Chapter 35: Spending New Year's (1)

  Although he was not eligible for the reward this time, Liu Yitiao knew that the benefits he gained would not be less than the reward. With money and people, he also planned a great favor for Liu Ertiao, and Liu Yitiao's heart became more settled. Early in the morning, he went to the town with Old Liu to rush to the early market, buying a large pile of New Year's goods. Like big red paper, "Zhong Kui" door god head image, can be ignited for one night of red candles, big red lanterns, section by section of bamboo, and some sacrificial offerings for ancestor worship and welcoming the kitchen god.

  These things, Liu Yitiao was completely ignorant of. Many ancient rituals have been disrupted by modern times and have become a mess. Take the worship of ancestors and the stove god, for example. In Liu Yitiao's impression, they seemed to be mythical existences. As for how to perform them specifically, he had no idea at all and had to rely on Old Man Liu. At most, he could only help out on the side.

  Today is the twenty-ninth, and tomorrow is New Year's Eve. Liu He Shi has already finished making clothes for the whole family. She made a set for herself and Old Liu, two sets for Liu Yi Tiao, and only prepared some undergarments for Liu Xiao Hui and Liu Er Tiao since they already have new clothes.

  Can't help but say, Liu He's craftsmanship is really great. At least Liu Yitiao thinks so.

  Liu He's clothes were short and tight on the outside, loose on the inside, very comfortable to wear, and looked good too, much better than those sold in clothing stores. After finishing, Liu Yitiao kept praising the clothes, and Liu He was so happy that he added a meat dish for Liu Yitiao at dinner. However, Liu Yitiao didn't eat much of it, and it was all taken by Liu Xiaohui and Liu Ertiao, those two little gluttons.

  Liu Lao began preparing his ancestors' plaques on the evening of the 29th, and it was only then that Liu Yi learned about some of the deeds of the Liu family's ancestors.

  Great-grandfather Liu Huan was once an official and held the position of Langzhong, serving under General Yang Su.

  Grandfather Liu Mingzong also served as Yang Su's son for a few years, General Yang Xuangan's left wing general, but these were all things of the former Sui.

  At the end of Sui, great-grandfather Liu Huans' father died in battle. Grandfather Liu Mingzong followed General Yang Xuangan to rebel against Sui, but after their defeat, he brought his wife and children back to their old home in San Yuan to settle down as a farmer until the Tang unified China, when Liu Mingzong passed away.

  Liu Laoshi later inherited his father's business and became a honest farmer under the rule of the Tang Dynasty.

  Liu Yitiao saw Liu Laoshi wiping the spirit tablet of Liu Mingzong with a dry cloth, and asked on the side: "Father, since Grandfather was a veteran general who had experienced many battles, why didn't he rely on the Tang Dynasty to seek a small official position? I see that many officials from previous dynasties, such as Wei Zheng and Zhang Xuansu, were reused by the emperor of the current dynasty. If Grandfather had surrendered to the Tang at that time, our Liu family would not have been so poor all these years."

  Liu Laoshi sighed and said, "I don't know about this either, but it's possible that it has something to do with your Uncle Yang. When your grandfather was still alive, he took good care of the Yang family. At that time, the Yang family wasn't wealthy yet, and there were only two people in the household, a mother and son, living a very poor life. Your grandfather often helped them out with money and goods. Otherwise, do you think Uncle Yang would be so enthusiastic about our Liu family's affairs? It's all because of your grandfather's face."

  "Oh." So that's how it is, Liu Yitiao suddenly thought of a possibility and asked: "Dad, do you think Yang Shu might be a descendant of General Yang Xuangan? That would explain why Grandfather is going to such great lengths to help them."

  "I once asked your grandfather about this, but all I got was a good scolding. After that, I never dared to ask again." Liu Laoshi recalled: "But from then on, I had some misgivings in my heart. Besides General Yang Xuangan's descendants, who else would make your grandfather so devoted?"

  "The Yang family's ancestors have great kindness towards our Liu family, and General Yang Xuangan also saved your grandfather. At that time, your grandfather was unwilling to surrender to the Li family, but chose to return here, probably to protect the safety of the Yang family's descendants."

  "Your grandfather was a hero, I admire him. But he wasn't a good father, the martial arts of our ancestors he didn't pass down one move or style. Otherwise your dad wouldn't have spent his whole life rolling in the dirt and still be a poor farmer."

  Liu Yitiao didn't say a word. He could see that although Old Liu was complaining with his mouth, in his heart he still had more nostalgia and sadness.

  "Of course, this can't be blamed entirely on your grandfather. At that time, I was still young and mischievous, and couldn't bear the hardships of martial arts training. Your grandfather might have been thinking of waiting until I grew up a bit more to teach me, but who could have predicted that he would leave so soon? I remember that at that time, I wasn't even ten years old yet, while your grandfather was only in his thirties."

  "Dad, the deceased is gone, you don't have to be too sad. If Grandfather's spirit is still with us, he wouldn't want to see you like this either." Liu Yitiao took over the memorial tablet from Old Liu and began to comfort him.

  "Hmm." Lao Liu smiled self-deprecatingly and said, "Look at me, I'm really getting more and more muddled with age. It's the New Year and I'm still talking about these things with you. They're all matters of decades ago, let's not mention them, let's not mention them."

  After finishing, Old Liu stood up and carried a large pile of ancestral plaques to the main hall. Liu Yitiao followed him over. Together with Old Liu, they arranged the ancestral tablets on the square table in the main hall one by one. Then lit several incense sticks, waiting for the next day's sacrifice.

  Liu He's wife was boiling water in the kitchen so that everyone in the family could bathe and wash tonight.

  This is a local custom, on the 29th of the Lunar New Year, regardless of male or female, old or young, everyone has to wash from head to toe. It's said that it can wash away the bad luck of the past year and welcome a brand new year.

  Liu Yitiao calculated that since he came to this era, he seemed to have never taken a bath. If it weren't for the cold winter days now, his body would probably have started to smell by now. He was the first to agree to take a bath.

  Actively, together with Liu Lao Shi, they moved out the large bathtub that had been stored at home for a long time. The bathtub was over one meter high and was made by Liu Lao Shi himself using pear wood and coated with white wax. It was very big and sturdy, enough for two people to bathe together. In Liu Lao Shi's words, this could save more hot water and firewood.

  Liu Yitiao looked at the wooden bucket, thinking about how to persuade Liu Ertiao to let him go first. Two big men sitting in such a small wooden bucket together was absolutely impossible, just thinking about it made him feel sick, and he would rather not wash than do that.

  Lao Liu seemed to have seen through Liu Yi's thoughts and said, "Don't worry, I know you don't want to bathe with others. This year is the same as last year, I'll share a tub with Er Tiao, your mother will share one with Xiao Hui, and you'll have one to yourself. Go prepare your clothes first, and then you can go wash up. After washing, put on the new clothes your mother made for you. Wearing new clothes on New Year's Day is auspicious for next year."