As twilight gradually descended, the people of the Green Sparrow Tribe, having feasted, with hearts filled with excitement and anxious fear intertwined, entered the courtyard.
Many people couldn't help but look into the distance, imagining the terrifying beast named "Nian" that was emerging from the deep mountains and slowly making its way here.
After a whirlwind of complex emotions, a surge of angry determination rose.
This was their homeland; their lives had finally improved, and they wouldn't allow anything to disrupt it, not even the terrifying Nian!
The Divine Child, standing at the forefront, finally issued such commands.
The two men, Fire One and Fire Two, who were already prepared, quickly ignited the pile of firewood with some charcoal left over from cooking.
A dull sound suddenly rang out, spreading in all directions like waves.
Then came a series of muffled thunders, echoing one after another in the glow of the flames.
The expulsion of Nian was actually a festive activity that officially kicked off under the illumination of the firelight and amidst the rumbling drumbeats.
The people of the Green Sparrow Tribe, who were determined to defend their tribe, were far from as relaxed as Han Cheng. They followed the methods taught by the Divine Child seriously, intimidating the ethereal Nian.
Han Cheng watched as the people, who were ready for battle, did all this with a fighting spirit. He smiled slightly. With the initial calendar in place, the Green Sparrow Tribe also began to have their festivals truly.
As for how long it would take for the activity of expelling the Nian to transition from its current solemnity to something more ceremonial and entertaining, he had no idea.
When night fell, the chickens, who slept in the dark, were startled by the sound, clucking in contribution to this inexplicable revelry.
Compared to other nervous deer, the Deer Lord had to appear much calmer. It nudged the signboard that read "Thriving at the Trough" with its head and, with an elegant stride, walked from the deer shed to the deer pen.
Tilting its head to look at the group of puny bipeds who seemed mad, it entered a state of spectatorship.
After watching quietly for a while, feeling that their antics were just that, it snorted in boredom, took a leisurely step, and returned to the warmer deer shed…
Under the urging of Divine Child Han, amidst the drumbeats and firelight, the people of the Green Sparrow Tribe began to dance around the bonfire, their steps wandering aimlessly.
The initially tense atmosphere gradually relaxed and became lively with the twisting of the dance.
As the night deepened, some children couldn't resist sleepiness and wanted to go to bed, but they were worried that if they fell asleep, Nian would come. At the same time, they were thinking about their new clothes, so they struggled to stay awake.
It wasn't until Han Cheng told them that the Nian wouldn't dare to approach as long as there was firelight and the sound of the drums. He also promised that when they woke up, new clothes would be waiting for them, and they went back to their rooms with hopeful anticipation to sleep.
Human energy is limited. After continuous jumping, more people felt tired.
Han Cheng brought out the Year, firstly because of his own sentiments and secondly because he wanted to make the people of the Green Sparrow Tribe lively and happy, which was most important.
So, seeing everyone tired, he said that the Nian had been frightened away, and from now on, they just needed to ensure the fire didn't go out and beat the drum now and then.
Despite Han Cheng's this, everybody did not let their guard down. This Nian is a ferocious beast after all.
After persisting for a while longer, they could not resist the exhaustion creeping upon them. Plus, with Han Cheng speaking up again, the people followed his previous instructions.
However, after stopping, Eldest Senior Brother repeatedly instructed the few people standing guard on the low wall to be vigilant. If anything seemed amiss, they were to sound the alarm immediately.
The three promised with hands on their chests, then widened their eyes, staring unblinkingly outside the courtyard walls.
Outside, there was a thick layer of snow, and even though it was a thirty-degree night, it wasn't so dark that one couldn't see one's hand in front of one's face.
Han Cheng watched this scene with a mixture of amusement and exasperation, wondering if he had made the story of the Nian too vivid.
After sitting around the fire for a while, Han Cheng called over the female primitive people responsible for making clothes. He had them bring out the finished clothes, distributing them first to the adults present.
Because of limited time, each person only received one piece of clothing, but for the Green Sparrow Tribe people who had never celebrated the New Year before, this was already enough to surprise them.
The clothing style was relatively modern, with a longer length overall for better warmth…
Before production began, everyone's height was measured so that the clothes made would save fabric and fit better.
To avoid confusion, Han Cheng tied a wooden tag with each person's name carved on it to each garment during sewing.
According to the names, distribution was carried out, so there was no fear of mix-ups.
The children's clothes weren't as particular. There were only three sizes: large, medium, and small. And they were generally larger because they were growing. If the clothes were made to fit perfectly, they would soon become too small.
Although Han Cheng's clothes for them weren't made with the intention of "new for three years, patched for three years," they should at least last for a year or two.
The clothes for the underage individuals were taken back by their parents and placed by the heated beds.
Han Cheng, who hadn't grown up either, also received a new piece of clothing.
However, his clothing was slightly different from the others. Two slanted pockets were deliberately sewn on both sides of his garment.
Compared to gloves, Han Cheng preferred to stick his hands in his pockets. Not only were they convenient for warming his hands, but he could also put snacks like pine nuts inside.
The adults who received their clothes were all thrilled. Some couldn't wait to try them on for size.
After wearing them for a while, they reluctantly took them off, holding them carefully in their hands, eagerly awaiting the passing of the long night and the arrival of the New Year's new day.
When the time came, they could finally wear these comfortable new clothes.
Seeing these adults so fond of their new clothes, Han Cheng suddenly remembered the tradition of giving lucky money. He smiled afterward, realizing that there was no "money" yet. This was something he couldn't do anything about.
If there were banknotes available at this time, Han Cheng would snatch them up regardless of anything else and stuff them into his wallet!
He was tired of using things like dirt clods, leaves, and sticks to wipe his butt every day…