Huayu: Starting from Fahrenheit

Chapter 57: Buying New Year's Goods
Zhuo Wenxuan didn't stay in Wu Zhuo's house for long before she was called away by her family.

After she left, Wu Zhuo was also driven out of the room by grandma to accompany her to clean up.

The so-called cleaning is actually a general cleaning.

The New Year customs in Taiwan are similar to those on the mainland, both starting before the New Year.

In mainland China, the Spring Festival usually starts on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, but in Taiwan, the Spring Festival usually starts on the sixteenth day of the twelfth lunar month. The period from the sixteenth day of the twelfth lunar month to the fifteenth day of the first lunar month is called the New Year season.

Therefore, the 16th day of the twelfth lunar month is considered the starting point of the Spring Festival in Taiwan, mainly because Taiwan Province holds sacrifices to the land god on the second and sixteenth day of every lunar month.

This is called "Zuo Ya" here, and the 16th day of the twelfth lunar month is the last Zuo Ya every year, so the people of Taiwan attach great importance to it and call it "Wei Ya".

When holding the year-end party, people have to thank the God of Land for his blessings over the past year, so it is more grand than the previous ones.

In the past, businesses would basically close for business after the year-end party, and company bosses would also invite employees to dinner together that evening.

At Komi, all employees also had a meal together on the 16th, and others who were given early leave also had their day off after that meal.

After the year-end dinner on the 16th day of the 12th lunar month, the next important activity is to worship the Kitchen God. In mainland China, people usually do so on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, while in Taiwan, people do so on the 24th day of the 12th lunar month.

The overall process of Kitchen God worship is not much different from that on the mainland. The people of Taiwan also believe that the Kitchen God will go to heaven to report on his work on this day, so the offerings are mostly sweet and sticky, to prevent the Kitchen God from saying bad things about them after going to heaven.

Then comes the general cleaning.

The general cleaning is usually completed before the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month.

Today is the last day.

There are still many things that need to be cleared out at home.

Every corner must be cleaned.

Fortunately, the shop at home has been renovated, and grandma has already started cleaning in advance, otherwise it might not be finished today.

But even so, Wu Chao and grandma were busy for more than two hours before they finished.

After cleaning the house, Wu Zhuo was dragged by his grandma to the New Year's Market to buy New Year's goods.

Today is the last market before the New Year and there is a huge flow of people.

The tricycle that Wu Zhuo was riding couldn't squeeze into the market and could only be parked in the open space outside the market.

Then choose to walk.

"The God of Wealth is knocking on my door, the baby is lighting the lamp, red envelopes and firecrackers are ringing on New Year's Eve, bringing more wealth and happiness..."

"The God of Wealth has come to my door, the God of Wealth has come to my door, I wish you a happy New Year and give you a lucky money..."

Various red lanterns and couplets are hung on both sides of the street, vendors are playing all kinds of festive music, and pedestrians on the street have happy smiles on their faces.

Wu Zhuo couldn't find his grandma after walking a few steps in the crowd.

Wu Chao was not worried about her and continued walking along with the crowd. When he saw something the grandma asked him to buy, he would stop and buy it.

Sometimes I buy things that interest me.

After a while, he walked to the center of the market.

This side is more lively, with a Taiwanese opera class and a puppetry class performing here.

Taiwanese opera and glove puppetry are very popular in Taiwan, especially among the middle-aged and elderly. A group of people gather together and shout and cheer, and from time to time someone gives a prize.

Wu Zhuo stood and watched for a while, then prepared to leave.

"Hey, you stepped on me!"

Subconsciously taking a step back, Wu Chao felt like he stepped on someone. Just as he was about to apologize, the other person started yelling.

"Sorry, it's so crowded! Are you okay?"

Wu Zhuo turned around.

"You are...Anu..."

"You are... Ding Xiaoyu from Fahrenheit..."

The two saw each other's faces almost at the same time and spoke in unison.

"Haha! It's really you! You live around here too?"

"Yes, but we are destined to meet. When I stepped on it, I actually stepped on a big star!"

Wu Zhuo couldn't help but make a joke. It was indeed a coincidence that he accidentally stepped on someone's foot while watching a play, and it turned out to be a star.

But it’s normal to think about it.

There are so many celebrities in Taiwan, and most of them are in Taipei.

Sometimes, if you are lucky, it is normal to see several in a day.

"My name is not Anu. Anu is just the name of my character in The Legend of Sword and Fairy. My name is Liu Pinyan."

Liu Pinyan smiled and reached out to Wu Zhuo.

"Actually, I'm not Ding Xiaoyu either. My name is Wu Zhuo."

Wu Chao shook hands with her.

"I know, he's a cook! That's what people on the Internet say!" Liu Pinyan laughed.

Wu Zhuo felt helpless.

This is already a meme.

"Pinyan, Pinyan..."

The two of them hadn't chatted for a few words when a middle-aged woman not far away started shouting.

"I won't chat with you for now, my mother called me. So, since we are so destined to be together, let's add each other's contact information and get in touch when we are free!"

"Of course!" Wu Zhuo took out his cell phone and saved her number.

"Bye! Contact by phone!"

After confirming that the contact information had been added, Liu Pinyan waved to Wu Zhuo and squeezed towards her mother's position carrying a large bag of things.

Seeing her leave, Wu Zhuo did not stay and continued shopping.

There will be a lot of people at home tomorrow, and he needs to buy a lot of things.

They bought big and small bags in three or four trips, and the tricycle was loaded with a whole lot. After grandma came back with some couplets and incense sticks, the two of them drove home.

"Azhuo, why can't I hear your song on the street?"

Grandma sat next to Wu Chao, hugging a Transformer tightly, which was a gift for her other grandson.

At the same time, he asked about Wu Zhuo's songs.

“My song is not a festive New Year song, so it’s normal that you haven’t heard it on the street.

I'll get you a CD later.

But I don’t think you’ll like it.”

“I will like everything my grandson sings!”

The little old lady said cheerfully.

Wu Zhuo glanced at her.

The old lady has been bragging to her neighbors about him being a star recently.

She clearly didn't like "KO One", but she insisted on waiting in front of the TV week after week.

When I meet acquaintances, I always say, "Have you watched KO One? The Ding Xiaoyu in the movie is played by my grandson."

Wu Zhuo was not surprised by this. As an old man, it would be strange if he did not brag and praise his children and grandchildren when they have achieved success!

"Your second uncle's Xiaoyang really likes KO One. Did you get the autographs of Wang Dadong and Wang Yase that I asked you to get for him last time?

When he called yesterday, he mentioned it several times."

Xiaoyang, whose full name is Wu Yang, is the son of Wu Chao’s second uncle. He is fifteen years old this year, which is the period of youth. It is normal for him to like KO One.

A long time ago, he asked the old lady to ask Wu Chao to help him get Wang Dadong's signature.

"They are all at home! Not to mention one, there are ten!"

Wu Zhuo replied.

(End of this chapter)