sjar Chapter 425 Gazing at the Moon, After the Clouds Part, the Moon Shines Bright
Chapter 425 Gazing at the Moon, After the Clouds Part, the Moon Shines Bright
"Crackling...bang bang bang..."
Da Niu lit the firecrackers for the Chinese New Year!
Sparks flew to the ground, making a series of crisp sounds, which startled the old hen in the corner of the old house's yard, causing it to flap its wings and run away.
Da Niu covered his ears and jumped back to hide, running to Fu, Lu, and Lin's side and covering their ears.
The sound seemed to be a signal, and soon, firecrackers rang out all over the village, one after another, in an endless stream.
Lin Xi, wearing an apron and clutching a ladle, ran out of the kitchen, looking completely bewildered. "Da Niu, you brat! Dinner's not even served yet, why are you setting off firecrackers?!"
Damn it, even if he had three heads and six arms, he couldn't possibly set out a table of food right after the firecrackers were finished!
The pork knuckle is still simmering in the pot; it's not cooked yet!
"Go and get back to your work. I asked Da Niu to cook!"
The firecrackers were too loud, so Lin Yong explained to Lin Xi with a loud laugh!
He dragged back three cartloads of firecrackers; it will take him less than an hour to catch his breath after setting them all off!
He'll leave one truckload of firecrackers to set off every day from the first to the fifteenth of the lunar month, and he'll make sure to set off the remaining two truckloads without taking a breath today!
As Lin Yong spoke, he simply rolled up his sleeves, personally took out a string of firecrackers ten feet long from the bamboo basket, threw it onto the road outside the courtyard gate, lit the fuse, and then retreated.
The sparks hissed and burned, followed by a deafening explosion. Red paper scraps fell in a flurry, instantly covering the ground with a layer of red felt.
Lin Xi listened with amusement in the kitchen, stirring the stewed meat with a ladle in her hand, but couldn't help but smile.
Go ahead and release them, but don't call me when you're sweeping the street after you're done!
"Grandpa! There's still some over there that hasn't been put in!"
Da Niu ran over, holding incense sticks, his face full of excitement.
Lin Yong agreed, then picked up a few strings of firecrackers and distributed them to his three grandchildren who had gathered around. "Da Niu, take your younger brother and sister to play over there!"
Suddenly, the sound of firecrackers in the village became even more frequent.
When the sound stops at the east end, it begins at the west end; when one family stops, another begins!
From one end of the village to the other, the sound of firecrackers rose and fell, like waves advancing!
From a great distance, Officer Pang, who was riding his horse over, heard the sound of firecrackers.
Horse hooves trampled over the red paper scraps scattered on the ground, sending up tiny sparks.
Pang You reined in his horse, and as he jumped off, he couldn't hide the smile on his face.
He waved a newly arrived urgent letter in his hand and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Victory! General Dou and his men have won and captured Lingsi Prefecture!"
That shout pierced through the deafening sound of firecrackers and reached the ears of all the villagers!
Lin Yong was hanging a string of firecrackers on a bamboo pole when he heard this. His hand trembled, and the firecrackers fell to the ground with a "plop." He hurriedly ran over and said, "Officer Pang! Are you telling the truth? General Dou and his men won!"
Gao Mengli also walked over quickly, snatched the letter from Pang You's hand, and read it quickly, her voice filled with excitement: "It's true! It's true! Dou Weiyi and Dou Zhansheng have won!"
The letter trembled slightly in her hand, the handwriting bold and powerful, each stroke filled with the joy of victory.
"Heaven has eyes! The damned Qianyu Dynasty has finally perished!"
Overjoyed, Lin Yong burst into tears and bowed to the crescent moon in the sky with a "plop"!
Upon hearing this, more than half of the elderly villagers who arrived one after another followed Lin Yong's lead and bowed to the bright moon in the sky.
This bow left Gao Mengli and Lin Xi completely bewildered.
The two turned to look at Jiang Shuzhi beside them, and were so frightened that they silently took two steps back.
With a "plop," Jiang Shuzhi, tears streaming down her face, knelt down and choked back sobs as if possessed, "After enduring the clouds, the moon will shine through; after enduring the clouds, the moon will shine through!"
"Wangyue Village has finally seen the bright moon!"
Steward Zhao wept uncontrollably, tears streaming down his face. "Ancestors above, the people of Wangyue Village no longer need to hide and secretly worship you. Peace and tranquility have truly arrived!"
These words were like a floodgate, instantly bursting open the bitterness that had been building up in everyone's hearts for years.
Some people covered their faces and sobbed, while others squatted on the ground and pounded on the ground covered with red paper scraps.
Some elderly people even kowtowed repeatedly to the letters in Gao Mengli's hand, murmuring the names of their ancestors, saying that they had finally waited for this day.
Startled, Gao Mengli quickly stuffed the letter back into Pang You's hand.
Upon seeing this, the elderly people immediately turned around and kowtowed to thank Pang You.
Pang You stood there, unsure whether to leave or stay.
He looked around in a panic, then shoved the letter in his hand onto the willow tree at the entrance of the courtyard.
He... he's just a messenger. How can he live if he expects old people to kneel and worship him?
Sure enough, the old people all turned around and respectfully kowtowed to the willow tree once again.
The willow branches swayed gently in the wind, holding a few withered leaves that had not yet fallen, as if they were receiving a gift on behalf of the good news.
The older generation was extremely excited, but the younger generation was somewhat bewildered!
They were also excited by the good news, but not nearly as excited as their own grandparents, who beat their chests and stamped their feet in celebration!
Lin Xi and Gao Mengli stared wide-eyed at Da Niu, their eyes locked in a silent battle of wits.
Da Niu: Dad, Mom, what's going on?
Gao Mengli/Lin Xi: We don't know!
The three of them turned to look at Zhou Miao, who was standing to the side.
Zhou Miao shrank her neck and blinked twice: You all don't know, and I know even less!
So, everyone looked at Lin Yong, who was kneeling on the ground worshipping the moon.
Lin Yong's eyes sharpened, he wiped away his tears, and jumped up from the ground. He rushed to Pang You's side and said, "Officer Pang, you're spending the New Year alone, all alone. If you don't mind, you can keep watch with us!"
Pang You was initially somewhat intimidated.
Upon hearing Lin Yong's words, he immediately beamed with joy, rubbing his hands excitedly: "Grandpa Lin, that's wonderful!"
"but……"
Lin Yong's expression immediately turned serious when he saw that Lin Yong had agreed.
"However, our Lin family has a very close relationship with General Dou and his people. If we pay respects to our ancestors, they should not punish us!"
The warning in those words was quite strong.
Even Pang You, who is usually oblivious, noticed something unusual.
His heart skipped a beat.
Could it be that the ancestor the old man wants to worship is not in accordance with the rules?
The implication was that he was being warned that if he dared to tell anyone, he would be stabbed!
God!
Could it be some heinous ancestor?
This meal isn't absolutely necessary...
Pang You immediately stepped aside, forcing a smile: "Oh dear, Grandpa Lin, unfortunately, I just remembered I have some business at the yamen, I'll be going now..."
As soon as he moved, he felt his arm tighten.
Looking down, he saw Lin Yong smiling menacingly at him.
With a forceful pull, he dragged the "terrified" man into the yard: "Since you're already here, even if it's a huge deal, you can deal with it after the New Year's Eve dinner!"
"No, Grandpa Lin! I really have something to do!"
Pang You struggled with a pained expression, but Lin Yong's strength was astonishing, and he was half-dragged and half-pulled into the yard.
However, his hands refused to give in, clinging tightly to the door frame and refusing to let go!