Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 890 - 454: Farewell to the Old, Welcome the New_2

According to custom, on Lunar New Year’s Eve, an all-night lantern must be kept lit. As this lantern is a symbol of frugality, even the poorest of families will see to it that at least one lantern is left burning throughout the night.

This year, the Lian family had hung red lanterns in all of their courtyards, including the ones in front of the early-riser snack stall, with the inner courtyard boasting the most lanterns.

Lian Manman loved the festive red of the lanterns and the warm, glowing light they cast on the cold night.

With the arrival of nightfall, the pop and sizzle of firecrackers erupted intermittently outside. Xiao Qi and Wu Lang would occasionally run out to set off a string of firecrackers or a few fireworks. By the Hai Hour, Lady Zhang, alongside Lian Zhizhi and Lian Manman, got busy once again.

They were going to make dumplings.

In Liaodong Prefecture, the custom on Lunar New Year’s Eve is to have the family reunion meal at midday, and to eat dumplings while keeping vigil at night. These dumplings had to be shaped like yuanbao, a type of ingot, to signify the hope of fortune in the coming year. Moreover, Copper Coins could be hidden within the fillings of the dumplings, and whoever found them would be blessed with exceptional luck for the next year.

Lady Zhang rolled out the dough, while Lian Manman and Lian Zhizhi filled the dumplings. Today’s filling was beef, with a small amount of pork added, without any vegetables but seasoned with various spices and finely chopped green onions. This was what the locals referred to as a "meatball filling" for dumplings.

Once the dumplings were wrapped, the broth prepared in the big iron pot outside was brought to a boil, and Lady Zhang carried the dumplings out with a strainer to boil them.

On Lunar New Year’s Eve, it is customary to boil the dumplings rather than steam them, as is usually done. Before the family had split, New Year’s Eve dumplings were steamed – not due to ignorance of customs at the Lian family but due to Lady Zhou’s personal preferences. Lady Zhou didn’t favor boiled dumplings, disdainfully referring to them as "just water and broth."

Last year, although Lian Manman’s family had separated from the main house, they were still living in the old house and had to be mindful of Lady Zhou’s sensibilities. For example, when they ate fish, they would be subjected to Lady Zhou’s indirect complaints. So last New Year’s Eve, to maintain peace, Lady Zhang still followed the Upper Room’s rule and made steamed dumplings.

Now, Lady Zhang was the mistress of her own household and no longer needed to consider anyone else’s preferences. She had consulted with her family before deciding to make boiled dumplings this meal.

Lian Manman secretly preferred steamed dumplings, but she didn’t dislike boiled ones; for this occasion, following the custom was of course the best choice.

While Lady Zhang was boiling the dumplings, Lian Manman and Lian Zhizhi prepared the dipping sauce. Once the dumplings were ready, they plated them along with the dipping sauce and a few side dishes, loading everything into two large food boxes. Lian Manman also carried a box of bowls and chopsticks, and the three women then headed to the front courtyard.

In the main hall of the front courtyard, Lian Shouxin, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi were keeping vigil with Mr. Loo.

Seeing them arrive, Lian Shouxin, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi hurriedly moved the fruits and snacks from the kang table to one side. Lady Zhang took out the dumplings, sauces, and side dishes from the food boxes, and Lian Manman set out the bowls and chopsticks. Then, the whole family gathered around the table to start eating dumplings.

The plump yuanbao dumplings were small in size. Opening wide, you could eat one in a single bite. Mr. Loo bit into his third dumpling to discover a Silver Horn Coin concealed within the filling.

"Congratulations to Mr. Loo, may the coming year bring you smooth sailing and great fortune," everyone laughed and congratulated Mr. Loo.

Mr. Loo knew that Lian Manman had deliberately picked out dumplings for him with the auspicious coin. Pleased with the good omen, he was very delighted.

Soon, Xiao Qi also found a Silver Horn Coin, followed by Wu Lang. In a short while, everyone had their share and naturally, all were joyful.

After eating the Lunar New Year’s Eve dumplings, before awaiting the arrival of the New Year, there was another important task to do.

Sisters Lian Manman and Lian Zhizhi went back to the inner courtyard, into their own rooms, where they collected the new clothes they had prepared inside and out, placed them in a large wooden tub, and carried them. They also gathered all of their bathing necessities before stepping out the door. They followed the covered corridor leading westward and exited through the Moon Cave Gate into the western annex.

Descending the steps and following the cobblestone path to a screen wall, they climbed two stone steps, opened a door, and walked in.

An essential part of bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new is, of course, bathing.

As they opened the door of the bathhouse, and turned past a small divider, a wave of steam engulfed them.

The bathhouse had a screen wall to the north and a divider directly opposite the door, all designed for winter warmth and privacy within the bathhouse. Inside, there was also a division between the inner and outer sections, separated by a divider. The inner section housed the latrine, while the outer section was the bathing area. There were two large wooden bathtubs in the bathing area, separated by half-height wooden slats. In addition to this, the bathhouse also featured a short, round water tank and a stove.

The stove’s fire blazed intensely, heating a kettle on top. Lady Zhang was sitting next to the stove, tending to the fire.

"I’ve poured the water for you, bathe while it’s still hot," Lady Zhang said cheerfully as she saw her daughters enter.

"Yes," replied Lian Zhizhi and Lian Manman as they approached the bathtubs.

The water in the bathtubs was still steaming. Lian Manman dipped her hand in, felt the warmth, and quickly undressed, hanging her clothes on the adjacent wooden rack. She then stepped into the tub, submerging her body and chin beneath the water.

Thanks to the day-long fire in the kitchen on the other side of the opposite wall and the heat from the nearby stove, the bathhouse felt as warm as spring. Immersing oneself in hot water several degrees higher than body temperature was truly the epitome of comfort during a cold winter.

"So comfortable," Lian Manman sighed contentedly.

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Here’s the first update, with another to come later. Seeking your ’likes’.

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Since the original reader group has reached its limit, two more reader groups have been opened. All are welcome to join and enjoy lively discussions with fellow book lovers.

The group name is "Rebirth of the Little Landlord" group number 37443900, open to all book lovers.

Group name "Rebirth of the Little Landlord 2" group number 283743844 is a VIP group; entry verification requires checking account details and fan points.

Eagerly seeking group admins, urgent!

(To be continued... If you like this work, you are welcome to visit Qidian.com to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)