kingnovel Chapter 16 New Year's Eve
Chapter 16 New Year's Eve
As the two were chatting, Li Changchun strolled over, and upon seeing Huang Ziqi, nodded slightly in greeting.
Huang Ziqi quickly stood up and bowed, but Li Changchun smiled and waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to be so polite, and then joined their conversation.
Li Changchun shared some of his insights and experiences on the path of cultivation, which greatly benefited Huang Ziqi.
Huang Ziqi had great respect for this senior, listened attentively, and asked questions from time to time.
As the Spring Festival approaches, Xu Xiaoxiao's family is busy preparing various New Year's goods.
Huang Ziqi also stayed to help, and together they cleaned the courtyard, posted Spring Festival couplets, and hung up red lanterns.
Huang Ziqi curiously learned how to make traditional Spring Festival delicacies, while Xu Xiaoxiao patiently guided her. The two laughed and joked in the kitchen, having a lot of fun despite being busy.
On the day of the Spring Festival, firecrackers went off one after another, and families reunited. Xu Xiaoxiao and Li Changchun sat together, enjoying a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner.
The New Year's Eve dinner table was laden with a dazzling array of dishes.
There was a steaming hot braised carp, symbolizing abundance year after year; Dongpo pork, rich yet not greasy, with a bright red color that made one's mouth water; and fragrant poached chicken, with yellow skin and white meat, tender and smooth in texture; stir-fried seasonal vegetables, vibrant green, adding a touch of freshness to the meat dishes on the table; and a bowl of fragrant eight-treasure rice, soft, sticky, and sweet, symbolizing reunion and happiness. All of these dishes were prepared by Li Changchun and Xu Xiaoxiao together.
After finishing the New Year's Eve dinner, Li Changchun smiled and took out the prepared lucky money. He handed the red envelope to Xu Xiaoxiao. The red envelope was embroidered with exquisite gold patterns.
Li Changchun said lovingly, "May this lucky money bring us a peaceful, safe, and worry-free new year."
Xu Xiaoxiao quickly stood up, respectfully accepted the red envelope, and thanked Li Changchun, "Thank you, Master, and you too."
During the vigil, the room was brightly lit with candles, and Xu Xiaoxiao sat with Li Changchun in the warm hall.
They laid out snacks such as melon seeds, peanuts, and candied fruit on the table.
Li Changchun began to recount stories from the past, including anecdotes about the cultivation world and some ancient legends. Xu Xiaoxiao listened intently, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Occasionally, they would get up and go out into the yard to watch the fireworks in the night sky and enjoy the festive atmosphere.
As time went by, drowsiness gradually crept in, but they still rallied their spirits and encouraged each other to persevere, because staying up all night was not only a farewell to the old year, but also an anticipation and hope for the new year.
Li Changchun's gaze drifted into the distance; he couldn't remember how many years it had been since he had celebrated the New Year like this, lost in memories of bygone days.
Xu Xiaoxiao keenly sensed the change in her master's mood. She gently tugged at Li Changchun's sleeve and asked, "Master, did you remember something?"
Li Changchun sighed softly and said slowly, "When I was young, I embarked on the path of cultivation and pursued the Great Dao with all my heart. I gradually forgot many festivals in the mortal world. Now, seeing these fireworks, I am reminded of the New Year celebrations in my hometown. The liveliness and laughter of that time seem to be right before my eyes."
"Master, although the path of cultivation is long, isn't it a precious reunion that we can be together at this moment?"
Li Changchun nodded slightly, a gratified smile on his face: "Xiaoxiao is right. As time goes by, it is my blessing to have you all by my side."
Just then, bursts of laughter and the sound of festive drums drifted from afar; it turned out that the dragon and lion dance performance on the street had begun.
Xu Xiaoxiao excitedly suggested, "Master, let's go take a look and experience the strong festive atmosphere."
Li Changchun readily agreed.
They arrived on the street and saw a giant dragon tumbling and dancing among the crowd, its scales shimmering brilliantly under the lights; the lions beside it were also lifelike, sometimes leaping, sometimes rolling, drawing cheers from the audience.
Xu Xiaoxiao was caught up in the lively scene and cheered along with the crowd.
Looking at her vibrant appearance, Li Changchun's lingering melancholy gradually dissipated, merging into the joyful New Year atmosphere.
After the dragon and lion dance performances ended, a lantern riddle guessing activity began on the street.
Underneath each exquisite lantern hung a variety of interesting riddles, attracting many passersby to stop and watch.
Xu Xiaoxiao, holding Li Changchun's arm, excitedly weaved through the lanterns, her eyes fixed on the riddles, her little mind racing. She hadn't expected to run into Huang Ziqi here so coincidentally. "Ziqi, are you here to guess riddles too?"
Huang Ziqi was also very happy to see them. "Grandpa Li, Sister Xiaoxiao, Happy New Year!"
When she encounters a simple riddle, she claps her hands excitedly and shouts out the answer, winning praise from those around her; when she encounters a difficult riddle, she frowns and ponders deeply, and occasionally discusses it with Huang Ziqi, the two of them exchanging their opinions.
Li Changchun watched them with a smile, occasionally offering a few words of advice to guide their thinking.
During this process, Xu Xiaoxiao also met several children of the same age. They teamed up to guess lantern riddles, shared their insights and New Year's stories, and their laughter echoed through the streets and alleys.
When all the riddles had been solved, the children said goodbye to each other and promised to play together again when they had the chance.
Filled with a sense of accomplishment and joy, Xu Xiaoxiao strolled leisurely home with Li Changchun and Huang Ziqi.
By this time, the night was deep and the fireworks had faded, but their joy remained undiminished. With high hopes for the New Year, they stepped into their home, ready to welcome the new day.
Red lanterns were hung in the courtyard, and couplets were posted. The characters were written by Xu Xiaoxiao herself, along with the character "福" (fortune), exuding a joyful and warm atmosphere.
"Master, please wash up and rest early. You've worked hard too." We were worried that walking for too long might aggravate the injury on your foot.
"Xiaoxiao, you've worked hard too. Thank you for spending an unforgettable New Year with me." Li Changchun was very happy to experience the long-lost festive atmosphere.
The New Year passed quickly, and it was time for Huang Ziqi to start school. She was usually busy cultivating with Elder Daoguang, and it had been a long time since she had had time to go out and play.
Xu Xiaoxiao didn't slack off on her physical training either, because spring was just around the corner and the snow on the snow-capped mountains was beginning to melt. She needed to go with her master to find medicinal herbs so they could go back and heal her senior brother as soon as possible.
Xu Xiaoxiao was well aware of the difficulty and importance of this trip to the snow mountain, and she began to carefully prepare her luggage in order to find the goblin medicinal materials.
She first carefully inspected her mountaineering equipment, repeatedly rubbing the tough rope to check for any wear and tear, and then took out her specially made anti-slip boots to air them out, ensuring that the treads on the soles were clear and deep enough to cope with the slippery conditions of the snow-covered mountain.
She went to the medicine cabinet and, following her master's instructions, carefully selected herbs that could resist the cold, enhance physical strength, and prevent altitude sickness. She ground them into powder and carefully put them into a sachet so that she could use them at any time during her journey.
At the same time, she also prepared plenty of dry food, mainly high-calorie jerky, nuts and special flatbreads, which can provide enough energy and are easy to store and carry.
Xu Xiaoxiao did not forget to hone her weapon. The sword she bought for five taels of silver gleamed coldly under her careful polishing. She swung it a few times, feeling the balance and power of the blade, to ensure that she could deal with danger freely in the snow mountain.
I carried my prepared items on my back, went to my master's house, and knocked on the door. "Master, I'm ready. Do you need any help?"
Li Changchun opened the door, carrying a bundle and a sword. "We can set off now, but let me make this clear first: if you encounter danger, you mustn't be reckless. Stay close to your master, understand?"
Xu Xiaoxiao nodded frantically like a chick pecking at rice, "Okay, okay, I'll do whatever Master says."