country bumpkin

Time flies, and it's already Lunar New Year's Eve. Today is Lunar New Year's Eve, and everyone is busy.

Early in the morning, the sound of firecrackers could be heard sporadically from all directions. Children ran around and played wildly in groups.

The adults were busy with all sorts of things. The women were preparing the New Year's Eve dinner, chopping fillings, making dumplings, and preparing various other dishes.

The men had to put up the Spring Festival couplets before noon. They also had to go to the ancestral graves before dark to invite their ancestors home to celebrate the New Year together.

Kong Xiangguang and Wang Cuihua will not be coming to celebrate the Spring Festival with their family this year. Their second son is married, and there isn't enough room for everyone at home.

Kong Tongming's mother is also there. If Wang Cuihua causes any more trouble and makes her faint, it will be a big problem.

The main point is that Wang Cuihua had told her not to let her in-laws invite her to celebrate the New Year together, as she doesn't acknowledge them as her elders. She says she has no father or mother.

Kong Tongming naturally prefers peace and quiet and won't cause trouble unnecessarily. He doesn't care if they come or not.

New Year's Eve is always so lively and festive. Every household is decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, with paper-cut window decorations and Spring Festival couplets hanging on the doors. Adults are busy preparing the New Year's Eve dinner, while children set off firecrackers in the yard.

In the courtyard, Yunya imitated her uncle, holding a lit incense stick in one hand and covering one of her ears with the other, pretending to set off firecrackers.

The glowing red light touched the fuse of the firecracker, and a hissing spark quickly propelled it backward, burning with a bright flame and emitting white smoke. With a "bang," the firecracker exploded. By then, Yunya had already run far away.

She waited there for a while before going over to check. Once she was sure she had really learned how to set off firecrackers, she jumped up happily.

After her first success, this girl started showing off. She set off firecrackers in all sorts of creative ways. Her uncle even joined in the fun.

Yunya found an old porcelain jar she used for playing house, turned it upside down, and wedged it on the ground. She placed a stone under one corner of the jar's rim, creating a gap in the jar.

She placed a firecracker in the gap under the jar and called her uncle to light it.

The uncle cooperated, holding a lit incense stick, and went over to light the firecrackers. A spark touched the fuse, and it hissed and ignited. The uncle quickly kicked the stone into the jar.

With a "smash," the jar came down. With a "crash," the jar was blown into the air.

Yunya opened her mouth wide and laughed heartily, "Gaga gaga gaga." She also excitedly praised her little uncle for being amazing.

Later, she found many other things, such as empty wine bottles, old pot lids, chipped bowls, and empty milk powder cans.

She used every firecracker she could find to set off. The most ridiculous thing was that she even set one off at the entrance to the pigsty, which startled the pigs and made them squeal loudly.

Hearing the commotion, Mu Shuyun came over and scolded her, saying she was too naughty, like a wild monkey.

I was thinking to myself, why does he have the personality of a boy? It's a pity he's not a boy, otherwise we wouldn't have sent him to the countryside.

As night fell, firecrackers went off everywhere in the village, creating a dazzling display of colors. Fireworks also burst in the sky, illuminating the entire night.

In the village, every family sits together, eating and chatting, welcoming the arrival of the New Year.

On this special night, everyone's face was filled with happy smiles. They exchanged blessings, hoping for favorable weather, abundant harvests, and national peace and prosperity in the coming year.

At midnight, the vegetarian dumplings were ready. After the offering was completed, they could be eaten. Kong Xiufang and Kong Xiangyao went to the kitchen together to get the dumplings.

After the firecrackers are set off at midnight, the first thing we eat is dumplings, which must be vegetarian. This is to ensure a peaceful and trouble-free year ahead.

At this moment, Yunya had already gone to meet Zhou Gong (the Duke of Zhou).

Mu Shuyun set aside a plate of vegetarian dumplings for those who didn't get to eat them today, to be served tomorrow.

After everyone finished eating the vegetarian dumplings, they prepared to go to bed. Of course, they only ate a few as a token gesture, since they had already eaten dinner in the afternoon and weren't hungry.

Since everyone in the family had returned, there weren't enough rooms and beds. Mu Shuyun shared a bed with Kong Xiufang and Yunya in the room where Yunya usually slept.

Kong Tongming and Kong Xiangyao shared a bed, which was originally the room of the third brother Kong Xiufen and the fourth brother Kong Xiufang.

Kong Xiangdong and Zhou Caiyun are still in the same room. Before they got married, it was the room of Kong Xiangguang and Kong Xiangyao.

Although it was a bit crowded, the family was still happy and content.

Have a good night's sleep.

Daylight broke quickly, and it was another bright and sunny day outside. The warm sun peeked out, offering its congratulations on the New Year.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, according to custom, people get up early to visit each other, exchange New Year's greetings, and offer their blessings.

After all the children got up, they collectively kowtowed to Mu Shuyun and Kong Tongming to wish them a Happy New Year. Zhou Caiyun was among them.

After kowtowing, Mu Shuyun took out a red envelope and gave it to Zhou Caiyun. Since there were no sons or daughters, even a new bride receiving a red envelope on her first year in the family was welcome. Zhou Caiyun accepted the red envelope with a beaming smile.

In the past, people were generally poor, and only grandchildren received red envelopes. Nowadays, parents give red envelopes to their children. However, once children grow up, they no longer receive red envelopes.

Mu Shuyun also prepared red envelopes for Yunya, Kong Jianjun, and Kong Jianguo. After breakfast, they began visiting relatives and friends to offer New Year's greetings.

Children love this day the most because they receive red envelopes (containing money) from their elders. There are also lots of delicious food and fun activities.

Yunya was also very happy. She followed behind the adults with a smile, sweetly saying auspicious words.

Kong Xiangguang also brought his child to offer New Year's greetings. Wang Cuihua didn't come this time. Mu Shuyun asked about it briefly but didn't say anything more.

Kong Jianjun has grown another year older and is now 5 years old. Yunya is also 5 years old (by Chinese reckoning), and Kong Jianguo is already 2 years old.

Kong Jianguo, held in his father's arms, looked around anxiously. He had never seen so many people gathered together at home. He couldn't take it all in.

Kong Xiangguang, Kong Xiangdong, and Kong Xiangyao went to pay New Year's greetings to their eldest uncle, Kong Tongyuan. They then went to pay New Year's greetings to their second uncle, Kong Tongcang.

It was noon not long after we got back.

At noon, Mu Shuyun prepared a sumptuous meal, and Kong Xiangguang and the children stayed to eat with her.

The family sat together, enjoying the joy of reunion. After dinner, they chatted for a while before going about their own activities.

The second son, Kong Xiangdong, took the children to the village store to buy some snacks and toys, while Zhou Caiyun chatted with the neighbors.

Kong Xiangyao went to play cards with his uncles' children.

After returning from the convenience store, Kong Jianjun and Yunya played with the village children in the yard, while Mu Shuyun was busy cleaning up the dishes.

After Mu Shuyun finished her work, Granny Zhang and Granny Niu came to visit. The three women made a scene, chatting excitedly about the latest happenings in the village.

Kong Xiufang went to chat with Zhang Qingjiao, the second daughter of Granny Zhang, across the street.

Sunlight shone on the earth, reflecting the smiles on everyone's faces. This Spring Festival, though simple and ordinary, was filled with warmth and happiness.