Volume 2: Storm Rising 2015 Chapter 91 Moving into a New Home
Lighting the oil fire is a traditional ceremony for moving into a new house in the Chaoshan area. It is also called "rucuo". The ceremony is a bit similar to shaman dance. To put it simply, before the new house is built, a series of metaphysical rituals are performed to seek a good omen for family safety and peace of mind.
Because throughout the ages, building a new house and moving into a new residence in rural areas has been considered a grand and happy event for the family, and the sense of ritual that has evolved from this varies greatly from place to place.
However, with the development of the times, as more and more people moved into residential areas and their knowledge levels improved, this ritual was gradually phased out, but the festive saying of seeking a good omen has a long history.
When moving into a new residence in a residential area, there are rituals such as "rolling a coin on the ground" and "good luck" to seek good omens. However, the greatest sense of ritual for Chinese people ultimately comes down to one word: eating.
After all, food is the most important thing for people, which has been an unchanging tradition for thousands of years, and this is no exception whether it is a happy or funeral event.
For such a grand event as moving into a new house, most families will set up three or five tables and invite friends and family to have a meal, in order to add to the joy and fun, and to add popularity to the new house.
Families with means will set up a few more tables, but according to Chaoshan customs, gifts are generally not easily accepted, so similar ceremonies are basically spent to attract attention.
For some families with tight financial conditions, they can choose not to spend the money and choose to live in the new house temporarily and hold the ceremony on a certain day. It is no problem to live there for decades.
If you are not living a good life, no matter how particular you are, it is just a waste of time. The so-called rituals are just for show to others.
Although Zhou Dongsheng grew up here, he has never been interested in these ceremonies since he was a child. He just thought it was a formality, so Liu Huaiying just went along with Zhou Dongsheng's wishes.
Choose a good day, go through the motions simply, set up a few tables and invite people for a meal, and you're done.
In the past two days, Zhou Dongsheng has been busy with this matter, purchasing furniture and other items for the new house. The banquet master has made all the arrangements, and after everything is ready, he will officially move into the new house tomorrow.
Zhou Dongsheng and his old mother stood in the open space in front of the new house, looking at the three-story building, and the smile on Liu Huaiying's face never disappeared.
"How is it, Mom? Are you happy?" Zhou Dongsheng asked with a smile.
"I'm happy, but this house is so busy that your mother has to mop the floor every day." Liu Huaiying sighed inexplicably.
"That's easy. Just arrange a nanny for you." Zhou Dongsheng laughed in silence. His old mother's focus was particularly strange.
"Your mother is not old and weak, so she is not that delicate. Looking at this new house, I would be happy even if she has to mop the floor every day." Liu Huaiying said unhappily.
"But you, kid, don't just think about spending the money you earn every day. There will be many places to spend money when you do business..."
Faced with his old mother's habitual nagging, Zhou Dongsheng accepted it calmly and cheerfully. One only realizes the value of something after losing it, and now he is glad to get it back.
"By the way, Mom, I have to pick up two friends in the evening, so I won't eat at home. " Zhou Dongsheng said after looking at the time.
Tomorrow is the day to move into the new house. Huang Haoze and Chen Yuhang took a flight tonight. They arrived late and reportedly prepared a surprise for Zhou Dongsheng, all in a mysterious way.
However, Zhou Dongsheng secretly remembered the kindness from afar, and it was only natural for him to go and pick them up as the host.
Zhou Dongsheng drove to the gate of Yuedong Airport and waited for a long time before he saw two familiar figures coming out.
"Wow, Dongsheng, you are too low-key. You drive this car in your hometown?" Huang Haoze couldn't help but exclaimed when he saw the simple CRV.
As the saying goes, if one does not return home in glory, it is like walking in the night in fine clothes. In Huang Haoze's opinion, considering Zhou Dongsheng's current wealth, driving this car is really too low-key.
"It's just a car I bought to practice after I passed the driving test. How can it be the cheapest car Brother Hao has ever ridden in?" Zhou Dongsheng didn't care and joked with a smile.
"That's not the case. I've taken quite a few taxis. But it's no use trying to be low-key. Tomorrow I'll definitely make you the center of attention." Huang Haoze said with a smile.
"Is Brother Hao planning to give me a luxury car? Then I don't mind. I hope there will be more surprises like this." Zhou Dongsheng said with a smile.
Chen Yuhang at the side said with a smile: "Principal Wang has already given you a luxury car, so I bought you a watch as a token of my appreciation." After saying that, he shook the gift bag in his hand.
Zhou Dongsheng, who is not very interested in luxury goods, was not very familiar with the English letter V on the gift bag, but he still said, "How can I feel embarrassed? You are already giving me face by coming here."
Although he said so, Zhou Dongsheng accepted it calmly. Based on the relationship between them now, Zhou Dongsheng was not afraid of not being able to repay the gift in the future if he received a valuable gift.
"Well, one gave you a car and the other gave you a watch. I don't have anything good to give you. The house you built for me is just a little gift from me, your brother." Huang Haoze said generously.
"Okay, then I'll accept it without hesitation." Zhou Dongsheng agreed very readily. Excessive greetings and politeness would only make the relationship less emotional.
"Oh my god, I was thinking of waiting for you to be polite so that I could save the money. Why did you agree so readily this time?" Huang Haoze pretended to be dissatisfied and joked.
"If it's a gift, I'll be polite, but I like cash the most!" Zhou Dongsheng said with a smile.
While chatting, the two got in the car and headed towards Gu Town. Zhou Dongsheng had already arranged the hotel for them to stay in.
…
The next morning, the banquet chef was already in place in the open space in front of the new house, preparing various ingredients for the banquet.
There are three jet stoves alone. In addition to the chef, there are five or six people helping out. It's a bustling scene in front of the door.
Passersby also looked sideways, and many people stopped to watch and talk about it.
"Who built this Flying Tiger? It's really impressive." Someone who didn't know the situation asked casually.
"It's the family next door to me. They are divorced and have a son. The mother and son have depended on each other for many years. Finally, they have made it. The son is making a lot of money in business..." Aunt Zhang next door said with emotion.
"That's not easy. How did you get a divorce?"
"I heard that the man was addicted to Baiyaozi. How could he be okay after touching that stuff? He even gave up his family just to take a puff. He deserves the end of his wife and children being separated from him!" Aunt Zhang complained.
"They should definitely get divorced!" passers-by also agreed.
Zhou Dongsheng walked out of the gate with his phone in his hand, "Brother Hao and Brother Hang, I'll pick you up? What? No need, you want to come by yourselves? Where do you have a car? Do you know the way? Are you almost there?"
Zhou Dongsheng was confused by what he heard, but since the house was built by Huang Haoze, it makes sense that he knows the way. Could he take a taxi here?
At this time, a horn sounded. Zhou Dongsheng looked up and saw a familiar Rolls-Royce slowly driving in, followed by another one behind.
Zhou Dongsheng finally understood what Huang Haoze meant when he said he wanted him to be in the spotlight today. When these two cars were parked at the door, they really did attract a lot of attention.
This high-profile style is indeed in line with Huang Haoze's style. What else can he say now that he is here? Zhou Dongsheng can only greet him.
As soon as the car door opened, Huang Haoze got out of the car proudly and raised his chin towards Zhou Dongsheng, "How about it, this is a big deal, right? If it weren't for the fact that sports cars are difficult to drive in the countryside, I would have fixed it for you."
"If you don't know, you would have thought I was opening a new store. Thank you for your kindness, Brother Hao. But why is there a Maserati?" Zhou Dongsheng was not averse to being in the spotlight, but he really didn't expect this kind of operation.
There was actually a black Maserati following behind. The trident on the front of the car was particularly eye-catching, revealing a hint of luxury in its low-key style.
Chen Yuhang got off the Maserati and walked over with a smile, "I gave you the car and it's pretty good after trying it. The principal asked us to bring it here. How do you like it?"
