That evening, all the courtyards were adorned with red lanterns, and every house door was wide open.
Dong Wenxiu carried a basin of clear water, sprinkling it in every corner to dispel bad luck.
In the courtyard of Daguan Building, an offering table was set up. As a male member of the Yang Family, Yang Baixiang, along with Xiaofeng, bowed devoutly, invited the "year" in, then drank wine, ate the New Year's Eve dinner, set off firecrackers, and enjoyed dumplings.
Dumplings were still stuffed with copper coins, dates, rice cakes, tofu, chestnuts, and other items, each carrying a different significance.
Afterward, it was time to stay up late; with nothing much to do, everyone gathered to chat. The scholars were all well-versed individuals, but the children weren't interested in that and instead pestered Yang Ruxin to tell stories.
