"Elder, I'm back."

Liu Zheng knocked on the stone tablet and shouted loudly.

"It's just the two of us celebrating the New Year, how did you manage to make such a big fuss?"

Feng Jizi came out and was startled upon seeing the towering pile of New Year goods.

"Two people still need to celebrate properly. Besides, you've worked at the Du Kang Wine Workshop for so many years; surely you have some close colleagues? Invite them over for New Year's, let's make it lively."

He said with a smile.

"I didn't expect that your thoughts would coincide with mine, but even if we call others over, we don't need this much."

Feng Jizi shook his head and said.

"If we don't use it today, we can use it tomorrow—every day is New Year's. Alright, alright, elder, stop rambling, hurry and help me pack these things, and take me inside."

Liu Zheng said nonchalantly.

"You lazy kid."

Feng Jizi jokingly scolded before waving his sleeve to pack the New Year goods along with Liu Zheng.

By the time Liu Zheng was released, he was already in that bamboo grove from last time.

Only now, there was not just bamboo but also a two-story pavilion built from bamboo in front of his eyes.

"This is my little house, and this bamboo grove is part of my dormitory area."

Feng Jizi explained.

"Your living conditions are way better than mine."

Liu Zheng said enviously.

He didn't even have his own bed, let alone a loft.

Although he didn't really need it.

"We don't really have freedom here; if it weren't for this bit of comfort, I wouldn't be able to continue working."

Feng Jizi rarely complained.

"That's true. Well, let's get busy then."

Liu Zheng shouted out.

"I'm getting old and forgetful, I don't even remember what needs to be done; you feel free to arrange it, young friend."

Feng Jizi said with a smile.

"I don't really remember either; in any case, let's start by hanging the 'Fu' characters and spring couplets."

He found the red paper with the 'Fu' character from the pile of New Year goods and pasted it upside down on the main door.

"Young friend, you've pasted the 'Fu' character upside down."

Feng Jizi reminded.

"It's supposed to be upside down, that way 'Fu' arrives."

Liu Zheng said.

"I see, that's something new."

Feng Jizi smiled slightly.

Hui San directly gave him dozens of 'Fu' paper, and Liu Zheng pasted them around the little house like small advertisements.

Feng Jizi twitched the corner of his mouth slightly but, so as not to hurt his filial piety, he said nothing.

After pasting the 'Fu' papers, next was to paste the spring couplets.

Hui San had prepared ready-made ones but also prepared ink, brushes, and blank red paper.

"Elder, why don't you write a couplet?"

Liu Zheng asked.

"What is a couplet?"

Feng Jizi asked, puzzled.

"Didn't people in your time put up couplets during New Year?"

"No, in our time, we should hang peach charms for New Year."

Feng Jizi shook his head and said.

Peach charms were wooden boards made of peach wood, typically inscribed with the names or images of the two deities Shen Tu and Yu Lei, hanging on either side of the main door, considered the predecessor of the spring couplet.

As for Shen Tu and Yu Lei, they were the two divine beings living on the Great Peach Mountain, responsible for guarding the Ghost Gate.

In "Lunheng·Dinggui" it says: "In the middle of the sea, there is the Mount Doshak, on which grows a large peach tree, stretching three thousand miles. Its northeast branch is called the Ghost Gate, where myriad ghosts enter and exit. On it reside two divine beings, one is Shen Tu, the other Yu Lei, governing a myriad of ghosts. For harmful ghosts, they bind them with reed ropes and feed them to tigers. Thus, the Yellow Emperor instituted rituals and times to drive them away, erecting great peach people, with the doorways painted with Shen Tu, Yu Lei, and tigers, hanging reed ropes to ward off evil spirits."

In reality, door gods have mostly been replaced by Qin Shubao and Wei Chigong, but in some coastal areas and Taiwan, Shen Tu and Yu Lei are still used.

"No problem, we'll combine the new and old."

Liu Zheng decided.

He first found the peach charms and hung them on the door, then moved the table out, prepared the ink, moistened the brush, and laid out the paper.

"Elder, I can't write calligraphy, you'll have to write it."

He said.

"I can write, but I don't know what to write."

Feng Jizi said awkwardly.

"Let me think. I remember, when I came here, it was the Year of the Snake."

Liu Zheng fell into thought.

"Got it! 'When the Golden Dragon returns to the sea, luck abounds; when the Silver Snake descends from the mountain, auspiciousness flows.' How about it, Elder?"

He quickly came up with it.

"Hmm... it's quite good."

Feng Jizi pondered for a moment and decided not to dampen the youngster's confidence.

"Then please, Elder, do the honors."

He saw through Feng Jizi's insincerity but didn't mind it.

With spring couplets, the key is that they sound auspicious, as long as they're not something like 'after the Year of the Monkey comes the Year of the Chicken, after the Year of the Chicken comes the Year of the Dog.'

"Alright then."

Feng Jizi picked up the brush and diligently wrote the couplet.

"Elder, this script of yours is quite unique."

After reading it, Liu Zheng commented.

It's not regular script, but also somewhat different from the clerical script he knew.

"This is what I learned as Wang Cizhong's 'Eight-part Style,' and it also incorporates elements of oracle bone script, bronze script, and seal script. I've named it 'bamboo body.'

Feng Jizi responded.

"Then the bamboo must be quite plump, must be a spring shoot, right?"

Liu Zheng joked.

"Haha, young friend, your metaphor is just brilliant. Indeed, since it's New Year, the script should naturally be bolder and more festive."

Feng Jizi laughed heartily.

"You're making me crave it, let's finish up and make New Year's dinner."

He licked his lips and said.

"I'm not very skilled at cooking."

Feng Jizi said, a bit embarrassed.

He was of noble birth and had cooks prepare his meals from a young age.

Now, with profound cultivation, he didn't even need to cook—he could sustain himself on the wind and dew.

"No worries, I can handle it. Maybe not grand dishes, but I can cook home-style meals."

Liu Zheng assured.

As a single, impoverished, food-loving, older young man, cooking was certainly a necessary skill.