Zhuangzi didn't become quiet just because it got dark.
On New Year's Eve, excitement is the only theme.
Starting from the entrance of Zhuangzi, red lanterns are hung at every intersection, lighting up the place as bright as day.
The surroundings are tightly protected, so children don’t have to be afraid of anything and can play as much as they want.
The most favorite thing among children is undoubtedly firecrackers.
Each person shared a piece of incense, stuck the firecrackers in the snow, lit them and ran away screaming. Then they watched the firecrackers explode into the air.
This is a childlike fun that I will never forget after many years.
Zuo Mengeng saw the Lu brothers and sisters next to them.
Lu Wazi held Miss Lu's hand and watched the children playing with envy, but did not come forward.
"Why don't you play with them?"
Lu Wazi looked up, and when he saw it was him, his eyes lit up.
"I have to take care of my little sister."
But Lu Xiaomei didn't say that and was very angry.
"They don't play with their brother."
Zuo Mengeng paused and didn't ask why.
Although children are simple and honest, it is their ignorance that causes the most profound harm to others.
If Lu Wazi loses that thing and cannot squat to pee, he will definitely be ridiculed and ostracized by his peers.
In this helpless world, he couldn't fight, and he didn't dare to fight. He could only guard his sister.
This is his only thought.
Zuo Mengeng touched his head and squatted in front of him so that his eyes could look at him.
"Whether a person lives well or not depends on whether he feels that his life was exciting enough and meaningful when he looks back on the day he dies. If so, then this person's life is the best. If not, then this person's life is the best.
, then it’s like a weed. Would you rather live a wonderful life, or be like a weed?”
Lu Wazi looked at him, some understood, some didn't.
"I...I just want my little sister to be well."
Zuo Mengeng pinched his cheek and said with a smile: "Only if you are good, my little sister will be good."
Lu Xiaomei hugged Lu Wazi from the side.
"Brother, you are the best."
Lu Wazi raised his head, very proud.
"Well, I'm the best."
The two brothers and sisters started laughing.
Their happiness is that simple.
"What did you eat today?"
Zuo Mengeng held one hand and walked inside while chatting.
Miss Lu is very lively and talkative.
"Aunt Zhang made a lot of delicious food, and I ate a lot of meat."
They currently live in Zhang Yan's home, and Aunt Zhang is Zhang Yan's daughter-in-law, Zhang Qi.
A very kind-hearted woman was extremely distressed when she learned what happened to the Lu brothers and sisters, and she took care of them as if they were her own children.
"Haha, you're at a loss. I'll have to eat dumplings later, stuffed with meat."
Miss Lu was very upset. She touched her bulging belly and regretted that she couldn't eat a few dumplings.
But I soon became happy again.
"Let it go to my brother. He can eat a few more."
Lu Wazi just said: "Sister, eat. I'll talk about it when I'm full."
The dumpling making place is in the courtyard.
This place used to be the residence of Feng Yuanwai, and it was built very luxuriously. Later, farmers moved in and vacated this place, preparing to leave it to the owner's family.
Zuo Mengeng didn't like such a large and unrealistic place, so he simply used it as a public activity area in Zuozhuang.
During the Chinese New Year today, the big fat pigs were killed. In addition to giving some to each household, Lao Qintou, Zhang Yan and everyone discussed it and decided not to let each family do it alone, but to get together to make dumplings and make dumplings together.
New Year.
No one has ever celebrated the New Year like this, but nothing can compare to the excitement of thousands of people gathering together.
The men have their own entertainment projects.
The elders gathered together to discuss how to prepare the fields for next year.
The strong laborers also gathered together and discussed where they would work after the new year.
Nowadays, there are many places that need people here, and the smelting plant is a major labor force. In addition, in the next year there will be a musket manufacturing plant, an artillery manufacturing plant, and a gunpowder factory, all of which will need people.
The younger ones were talking about things in the military camp.
Nowadays, only officers of the brigade and above are appointed in the rear camp, and all the remaining squadron and squad officers are vacant.
Everyone's eyes are hot.
Those who were still working at the dock, besides showing off their accumulated wages, could only listen with envy to those who had joined the army first and told them novel stories about the military camp.
There was knowledge in all walks of life, I knew a few words, and someone was imprisoned for disobedience. These were all experiences I had never had before.
The women were on the other side, mixing the dough, stirring the stuffing, and making dumplings.
To feed tens of thousands of people is a big project.
But while working, women can talk even more.
I can't talk enough about the East family and the West family. I also want to talk about the production of military uniforms.
Wang Xiuqin is the focus of course, everyone wants to learn more skills from her.
The more you work, the more you will be paid.
Zuo Mengeng's arrival caused everyone to stop what they were doing and rush to the top.
"Just do whatever you have to do and don't worry about me."
He tried to comfort them and let everyone disperse.
But after all, it was chaos, and everyone's eyes were looking at him.
Zuo Mengeng took this opportunity, walked to the middle, and bowed in a clear voice.
"It's thirty today. A few generals and I are here to pay you New Year's greetings."
Everyone was beaming with joy and their faces were red.
When did you see your boss and your boss come to pay New Year greetings to the people below?
"Master, I kowtow to you. I wish you great wealth and a long life."
He was so excited that he was about to kneel down on the spot, but Zuo Mengeng quickly stopped him.
"Kneeling is frowned upon here. It is filial piety to kowtow to your parents at home. No one kneels except your parents."
Someone shouted: "If you don't kneel before the official, you will be beaten."
Zuo Mengeng made a loud noise.
"I have no control over other places, but here, I have the final say. If I say you don't feel comfortable kneeling, then you are not allowed to kneel. We are all people carrying one head on two shoulders, so why should we kneel for others?"
Tens of thousands of people were silent, trying to digest what he said.
Most of the people here are simple and ignorant people who don't understand any big principles. The long-standing concept is that you have to kowtow when you see a noble person.
If Zuo Mengeng is not allowed to kowtow, doesn’t that mean he is no longer humble?
Many people can't turn this corner, but they don't dare to disobey Zuo Mengeng's order.
Chen Zhi, unlike those scholars, knew how deviant Zuo Mengeng's statement was.
Scholars, farmers, industry and commerce, there is a difference between master and slave. The rules have been established long ago and everyone must abide by them.
Breaking this boundary will inevitably cause an uproar.
Now it is only limited to the military camp and Zuozhuang, what about the future?
But these scholars are not wealthy and distinguished people after all.
Under natural disasters and exploitation, they have suffered no less than ordinary people. Occasionally, when they are helpless, they will also think about what is going on in this world.
Why are people suffering so much?
Why do they, the scholars, have to be bullied?
Why can’t we seek justice?
What exactly went wrong?
Their thinking may not have found the answer, but when they see any changes in the oppressive society, they will naturally not oppose it.
After appeasing everyone, Zuo Mengeng put on a smiling face.
"There are many of you, and I am poor. I cannot prepare gifts for everyone, so I will have to beg for food."
"Ha ha ha ha……"
Everyone laughed heartily and found that the owner and boss were not distant at all and were very approachable.
Huang Zongxi, who was walking around and watching, thought it was very magical.
They have known Zuo Mengeng for a long time.
In the past, when he interacted with officials and wealthy officials, Zuo Menggeng always made some omissions in etiquette, showing his vulgarity as a warrior.
But once Hepingtou and the common people gather together, his behavior is so harmonious and natural, and he can always close the distance with the common people with just a few words.
He is obviously a second-generation general, so why does he do this so easily?
Of course they didn't know that there were two souls in Zuo Mengeng's body.
One is the original body, a young man who has not yet matured; the other is the future, which has shaped him into what he is today.
"So, I prepared some pastries and candies to honor all the old people. As for you guys... let's eat dumplings later."
The laughter started again, everyone said that this should be the case.
Next, Zuo Mengeng, with the help of Zuo Rong, Zuo Hua and others, gave gifts to the elderly one by one, and also said a few words to each elderly person, making the elderly laugh heartily. He pulled his hand
There are too many words of gratitude that cannot be said.
They lost their home and their land. If Zuo Menggeng hadn't taken them in, they might have died under the city walls of Linqing.
They always remember who gave them such a stable life.
"We have to live well this year. But this year will pass soon. After the New Year, we have to work harder. How will the future look like? We can't just rely on me, but also rely on the big guys.
The fields are there, work hard to make them grow full of crops; the workshops are there, and if you work hard, you will get paid. Only when everyone works hard can our life be good."
Everyone was silent, looking at the young man waving his arms, as if looking at hope.
His arms were waving so powerfully, and his words were so considerate, all of which penetrated into the hearts of the people.
"Now, we have a lot of children in Zhuangzi. So I plan to build a school for the children in Zhuangzi when the weather gets warm after the new year. We have a lot of scholars here, enough to teach the children how to read and write. I'll come
Being this principal will give our children a better future. Do you think it’s good or not?”
"good!!!!"
The excitement of the New Year cannot compare to the warmth in everyone’s hearts.
Next year will definitely be a more promising year!