Courtyard House: Passing through the Silly Pillar, Activating the Blessed Cave Heaven

22

When the two met again, a brand new China had already stood tall in the East.

On the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month, the steel rolling mill began its annual holiday.

Although He Yuzhu's body is inhabited by the soul of He Yuzhu from the future, under the dual influence of the original owner's memories and the festive atmosphere, he, like an ordinary child, is immersed in the joy of the New Year.

These days, he always takes his younger sister, He Yushui, out to play, and the two siblings' relationship has become increasingly close.

On New Year's Eve, He Daqing prepared five dishes and even had his son show off his cooking skills.

On the table were braised fish with broad bean paste, stir-fried chicken, fried eggs, braised beef, Mapo tofu cooked by He Yuzhu, and two bowls of steaming dumplings.

He Yushui had been sitting obediently at the dining table, eagerly waiting for the meal to be served.

"Zhu Zi, go light the firecrackers." With He Daqing's call, He Yuzhu ran excitedly to the yard, spread out a meter-long firecracker, carefully lit the fuse with incense, and then quickly ran back into the house.

Amidst the deafening sound of firecrackers, the whole family enjoyed their New Year's Eve dinner in a joyful atmosphere.

On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, He Yuzhu, wearing a brand-new coat, first followed his father to worship their ancestors, and then offered incense to Yi Ya, the patriarch of the culinary world.

As he received the New Year's red envelope from He Daqing, he heard his father say, "Later, I'll take you to the Changdian Temple Fair." This excited He Yuzhu, who had been an ordinary worker in his previous life—he finally had the chance to see the famous Beiping Temple Fair with his own eyes.

He Daqing carried He Yushui on his back, with He Yuzhu following closely behind. The three of them walked through the bustling streets and arrived at Hepingmen about an hour later.

He Yushui rode on her father's shoulders, waving her little hands and cheering excitedly.

At the Changdian Temple Fair, people came and went in an endless stream. He Daqing bought a string of bright red candied hawthorns for each of his siblings.

Along the street, kite shops displayed all kinds of kites, like a colorful painting. He Yuzhu stared at the exquisite bamboo-framed paper kites, unable to tear himself away.

The sounds of vendors from all over the country filled my ears, and the aroma of braised tripe and pea flour cakes kept wafting into my nose.

Suddenly, the sound of gongs and drums rang out, and a pair of golden and red lions leaped and tumbled to the beat of the drums. Behind them were Sichuan opera performers who breathed fire. He Yuzhu was so excited that he couldn't help but put all the New Year's money in his pocket into the gong in the performer's hand.

At noon, the father and his two sons squatted by the roadside eating donkey meat sandwiches, with sauce dripping down He Yushui's fingers.

As dusk painted the eaves red, He Yuzhu was still thinking about the unicycle that performed the bowl-spinning act.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, He Daqing carried his youngest daughter through the alley paved with blue bricks, while He Yuzhu followed beside him, carrying a box of pork belly and pastries wrapped in oil paper.

"Ergou! Is your dad home?" He Daqing called out to a boy playing with a sheep's knucklebone by the door.

The boy dashed into the yard to deliver the message, while a little girl in a floral jacket hid behind the door frame, secretly observing them.

"Remember," He Daqing said to He Yuzhu in a low voice, "Master Wu has five children. The ones just now were the fourth and fifth." As soon as he finished speaking, Wu Baotian lifted the cotton curtain and came out to greet them, followed by his whole family.

While He Yushui was being led away to play by a girl with pigtails, He Yuzhu was staring intently at the pair of gleaming copper hot pots on the long table in the main room.