Chinese New Year's Eve, Ludong Jinan Province. The fireworks on the street are very gorgeous, and every house is lit up.

The happiest days of the year have arrived, and Chenjiabao is enjoying itself. Above the canteen, fresh fruit pastries, delicacies and wines are available. In addition to Chen Yiqun and his family, Chen Yipo, who is far away in Jinnan, and Chen Yishuo in Jinzhong also brought his wife and children to gather in Chenjiabao, both of whom are Chen Yiqun's cousins, but their parents died early, so they will come to Chenjiabao to greet Chen's mother, the eldest in the family, and celebrate the festival with one of them.

In addition, the important members of Chenjiabao: Lin Ji, the shopkeeper of the Shenju Dart Bureau in southern Zhejiang, and Zhang Chang, the shopkeeper of the Xunyang Zhangjia ticket number, all took their wives and children to celebrate the New Year with the Chen family - these two were adopted by Chen Zhongshou, the father of Chen Yiqun, the old castle owner of the Chen family when they were young, because their parents and Chen Zhongshou were friends in the rivers and lakes, but they died in the dispute between the rivers and lakes, so Chen Zhongshou accepted the two as righteous sons. The two naturally went to Chenjiabao to visit during the New Year's holiday.

Chen Rensong toasted the elders one by one at the wine table, and the elders also praised Chen Rensong for his young and promising, and naturally praised Chen Yiqun's tiger father for having no dogs, and the two sons under his knees are all pillars of talent. The old lady remembered the letter she received a few days ago, and said, "As mentioned in this Renhai letter, the emperor is granted leave during the Spring Festival...... I don't know how many days I will be able to come to ......my home," Chen Yiqun's wife, Yang, said: "Come quickly, Chinese New Year's Eve the Chinese New Year, there are many things in the palace, and I am afraid that the emperor will only be able to grant leave after the first day of the new year." ”

The atmosphere of the wine table was dull for a while, and Chen Renling ran from the courtyard to the dining hall with the youngest children among her relatives and friends, grabbed some candy, and said to Chen Yiqun: "Father, I want to set off fireworks-"

Chen Yiqun said: "This firework is not easy to set, and if you don't master it well, it will burn your hands." ”

Chen Renling pursed her lips and said, "Uncle and uncle, you have to judge the theory, is there any house that does not set off fireworks on this Chinese New Year's Eve? In previous years, I watched others put it, but this year I have grown up, can't I put it myself? That white has grown up——"

Everyone laughed, and Yang said, "Your father won't let you go, so you let your uncles and uncles call the shots?"

Chen Renling said: "If my uncle and uncle only care about laughing, I will beg the ancestor to go-" After that, he ran to Chen's mother and snuggled up next to Chen's mother.

Chen Yipo said: "Renling is really clever, brother, why don't you find two little guys to accompany you and go to the street in the backyard for a while?"

Chen's mother took Chen Renling into her arms and said, "No, it's such a lively season, the street is too complicated, maybe there will be some teeth, and these teeth like to abduct and sell children at this time." ”

Chen Renling was speechless for a while, only pouting. Seeing this, Chen Rensong said: "Grandmother, why don't I accompany my sister and other uncles' children to the backyard to set off fireworks, the elders are here to talk on Chinese New Year's Eve, and we juniors also need our gameplay, right?"

After hearing this, Mother Chen nodded and said, "With Ren Song by her side, it is naturally safe." But Rensong, and you big children, you can't let their small temperament come to me—"

Chen Rensong said: "Grandson, remember—"

After that, Chen Rensong invited the children in front of him out of the dining hall together, and a few small servants followed, and the group went out the back door.

The conversation in the dining hall started again, and a grandmother ran into the dining hall and said with joy on her face: "Old ladies and gentlemen, ancestors...... Master...... It's back—"

Everyone was overjoyed, and a small servant led Chen Renhai to the dining hall when he was young. Chen Renhai immediately knelt down and said, "Father, mother, grandmother, uncle and uncle, aunt and aunt." Chen Renhai greets you—"

His mother immediately helped him up, and the tears of Yang and Chen's mother were like springs, and Chen Renhai immediately said: "Mother, grandmother...... Today, Renhai returned home to gather with the elders, eat a Chinese New Year's Eve dinner, and asked his mother and grandmother not to cry. After that, Chen Renhai comforted the two of them separately.

Chen Yiqun said, "Renhai, didn't you say in your family letter that the Holy Lord allowed you to go home to visit your relatives during the Spring Festival, how could you arrive home on Chinese New Year's Eve?"

Chen Renhai sat down in the banquet and said: "The emperor sent a special edict to the children a few years ago, saying that seven colleagues in the palace are responsible for the affairs of the Spring Festival, so that the children can return home four days in advance, and reward the children with a royal horse, so that the children can return home for the New Year within four days." However, the emperor told the child to leave for Beijing after fifteen. ”

Lin Jidao: "I want to come to the emperor so that Renhai can return home for a good year, with good intentions......"

The chatter at the family banquet resumed, and everyone asked Chen Renhai about the interesting things in the capital and the affairs of the inner school. Chen Renhai naturally informed the elders and relatives present of the general matter, but they all reported good news and not bad news - Chen Renhai naturally understood that those things that could not be resolved must not be said to anyone in the Chen family. There are things that can only be digested in one's own heart, and even if they can't be digested, they should not be told to others.

The fireworks on the streets were gorgeous, and Chen Rensong led the children to light the fuse, and the children laughed as they watched the fireworks. The back door opened, and Chen Renhai looked at everything in front of him, leaning against the wall and smiling. Chen Rensong turned his head to see him and immediately put down the fireworks that he was about to light. When Chen Renling saw Chen Renhai, she immediately ran over and grabbed Chen Renhai's cuffs and smiled: "Big brother is back-"

The children all came around, they come here every year, and naturally know Chen Renhai. A group of people surrounded Chen Renhai and asked him to set off the biggest firecrackers. Chen Renhai smiled and shook his head, Chen Renling only pestered him to let him go, and said, "The eldest brother is the commander of the Great Interior, why are you still so timid?"

Chen Renhai smiled and pinched her face, and said, "Okay, good-big brother let it go for everyone to see-"

Laughter, firecrackers, red lanterns, white fireworks. This bustling street market, lively family banquets, everything is what Chinese New Year's Eve should be. Naturally, many people follow the custom of keeping the New Year, except for Chen's mother who can't stay up late when she is old, the elders in Chenjiabao are still drinking tea and chatting in the reception room. The juniors had fun in the room where Chen Rensong lived: Chen Rensong and the second son of the Lin family took turns playing chess; Chen Yipo's youngest son Chen Renqing and Chen Yishuo's eldest son Chen Renyong, and the second daughter Chen Renting and Chen Renhai sat and chatted together; Chen Renling and Zhang Chang's eldest daughter Zhang Lin and youngest son Zhang Quan ran around the house.

Chen Renqing said: "The eldest brother has gone to the palace to become a big official, and in the future, my parents are afraid that they will use the eldest brother to urge me to wait, and the eldest brother, you will make me even more embarrassed in front of my father in the future——"

"Hahaha...... Brother said and laughed, Renqing has a good future, why do you want me to go the way? And everyone has their own way, the ancestors have nobles in the officialdom, and there are also heroes in the rivers and lakes, but they are all heroes remembered by my Chenjiabao for generations. Chen Renhai said.

"What the eldest brother said is very true, you still need to remember it, junior brother-" Chen Renting said.

Chen Renqing said: "The second sister has learned a lesson, but the second sister, the younger brother wants to ask: Is the second son of the Jiang family in Shanxi coming to propose marriage after the New Year?"

Several people looked at each other and smiled when they heard it, and Chen Renting said, "Don't ask so much about you kid-"

"The second son of the Jiang family, the Jiang family in Shanxi is really good. Uncle has found someone for you, but he is the shopkeeper of many big restaurants in Shanxi, and he is a rich man, I don't know how the second son looks?

Chen Renting blushed in the laughter of the people at the table, and said, "Big brother, why are you even laughing at me-"

There was a lot of laughter, and Chen Rensong and others also gathered around. Chen Renhai said: "Okay, okay, don't laugh, by the way, Renqing, can the eldest sister go home this year?"

Chen Renqing said: "I returned on the second day of junior high school, and the eldest sister married Songjiang Mansion for many years because of the long distance and came to the house for the New Year, but this year the husband's family returned to Jinling's ancestral house for the Spring Festival, and after eating Chinese New Year's Eve dinner on Chinese New Year's Eve, the husband's family allowed the eldest sister to return to her mother's house, and the eldest sister said in the letter that it was expected to go to Chenjiabao in the second year of junior high school. ”

"I want to start in the morning of the first day of junior high school, and I am afraid that it will be difficult to get home in the second day of junior high school. Chen Rensong said.

Chen Renyong said: "Having said so much, big brother, when will you bring home a sister-in-law and wait with me?"

Chen Renting seized the opportunity and said, "Yes, the eldest brother is the oldest, and I think it's time to marry a wife." ”

"The eldest brother is the commander of the Ouchi, so even if you want to marry a princess, you can do it. Our future sister-in-law will presumably be a prince and nobleman. Chen Rensong responded and said.

Chen Renhai smiled: "You guys......" He is not good at dealing with this kind of chatter.

"Big brother-" Chen Renling jumped into the crowd and said, "Big brother, I want you to tell you a story?"

Chen Renhai looked at Chen Renling in confusion and said, "What story do you want me to tell you?"

Chen Renling took out a booklet, handed it to Chen Renhai, and said, "I picked it up at the corner of the street when the firecrackers were just set off—"

"How can you pick up things on the street at will?" Chen Rensong tugged at Chen Renling's braids. Chen Renling slapped Chen Rensong's hand away and said, "The pictures in the booklet are good-looking, maybe which painter dropped it, and I will hand it in tomorrow when I go to the mansion." ”

Chen Renhai opened the booklet and said, "It's good that my little sister said that, let me see how this picture is——"

After that, Chen Renhai opened the booklet, and there were indeed some pictures drawn in the booklet: I saw that every page of the booklet was painted with a strange object, and there were some small characters next to the strange thing.

I saw a red tiger painted on the first page, wearing a silver armor, with a red tiger armor written on it, and a line of small characters next to it: Red flame burns the god tiger and burns the southeast officials. On the second page, an old elephant with yellow tusks is depicted, and the elephant is also wearing a suit of armor, and a line of small characters is also marked next to it: Yellow sand dyes ivory, and the ivory picks the Ganliang army. Thus each page depicts some strange animal: a black-bodied rhinoceros, a silver-white python, a purple spider, an indigo scorpion, a turquoise lizard, and the corresponding words are:

The black water passes through the copper, and the prosperous world changes to the sky; the silver is wrapped in the spirit snake, and the earth changes its appearance; the purple liquid enters the strange spider, and the people's hearts change; the blue and whitewashed demon scorpion, the king's heart can be scattered; the green pothos hides the secret lizard, and Hongmeng hides the real hand.

Older children all know these words as inauspicious words, although these monsters are vividly drawn, but the words next to them are all rebellious words.

Chen Renhai said: "Little sister, how far is the place you picked up from the back door of the house?"

"I didn't know, but I saw a booklet on the corner of the street, so I went to get it. Can Big Brother tell stories?" Chen Renling said.

"This picture is full of ghosts, and if you tell their story, they will come to you—" Chen Renhai said.

Chen Renling and several young children were all frightened by Chen Renhai, and they didn't listen to the story noisily. At this time, the maid came to spread the word, saying that the time had arrived, and the firecrackers in front of the door went off, and the lord and the lady asked them to go to the reception room for supper.

Chen Renhai said: "That...... Rensong, you take them first, and I'll come later—"

Chen Rensong replied, and led the rest of the people out of the room. When Chen Renhai saw that everyone had left the house, he opened the last page of the booklet, which was densely packed with small characters, and when he saw the last monster, he saw some small words reflected on the latter page, and then he said something to frighten the children. The rest of the juniors also know that this book must not be written by a serious painter, and it is not easy for those who can write those small characters.

The last page of the booklet was indeed full of words, saying:

There are many ghosts and monsters in the temple, and the villains in the palace talk about slander. The faint monarch has been without a way for a long time, and the loss of the destiny of heaven is a foregone conclusion. Since ancient times, the gods have given the power of the king, and the people of heaven are angry and complain about what kind of power? They only care about the vast territory of thousands of miles, regardless of the life and death of the people. The way of gossip is great, and the minions are in danger. Qijia was born, showing the principles of heaven, and my sect obtained the opportunity of heaven and led all the people to seek the right path. What is the right way?

Chen Renhai looked at the page and felt for a while that the rivers and lakes and the imperial court would not be at peace in the near future, but he understood that he could not tell all the parents and friends who were guarding the year about this matter. At this time, the little maid came to pass the word again, and said, "Young master, the master urges you to go to the reception room for supper." ”

"Okay—let's go. Chen Renhai said, then hid the booklet in his shirt, and followed the little maid to the reception room.

The noisy and noisy bachelor's mansion, of course, is more prosperous in the capital tonight.

Scholar Li's home is also very lively today, and the military directors Kaiqi, Guo Yu, and Bai Yang are all there. Scholar Li's only son and his two daughters, who were still about to leave the pavilion, were still watching the fireworks set off by the small servants in the courtyard on the upper floor of the back hall, and Scholar Li was naturally there, but he did not talk with his family, but chatted with Kaiqi, Guo Yu, and Bai Yang.

"Is today's feast delicious?" said Master Lee.

Guo Yu said: "Today, the emperor allowed me to wait for leave, but I was only allowed to wait in the capital, fortunately invited by Scholar Li, otherwise, I don't know where to go for this New Year." ”

"The Chinese New Year's Eve food in your house is really delicious, and when I was young, Bai didn't eat it......" Bai Yang said.

Open seven roads: "Commander Bai...... Today's New Year, you don't have to care about these martial arts cultivators, how can you keep this New Year's Eve without eating supper?"

Bai Yang said: "I am on duty in the Moon Dragon Pavilion all day long, but today I am fortunate to have Brother Pu on duty, I am afraid that I will have to go to bed early." After another moment, Bai took his leave—"

Mr. Li said, "Hahaha...... If Commander Bai leaves, the whole family will probably think that I am not well entertained. ”

"That's right, Brother Bai. Today, the guards and night patrols in various places in the palace have already been arranged, and the emperor, the palace concubines and the queen mother are all holding banquets and enjoying the palace garden, and other places are probably a little deserted. And today, Brother Pu let a few guards out of the palace. Guo Yu said.

Bai Yang understood Guo Yu's words, and said, "There are still a lot of things wrong with going back at this time, haha...... Scholar Lee, when will the dumplings be served?"

Scholar Li said with a smile: "After dinner, after the troupe sang a two-fold play, the kitchen began to prepare for supper, and supper needs to be cooked freshly to be fresh, and there are more than dumplings in the old man's house...... Supper will come in a few hours, and the white commander will be restless—"

Seeing the only son smiling heartily at the fireworks, and the laughter made the three of them look at the other table, Master Li sighed: "They are all ten years old, and they still like this, everyone is smiling——"

Guo Yu said: "This fireworks are gorgeous, colorful and extraordinary, and they are really beautiful-"

Bai Yang also echoed and said: "This fireworks are only frequent in the past few days, and the people also like them, and Li Gongzi likes them, and it is also human nature." ”

"You don't have to defend him like this, he is the only son of the old man, and the whole family has high hopes for him. But up to now, the ancient poems and ancient texts, as well as the writings of Confucius and Mencius, are all ignorant, and they cannot even recite neat articles fluently, and when they come to read, they pretend to be sick and dozing. Today you are here, so ...... The old man asked him to open his eyes in front of you—Kuan'er—"

The boy was a little surprised when he heard Scholar Li's words, and walked to the table step by step. "Kuan'er, these are all adults in the court, this is the chief of the armament room, and these two are the two commanders of Ouchi: Bai Yang and Guo Yu. Quick, greetings to all of you—" Mr. Li said.

The boy greeted them all, and the words he uttered were hilarious, like the words of a five-year-old child rather than a ten-year-old.

"Today is the New Year, come, and recite a poem for the New Year to all of you—" said Master Li.

The child swallowed and vomited, only squeezed out two sentences of Wang Jiefu's "Yuan Ri", and could not finish the whole poem, stuttered for a long time, and then lost his voice. Master Li shook his head and said, "Let's go down—" As soon as the boy turned around, a booklet fell out of his sleeve, and he hurriedly picked it up. Seeing this, Scholar Li shouted, "What is this, quickly present it-"

The child's trembling hand handed the booklet to Scholar Lee. Scholar Li opened the first page of the booklet, and after turning a few pages one after another, his face immediately changed, and he said, "Where did you come from this booklet?"

The child said, "When I was playing on the street in the morning, I picked it up on the side of the street." ”

"You also pick up the things on the street, and you forgot what your father taught you, and what your husband taught you? Quickly stand down—" said Master Lee.

Scholar Li looked at the children and wives and concubines around him, and saw that they were chatting with each other again, so he turned the page: in the seven-page book, there are seven strange animals, and there are small characters marked next to each animal: Red Tiger Armor is written next to the silver armor red tiger, and a line of small characters is marked below: Red flame burns the god tiger and burns the southeast officials. The yellow ivory old elephant is written next to the yellow weevil, and a line of small characters is marked below: Yellow sand dyes ivory, and the ivory picks the sweet and cool army. The black-bodied rhinoceros is written next to the black rhinoceros armor, and a line of small characters is marked below: Black water passes through copper, and the prosperous world changes the sky. The silver and white python is next to the silver snake armor, and a line of small characters is marked below: The silver is wrapped in the spirit snake, and the earth has a new look. The purple spider is written next to the purple spider shell, and a line of small characters is marked below: Purple liquid enters the strange spider, and people's hearts change. The indigo scorpion is written next to the blue scorpion armor, and a line of small characters is marked below: Blue whitewashed demon scorpion, and the king's heart can be scattered. The green lizard is next to the green worm beetle, and a line of small characters is marked below: Green pothos hides the secret lizard, and Hongmeng hides the real hand.

And the last page of the booklet reads: There are many ghosts and monsters in the temple, and the villains in the palace are slanderous. The faint monarch has been without a way for a long time, and the loss of the destiny of heaven is a foregone conclusion. Since ancient times, the gods have given the power of the king, and the people of heaven are angry and complain about what kind of power? They only care about the vast territory of thousands of miles, regardless of the life and death of the people. The way of gossip is great, and the minions are in danger. Qijia was born, showing the principles of heaven, and my sect obtained the opportunity of heaven and led all the people to seek the right path. What is the right way?

Several people were silent, and they must have known the words of this booklet, and such a rebellious word should not have appeared at this time.

Kai Qidao: "Maybe it's an incompetent junior, who is scribbling here." ”

Guo Yu said: "But this painting is lifelike and expressive." How can an incompetent junior make such a picture?"

"What Brother Guo said is extremely true, such a small booklet, so expressively painted, it must not be an ordinary painter......" Bai Yang said.

While talking, a word came from the front yard, saying that the emperor's reward was coming. Everyone immediately went out of the backyard and went straight to the front yard to listen to the order.

How could such a consistent album come out of the fireworks on Chinese New Year's Eve from two places so far apart?