On the New Year's Eve of the Lunar New Year, this day is the most important festival of the Ming Empire. From emperors, generals and ministers to ordinary people, all kinds of celebrations and entertainment activities are held to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new year. This empress also entered the 18th year of Wanli.

New Year's Eve is of course the day of Wuzhai Fort. At the beginning of this day, the deafening sound of firecrackers kept ringing everywhere in Wuzhai Fort. Every household was busy changing door gods, pasting Spring Festival couplets, hanging New Year's pictures, and pasting window flowers, and there was a festive atmosphere everywhere.

Thank you for the blessing of Mr. Huang, you can have a good New Year this year. Everyone in Wuzhaibao has a smile on their faces. When they meet, they bow to each other happily. And everyone will never forget to thank Mr. Huang.

The street where the military craftsmen of Wuzhaibao lived was also a festive atmosphere. Everyone was busy changing door gods outside the door, pasting Spring Festival couplets, and cleaning their own houses. Although the thatched huts where the military craftsmen lived were still as dilapidated, the cracked holes were all blocked with new mud. In addition, the newly replaced couplet door gods at the door, some firecrackers on the street had a bit of New Year's flavor.

After more than a month of recuperation, these military craftsmen, whether men, women or children, no longer had the same pale face and thin face, and their faces were as beautiful as before. They all looked much better. The cotton coats worn by many people were much thicker, and they would no longer be trembling in the cold wind. In particular, many military craftsmen even put on new clothes and were having some firecrackers to play around. The noise of children kept coming.

While working, adults smiled and looked at their children from time to time, or chatted with neighbors. The most talked about was how many water truck tools they could make after the New Year, and what rewards could they get from the eldest young master. Everyone was full of longing for their future life.

Amid the sound of firecrackers outside, Liu Erniu jumped into the house, which was different from what Huang Laifu saw that day. Today, she was no longer dressed in tatters, but wearing a new cotton jacket and new cotton shoes. It can be seen that although her body has not yet grown up, she will definitely be a beauty when she grows up.

She looked cheerful and ran and shouted, "Sister, sister."

Inside the house, Liu Yumei, a military craftsman, was busy. She stretched her waist and held her feet, showing a beautiful curve under her cotton jacket. She hung several New Year pictures on the wall. All of these New Year pictures were painted with some mascots such as fish, dolls, and other mascots, which wanted to have enough food and clothing.

She had a smile on her face, and while hanging New Year's pictures, she said, "Little sister, you are here just in time. Please help me see if the New Year's pictures are erratic?" After drinking the thick rice porridge and noodle soup over the past few months, her face was much rosy, and she looked even more beautiful without the same dish as before.

Liu Erniu supported her chin, tilted her head, and said with a crisp voice: "Well, let me see, um, sister, I think I'll be hanging up, it won't be tilted."

Liu Yumei clapped her hands and said, "That's good, little sister, accompany you to your sister to put these hangings on the lintel and eaves of the house."

Liu Erniu responded: "Okay, sister, I'll help you." This Hang Qian was a decoration in the Ming Dynasty at that time. It was cut out with red paper, mostly for cranes and deer spring, three sheep blooming in the mountains, and the Eight Immortals crossing the sea. During the New Year, there were many Hangs in the south and the north!

The two sisters worked together and happily hung several strings on each eaves.

The two were busy, and their grandfather, Old Man Liu, came in happily with a few pieces of meat, a few fish, and a small jar of wine.

As soon as he entered the door, his mouth that had no teeth cracked open and laughed: "Big girl, Erniu, look, what is this?"

When Liu Erniu saw this, she said happily: "Wow, it's meat, and fish." She hugged Old Man Liu and said excitedly: "That's great, grandpa is so good."

Old Man Liu touched Liu Erniu's head lovingly and said happily: "I knew my Erniu was greedy. In addition, today's New Year, so my grandfather bought some fish and came back."

He said with some emotion: "I didn't expect that our poor military craftsman family could still eat fish. I remember that the last time I ate meat was five years ago... Alas, this is all thanks to Mr. Huang."

When Liu Yumei heard Huang Laifu's name, some strange expression flashed in her eyes. Liu Erniu said naively: "Grandpa, are there any vendors selling meat on the street now? Don't they go back to celebrate the New Year?"

Old Man Liu said: "Most vendors have gone back to celebrate the New Year, but some are still staying in the fort, saying that they are waiting for the New Year to do business in the fort, they say..."

As soon as Old Man Liu said this, he heard the voice of Mr. Liu outside: "Is Mr. Liu at home?"

Then he saw Mr. Liu coming in and seeing everyone, he smiled and said, "It turns out that everyone is here, that's fine. My aunt said that few people are also the New Year, and many people are also the New Year. Let you go to me together."

Old Man Liu said: "Brother, I always bother you, that's so embarrassed."

Mr. Liu smiled and said, "What are you saying about Uncle Liu? I remember Brother Liu and I back then..." When he said this, his face darkened, and then he smiled and said, "Everyone knows the temper of my aunt. I won't say much. Yumei and Erniu, go, pack up, and go together."

While pushing and pulling, everyone came to Liu Zongqi's home, not far away, just next door. On weekdays, Liu Zongqi took good care of Liu Yumei's family. Today, they were asked to come together for the New Year.

Mrs. Liu’s wife, Qian, was busy in front of the stove. The pot was sizzling and the meat was stir-fried. Fragrances of fragrance came, making Liu Erniu salivate. Seeing everyone entering the room, Mrs. Qian said enthusiastically: “I finally came here, Dad Liu, today I have prepared a lot of good dishes, and I’m waiting for you.”

Old Man Liu said: "I'm going to bother Sister Qian again."

Liu Yumei said, "Sister Qian, I'll help you."

Qian smiled and said, "My Yumei is just diligent."

She "go and go" and bombarded her two children who were swallowing in front of the stove, and asked Liu Yumei to come and help.

The women were busy, while Old Man Liu sat aside and talked with President Liu. It can be seen that the two of them had smiles on their faces, which showed that this year made them feel comfortable.

After the meat was fried there, Qian thought of something, wiped his hands and smiled, "Look at my memory." She went into the inner room and came out soon, but took out a piece of flower cloth and said, "Yumei, when you went out on the street two days ago, your sister-in-law saw that this cloth was good, so she brought it to you. Try it, is this color worthy of you?"

Liu Yumei hurriedly pushed her and said, "Sister Qian, I can't ask for it."

Qian said, "Why are you still polite to me? If you push it around again, your wife Qian will be angry."

Old Man Liu breathed a sigh of relief, stroked his snow-white beard and said happily: "It doesn't matter if we are busy. We are poor people, we are not afraid of doing heavy and tiring work. As long as we can eat enough after working, the children will be safe and safe, and we will be satisfied."

Mr. Liu smiled and said, "Young Master Huang said before that everyone who works for him can eat and wear a good meal, and things are indeed the case. In a few months, if Young Master Huang takes over a thousand households, our lives will only become more and more prosperous. Come on, we all have a drink."

Everyone raised the bowl and Qian whispered: "You said this person is really strange. What kind of person did Mr. Huang be like before? We all know very well, why did he suddenly change his sexual intercourse?"

Mr. Liu glared at her: "Don't say bad things about others, our good life is given by the eldest son."

Qian immediately reiterated: "May the compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva bless the eldest young man for a long life, so that we will have a good life in the future."

Mr. Liu said again: "Come on, let's cheer!"

"Dry!"

Even the three children in the house held up the bowls, accompanied by laughter.

※※※

As soon as Huang Laifu returned to Qianhu House from Datianzhuang, a strong smell of New Year's Day came to him immediately! (To be continued)
Chapter completed!