At the beginning, he took his seven younger siblings to join Yi Zhonghai.

It was afternoon.

"Zhu Zi, let's start cooking. Your Uncle Yi should be back soon; he's usually home by this time."

Tan Xiulian glanced at the clock in her house; it was already four o'clock in the afternoon.

"Okay, you can hold it then."

He Yuzhu responded and went into the kitchen to get busy.

as predicted.

Not long after.

The sounds of Yi Zhonghai and other people going home after get off work could be heard outside.

The deliberately raised voices of congratulations drowned out the booming firecrackers outside the street.

"Big Brother." *6

"Big Brother is back."

Yi Zhonghua rushed into the house like a small cannonball, shouting.

A short while later.

Then they saw Yi Zhonghai carrying Zhongxin and Zhongyan into the house.

"Brother, have a glass of water to warm yourself up first, then we'll be able to have our New Year's Eve dinner soon."

Yi Zhongding poured a glass of warm water and placed it on the table.

"Haha, okay, it must be Zhu Zi cooking."

Yi Zhonghai sat down with a big laugh, holding the two little ones in one arm and drinking the water in the other.

"Yes, Brother Zhu is indeed a professional chef. Just smell this aroma. It's making Zhonghua and the others keep heading into the kitchen."

Yi Zhongding said with a smile.

"Haha, really? Let them eat. Zhongxin, Zhongyan, didn't you go find something delicious with your older brother and sister?"

Yi Zhonghai looked at the little guy in his arms and teased him.

But the two of them couldn't speak yet.

She could only respond to him with baby talk.

But that was enough to make Yi Zhonghai so happy he was practically beside himself.

Although I couldn't understand what they were saying.

But he responded with his own babbling.

The two little ones were amused and danced with joy.

"His older brother is back, and he's been waiting for you to come back to pay respects to our ancestors. This is Dingya's first New Year at home, so we must treat our ancestors and the gods of heaven and earth to a good meal and drink, and ask them to bless the children with good health."

Tan Xiulian pushed open the door and walked in, saying.

"That makes sense, Dingya. Take out the ancestral tablets you carved yourself and put them on the altar. Let's make sure our ancestors eat and drink well today."

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai said excitedly.

Yi Zhongding nodded, went back into the house, took out the memorial tablet, and placed it on the altar in the center of the living room.

The altar originally also housed a statue of Guanyin giving a child.

This is a statue that Tan Xiulian specially went to Biyun Temple to bring back.

All these years, I've been trying to have a child.

The couple visited every temple, Taoist temple, and local earth god temple in Beijing.

I just go wherever I hear is effective.

The idea of ​​memorial tablets was proposed by Yi Zhonghai.

These were personally crafted and carved by Yi Zhongding over the past few days.

There are ten in total.

A memorial tablet commemorating the ancestors of the Yi family.

On both sides are couplets in remembrance, the horizontal scroll reads "Ancestral virtues endure," the middle section contains the five characters "Heaven, Earth, Ruler, Parents, Teacher," and on both sides are the eight smaller characters "Our Clan, Universal Offering."

A memorial plaque for martyrs, with the following couplets on the left and right: Tears are shed to mourn the heroic souls, we dare not forget the evil spirits that have harmed China; Loyalty remains in our hearts, we vow to restore our glory and honor our ancestors; The first line reads: People's heroes will live forever; The middle line reads: The Divine Tablet of All Martyrs Who Resisted Japanese Aggression and Saved the Nation.

There are also ancestral tablets below Yi Zhonghai's great-great-grandfather that he can remember.

That is, the great-great-grandfather, grandfather, father, and wives of Yi Zhongding and Yi Zhonghai's lineage.

The memorial tablet was made of Phoebe zhennan wood, and the characters were not gilded, but only outlined in red with cinnabar.

Yi Zhongding had just placed the memorial tablet.

The door was pushed open.

"Is Grandpa Yi back? Dinner is ready."

He Yuzhu started asking questions even before entering the house. After entering, he noticed the ancestral tablets on the altar and laughed, "Wow, so many ancestral tablets! Zhongding, did you carve them?"

"Yes, it was carved by Ding Yazi. The descendants of the Yi family personally carved the ancestral tablets of the Yi family. This is the greatest act of filial piety."

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai immediately replied.

He Yuzhu grinned but didn't reply, just staring at the altar in a daze.

"Now that it's ready, bring it over first to offer as a sacrifice to our ancestors and gods, and then we'll eat."

"Zhu Zi, we have prepared two offerings. You should also pay respects to your ancestors, gods, and heaven and earth at your doorstep, and also offer sacrifices to your mother."

Yi Zhonghai then added.

"But I don't know how."

He Yuzhu snapped out of his daze and scratched his head as he spoke.

"Sincerity is key. There's no such thing as 'can't' or 'can't.' Bring your sister along."

Tan Xiulian said with a smile.

"Alright, then move the table to the yard."

He Yuzhu nodded and turned back.

Yi Zhongding also helped move the table to the yard.

That decade hasn't arrived yet.

Although there is some encouragement.

However, it was not prohibited.

Therefore, they were not the only family that came to worship in the courtyard.

People could be seen worshipping the dead on streets large and small throughout the capital.

People who had prepared their New Year's Eve dinners began to offer sacrifices.

Therefore, there are quite a few offering tables in the courtyard.

The Jia family even brought out their offering table.

Yi Zhonghai did not hold such a grand ceremony in previous years.

But this year is different.

On the offering table are three kinds of sacrificial animals: pig, cow, sheep, chicken, duck, and fish, as well as dried fruit, pastries, incense, candles, paper money, wine, meat, and rice...

A traditional Chinese eight-immortal table was filled to the brim.

Tan Xiulian prayed silently for a long time.

Yi Zhonghai also led his eight younger siblings in a devout worship ceremony.

Yi Zhongding felt that this might be the most devout prayer he had ever offered in all these years.

When they knelt down, they prostrated themselves completely.

The worship ceremony is over.

Yi Zhongding took a string of firecrackers to the door and set them off.

Behind him followed many children who were shouting and cheering.

The children were waiting to pick up the unlit firecrackers that had been left behind after the fireworks were finished.

Yi Zhongding waited until the firecrackers were finished before going home.

Mainly looking after those children.

To prevent them from becoming too audacious.

They rushed in and grabbed the firecrackers before they had even finished setting them off.

Once he leaves...

The children swarmed around and searched the ground for unexploded firecrackers.

Those who find it will cheer.

Those who haven't been found will continue to stare intently at the ground.

Occasionally, one of the explosions would startle them.

Yi Zhongding turned his head and glanced at the scene.

A slight smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.

Childhood was wonderful.

Picking up a firecracker from the ground can bring you joy for half a day.

arrive home.

The offerings have already been moved inside.

The New Year's Eve dinner has also been served.

The deaf old lady was also sitting upright at the head of the table.

"Happy New Year, Grandma."

Yi Zhongding greeted him with a smile.

Happy Chinese New Year.

The deaf old lady also replied.

Normally, she might just nod and put on airs.

She harbored resentment towards Yi Zhongding and his associates.

After all, they arrived.

Tan Xiulian's desire to serve her greatly diminished.

I used to be able to go and chat with her.

But now, all I do is empty the chamber pot in the morning.

It hasn't happened at any other time.

I want to see people.

She had to come to the Yi family in person.

Come on then.

These little brats aren't close to her yet.

I can't get him to come to my side no matter how much I call him.

Let's talk about now.

Previously, Tan Xiulian had to serve him at the table.

But what about now?

The small table next to it was full of little kids.

She was too busy feeding and caring for the little ones.

He had no time to care about her.

But there was nothing she could do.

After all, what can a lonely elderly person do?

Out of sight, out of mind.

Let's see if we can exchange those three houses for incense offerings a hundred years from now.