Chapter 107: Celebrating the Lunar New Year

Everything stems from a mistake made five years ago.

Five years ago, when Wu Ning first transmigrated, the moment he opened his eyes, he saw Meng Cang Sheng delivering a baby for Li Xian's wife. That baby was none other than Li Guo'er.

To be honest, this was a heaven-sent opportunity.

Had he managed to establish a connection with Li Xian earlier, Wu Ning would never have been stuck hiding in a remote mountain valley for five years, merely on the strength of saving his wife and daughter.

The reason he abandoned Li Xian was entirely due to a single action taken by Meng Cang Sheng: he had accepted a plea from Qiu Shenji.

Qiu Shenji, who had been frightened away by a few words from Meng Cang Sheng, returned that night to beg for his life. Wu Ning happened to be present at the time and, unfortunately, agreed to Qiu Shenji's request.

...

The mistake Wu Ning refers to now is not the act of saving Li Xian's family, but this very matter involving Qiu Shenji; in light of the current situation, it was indeed somewhat ill-considered.

To put it bluntly, he had made an agreement with Princess Taiping and sent Chen Zi'ang back to his hometown.

The only issue Wu Ning fears might expose his whereabouts—the only flaw the uncle and nephew have revealed so far—is Qiu Shenji.

That night was too hasty.

It was this very haste that led him to deliberately cover his face with fake pockmarks to avoid Zhou Xing, and it is the same reason he now dares not meet with Li Xian.

This is what Wu Ning has been dwelling on lately.

How can he plug the hole left from that year? Otherwise, not only will he be unable to get close to Li Xian, but once he eventually goes to the capital to investigate the old case, both Zhou Xing and Li Xian—who will be returning to the capital in a few years—will become his greatest threats.

Therefore, long-term pain is worse than short-term pain. Rather than living in constant fear and inviting disaster later, it is better to take a risk now and resolve the problem at its root.

"Your Highness, there is no need to return to the city!"

Wu Ning was exceptionally firm. "Let Li Xian come! It would be best to have Wu Sansi and Wu Chengsi come down to the valley as witnesses as well. I have my own plan."

Taiping: "..."

She looked at Helan Minzhi with concern, only to see her brother already walking toward the door.

"Let's do as Jiulang says!"

...

Wu Ning returned to his room and sat blankly for a long time. Finally, he reached into his robe and took out the package given to him by Daoist Xiao.

Looking at the dark powder, Wu Laojiu almost wept. "Man proposes, God disposes. In the end, I still have to smear this on my face."

But there was no other way. Who told him his fate was so bitter, saddled with such a bizarre and high-difficulty background?

Smear it on, then!

...

"Ah!"

A heart-wrenching howl echoed from Wu Laojiu's room.

First the face, then the backside, and now back to the face...

Damn it, Wu Laojiu hasn't had a good day yet!

...

The Lunar New Year is a major festival in any dynasty or era.

The so-called "clearing the old to welcome the new" holds the utmost importance in the hearts of the Chinese people.

In the blink of an eye, it was New Year's Eve, and the grand festival officially began.

Early in the morning, before Wu Ning had even risen, the old patriarch had already come to call him.

"Get up and go with your third brother to light the New Year's fire."

"Huh?" Wu Ning, with his swollen face, was still half-asleep.

"Why not send Seventh Brother or Old Eight? Why do I have to go?"

The patriarch glared. "If I tell you to go, you go! There are plenty of boys in other families who would love to go, and I wouldn't even let them!"

"Oh."

Wu Ning had no choice but to get up and get dressed.

As soon as he stepped out, he saw Seventh Brother, Old Eight, Eleventh, and Huzi waiting outside the courtyard, arms full of firewood.

Without even washing his face, Wu Ning grabbed a pair of worn-out shoes and some old clothes from the corner of the wall and headed out.

Just as he took two steps, the door to the guest room opened, and Princess Taiping emerged, also holding a pair of embroidered shoes and an old Daoist robe.

Wu Ning grinned. "Is Your Highness coming too?"

Taiping pursed her lips and teased, "High or low, doesn't everyone have to celebrate the New Year?"

"Heh." Wu Ning thought to himself, true enough.

"Then let me show you how we mountain folk celebrate. I guarantee you won't find this much excitement in the capital!"

With that, he walked out of the courtyard side-by-side with Taiping.

Seventh and Eighth Brothers were a bit reserved at first, seeing the Princess tagging along.

But after walking for a while, they realized this Tang Princess didn't seem to have any airs at all. Like any mountain girl, she held her old clothes and shoes, her face full of the joy of the festival, and they stopped worrying about it.

...

The group arrived at the valley's threshing floor.

From a distance, they saw the Third Brother waiting there. And not just him—almost every man, woman, and child in the valley had gathered.

By now, the firewood brought by each household had already been stacked into a massive pile.

Seventh and Eighth Brothers trotted over to toss their contribution onto the heap.

Taiping looked on, fascinated. "What a huge pile. Back in the palace, we never had one this big."

"And what did you expect?" Wu Ning curled his lip. The palace only had the Li family; how big a pile could they build? This was an entire valley's worth of people.

When he reached the front, Wu Ning added his firewood to the stack.

By then, Old Eight had already used flint to light a torch and handed it to Wu Ning.

"Let Third Brother do it!" Wu Ning said, trying to be modest.

Lighting the New Year's fire marks the beginning of the celebration. Usually, each family provides wood, and the honor goes to a respected youth from the younger generation. In past years, it was always the eldest, Third Brother, or the patriarch's own grandsons, Wu Lao Ba or Wu Qi, who lit it. This year, it was Wu Ning's turn.

"If I say do it, you do it!" Third Brother chuckled.

"This year, who but you could light this fire!?"

...

"Exactly!" the Sixth Uncle chimed in from behind, calling out to everyone, "This year's harvest all depends on Old Nine. If he doesn't light it, who can?"

"Right!"

"Right..."

"That's right!!"

Everyone joined in the cheering.

Someone even took the opportunity to tease Wu Ning: "Old Nine's face is thick enough, isn't it?"

"Why are we getting stage fright now?"

Fine!

Wu Ning thought, if I have to light it, I'll light it!

He took the torch...

He cleared his throat and sang out loudly...

"Happy New Year~~!!"

He threw the torch onto the woodpile! *Whoosh!*

The pine resin and tinder inside ignited instantly. In the blink of an eye, it flared up!

Before long, the entire pile was ablaze. The flames reached a full ten feet high!

The better the year's harvest, the larger the New Year's fire, and the higher the spirits of the villagers.

Come to think of it, the Lower Mountain Valley hadn't seen such a large New Year's fire in many years.

...

At this moment, Wu Ning took a handful of dried bamboo branches he had prepared and tossed them into the fire.

The children, having waited impatiently, saw him move and swarmed forward like a hive of bees, grabbing bamboo branches and throwing them into the flames!

Instantly, the bamboo cracked and popped in the heat, *crackle, snap, pop*, never stopping!

In this era, there were no firecrackers, so this "popping bamboo" was the namesake of the modern firecracker.

Although not as loud as the firecrackers of later generations, the constant *crackle-pop* and the occasional shower of sparks made for a lively scene.

The laughter, shouting, and New Year's greetings blended together, adding even more festive spirit.

...

Wu Ning handed a bunch of bamboo branches to Taiping.

"Want to try?"