Chapter 795 - 396: New Year’s Eve; Preparing for the Feng Conferment

Chapter 795: Chapter 396: New Year’s Eve; Preparing for the Feng Conferment

The thirtieth of the twelfth month. New Year’s Eve.

The new year had arrived.

The Immortal City had kicked off its New Year festivities.

The Cheng Family Manor was also exceptionally lively. The two clans, rarely gathered together, created a bustling scene that filled the entire manor with laughter and cheer.

Cheng Zongwen had sent over a large supply of New Year’s goods, which the clan elders then distributed to the manor’s residents.

Large, red lanterns hung high in front of every household, their vibrant color especially festive. Their light spilled onto the ground, covering it in what looked like a warm, red veil.

Children dressed in new clothes ran and played throughout the manor. Their cheeks were flushed red from the cold, but they paid it no mind, tightly clutching all sorts of small firecrackers in their hands.

Some children buried their firecrackers in mounds of dirt, lit the fuses, and quickly ran away. With a loud POP, dirt flew everywhere, and the children laughed gleefully from the side.

Other children chased each other with lit incense sticks, trying to scare one another. Their screams and laughter mingled, adding to the lively New Year’s atmosphere.

In the courtyards of every home, the women were busy preparing the New Year’s Eve feast.

The kitchens were steamy and filled with fragrant aromas. Flames in the stoves licked at the bottoms of the pots, and the simmering delicacies within bubbled away. Cutting boards were piled high with all kinds of ingredients as the women skillfully chopped vegetables, minced meat, and folded dumplings.

In some homes, they chatted intimately while folding dumplings, their conversations punctuated by bursts of laughter. They even shaped the dumplings into fun forms—some resembled gold Yuanbao, symbolizing wealth in the coming year, while others looked like little animals, adding a playful touch to the New Year.

The women of the Cheng and Zhou families wore blissful smiles as they bustled about the kitchens, teaching their respective daughters-in-law. Their eyes were full of gratification, as if they could already see the harmony and happiness in their sons’ future homes.

Meanwhile, the unmarried girls set up tables and chairs in the courtyards, preparing for the banquet.

They wiped the tables spotless and laid out exquisite bowls, chopsticks, and wine cups.

The older elders gathered together, discussing the clan’s development over the past year. Others, like Zhou Zhennan, chatted about the latest news from the Immortal Realm and the Martial Arts Realm.

Everyone’s eyes sparkled with hope for the future. They cracked jokes from time to time, and their laughter echoed through the courtyards.

Cheng Zongyang was by the main gate with his younger sister and brothers, putting up the New Year’s couplets.

The characters on the couplets were personally written by Cheng Zongyang. His calligraphy was firm and powerful, filled with blessings for the new year.

"As Heaven adds years, may our lives grow longer; As spring fills the world, may fortune fill our doors." The horizontal scroll read: "Auspicious and Fulfilling!"

"Brother, a little to the left. It’s crooked," Cheng Zongyun directed from behind.

Cheng Zongyang listened to the little girl, smoothed the couplet into place, then stepped down from the stool. He took a few steps back to see if it was straight.

"Mm, not bad. Your eyes aren’t crooked after all." Cheng Zongyang ruffled the little girl’s hair and smiled.

"Hey!! My hair! I just finished tying it up. Brother!!" the little girl protested. Her puffed-up, indignant expression was adorable.

"Hahaha." Bursts of laughter came from the courtyard gate.

As night fell, the stars dotted the sky like jewels set in a velvet curtain.

The New Year’s Eve feast officially began. The tables were laden with a sumptuous spread: braised carp for abundance in the coming year, Four-Joy Meatballs for a happy reunion, and all sorts of other delicacies from the mountains and seas, along with seasonal fruits and vegetables.

Everyone gathered around the tables, raising their cups to celebrate the arrival of the new year.

The Clan Leader of the Cheng Family Manor, Cheng Guanghai, stood up, cleared his throat, and began his speech. He reflected on the clan’s experiences over the past year, thanked every clan member for their contributions, and looked forward to the new year, hoping for the clan’s continued prosperity.

After speaking, he led the toast by draining his cup, and everyone else quickly followed suit.

After a few rounds of drinks and several courses, the clan members began to hand out red envelopes, which was the moment the children had been eagerly awaiting.

Although the adults in the manor had all bound the Ten Thousand Races Spirit Seal, the children had no income of their own, making the New Year’s red envelopes their only source of money for the year.

After the adults finished handing out the Silver Spirit Tickets amidst the children’s joy and anticipation, it was the married members of the younger generation’s turn to give them out.

Although unmarried members weren’t required to give out envelopes, Cheng Zongyang paid that custom no mind. He accepted every red envelope he received from the elders, as each one carried their deep blessings for the younger generation—and such blessings had to be accepted.

In turn, he gave out just as many red envelopes to his younger siblings and nephews. He knew that these small packets held not just money, but also a transmission of familial affection.

They weren’t lacking for money, food, or drink, and the amount inside wasn’t large, but the goal was simply the children’s joy. The sight of their happy and excited faces as they received the envelopes was gratifying enough.

Afterward, under the Clan Leader’s instructions, everyone in the Cheng Family Manor used the Teleportation Array set up by Cheng Zongliang to travel to the Immortal City.

With a flash of light from the Teleportation Array, the group departed from the Cheng Mansion and instantly found themselves in the bustling heart of the Immortal City.

The Immortal City was lavishly decorated with lights and bunting. Multicolored light strings were wound around the buildings on both sides of the streets, looking like fantastical ribbons, while countless lanterns of all kinds hung below them.

The streets were teeming with people, all shoulder to shoulder as they surged toward the central plaza where the festivities were taking place. They were all there to watch the city’s grand events and performances.

Some people began to sing folk ballads, their melodious voices seemingly telling tales and histories of their distant hometowns.

Others put on a Martial Arts sparring performance. Each move was executed with ferocious energy, stirring the blood of the onlookers. Cheers and shouts of approval rose and fell in waves.