I trade in both worlds

Xu Xu turned around and told the twins: "Follow your second uncle. Listen to your second uncle and the others, and do whatever they tell you to do."

Xu Zhun ran to Xu Youyin impatiently and said, "I know. You've been talking about this since last night."

Xu Xu glared at him, Xu Jin smiled and patted her soothingly: "Sister, we remember."

Xu Youyin patted the back of Xu Zhun's head and said, "Speak properly, kid."

"Let's go." Xu Jizong nodded to Xu Xu, turned around and walked towards the ancestral hall with his son and nephew.

Xu Xu stood at the gate of the yard, watching the twins leave, with a complex emotion welling up in his heart.

Xu Qiwei was too impatient to stand at the door with her, so he took the two dogs into the yard to play.

Xu Xu glanced at him and turned her head to look into the distance. She remembered that when her father was alive, he would go to worship the ancestors by himself every winter solstice.

Until his death, he always went alone because the twins were still young.

At that time, some clan members looked down on him because he had no son, but fortunately Xu Jizong had a good relationship with him, so even if there were rumors, they were only said in private and they did not dare to do anything in public.

Zhang Yunxiang sometimes felt guilty for not having a son, and Xu Jizu would generously comfort her by saying that he was destined to be her father-in-law.

Now that my parents have passed away, all of this has become a memory.

She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down.

Xu Xu raised her head and looked at the sky, as if she could see the kind smiles of her parents. She muttered silently: "Dad, Mom, Xiao Jin and Xiao Zhun are doing well now and have become much more sensible. Don't worry, I will take good care of them."

At the entrance of the ancestral hall, the clan leader was standing in a black robe with a serious expression.

The clan members lined up in order of seniority, with Xu Youliang and his brother standing behind Xu Jizong, holding the twins' hands.

The clan leader looked around at the crowd and saw that most people had arrived. He then slowly said, "Today is the day for our Xu family to worship our ancestors. We must remember the kindness of our ancestors and pray for their blessings so that our family will become more prosperous."

The door of the ancestral hall was closed at this time. The clan leader held the key, slowly opened the heavy wooden door, and led the clan members into the ancestral hall.

The ancestral hall was decorated solemnly, with an offering table in the center, where clan members placed their own offerings.

In front of the altar are rows of neatly arranged ancestral tablets. Whenever someone passes away, the tablets will be adjusted and updated accordingly.

The clan leader walked to the altar, lit three sticks of incense, and bowed three times respectfully. He turned to the crowd and said, "Now, let's begin the ancestor worship ceremony."

As the ancestor worship ceremony began, the clan members knelt in front of the tablets, clasped their hands together, and silently expressed their gratitude and blessings to their ancestors.

Xu Youliang and Xu Youyin, each looking after one, took them to worship their ancestors.

Everyone tells their ancestors about the family’s present and future, hoping that the ancestors’ spirits in heaven can bless the family with prosperity, large families, and peace and safety.

The clan leader stood in front of the altar and said solemnly: "Today is the winter solstice. We gather here to worship our ancestors and pray for blessings. May the spirits of our ancestors bless our family to prosper and our descendants to be healthy and happy."

After saying this, he bowed deeply, then raised the incense in his hand high and saluted three times to the sky.

The tribesmen also bowed along with the chief, and then everyone toasted to their ancestors in turn according to their seniority and status.

After the worship, everyone puts the incense into the incense burner.

Xu Jin and Xu Zhun looked at the incense in their hands and then at the altar. They were both not as tall as the altar.

Xu Zhun handed the incense to Xu Youyin: "Second brother, I'm not tall enough."

"Wait, I'll hold you and light incense." Xu Youyin said with a smile.

Hearing this, Xu Jin also looked up at Xu Youliang next to him.

Seeing this, Xu Youliang smiled and touched the back of his head: "After I light the incense, I will carry you over."

As time went by, the ancestor worship ceremony gradually reached its climax. The clan leader led the clan members to recite the Xu clan rules and review the family's history and glory.

Their voices echoed in the ancestral hall, as if they were having a conversation with their ancestors across time and space.

When the last recitation fell, the entire ancestral hall fell into silence, with only the sound of burning incense and the breathing of the tribesmen echoing.

As the sun slowly rose, the ancestor worship ceremony slowly came to an end.

The twins stood for more than half an hour and their legs were already sore from standing. They stumbled as they left the ancestral hall.

Seeing this, Xu Youliang and Xu Youyin each carried one on their backs and sent them back.

In the small courtyard of Xu Jizong's house, Aunt Xu was busy preparing paper money and offerings for visiting the grave.

When she saw Xu Xu coming in, she smiled kindly: "Xu Xu, you're here. Come in and help me get ready."

Xu Xu walked into the house and placed the offerings in his hand on the table.

She saw Second Aunt Xu folding paper money: "Second Aunt, let me help you fold paper money."

As Xu Xu spoke, he picked up a piece of white paper and began to fold it.

The two chatted about family matters while folding paper money.

After preparing the paper money, Xu Xu and Aunt Xu began to prepare the offerings.

They placed the air-dried bacon and the boiled whole rooster on a clean wooden plate and poured some homemade rice wine into them.

The aroma of the offerings permeates the air, giving people a solemn and warm feeling.

After everything was ready, Xu Jizong and his companions returned from paying homage to their ancestors.

Seeing the twins being carried back, Second Aunt Xu asked with concern: "What happened to Xiaojin and Xiaozhun? Are you feeling unwell?"

Xu Youyin smiled and explained, "It's okay. I stood too long this morning to pay homage to my ancestors and my legs hurt."

Hearing this, Xu Xu said worriedly: "Why don't they just not go later."

Xu Jizong frowned. He wanted the twins to go, but they were too young to walk far.

Besides, they had just stood for so long, so it was unrealistic to ask them to walk up the mountain together.

Xu Youliang smiled and said, "It's okay. Youyinbei and I will go up there. It's no big deal."

Just as Xu Xu was about to refuse, Xu Jizong said, "Then let's do it this way."

Aunt Xu and Lin Erya took out the tools and offerings needed to level the grave and distributed them to everyone, while Xu Jizong took two backpacks from the utility room to carry the twins.

After everything was ready, Xu Jizong led everyone up the mountain.

Except for the twins, the remaining younger children stayed at home and were taken care of by the pregnant Chen Lihua. The others took shovels, sickles, hoes, carrying offerings and paper money, and set out on the journey to worship their ancestral graves.

The wind was bitingly cold on the way up the mountain, and the sky was gloomy, as if even the sky was immersed in grief.