Chapter 207: New Year's Time

Near the New Year, the cold wind is wrapped in warmth.

In his previous life, now entering old age, Lu Cheng often most missed the New Year atmosphere of this Hu Tong.

Unlike later times, when the New Year is cold and desolate, and even firecrackers can't be set off.

Now the gray‑walled, gray‑tiled Hu Tong looks much livelier; every household on New Year's Eve begins pasting spring couplets with paste, colorful and red‑hot.

People no longer chat about trivial family matters, but ask, "How are your New Year supplies?" and "Are this year's Meat Tickets enough?"

Or a question of this era: "Will the child who cut in line at your family return this year?"

If they can return, the family naturally has a reunion year; if not, the couple will be down for several days.

Fortunately, the neighbors are full of humanity; no matter how they argue over trivial matters, on New Year's Day they set aside all grievances.

With enthusiastic door‑to‑door, you bring a bowl of crispy meatballs to my house, and I bring a bowl of simmered pork skin jelly to yours.

The whole Da Za Yuan is filled with New Year atmosphere.

Lu Cheng was chased out only because, while Mom was frying meatballs in the kitchen, he said, "I'm hungry, when can we eat?" and got a look of disdain from Chen Xianglan.

At the Hu Tong Entrance, Da Hu was setting off firecrackers with a few children; Lu Cheng had just stepped out of the courtyard gate, and Qing'er, who was playing with Da Hu, rushed over.

"Little uncle, they're setting off firecrackers."

Lu Cheng lifted Qing'er; the little one had stayed in the Capital City for a while, visibly plumped up, with a chubby, especially cute little face.

"Don't be scared, Qing'er, uncle will cover your ears."

"Hmm, little uncle, can you smell the fragrance on Qing'er's face?"

Lu Cheng rubbed his nose against her little cheek and said, "Hmm, really fragrant, what was applied?"

"It's the Snowflake Ointment that little aunt put on me, so fragrant."

Lu Ying gives her niece the Snowflake Ointment twice a day, and compared with Da Hu's cracked, wrinkled cheek, Qing'er's cheek looks moist and tender.

Lu Cheng laughed and pinched twice, "From now on call her old aunt."

Qing'er quickly shook her head, "No, no, little aunt said that would make her sound old."

At that moment, Da Hu held a small firecracker, lit it, and tossed it far away; it exploded with a "Bang".

A few children nearby cheered and jumped.

What is New Year? New Year begins amid intermittent firecracker sounds and children's laughter.

Lu Cheng remembered he also had a firecracker in his pocket, made by rolling up Newspaper.

"Da Hu, here, this firecracker is for you, dare you set it off?" Lu Cheng pulled out the firecracker, as thick as two fingers.

Da Hu has always been bold; even if given a hand grenade, he'd dare to set it off, let alone this firecracker.

"Of course I dare," Da Hu snatched it, intending to stand on the road and light it with the long incense stick in his hand.

Lu Cheng stopped him, "Setting it off like that is no fun."

Da Hu turned his head and asked, "Then how should it be set off?"

Lu Cheng nudged with his chin, indicating a puddle of poop at the base of the wall, left by some child.

"Hey, shove the firecracker into there and set it off, dare you?"

Da Hu glanced and complained, "How disgusting, what if it splatters onto me?"

"Are you stupid? It won't run away," Lu Cheng coaxed as Da Hu hesitated, "Are you scared? So many little brothers are watching you."

A few children nearby were indeed watching eagerly; Da Hu, spurred by this, instantly puffed up.

"Who's scared? Just set it off."

Seeing Da Hu was serious, Lu Cheng quickly tucked Qing'er behind the door.

Soon, a huge "Bang" echoed, exploding in the Hu Tong.

These newspaper‑rolled firecrackers are powerful; although Da Hu lit it and shouted "run fast", the exploding poop rain still drenched them.

One child ran while turning his head back, and inevitably swallowed half a soybean.

The smell of poop instantly spread through the Hu Tong, completely overwhelming the meat and oil aromas from each household.

A few children let out a wailing cry, and several people from Da Za Yuan who heard it all ran out.

Seeing the disastrous scene, they stamped a foot in anger, "Hey, what's going on? Get back home, or I'll beat you to death."

"Hey hey hey, don't come over, it stinks, stay away from me."

Sun Yan Hong also ran out, saw the scene, and guessed it was Da Hu's doing.

"Da Hu, is this your fault?"

Da Hu, covered in poop on his back, said, "Mom, Lu San'er made me explode the poop."

Lu Cheng was just behind the door; Sun Yan Hong, angry, twisted at him, "Why are you so annoying."

"Sss, ouch, it hurts, it's not my fault; your Da Hu ran too slowly, see how fast I ran."

Sun Yan Hong has no way to deal with Lu Cheng; when she's proper, she's quite likable, but when annoying, she's truly unbearable.

Yet this Lu Cheng often makes her thoughts at night become a tangled mess.

"San'er, quickly bring Qing'er back, then go call Xu Erye, and have him eat New Year's Eve dinner at our house tonight," Chen Xianglan shouted from the kitchen doorway.

Xu Erye, alone, cold and desolate; every New Year, Lu Cheng summons Master to celebrate together.

A big family is always livelier.

Lu Cheng went with his niece; when Master sees the little one, he can't help but give some New Year's money.

On the way, they finished training Qing'er; upon arriving at Xu Erye's courtyard, they knelt and began kowtowing.

"Grandpa, Happy New Year."

Xu Erye stroked his white beard, delighted, and cheerfully took out a coin for Qing'er.

One coin isn't a small amount; it's because it's Qing'er's first time in the Capital City—normally children only get a few cents or dimes as New Year's money.

Seeing Master so generous, Lu Cheng also knelt on the ground and kowtowed loudly.

"Master, Happy New Year."

After that, he leaned his upper body on the ground, his hands shaking.

Xu Erye, watching, frowned and said, "Can't you have some dignity? You're an adult, yet you ask an old fool for money."

"Fine, fine, fine, if you don't give money, I still have to bow to you, old man, for the New Year." Seeing there was no point, Lu Cheng got up and patted his trousers.

"Master, come to my house for dinner tonight; the good wine and dishes are all prepared for you."

"Ah, every year I have to trouble your family; I guess I won't go this year."

"Look at you, old man, when will you ever be polite to me? If you don't go, I'll carry you over there myself."

"Fine, fine, I'll tidy up here and head over in a bit."

"Then I'll be waiting for you; tonight the two of us will have a good drink together."

After saying that, Lu Cheng hugged his niece and left first; the money in Qing'er's hand was also confiscated by him and stuffed into his pocket.

"Uncle will keep it for you for now, and when you grow up I'll give it to you…"

Qing'er, still unaware of the world's dangers, nodded heavily.

At that moment, the sound of a Three-wheeled Cart rolling over the bluestone slabs came from the Alley Entrance.

Lu Cheng recognized the person; it was Guo Tuzi.