At the beginning, he took his seven younger siblings to join Yi Zhonghai.

New Year, new look.

Everything is renewed.

At this time, the streets and alleys of Nanluoguxiang were already decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations.

Pairs of large red lanterns hung high at the main entrance.

The booming sound of firecrackers could be heard from time to time.

The streets were filled with the laughter of children playing around with small firecrackers and snacks.

There were also adults in work clothes carrying bags of New Year's goods they had just bought from the market.

Regardless of whether you know them or not.

Anyway, our eyes met.

They smiled at each other and wished each other a Happy New Year.

Ok.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Yi Zhongding experienced the local customs and culture that were completely different from those of later generations.

I also have many feelings.

Soon.

He then returned to the courtyard house.

Yan Bugui had already brought the table, writing brushes, ink, and red paper from home to the yard and set them out early.

The smile on his face remained snobbish.

Ever since he moved into this courtyard.

This is also a traditional activity in the courtyard every year during the Spring Festival—writing couplets.

He still charges one cent per word.

It's cheaper than outside.

"Happy New Year, Teacher Yan! You're writing couplets; your handwriting is so beautiful."

He saw Yi Zhongding as soon as he entered the courtyard and greeted him.

The two had a verbal altercation.

But we have no grudge against each other.

Of course, we should greet each other with joy when we meet.

"Zhongding, Happy New Year! Have you written yours yet? Why don't you get one from me?"

Yan Bugui seemed to have forgotten that he had been humiliated, and cheerfully cupped his hands in greeting.

"My family is in a special situation this year, so I probably won't write anything. I'll go home and ask."

Yi Zhongding said with a smile.

At this time, some people from the courtyard came to write couplets.

He then took the opportunity to return to the Intermediate People's Court.

The younger siblings are already up and playing in the yard.

I saw him go home.

They all crowded around him.

They chattered and made a lot of noise.

Yi Zhongding also patiently teased them for a while.

"Sister-in-law, there's a couplet being written in the front yard. Did we hire that Mr. Yan to write it? Are we doing it again this year?"

Yi Zhongding asked his sister-in-law, who was busy in the kitchen.

"Dingya is back. Your older brother told us that we were supposed to put up some decorations this year for the festive occasion, but since Fourth Aunt just passed away, we won't."

"But you have to buy two sets, one for Zhu Zi's house and the other for the old lady in the backyard. Please help put them up."

Tan Xiulian poked her head out from the kitchen and said with a smile.

"Okay, I have some on me. I received 40 yuan. Here's 39 yuan for you. I'll keep one yuan for myself."

Yi Zhongding got up and went to the kitchen, taking out the pension he had just received and giving it to her.

"Keep this for yourself. You can't do without some money. Tomorrow your older brother will take you to the temple market. Keep it to buy things you need."

Tan Xiulian returned the money to him.

"Then I'll keep five yuan. That's more than enough. We agreed that night that the whole family should work together. Please keep it."

Yi Zhongding stuffed the money into her pocket and then turned and left.

Tan Xiulian watched his retreating figure, her eyes welling up with tears.

He set off for the front yard.

Five little tails immediately followed behind.

The youngest, Zhongxin and Zhongyan, don't get up that early.

Otherwise, there would be two more.

After buying the couplets, Yi Zhongding went to put them up at He Yuzhu's house first.

Finally, they arrived at the backyard.

At this point, the five little tails that had been following him all went home to play.

They inexplicably disliked deaf old women.

Sometimes the old lady would go to the Yi family to chat with her sister-in-law.

They never approached.

The deaf old lady was sitting in the sun at her doorstep.

The weather is nice today.

There was no wind or rain, and the sun overhead was gentle.

"Grandma, Happy New Year! My sister-in-law asked me to put up some couplets for your family to bring good luck and wish you good health."

Yi Zhongding also greeted him politely.

"Well, it's kind of you that you still remember this lonely old lady."

The deaf old woman raised her eyelids and glanced at him, then said in a sarcastic tone.

"That's right, out of the whole compound, only our eldest brother and sister-in-law truly care about you."

Yi Zhongding didn't mince words either.

Upon hearing this, the deaf old lady's face immediately fell, she gave a soft snort, and closed her eyes again.

Yi Zhongding didn't argue with her any longer; he finished putting up the couplets and went home.

The deaf old woman watched his figure disappear into the moon archway.

His cloudy eyes suddenly cleared.

It immediately drooped down again.

I wonder what she was thinking at that moment.

It was almost noon.

He Yuzhu hurriedly returned from the restaurant.

The "battlefield" for the New Year's Eve dinner shifted from Yi's kitchen to his home.

After all, he's a chef.

The house is fully equipped with all the necessary tools.

"Uncle Zhongding, about that couplet, Auntie said you paid for it. How much was it? I'll pay you back."

He Yuzhu saw him enter and said.

"That's not fair. You went through so much trouble to come back and cook the New Year's Eve dinner. If I argue with you about this, it would make me seem petty. Let's not talk about it."

"Is there anything I can do to help? I'll lend a hand."

Yi Zhongding waved his hand and said sincerely.

"This is what I do. Cooking is not hard work. If it weren't for Grandpa Yi taking pity on my brother and me, I wouldn't have been able to cook this meal."

"Could you help me prepare the vegetables? I really can't manage it all by myself."

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu didn't mention giving money again.

A short while later.

Tan Xiulian also came to help prepare the New Year's Eve dinner.

"Auntie, you must be happier than anyone else this year. There are eight more younger brothers and sisters in the family, so the New Year is no longer cold and lonely."

He Yuzhu said this while cooking.

"That's right, Auntie never dreamed this day would come."

Upon hearing this, Tan Xiulian couldn't stop smiling.

"You have a kind heart, and God is watching over you. Look at those guys outside, they're having a blast. Even Rain has playmates now."

"Look how strong those two are in the back; they can already walk on their own."

He Yuzhu looked out the window at the children outside, then at the two babies inside, and said with a smile.

"Dingya, Zhongxin and Zhongyan are just one year old now, but after tonight they will be three years old and will have to be able to walk."

Tan Xiulian smiled upon hearing this.

She watched the two babies in the room who would occasionally stand up and take a few steps, but then become unsteady, and the smile on her face never faded.

"Born at 1 a.m. on New Year's Eve in 2015, that's right, the child will be three years old after the New Year."

Yi Zhongding said without thinking.

The Gregorian calendar, also known as the solar calendar or the Western calendar, is not widely used in everyday life.

They still used the lunar calendar, which was later established as the agricultural calendar, to determine the child's birth date.

Therefore, even though the Lunar New Year's Eve of 1951 was already February of 1952 in the Gregorian calendar.

However, Zhongxin and Zhongyan's registered birthday is still December 30, 1951.

Calling someone three years old is equivalent to calling them three years old in the traditional Chinese way.

I've suddenly become two years older.

Yi Zhongding wondered if the two little ones would complain when they grew up.

Newborn.

She hasn't even had a couple of sips of milk yet.

It's a two-year-old child now.