in2ebook Chapter 154 Chinese New Year
Chapter 154 Chinese New Year
The next morning, despite being physically and mentally exhausted the night before, Wei Chaoyan still reluctantly opened her eyes and woke up at the appointed time due to the powerful instinct of her body's biological clock.
After dressing and washing up, I went to the kitchen to boil water, then went back to the room to wake the three little ones who were still lazing in bed. After getting them ready with the hot water, we went to the yard together to begin our daily morning exercise. Of course, this time the exercise was a new version taught by Teacher Chen Mu in the space.
Hey! I have to say, the new version is much more effective in real-world practice than the old one. At least after performing one set of moves, I feel much more energetic. If I'm not mistaken, Wei Chaoyan could even faintly feel the comfortable sensation of her bones and meridians relaxing, an experience she had never had even after countless lessons in the space.
Hmm! I need to write this down in my notebook. I'll send a private message to Liu Yu later to ask if there are similar signs in China!
After their morning exercise, Wei Chaoyan took the three little ones to have breakfast. During the meal, she didn't forget to sincerely call out to the viewers in the live stream: "Hey, did you all memorize or record this set of exercises? Practice them at home, it's good for your health, and it's not too difficult! Since you're all getting up to watch the live stream anyway, instead of just watching and wasting time, why not exercise with us? It'll maximize the interaction, right?"
The unanimous response from early risers was: "..."
Wei Chaoyan was unimpressed by the netizens' replies. Even if they didn't practice now, they'd have to obediently follow the pace when the government promoted it nationwide. "Tch, let them relax a little longer!" Wei Chaoyan thought "mercifully" to herself.
After breakfast, Wei Chaoyan, Wei Ying, and the other three went to the study and tacitly dispersed to review the knowledge they had learned in the study space. After a while, they would put down their books and gather together to drink tea, eat snacks, chat, and relax for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, before immersing themselves back into their studies. The rest of the time was basically spent in this cycle, except for the time spent cooking, eating, and cleaning up the leftovers.
Thus, the day passed quickly. It was only at three quarters past 9 PM that Wei Chaoyan helped the three little ones wash up and go to sleep, ending a busy and fulfilling day.
The days that followed for Wei Chaoyan's family of four passed by uneventfully, and before they knew it, it was New Year's Eve.
During those ten days or so, Wei Chaoyan didn't stay cooped up at home all the time. She would still occasionally take advantage of nice weather to take her three little ones and a bunch of netizens from the live stream out for some fresh air.
This includes, but is not limited to, shopping for novel and interesting items, tasting the fragrant street food, and buying some New Year's goods that they like (although Aunt Yan had said before that she would send someone to deliver all the prepared New Year's goods, it did not stop Wei Chaoyan and the other three from spending money to buy the New Year's goods that they liked at this moment); looking around at the authentic ancient New Year's customs, such as the Laba Festival that they had missed before, the sugar-boiling and kitchen god worship on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, cleaning the house on the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month, and preparing New Year's ingredients such as chicken, duck, fish and meat and pasting couplets on the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month.
These ritualistic and festive customs not only captivated Wei Chaoyan and her companions, but also delighted the viewers in the live stream, who exclaimed that they truly appreciated the beauty of traditional Spring Festival customs and the heartfelt wishes bestowed upon them by countless ordinary people!
It's not that Wei Chaoyan is just bragging; the data showing a sudden surge in viewership during her live streams of these kinds of content proves it.
Of course, while Wei Chaoyan was having fun, she didn't forget to prepare some suitable New Year's gifts. She took the three little ones through the streets and alleys to pay New Year's visits and give gifts to Aunt Yan, Yan Qing, Wei the constable, Liu the broker, Doctor Wen, and others in advance.
They also bought red paper for writing Spring Festival couplets. For the sake of appearances, the couplets pasted around the Wei residence were all written by Lady Yan, with bold and vigorous strokes. As for the couplets in the inner courtyard, including the small ancestral hall, Wei Chaoyan, Wei Ying, and Qi Ye wrote them themselves using the purchased red paper. Although their brushwork was lacking, and the characters were soft and weak, the turns and twists in the strokes already possessed considerable strength, showing that their two years of diligent practice within the space had not been in vain!
On the morning of New Year's Eve, Wei Chaoyan and his three companions, as usual, leisurely completed their morning exercise and had a simple breakfast. Then, carrying a full set of offerings, they solemnly entered the small ancestral hall to worship their parents and various deities.
After the worship ceremony, Wei Ying and Qi Ye helped Wei Chaoyan prepare the New Year's Eve dinner. Qingyan, who had matured considerably, also sensibly did not cause any trouble and simply followed along.
Because all four of them were observing mourning, many meat dishes were removed from the New Year's Eve dinner in advance. Of course, since the four were still young and needed to eat some meat every day for their health, there were also two or three dishes with some meat, as well as an indispensable plate of steamed fish and a bowl of egg custard.
After a busy day, Wei Chaoyan followed the crowd and started the New Year's Eve dinner in the late afternoon. The four of them sat around the table in the bright main hall, where there were plates of delicious and colorful dishes.
Due to the mourning period, the New Year's Eve dinner at the Wei residence was rather quiet, but the surrounding neighbors were filled with the sounds of firecrackers, fireworks, and laughter, which wafted into the Wei residence on the evening breeze, creating a unique atmosphere.
Most importantly, for Wei Chaoyan and the other three, their families were all by their side, safe and happy. What more could they ask for?
For Wei Chaoyan, this Lunar New Year's Eve was not only spent with her three younger brothers, but also with her parents, relatives, friends, netizens, and the nation through the live stream. What more could she ask for?!