C5

Winter snow white festival,

La Mei bloomed in the spring;

Big red lanterns hung high in the sky.

The scenery of the Silver Flower of the Flaming Tree was new.

It was the New Year's Day in 1987. Spring Festival is a traditional festival in our country for thousands of years. Especially after the reform and development of the countryside, do not worry about food, wear, household food, household savings. Therefore, more attention is paid to the Spring Festival. As for Wang Zipeng's family, the atmosphere of the Spring Festival was even more intense, and even more youthful. It was because he was very satisfied that he could live a good life because the Party had given him a good policy of wealth and people. After the land was contracted, he was given four acres of fields, which allowed him to grow corn, soybeans, vegetables, without worrying about food, enough vegetables to support himself, and some pocket money to sell in the market. There were also six acres of paddy fields, which produced 800 pounds of rice per mu. In this atmosphere, you say, the Spring Festival can not be unhappy?

As soon as he entered La month, Zi Peng's mother busied herself with it. The first job is to fry a fire spoon. This year, I made 50 catties of sticky rice, which can be used to wrap 20 catties of beans. Apart from sending a few relatives and friends, the rest of the food will be fine during next year's Qingming Festival. The second job is to bake pancakes, because this year there is a lot of fine grain, only 40 kilograms of corn seeds. These pancakes were both soft and hard. Eating one meal a few times in the first month could be considered a better life. The third job was to get out of it. This year, 60 kilograms of corn seeds soaked, after pushing the water mill, can be frozen into a ball, eating until the following April. Next year, the relatives came to visit. Nothing else, just some soup noodles, a fire spoon, and a large pancake. This was very normal. Moreover, they were all willing to take it. Because these things are rare in the city. So, are things expensive? The fourth job was to get a bag of beans and a bun. Steamed two big pots of bean buns and steamed buns, then took them outside to be frozen. He could take them whenever he wanted to eat them. It was very convenient. The fifth task is steamed steamed bread, steamed a pot of all kinds of steamed bread: some with jujube, a useful impression printed out. There are buddhist hand, floral roll, sugar triangle and so on. There were so many different kinds of things, and they were both beautiful and delicious. Of course, these jobs mostly focused on the mother. Ding Xiaofeng, the daughter-in-law, just needed to step a little bit.

The Zipeng family had killed a pig on the 28th of December. It weighed more than 200 catties and was not for sale at all. Apart from a portion for the guest, he had eaten a portion that day. The rest was kept under the head and hooves. In the first month of the month, guests came to eat and it was convenient to have all sorts of dishes. Do you think you can be unhappy? In addition, he killed three big roosters, each weighing more than six pounds. Apart from the one that he stewed on the night of the year 30, he only left behind to entertain the guests. In addition, also bought a knife fish, crocodiles, Minta fish, and a more than 6 lb large maha. He had never eaten this before, so he was going to have a hearty meal … In short, he had already bought everything he needed, so he didn't lack anything.

This year, Wang Zipeng bought firecrackers, fireworks the most. Usually only buy a hanging whip, carry a few kicks, spend 10 yuan 20 yuan. But this year was different, because there were so many joyous events that needed to be celebrated, so many must be bought. Only buying firecrackers for the Spring Festival this year cost more than 200 yuan. Buy a hanging 5000 head of earth red, a variety of fireworks of no less than 10. He said to his family:

"Nothing else but to celebrate our family's ginseng because it is growing well, has less disease, and has more seedlings to protect."

Both the foster father and the mother were opposed to ginseng. But through two years of careful management, ginseng growth is very decent, foster father is also convinced. He said:

"Child, I never thought that you would make the ginseng so good. I admire you from the bottom of my heart." Previously, when our troop planted ginseng, how could it be so good? There were too many seedlings, and the ones that grew were dull and thin. You've never done it before, and you've always been successful. "Good child, you have a promising future. Just for this, we must celebrate this new year as well."

Zi Peng heard this praise from the bottom of his heart, and his heart was filled with joy. It was even sweeter than eating honey. He took over the conversation and asked his adoptive father,

"Great sir, do you think I'm qualified to be a technician now?"

"Too qualified. If all the technicians could be like you, the ginseng wouldn't die. "You can only make money, not lose money."

"Sir, next fall, let's sell these five curtains of ginseng. If we can sell them for 5000 yuan, I will plant another ten curtains. What do you think?

"With your current level, putting aside the ten curtains, even fifty curtains won't be a problem. It's just that I'm afraid you won't be able to do it and you'll be rich. Just get me a 10 curtain 20. Slowly develop and raise him from a small point of view. He cannot eat a fatty in one bite. "

"Good, in that case, we really need to have a happy Spring Festival with our whole family. When the time comes, you must drink two cups more. "

"Of course, of course."

It was New Year's Eve, December 30, 1987. After Wang Zipeng finished breakfast, he finished the paste. One was to stick to the Spring Festival couplet, the other was to paste lanterns. Paste a big lantern, light a 200-degree bulb, so that the small yard in the ravine is also bright. At 9 a.m., the warm sun was shining down from the sky. This was the best time to post the Spring Festival couplet. Otherwise, it would be frozen if you spread the paste on it. The Spring Festival Gala was written as follows:

"The policy of getting rich in the spring winds and rains is very warm. The sun shines on the rivers and mountains for thousands of miles, the weather is new." "In other words, it would be 'full spring on the land'."

With the Spring Festival couplet posted, it was time for the Spring Festival. After the Spring Festival couplet was posted, Zi Peng was in his room, burning lanterns. This lantern was welded with the number eight iron wire in Power plant. It was 40 cm tall and 60 cm wide. There was not much left of the two pieces of red paper. On the outside of the red paper were the four "auspicious and auspicious" flowers that his mother had cut with yellow colored paper. Mother's hands are so coincidental. After cutting the cages and the tassels of the lanterns, they were glued to them. It was so beautiful, so beautiful. Lantern tassels are also cut with yellow paper, more than 2 feet long, hanging from the lantern pole, wind, the tassels floating up.

After finishing lunch, it was already past 2 o'clock. The weather for the Spring Festival was especially short. It was only 2 o'clock, as if the sky was about to turn dark. At this moment, Zi Peng still had one more task to complete: go to two tombs. The first place was the stonecrop; this was the foster father. Every New Year's Day, Zi Peng would go to the grave to burn paper. The poor old man died before the reform. The stonecrop was more than five miles away from home, and it would take more than an hour to cycle back and forth. The second was Zi Peng's father, who had left his home seven miles behind nine houses in Taoyuan. Zi Peng's father died in 1961, so it wasn't too much to say that he starved to death …

Zi Peng went to the stonecrop to visit the grave. It was already past 5 o'clock when he returned. He came back to his father's grave. He knelt down and began to burn the paper. He talked to himself as he burned the paper:

"Father, unfilial son has come to bury you. Today is New Year's Eve, if you are aware in the underworld, you should keep the money. Buy some things to celebrate the new year. Do not treat yourself unfairly. Eat, drink. Dad, our family life is better now. If only you could live until now! Now the policy of the Party is to contract the land to the peasants and let them get rich. Sigh! Poor father, when you died, when I was still too young to eat to my heart's content, my 3 feet of intestines were only 2 and a half feet long, and it was you, the old man, who gave them to us to eat, only then did you die of hunger and exhaustion. It was all the fault of "three years of natural disaster", but it was also the fault of his son that he didn't have the capability. Father, can you forgive your son? Rest easy. "

After Zi Peng finished speaking, the paper was also burnt to ashes. Then he put on a 1000 echo earth red, put in four more flash grenades and a few more kicks, then kneeled on the ground and kowtowed three times. Finally, he said, "Dad, I'm going back." It was already past 6 pm when he got on his bicycle and went back home.

Inside, the smell of stewed chicken assailed his nostrils. Zi Peng raised his nose. 'Ah, how fragrant!' At this time, the meal was ready. The family sat together happily as they ate their last meal on New Year's Eve.

Zi Peng looked at the table with his chopsticks and said, "Hey!" It was too extravagant. There are stewed rooster, fried fish, braised beef, pig's feet, and salmon, a total of 12 dishes. Master, mother and Zi Peng were seated with their heads bowed; Ding Xiaofeng, eldest daughter, Cheng Hua, second daughter Tsinghua and Third daughter were sitting with their heads lowered. The family gathered together, talking and laughing.

Zi Peng could not drink white wine. A single sip would cause her face and neck to turn red. He poured herself a glass of champagne and poured herself a glass of white wine. Ding Xiaofeng poured another glass of champagne for her mother and three daughters. Zi Peng raised her wine cup and said,

"Today is New Year's Eve, so the days of our family's past few years are getting better and better. This is because of the old people's help, Family's joint efforts is inseparable, we'll drink whatever we can drink. Come! Old man, let me toast you. Thinking back to when I first came to the 6th team, ignorant, sometimes make you angry, there is something wrong, you have never seen the villain. "At that time, it was all thanks to you coming here and there, moving here and there, that I was able to turn a crisis around and lay the foundation for today's good days." After saying that, he turned to his mother and said:

"Mom, why don't you drink a glass of champagne? Your life has been tough enough. Since you were a child, you've lived a poor life, yet you've pulled on four siblings. You've suffered so much and now you're bent over from exhaustion." Thinking back to our sorry state on our way back to the Northeast, I wonder if we can still make it back to today. Your son will never forget the kindness that you have shown me. I also want to toast you old man. Come! "Great sir, let's toast."

He drank a glass of champagne first, his mother only took a sip, the old man half drank, and the others half drank soda. Zi Peng poured another glass of champagne and continued:

"Right now, our family does not have enough people to compete with, but it's more than enough. We are satisfied to be able to live such a good life. The children had all grown up. Hua Zi was already 19 years old, Xiao Qing was 17 years old and Yu Hua was 14 years old. Before such a day, I didn't even dare to think, these three children were born in blessings, you can't not know blessings ah! That year, your grandmother and I went to the Black Dragon River to find your uncle and ate elm leaf s and drank fructus cucurbitae soup and perished. It was fortunate that we met a kind-hearted person at the Siping Station who gifted us food and tickets; it was also fortunate that a good station master escorted us from Yi Chunnan to the Siping; it was even more fortunate that the train conductor we met on the train from the Siping to the generalization allowed us to sit at the generalization. These people who have done us favors, we will never forget for the rest of our lives. " When the three children heard this, they were all surprised and said in unison:

"AHH!" "So it turns out that you guys have suffered so much. I truly didn't expect this to happen." Zi Peng took over the stubble and said:

"Alright, let's stop talking. It's the new year, let's eat."

A reunion and auspicious Spring Festival dinner ended with laughter and cheers...

The next step was to wrap the dumplings while watching TV. Today's dumplings had two types of stuffing. One was from the celery pork meat, and according to the old man, eating the celery dumplings would allow one to be diligent during the year. The other was from the leek tri-fresh stuffing. It is said that eating this kind of dumplings during the new year can make people rich for a long time. Before wrapping these two dumplings, also wrap some traditional dumplings. The first was to pack 10 dollars, that is to say, to wash the bag with the coin and put it in the dumpling, whoever ate more money would have the better money; the second was to pack 10 dates, who ate more dates, who could get up early every day and had good luck; the third was to pack 10 sugar, whoever ate more sugar would have the sweet taste in their work. While they were talking, the three dumplings were wrapped and cooked together with the other dumplings. At that time, whoever eats the money, dates, or sugar, will be determined by their luck.

Tonight at 8 pm, CCTV launched the Spring Festival Gala. Hey! The TV show was brilliant: Zhao Benshan's skit, Fenggong's crosstalk, Peng Liyuan's singing … What a feast for the eyes and ears.

At the moment, the foster father was smoking and watching television. The 83-year-old died when he was a child and lived with his father. Ever since he had become sensible, he had been acting like a lackey, letting pigs and cows. When he reached adulthood, he had to work long hours for the landowner to bear all the hardships and hardships. He was married once when he was young and died of illness. Therefore, there was no money to marry again. His father died just in time for the earth reform. During the establishment of the cooperative to the people's commune, he served as President of the Poor Association in the production team. There had never been a time like this, when he had a family, a family, a family, a family, a family, a family, a family, a family, a family, a family, a family, a family, a family, a family, a family, a family, a family, a family, a family, a family. Especially this year's Spring Festival, it made him even more touched. He watched TV and said to Zi Peng,

"Child, in your entire life, I have never had such a good life, nor have I ever been as happy as I am today. Even though the three of you are not my biological parents, you guys treat me better than your biological parents. As he spoke, tears rolled down his face. Zi Peng said:

"Great sir, look! It's the new year, why are you crying so easily?" The old man wiped his tears and said:

"Zi Peng, these are tears of happiness, these are tears of happiness." As the saying goes, 'A man doesn't shed tears lightly', but this was something he couldn't help it! He couldn't control it! To be honest, I was a bit worried when I took your family over. I'm afraid that you will be bullied, I'm afraid that you won't be able to live up to your expectations, I'm afraid that your wings will become hard in the future and you won't care about me. But now, it seemed, there was nothing to fear. You are like family to me, and all my scruples are lifted. Your uncle's life has not been lived in vain, I am satisfied. "

It was now 10: 30 P.M., the dumplings had been wrapped, and the television was at its climax. There were firecrackers outside. After another half an hour, the dumplings were cooked. Zi Peng and his foster father came out to set off fireworks. Mother wrapped in a thick cotton jacket, in the company of three granddaughters, come out to see fireworks. Zi Peng lived on the northern hillside of the team, looking down from above. The farmers ahead of them could clearly see the fireworks. Standing in the yard, he looked ahead: he saw more than thirty lanterns scattered across the ravine, the crackling of firecrackers, the explosions of fireworks.

Zi Peng lit up the 5000 Earthbound Red String of Earth that he had prepared in advance on Line 8, which was used to dry clothes. The courtyard was suddenly as deafening as if it had exploded. Smoke filled the air. The light of the firecrackers mingled with the light of the lanterns, making the yard as bright as day. When the last note of the firecrackers was finished, the first one was the fireworks. Seventy-two flowers shot up into the sky, and after the explosion, there were all kinds of colorful flowers. Below the firecrackers, there was' Mascot '. Behind them, there were still the Flash Thunder, Gold Dragon Beads, Flute Sound Bullets, and other fireworks that were ignited one by one. After the fireworks, they all returned to the house to prepare dumplings. At this time, Ding Xiaofeng had already placed the dumplings on the table.

The dumplings on the Spring Festival had a different flavor. Firstly, because the atmosphere was different, he felt that the dumplings were especially fragrant; secondly, he felt that the dumplings were especially delicious because of their abundant meat. Therefore, it tasted especially appetizing. Not for anything else, just to get a little more money. At the end of the meal, there were still three pieces of money that he had yet to finish. Cheng Hua ate two pieces of money, his mother ate two, Zi Peng, Qing Hua and Yu Hua ate one each. Right now, it was almost 12 o'clock. The clock was about to strike midnight.

When the clock struck midnight, Zi Peng and his family greeted each other. First, Zi Peng paid his respects to the old man. After saluting him, he said:

"Great, Mother, happy new year!" I wish you two old people happiness, happiness, and good health in this new year. " After that, three children for grandpa, grandma New Year, and also for father, mother New Year.

After the New Year greetings, Zi Peng gave his three daughters the New Year's money. After 12 o'clock was the first day of the first month, January 29, 1987. Although it was already past midnight, everyone was still in high spirits and had yet to sleep. Thus, Zi Peng played poker with his three daughters until 3 in the morning before each of them fell asleep …

On the first day of the new year, the sky was clear and the sun was shining brightly. It was as if no matter what object it was, there would always be a new feeling. Around 9 AM, everyone who had come to pay their respects to the old man arrived. The first was Wen Zhan's family of three. Wen Zhan was 34 years old, with a height of 1.75 metres; his wife, Sun Shixiang, 33 years old, with a height of 1.6 metres or more; his skin was white, and his eyes were big; and Wang Ju, 8 years old. Wen Zhan's family lived in the Hun Jiang and had come here by morning. In 1973, he went to the Wudaojiang Coal Mine and worked as a coal miner for more than a year. One day, he took a bus home. He began to talk with a comrade sitting next to him. Coincidentally, this person lived in WuDao Jiang and worked at Tonggang's Jianan Company. He wanted to find someone to switch back to, to work in the coal mine, close to home. Sometimes, things could just be so coincidental. It was truly an opportunity. Only when there was an opportunity would they be able to meet each other. Wang Wen had long harbored this thought, but there was no such thing as an opportunity. Today, when he heard that person talk about the match, he was secretly happy. The two of them agreed on the spot. Just like this, Wen Zhan transferred from Wu Dao River to Tonggang's Jian An Company. Since he was close to home, he no longer had to travel by commuter car. It was like killing two birds with one stone. After working at Tonggang for less than a year, he was transferred to Power plant along with a worker there. This time, he was even closer to home. He only needed to walk for an hour to get to the office. Another year passed, Hun Jiang wanted to build a Power plant, they needed workers, Wen Zhan was transferred to Hun Jiang. In this way, he settled down in Hun Jiang and married Sun Shixiang, a young intellectual from the countryside in 1975.

Wen Zhan had arrived for around 10 minutes, while Wen Tian, Chun Lan and the others had already brought their children over. Wen Tian was 49 years old and 1.72 meters tall. Wen Tian's wife, Zhang Qingyun, 44 years old. Wen Tian had three sons and one daughter; Chun Lan was 41 years old, her lover Zhang Engrong was 45 years old, and was a veteran. Chun Lan also had three daughters. This time, it was truly lively. With 14 more people, Zi Peng's three rooms were squeezed to the brim.

On this day, the happiest and happiest person was his mother. When she saw that her grandchildren and granddaughters had all come to greet her, she was so excited that tears flowed out of her eyes. The lunch was a sumptuous lunch. Because the three brothers didn't drink alcohol, they could only drink soft drinks, champagne, and the like. At this time, the foster father raised his wine cup and said:

"You guys come over on the first day of the new year to pay respects to your mother and me. I'm really happy from the bottom of my heart. "Here, everyone raise your goblets. As long as you have feelings, all of us will drink wine. Cheers!" After drinking the wine in his cup, he said:

"I wish you four a happy new year and a successful one! I wish the children a good study, Upwards Ho! "

Thus, the sumptuous lunch started … In the blink of an eye, it was already afternoon. Everyone bid farewell to their mother and foster father before returning to their own homes …

The grand, noisy, auspicious, happy Spring Festival was over, and everything was quiet again. Zi Peng saw off his brothers and sisters, standing alone in front of the door for a long time. What was he thinking? He was thinking about what he should do this year; about how he should increase his efforts to plant ginseng in the courtyard; about how to prepare the fields and paddy fields; about how he should feed the two old men a little bit better and let them live their lives in peace …

For the field, paddy field preparation work, must start preparation, one is to buy corn, soybean, rice excellent varieties back. The new variety is more than twice the yield of the old variety. Fertilizer, pesticide, the film used to raise seedlings also needs to be fully prepared. In addition, a new plough was needed this year. The one that was used last year was already out of repair and could no longer be used. This required going to the mountain to cut down the materials needed to make the plow.

In terms of ginseng planting, it could be said that through two years of practice experience, Zipeng's technique was unspoken. Then he would have to strike the iron while it was still hot. In the fall, he would develop ten curtains of ginseng, sow the five curtains with his ginseng seeds without any problem, and then buy two years old ginseng seeds and plant the five curtains without any problem. He could buy at least four and a half thousand of those five curtains of ginseng in the fall. It could also be used to buy ginseng and plant, or to buy awning film, pesticides, iron wire and other supplies. However, what troubled him was that the slope was too thin, there were too many stones, and it would take a great deal of effort to improve the soil; the soil would have to be sifted through, the mountain would have to be stripped, the humus would have to be transported, and the farm would have to be fattened up; two pigs and a cow wouldn't have enough dung. What should he do? He planned to buy two more pigs to collect dung. The use of the fork, the crossbeam, and the artemisia rod was double what it used to be. These tasks, if not thought of, would be a hindrance and a failure of the plan. As for the ginseng, he had thought of this first. Also, the two elderly people were close to their teens. Their adoptive father was 83 years old, and their mother was 75 years old. From the looks of it, they were in good health. When a person is old, he should be properly retired and not work. However, the two old men refused to listen no matter how much they tried to persuade them. They insisted on doing as much as they could. Well, the foster father did a lot of work last year, too. His mother could not stay idle any longer. She would go to the yard to pick the grass, pick the legumes s, feed the pigs, feed the chickens and ducks, and bend her waist from exhaustion. Zi Peng told them to rest more, but they wouldn't listen. Sigh! There was really no other way. If the old people were left with no work at all, they would go crazy. Therefore, Zi Peng thought, he could only make the old man more delicious food in terms of diet and make him happy in terms of his mental life. In addition to watching TV and listening to the radio, he would often ask about warmth. Don't make the old people angry, make the old people happy …

At this moment, the sky had already darkened, leaving behind the afterglow of the setting sun in the western horizon …