In the blink of an eye, the New Year has arrived.

On the first day of the first month, it was called Zhengdan Festival in the Sui Dynasty.

For thousands of households, the Zhengdan Festival is a day to say goodbye to the old and welcome the new, family reunion, and an important festival to exorcise ghosts and avoid evil.

The first day of the new year begins with the exorcism of evil spirits.

On Chinese New Year's Eve, Gao Qiuniang did not dare to overwork because her body was not very convenient, and she did not stay up all night with her family. After the hour, he went back to the upper room to rest.

When Gao Qiuniang woke up, she found that Changsun Sheng had gotten up at some point, and the window was bright, and the lights were bright, she knew that it was the lantern in the courtyard, and she couldn't tell what time it was.

Gao Qiuniang shouted: "Yuhan." ”

Yuhan, who was guarding the door, hurriedly came over and asked, "Is the master mother awake?" ”

Gao Qiuniang asked, "What time is it?" ”

Yuhan replied: "I just played the fourth watch, is the main mother resting for a while?" ”

Gao Qiuniang said: "Let's get up, it's time to come over for a while, and Lord Lang will go to the court to participate in the Yuan Hui ceremony." ”

At this time, Shuxiang also came, and the two served Gao Qiuniang together to get up and freshen up.

In the courtyard, red lanterns were hung on the verandahs around the courtyard, and the whole courtyard was enveloped in a red halo.

The slaves and maids had already gotten up and were busy with their own business.

The eldest grandson Wuji saw Cai Wei holding the newly engraved peach talisman and hanging it on the door, so he begged Cai Wei to let him hang it.

Cai Wei smiled and said, "Shiro-kun, do you know how to hang?" ”

The eldest grandson Wuji said: "Of course I know, the gentleman of the academy said, take down the old one, and then hang the new one, the one with the words 'Shen Tu' on the right, and the one with the word 'Yu Lei' on the left, I know the words on it." ”

It is said that 'Shen Tu' and 'Yu Lei' are two great gods who exorcise ghosts. They live under the peach trees in Dushuo Mountain, and whenever they find harmful ghosts, they will catch them with reed ropes and feed them to the tigers. Therefore, every Chinese New Year, people hang the peach wood board engraved with their name on the door, believing that it has the effect of driving away ghosts.

Cai Wei knew that she couldn't resist the eldest grandson Wuji, so she picked up the eldest grandson Wuji, handed the new peach talisman to him, and replaced the old peach talismans one by one in the order of the upper room, the east chamber, and the west chamber.

Burning grass and firecrackers is another indispensable custom of the Zhengdan Festival.

On the first day of the first lunar month, when the sky was still unknown, every household lit a fire with firewood and grass in the courtyard and burned bamboo on the fire. The bamboo makes a crackling and popping sound, which is the origin of firecrackers.

It is said that the light of fire and the sound of bamboo explosions can scare away mandrills and evil spirits.

Mo Zhu and Huang Fei set up a brazier in the middle of the courtyard and lit firewood and grass in the basin.

Lighting firecrackers is the favorite thing for children to do, the eldest grandson Wuji and Yun Shu and Qin Ge put the bamboo knots prepared in advance into the brazier one by one, and the bamboo knots burst with a "bang" after being roasted in the fire for a while, and a burst of sparks flew around, and several people danced happily when they heard the explosion.

Qin Ge found a long stick and kept rummaging the bamboo that had not yet burst, Yun Shu was afraid that the eldest grandson Wuji would get close to the brazier, so he pulled him ten steps away from the brazier and watched from a distance.

Gao Qiuniang finished washing, helped by Yuhan to the Buddha shrine in the middle hall, first lit a pair of red candles in front of the Guanyin Buddha statue, took out three sandalwood sticks and lit them on the candle flame, inserted them in the incense burner, and then closed their eyes and prayed in their hearts, took three steps back after praying, slowly knelt down and kowtowed respectfully three times.

After respecting the Bodhisattva, Yuhan and Shuxiang helped Gao Qiuniang to stand up, and the three of them went out of the upper room together.

The eldest grandson Wuji, who set off the firecrackers, was having a good time, and he didn't notice that Gao Qiuniang came out of the room, and tried to break free from Yun Shu's control and go to the edge of the brazier several times, but Yun Shu pulled him tightly.

Seeing the appearance of the eldest grandson Wuji's eagerness, Gao Qiuniang deliberately said with a straight face: "Shiro, be careful not to burn new clothes, it is unlucky to burn a hole in new clothes on the first day of the new year." ”

The eldest grandson Wuji saw that his mother wanted to be angry, his emotions calmed down, and replied, "Got it, A-Niang." ”

At this time, Changsun Sheng returned to the inner courtyard after inspecting the outer courtyard, and asked with a smile: "Shiro, did you make A-Niang unhappy again?" ”

The eldest grandson Wuji said aggrievedly: "No." ”

Changsun Sheng walked up to Changsun Wuji, touched his head, looked at his son's face red from the firelight with a smile, and said, "It's good if you don't have it." ”

Then he picked up the eldest grandson Wuji and said to Gao Qiuniang: "Lady, let's go to the front hall, Dalang Niang has already come." ”

The eldest grandson Sheng hugged the eldest grandson Wuji, walked from the corridor in the courtyard to the back door of the front hall, and then put down the eldest grandson Wuji, and waited for Yuhan to help Gao Qiuniang slowly walk along the west verandah, Cai Wei lifted the door curtain, and several people walked into the front hall together.

In the front hall, Zhen had already led three children to wait. Seeing Changsun Sheng and Gao Qiuniang coming in, he crossed his hands and knees and saluted.

Changsun Sheng nodded with a smile, and Gao Qiuniang smiled and said, "Da Lang Niang is really early." ”

Zhen looked at the three children and said, "It depends on the three children, which is earlier than this." ”

At this time, the eldest son of Changsun Wunai, Changsun Hong, and his daughter Panruo also stepped forward to salute, but the younger son, Changsun Yan, ran over and grabbed Changsun Wuji and asked, "Fourth uncle, have you lit firecrackers?" ”

The eldest grandson Wuji said unsatisfied: "Only a few are burned, and we will burn them together later." Then he looked up and looked at Gao Qiuniang.

The eldest grandson Sheng sat down on the left head on the couch in the middle of the hall, and Gao Qiuniang pulled the eldest grandson Wuji and the eldest grandson to sit on the right head.

Zhen hurriedly explained: "Ah Yan has to sit honestly, but he is not allowed to mess around." ”

Gao Qiuniang said: "It's okay." ”

Before Changsun Sheng could tell Zhen to sit down, he heard the chatter and laughter of the two children in the courtyard, and he had already guessed in his heart that it was Changsun Wuyi who was coming.

The first to run into the house was a five or six-year-old boy, Changsun Zhan, the son of Changsun Wuyi. He entered the room and observed the situation in the hall first, and then said to the eldest Sun Hong and Panruo: "Eldest brother, eldest sister, why did you come so early?" ”

Then he bowed indiscriminately to Gao Qiuniang, Changsun Sheng, and Zhen, and shouted in his mouth: "Ah Weng is good, Grandma is good, and Aunt is good." Finally, his eyes stayed on Changsun Sheng.

Changsun Sheng said in his mouth: "Daredevil." With his right hand, he gestured, "Come to Awen." ”

Changsun Zhan was not polite, and ran over and hugged Changsun Sheng's neck.

Na Luo, the eldest grandson Wuyi's daughter who followed in, saw her younger brother's reckless appearance, and said coquettishly: "Ah Zhan, how did Grandpa teach you at home, what kind of etiquette did you do?" It's like a chicken pecking rice. ”

Then he walked to the couch and bowed to Changsun Sheng, Gao Qiuniang and Zhen in turn, and greeted the three elders respectively.

Then, the eldest grandson Wuyi and the Ku clan who held the youngest daughter Jia Luo, the eldest grandson Wuxian led the daughter Jia Ye, and the Helan clan carried the son eldest grandson Qing into the front hall in turn, and everyone saluted and greeted each other. Changsun Sheng ordered: "Sit down." ”

Jia Ye saw that the eldest grandson Wuji, the eldest grandson gradually and the eldest grandson Zhan were sitting next to Ah Weng and Ah Po on the couch in the middle, showing envy, looking up at the eldest grandson Wuxian and saying, "I also want to sit next to Ah Weng." ”

When Changsun Sheng saw it, he beckoned to Jia Ye, patted his side and said, "Jia Ye, come and sit here." ”

Ka Ye ran over as he wished, and sat on the couch with Changsun Sheng's left arm.

Then, the eldest grandson Wuyi, the eldest grandson Wuxian, and the eldest grandson Hong sat down on the couch on the east side of the hall. Zhen's, Ku's, and Helan's sat down on the couch on the west side.

Praruo and Zhen sat together, Ku held the two-year-old Jialuo, the little Jialuo looked dazed, as if he hadn't woken up, Naluo sat down next to his mother, and Helan held his three-year-old son Changsun Qing.

After everyone sat down, the hall suddenly quieted down, and Changsun Sheng didn't want to make the atmosphere too serious, so he briefly said some words of blessing and encouragement, and then said, "Let Grandma give you New Year's money." ”

When they heard that they were going to pay the New Year's money, the children cheered one by one.

Ku Shi laughed and teased: "Look at the few of you who are in a hurry, you haven't kowtowed to Ah Weng and Grandma, and you want to make money for the New Year." ”

A few children sitting next to Changsun Sheng and Gao Qiuniang jumped up impatiently, and ran to the middle of the front hall to kowtow.

Kushi poured cold water and said, "Are there any rules?" Your uncle and uncle haven't worshiped yet, which turn is your turn? ”

The children all turned their eyes to Eldest Sun Wuyi and Eldest Sun Wuxian, as if urging them not to hurry up.

Changsun Sheng and Gao Qiuniang watched, but kept pursing their lips and laughing, and Changsun Wuyi and Changsun Wuxian stood up and shouted to Changsun Wuji: "Fourth brother, let's pay New Year's greetings to our parents first." ”

The three of them walked to the center of the front hall, stood in a row, first made a fork of their hands, then knelt down and kowtowed three times, stood up and made a fork of their hands, and wished: "My son wishes his parents good health and happiness in the New Year." ”

After saying goodbye, Gao Qiuniang called the eldest grandson Wuji to come over, picked up a money dragon made of red rope from the tray held by the scholar, and hung it around the neck of the eldest grandson Wuji.

The three of them said goodbye and returned to their seats.

Seeing that the eldest grandson Wuji got the New Year's money, the eldest grandson Zhan turned his face to look at his mother Ku Shi and said, "It's our turn now, right?" ”

Kushi smiled and said: "It's your turn, the boy will worship first, you follow the eldest brother and see how he worships." ”

Changsun Hong walked out and stood in front, and Changsun Zhan, Changsun Gradual, and the little fat man Changsun Qing stood in the back.

The eldest grandson Hong taught how to salute in the school, so he made a gesture, saluted, and congratulated at a glance, and the three little guys in the back didn't care about right or wrong, followed the eldest grandson Hong to kowtow three heads indiscriminately, and when he got up, he ran directly to Gao Qiuniang and stretched out his hand to press the New Year's money, which caused the room full of people to laugh.

Gao Qiuniang hung the New Year's money around their necks one by one, and several people happily ran back to their seats.

Eldest Sun Zhan held the Qian Long on his chest with both hands, looked down, and seemed to be thinking about how to use these New Year's money.

Finally, the ladies gave New Year's greetings to Changsun Sheng and Gao Qiuniang.

The Zhen clan led the Prajna, the Ku clan led the Nara and Jialuo, and the Helan clan led the Ka Ye, and everyone curtsied with their hands crossed, bowed their heads, and sent blessings.

Gao Qiuniang also sent New Year's money to several granddaughters. And let Yuhan call the slaves and maids in the inner courtyard, and each gave a reward of money.

Since Changsun Sheng and Changsun Wuyi still had to participate in the Yuan Hui ceremony in the palace, they stood up and said: "I won't accompany you to drink pepper wine and peach soup, and Erlang and I will enter the palace in a while." ”

Then, he explained to the eldest grandson Wuxian, "Later, you will lead the children to your uncle and uncle's house to pay New Year's greetings." The eldest grandson Wuxian hurriedly agreed.

Sending away the eldest grandson Sheng and the eldest grandson Wuyi, Gao Qiuniang asked Mozhu to serve the pepper and cypress wine, and drank it in order from age to adulthood.

This pepper and cypress wine is soaked in pepper and cypress leaves, the ancients believed that drinking can prolong life and avoid all kinds of diseases, so drinking pepper and cypress wine is an indispensable procedure on the first day of the first month of each year.

Children drink first to celebrate the New Year and grow one year older. The old man drank it because he was one year older during the Chinese New Year, and he was missing another year in the world.

Garo is the youngest, so it was up to her to start.

Mo Zhu held the wine pot and wine cup with a tray, Cai Wei picked up the wine pot and poured a little bit into the wine cup to feed Jia Luo to drink, Jia Luo smacked his small mouth, and he didn't taste anything because it was too little.

Then he poured a small half cup and let the little fat man's eldest grandson drink it. In the memory of Changsun Qing, he didn't know what Jiaobai wine was, so he drank it in one gulp, and after drinking it, he knew that it was not delicious, and he wanted to vomit but couldn't spit it out, grinning and constantly wiping it back and forth with the back of his right hand on his mouth, and a burst of laughter suddenly sounded in the room.

When it was the eldest grandson's turn to drink, he played a trick and begged Gao Qiuniang: "Grandma, I don't drink." ”

Before Gao Qiuniang could speak, the eldest Sun Zhan over there said: "If you don't drink, you won't grow big this year, and you won't grow tall." ”

The eldest grandson gradually looked up in disbelief and asked Gao Qiuniang, "Grandma, is it true?" ”

Gao Qiuniang looked at him with a smile and nodded, and the eldest grandson gradually saw that he couldn't hide, so he had to drink half of it with a bitter face.

Then everyone drank pepper and cypress wine in turn, and then drank peach soup.

Seeing that the sky was already bright outside the window, Gao Qiuniang said to the eldest grandson Wuxian: "It's not early, you can lead the boys to your uncle and uncle's house to pay New Year's greetings." ”

Hearing that there was still New Year's money to receive when going to pay New Year's greetings, the boys happily went out with their eldest grandson Wuxian one by one.

Zhen's, Ku's, and Helan's stayed to talk to Gao Qiuniang. The girls went to the suite-behind the screen and played a game of pitching pot with Pranya.