space pharmacist

Chapter 136

When Shen Lidong saw it, he was a little confused. "Mother, don't you pick this kumquat and eat it? Why put it like a bonsai? Is there anything special about it?"

"Of course there is something special about it. Every household of this kumquat has to put such a pot on New Year's Eve, which means good luck in the coming year." Chen told Shen Lidong with a smile. "Not only that, but those who visit relatives and friends during the Chinese New Year have to bring those oranges with them, and use them as gifts to relatives and friends, so that they can bring good fortune and good omen to each other."

"So there is such a saying about oranges." Shen Lidong didn't expect that in his previous life, he just liked to eat oranges, and he had never seen people who would give each other oranges during the New Year and holidays. Usually they would give some tonics, cooking oil, cigarettes, etc. Items like wine.

"It's not too late to know now, and I will know later, so as not to be laughed at because I don't know the etiquette." After placing the kumquats, Chen walked over to cut the window grilles with Shen Lidong and Shen Lixia.

Over there, Shen Wenxuan, Shen Wenhao, and Shen Wenhai each posted auspicious words written by themselves in their own yards, but Shen Lidong's handwriting was not good enough, so the eldest brother Shen Wenxuan had to write a couplet for her. Posted it in the bamboo lotus courtyard.Of course, Shen Boyuan and Chen's main house, Su Liujin, Xie Chaoliang, Tang Yuanqi, and two guest rooms and courtyards, and the couplets at the gate of Shen's house were all written by Shen Wenxuan, who said that elder brother Shen Wenxuan's handwriting is so beautiful, so it's not His talents were wasted, so naturally he was making the best use of them.

As for Yan Lao's courtyard, there is no need for Shen Wenxuan's ghostwriting at all, Yan Lao's handwriting is good-looking, and even Shen Lidong's eyes are shining when he looks at Yan Lao's couplet.

Needless to say, it's nothing to be talented in handwriting, hard work is the most important thing. At Yan Lao's age, where is his qualifications? Although Shen Wenxuan's handwriting is very good, compared to Yan Lao's handwriting, There is still a little bit of difference, it is a kind of experience left over from the years, and it is not something that can be caught up with hard work.

Finally, the Shen family finished all the spring couplets, the window grilles of the twelve zodiac signs, and pasted them up. Shen Lidong looked at the lively window grilles of the cartoon images of the twelve zodiac signs, and smiled so brightly.

"Sure enough, the window grilles in my house are the most beautiful and rare."

"Isn't it strange that you girl came up with this picture?" Shen Lixia jokingly said beside her.But to be honest, the window grilles are the same every year. This year, Shen Lidong's cartoon picture of the twelve zodiac signs drawn with charcoal lines is a little more vivid than in previous years, and it is very gratifying to watch.

"However, the pictures of the twelve zodiac signs have been changed by Dong'er in this way, and it looks much more interesting." Shen Wenxuan just came back from pasting the Spring Festival couplets outside the gate, and when he saw the cartoon grilles of the twelve zodiac signs on the window, his eyebrows and eyes could not help but frown.

"It's more than interesting, it's so interesting, is this a tiger? It looks so cute, and is this a snake? It looks like a beautiful doll, is this that annoying mouse? Why is it so pleasing to look at? , and this lamb, so playful and beautiful." Shen Wenhai looked at them one by one curiously, commenting while watching.

"Xiao Hai, come down quickly, you are so big, why are you trying to be naughty like your sister." Chen raised her hand and patted Shen Wenhai. "Come down quickly. Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. Mother made new clothes and shoes for you all. Come over and try them on. See if you need to change them. Come tomorrow. If you put them on, I don’t have the time to modify them for you.” Mrs. Chen came over with a few winter clothes and gowns, and saw that the style and size of the clothes were just right, but the color was all red, so it’s strange to wear them. weird.

"Mother, why do you have to wear bright red clothes? The second sister can wear it by herself. She is going to be a bride on the eighth day of the first lunar month, and we don't need it. Why do you have to wear red clothes?" Shen Lidong said. As soon as he said it, he was stared at by Mrs. Chen.

"Mother told you to wear it, so there are so many words."

"But mother, this dress is too colorful, it feels awkward." Shen Lidong never liked bright red and green clothes, her clothes were much more simple and elegant.

"Dong'er, you must wear red clothes tomorrow, even if it's awkward, you have to wear them." Shen Wenxuan laughed.

"Why?" Why do you have to wear red clothes? In the previous life, only men and women with deep resentment wore red clothes before they died. point, but there is a piece of red everywhere, which is too amazing to look at.

"There is an allusion, Dong'er. You read so many books on weekdays, why didn't you see this one?" Shen Wenxuan teased Shen Lidong.

"What allusion, is there an allusion to wearing red clothes?" Shen Lidong looked at Shen Wenxuan wonderingly.

"Of course. There is such an interesting story that has been passed down from generation to generation among the folks: According to legend, in the ancient prehistoric era, there was a ferocious monster called "Nian". Climb out to hurt people and animals, destroy the fields, and bring disaster to the people who have worked hard for a year."

"In order to avoid the Nian beast, on the [-]th night of the twelfth lunar month, people close the door early before dark. They dare not sleep and wait for the dawn. To pass the time and to strengthen their courage, they drink alcohol. When the Nian beast does not come out on the first day of the new year, Only then did they dare to go out. People bowed to each other when they met, congratulated each other, and rejoiced that they were not eaten by the Nian beast. After so many years, nothing happened, and people relaxed their vigilance against the Nian beast." At this point, Shen Wenxuan stopped.

"Next? What about the next story?" Shen Lidong urged.

"The next story is that on the [-]th night of a year, the Nian beast suddenly rushed to a village in the south of the Yangtze River. The people in the village were almost eaten up by the Nian beast. Only one family hung red curtains and wore red clothes. The newlyweds are safe and sound. There are still a few children who are playing with a pile of bamboo in the yard. The fire is bright red. After the bamboo burns, there is a "pop" sound. The Nian beast turns here and sees the fire. Turn around and run away. Since then, people know that the Nian beast is afraid of red, light and noise. At the end of the new year, every household pastes red paper, wears red robes, hangs red lights, beats gongs and drums, and sets off firecrackers, so that the Nian beast will not be afraid. Dare to come again."

There are such allusions?
It turns out that the Chinese New Year character Nian was a ferocious beast in ancient times, and Shen Lidong has learned a lot.

On the day of New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Eve, when the old is broken and the new is welcomed, every household gathers to have a reunion dinner. The ancients especially valued this reunion dinner. Officials in the prisons of the Great Zhou Dynasty released prisoners and went home to be with their families on this day. Those who eat the New Year's Eve dinner, of course, except those who are heavily detained for conspiracy and rebellion.

On this day, the sound of chopping vegetables and meat on the chopping board came from the kitchens of every family, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, and the housewives are busy in the kitchen all day long, busy with the New Year's Eve dinner, so busy that they don't touch the ground. The children ran around, covering their ears in the alleys and corners, happily setting off firecrackers, crackling, crackling, crackling.

Shen Lidong also joined in the fun with Shen Wenhai, setting off a long string of red firecrackers, right at the gate, the sound of firecrackers made Shen Lidong stomp his feet, covered his ears and simply ran away, letting Shen Wenhai continue to set off.

In the evening, the whole family sat together for a reunion dinner. This was the first New Year's Eve dinner for the Shen family in five years. The third uncle, the second son of the third uncle, and the three grandchildren of the third uncle's grandchildren, plus Shen Boyuan and the three sons of the Shen family sat at one table, and other women, girls and children sat at the other table. The dining table was bustling with excitement, and everyone was beaming.

Of course, Shen Lidong also saw the sadness of her father Shen Boyuan passing away occasionally, so naturally he thought of Shen Danian and Hua Pozi, but fortunately Shen Boyuan only thought about it, and didn't really get involved with that side. I mean, even though every year when I give my third uncle a new year gift, I also give a portion to Shen Danian, all of which are 20 catties of meat, [-] catties of fish and shrimp, [-] catties of rice, and [-] catties of white flour, There are also high-quality materials based on the number of people, and of course silver is given, leaving [-] taels of silver on both sides.

(End of this chapter)