Although we haven't had the wedding yet, we already have the marriage certificate, so I still have to go back to my parents' home no matter what.
Moreover, Du Ruo also needs to leave and hide for a while. In a few days, there will probably be a lot of people coming to pay New Year's greetings. Du Ruo really doesn't want to deal with these people, so he simply turns a blind eye to them.
He doesn't have too many relationships that he needs to maintain personally, so if that's the case, he might as well go to Fujian with Xiang Yuanyuan to experience the New Year atmosphere there.
He has always been fascinated by the post-Chinese New Year activities in Fujian.
"Wife, is the New Year's parade in your place as lively as what is said online, with every household participating?"
On the way to the car, Du Ruo asked Xiang Yuanyuan. They were almost at Xiang Yuanyuan's house, but he just remembered to ask about this matter. It would be better to say that he just wanted to know in advance. After all, it has been circulating on the Internet, and he felt it was natural.
"what?"
Xiang Yuanyuan turned to look at Du Ruo who was driving, then blinked, pursed her lips, and didn't know how to answer.
"What's the matter? Any problem?"
Du Ruo originally thought that he would get a positive answer, but he didn't expect Xiang Yuanyuan to react like this. He thought that what he asked was wrong.
"The parade you're talking about is an activity in southern Fujian and coastal areas. My family is in northern Fujian."
Xiang Yuanyuan replied with a stifled laugh. She had always thought that Du Ruo was the know-it-all type, but she didn't expect that he would ask such a question.
"What do you mean? There's no New Year parade in your town?"
Du Ruo really didn't know all this. After all, he had never thought that he would be able to marry a Fujian wife, so he just thought that the parade was an activity throughout the province of Fujian.
"No, even if there are any, they are just some small parades of the town itself, that is, inviting the gods they believe in, and then the town or village fasts and burns incense to show respect. It is completely different from the parades you know."
Xiang Yuanyuan shook her head directly. She knew what Du Ruo was thinking. In fact, the belief in Mazu, Dragon God, or local gods is mainly in coastal areas. The main income in coastal areas is from fishing, so they will have more faith and respect in this aspect.
"Uh, I was stupid. I didn't expect this to happen. So forget it."
Only then did Du Ruo come to his senses. That's right, Fujian is so big, and Xiang Yuanyuan rarely goes to the beach, so it's normal that their faith is not so strong.
"But we can go and have fun. I've never been there before, so I'll go this year and have some fun."
Xiang Yuanyuan smiled. Seeing Du Ruo's disappointment, it was rare that Du Ruo was interested in things other than martial arts, so of course she supported him.
"Hey, let's see when the time comes."
Du Ruo smiled, but still didn't confirm it directly. This time she came here to accompany Xiang Yuanyuan, so it depends on the arrangements of the Xiang family. If it is not suitable, there is no need to force it.
"Well, actually, it's not bad near our town. There are many activities, such as lantern festivals, opera performances, dragon dances, and some blessing ceremonies. It's quite lively."
Xiang Yuanyuan was afraid that Du Ruo might have some misunderstandings, so she started introducing everyone to Du Ruo while sitting in the car.
In fact, she herself didn't know much about these traditional activities, she had only heard about them. After all, during the Chinese New Year in the past, she was either drunk or drinking, and she didn't even have any friends, let alone pay attention to them.
"Yeah, that's good too. It should be quite lively then."
"Ha ha……"
Du Ruo would occasionally ask a question, and Xiang Yuanyuan would occasionally smile awkwardly, or quickly type on her phone to ask Xiang's mother.
Soon Du Ruo stopped asking questions, put on some music, and started talking about other issues. How could Xiang Yuanyuan's little tricks be hidden from him?
Du Ruo and Xiang Yuanyuan set out early in the morning. When they drove to the gate of Xiang's yard, it was only half past twelve. If nothing else, they just made it in time for lunch.
Du Ruo's arrival was naturally met with a warm welcome from the Xiang family.
"Crackling~~"
But what was a little surprising was that when he saw Du Ruo coming, it was Xiang Yuanyuan's cousin Xiang Wu who went out to set off firecrackers.
"Grandpa, Dad, Mom, Happy New Year, Third Brother, why are you here?"
Xiang Yuanyuan ran to her mother as soon as she got off the car, but she was still quite surprised to see the fat Xiang Wu and his sister-in-law behind him. After all, in the past, the annual meeting was equivalent to a family dinner. After the dinner, all branches would reunite during the New Year, and only those with better relationships would visit each other to wish each other a happy new year.
It seems a bit unreasonable that Xiangwu did not go back to his mother-in-law's house on the second day of the Chinese New Year but came here.
"Ninth sister, look at what you said, what's wrong with me coming here to pay New Year's greetings to grandpa?
Besides, this is the first time that my brother-in-law comes to pay New Year’s greetings this year, so it is my duty as his brother to come and meet him.
Brother-in-law, you must be tired from driving. Let’s go inside. Auntie has been busy preparing a large table of food since early morning.”
Xiangwu was smiling and not polite at all. After saying something to Xiang Yuanyuan, he immediately went over to greet Du Ruo.
"Happy New Year, Grandpa, Dad, Mom. Happy New Year, Third Brother, Sister-in-law."
Du Ruo got out of the car and first greeted the elders, then got out of the car with the gift.
"Hey, Happy New Year. Let's go. You must be hungry after driving for so long. Let's go inside and prepare to eat."
Du Ruo's calling of "Mom and Dad" made the Xiang's mother feel extremely comfortable. She quickly asked the Xiang's father to take the things in Du Ruo's hand and welcome him into the house.
The Xiang family compound had obviously been cleaned and decorated with lights and colors, creating a festive atmosphere. "Brother-in-law, hey, what did you promise me last time? Hmm?"
As they were walking in the yard, Xiangwu came over and winked at Du Ruo. His meaning was too obvious.
Obviously he calculated that Du Ruo would definitely come back today, so he came here specially.
"Don't worry, I remembered and brought it here specially. It's at Yuanyuan's place. Ask her to give it to you later."
Du Ruo smiled. She didn't dislike these cousins of the Xiang family. After all, they didn't have much in common. Besides, they were all the third generation, with a father and grandfather above them. They had no right to express any thoughts.
At most, it would be the same as last time, just persuading Du Ruo to drink more. Since the elders had not expressed their opinions, they could not do anything bad.
"Don't wait any longer, I'll go now."
Xiangwu couldn't wait any longer, as this concerned his future. If he had never lost anything, he would never be able to understand the feeling of powerlessness after being over 40.
Finally, after getting a box from Xiang Yuanyuan, Xiangwu seemed less impatient.
At the dinner table, Xiangwu kept saying good things and praised both the Xiang family and Du Ruo highly.
It was precisely because of the presence of Xiangwu and his wife that the meal at Xiang's house seemed a lot more lively.
"Grandpa, Uncle Wu, Shengzi, brother-in-law, we are leaving first. We still have to go to my mother-in-law's house. We will come to have a drink with brother-in-law next time."
After finishing his meal, Xiangwu drove away with his wife without stopping for a moment.
Originally, Du Ruo thought that he could learn how to brew wine with his grandfather Xiang Yuanzhang in the afternoon, but he didn't expect that an unexpected guest would come.
"Master Du, Happy New Year. I originally wanted to go to Huangshan to pay my New Year's greetings to Master Du in person, but I heard that you were here yesterday. I happened to be nearby, so I came here right away. I hope I didn't bother you."
Wu Jing came straight to Xiang's house, but this time he came alone and brought a lot of cigarettes and local specialties. Add to that the politeness in his words, it was really hard to refuse.
In fact, the other party called Du Ruo yesterday to wish him a happy new year. He just casually said that he would come to Fujian today if he could, but he didn't expect that the other party would come directly over.
"Don't bother, you're welcome."
After all, Du Ruo owed Long Zhirou a favor, and after so many interactions, the two of them had developed some friendship.
What's more, apart from the utilitarianism, the fact that the other party is such a busy person can personally come to wish you a happy new year is really speechless.
But unexpectedly, the other party really came to pay New Year's greetings. He met my grandfather and my father and mother, said a few auspicious words, put down the gift, drank a cup of tea, and then said goodbye and left.
Not to mention eating, he didn't even mention the medicinal wine.
"Wife, when the time comes..."
After Du Ruo sent Wu Jing away, he said something to Xiang Yuanyuan beside him when he returned to the yard.
"After the tiger bone wine we brewed last time is ready, we'll give him a bottle, right? It'll take about a month and a half, and I'll remind you then."
Xiang Yuanyuan smiled and spoke first. Just as Du Ruo understood Xiang Yuanyuan, Xiang Yuanyuan also understood Du Ruo in the same way. There was no need for her to say more, and he could understand.
"Well, my wife still understands me."
Du Ruo did not expect that the other party would come here to pay New Year's greetings. If the other party had just asked for tiger bone wine, neither Du Ruo nor the Xiang family would let the other party return empty-handed. However, their good impression of him was limited to this, and the wine they gave him would definitely be blended wine.
But the other party did not ask for anything, as if he had come to pay New Year's greetings to Du Ruo, which was very respectful to Du Ruo.
Under such circumstances, Du Ruo naturally had to accept the favor.
After Wu Jing left, Du Ruo chatted with Xiang Yuanzhang, and then was pulled out by Xiang Yuanyuan. The two drove to the city to visit the lantern festival.
For the next few days, Du Ruo studied with Xiang Yuanzhang during the day, and in the evening, he went out with Xiang Yuanyuan to participate in activities in nearby towns or villages.
Of course, during the day, Du Ruo would occasionally set up a furnace and refine some pills for Xiang Yuanzhang and his father and mother.
These pills are specially made according to the physical conditions of the three people.
The three of them knew Du Ruo's abilities better than Du Ruo's parents. They treasured the elixir very much. After taking it for a few days, he indeed looked much better in all aspects.
"Honey, where are you going today?"
On the evening of the sixth day of the New Year, Du Ruo drove out of the yard and asked Xiang Yuanyuan about the destination. In the past few days, he had become accustomed to Xiang Yuanyuan taking him around the neighborhood.
"Hey, let's go to FZ City tonight and not come back at night. We'll stay in the city and go watch the parade tomorrow morning."
Xiang Yuanyuan sat in the car and smiled, putting her mobile phone navigation on the bracket. She knew that Du Ruo had always wanted to watch the parade, so she had already asked about the route.
"Okay, let's go."
Du Ruo smiled. Actually, he was not curious about the parade of gods, but wanted to see these gods of faith and incense. He even had the urge to compare himself with them to see if he, who could be regarded as a true god in the world, could be compared with these gods who had been worshipped for generations.
It took about three hours to drive from Xiangjia to Fuzhou.
It's no wonder that there are no parades near Xiang Yuanyuan's home. With such a long distance, it's really hard to synchronize customs. (End of this chapter)
