Countercurrent 1978 starts with the production team

Chu Jianghe was so tired after writing couplets all afternoon that he almost couldn't lift his right hand. Only then could he deal with the person writing the couplets.

The next day was already the 28th of the twelfth lunar month. Chu Jianghe got up early, Zhao Yufen had already cooked the soup, and Chu Jianghe posted the couplets by himself.

After the couplets were pasted, the shabby wooden door was paired with bright red couplets, giving people a festive atmosphere.

The inside and outside of the house were also cleaned by my mother and my daughter-in-law. Even the various utensils or sheets and bedding in the house had to be washed thoroughly. This was to wash away all the dirt and bad luck from last year. .

For people in rural areas, this day is already the New Year. As long as other things are not particularly important, they have to be postponed a little later to deal with the New Year.

Other families in the village also put aside other things and got busy preparing for the New Year. The village was filled with a strong atmosphere of joy.

The happiest ones are the children in the village. The Chinese New Year is the happiest day for the children. In addition to eating delicacies that are rarely available in ordinary times, they can also wear new clothes and receive precious New Year's money.

The furry children in the village also went crazy, traveling in groups from east to west, and then from south to north.

Children in rural areas are completely free-range. Except for looking for food when eating, they are allowed to play wildly outside at other times.

There are very few kidnappers now, and adults are relieved.

Unlike in later generations, the children at home have to be picked up and dropped off from kindergarten. If the shadow is not seen for a while, the adults in the family will become anxious.

While Chu Jianghe was posting the couplets, he could already hear the sound of firecrackers going off from time to time. These must have been set off by the kids in the village.

After finishing posting the couplets at home, Chu Jianghe stood at the door of his house smoking. A group of children ran past his door. When he saw what they were holding, even his eyes twitched. How old are these kids? Dare to play two kicks.

The local people also call it "Er Kick" because it makes two sounds when it explodes. It is very powerful.

If you don't pay attention, it's no joke to blow someone up.

Chu Jianghe was a little scared of this thing. During the Chinese New Year, he only bought seven of them for thirty-five cents and didn't dare to buy more.

Seeing the bulging pockets of those children, you knew they had a lot of firecrackers on them.

He originally wanted to stop the children and tell them not to play with these dangerous things. It would be bad if they got hurt.

In the end, he held back. Children nowadays are very courageous and have very few toys. Setting off firecrackers during the New Year is a rare entertainment item for them. He also came from this age, so what right does he have to deprive them of their fun? .

However, he still warned the children to be careful when setting off cannons.

After listening to Chu Jianghe's instructions, these children responded with a smile and ran away again.

Looking at their looks, he knew that they didn't even go in. Chu Jianghe shook his head, wondering if he was meddling in other people's business.

On New Year's Eve, Zhao Yufen and Liu Yunfang, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, made the dumplings early and put them away.

This meal on New Year's Eve has the meaning of bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new. It is very important for every household. People who are usually thrifty will grit their teeth on this day and bring to the table all the things that they are usually reluctant to eat. A real treat.

For northerners, the most indispensable part of New Year’s Eve dinner is dumplings.

Even if you don’t eat anything else, dumplings are indispensable.

Isn’t there a saying: Who doesn’t eat dumplings during the Chinese New Year?

Chu Jianghe's family was in good condition, and he usually ate well. The New Year's Eve dinner was certainly not bad either. The dining table was full, with plenty of chicken, duck, and fish. It was extremely sumptuous.

There is no Spring Festival Gala to watch now. Chu Jianghe opened a bottle of wine, said a few auspicious words, and started drinking one glass at a time with his father, Chu Dayou.

Zhao Yufen didn't say anything on this important festival. Instead, she and Liu Yunfang drank two cups each.

Liu Yunfang was too drunk. After two glasses of wine, her face turned red, making her even more charming.

Because they had to wake up at midnight, both of them were very restrained. They only drank a little and concentrated on the food on the table.

Chu Jianghe and Chu Dayou were both big drinkers, and they gave up after sharing a bottle of wine.

When they were almost done eating, Zhao Yufen took out the red envelope and handed it to Liu Yunfang: "This is a little wish from your father and I. May you have more than your share every year and have good luck every year."

Liu Yunfang quickly shied away: "We are all married, so we don't need the new year's money. You can keep this money."

While talking, he looked towards Chu Jianghe with a very embarrassed look on his face.

Seeing that his wife was still hesitating, Chu Jianghe said with a smile: "The Chinese New Year is just for good luck. Just keep what your elders give you."

With her man's words, Liu Yunfang took it and said: "Thank you, mother."

Zhao Yufen put 100 yuan into the red envelope. If the money was given to her daughter-in-law, wouldn't it be equivalent to giving it to her son? They are all part of the same family, so it doesn't matter.

But what she wants most is to have a grandson as soon as possible. If she has a grandson, she won't even blink if she receives a red envelope of not only 100 yuan but also 500 yuan.

Due to various reasons, their family has relatively few relatives, so if they save so much money, it is just for their children and grandchildren. Why don't they still keep it in the coffin?

After eating, we talked for a while, washed up, and then fell asleep.

In rural areas in the north, it is a traditional custom to wake up at the fifth watch, that is, at three or four in the morning.

The fifth watch is the last watch. When it reaches the fifth watch, it will be almost dawn. Therefore, the Chinese New Year is often said to be "the fifth watch."

At around three o'clock in the morning, Chu Jianghe was sleeping soundly while being fascinated by the lake, when he was gently awakened by Liu Yunfang.

"Jiang He, wake up, it's time to shoot off."

The first thing he did after waking up was to set off cannons. In previous years, when he was not married and could sleep in, Chu Dayou would complete this ceremony. He said it during dinner yesterday and this matter would be left to him from now on.

The fifth watch was the darkest time of the day. Chu Jianghe steeled himself, washed his face, put on the new clothes he had prepared long ago, and prepared to set off the cannon.

At this time, Liu Yunfang and Zhao Yufen were busy cooking dumplings in the kitchen. The New Year's Eve dinner is a meal to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new. The meal at the fifth watch is the first meal of the new year. According to the custom in the north, dumplings are still eaten.

The crackling sound was endless, and the sound of cannons fired in the village continued.

After Chu Jianghe finished firing off the cannon, he fired off the second kicker at home.

I wasn't hungry now, so I ate a few dumplings casually. After the sound of the cannons stopped for a while, I followed my wife Liu Yunfang out the door.

According to the rules, married people should go to their elders' homes to kowtow to pay New Year greetings after the fifth watch.

There were already many people walking on the streets of the village, and everyone greeted them kindly after meeting them.

As time goes by, many festivals have been forgotten by us, but the Spring Festival is the one we cherish especially.

Perhaps the meaning of the Spring Festival is that we can temporarily break away from the tedious work, slow down the pace of life during this special time, let everyone's mood become peaceful, let violence and meanness subside, and the relationship between people The relationship is more gentle.