Two days passed in the blink of an eye, and it was New Year's Day.
In the Han Dynasty, there was no concept of keeping the year old on New Year's Eve, and it was not until the Tang Dynasty that this idea gradually took shape.
Today's Chinese New Year generally revolves around sacrifices.
First, they worship their ancestors, then they pay respect to their elders, then they greet each other among relatives and friends, and if they are officials, they go on a pilgrimage.
The Wei family has been passed down for three hundred years, and its ancestor is Wei Qing of the Western Han Dynasty. The eucalyptus is also placed with the mourning platform of Wei Zifu's queen.
After worshiping in a circle with the large army, Wei Cheng helped Cai Yan, who was a little tired, to return to the small courtyard to rest.
Next, the juniors came to pay their respects, and Wei Cheng had to prepare lucky money for them.
The earliest record of lucky money appeared in the Han Dynasty.
At this time, it is not called lucky money, but called lucky money or lucky money.
And this kind of money is not real currency, but a commemorative coin or decoration.
The front side of copper coins usually has some auspicious words, such as long live the Qianqiu, the world is peaceful, and the back side usually has auspicious pictures, such as dragons and phoenixes, turtles, snakes, stars, etc. It cannot be circulated as a real currency, but is only used as a kind of "auspiciousness to ward off evil spirits"
Wear the jewelry on your body.
Of course, the New Year's money given by Wei Cheng is definitely unique.
And for today, he specially customized 500 pieces. Naturally, there are not so many juniors who come to pay homage. The main reason is that the merchant in Dong Ge’s family said that he would only accept customization if the price is 500.
The time from afternoon to evening when the family eats New Year's Eve dinner is the time reserved for the younger generation to pay New Year greetings to their elders.
Wei Cheng originally thought that he would have to wait until the last one. After all, among the younger generation of the Wei family, except for the eldest brother Wei Jian, he is the one who has started a family. The order of elders and younger ones is a rule. New Year greetings must start with the head of the family, Wei Hao.
It's right to get up.
However, what he didn't expect was that not long after the couple returned to the courtyard, the sounds of the juniors laughing and joking could be heard outside the courtyard door, as if they were chasing and fighting all the way.
Wei Teng looked up curiously, who else was the leader besides Wei Jue?
Following closely behind is the little girl Wei Qing. She is the happiest today because she is the youngest in the entire Wei family.
"Second uncle, second aunt, I wish you a happy New Year!"
Wei Qing ran in, while the others stayed at the door, waiting eagerly. They also understood the rules, and Wei Cheng should be the last one.
However, they really couldn't wait and wanted to see what the new year's money Wei Cheng gave them.
Wei Cheng and Cai Yan looked at each other and shook their heads in unison, thinking that the 'New Year's money' prepared by Wei Cheng might have been leaked.
Otherwise, these juniors would not have come here first without regard to etiquette. Are they going to put Wei Cheng on the fire?
As a family that has been inherited for hundreds of years from Hedong, don’t the younger generations even understand the rules?
Fortunately, Wei Qing and the others were smart enough to let Wei Qing in to pay New Year greetings first. Wei Qing was young and ignorant. Even if the elders knew about their behavior, they would only tell Wei Qing that this girl was acting nonsense, and a few words of reprimand would be enough.
Never mind.
Wei Jue and others did not come in. They wanted to see what the New Year's money given by Wei Cheng looked like before going to pay New Year greetings to the head of the family, Wei Hao.
However, the cleverness of several juniors obviously put Wei Cheng in a bit of trouble.
Seeing this, Cai Yan pulled Wei Cheng's sleeve and suggested softly: "Husband, please send those lucky money over."
When Wei Cheng heard this, he nodded and waved to Wei Jue at the door.
Wei Jue thought that Wei Cheng had seen through his little thoughts and wanted to scold him, so he trotted in with a guilty conscience, not daring to raise his head to look at Wei Cheng.
Wei Cheng didn't blame him. After all, it was the Chinese New Year, so it was hard to say unpleasant things.
Wei Cheng picked up a small box made of golden nanmu from the futon nearby and said, "Take this to the main hall and give it to your brother. He knows what to do."
As the eldest son, Wei Ji will definitely still accompany Wei Hao in the main hall, while Wei Min and others plan the development direction of the family in the new year.
Wei Jue took the small box and his eyes lit up when he heard the sound coming from inside.
"Second brother, that's what's inside..."
"Okay, don't ask if you shouldn't ask. Just send it over. From now on, you must act according to the rules and don't try to play your cleverness again."
Wei Jue smiled bitterly, and left the small courtyard with Wei Qing who looked at a loss. A group of children, teenagers and girls, big and small, came and went in a hurry.
Wei Cheng shook his head helplessly. Cai Yan held his arm and said softly: "Husband, you won't blame me, right?"
Wei Cheng was stunned for a moment, then laughed and said, "How could that be?"
···
Main hall.
Wei Hao glanced at the door curiously. In previous years, children would come to pay New Year greetings at this time. Why haven't they come this year?
Wei Min also frowned slightly. He always treated the juniors with a serious smile, and the juniors would always take a detour when they saw him.
Because it was the New Year's Day, there were still many things waiting for him to deal with at the city guard station, so he had to go there today, but several juniors were delayed in coming to pay New Year greetings, which made him feel very angry.
Wei Yan, Wei Yan and others also frowned, intending to let people go and see what was going on, but as the head of the family, Wei Hao didn't speak, so they couldn't say anything.
at this time.
Wei Jue hurried over with a group of children. Seeing that the elders looked ugly, they speeded up their steps with a guilty conscience.
When Wei Ju saw Wei Jue coming to pay New Year greetings, still holding a box in his hand, he frowned and asked, "Sixth brother, what are you doing?"
Wei Jue hurriedly explained: "Brother, my second brother asked me to send this. I said I can just leave it to you."
Everyone was startled when they heard this, and Wei Hao looked at Wei Jian.
Wei Jian nodded to his old father, stood up, went over, and opened the wooden box.
Wei Jue took the opportunity to take a peek, and his heartbeat accelerated.
Wei Qi had the same reaction.
He hesitated for a moment, then looked back at Wei Hao, cupped his hands with a smile in his eyes and said, "Dad, my second brother sent this specially to you."
When Wei Hao and others heard that Wei Cheng asked Wei Jue to deliver it, they all gathered around regardless of their appearance.
Wei Hao took the lead and walked up to Wei Jue. He first glanced at Wei Jue whose eyes were evasive, and then his attention was directly attracted to the objects in the box.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "This, this is..."
Behind Wei Hao, Wei Min put his hands behind his back and said with a smile: "This thing is called a pocket watch."
Wei Hao and others looked at each other and suddenly remembered that Wei Cheng seemed to be wearing such an object.
Wei Yan said with some excitement: "I heard from Cheng'er that this thing is used to tell the time, and it is very accurate."
Wei Min responded: "That's right." When he agreed, his eyes still stayed in the box, with the same burning eyes.
Inside the box are a total of fifty brass pocket watches. The workmanship is quite exquisite. The front cover is engraved with a moire pattern, with a large word "guard" in the middle. The back is a polished copper mirror, and a brass band is tied to the watch. The chain can be hung around the neck as a necklace or pinned to a clothes button as an ornament.
Wei Hao picked up a pocket watch and opened the cover, revealing a modified dial.
Under the glass mirror are marked the twelve hours of Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao...Shen, You, Wu, and Hai. There are seven scales between each hour, which respectively represent the first three moments, the right time, and the right time. Three quarters of an hour, one quarter is fifteen minutes.
Unlike the watches of later generations, the pocket watch customized by Wei Cheng will move one circle slower. In other words, the watches of later generations will move once in half a day and twelve hours, while the pocket watch he customized will move in one full day and twelve hours. That is twenty-four hours.
This is also the reason why merchants require a minimum order of five hundred. If it is just for decoration, they can ship just one.
And Wei Cheng wanted to change the parts and add a few more small gears, which naturally made the workmanship more complicated.
"It's strange. I remember the piece on Cheng'er. Is this needle moving?" Wei Yan also picked up a pocket watch and pointed at the second hand and asked curiously.
Wei Jue heard this and said eagerly: "I know this. I saw my second brother operating it. I want to twist the mechanism on it."
Wei Jue held the wooden box with both hands. He really couldn't free his hands, otherwise he would have done it with his own hands.
At this time, Wei Min stepped forward and took the pocket watch from Wei Yan's hand, and gently twisted the spring. He had also seen Wei Cheng twist it, and more than once, so he had already memorized it.
After winding up the clockwork, Wei Min asked the butler at the door: "When is it now?"
The housekeeper looked at the sundial in the center of the yard and responded loudly: "I hope you'll be back at the right time, Mr. Second Master."
That is around two o'clock in the afternoon.
Wei Ming adjusted the hour hand to midnight. As for the minute hand, there was no minute hand, but there was a second hand, which was already ticking.
Wei Min handed the pocket watch to his eldest brother Wei Hao.
Wei Hao took the pocket watch, played with it happily, and asked Wei Min how to tell the time.
When Wei Wei and others saw this, they looked at Wei Min with eager eyes.
Wei Min picked up a pocket watch without changing his expression, wound it, adjusted the time, and put it in his arms.
Wei Wei and others saw his operation clearly this time, and each took a pocket watch.
A dozen brothers each had one, and there were actually more than thirty pocket watches in the wooden box, but the juniors outside the door didn't know.
Seeing that his New Year's money was gone, Wei Qing rushed in and knelt on the ground regardless of the rules.
"Grandpa, my grandson wishes you a happy New Year!"
The little girl's voice was very clear and loud, and it suddenly woke everyone who was playing with their watches out of their immersion.
Several old guys looked at each other with embarrassment on their faces. They should have lost control in front of the juniors. It really shouldn't have happened.
Wei Hao loved his little granddaughter very much. He put his pocket watch into his arms with a smile, and then took out a copper coin.
"Here, this is Qing'er's lucky money." Wei Hao smiled kindly.
Wei Qing was stunned for a moment, looked at the wooden box in Wei Jue's arms, and suddenly opened his mouth.
Wei Hao thought she thought it was too little, so he took out another one with a smile, "I'll give you two. When you get married next year, there won't be any more!"
Wei Qing still knelt on the ground without moving, his little mouth pouted so much that he could hang an oil lamp.
Now everyone realized something was wrong. As a father, Wei Ji immediately scolded her.
But before he could speak, Wei Jue spoke.
"Brother, actually, we just went to the second brother's place first..."
Wei Ju's expression changed, he glanced at the wooden box in Wei Jue's arms, and then looked at Wei Jue. Wei Jue chuckled and nodded towards him.
When Wei Jian saw this, he took a deep breath, walked to Wei Hao, and whispered something.
Wei Hao's old face turned red at a speed visible to the naked eye, the corners of his eyes twitched a few times, and he laughed awkwardly.
In the end, all the juniors who came to pay New Year greetings received a pocket watch.
However, it was not given in the name of Wei Cheng, but in the name of the head of the family, Wei Hao, although it was a bit superfluous.
As for the New Year's money given by Wei Cheng, it was really New Year's money... Wei Cheng gave them a bunch of tickets.
···
Located in the center of Anyi County.
It is the intersection of Xuanwu Avenue, Zhuque Avenue, Qinglong Avenue and Baihu Avenue.
This was originally a tower, and its main function was to dispatch city defense. Soldiers waved signals with flags upstairs. The message conveyed by the flags could be clearly seen on the city gate in the distance.
However, as early as half a month ago, the tower was sealed with straw mats. Standing outside, you could not see what the people inside were doing.
But this fortification that had been blocked for half a month actually started to move today. Just when everyone was immersed in the joy of the New Year, the straw mat outside the tower was filled with red silk.
All the passers-by stopped and watched.
Some people speculated what kind of store had opened. Of course, if a store is opened in such a good location, the business must be booming. The ability to convert the wartime tower into a store must be Wei's work, but I don't know what good items are being sold this time. .
Some people think it is the patrol fortifications of the city guard. Everyone has seen the fortifications outside the city, and many people have even witnessed the power of those fortifications. In comparison, the fortifications in the city are simply incomparable. Sooner or later, they will have to be upgraded. of.
Just when everyone was talking about it.
Wei Min took Tian Feng, Xun Yu, and several people from the Wei Family Goodwill Hall and walked out of the straw mat wall talking and laughing.
Tian Feng said with regret: "Second Master, is it true that the young master won't come?"
Wei Min smiled, shook his head, and replied jokingly: "He said just remove all the mats. This kid, since Yan'er became pregnant, has become more and more cunning."
Tian Feng and Xun You smiled at each other, and then looked at the luxurious carriages driving not far away.
After the carriage stopped, heads and talkers from aristocratic families appeared one after another.
Behind the carriage, there were also a group of young men riding bicycles, the first generation of car owners in Hedong.
"Hahaha, I'm not late, am I?" Mr. Xie was in good spirits and walked slowly with Xie Yu's support.
Wei Min and others hurried forward to greet him.
Wei Min showed a rare smile and said politely: "It's not too late, it's not too late. The old lady came just in time. I'm grateful that the old lady can come here during the Chinese New Year."
On the other side, three old men came together.
Those who are well-informed will find that the four longest-lived elders in Anyi County, including Mr. Xie, are gathered here.
All four of them came from a wealthy family, because ordinary people would not live to their age.
Under Tian Feng's guidance, the four of them, Mr. Xie, stood in the four directions of the tower.
Mrs. Xie faced Xuanwu Avenue, and the other three faced the other three streets.
At this time, the sky was getting dark, and many businesses on the street lit oil lamps and torches.
As Tian Feng shouted: "The auspicious time has arrived!"
Old Madam Xie and the four others followed the procedure and pulled a piece of red silk.
With a crash, the mats covering the tower fell from the sky, revealing the fortifications that had been hidden for half a month.
Winter, winter, winter...
At this time, the time happened to be six o'clock in the evening.
A huge bell rang at the top of the tower, and the loud ringing reached all corners of Anyi County.
Below the big clock, four big clocks that look like pocket watch dials come into view, one for the southeast, one for the northwest, and one for each.