The big market in the town started again, and Bai Zhi, Wu Wa, Bai Xiang, and Bai Fei went once more to sell food.
Once they had sold enough, they would stroll around a bit and then head home.
By the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, everyone had returned home, and Bai Zhi and the others began watching Bai Dan write couplets.
Then, they started to pound sticky rice cakes, eating lunch promptly at twelve o’clock.
Bai Meng was now leading what can only be described as the standard life of retirement: usually out of sight but sure to be the first to appear at mealtimes.
They had all grown used to it.
Today’s dishes were lavish: preserved pork and sausages, spicy Sichuan chicken, fish, and of course, the sticky rice cakes.
On the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, they made sweet rice cakes, the stickiness meant to seal the lips of the Stove God so he wouldn’t speak out of turn.
So Bai Zhi and Wu Wa took up the task, as they were the strongest.
The rice cakes they made turned out to be incredibly delicious.
Bai Meng kept eating non-stop.
"Today is a holiday for you all."
Hearing Bai Meng say this, the kids nearly went berserk with joy, nodding their heads and looking exceptionally happy.
Having a holiday was such a treat.
Bai Xiang took Bai Fei and Wu Wa fishing right away.
Winter fishing was great—you just threw your line into the water, and the fish would come running since they had nothing else to eat.
Bai Zhi stayed home to help cook; today was the day to cook the pig’s head because it, along with the pig’s tail and such, needed to be roasted and pickled, starting on the twenty-ninth.
And there were other dried goods too, like bamboo shoots, green beans, string beans, all sorts of dried delicacies one had to prepare because the New Year was the time to bring out the best and treat oneself, all the while hoping for an even better year ahead.
There were all kinds of fried meatballs as well, and Bai Zhi fried a lot of food intending to take some over to Bai Ming’s family.
And a portion for Ye Xiu too.
Ye Xiu had come back with Bai Yu and Bai Ye for the New Year and brought gifts for Bai Dan, Bai Zhi, and everyone else, including fireworks and firecrackers.
After all, one had to return favors.
Since it had snowed heavily the night before, the whole place was covered in white, making a crisp crunch underfoot.
Xiao Hei followed her, running swiftly.
Suddenly, Xiao Hei dashed off.
"Xiao Hei, where are you going!"
Lately, Xiao Hei had gotten used to his name; as soon as you called Xiao Hei, he’d come running over and lick the palm of Bai Zhi’s hand—it’s not a typo.
It tickled, affectionately delightful.
Bai Zhi liked Xiao Hei a lot; he was a very well-behaved guard dog.
"Xiao Hei, wait for me!"
Without Bai Da around, Bai Zhi had to follow, and it wasn’t long before Xiao Hei reached the base of the mountain.
"You’re not allowed on the mountain today, we’ve got chickens."
Xiao Hei was still an ace hunter, often catching a chicken or a rabbit to bring back, and he had a taste for all kinds of food, spicy, salty, or sweet, he liked them all.
But Bai Zhi would make him bland food, occasionally giving him a taste of something flavorful, which he would savour, smacking his lips contentedly.
Xiao Hei’s barks came through; Bai Zhi hurried over to see.
Ouyang and Moh Li had fallen into a trap, with Moh Li’s leg especially bleeding profusely.
Bai Zhi frowned—what was going on?
"Ouyang, Moh Li, what happened to you?"
Bai Zhi called out for a while but got no response; actually, the trap wasn’t deep, they probably hadn’t noticed it, and had passed out.
Bai Zhi quickly jumped down, tearing open Moh Li’s trousers to reveal a long gash on his calf. Bai Zhi frowned and took out the white liquor Bai Meng had saved for Great Grandpa.
It was liquor brewed by their Ancestor, very strong, and Bai Zhi used it to cleanse the wound.