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

"Auntie, you guys are just too kind, you think too much about them. There are a few people in this yard who aren't always trying to take advantage of others. Take Teacher Yan in the front yard, for example, he's such a cheapskate."

"Last year, the Xu family gave their children red envelopes containing one cent each. Do you know how much they gave back?"

"Hey, one cent each. They only had three kids back then, while the Xu family only had two."

"Believe it or not, if the amount in the red envelope were fixed at one cent, Old Man Yan might not be happy about it."

He Yuzhu curled his lip and said with a disdainful look.

"Everyone has their own way of living. The Yan family is indeed having a tough time. He only has one salary, and it's not high. Now he has to support six people, four of whom are children. He has to be careful with his money."

Tan Xiulian said with a smile.

"Well, it was all for nothing."

He Yuzhu shrugged, then took out a few red envelopes from his pocket and said:

"Zhonghua, this is a red envelope from Brother Zhu for the seven of you. I just got my salary too, so this is just to show my appreciation. Zhongding and I are about the same age, but you don't have any."

"Zhu Zi, what are you doing? I appreciate the sentiment, but take the red envelope back. You're raising your sister alone, which is even harder for you, and you're not even married yet. Why are you giving me a red envelope?"

Upon hearing this, Tan Xiulian quickly replied.

"Auntie, you and Uncle Yi have taken good care of us these past few years. We've been able to avoid being taken advantage of in this courtyard thanks to your help."

"It's just to express my appreciation, so please don't stand on ceremony with me."

"Zhonghua, take this."

He Yuzhu broke free from her hand, squeezed in front of the children, and stuffed the red envelope into Zhonghua's hand.

"Brother Zhu, our two families ate New Year's Eve dinner together, just like family. Why bother with all this? We appreciate the sentiment, but you can keep the red envelope."

"Buy some meat for Yushui to nourish her body, or some cloth to make her a new dress. Also, save some money, because you're of marriageable age and will need money then."

"Is that right? That's why we don't engage in these unorthodox practices."

Yi Zhongding also helped to persuade them.

He never expected that this silly Zhu would pull this stunt.

I reckon they chose to bring it out when Yi Zhonghai wasn't around.

The three of them were exchanging pleasantries.

Yi Zhonghai pushed the door open and, seeing this scene, chuckled, "What's going on here?"

"This pillar insists on giving red envelopes to a few children, how can we accept them?"

Tan Xiulian said with a laugh.

"Haha, after the New Year, Zhuzi will be an eighteen-year-old young man. According to the laws of this new country, he can get married in two more years. He's quite sensible now."

"Let's accept it, let's keep it. It's a token of his love for the children, and we'll happily accept it."

"Perfect timing! Go and take out the red envelope you gave for Rain Water, and give it to everyone at once. It'll make everyone happy."

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai looked somewhat surprised, but quickly burst into laughter and said...

"Auntie, you see, now there's nothing to say, it has to be Uncle Yi."

He Yuzhu laughed triumphantly.

He then distributed the red envelopes to Yi Zhonghua and the other seven children one by one.

Tan Xiulian understood the implied meaning, turned around and went back into the house. A little while later, she came out with a red envelope and handed it to He Yushui.

"Hey, Auntie, what about me?"

He Yuzhu joked with a cheerful smile.

"You're such a grown man, you've become so capable, you can even give red envelopes to kids now."

Tan Xiulian laughed and scolded.

"Alright, let's go. After lunch, we'll come back and have the New Year's gathering in the courtyard. The sun should be out by then, and it'll be warm."

Yi Zhonghai said with a smile.

The two families then set off together to visit the temple fair.

Six little children sat in three small bamboo carts.

They were so excited they were dancing with joy.

He was shaking the rattle drum in his hand with great enthusiasm.

Zhonghua, on the other hand, held an incense stick in his hand and had a small whip in his pocket.

I never forget to order one wherever I go.

He Yuzhu and He Yushui joined in the fun, and the three of them each lit a fire.

Yi Zhongding, pushing his small bamboo cart, didn't join in the fun.

There are many children like him on the street.

You could hear adults constantly reminding you: If you burn your clothes, you'll get a beating; if you burn someone, you'll get a beating; whatever you do, you'll get a beating.

Everyone keeps saying it during the Chinese New Year.

Not a single person made a move.

"Zhonghua, when we get to the temple fair, put away the incense when there are a lot of people, so as not to burn people."

Tan Xiulian watched him set off firecrackers everywhere with tenderness, but she didn't forget to give him a word of advice.

"I understand. I'll put the incense sticks by the roadside in a bit."

Yi Zhonghua nodded upon hearing this.

There were many temple fairs in old Beijing.

The five most famous are: Longfusi Temple, Changdian, Baiyun Temple, Longtan Lake, and Ditan Temple Fair.

There are two places close to Nanluoguxiang: Longfusi Temple and Ditan Temple Fair.

They are located in opposite directions, one to the south and one to the north.

Longfu Temple is the closest.

You can go by foot.

The main building of Longfu Temple is a rectangular courtyard building.

It is a huge temple with five gates and seven main halls.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the area in front of Longfusi Temple where temple fairs were held was transformed into the "Dongsi People's Market".

This was also the first large market built after the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Although the name has changed, the lively atmosphere remains.

The market's main buildings consist of four large sheds: the first two are square and the last two are rectangular, with a total area of ​​5728 square meters.

It accommodates more than a thousand businesses in total.

The goods are as dazzling and colorful as those in the Dong'an Market.

The market offers a vast array of goods, including general merchandise, enamelware, cloth and leather shoes, record players, Western medicine, textiles and clothing, knitwear, socks, hats, children's clothing, used books, toys, stationery, hardware tools, eyeglasses and watches, specialty crafts, electrical supplies, radios, used leather suitcases, Western tableware, dried and fresh fruits, snacks, bicycle parts, and more.

The fact that vendors from the same industry set up their stalls together creates a pleasing sense of order amidst the chaos.

We hadn't even reached the Longfu Temple Fair yet.

It was already a sea of ​​people, a dense and chaotic mass.

Yi Zhongding is quite tall.

He stood out from the crowd like a crane among chickens.

So he was responsible for leading the way and clearing the path.

"Good heavens, all I see here are human necks. Luckily, I'm not a butcher."

He Yuzhu craned his neck but still couldn't see the tops of the few people's heads, and couldn't help but complain.

A middle-aged man in front of him chuckled upon hearing this and turned around, saying, "Hey buddy, it's not that serious. I'll let you go first, but don't slit my throat."

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu smiled and clasped his hands in embarrassment.

Various shouts and hawking, children's cheers... the sound of gongs and drums from an acrobatic troupe not far away, and the faint singing, recitation, and acrobatics of a folk art troupe in the distance...

It was really noisy and lively.

Yi Zhongding saw even more prosperous and bustling scenes in later generations.

But he felt that this era was more real.

So they were also immersed in a sea of ​​joy.