Chapter 218: Chapter 218: It’s New Year’s!
As the New Year approached, the sound of firecrackers would occasionally ring out.
During this time, there were quite a variety of firecrackers.
The firecrackers of wealthy families were strings of gunpowder wrapped in red paper, crackling loudly, with the air filled with a delightful smell of gunpowder. As for the poorer families, they either burned bamboo directly or whipped the air to create a sound.
Initially, Old Yuan was also prepared to burn some bamboo joints.
However, Yuan Wangdi and Yuan Laidi returned, bringing back a good amount of Silver Coin. The family discussed it and decided to simply go to the town and buy some gunpowder firecrackers.
With that, the Yuan Family, which was already prominent in Beishan Village, became even more illustrious.
Although Yuan Shoucheng and his brothers didn’t get many of the gunpowder firecrackers, even having just one was enough for them to show off among the group of children.
On New Year’s day, early in the morning, Old Yuan personally lit an entire string of gunpowder firecrackers.
The crisp and loud sound of the firecrackers became the first in Beishan Village.
Even the village chief, Jiang Zhengqin, seeing this scene, was filled with envy.
Although the Beishan Village ancestors were indeed affluent, their current lives were truly tight.
"When will these days come to an end?"
Jiang Zhengqin sighed deeply, returning to his own courtyard.
Although the villagers were allocated land, living well solely on this land was clearly unrealistic.
But due to their background, apart from farming, they couldn’t do much else.
Engage in trade?
Impossible!
For their clan, unless they fled from Daxia, they couldn’t move freely.
And if they chose to flee Daxia, it would mean betrayal; the Xia royal family wouldn’t let them live comfortably in foreign lands.
In short, the sins committed by their ancestors had to be repaid by these descendants.
The Yuan Family was already well aware of the situation in Beishan Village.
If not for the fear of angering the Daxia royalty by leaving, Old Yuan would definitely have packed up and moved to another place.
Unlike now, no matter what, someone from the Yuan Family had to stay in Beishan Village.
Of course, compared to the Jiang clan in Beishan Village, the Yuan Family was quite free; at least they could travel outside and move freely within Daxia.
After setting off the gunpowder firecrackers, Old Yuan clasped his hands behind his back, humming a little tune as he leisurely walked home.
The moment the old man walked into the yard, Yuan Shoucheng led a group of brothers, hollering, towards the site of the exploded firecrackers, hoping to find a few unlit ones.
A string of gunpowder firecrackers would always have a few that failed to go off.
Soon after Yuan Shoucheng and his group started scavenging, the village kids joined in.
This group of kids nearly dug three feet into the ground.
Unfortunately, after searching and searching, they only found three unlit firecrackers.
For Yuan Bao, such toys as firecrackers held no interest.
If she wanted to play, she could always ask her grandfather for some.
According to the Yuan Family’s customs, on New Year’s Eve, they eat chicken at noon, dumplings at night, and fish for the New Year’s Eve dinner. Eating dumplings symbolizes reunion, eating fish means prosperity every year, but as for why they eat chicken at noon, Yuan Bao didn’t know.
After asking her grandmother, there was no explanation either.
However, Yuan Bao didn’t insist on finding out, as long as there was good food, it didn’t matter.
Unexpectedly, mid-morning, You Cang came, and he brought gifts.
Lately, You Cang would occasionally come over, and each time he would bring various snacks. Yuan Bao, in return, would give him some homemade snacks from her grandmother to take back, as an exchange of gifts.