webnovelfull Chapter 387 New Year's Warmth, Year-End Affection
Chapter 387 New Year's Warmth, Year-End Affection
Da Mo and Xiao Ya also kowtowed to the ancestral tablets, just like the adults.
When she came back, she had a piece of candy given to her by an adult, and her eyes crinkled with a smile.
Another half hour passed, and the incense was offered for the third time.
After offering incense, wait until the incense is halfway burned before burning paper money.
Each family took out folded paper money and put it into the brazier in the center of the ancestral hall.
The flames licked at the paper money, and wisps of smoke rose, carrying the prayers of the crowd into the sky.
"May our ancestors keep this money safe and sound for us next year..."
Takada muttered to himself, his voice choked with emotion.
Yun Dan looked at the flickering flames in the brazier; this was the meaning of the New Year.
No matter how tough life gets, there's always something to look forward to, something to hope for the future.
The ancestral worship ceremony is considered complete only after all the paper money has been burned.
Each household carried offerings home to prepare for the New Year's Eve dinner.
The Gao family's New Year's Eve dinner this year was exceptionally lavish.
Yun Dan's braised fish was bright red and delicious; her stewed chicken soup had a wonderfully fragrant aroma.
She also cooked a large pot of white rice and made several stir-fried dishes.
Takada looked at the table full of dishes and hesitated to touch his chopsticks for a long time.
Yun Dan noticed that no one in the Gao family had touched their chopsticks.
All she could say was, "What are you all standing there for? Come and try my cooking!"
Takada took a bite and his eyes immediately lit up.
"Delicious! I've never eaten such delicious food before!"
Xiao Bao and his sisters couldn't wait any longer. They held their bowls and ate heartily, their mouths stuffed with food, mumbling, "Delicious, so delicious!"
The night ended amidst laughter and joy.
As dawn broke on the first day of the Lunar New Year, Polin Village was awakened by a chorus of "Happy New Year!" greetings.
Before the door to the Takada family's house was even opened, a series of light footsteps could be heard coming from outside the yard.
Then Xiao Bao called out in his childish voice, "Sister Yun Dan, get up quickly! You have to go early to pay New Year's visits on the first day of the Lunar New Year so you can get candy!"
Yun Dan rubbed her eyes and pushed open the door, where she saw Xiao Bao wearing a newly made blue cotton-padded jacket.
A crooked little flower was embroidered on the cuff.
She smiled and pinched Xiao Bao's nose, which was red from the cold.
"What's the rush? The candy is all in the jars in the kitchen."
The kitchen was already steaming hot.
Aji is putting candy into the red envelope.
Each package was stuffed full, containing crispy candy and candied fruit.
These are all fruit candies that Yundan brought; they are crystal clear, like little gemstones.
"This candy looks rare; the children will probably fight over it."
Takada wore a slightly worn navy blue cotton robe today.
Although the starch had stiffened the fabric a bit, it made him look much more energetic.
As soon as I reached the gate of the courtyard, a group of children rushed over. The one leading them was Hu Touwa, followed by Da Mo and Xiao Ya.
Each person was clutching a red paper packet, given to them by Yundan last night while they stayed up to welcome the New Year.
Happy New Year, Uncle Gao! Happy New Year, Sister Yundan!
Happy New Year, Grandpa Zhang! Happy New Year, Grandpa Leng!
The children bowed in unison, and Xiaoya almost stumbled, which made everyone laugh.
"They've all grown taller."
Takada smiled and stuffed red envelopes into the children's hands. When his fingertips touched the children's icy hands, he quickly pulled them back into the house.
The children cheered and squeezed into the room, their eyes fixed on the candy plate on the table.
Seeing this, Yun Dan simply put the jar on the table and said, "Take what you want to eat, but remember not to grab it."
Tiger-headed Kid, holding up a hard candy, said, "Yes, we won't fight over it!"
The laughter inside had just subsided.
The village chief, Old Gao, followed him in, laughing heartily.
"My three esteemed guests, this old man has come to wish you a Happy New Year!"
Old Gao was seen leaning on a jujube wood cane, followed by several villagers, each carrying something in their hands.
The village aunties were carrying bowls of steamed cakes, Uncle Li was carrying strings of dried sea fish, and someone else was carrying a bundle of freshly chopped firewood.
"Just joining in the fun on the first day of the Lunar New Year."
Old Gao placed the steamed cake on the table, saying, "It's my wife's cooking; it's very sweet and sticky. Everyone should try it."
Looking at the pile of things on the table, Yun Dan felt a warm glow in her heart.
During her eight years in the Abyss of Extremes, she had never seen such a scene.
There was no deceit or treachery, no life-or-death struggles, only neighbors bringing warm wishes to each other's doorsteps.
Even a simple bowl of steamed cake or a string of seafood exudes a comforting warmth.
"Try this." The village chief's wife took Yun Dan's hand and stuffed a piece of steamed cake into her hand.
"The glutinous rice was mixed with brown sugar. My husband said that our daughter is a noble person and should eat something sweet."
Yun Dan took a bite, and the stickiness of the glutinous rice and the sweetness of the brown sugar melted on her tongue.
She watched as Leng Xiyue and Zhang Sanfeng chatted and laughed with everyone, their eyes crinkling with amusement.
This is what the New Year is all about!
It's not about delicacies or gold and silver jewelry, but about someone remembering your taste.
When someone is willing to spend time with you, you feel completely content.
The post-holiday sunshine carried the warmth of early spring, and a rich aroma of medicine wafted from the kitchen of the Takada family's house.
Yun Dan was standing in front of the stove stirring the medicine pot. The firelight illuminated her focused profile, and the medicine spoon made a soft "clinking" sound as it collided with the earthenware pot.
Yun Dan scooped up a spoonful of the medicinal juice and looked at it; it was so thick that it clung to the inside of the spoon.
This medicine contains Dipsacus asper and Drynaria fortunei, which can soften the tendons and bones first.
That way, it will hurt less when we do it later.
Yun Dan poured the medicine into a bowl and brought it into the house.
Only Zhang Sanfeng and Leng Xiyue were inside.
Aji and his three younger siblings had already been ordered by Yundan not to step into the house.
Takada sat on the edge of the bed, his hands tightly gripping the hem of his clothes, revealing his already deformed legs.
A fall years ago caused the bones to grow out of place, and now the entire leg is about an inch shorter than the other.
His voice trembled as he saw Yun Dan arrive: "Miss Yun Dan, is it really... really necessary to break it to reassemble it?"
Fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.
Yun Dan handed him the bowl of warm medicine.
“Brother Gao, don’t worry. When your bones break, I will use my internal energy to protect your heart meridian. Uncle Leng and Junbao will also help stabilize your blood and qi.”
Takada stared at the dark brown medicine in the bowl, hesitated for a moment, and then tilted his head back and gulped it down.
The medicine tasted bitter and was extremely difficult to swallow, causing him to cough.
After about half an incense stick's time, the medicine gradually took effect, and Takada's calves began to feel numb.
Yun Dan looked at Leng Xiyue and Zhang Sanfeng.
The two instantly understood, and Leng Xiyue reached out and pressed her hands on his shoulders.
Zhang Sanfeng then grasped his other, uninjured leg.
"Bear with it."
Yun Dan's voice calmed down, and he gathered a light blue internal force at his fingertips, gently pressing it onto Takada's deformed bones.
Her fingers slid along the bony protrusion.
With a sudden burst of force, a crisp "crack" was heard.
Takada's screams instantly tore through the roof tiles.
"what--!"
The excruciating pain overwhelmed Takada like a tidal wave.
His whole body convulsed violently, his eyes widened, and cold sweat instantly soaked through his clothes.
Yun Dan did not stop; her hands moved swiftly, shifting up and down over the dislocated bones.
One after another, the sounds of bones breaking rang out.