The Manchu New Year is no less cumbersome than the Han New Year, and since the Qing soldiers entered the customs, the two ethnic groups have lived together with each other, and the customs have gradually converged, and in Fengtian, the base camp of the Manchus, some old customs have been retained.

Since autumn, every household in the city has been pickling Chinese cabbage, storing radish, buying all kinds of winter food, preparing red paper to make window flowers and blessing characters, and girls and daughters-in-law have rushed to make purses for people to give away overnight.

Zhang Bao's family not only had to prepare for these, but also had to worry about the New Year's gift sent back to his home in the capital. In previous years, it was not very rich, and Jingli also knew that Fengtian was bitter and cold, but this year, because of Fengtian's special fine wine, it made a reputation in Guannei and sold very well, and there were rumors in Beijing that the banner people who returned to Tun made a fortune. Two months ago, there was a letter from the Earl's Mansion in Beijing, and there was a complaint that they were hiding their wealth, saying that the family had a large population and a large cost, and that they had only a few people in a small family, and that they were rich in Fengtian and asked for money from their families. Zhang Bao and Tong are both strong people among brothers and sisters, and after discussing for a long time, they decided that they would rather be frugal this year, and they should also make a decent New Year's gift to send back to Beijing. In the past, Changfu and Ma San'er were sent back to Beijing as gifts, but this year, why should there be another person.

Tong Shi saw that during this time, Shuning seemed to have suddenly opened her mind, and she could talk and walk, although she was still young, she was well-behaved and did not cry or make trouble, and her son was also older, so she didn't have to bother to take care of it as before, so she decided to raise her daughter in person, and took the opportunity of giving New Year's gifts to send her second sister-in-law back to Beijing, and told her to stay at home for more time and not to come back in a hurry.

Although the second sister-in-law knew that the Tong family did not want to see her, it was always a good thing to have the opportunity to return to Beijing to reunite with her children, and she was still very grateful to the Tong family in her heart. When she saw that Tong was worried about preparing for the New Year's ceremony, she tried her best to come up with ideas, which made Tong very satisfied. The two masters and servants had a discussion, so they decided to send twelve wind chickens, twelve wind sheep, and twelve altars of Fengtian essence wine. The Tong family is not enough, and they have to prepare gifts for their mothers-in-law and concubines. Besides, the letter written two months ago was actually mainly for the good news.

Zhang Bao's younger brother Rong Bao, at the age of sixteen, became a royal guard, in front of the emperor to get the holy favor, just over twenty years old sent a foreign appointment, to Tianjin Daying, has been delayed until the middle of the year to become a parent, this New Year, is the first time after the wedding back to Beijing for the holiday. In addition to the New Year's gift to the family, the Tong family also has to prepare a congratulatory gift for the uncle and his wife. She discussed with her second sister-in-law for a long time, and then decided to order two sets of glassware, and then asked the silversmith to make a few boxes of refined silver bills, so she called the glassmaker and the silversmith's mother-in-law to come to the house to discuss what color she wanted.

Shuning learned to walk for a long time, and her little arms and legs were tired, so Xiao Tao carried her to the hall. It just so happened that several craftsmen and mothers-in-law took out patterns to pick for the Tong family, and everyone was dazzled. Shuning was also interested in seeing, so she stretched out her hand and called Eniang. Tong picked her up, made her sit on his lap, and pointed to the tricks for her.

Shuning saw that the patterns that had been picked out in advance on the side were a set of a full set of glass dishes and tea sets of more than a dozen pieces of five bats and clouds, and a set of endless patterns, although they were good-looking, they were a little vulgar. Shuning knew that the new parents were not very favored at home, and wanted to help them, so she was also enthusiastic to help pick them up. Tong only said that she was just a child's playful nature, and she didn't care, she just looked down at the tricks.

Shuning found a picture of a lotus flower with entwined branches, which is quite elegant, and the meaning of the lotus flower has many sons and many blessings, it is just right to send to the newlyweds, and the style is fresh, and the young people will like it more, so he pointed to the pattern and shouted "that, that" in his mouth. The mother-in-law on the side smiled and said: "The young lady in the house is really good-looking, the lotus flower means many sons and many blessings, and the entanglement of branches has the meaning of endless, which is really auspicious." This is different from the old twig pattern, it is a new pattern in the south, my nephew came back from Jiangnan yesterday and brought it in person, and even the capital may not have it. ”

Tong really thought it was good, so he exchanged it for a 10,000-character pattern, and instructed his mother-in-law to explain to her family's glassmaker, the pattern of the five bats and clouds to burn a full set of dishes, and the tangled lotus to burn a whole set of tea sets, all of which must be completed before the tenth day of the lunar month. The woman was busy answering and said goodbye with tricks.

Then the silversmith's wife came forward and handed over the patterns, but they were all patterns of various ingots and copper coins of different sizes, which were too monotonous, and there were one or two bats or orange styles, which were also common. The silversmith's wife saw Tong's uncertain face, and hurriedly said: "These are all commonly used styles, if grandma has a style she wants to play, even if she tells us, we will definitely be able to make it." We were originally in Shandong, and we are famous for our good craftsmanship, which is the ability of our ancestors for four generations. ”

Tong didn't have any ideas, and glanced at the second sister-in-law. The second sister-in-law hesitated for a moment and said, "Ingot copper coins are always to be made, and it's good to make more orange-style ones." Shu Ning listened to it on the side, rolled her eyes, pretended to be a child, clapped her hands and said: "Oranges, oranges, fruits, melons and melons...... The second sister-in-law flashed and said busily: "Xiao Niuniu said well, since you have oranges, you naturally want to make some pears, plums and the like, good luck, and then make some melons, fruits and vegetables, isn't it fresh and full of harvest?" ”

Tong nodded: "This is a good idea, but it's hard for you to think of this." The second sister-in-law waved her hand and said, "This is the idea of the little girl, the slave just helps her say it." Tong smiled, turned his head and said to the silversmith's wife: "That's it, the small ingots and small copper coins are all thirty, and the melons, fruits and vegetables are also thirty, and then the twelve fresh flower styles are selected, each with a pair of silver hairpins, all of which must be carefully done, and I am going to send them to Beijing." The woman was busy, and she also made an appointment to deliver the goods before the tenth day of the lunar month.

After these things were explained, Tong asked people to call a carpenter, and the box that specializes in gifts, the carved and lacquered surface of the box, and the fabric used for the lining, all gave them a detailed explanation. Then I called the second sister-in-law, checked the various purses made at home recently, picked twelve of the best ones, wrapped them up, and put them in when the box was ready.

In the following days, I had to prepare for the New Year's gifts for my bosses and colleagues in Zhang Bao's yamen, as well as clean up the gifts given by others. Tong didn't have time to take care of the children, so he carried Shuning to Duanning's room every day, let the children play in one place, and told Xiao Tao to stay by the side and take care of them while doing needlework. She herself took her second sister-in-law and Xiaomei, as well as Changfu Ma San'er, and was busy every day. Zhang Bao also had to put an end to the affairs in the yamen, and for two days he didn't even have time to go home for dinner. Even the old Wu Tou who drove the car at home rushed to pull New Year's goods every day.

It was easy to reach the tenth day of the lunar month, the glassware and silver bills were ready, Tong personally led people, first packed the utensils into a box, plugged the gap with fine white cotton, and then wrapped the box with a satin wrapper. Then I asked the girl to tie the silver coin with a good red silk thread, make a knot, twelve boxes of ground, and put two boxes of small ingots, two boxes of small copper coins, two boxes of silver coars of fruits and vegetables, and then two boxes of silver hairpins. All the boxes were bundled up, and the ten fine silks that had been prepared before, wrapped in linen, plus the wind sheep, the chickens, and the wine, filled the three carts. Early the next morning, he asked Changfu Er's sister-in-law and Ma San'er to rush to Beijing with the letter that Zhang Bao had written the night before.

The New Year's gift came to an end, but the family also spent a lot of money because of it, so they had to be frugal during the New Year. I had already made winter clothes once, and some of them hadn't been worn yet, so Tong planned not to make new ones. The amount of food for the New Year's order was also half less than in previous years, and only the necessary portions were prepared for artillery battles. Tong didn't have a second concubine by her side, and she had to rack her brains alone every day, thinking about the dishes during the New Year, saving and being decent, so worried that she couldn't even sleep well at night, which made Zhang Bao feel distressed.

Chinese New Year's Eve is approaching day by day, the family is busy cleaning the courtyard, posting couplets, hanging notes, window flowers and blessing characters, and Tong is busy steaming rice cakes and making snacks with Xiaomei and Xiaotao. Zhang Bao finally took his annual leave and personally put a red flag on the door. Looking out the door, every household on the street has posted various colored flags to show that their flags belong to them, and some families are still tying poles in front of the door to prepare for firecrackers.

Changfu took Ma San'er and rushed back to Mukden on the twenty-seventh day of the lunar month. The New Year's gift was delivered, and the old lady felt very decent, and personally replied to the letter, rewarded a few purses and brought them back, as well as New Year's money for the grandchildren. Zhang Bao and Tong Shi read the letter and were relieved. Looking at the return gift of the fourth brother and wife, it turned out that the new brother and daughter-in-law were originally from Sven's beautiful background, and after getting married, they always felt that the in-law's household utensils and objects were cheesy, and I saw the tea sets and ornaments sent by the brother and sister-in-law who had never met each other were elegant, and I heard that they were scholars, so I felt that I was on the same road with her, and personally returned a gift, but it was a few embroideries, and a few new books made on it. It's all good, but it's not very useful. Tong sighed and put things away without mentioning it.

On Chinese New Year's Eve, Tong got up early in the morning and took the girls to make blood sausages and dumplings. Zhang Bao had nothing to do, so he stayed in the study and carefully explained to his son and daughter the rules of the New Year, how to worship their ancestors, and how to be in Beijing in the past. He spoke slowly and uninterestingly, and both children fell asleep to it.

As soon as it was dark, the whole family lit the lamp, and the pole in the front yard was hung with red lanterns, which were not allowed to be extinguished. Changfu had already led people to set up an offering table in the front yard, and when the hour came, he would worship his ancestors.

The family sat down around the table and ate some festive food. Shuning was young, so Zhang Bao personally hugged her. Shuning looked at the large and small plates on the table, wondering why there are no dumplings necessary for the New Year for northerners?

After eating, Zhang Bao hugged his daughter and took his wife and son to sit and laugh on the pit. After a while, Shuning felt a little uncontrollable, and looked up to see that Brother Duan on the other side was also asleep little by little.

Zhang Bao smiled: "This is because of the anger of the meal, take him to the yard for a walk, I'm just afraid." Tong felt sorry for his son and said: "I have to keep vigil at night, so it's better to let him sleep first." Zhang Bao felt reasonable, so he put down his daughter and hugged him to the pit, and Tong took off his son's big clothes again, covered a small quilt, and watched him sleep. Zhang Bao looked back and saw that his little daughter couldn't open her eyes, so he smiled and hugged her to his son and let her sleep too.

Shuning was dazed, and she didn't know how long she had been asleep, when she suddenly heard a "boom" outside, followed by a "crackling" explosion, she was startled and woke up.