not shy at all.

The third uncle and third aunt didn't see it, but they lowered their heads and snickered, Geng Qiu and A Hao's relationship has obviously improved these days, and the two of them are also very pleased. In the past, although the relationship between the two of them was not bad, they always gave people a faint sense of alienation, but now it is different, the intimacy is obvious, and it can be seen at a glance.

The third aunt actually knew more than once that Geng Qiu had sneaked into Ah Hao's house, and when the two of them were turned over by the red waves, the movement was not small, and the third uncle and the third aunt didn't know where they were. What's more, every time after the incident, you have to wash the sheets, who washes the sheets at every turn in the winter. Especially the sheets that Ah Hao slept on alone, and only Geng Qiu was there to wash and dry the food, so the old couple just pretended not to know, afraid that their younger couple would be shy.

However, the little couple has a good relationship, and they are also relieved. After all, Geng Qiu is still a little different from everyone, where did he come from, the third uncle and the third aunt don't know at all, and Ah Hao is not clear about his explanation. The two elders are somewhat worried, but they are now like oil in honey, and the love in their eyes, as people who have come over, the two elders still understand it very well. The harmony between husband and wife is also a very important matter for the family.

Eating and drinking at a meal, and teasing the children, it took a lot of time, and many dishes were cold later. But everyone was also full of food and drink. Taking advantage of the wine, Geng Qiu and Ah Hao both went to the room to catch up on sleep. It's nothing to do at this time, so let's get some sleep and keep our spirits for the night to keep the New Year.

The third uncle specially hugged Ah Niu and took Brother Ning to play outside the house, and the third aunt washed and washed at home. Only the two of them hid in the room and kissed me. Finally drank some wine, Geng Qiu was a little dizzy, this ancient wine is made of pure grain, and their jar of wine is still sent by Steward Zhou, the quality is very good. When I drank it, I didn't think that if I went down in a bowl, I would find that the stamina was not small, but fortunately, everyone didn't dare to let go of the drink, and they wouldn't get drunk.

Looking at the slightly smoked Geng Qiu, Ah Hao deliberately stripped himself 9 in three or two clicks, and got into the quilt with a grunt, but he still showed a snow-white shoulder outside. Geng Qiu only felt that his body, which was already hot, suddenly boiled, and all the blood went to a certain place, and he immediately turned into a wolf and pounced. Can you still sleep this night, so the two of them took advantage of the wine, you came and went, in simple terms, and communicated very intimately for a while before falling asleep.

When the two woke up, it was already the time to hold the lamp, but in fact, it was just a nap for an hour. Ah Hao kicked Geng Qiu and told him to get up. Geng Qiu poured hot water on the charcoal basin in his room, and the two of them scrubbed it, changed into clean and tidy clothes, and appeared in front of everyone refreshingly. The village is brightly lit tonight, and every family has to send someone to keep watch for the New Year. Their house was the same, the door was wide open, and the hall was lit with oil lamps, and they were afraid that the wind would blow, and they deliberately shone brown paper outside.

At this time, everyone else was busy in the kitchen, the third aunt was making dumplings, Ning Ge'er was learning on the side, and the third uncle was playing with Ah Niu in his arms.

"I'll pack it." Geng Qiu hurriedly said. Although he doesn't know how to make steamed buns, this bag of dumplings is completely fine, of course, the style of his bag is not very good-looking, anyway, he can eat it.

The third uncle gave up the place to him, Ah Hao will not wrap it, but he also learned from them, and wrapped it indiscriminately on the side, and today he deliberately made white noodles, and the third aunt was very distressed and said: "Ah Hao, you are a complete waste of things." ”

"That's it, you better go play with the children, don't waste all the dough." Geng Qiu couldn't help but laugh and said. Ah Hao's hands, he really can't do these jobs, not to mention that the dumplings he wrapped are bigger than the buns, they are crooked and unshaped, and the trap is exposed, so he can't wrap them tightly.

Ah Hao took away the others, and the third aunt and Geng Qiu moved much faster, and the third aunt also said, "Let's make a few rich dumplings." ”

"yes, I forgot about it." Geng Qiu said with a smile. I took a few copper coins and came over, washed them carefully, and wrapped them up with the third aunt. After wrapping it, he took out a small bag and handed it to the third aunt.

"What is this for?" The third aunt was puzzled.

"It's the New Year, take the New Year's money to the children." Geng Qiu said, in fact, it is not exactly what it means. It is also a little bit of heart for him and Ah Hao to the third uncle and three aunts for the New Year, usually the two elders don't have to go out, and there is no place to spend it, but this New Year's holiday is different, if there are children who come to visit the New Year, there must be something to take out. Besides, the two elders have worked hard for a year, and they have to show a little.

The third aunt took it, opened it, was startled, and hurriedly said, "I don't want so much." "There was a large string of copper coins in it, plus a few small pieces of silver, and a silver hairpin for her.

"It's okay, we have plenty of money now. Besides, at the end of the year, I have to send you some pocket money. Geng Qiu said.

"You kid, what do we want? There is no shortage of everything at home, I don't want it. The third aunt said, leaving the copper coins and returning the rest to Geng Qiu.

"Take it. We have three or four hundred taels of silver. Geng Qiu whispered.

Seeing that he insisted, the third aunt had no choice but to accept it, but Geng Qiu turned her head and said, "Don't wait for a while to give it all to Ah Niu." A sentence pierced her intentions. The third aunt's originally brisk steps stumbled and almost fell.

"I see." There was no way, so the third aunt had to take the small bag back to the room.

Although the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner was well eaten, everyone was also hungry this time, but fortunately, there was still red date snow ear soup hot on the stove, and everyone drank a bowl.

"Let's cook dumplings." Geng Qiu touched his stomach that was not yet full and said. After a workout, he and Ah Hao both consumed a lot, where can this bowl of snow fungus soup be full.

"Dumplings are eaten when they are waiting." Ah Hao said.

"Oh, then I'll go to the hot meal first." Geng Qiu heard that it would take a certain time to eat dumplings, how did he know the customs of the ancient people for the New Year.

Anyway, in his hometown, when he was a child, Chinese New Year's Eve was just watching the Spring Festival Gala on the TV, and when he was hungry, he went to the kitchen to eat at will, usually at that time the kitchen pot was marinated vegetables, there was chicken and meat in the cauldron, kelp tofu skin lotus root, etc., every family would marinate such a big pot, these dishes should be eaten until the fifteenth day of the first month. But when I got here, I didn't seem to see braised vegetables, but in this poor village, no one could make such a big pot of good vegetables. Geng Qiu thought about the braised chicken thighs he had eaten before, and he felt more and more hungry.

The Chinese New Year's Eve rice was specially made hearty, and there were a lot of leftovers here, Geng Qiu warmed up pork knuckle soup and some rice. Everyone ate another bowl and ate seven or eight minutes full. Just have the strength to keep the New Year, and there is no entertainment here to keep the New Year, nothing more than to eat some melon seeds and gossip.

It didn't take long for Ah Niu and Ning Ge'er to start dozing off. Brother Ning still had to hold on, Geng Qiu hugged Ah Niu, who was about to fall asleep, and went back to the room to sleep.

"Brother Ning, go to bed. When you wait, I call you to get up and eat dumplings. Ah Hao looked at the handful of melon seeds that Ning Ge'er was holding and fell to the ground, and said with a smile.

"That's it, go to sleep." The third uncle and three aunts also laughed. Brother Ning really couldn't hold it anymore, and he had to stay in normal times, he had slept for more than an hour.

Brother Ning and Ah Niu both slept, and there were only four adults left in the house, guarding the big charcoal basin in the middle of the hall, drinking tea and sipping their paws, chatting without a word, Geng Qiu and Ah Hao stared at each other boringly.

Suddenly, the third uncle said, "Ah Qiu, didn't you say that you want to plant rice?" This spring, we are about to start preparing for planting, right? ”

Geng Qiu was stunned for a moment, and then said ashamedly: "Yes." It's almost spring. As soon as the year is over, it is time to start busy with farming. "But he doesn't know where the rice seeds are. What kind of seeds? This is really, a winter who only cares about inquiring about this and that, and has a few taels of silver in hand, and actually forgets about serious things.

"On the nineteenth day of the first lunar month, let's go to Zhou's mansion and ask Steward Zhou. If you can't catch up, you can grow the same grains as everyone else, and you can eat them anyway. Ah Hao didn't care. Originally, he didn't know anything about farming, and now he had to concentrate on studying, so it was impossible to help Geng Qiu farm, so why bother doing such troublesome things, he could plant whatever he could, as long as there was a harvest.

"That's all there is to it." The head of the family spoke, and Geng Qiu had no choice but to agree. What's more, he didn't dare to pack a ticket to grow rice for the first time. Especially now that Ah Hao is missing a major labor force, he has no chance to hunt, relying on him and the third uncle alone, he doesn't think he can come back from such a big thing as a wild boar. Although he still has three or four hundred taels of silver on hand, it is quite expensive to study. I don't dare to spend any of this money. Therefore, this kind of field matter has become the most important thing in the family.

Regarding the livelihood of the family, everyone spoke one after another this time, saying that the time passed quickly, and when it was about to come, Geng Qiu and Ah Hao went to paste couplets and set off firecrackers. The third uncle went to tell Brother Ning to get up, and by the way, Ah Niu also put on it. The third aunt was busy cooking dumplings.

As soon as the hour arrived, the village was also lively, and the sound of firecrackers sounded one after another. Regardless of whether you are rich or poor, whether you are poor or cheap, firecrackers are indispensable for this New Year. After all, the ancients were very superstitious and thought that the sound of firecrackers could drive away plague gods and ghosts and protect the safety of their homes.

Of course, Geng Qiu and Ah Hao bought more firecrackers than others, and they also made a loud noise, this kind of big movement, of course, Ning Ge'er and Ah Niu quickly sobered up. However, Ah Niu was bold, listening to the earth-shattering sound of firecrackers, he didn't cry, and he watched it with relish.

"Eat dumplings." The third aunt shouted.

A family has a bowl of white flour dumplings with cabbage and meat, which is not eaten in normal times. This was originally just an ordinary meal, but Geng Qiu felt extraordinarily delicious.

"Oh, what is this?" Suddenly, Brother Ning shouted, it turned out that he had eaten a dumpling wrapped in copper coins.

"This is the lucky dumpling we made, Brother Ning, you are the first to eat it. Not bad, this money is yours, hurry up and load it. Geng Qiu said with a smile.

When Brother Ning heard this, he was also very happy, wiped the copper coin, and carefully put it into his purse. He has been clothed and fed since he was a child, and he usually celebrates the New Year, and he collects more gold, silver and jade, but he is too lazy to look at it a few times, but now this copper coin makes him particularly cherished.

Then Ah Hao also ate a dumpling with money, and the third uncle and three aunts said almost at the same time: "Congratulations to the eldest son, the wealth is blessed and auspicious." ”

As a result, before they finished speaking, Geng Qiu also ate a dumpling with money, and the two said in unison: "I wish Qiu Ye, good luck and health, and all the best." ”

Seeing that everyone had a money, Xiao Ah Niu was anxious, Geng Qiu hurriedly sandwiched a specially marked dumpling and let him take a small bite, and sure enough, there was also a money in it, Ah Niu didn't eat the dumplings anymore, and hurriedly went to pick up the money. It made everyone laugh.

"This little guy actually opened his eyes when he saw money." Geng Qiu said with a smile.

"That is, he doesn't suffer, we have, and he wants it too." Ah Hao also smiled.

The third aunt said: "This money can't be played with by him, if he eats it, it will be troublesome." Quickly put it up for him. ”

Ah Niu refused to let go, Ah Hao smiled and said, "Son, dad will put a rope on it for you, and then put it on and play." So saying, he went to find a strong red rope, put on the copper coin, and put it around his neck. Ah Niu grinned happily at this time. It made everyone laugh more and more. It's a lot more lively to have a child in this house.

The third aunt and the third uncle smiled and smiled, and each bit a dumpling wrapped in copper coins, this time Ah Hao, Geng Qiu, and Ning Ge'er all said some festive words. The family is not lacking, and they all ate lucky dumplings.

On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, Geng Qiu and Ah Hao had just gotten up, and Ah Qing brought Ah Xuan and Xiao Hei over to their home to pay New Year's greetings. Originally, Geng Qiu and Ahao were going to go to the village chief's house to pay New Year's greetings first, but they didn't expect them to come earlier, so they had to recruit them first.

As soon as they met, they all said auspicious words to congratulate the New Year. Geng Qiu gave Xiao Hei a New Year's bag. Ah Niu and Ning Ge'er also got Ah Qingbao's New Year's bag. There are very few copper coins for bread in this kind of New Year's bag, usually five or six, and only two or three less. The family background is really poor, there are all of them, and even none of them.

The book that Ah Hao lent Ah Xuan made the village chief's family very grateful. Ah Qing also specially brought a special New Year's gift from home, a few packs of delicate snacks and two pairs of shoes made for Geng Qiu and Ah Hao. Their family can't get many good things, this dim sum was specially bought to give to Ah Hao's family, I haven't tasted it myself, the dim sum of ordinary people is ordinary goods, and this kind of high-end goods cannot be bought. The village chief also knows that Ah Hao's family usually eats better dim sum, and they must not be used to eating ordinary goods. Geng Qiu and Ah Hao's shoes rot fast, and Aunt Guang is definitely too busy to make such a large family's clothes, shoes and socks by herself. So these two pairs of shoes are very much in line with Geng Qiu and Ah Hao's wishes.

"Thank you again, sister-in-law." Geng Qiu said.

"It's nothing, where can the three aunts in your family do it alone, and there are three people in our family who can do it. It's just a lot of work, and it's not worth much. Ah Qing hurriedly said.

A few people talked for a while, ate a few dried fruit snacks, drank snow fungus soup, and Ah Qing took his younger brother and son away. In the first year of junior high school, they usually have to go to the homes of the elders nearby, and they don't leave food. They came first to pay New Year's greetings to Geng Qiu and Ah Hao, and they had to rush to a few uncles' houses.

After they left, Geng Qiu and Ah Hao also took Ah Niu and Ning Ge'er out, and they also had to walk around the village, and the village chief's family and several powerful elders' families were going to go around. As for other homes, you can take your time.

Chinese New Year, everyone is just going to visit relatives, greeting each other for the New Year, you come and go, Geng Qiu and Ah Hao have no relatives here, and they are just entertaining the people in the village, everyone in the village knows that their family Ah Hao is going to take the Xiucai exam, and they respect their family more and more, everyone made an appointment and divided them into three batches to go around, without bothering them much. So from the third year of junior high school, Ah Hao moved to the study to do his homework again.

The temperature is gradually rising, spring is coming, and the snow is slowly melting. Although it was the first month, before the end of the year, Geng Qiu and the third uncle began to slowly clean up the large open space behind the house. Villagers don't pay attention to whether they do work during the New Year. The family has a large population and little land, and there is not even a vegetable garden. Geng Qiu planned to use this vacant land, although it was said that it was full of stones, but carefully tidying up, spending more effort, and getting some fat mud back, he could also make a few small vegetable patches. At least there is a place to grow the vegetables that I eat at home.

The day is about to come to the Lantern Festival. In fact, the Lantern Festival is not a special program for most people in this village, mainly because they are too poor. If you're on the street, you can also look at the lanterns and go to the market. But it's far from the town, and the villagers don't have so much money to spare, so they want to go to see the lantern festival. It's just that everyone sits together, eats a little wine, and is lively, which is the end of the New Year. Because it's the busy farming season.