Chapter 555: Chapter 541: Daddy Will Show You a Little Magic Trick

Time flies by, and in the blink of an eye, it’s already the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month.

As the saying goes: "On the twenty-third, worship the Kitchen God; on the twenty-fourth, clean the house; on the twenty-fifth, make tofu; on the twenty-sixth, go buy meat; on the twenty-seventh, steam jujube buns; on the twenty-eighth, put up New Year pictures; on the twenty-ninth, buy wine; and on New Year’s Eve, eat dumplings; on the first day of New Year, bow down and greet..."

According to tradition, "On the twenty-third, worship the Kitchen God," and once the Kitchen God ascends to heaven, the New Year is almost here.

So!

From yesterday, the twenty-third day of the twelfth month, we start "celebrating the New Year."

Commonly known as "Little New Year."

Legend has it that the Kitchen God is a heavenly deity responsible for managing each household’s cooking fires. He lurks in the kitchens, watching over the family. On the evening of the twenty-third, he ascends to heaven on horseback to report the family’s deeds, good and bad, to the Jade Emperor. The Jade Emperor decides the family’s fortune for the coming year based on the Kitchen God’s report.

Because the Kitchen God’s report is so important, before he ascends to heaven, people conduct a worship ceremony, commonly known as "sending off the Kitchen God" or "farewell to the Kitchen God."

Although the procedures for worshiping the Kitchen God are quite complicated, people in Huang Family Village persist in this annual custom.

The Huang Family is no exception!

Yesterday afternoon, after returning home, Mr. Huang and Mrs. Huang cleaned the kitchen thoroughly and made a large bowl of leavened dough cakes, with each family member getting a piece, to demonstrate the importance of worshiping the Kitchen God.

In addition to the leavened dough cakes, there are a plate of stove cakes, a package of sesame candy, a plate of sweets, two plates of fruit, a handful of hay, and a large rooster, plucked clean but leaving a few tail feathers, as essential offerings.

The stove cakes are for the Kitchen God’s journey to and from the heavenly palace, the sesame candy is to seal his mouth so he can’t say anything bad, the rooster is the Kitchen God’s "heavenly horse," and naturally, the hay is for feeding the "heavenly horse."

The ceremony for worshiping the Kitchen God takes place at dusk. Mr. Huang first offers the stove cakes, sesame candy, rooster, and other items in front of the Kitchen God statue, then lights three sticks of incense, and the entire family takes turns bowing to the Kitchen God.

While bowing, they burn paper money and silver, then burn the sesame candy until it becomes sticky and seals the Kitchen God’s mouth.

Ceremony finished!

The hay is thrown onto the kitchen roof to feed the "heavenly horse."

Then the Kitchen God statue is taken down, brought to the courtyard, and burned.

While burning it, they pray: On the twenty-third you leave, return at dawn on the first, Kitchen God, you are the master of the household, please ride your steed, bring your provisions, ascend to the heavenly palace, speak more good words, none of the bad ones, bring back good fortune and everything auspicious when you return to the earthly realm... please...

Afterwards.

They set off a string of firecrackers to clear the way for the Kitchen God, which means they have sent the Kitchen God to heaven.

Although Huang Tao doesn’t really believe in these things, he feels that these traditional customs should not be forgotten or discarded, otherwise the New Year’s atmosphere will become less and less.

And today is the twenty-fourth, the day to clean the house, according to tradition, the entire home must be cleaned thoroughly, removing all dust and dirt to welcome the upcoming new year in a bright and clean manner.

So, early in the morning.

Mr. and Mrs. Huang started working busily right after breakfast.

They covered the furniture with bed sheets, took long-handled brooms, and swept the ceilings, walls, doors, and windows...

"Grandpa, Grandma, what are you doing?"

Xuanxuan, coming out after breakfast with Huang Tao, saw her grandparents holding long-handled brooms, sweeping the ceiling, and found it quite fun, yet curiously asked.

Song Cailian smiled lovingly at Xuanxuan: "Xuanxuan, today is the day to clean the house. Let me tell you, sweeping during the twelfth month can sweep in good fortune."

Oh!

Sweeping with a long broom on the roof is what you call cleaning the house...

Xuanxuan, who wasn’t familiar with traditional customs, nodded in partial understanding after her grandma’s explanation.

However, she was quite interested in the long stick with a broom attached that her grandparents were holding and really wanted to give it a try!

"Mom and Dad, take a rest, let me do it."

Seeing that his parents were struggling a bit, Huang Tao stepped forward to help them.

Huang Yide quickly said: "Tao, no need, your mom and I are almost done. We just need to wipe the furniture and window glass a bit, after all, it’s an old house, just cleaning it up a bit will do. You just accompany Xuanxuan."

Huang Tao chuckled, patted his father’s shoulder, and said: "Mom, Dad, since I have nothing else to do, let’s do it together, we might finish quicker. What do you say, Xuanxuan?"

He finally turned to ask Xuanxuan.

Xuanxuan nodded vigorously: "Yes!"

Huang Tao reached out his hand to her and asked: "Then shall we clean the house together with Xuanxuan?"

Xuanxuan happily took her father’s hand: "Yes."

And so, roll up your sleeves and start working hard!

Cleaning the house together truly brings out the New Year’s spirit!

Huang Tao found brooms, basins, and cloths, preparing to start with the dirtiest windows.

Xuanxuan tugged on Huang Tao’s sleeve and asked, "Daddy, what should I do?"

Originally, Huang Tao hadn’t planned on having Xuanxuan help, since she was only 4 years old and it wasn’t suitable for her to do such heavy work.

However, seeing her eager to help, he couldn’t bear to deny her request.

After a moment of thought.

Huang Tao handed her a wrung-out cloth and said: "Daddy will clean the windows, and Xuanxuan can clean the coffee table. As for Mimi..."

Looking at Mimi squatting at Xuanxuan’s feet: "Mimi can be in charge of looking cute!"

Mimi seemed to understand, and meowed a few times, then rolled over on the floor with her belly up and her paws curled.

Hmm~

I have to say, she’s quite the expert at being cute!

Xuanxuan was instantly amused by Mimi’s cuteness and giggled, waving the cloth in her hand, she said, "Daddy, I’m going to clean the coffee table now."

Working together with Daddy made her very happy, and if Grandpa and Grandma, along with Mimi, were around too, the happiness would be doubled!

"Sweetheart, wait a moment."

Huang Tao quickly reached out to hold her little hand and said softly, "Don’t rush, let Daddy show you a little magic trick."

A magic trick?

What kind of magic trick?

Xuanxuan turned her head, her eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of anticipation.

She watched as Daddy took a clean piece of newspaper from the simple magazine rack by the sofa and spread it out on the sofa.

He then tore the newspaper in half and folded one half.

Next, he folded the corners of the folded half towards the center evenly, and then folded the top triangle down along the crease, pulling apart the top opening and pressing it down on both sides.

Finally!

He gently pulled the triangles on both sides to the left and right...

A paper hat shaped like a gold ingot was crafted by his skillful hands!

Xuanxuan watched the scene, her eyes widening, and she instantly felt her daddy was like an omnipotent magician!

She couldn’t help but clap her hands: "Daddy, you’re amazing!"

This compliment warmed Huang Tao’s heart!

"Here, let Daddy put it on you, so you’re protected from dust."

He placed the paper ingot hat on Xuanxuan’s head.

And wouldn’t you know it, it fit just right!

"Thank you, Daddy~"

Xuanxuan touched the paper ingot hat on her head, completely enamored.

"Let’s get to work!"

Huang Tao climbed onto a stool to clean the window glass.

Xuanxuan also focused on the coffee table, not even leaving the table legs untouched. When the cloth got dirty, she could wash and wring it out in the basin all by herself—without needing Huang Tao to teach her.

As for Mimi!

She lazily lay beside the coffee table, quietly watching Xuanxuan work.

Oh dear!

Where’s the promised cuteness?

Xuanxuan shook her head in silent resignation, but what could she do? She had to keep spoiling the pet she raised, even with tears in her eyes.

Huang Yide and his wife finished sweeping the ceiling and came over, seeing the scene, they smiled but said nothing, and then went to other rooms to keep busy.

They didn’t want to interrupt this warm, cozy moment just for the father and daughter!

The living room wasn’t big, and there were only four windows, so it wasn’t long before the cleaning was done, and the entire living room became much brighter.

"Daddy~"

Having finished with the coffee table, Xuanxuan couldn’t help but show off: "Look, is my coffee table clean?"

"Wow!"

Luo Kai exclaimed in surprise: "So clean, Xuanxuan, you’re amazing! Here, let Daddy give you a kiss."

Xuanxuan proudly leaned her face over, and Daddy gave her a peck.

Oh my~

How is my little darling so adorable...

"Come!"

Huang Tao said indulgently, not letting go: "Let Daddy give you another kiss."

Xuanxuan giggled and dodged: "Daddy, your beard... it pricks, no more..."

Huang Tao wouldn’t let up: "No way, even if it pricks... you get another!"

"Meow~"

Mimi raised her head, her round eyes watching the father and daughter share their affection.

The little feline wants some love too!