From the Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China, the folk crown ceremony generally adopted the method of combining the crown marriage, and the crown ceremony became the prelude to the wedding. In fact, the folk still uphold the ancient custom of getting married before adulthood. The ceremony of crowning the crown is held on the day before the wedding, and this ceremony is commonly known as "Shangtou". Couples who have children and are the first spouse are invited to participate in the "head" ceremony, and there are special blessings for the birth of the rites. After the ceremony, they will give their neighbors food such as "top cakes" and "top dumplings".

According to the changes of the times, modern folk coming-of-age ceremonies highlight the "life word" and take the number, and replace the crowning ceremony with the "life word". There are three ritual procedures for taking the number of "life words". First, send the number. When children reach adulthood, they are named by relatives and friends or villagers, and then the inscription is: "Gift a certain Weng Ling, the name of a certain gentleman, the day of so-and-so", red paper or vermilion lacquer wooden plaque, drum music sent to the master's house. Second, the worship number. The master bows his respects, and then hangs the font number on the wall of the hall, which is called "shengzi" or "shengzi". 3. Celebration. The host set up a table to reward the guests who sent the number, and invited the old friends of the township party to be the joy of wine and food, which was called "Qinghao".

There are three situations in which the timing of the number is taken: first, it is carried out randomly according to the child's adult situation. "The man is weak, the father and brother choose the auspicious word, relatives and friends put a ruler Xu small plaque, the gold lacquer book, the gift is a couplet, candle, fruit wine, color explosion, and the name day is 'sent to the number'." The second is to use traditional festivals as an opportunity to celebrate adults. For example, the villagers of Huaining in Anhui Province used Renri, Shangyuan or Mid-Autumn Festival to hold a "horn" ceremony for the crown. The reason why "Trumpet" became the name of the ceremony is that the meaning of "proposition" occupies a major position in this coming-of-age ceremony. The third is to take a new number at the time of marriage, which is also given by relatives and friends, commonly known as "sending number" or "congratulatory number". Anhui Nanling in the early years of the Republic of China, still retains the distinction between adult and juvenile customs, 16 years old is an age cut-off point, 16 years old for the "full young", under the young, not allowed to wear clothes, not allowed to be the main priest of the temple, not allowed to be the host of the banquet, in case of auspicious and murderous Binjia things are humble and young, not to be the same as adults. "When it comes to marriage, the world will be 'an adult.' Family and neighbor are the word of life, which is called 'sending the number'". After the number delivery ceremony, the qualification to become an adult was obtained, and the adult meaning of the proposition word was fully expressed here.

After the Qing Dynasty, the crown ceremony basically withdrew from the mainstream society, but it is still active in civil society in the form of variation, and in some places its form is still relatively complete, and the vitality of the coming-of-age ceremony lies in the fact that it has a cultural function that is difficult to replace by ordinary life rituals.

During the period of the Republic of China, many big families, especially in the Qing Dynasty, had a glorious past, and the family had a person who lifted people and became a scholar or above after a long period of family rule inheritance, and in the locality, the coming-of-age ceremony still existed; Most of the local clans for the family descendants of the disciples held at the age of 18 or more, highlighting the "life word", by the family elders, parents or education celebrities, celebrities and other high social status in the coming-of-age ceremony on the spot of the word, after the coming-of-age ceremony the family generally has an engagement ceremony, the object is generally a family affair since childhood or very early on, after the ceremony by the bridal maid instead of the round house, mainly to test the man's physical condition. Because He Jianye, the protagonist of this article, was overly frightened since he was a child, and then sent abroad to study and relax, he has not yet been engaged to the right person, so he can only cultivate a room girl from an early age, so as to prepare for a good marriage in the future.

In the 20th year of the Republic of China, on the afternoon of May 9th, the quiet Qingjiang County suddenly boiled, because everyone knew that the second young master of He Fu in Qingjiang County became an adult the day after tomorrow, and the county seat will have free flowing water to eat from tomorrow.

Early in the morning of May 10th, He Mansion began to clean, Lin Bo began to arrange the affairs that will start tomorrow morning one by one, and He Jianye was also forcibly ordered by He Lin to fast and bathe in the ancestral hall, and warned the ancestors that the two maids were making a series of preparations such as final wedding dressing, incense, bathing, and makeup (After all, He Mansion is a big family, and the treatment of the girls in the house is still relatively high); The kitchen prepares various ingredients under the guidance of Chef Yuexianglou,...... The entire He Mansion was busy. After a day of hustle and bustle, He Fu fell asleep early......

"Ahh He Jianye woke up from his sleep! He Jianye, who didn't know what he had just dreamed about in his dream, looked frightened: "What's wrong?" What am I afraid of? He Jianye thought about it, but when he thought of the coming-of-age ceremony after dawn, He Jianye was not calm, and it seemed that his spirit had a tendency to become more and more excited the more he thought about it, "Forget it, I don't want to, there must be a road before the car arrives at the mountain, let's act tomorrow!" He Jianye forced himself to sleep!

At 8 o'clock in the morning on May 11, He Fu, who had eaten breakfast early, began to take his place, and all the personnel were happy on their faces (can you not like it?). If things end smoothly today, the host will give out a bonus! Everyone's new clothes! Lin Bo, who served as the welcome master of ceremonies, stood directly at the door (he was the only one who could welcome guests and not offend the guests in the entire He Mansion, as He Fuchu's original follower, from the army's guards to follow He Fuchu to start a business and lay down the great business of He Fuchu, and there was no one he didn't know from the military, political, and business circles who came and went at He Fuchu), and he was preparing to welcome the distinguished guests who came to watch the ceremony.

"Master Yang brings Young Master Yang and Miss Yang here"

"Master Du brings Young Master Du and Miss Du here"

"Master Zeng has arrived"

"Master Jiang has arrived"

"Master Liu and his wife said" Lin Bo began to sing at the door, and He Fu sent personnel to greet them according to the identity of the guests and the situation of the attaché, and arranged to wait for the ceremony in the corresponding place.

"Click, click、...... Let's click, let's 、......" A clear running sound came, and then, Lin Musen's majestic voice sounded:

"Colonel Wang Gongliang, Captain of the Second Brigade of the 10th First Student Corps of the Nanjing Central Military Academy"

"Oops! Brother Wang, in the past, the Northern Expedition was goodbye, how dare you bother to come in person today? What are you? He Fuchu, who went out to greet him in person, looked puzzled at the army who came with the run,

"Brother He, brotherhood, don't say anything else; When my brother's family suffered a great change, my brother didn't help much, and this time Brother He and his younger brother are adults, so I should come in person; Wang Gongliang said, and then whispered to He Fuchu, "There is a big man coming today, this is arranged in advance, just don't make a noise!" ”

"You guys, arrange around He Mansion to strictly prevent Xiao Xiao from entering, and the guard company will follow me into He Mansion!" Wang Gongliang ordered,

"Then there is Brother Lao Wang, and my brother will be grateful in the future!" He Fuchudao,

"You are slowly busy, don't worry about me" Wang Gongliang said boldly, and entered He Mansion under the guidance of the people of He Mansion.

"The 33rd Regiment of the 698th Independent Brigade, Colonel Deng Chunhua arrived"

"Brother Deng, how dare you bother to come here in person today? What are you? He Fuchu, who went out to greet him in person, looked at the envelope handed by Deng Chunhua,

"Secretary Deng Wenyi Deng can't come in person today, I feel ashamed of your kindness back then, so I hereby entrust me to convey my apologies on my behalf and bring a letter from Secretary General Deng," Deng Chunhua explained.

"Inside, please!" He Fuchu bowed down and invited,

"Chen Defa, deputy commander of the 80th Regiment of the 478th Division, has arrived!"

......

......

"Major General Yang Bufei, Brigade Commander of the 264th Brigade of the 88th Division of the Fifth Army of the National Revolutionary Army"

......

It was almost 11 o'clock at noon, and the big guys from all walks of life who He Jianye had never heard of their names arrived one after another, and He Fuchu walked into the courtyard of He Mansion, looking for Wang Gongliang to ask when the big guy would arrive and whether he wanted to wait. Suddenly, there was a shout from the door, "Stand upright, salute!" ”

"Minister of Military Affairs of the National Government, former Chief of Education of the Central Army Military Academy, General He Yingqin has arrived!" With Lin Bo's shouting, He Fuchu almost fell to the ground, "Why is the education chief here?" He Fuchu, who was puzzled in his heart, ran to the door,

"Welcome to the Humble House, the students have not been far away, please forgive the sin!" Bang, He Fuchu gave a standard Whampoa-style military salute, standing in front of Minister He.

"Zixiu! It's me who came here suddenly, I don't blame you! I'm not late, am I?" Minister He said with a smile

"The time is just right, please educate the chief inside, please! Today, the second brother's "life word" has to trouble the education chief," He Fuchu respectfully asked,

"Well, let's go in" He Yingqin arrived at the VIP host of the He Mansion compound,

In front of the ancestral hall, He Jianchu stood in a plain robe, and the master of ceremonies, Lin Bo, announced the start of the coming-of-age ceremony.

"Before I start, I will announce the discipline: after the start, you must be solemn and quiet, and you are not allowed to frolic, chase, or stand on a stool or table." Lin Musen announced, "He Jianye's coming-of-age ceremony begins", "Please He Zixiu, the twelfth grandson of Dafang (He Fuchu, Zixiu), and He Jianye, the twelfth grandson of the second room; The head of the family, He Lin, entered. Please sit down and "clean water (master of ceremonies singing)" (there are people who send clean water, He Jianye cleans his face and hands). Clean towel (master of ceremonies singing) (He Jianye wipes his hands). Ask the head of the family to crown He Jianye, the twelfth grandson of the second room (the master of ceremonies sings). (He Lin is holding a plain hat, why Jianye wears it.) Please ask the head of the family to teach (the master of ceremonies sings), and He Lin preached loudly: Now that He Jianye, the grandson of the twelve clans, is an adult, please recite the family rules of the He family with me.

1. Hold justice in your hand, shoulder morality, a gentleman loves money, and takes it in a good way.

2. Be kind to others, be friends with neighbors, be strict with yourself and others, and not blame the past.

3. Learn from high school as a teacher, be a model, study hard, and work hard to climb.

4. I'd rather let people than let me suffer, and I'd rather suffer losses than make people suffer.

5. Abide by the law, benefit the people, and serve the society.

6. Diligence-oriented, morality first, harmony is precious, and learning is the first.

7. Respect the elderly, help the needy, treat yourself strictly, and treat others leniently.

......

15. The family is as good as the old man, the good children are more filial, and the family has filial piety is the hope, and it is carefully cultivated and prosperous.

16. Husband and wife respect each other, raise their eyebrows, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law give way, and the family is harmonious.

17. Brothers and sisters help each other, husbands and wives obey each other, the elders and young are orderly, and neighbors are tolerant.

23. Be courageous and knowledgeable, courteous and courteous, affectionate and righteous, and gain and lose.

24. Respect for teachers, humility and courtesy, loyalty and filial piety, inspirational and self-improvement.

25. Respect the elderly, love the young, behave steadily, and speak civilized.

26. Be honest and honest, diligent for the people, clean and airy, and long-lasting.

27. Read and be reasonable, self-cultivation, thin wealth and righteousness, for the country and the people.

28. Shoulder morality, keep the world in mind, work honestly, and take the four seas as your home.

29. The rich and noble cannot be lewd, the poor and the lowly cannot be moved, and the mighty cannot be bent.

30. Don't eat poisonous substances, don't do illegal things.

......

100. There will always be days and days, don't take no time as a time, work hard to increase wealth, and be diligent and thrifty for thousands of years.

The following is to invite the distinguished guest of honor, Minister of Military Affairs of the National Government and former Chief of Education of the Central Army Military Academy, General He Yingqin, an adult man of the He family, to give the word (master of ceremonies singing)

"Zi said: The gentleman's affairs are filial piety, so loyalty can be transferred to the king. The matter is brotherly, so it can be moved to the long. Home management, so the rule can be transferred to the official. It is to be made in the inside, and the name will be established in future generations. Well, why do I give the word respectful loyalty to the adult man He Jianye, do you think it's good? He Yingqin groaned,

"Xie Education Chang gave the word" He Fuchu said,

"Thank you for the words of the chief of education, I will not uphold the idea of the chief of education, be loyal to the country and the nation" He Jianye began to play smart.

Licheng (master of ceremonies singing) Please sit down! Limber proclaimed!

He Jianye, who knelt on the futon for nearly 2 hours, stood up with the support of He Fuchu and followed his mother and eldest brother into the ancestral hall to comfort his ancestors.

In the ancestral hall, after comforting the ancestors, He Jianye knelt down on his knees towards He Lin and He Fuchu, and kowtowed three times in a row and said, "Thank you to your mother and eldest brother for your 18 years of raising and taking care of you", and raised his head and burst into tears.

"Jingzhong, after today, the He family will live in the house to your eldest brother Zixiu, this family business is your eldest brother worked hard with one hand and one foot, from now on, you have to respect your brother, brother is like a father, brother to you, you can want, don't brother on the wall, you have to work hard, and strive for the family to spread out as soon as possible; Prosperous family," He Lin said in a heavy tone,

"Yes, mother rest assured" He Jianye said,

"Mother, all the things in the house, the second brother can use them, there is no need to divide them so finely, I am still his eldest brother, I will continue to take care of him" He Fuchu comforted his mother,

"Alright, go get busy! I'm going to start praying," He Lin began to send the two brothers out of the ancestral hall.

The two He brothers hurriedly walked towards the main seat, where is there still a group of bigwigs?

"Education is long, it's been a long time. Poor greetings, please forgive me" He Fuchu habitually saluted, and sat down at the end.

"Zixiu! There weren't many students left in the first phase of Huangpu back then? (The CCP has returned, and sacrificed a lot in the Northern Expedition and the war to unify the country) You were a very talented and capable person in which issue! Are you interested in coming back? Minister He asked,

"Uh......" He Fuchu didn't know how to reply and froze.

"Okay, don't talk about things when you eat, let's eat, don't let down such good wine and food, you drink as you like, I have something to rush back to Nanchang in the afternoon, so I won't accompany you to drink" He Yingqin said,

The bigwigs on the table don't drink it, how dare the remaining brigade commanders and regiment commanders drink more! Taste it one after another. After the meal, a group of students from the first phase of Huangpu accompanied Minister He to chat, "I am very pleased to see so many colleagues from the first phase of Huangpu gathered together today, and the friendship between your classmates is so good!" I hope you can not forget your original intention, uphold the Huangpu school motto, love and sincerity, and play a greater role in the revolution."

"Yes, Education Chief, we must carry forward the spirit of the Three People's Principles and revolutionize to the end" Everyone immediately stood up and said,

"Zixiu, if you have any ideas, you can still tell me!" He Yingqin cared,

"Education chief, students are now dedicated to business and serving the society, and they are ashamed of the country's cultivation."

"Big brother, I want to apply for the Whampoa Military Academy" He Jianye's abrupt voice sounded ("Don't take this opportunity, if you want to go out to fight against Japan in the future, will there be a play?") The family didn't agree! After entering the Whampoa Military Academy, you can join the army, and then the War of Resistance against Japan should also begin. He Jianye thought),

"Okay, ambitious, worthy of being a son of a revolutionary family" He Yingqin said, "But now the Whampoa Military Academy has been renamed the Central Army Military Academy, and this issue has already started, I will say hello to General Zhang Zhizhong and specially approve your enrollment"

"Well, you're just an adult, this month! Zixiu, take your younger brother to Nanjing at the end of this month to find Education Chief Zhang to go through the enrollment procedures for your younger brother" He Yingqin ordered directly.

He Fuchu, who was depressed, had no choice but to agree.

"Okay, it's time for me to go, you guys keep playing slowly" He Yingqin got up and said,

"We should also go, and when we have time, you will go to Nanjing to find us to gather more!" A group of Whampoa classmates have bid farewell to He Fuchu,

As night fell, the guests dispersed, and the peace of the He Mansion slowly returned, and the guests from all walks of life who were inclined to marry left their butlers or entourages to listen to the news of the He Mansion.

In the evening, before dinner, he Fu study.

"Second brother, what do you think? If you want to apply for a military school, why didn't you tell me in advance? You don't know the way of the world today! Once you enter the army, your life is not your life, it all depends on God's mood, now there are 2 men in the family, if you have an accident, my mother will be angry with you to death, and how do you let me explain to my dead father? He Fuchu said angrily,

"Big brother, it is precisely because there are bandits running rampant inside and foreign powers eyeing each other that I must carry forward the spirit of Chinese men who are not afraid of hardship and sacrifice to protect their family and defend the country!" He Jianye replied resolutely,

"No matter you, now the wood is complete, tonight's round house mother has set for you, both are yours, no matter what, you must stay before going to the military academy, you can't keep the seeds, you go to Huangpu, I also have a way to get you out, don't round the house, don't want to go out to the military academy, you look at the round house!" He Fuchu glared viciously and walked out of the study door. Before He Jianye could react, He Fuchu came back again, "Why are you stunned?" If you don't want me to complete the ceremony before the round house, do you want me to invite you? "He Fuchu is welcome.

He Jianye, who drooped his head, followed his eldest brother to the hall, as soon as he arrived in the hall, he didn't need to do anything, someone led him to the bedroom to change his dress, and someone maintained the three no-thoughts of not fighting, not making speeches, and not cooperating, but the servants have a set of ways to deal with this! It didn't take a few minutes for the dress to be on. Pushed to the hall, to the hall dumbfounded. Isn't it just a family member! Why did you sit next to it? (I don't know who left in the afternoon!) led the two maids to play tea with their mother and eldest brother, and the two maids were sent away, and He Jianye stayed to eat with everyone, "Want to drink?" Wait for some you to drink, not now" He Fuchu stopped He Jianye (He Jianye's amount of alcohol He Fuchu had already heard Lin Lao Er say, a small pot of wine can be poured). "Alright, you can go with the beauty. Come on, send the second young master over," He Fuchu said with a smile.

He Jianye was taken away by the maid without replying, and turned left and right, "Huh! No, how did you get to a separate courtyard? Not the original own room? He Jianye thought, "Why did you come here?" He Jianye asked the maid who led the way, "Second young master, this will be your yard in the future" The maid who led the way said. "Oh," someone reacted.

In the small courtyard, in the hall, a table of wine and food was still on the table, and two anxious beauties were waiting for He Jianye's arrival. There are only 3 people left in this small courtyard who are going to carry out activities at night, and when they saw He Jianye come in, the two beauties stood up, saluted together, and let He Jianye sit in the main seat, and then Xiaolian on the left and Qingya on the right sat down, and the 3 people sat silently, no one spoke, no one moved. Just sit still!

The wall clock on the wall was ticking, it seemed very loud in the silent environment, He Jianye looked at the bright moon outside the window, his heart gradually fell into contemplation, as if he had walked into the night sky of the later generations, that night in college, a person stood quietly on the bank of the grassy river, keeping a bright moon alone, looking at the unknown stars in the night sky twinkling and flashing...... Suddenly remembered that night of separation, you said, you will take a lotus boat when I miss you, treading water, you said, you are tired of counting the falling flowers, sitting and watching the clouds rise bland. You have to look at the mountains and rivers, and look at the vast world, the mighty wind and smoke. You must let each other's thoughts disappear between the distant mountains and near the waters. You said that you will come to me when you miss the warm days. If you don't come, I won't dare to grow old. Lonely waiting, in one night after another with brilliant lights and indulgent singing, the night without you, so lonely. Far away from you? Are you okay? When I came to this infinitely lonely time and space, I thought about a child who couldn't find his way home, drifting with the wind, where would he stop next? What am I running away from? What was I expecting? Except in dreams, in your arms, there is nowhere for my tired soul to find a harbor, I can only accompany the green lantern like a bean, the grains are finely kneaded, so that the fingers are numb in the stiffness, and the heart is gradually stiffened. The future generations have waited for you for 5 years, and when I finally have the courage to let you put down your steps and let the warm days accompany you, I have not had a chance to say it, I have reached the distance of a hundred years ago, so far that your smile can no longer continue to pass in my mind! It turned out that I paid tribute to my relatives, but I chose not to mourn you, and kept you in my heart, "Ruoxi, I miss you so much!" He Jianye looked at the vast night sky, and the feelings that suddenly surged in his heart filled his mind with thoughts in such a festive environment. Silently got up, walked to the bathroom next to it, buried his head on the towel soaked in water, and let the uncontrollable tears remain silently, "Should you resist or accept?" Ruoxi, tell me? He Jianye shouted in his heart.

"Bang dang!" With the sound of the opening of the gatehouse of the small courtyard, the three of them in the silent environment suddenly shook! Three heads and three pairs of eyes looked at the gate at the same time, He Lin and He Fuchu stood at the door at the gate, and there were 4 or 5 people faintly behind them. He Fuchu and He Lin strolled into the courtyard and stood still in the far courtyard, and the people who followed behind did not know where a chair was brought from there for He Lin to sit down. "Second brother, my mother has something to say to you, you come out!" He Fuchu looked at the two people sitting in the room, and the second brother who was washing his face with red eyes shouted (He Jianye didn't close the door after he came in), He Jianye put down the towel in his hand, and let the water beads mix and match tears on his face. Walk into the courtyard and stand still in front of your mother.

"Boss, you all go out! I'll talk to! Close the door! He Lin commanded!

After listening to his mother's instructions, He Fuchu closed the inside door and the outside door one by one, and exited the small courtyard! Wait respectfully outside the door!