Daye Village was steeped in the flavor of the New Year.
Starting from the twenty-third of the last lunar month, every household began to clean and prepare for the worship of the Kitchen God.
In the pot boiled the sweet and rich molasses, filling the house with an un-dissipating sweetness.
Sweet cakes were placed on the table, and biting into one would release the bean paste filling into the mouth.
It was said this was to bribe the Kitchen God, to seal his mouth with honey so that when he reported to the Heavenly Court, he could only speak well and not complain.
Yue Qingqing, too, was fed a small bite of molasses by Zhang Ying with chopsticks, the sweetness causing her eyes to squint into slits, and the slight melancholy in her heart instantly vanished.
The following days were perfect for visiting the market, and Yue Jiandong took Yue Qingqing with him to the marketplace.
In the past two years, buying things had become much freer, with less need for coupons, and enthusiasm for trading had greatly increased.
Yue Qingqing was dazzled as she looked around, wishing her eyes could stick to the colorful stalls.
At this time, stalls selling Spring Festival couplets and cakes were the most popular.
Despite the same old phrases of fortune, longevity, wealth, and happiness written on them, which many villagers might not even understand, it didn't hinder their enthusiasm for buying couplets.
As Zhang Ying said, these were customs passed down by the ancestors, ensuring a good year and prospering in the next.
Yue Jiandong, who could read, picked out an auspicious couplet.
The first line read, "Sailing winds bring perpetual prosperity," and the second, "Every endeavor raises you higher," with "Fortune Shines Above" as the horizontal inscription.
Lin Chunju had always said Yue Qingqing was the little lucky star of the family, and this couplet caught Yue Jiandong's eye at first glance.
It might be common, but its meaning was very good.
When buying it, he paid a little extra for a pair of peachwood boards to be included.
Written on them were the names of the Door Gods, which, it was said, could bring blessings when hung at the front door. Despite having Spring Festival couplets, the Yue Family still kept the custom of hanging peachwood charms.
They also went to various other stalls and weighed out an assortment of cakes, melon seeds, peanuts, and candies.
Someone, seeing Yue Jiandong, couldn't help but laugh, "Wow, you've bought quite a lot this year."
Yue Jiandong chuckled, "There are three children in the family, we want to have a good New Year."
The others knew that the harvest was good this year, and since Yue Jiandong had also gone to dig ditches, they didn't doubt it much.
Their gazes then fell on Yue Qingqing in his arms, and they couldn't resist praising her.
"This child of yours is so beautiful, she doesn't look like she's from the village."
This nose, these eyes, and this fair little face were not something an ordinary family could raise.
Yue Jiandong wanted to smile proudly in response but felt it was a time to be modest and ended up with a strange expression on his face.
The onlookers burst into laughter, well aware of the degree of Yue Jiandong's affection for his daughter.
Yue Jianxi and Yue Jiannan were also given tasks; they had to buy some affordable and durable fabrics.
There was less work in winter, a good time to make clothes for the next year, and to knit a few pairs of shoes, too.
After purchasing all kinds of necessary items, the Yue Family returned home fully laden.
Finally, Yue Jiandong also bought some firecrackers and fireworks from the stall at the entrance.
These were to be set off on New Year's Eve, as it was said the louder the noise, the more you sweep away the bad luck, leading to a smoother coming year.
On the evening of New Year's Eve, the Yue Family gathered around the table.
The three men had neatly groomed their hair and looked exceptionally spirited.
The women also bound their braids with bright ribbons, which under the bright firelight in the house, added a bit more charm.
The table had more meat dishes than in past years, looking exceedingly abundant.
Yue Jiannan had been swallowing saliva since the afternoon when the enticing smell wafted from the stove.
"Time to eat dumplings," Lin Chunju said as she scooped them out of the pot with a large slotted spoon.
The dumplings were stuffed full, looking like little ingots with their plump bellies.
"Alright, let's eat."
Lin Chunju symbolically picked up a chopstickful of vegetables, and then everyone began to eat.
Just then, a knock sounded at the door.
The noise was light, but the people inside heard it instantly.
Yue Jiannan frowned and muttered quietly, "Who would come during the New Year's festival?"
Everyone fell silent, and the sound from outside became clearer—it was the intermittent sound of crying.