...
On the third day of the third month, a long string of firecrackers broke the quiet of the early morning, waking people like Mrs. Wu, Aunt Cai, Mrs. Zhou, and others from their sleep. They hurriedly got up, dressed and swiftly got themselves ready before grabbing the gifts they had prepared the day before and rushing towards the Mo Family's residence.
Apart from Mo Yan, everyone in the Mo Family had gotten up unusually early. Before the sound of firecrackers began, they had already sorted out all the ingredients for today's feast and placed them in the courtyard, washed what needed washing and chopped what needed chopping. Even the youngest, Shengsheng, was sitting on a small stool, washing one bright red radish after another.
