HLnovel Chapter 179 The Prelude to the New Year, Full of Blessings
Chapter 179 The Prelude to the New Year, Full of Blessings
Xiao Si started getting busy early in the morning, tidying up the stove while muttering to herself:
Today is the Little New Year. May wealth flow in and blessings fill your home.
Zi'an softly hummed a nursery rhyme as she arranged the offerings: "On the 23rd, the sugar melon sticks, the Kitchen God is going to heaven."
Xiao Si continued:
“We don’t do anything bad, so Heaven speaks well of us.”
But I still have reverence for the Kitchen God, and I've already bought him some sweets.
The Kitchen God must speak many sweet words and auspicious phrases, praying that I, and all my family members in different times and spaces, may be safe and prosperous!
Qu Youjiu then took a feather duster and swept the dust around, chanting:
"A year has passed with the sound of firecrackers, and the spring breeze brings warmth to Tusu."
Xiao Si exclaimed in surprise, "Hey, isn't this Wang Anshi's poem, 'The sun shines brightly on thousands of doors and windows, as new peachwood charms replace the old ones'?"
Zi'an thought to herself: In this parallel universe, Qu Youjiu is not exactly a pure Li Bai after all...
"On the eve of the Little New Year, when offering sacrifices to the Kitchen God, the ritual must be remembered: first, one must offer sacrifices; second, one must eat and drink; and third, one must do some work, in order to send off the Kitchen God and welcome good fortune!"
Qu Youjiu: Hey, Zian does know a thing or two. There are quite a few customs associated with the Kitchen God Festival on the Little New Year.
Little Sizi: Is there anything I don't know? Tell me.
Qu Youjiu: First of all, as Zi An said, "1. Sacrifice, 2. Eat, 3. Make," only then can you be qualified to send off the Kitchen God and welcome good fortune!
Xiao Sizi: Oh, what exactly does "1 sacrifice" refer to?
Qu Youjiu: It is recorded in the Wenjiang County Annals that on the day of the Little New Year, people would prepare incense, flowers, wine, fruit, candles, sweets, and money to worship the Kitchen God at night.
Although the Kitchen God ascends to heaven on the 24th, the custom of offering sacrifices to him is on the 23rd.
Xiao Sizi: I see. So what do we do when we worship the Kitchen God?
Qu Youjiu: According to tradition, when you wake up on the morning of the Little New Year, you must first clean the doors, windows, cabinets, and stove thoroughly. Then, you must tidy yourself up, wash your hair and take a bath, in preparation for bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new.
Little Sizi: Hmm, that sounds pretty grand. Don't we bathe every day? Going to bathe in a natural river, lake, or pond?
Zi'an sighed and said, "Oh dear, the older brothers need to wash their hair today, it's such a hassle."
Xiao Si covered her mouth and laughed. Usually, it was the maid Xiao Xin who helped everyone with the "dry cleaning".
Dry cleaning typically involves using a comb to forcefully insert into the hair and then pulling hard to remove various lice, nits, dandruff, and grease.
Xiao Si often lamented that ancient times were so natural, with so many microorganisms: "Today, none of you can escape it; you must be washed with water. Xiao Xin, come and help!"
Xiao Xin started helping Xiao Si wash the hair of all the young men.
Xiao Si sighed: In the Tang Dynasty, those who combed and styled the hair of young masters were usually family members or servants. But by the Song and Ming Dynasties, this job had developed into an industry, elegantly called "waiting for imperial orders," which was actually just barbers.
The two girls were overjoyed to see the young men kneeling on the ground.
Yu Zhanmo used a copper basin, Qu Youjiu used a porcelain basin, and Zi An used a wooden basin, each filled with warm water. They bent over and immersed their hair in the water, with Xiao Sizi and the maid Xiao Xin assisting them in washing.
Xiao Si said, "Fortunately, my older brothers are able to contribute to the family income and provide generous support, so we can afford to use high-quality shampoo."
She then changed the subject: "As for poor families, they would often take a handful of wood ash from the stove, mix it with water, and use it to wash their hair. Of course, this wood ash contains natural alkali, which can not only clean the skin and clothes, but also wipe all kinds of miscellaneous items, truly making it a multi-purpose item."
Xiao Xin, who was carefully washing Yu Zhanmo's hair, nodded in agreement upon hearing Xiao Si's words.
"Yes, Miss Si, that's true. When we were little, we often used natural things like wood ash and rice paste. You're really amazing, Miss Si. You dried the soapberry pulp in the sun, boiled it with spring water to make a thick soup, and then cleverly added various spices. It smells so good and works so well."
Qu Youjiu: The most important thing is to put a plate of fruit, a plate of candy, and a plate of dates on the stove in the kitchen to offer as a sacrifice to the Kitchen God. This will make the Kitchen God's mouth sweet and encourage him to say more good things about the family.
Xiao Sizi: Haha, what else do we say when we worship the Kitchen God?
Yu Zhanmo said earnestly: "I should say: 'Thank you, Kitchen God, for speaking good words in Heaven and protecting peace on Earth. Please bless my family with happiness, health, and all the best in the new year!'"
"Okay, you should all have some tsao candy before you go, it symbolizes sweetness and happiness."
After the three of them washed their hair, Xiao Si sent them off to keep their appointment.
In the Tang Dynasty, taking a bath was no trivial matter, especially for Xiao Si.
Back then, she liked to place a huge "bath tub" in the center of her spacious and elegant room when her three young men were out. The steaming water rippled and exuded a delicate floral fragrance, all in the same pool of spring water.
Inside the bathtub was an exquisite "bath bed." As soon as Xiao Si sat down, she felt as if she were in a modern luxury bathtub. The water was gentle and the warmth was just right, making her feel completely relaxed. It was as if all the troubles in the world had been gently carried away by the water.
Sometimes, she and her maid, Xiaoxin, would work together as if performing a carefully prepared ritual.
The little rhinoceros skillfully adjusted the water temperature, released fragrant petals, and let the fragrance drift in the wind;
Xiaoxin picked up the kettle and gently poured warm water into the bathtub, ensuring that every drop was at the perfect temperature.
Xiao Xin held a soft cloth in her hand and gently wiped Xiao Si's body with light and careful movements. Every movement revealed her skill and gentleness.
Xiao Si reciprocated this kindness by turning around and gently wiping away Xiao Xin's fatigue from the bath. Their movements were tender, and the two were perfectly in sync.
The cleaning products they use are all made of natural ingredients, and their fresh and natural fragrance purifies the body and mind.
In this warm, steamy atmosphere, the two gradually relaxed, taking care of each other and occasionally adding hot water to maintain a constant temperature.
As the water ripples, all the stress and worries gradually dissolve in this clear spring, and time seems to slow down at this moment.
When her bath was over, Xiao Si slowly stood up, warm water droplets sliding down her skin.
Xiaoxin had already prepared a bath towel, which she gently handed over. Then, she picked up the soft towel and wiped every inch of her skin as if it were newly reborn. This moment of tranquility and peace was the most beautiful luxury in the world.
Just as they finished tidying up, the three young men returned, bringing back steaming hot dumplings.
It turned out that Meng Haoran had arranged to treat the three men to a bath at a mid-range bathhouse owned by a merchant friend. He had also prepared special "face medicine" and "lip rouge" for them, and the three men bought some freshly cooked dumplings on the way back.
After Qu Youjiu returned, in addition to writing Spring Festival couplets, he also penned this poem by Meng Haoran:
"My path is unclear, so I drive my carriage eastward again. The host opens his old inn, inviting guests to get drunk in Xinfeng."
Trees surround the green hot spring, dust obscures the red sunset. I brush off my robes and depart from here, my high steps treading upon Mount Hua.
However, just as Qu Youjiu was about to seal the poem away, he suddenly realized that the poem's imagery and its farewell to reality seemed to foreshadow some kind of change in the future.
He began to wonder if this meant he was about to embark on a new journey.
And their steps, as the poem says, will tread high on Mount Hua, marching towards the unknown distance!
Winter is gradually approaching, and the Lunar New Year is approaching.