bang bang bang

Before midnight, firecrackers were already ringing in Sijiu City.

Ups and downs, from far to near.

At the gate of the front yard, Yan Fugui led a group of people, carrying firecrackers on bamboo poles. The people behind them were carrying firecrackers, chatting from time to time, and bursts of laughter could be heard.

"Time's up, light the fire."

Yan Fugui pushed up his glasses frame and shouted loudly.

When the voice fell, a group of people immediately stepped forward, lit the matches with a hiss, then lit them and ran back.

Some people are quick to act, while others are slow to respond.

The last person who ran away was surrounded by firecrackers. He was so frightened that he quickly put up his arms to protect his face, shouting that he was unjust, but he ran faster than anyone else.

There was a roar of laughter from those watching the excitement, but they were drowned out by the sound of exploding firecrackers.

In the middle courtyard, Yang Xiaotao was carrying firecrackers with a fishing rod. Mr. Yang lit a cigarette and stepped forward to light it.

The crackling firecrackers kept ringing.

After putting away the fishing rod, I was no longer sleepy during the Dragon Boat Festival, so I led my two younger sisters and ran forward to the yard to pick up unexploded firecrackers on the ground.

Occasionally I saw a few with fuses, and I immediately laughed from ear to ear.

After I finished picking it up here, I immediately ran out and picked it up at the gate.

In normal years, I put more of them there and it is the most productive.

Yang Xiaotao stopped the two girls and walked into the house holding them one by one.

When the dumplings came out, Duanwu ran back with seven or eight firecrackers in his hands, and then Ran Qiuye caught the dirt on his body and criticized him harshly.

After eating dumplings, everyone took a rest.

On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, everyone put on clean clothes and put on new clothes for the Dragon Boat Festival. Then they were ready to go out and start paying New Year greetings.

First, walk around the yard.

Everyone meets each other when they go out, and says happy New Year when they meet.

Walking around the front yard, middle yard, and backyard, children are running left and right. The entire yard is their playground.

Occasionally, when I meet a generous person, I can be happy for a few days if I give them a nickel or ten cents.

After celebrating the New Year in the yard, Yang Xiaotao led Ran Qiuye, Zhang Qing, and the three children out.

Inside the home, Mr. Yang and Ms. Cui stayed in the yard.

When a few people went out, they saw people coming and going on the street, which was very lively.

The sound of firecrackers made the whole street lively.

The red Spring Festival couplets bring a touch of festive color.

On this day, the old streets and alleys are particularly lively.

The street office had already arranged for people to tidy up the place and put up the most beautiful decorations.

Red lanterns and colorful flags flutter in the wind.

Snacks such as cattail fans, fried pancakes, and fried kidneys are roasted in front of each house or in a high-pitched brazier, attracting neighbors to come.

The children were wearing new clothes, holding firecrackers and long candied haws, running and playing in the streets with smiles on their faces.

The square was crowded with people. Young people danced happily to the door god. Some old people gathered together to pay New Year greetings to each other. While talking about the New Year's situation, they stretched their bodies, and their laughter echoed in the air.

On the roads extending in all directions, people driving tricycles and bicycles among the rolling wheels have different expressions, but most of them have sincere blessings.

Standing on the street, Yang Xiaotao held his two daughters and looked around. The sound of firecrackers in the sky was mixed with the spring flower drums, and the drums were cheerful and lively.

Zhang Qing even squeezed into a place selling candied haws, shouted loudly, and then bought a bunch of candied haws.

Then he ran over happily, and the candied haws in his hand turned out to be one meter long.

"Sister-in-law, look, this candied haws on a stick is so long."

Ran Qiuye smiled, "This is a big bunch of candied haws."

Yang Xiaotao looked at the slightly bent candied haws and reminded him kindly, "Eat it quickly or it will melt."

On the side, Duanwu’s eyes widened with greed.

Zhang Qing saw it and handed it to him, "Dragon Boat Festival, count it. If you count it correctly, my little aunt will give you one."

Duanwu nodded immediately, then stretched out his fingers to count one by one.

Everyone walked on the street for a while, and then Yang Xiaotao and his party arrived at Director Wang's house.

I came in to say New Year greetings, sat for a while, then left and went to the next place.

By the time we finished walking around with relatives and friends nearby, it was already noon.

A few people went home for dinner.

Then Yang Xiaotao went out alone and continued walking.

Along the way, we first went to Xu Yuanshan’s house, then to Yang Youning’s house, Liu Huaimin’s house...

They walked down one after another, and then everyone made an appointment to come to Chen Gong's home.

By the time we left again, it was already past ten o'clock in the evening.

After Yang Xiaotao sent Xu Yuanshan home, he returned to the courtyard.

The same goes for the second grade of junior high school. It passed quickly while walking around.

On the morning of the third day of the Lunar New Year, Yang Xiaotao took his grandfather back to Yangjiazhuang.

Yang Dazhuang and others, who got up early, were already ready.

After Mr. Yang came back, the villagers set off in the dark towards Nanshan.

When they came to the river, Yang Xiaotao carried Mr. Yang forward on his back.

Several young and strong people also carried the old man across the river.

"Uncle Da Zhuang, we still need to build a bridge. Otherwise, what will we do when the river water rises?"

After crossing the river with his grandfather on his back, Yang Xiaotao suggested again.

Yang Dazhuang put down Uncle Jiu and nodded after hearing this.

"This year during the slack season, we will organize people to build bridges."

Yang Dazhuang also knew that the bridge would be built sooner or later. Instead of leaving it to future generations to build the bridge, it would be better to do it now.

Everyone walked on the mountain road for a while before arriving at the cemetery.

On this piece of land, there were originally hundreds of tombs, large and small, and now there are several more.

It's still the place full of weeds, some have erected monuments, some are in the village, and some have nothing at all.

Yang Xiaotao followed his grandfather to the ancestral grave, then put down a knife of yellow paper, and then walked to the grave beside him.

Pulling out the weeds in front of the tomb, Yang Xiaotao put down the yellow paper he had brought, and put the steamed buns prepared by Ran Qiuye on top. Finally, he took out a lighter and lit the yellow paper. The flame ignited, and the yellow flame emitted gray smoke.

Finally, he poured the "drink" aside and then looked at the name on the tombstone.

"Dad, Mom, Grandpa and Grandma, I have found them..."

"Mom, grandpa and grandma also said they wanted to come see you, but I didn't let them come, mainly because I was afraid of disturbing you two."

"You and Dad stay well down here and don't think about anything. I'll burn a lot of this money for you, enough to buy a new house..."

Yang Xiaotao was talking in front of the grave, while Mr. Yang was already leading people to kowtow to the ancestral grave.

Yang Xiaotao followed and kowtowed four times to his ancestors respectfully. Then he kowtowed to the graves of his elders with his peers and juniors.

Finally, when we arrived at the graves of our parents, about ten people kowtowed.

After visiting the grave, things in Yangjiazhuang came to an end. Mr. Yang wanted to stay in the village, but Yang Xiaotao dragged him back to Sijiu City and went directly to the Sixth Hospital.

Under the arrangement of Yang Xiaotao, a physical examination was quickly conducted.

It would take two days for the results to come out, so Yang Xiaotao took them back to the courtyard.

On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, Yang Xiaotao officially started working.

This year has passed like this.

There is a lot of preparation, and the days before the new year are also very slow, but during the New Year, I always feel that I have not fully experienced it and it has become a thing of the past.

What we need to deal with now is another year of struggle.

After this Spring Festival, the matter regarding the machinery factory finally came to a conclusion.

On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, Mr. Chen came to the machinery factory with instructions from his superiors.

Except for the second factory, the entire machinery factory, including the directors, deputy directors and directors of each branch factory, all gathered in the conference room.

Mr. Chen then read out the appointment letter on behalf of his superiors.
To be continued...