Dong Shuzhen hurriedly stopped her random thoughts and immediately followed her, and the two of them headed to the flower hall of the main house.

They walked into the flower hall and saw Dong Shuyu already waiting there, alone and a little deserted.

"Shuyu didn't go to worship his ancestors?"

When Zhu Xiuyuan first saw Dong Shuyu, he felt a little strange. He asked without thinking too much.

But as soon as the words came out of his mouth, he realized that he had made a mistake. Female relatives were not allowed to be present during this ancient ancestor worship ceremony.

Isn't this a redundant question?

"Daddy is worshiping our ancestors over there, and I... can't go there conveniently, so I'm waiting for you here." Dong Shuyu explained calmly.

"oh!"

Zhu Xiuyuan didn't say much. He pulled Dong Shuzhen to sit down and said with a smile: "It's still early and it's not lunch time yet. How about we play the game of 'fighting corrupt officials' first?"

The two women responded immediately.

So Zhu Xiuyuan ordered people to clear the table, took the playing cards he specially made, and played the game of "fighting corrupt officials" with the Dong sisters.

After playing two games, Dong Cheng also came over after paying homage to his ancestors. Everyone asked him to play cards with him, but Dong Cheng couldn't refuse, so he started playing cards awkwardly...

"Master, Master, King Poyang is here!" Suddenly, a servant came to inform him.

"King Poyang?" Zhu Xiuyuan and Dong Cheng both looked surprised.

It’s New Year’s Eve, and it’s so weird that people are still visiting other people everywhere!

If you want to visit, it should be after the New Year's Day. At this time, every house is not busy cleaning the courtyard, hanging peach charms, worshiping ancestors and so on.

It was really strange that King Poyang came to visit at this time. Zhu Xiuyuan and Dong Cheng were both confused.

"I think King Poyang came here for the prince Liu Xun!" Dong Shuyu reminded.

As soon as Dong Shuyu reminded them, everyone immediately figured it out.

Yes, that must be the case.

Liu Xun is the eldest son of Prince Poyang, but Liu Xun has been intoxicated and dreaming in the Jiangcheng uncle's house for several days!

He only eats and drinks every day, and sleeps with his head covered when he is drunk... He simply regards Jiangcheng Uncle's Mansion as his own home.

Zhu Xiuyuan naturally didn't care. His uncle's family had a great business and he was not afraid of Liu Xun eating and drinking for free.

Moreover, when they were in Jiangzhou, he and Dong Cheng were both cared for by King Poyang.

It's just that several days have passed, and Zhu Xiuyuan has long forgotten that there is a person like Liu Xun in his house...

Now that Poyang King is here, he must be here for Liu Xun.

So Zhu Xiuyuan got up to entertain the guests, personally welcomed him out of the house, and ordered someone to wake up Liu Xun.

"Oh, dear guest, dear guest! The prince has arrived, and the humble abode is really full of glory. I didn't welcome you from far away, but I still hope to atone for my sin!" Zhu Xiuyuan handed over his hands and left the house.

"Uncle Zhu, you're welcome!"

King Poyang is a veteran general who is usually stoic, but this time, his face made of steel also showed a smile.

"I haven't seen you for several months, but Uncle Zhu has already taken root in the capital, and he is still a popular person around His Majesty... I am so envious of you! Hahahaha..."

The two exchanged polite greetings, and Zhu Xiuyuan invited Prince Poyang into his mansion for a chat.

"I won't let you go this time. To be honest with Uncle Zhu, I just arrived from Jiangzhou today to attend the New Year's Day meeting. But as soon as I entered the city, I heard about Xun'er... Xun'er is making trouble in your mansion.

I've been rude for a long time. I am here to take Xun'er back."

"Your Majesty is so polite. When I was in Jiangzhou, I was taken care of by your Majesty many times. The prince felt like he was back home in his humble abode..."

The two were chatting at the door of the mansion. Soon, Zhu Xiuyuan had just arranged to call Liu Xun's servants to come over. Just when he was about to say something, he suddenly saw that King Poyang was also here, and he was too frightened to speak.

"Don't be afraid. Tell me, why didn't Xun'er come out with you?" King Poyang raised his eyebrows.

"Listen to the prince, don't hide it, just tell me!" Zhu Xiuyuan also ordered.

The servant then said in a hopeful voice: "Master, Prince, Prince Liu Xun... he is still hungover, and the younger one has been calling for a long time, but he has not been woken up..."

When King Poyang heard this, his old face suddenly became a little tense, and he waved his hand: "Bring that traitor out!"

As soon as he finished speaking, several generals from the royal family followed the young man into the house. Soon, they used a wooden board to carry out a man.

It was none other than Liu Xun, the prince of Poyang!

When King Poyang saw his son lying on the wooden board, sleeping like a dead pig, he also held a small wine jar in each hand...

He actually slept with a wine jar in his arms!

King Poyang's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot, the corners of his mouth moved wildly, and he said in a cold voice: "It's outrageous, take down those two wine jars!"

Several generals from the royal family took orders and ran over to pull out the two small wine jars.

Liu Xun was still in his dream, having a sweet dream of drinking wine. Suddenly, he felt that someone was coming to snatch his wine jar.

He suddenly became furious, shouted loudly in his sleep, and kicked his legs to both sides at the same time, kicking the shit out of those royal generals.

"That's all, let's take him back home first!"

King Poyang waved his hand, crossed his arms with Zhu Xiuyuan, and left quickly with the hungover Liu Xun, which was almost like running away, so embarrassing!

Zhu Xiuyuan watched them go away. When the carriage and horse could no longer be seen, he shook his head and turned back to his house.

Back at the main house, it was almost time for lunch.

The card playing table had already been cleared away, and a large table of cups, plates and dishes had been set out.

The New Year's Eve meal, as well as the meal in the evening, what dishes to eat and how to eat them have been planned more than ten days ago.

Needless to say, it is extremely rich.

…

After Hehe had a beautiful meal, everyone gathered and chatted about interesting things. There were bursts of laughter from time to time in the flower hall, and the atmosphere of the New Year was very strong.

Unconsciously, the time has reached Shen hour, which is around three o'clock in the afternoon. Everyone got up and left the flower hall of the main house, preparing for the third activity of the day——

Begging comes true!

Begging for wishes means praying for your New Year wishes to come true. It is a way of making wishes.

This custom also comes from a mythical story.

It is said that there was a merchant named Ou Ming in Luling. Every time he passed by Pengze Lake on business, he would take items from his boat to offer sacrifices to the lake god Qinghong Jun.

The sacrifices continued for several years, which moved the lake god Qinghongjun greatly.

One day, the lake god stepped onto the water and asked Ou Ming, "What do you want from me?"

Ou Ming said: "But my wish comes true."

Originally, he meant to pray for everything to go well, but it happened that the Lake God had a female attendant named Ruyuan, so the Lake God agreed to this request and gave Ou Ming the spleen girl Ruyuan.

Ou Ming returned home as he wished, and was elated.

Whatever Ou Ming needs, he can get it done immediately, which is really what he wants.

But one New Year's Eve, Ru Yuan got up a little late. Ou Ming was so angry that he beat Ru Yuan severely. In anger, Ru Yuan ran into the mound and disappeared.

At this time, Ou Ming hit the mound with his money stick and called out for his wish, but his wish still did not come back...

This is a bizarre mythical story, which entrusts people with their good wishes to pursue everything in life.

Therefore, the operation method of the custom of begging for wishes is obvious.

People will make a "jinren" in advance and throw it into the mound. Then they will hold a wooden stick and hit the "jinren" painfully. They will imitate the action of Ou Ming in the mythical story, hitting the mound with a money stick.

Moreover, this "jinren" needs to be tied with a rope to prevent it from disappearing as soon as it enters the mound like wishful thinking in fairy tales.

Like hanging peach charms, this is an activity with no practical meaning.

It is more like a ritual, or a reserved activity on New Year's Eve.

Dong Cheng, Dong Shuyu, and his wife Dong Shuzhen were all very excited and in high spirits and rushed to the place where their begging was granted.

In addition, the four maids of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, as well as a large group of servants and maids, also came with excited faces, as if they were going to the New Year's fair.

The place where the wish-granting event is held is in a garden next to the main house. There is a large grassy area with enough space.

In the green grassland, a small pit measuring one foot square has been dug, exposing the soil.

The boy who came with him also brought a "jinren" that had been made long ago and was tied with a rope.

Zhu Xiuyuan, as the head of the uncle's mansion, was naturally the first to come.

He took a wooden stick from the boy's hand, rounded it and threw it at the mound, landing on the "Jin Man".

There was a roar of applause all around, the cheers were thunderous, and it was very lively!

"I wish the world is peaceful, the people live and work in peace and contentment, and my family is healthy!"

Zhu Xiuyuan made a wish on the mound, then put down the stick and stepped back to let the next person come.

Zhu Xiuyuan's wish naturally received cheers and praises from the onlookers, including the servants and maids, even louder than before.

Then came Dong Cheng, who also gave him a hard blow and made several wishes, which were similar to Zhu Xiuyuan's.
To be continued...