Crossing the Unknown Country

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, a string of red firecrackers rang out across the courtyard of their home. The second brother Su He held the string of firecrackers on a bamboo pole, lighting them and laughing. The eldest brother called out to Su Che on the other side of the wall to light the firecrackers quickly. Su Che, who was hanging firecrackers on the pole, responded, "Right away, listen!"

Soon, crackling sounds began to be heard from the other side of the wall. Many families were reluctant to buy firecrackers, so the children ran around to see the firecrackers. At this time, every household opened their doors to let the children come in and out freely.

A large group of children rushed into their two homes, shouting: "Happy New Year!..."

After they finished bowing, they all squatted down to look for the unlit firecrackers. Su He's mother and the eldest aunt took out candies from the house and gave each child one. The children were very happy. This was candy. They couldn't eat it at other times, and even during the New Year, their own family would only let them have one or two.

After picking up the firecrackers, the children happily went to the next house with the candies. Su He felt that he was a big kid, so he didn't play with them. The brothers felt that they were scholars and couldn't just run around with the kids. Finally, Su Pei led the five of them to visit the elderly people in the village and pay New Year's greetings. Because they were closer to the village this year, they had to pay New Year's greetings on behalf of their families.

The first place they went to was the village chief's house. The village chief had the best relationship with their family recently, and whenever they came to him for something, he would handle it properly. Grandpa Su He specifically told them to go to the village chief's house first. This was also a matter of courtesy. In terms of age and prestige, they should go to the village chief's house first.

The rest was to go to Carpenter Li and Wang Erbao's homes, and then to other homes in the village. In the morning, the five children went out of one house and went into another. They were too tired to talk, and their pockets were filled with gifts from the villagers. Only then did they realize that having good relationships with people was not a good thing during the New Year. It was really tiring to return the gifts.

Their home is also crowded with people. Grandpa Su He is a teacher and doesn't charge any fees. People in the village will definitely come to pay New Year's greetings during the New Year. The Su He family prepared a lot of things this time. If someone comes to pay New Year's greetings, they will give them a handful of melon seeds or peanuts. If they bring children, they will give them a piece of candy or a piece of snack. Everyone who has been to their home is very happy. It is said that the Su family is very polite. It can be seen that they have made careful preparations.

This is the New Year. No matter how good or bad the situation is, people will take out the good things they have stored at home to entertain guests. All the families in the village, without exception, clean up their houses, fry their own beans and peanuts, and wait for the guests to come and give them a handful. The better ones will go to the town to buy some candy, which is expensive and most people can't afford it.

Su He remembered that when he was a child, sugar was not so cheap. Even in the 1960s and 1970s, people only bought sugar during the Chinese New Year and weddings. The problem of food and clothing was gradually solved, and there were times of food famine. Su He saw that life was going well this year, so he thought that his family needed to stock up more food and salt. He didn't have a golden finger, and if a disaster came, he would not be able to survive without food.

Su He shook his head and decided to celebrate the New Year and talk about other things after the New Year. After the New Year's greetings were gone, the family moved out the big table to prepare for the reunion dinner at grandpa and grandma's place. Su He followed his mother and aunt to prepare the food, while his brothers boiled water and made dumplings.

Everyone was sitting together happily in the lobby. This year's New Year's Day was very lively. So many people came to the house to pay New Year's greetings. This had never happened before. Grandpa and grandma's smiles never stopped. At their age, they just live with their faces. This is the best respect for them.

After the grandparents sat down, Su He's family and his uncle's family kowtowed to them and wished them a happy new year. This is the custom of the New Year every year. The elders have worked hard for a year and deserve their kowtow. Similarly, Su He's five brothers and sisters kowtowed to Su He's parents and his uncle and aunt. After the New Year's greetings were over, the family sat down to eat. Because of the past year of getting along, Su He has regarded everyone in this family as his own relatives, so he kowtowed willingly.