The Russian nesting dolls brought back were the last items Chen Lan presented. When her mother and mother-in-law saw the intricately designed, charming dolls of varying sizes, they immediately took a liking to them.
Russian nesting dolls symbolize that one is within another, signifying eternal togetherness and a lasting bond. They also represent vigorous vitality and a prosperous lineage.
Each of the young girls in the family received a set of Russian nesting dolls. Since Chunni, the eldest, was already fourteen, Chen Lan did not give her a set. Instead, she gave Chunni an extra gold necklace to keep in her jewelry box.
The young girls played with their nesting dolls, utterly enchanted. Jiaxing and Jiahe, the two brothers, glanced at them, shrugged their shoulders dismissively, and mumbled, "So ugly, what's so great about them?"
Chen Lan couldn't help but chuckle. This was the difference between boys and girls. She was fortunate not to have given the nesting dolls as gifts to the boys, or they would have surely disdained them.
Not long after Chen Lan finished distributing gifts, Cui Qiao and her two sisters-in-law, along with Hu Yuzhen and Chunni, brought out all the necessities for making dumplings. The dough and fillings had been prepared in advance.
This year, everyone benefited from Xu Mingxuan's good fortune. The mother-in-law had prepared a truly abundant selection of fillings. There were shiitake mushroom and pork dumplings, which the mother-in-law said symbolized wealth. Lamb and scallion dumplings were meant to signify prosperity in foreign ventures. Cabbage and pork dumplings symbolized abundant wealth in all aspects, and celery and pork dumplings represented diligent wealth. In essence, the fillings were all about wishing for prosperity in the coming year. These were the fillings to be prepared for everyone to eat the next morning.
Additionally, a small basin of entirely vegetarian filling was prepared. These were to be made into vegetarian dumplings specifically for welcoming the gods. Three bowls would be offered on the ancestral table, with five dumplings in each bowl, accompanied by lit candles and incense.
The "Geng Sui Jiaozi" (year-changing dumplings) eaten on New Year's Eve are typically prepared before midnight on the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month. The dumplings are then cooked and eaten at the stroke of midnight, marking the beginning of the first day of the lunar new year. Eating dumplings at this time signifies "Geng Sui Jiaozi," where "Zi" refers to "Zi Shi" (midnight). "Jiaozi" is a homophone for "Jiaozi," meaning "festive reunion."
The shape of dumplings resembles large ingots, so eating dumplings during the New Year signifies attracting wealth and treasure, representing a prosperous life and great auspiciousness.
The mother-in-law called for all the children to come and help make dumplings. In no time, the boys and girls emerged from their rooms. They washed their hands thoroughly and began to work with the practiced air of seasoned dumpling makers.
Xu Mingxuan also walked out of the small study, holding Jiahe's hand. The father and son were discussing something as they walked, their conversation filled with laughter, creating a harmonious atmosphere. This made Chen Lan wonder. Didn't everyone say that Jiahe tended to mumble when playing Go-Moku? Yet, looking at the father and son, they seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely.
So, Chen Lan curiously asked, "Brother Mingxuan, how is your Go-Moku lesson with Jiahe going? Judging by how you two are, it must be going quite well!"
Xu Mingxuan smiled and gently stroked Jiahe's head. "Jiahe has explained the rules and methods of playing very clearly and in detail. After we finish making dumplings, my son and I plan to play a few more rounds. Lan'er, would you like to learn too? Jiahe is a very good teacher. I think this boy can become a teacher and educate others when he grows up."
Jiahe, with a proud lift of his little head, chimed in, "Mom, it's really easy to learn. Mom, you are so smart, you'll definitely learn it quickly."
Chen Lan gave an awkward smile and said, "I don't need to. As long as you two are having fun, that's all that matters." She thought to herself that Jiahe actually enjoyed teaching others how to play chess, which was why he was talkative. It seemed everyone had misunderstood him, thinking he was being a nuisance with his rambling. In reality, the child was simply eager to share his knowledge.
Seeing everyone already busy, Chen Lan got up and went to the kitchen. Following the old tradition of New Year's Eve, she prepared special dumpling fillings for good luck. These included fillings shaped like golden Ruyi scepters, golden peanuts, regular peanuts, candies, red dates, and chestnuts. Whoever got a dumpling with a golden Ruyi or golden peanut was predicted to have plenty of money to spend and prosper in the coming year. Those who got candy would have a sweet life. Those who got peanuts, also known as "longevity fruit," would enjoy a long life. Those who got red dates and chestnuts would hopefully have a child soon. These dumplings were prepared for the entire family to eat on the morning of the first day of the lunar new year, representing everyone's hopes and wishes for the year ahead.
With many people to feed and many hands to help, even Jia Yao, Jia Xing, and Jia He knew how to make dumplings, let alone the girls. Everyone pitched in. The men were responsible for rolling out the dough wrappers, while the women expertly folded the dumplings. They chatted as they worked, their hands never ceasing, filling the room with laughter and a joyous, harmonious atmosphere. Even the youngest, Xu Jiahao and Chen Qixing, were helping by transporting the dumpling wrappers.
Indeed, many hands made light work. The dumplings were quickly prepared and carried outside in baskets to freeze. Everyone then sat down to chat and stay up for the New Year.
Staying up for the New Year, also known as "Ran Deng Zhao Sui" (lighting lamps to illuminate the year), involved keeping all the household lights on throughout the night on New Year's Eve. It was believed that this practice would bring abundant wealth and treasures to the family in the coming year.
The custom of staying up for the New Year held both a reluctance to let go of the past year and a hopeful anticipation for the upcoming one.
An ancient poem titled "Shou Sui" reads: "Invited to stay up at A Rong's home, the candles passed on their red glow through the silk screen; Thirty-six decades have all passed in vain, why cherish this night's fleeting time."
For the elderly, staying up for the New Year symbolized bidding farewell to the old year, signifying the preciousness of time during this transition. For the younger generation, it was a wish for their parents' good health and longevity.
On this night of "one night linking two years, five watches dividing two years," the thirty-first day of the twelfth lunar month, everyone was gathered together with their families, waiting for the moment of farewell to the old and the welcome of the new, anticipating a year of fulfillment.
At this point, the mother-in-law and Mother Cui brought out apples, red dates, dried persimmons, and peanuts from the storehouse. From the kitchen, they brought a basin of "Er Mi Zi Fan," a mixed rice dish of coarse and fine grains, to be offered as the "year-after-year rice." This symbolized abundance, indicating that there would be more than enough to eat throughout the year, and that they would still be eating last year's grain. It was also called "Jin Yin Fan" (gold and silver rice).
Mama Liu also brought out a basin of fried New Year cakes, symbolizing a life that improves year by year. All these offerings were made to invoke auspicious sayings: eating apples meant peace and safety; eating red dates meant an early spring; eating dried persimmons meant everything would go as desired; and eating peanuts (longevity fruit) meant everlasting life.