Chapter 21: New Year’s Festival, Naming Ceremony
As the New Year’s Festival approached, the villagers of Yang Family Village were filled with excitement, regardless of the cold winter. Many villagers went to the town or county to purchase festive goods, or visited relatives and friends to exchange gifts.
Yang Zhengshan was no exception. This time, he went to the county to bring his sons, Yang Mingcheng and Yang Minghao, to learn and also to buy festive goods.
The festive goods filled an entire ox cart, including fabrics, fur, tea leaves, and meat, which cost Yang Zhengshan over twenty taels of silver.
After returning home, Yang Zhengshan immediately divided the festive goods into two categories: some for his own family’s use and some as gifts for relatives and friends.
The next day, Yang Family started exchanging gifts. Yang Mingcheng accompanied his wife, Wang, to her maternal home, while Yang Mingzhi accompanied his wife, Li, to her maternal home. Yang Zhengshan, accompanied by Yang Minghao, visited each household in the village, respecting his elders and presenting gifts to those who were older or of higher status.
Yang Zhengshan’s guiding principle was “to be generous in giving gifts, but not to show off” – he would spend according to his means, but not try to impress others.
Each household received a gift of pork and cotton cloth, which was both practical and not too expensive. In fact, Yang Zhengshan spent only three taels of silver on gifts in Yang Family Village, with the largest share going to Yang Zhengxiang, the clan head.
Of course, Yang Zhengshan’s gift-giving wouldn’t be complete without visiting his elderly father-in-law, Lu Songhe.
Since the original body’s wife had passed away, the responsibility of taking care of Lu Songhe fell on Yang Zhengshan’s shoulders.
Yang Zhengshan personally brought Yang Mingcheng, Yang Minghao, and Yang Yunxue to visit Lu Family in Qinghe Town.
Perhaps due to Yang Zhengshan’s recent changes, or perhaps due to Lu Songhe’s emotional breakthrough, the Lu Family’s attitude towards Yang Zhengshan had become increasingly warm.
Coincidentally, Lu Zhaoqi was also at home, and Yang Zhengshan had a few drinks with Lu Zhaoqi and his brother, Lu Zhaoran. When they returned home, they were all lying in the ox cart.
Time passed quickly, and soon it was New Year’s Eve.
This was Yang Zhengshan’s first New Year’s Festival in this world, and it held a different significance.
To him, the New Year’s Festival was a time of loneliness. After his grandparents had passed away, he would spend the festival alone, sitting by the window, watching the fireworks in the sky, and missing the good old days.
But now, surrounded by a big, happy family, his feelings of loneliness suddenly disappeared.
“Father, it’s time to worship our ancestors!” Yang Mingcheng came to Yang Zhengshan’s side and said.
“Worship our ancestors!” Yang Zhengshan was taken aback for a moment before reacting.
According to the customs of Yang Family Village, on New Year’s Eve, they would set up an ancestral altar, offer sacrifices to their ancestors, and invite them to return home for the festival.
Yang Family Village, being the main clan of the Yang Family, would hold a grand ceremony, and almost the entire village would participate.
“Are we all ready?” Yang Zhengshan turned to look at the offerings prepared by Wang and Li.
“Yes, we’re all ready! There are already many people waiting at the back of the village!” Yang Mingcheng replied.
Yang Zhengshan nodded slightly and walked out of the house, heading towards the back of the village.
As soon as he arrived, he was greeted by many villagers.
Yang Zhengxiang was already there, and when he saw Yang Zhengshan, he hurriedly pulled him to the front.
Yang Family Village’s ancestral altar was located at the back of the mountain, where the ancestors of the Yang Family were buried.
In the past, the original body would follow the villagers to worship the ancestors, but now Yang Zhengxiang led him to the front.
This was a manifestation of the changes in Yang Zhengshan’s status within the Yang Family.
The worship ceremony was a grand affair, with many offerings and prayers. Yang Zhengshan didn’t know how many times he had to kowtow, but eventually, the ceremony came to an end.
When he returned home, his knees were covered in mud.
New Year’s Eve dinner was a grand feast, with Wang and Li preparing a table full of delicious dishes.
The family of Yang Zhengshan feasted and laughed, enjoying the festive atmosphere.
Wang was especially happy, eating and chatting with her children.
Li was also beaming with joy, feeding her children fish and meat.
“This is delicious!”
Yang Yunxue would never forget to take care of Wang’s eldest daughter, treating her like her own younger sister.
Wang’s eldest daughter was no longer timid, having become more lively and energetic.
Yang Zhengshan smiled, looking at his big, happy family, feeling a sense of loneliness that was suppressed deep within his heart.
On the first day of the New Year, Yang Zhengshan got up early and took out the prepared red envelopes.
After eating breakfast, Yang Zhengshan sat in the central hall, watching as family members came to pay their respects.
Starting from Yang Mingcheng, Wang carried Yang Qingwan and led Yang Chengyi.
“Greetings, Father! Wish you good health and a happy New Year!”
“Good, good!” Yang Zhengshan smiled and handed out red envelopes, each containing one tael of silver.
But Yang Zhengshan had specially prepared a silver lock for his eldest granddaughter, Yang Qingwan, which he put on her.
Yang Qingwan was fascinated, grasping the silver lock and biting it.
“Thank you, Father!” Wang smiled, her eyes curved, and said various blessings.
After a month of learning, Wang had learned many things, although she still didn’t recognize many characters, but she could recite blessings fluently, perhaps thanks to Yang Mingcheng’s secret teachings.
Next was Yang Mingzhi’s family. Compared to Wang, Li’s temperament was more gentle and humble, not competitive, and easily overlooked.
However, Yang Zhengshan knew that this second daughter-in-law was cleverer than the first.
Not competing didn’t mean being taken advantage of. The original body had always maintained fairness and justice in the family, and Yang Zhengshan continued this tradition.
Since the family head could be fair, Li, as the daughter-in-law, didn’t need to compete.
This was Li’s cleverness, as she understood and thought clearly.
Then came Yang Minghao, Yang Yunxue, Lin Zhan, and finally Wang Daliao.
Wang Daliao held her brother and kowtowed heavily, startling Yang Zhengshan.
“What are you doing, you girl?” Yang Zhengshan quickly reached out to help her up.
“Don’t kowtow so heavily, you’ll make a hole in the ground!”
When Yang Zhengshan helped her up, he saw tears in her eyes.
“Thank you, Master!”
Yang Zhengshan knew she was unhappy and understood her gratitude.
“Okay, okay, it’s New Year’s, don’t cry!”
Saying this, he put a red envelope and a silver lock in her sleeves.
Although Wang Daliao’s brother was not related to him, Yang Zhengshan treated him equally, giving him the same gifts as his own grandchildren.
“Today is a happy day, Master can give you a name!” Yang Zhengshan suddenly thought of Wang Daliao’s name.
Wang Daliao lifted her head, her face filled with expectation, and said, “Master can give my brother a name too?”
This girl valued her brother more than herself.
“Both!” Yang Zhengshan smiled.
He thought for a moment and said, “From now on, you’ll be called Wang Yunqiao, and your brother will be called Wang Mingzhe.”
Wang Daliao was his disciple, so he directly gave her a name with the character “cloud”, and “qiao” because she was skilled with her hands, making excellent clothes.
As for Wang Mingzhe, the name was inspired by the three brothers Yang Mingcheng, Yang Mingzhi, and Yang Minghao.
“Thank you, Master!”
Wang Daliao, or rather Wang Yunqiao, was overjoyed, crying and kowtowing heavily again.
“Okay, okay, stop kowtowing, your forehead is red!”
“Yunxue, help her up!”
Yang Zhengshan was a bit helpless.
This habit of kowtowing excessively was something he couldn’t get used to.
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