Jiayuguan belongs to the temperate continental desert climate, with an average annual temperature of 6.7 °C and 7.7 °C, and an annual sunshine of 3000.2 hours. The annual average of natural precipitation is 85.3 mm, and the evaporation is 2149 mm. The frost-free period is about 130 days a year, which can be described as "four seasons like spring"!

Although the "ancient battlefield" of the past generations of soldiers - the Gobi Desert, for many years, the beacon fire has been in the sky, and the sound of Jin Ge Iron Horse has been killed. The rumbling war drums, the flags, and the swords and halberds sounded. As a result, the yellow sand is flying all over the sky unscrupulously!

Because of this "blessed" climate, the part of the city opposite has entered the blue sky against the spring water on the winter solstice. The tree-lined mountains are less than a meter apart, but the creepers of the two tribes are still majestic. Hidden by their intertwined vines, even if you look closely, don't reach out to tease. I can't see the two natural round holes!

Three months ago, under the escort of the guards in the Lin Yushi Mansion, he successfully entered the two stone caves. During the day, the shrewd and bold Ye Xiaoqing arranged for two boys to climb into the huge canopy to act as "sentinels" when no one was around. cover her and Yu Xiaolan with the rest of the men of Wanfu to cultivate land in the mountains; Every day, she also instructed two Wanfu women to stay in the cave and prepare three meals a day. The rest of the women went to the mountains to gather wild fruits, and plenty of branches for later use.

Before dinner, she instructed the other two men to eat enough to go outside to the tree to replace the "sentinels" during the day. After dinner, I settled the eight children with Yu Xiaolan and slept in the innermost room of the two caves. Then the eight young women and the rest of the men were divided into two groups, and she and Yu Xiaolan each led a group of people to pile up the dry firewood and dead branches they had collected and set them on fire at the stone wall between the two caves. In the midst of the raging fire, the stone walls gradually expanded in the heat. Then soak it with vinegar to form layers of cracks. Then the cold water in the East Lake was quickly poured, and the stone wall under the high temperature suddenly burst and shattered when it was cold. Finally, it is hammered and chiseled with an iron tool----

In this way, it went back and forth for two months. Finally chiseled through the stone wall between the two holes, and the big guys who were scorched by the fire and sweated were so excited that they hugged each other and cried!

Right now, appease the immature and timid hearts of the eight children. Yu Xiaolan's "poof" heart beat wildly, and finally "slipped away" to the bottom of her heart. She stood up and picked up the copper basin and scooped out the multigrain noodles in the inner jar, added the right amount of water and raised the dough!

Seeing this, the children who walked in immediately after them all shouted excitedly: Haha, there is another "wowotou" to eat for dinner today. That's great!

However, the fathers and mothers of the little ones think diametrically opposite. As if they had made an appointment, they pressed their heads together and whispered: Today is the 22nd, not the 15th and not the 30th. And there are no guests at home, isn't eating "wowotou" a waste of multigrain noodles?

As soon as the words slipped out, Yu Xiaolan's daughter-in-law, daughter-in-law, and son-in-law walked up to her and threw out the common question in the hearts of the big guys: Mother, since we left Wanfu and fled for our lives to Jiayuguan, these two big caves were hidden. In order to save some miscellaneous grains for later use when the harvest is not good, you and Aunt Xiaoqing only steam two meals of "wowotou" for us to eat every month! We ate "Wowotou" six days ago, and it is said that we should be able to eat "Wowotou" in another eight days. Today, why do you make noodles and make "wowotou" for dinner?

Yu Xiaolan picked up the reconciled dough and threw it on the stone table, and said with a smile while kneading it into small balls: Children, what you muttered just now. I can hear them all! You are all sensible children, and Sister Xiaoqing and I are very happy in our hearts. But you don't know that today is the winter solstice. That is, the first day of "counting nine"!

As soon as her words landed, six men and eight young women suddenly whispered: It turns out that today is the annual winter solstice. This festival dinner should eat "Winter Solstice Group"!

As they spoke, the young women rolled up their sleeves one by one, bent down and washed their hands with the water from the copper basin. gathered around the stone table and rubbed the small ball that Yu Xiaolan pulled down, and then put it in the dustpan she had prepared a long time ago!

The six big boys were not far behind, two of them pinched the dead leaves with the wild vegetables they had dug up; The two of them took a wooden scoop and poured water into the big iron pot, and the two of them brought the weeds and began to light the fire----

Their children are only under the age of eight, and their thinking skills are far from enough. They don't understand the meaning of this language!

Concerned about things that he didn't understand, the eight immature little mouths said in unison as if they had made an appointment: Grandma, what is "counting nine"?

Yu Xiaolan still kept working with her hands, but she replied softly to them: Regarding "counting nine", the folk ballad said this. 19, 29 do not shoot; 39, 49 ice walking; Five-nine, six-nine along the river to see the willows; Seventy-nine rivers open, eighty-nine swallows come; Ninety-nine plus nine-nine ploughing cattle are everywhere!

After asking this question clearly, the eight children raised their childish little faces and said in a milky voice: Grandma, why should you eat "Winter Solstice Group" on the winter solstice?

Their fathers and mothers didn't follow each other, and they jumped up and scolded one by one: You are still young, you don't need to know too much. Can't you see that grandma and we are busy? Hurry up and fold the paper cubes to play, or you won't be allowed to eat "wowotou" at dinner!

Yu Xiaolan couldn't help but glance at them angrily, shook her head and said: They are all children under the age of eight, and they are prone to great curiosity about new things they don't understand. Why do you stop them from asking me about it?

Speaking of this, she turned to the eight children and said with a pleasant face: "Children, the entrance to the cave where we are hiding belongs to Jiayuguan in the southwest. The book says that southerners eat tangyuan on the winter solstice, and tangyuan is also called "tangtang". Winter solstice soup dumplings are also called "winter solstice dumplings", "winter solstice dumplings" can not only be used to worship our ancestors, but also can be used to give gifts to relatives and friends! We don't have too much glutinous rice noodles now, so we can only replace them with "wowotou". After dinner, we have to fold the "thousand paper cranes" to burn. Pray to the heavens to bless Grandma Xiaoqing for a safe return!

Yu Xiaolan said dryly, dropped the "big dough" in her hand, walked to the water tank, picked up a wooden scoop, scooped some water, and drank. Then, bending down and rubbing the children's little heads in turn, he patiently said: Children, there is also a saying about the "winter solstice". In some parts of the south, there is a custom of the whole family gathering together to eat red beans and sticky rice on the night of the winter solstice. According to legend, the Gonggong clan has untalented people who do a lot of evil. happened to die on the day of the winter solstice, and after death, he turned into a plague ghost and continued to mutilate the people! But this plague ghost is most afraid of red beans, so people cook and eat red bean rice on the day of the winter solstice. It is used to ward off plague ghosts, prevent disasters and cure diseases!

As she spoke, she pointed to a large pile of white paper cut out in the corner of the stone wall and said: Regarding the custom of eating "winter solstice group" on the winter solstice, the ancients once wrote the following poems for posterity. Every family in the south pounds rice to make glutinous rice balls, and it is known that it is the winter solstice day of the Ming Dynasty. The "circle" here means "reunion" and "consummation". For southerners, eating glutinous rice balls on the winter solstice symbolizes family harmony and auspiciousness! When you grow up, you will naturally understand how the customs of these allusions are formed. Grandma still has to make "wowotou" with your father and mother, you go and fold the "paper money" first and burn it for grandpa and grandpa before dinner!

As soon as the words landed, Yu Xiaolan walked to the stone table and continued to rub the "wowotou". The eight little ones also consciously walked to the corner of the stone wall and sat on the small stone benches, and picked up small squares of white paper and folded paper money with a focused expression!

At the same time, they couldn't help but put their little heads together and whispered: Wow, I didn't think that red bean rice could also be used to ward off plague ghosts. That's great!

After about half a burnt incense, the man in charge of the pot shouted: Mother, the water is boiling. The red beans and corn cobs are also washed and put into the pot, and those "wowotou" can be steamed in the basket!

When Yu Xiaolan heard this, she poured the "wowotou" that had been put into the copper basin into the extra-large steamer that had been placed on the pot table a long time ago. After pulling the lid of the pot tightly, he turned to his son behind the stove and said, "Wanhua, wait until the iron pot is boiling all around." The red bean rice and "wowotou" are also fully cooked!

At this time, a group of milky voices suddenly came from the corner of the stone wall: Grandma Xiaolan, we forgot to ask you before. 19, 29 do not shoot; 39, 49 ice walking; Five-nine, six-nine along the river to see the willows; Seventy-nine rivers open, eighty-nine swallows come; Ninety-nine plus ninety-nine ploughing cattle are everywhere, what does it mean? Now, the "wowotou" has been rubbed. Come and tell us more!

The young women and men who had just finished rubbing their "wowo heads" turned to the source of their voices as if they had made an appointment and said in unison: Where are so many problems at your young age? Why don't you know how to let your little Grandma Lan rest for a while? It's really not worrying at all----

Yu Xiaolan hurriedly waved her hand to stop it, and she said gently: Confucius said that he is sensitive and studious, and he is not ashamed to ask questions. You're already parents, so why can't you understand the curiosity in your children's hearts? At a young age, they all have a strong desire to learn about new things. I love and support you so much from the bottom of my heart!

This reasonable remark stimulated the young women and men to blush immediately. It's just like a ripe persimmon that "snaps your fingers"!

Immediately after that, they turned to Yu Xiaolan one by one and said in unison: Mother, Aunt Lan, let's take into account your age. I've been busy for a while just now, and I'm definitely tired enough! I blamed the children for being ignorant, and now listen to what you said. We all know it's wrong, so you better go and rest for a while and wait for dinner. Let's go and make it clear to the little ones!

As soon as the words slipped out, it immediately attracted the rebuttal of the group of little guys: Daddy, mother, you have grown up in the honey pot of "clothes to reach out for food and open your mouth" from childhood to adulthood. Grandma Xiaolan grew up in a folk family, and she must know more about ancient things than you. It's definitely more comprehensive, so we don't want you to talk nonsense to us!

In this way, their parents couldn't help but smile bitterly and said: Hehe, we have indeed never left the palatial Wanfu since we were children. Hey, for this folk custom of the past and present. I really don't know much about it!

When Yu Xiaolan heard this, she shook her head and said: Children, don't make a move on the 19th and 29th; 39, 49 ice walking; Five-nine, six-nine along the river to see the willows; Seventy-nine rivers open, eighty-nine swallows come; Ninety-nine plus nine-nine ploughing cattle are everywhere. It's just a sign of a cycle in nature, and it's also a proverb, not a custom from the past. You really don't know anything about the people! In the future, I will also take the time to study on my own to increase my knowledge and grow my ability. Don't fantasize about being a young master, a young grandmother, a rich daughter, or an aunt!

With that, she pressed the shoulders of the young women and men standing in front of her twice. Then he walked over to the little ones who were looking eagerly at him!

Touching the scene, the young women pulled the men and men to the corner of the stone wall and said: Come on, we are idle and idle. I'll just fold the paper money with you!

Yu Xiaolan followed the sound and looked around at the paper money around the little ones, and immediately turned to the older children behind her and said: Just now, I estimated it in my heart. I think the amount of paper money should be about the same, so you can fold the paper crane first!

As she spoke, she changed the conversation and said: My children, if you don't make a move on the 19th and 29th, it means that the weather is gradually getting colder, and you should pay attention to hand warming; Walking on the ice means that the weather is so cold that you can walk on the river; 59, 69, looking at the willows along the river, it is said that the weather is gradually warming, and the willows by the river are beginning to sprout; The opening of the seventy-nine rivers and the eighty-nine swallows represent that the weather is warm, and the frozen thawing on the river allows the swallows to fly; Ninety-nine plus nineteen means that after saying ninety-nine, after nine days (this nine-day should be a general term, to be exact, it should be about nine days) you can farm. These contents are a sign of circulation in nature, and they are also the "agricultural proverbs" that have been passed down from generation to generation for thousands of years!

Looking at the "thousand paper cranes" folded by their parents, the eyes of the eight children immediately moistened again. sobbed one by one and said: Xiaolan's grandmother, father, and mother have ignited these "thousand paper cranes". Woo---- can Grandma Xiaoqing really return safely? Whining----

Hearing this, their respective fathers and mothers were all red-eyed, and they didn't know what to say to appease their little baby. I can only look at the only elder in front of me for help!

Yu Xiaolan hurriedly took out a cotton handkerchief and wiped her immature cheeks, squeezed out a smile with her sadness, and said: My children, the "wowotou" will be ripe in a while. As long as we devoutly take out two bowls to worship our ancestors, and then burn these "paper money" and "thousand paper cranes". Under the Nine Springs, they will beg the gods at all levels to bless our relatives who have gone out to return safely!

Next, she pointed to the outside room with a tight face and said: It is not yet nightfall, and there must be tourists outside. As long as you cry so loudly that they can hear it, it's terrible!

As soon as the words popped out, Yu Xiaolan saw that the little guys all stretched out their immature hands and covered their mouths vigorously. The scene in front of her stirred up the depths of her soul and couldn't help but ripple: Sister Xiaoqing, you have been out of the cave for several days. Why haven't you seen a turn yet?