Ji Tang

Chapter 55
In the sound of firecrackers, one year old,

The spring breeze sent warmth into Tu Su.

Thousands of doors and thousands of households are chaotic days,
Always exchange new peaches for old ones.

The [-]th day of the twelfth lunar month in the eighth year of Wude is New Year's Eve.

The entire territory of the Tang Dynasty is filled with the joy of saying goodbye to the old and welcoming the new. No matter how things went last year, everyone hopes to be prosperous in the coming year.

Every household puts on new peach charms and affixes them with door gods, hoping to keep out all the gloomy things.

Whether it works or not, this is a good expectation that people have for the future.

The current door gods are not Li Shimin's generals Qin Qiong and Yuchi Jingde, but two ancient gods Shen Tu and Yu Lei.

Shen Tu is generally located on the left door leaf, dressed in colorful battle armor, with a majestic face, a mighty posture, and a golden battle sword in his hand.

Yu Lei was sitting on the door on the right, wearing a black battle robe and looking at ease. He had no magic weapons or sharp weapons in his hands. He just stretched out a palm and caressed the huge golden-eyed white tiger sitting next to him. It entrusts the Han people with a good wish to avoid disasters, seek good luck and avoid bad luck.

Only in the late Taizong period would he be replaced by Qin Qiong and Yuchi Jingde.

Ji Song looked at the two mighty or calm gods and murmured: "If nothing happens to you two, your days as door gods will not be long. I wonder if you will be unhappy?
We have agreed not to bring disaster to the people if they are unhappy.

All you have to do is go to the person responsible. They are hard-headed enough, and it doesn't matter what you do.

Ordinary people can't stand your revenge. They are just duckweeds in the world. They can't help but drift with the tide. Why bother them? "

After nagging, Ji Song went to prepare for the New Year, regardless of whether they could hear him or not.

At this time, celebrating the New Year is not as casual as in later generations, and the customs and etiquette are unavoidable.

The first is the New Year's Eve dinner and 'staying up late' on New Year's Eve. For wealthy families, of course, chicken, duck, fish, meat and various seasonal vegetables are all available.

On New Year's Eve, people from a big family sit together to eat and drink and watch the New Year's Eve.

Poor people will not spend this day making new clothes for their children, buying some preserved fruits and candies, just to wish their children healthy growth.

After the whole family has had the New Year's Eve dinner, they will sit around the stove and start "watching the New Year's Eve."

The so-called "watching the New Year's Eve" actually means that the whole family waits for midnight on New Year's Eve together.

Then the elders give new year's money to the younger ones, which means blessing them to become one year older.

"Now, this is your new year's money, save some money!" Ji's mother enthusiastically stuffed a red envelope wrapped in red paper into Ji Song's arms, told her to save some money, and then she went about her own business.

As the matron of the family, he needs to help keep an eye on many things.

If any family in the clan is not living well, send some money and food;

If an elderly person is in poor health, go visit them.

Anyway, since entering the late twelfth lunar month, she has never been idle. Although she complained, she was never absent every time.

People will hold a more grand "sacrifice to their ancestors" ceremony on New Year's Eve.

Whether it is the palace or the common people, they will put tables and incense burners on the New Year's Eve and put various sacrifices used in sacrifices.

Then he would light a few incense sticks and kneel down and kowtow solemnly.

Because in people's minds, worshiping ancestors is not only a manifestation of filial piety.

And it is also a custom that has been passed down through the ages.

Therefore, worshiping ancestors seems to be more grand than celebrating the New Year.

Ji Song is not idle either. When he is "watching the New Year's Eve", he usually stays up until the early morning of the next day before falling into a deep sleep.After the reunion dinner, as the head of the family, he had to participate in some activities.

Sitting around the fire with several elders and brothers of the same generation, "watching the New Year's Eve", eating vegetables and drinking until dawn.

It was already late in the evening when Ji Song woke up, which also meant that Ji Song had grown one year older after last night.

Ji Song was soon discovered by his mother when he woke up. He originally wanted to take a nap but had to get up.

He took Liu Laoer and a few family generals to carry the gifts and went out.

As a junior, no matter how high your status is, you must respect your elders, and the emperor is no exception.

I went door to door and had a few bites of food in each house. I couldn't live without eating.

how?You, Ji Song, are so prosperous that you look down on others?
I had no choice but to arrive at the last house, which was also the second uncle's house with the highest seniority.

"Brother Song is here, hurry up and sit down, let us have a drink." The second uncle was overjoyed when he saw Ji Song coming.

If anyone wants to say who treats Ji Song the best, besides his mother, it is his second uncle.

This is treating Ji Song as his own grandson. It's okay for you to say bad things about him. He's almost ninety, so we don't care.

But if you dare to speak ill of Brother Song, he will definitely turn into the most violent lion in the world, leaving you in a dilemma of life and death and regretting coming to this world.

"Old ancestor! You can go around me. Eat some at every house along the way. With so many houses, my stomach is almost bursting." When Ji Song heard that he wanted to eat, he immediately felt a little nauseous and hurriedly apologized. .

The second uncle did not embarrass Ji Song, but took Ji Song's hand and said: "But it's hard on you kid, you have to support such a big family at such a young age.

But there is no way, the other tribesmen have no future, and it is also useless for us elders, useless! "

As he spoke, he actually started crying, which frightened Ji Song.

The old man is most afraid of great joy and sorrow. His fragile body can no longer bear such consumption.

"Ancestor, what are you doing? I can't work as hard as you say.

Usually, Uncle De, Uncle Ming, and Uncle Ren share their responsibilities. I just assign tasks. It’s really nothing, so don’t cry. It’s not good for your health. "

Ji Song didn't dare to let his second uncle go on like this, so he hurriedly winked at Uncle Ji who was standing beside him.

"Yes, grandpa, your body can't handle such a torment. Don't worry, we will all help Brother Song." Ji Bo quickly stepped forward to comfort him.

"Huh, rely on you? If I rely on you, my old man won't be able to rest in peace."

"Old ancestors."

Hearing Ji Song's somewhat complaining tone, the second uncle stopped lecturing Uncle Ji.

Uncle Ji glanced at Ji Song gratefully. Brother Song had something to offer. He was already such an adult and was being trained like a grandson all day long.

Even though he is a real grandson, no one will feel comfortable leaving him alone!
"Okay, you guys go out, I have something to say to Brother Song."

After everyone went out, the second uncle's originally cloudy eyes suddenly became brighter.

He looked at Ji Song for a long time and then said: "Who do you think can ascend the throne and become emperor?"

The second uncle's words almost killed Ji Songxia, and he quickly looked to see if anyone else heard it.

Seeing that there were only two of them, he breathed a sigh of relief and said, "My ancestors, you have to scare me to death. Is this something that we, a small family, can discuss?"

(End of this chapter)