Chapter 285 September th - Celebrating the Old Man's Birthday
Under the afternoon sun, a unique family gathering was held in the Liu family's old house. The lobby was decorated in an antique style, exuding a warm and comfortable atmosphere.

Those who attended the party were all close relatives of Liu Zhiye's family. They gathered in this old house full of historical charm, each with smiles and stories.

The eight-immortals table was filled with delicious food carefully prepared by my aunt, mother Deng Ru and other elders. The aroma was so fragrant that it made people salivate.

At the dinner table, Liu Zhiye took out his customized high-end liquor, "Wangfu Liquor", and made the twenty or so men drink until their faces turned red and their necks became thick.

As he poured the wine, he told the origin and story of this "Wangfu Baijiu", which made everyone listen with great interest.

After three rounds of drinks, everyone was a little tipsy, but they were still talking about various topics with great interest, and the atmosphere was very lively.

Several up-and-coming young people who had attended college, high school, and technical secondary school also joined in the conversation with the adults. They made jokes from time to time and made everyone laugh.

The old man is the most senior elder here. He is almost 79 years old this year. Although he has white hair, he is still in good spirits.

He has devoted himself to the cause of traditional Chinese medicine since he was young, saving lives and healing the wounded, and has accumulated rich medical experience.

Later, he accepted the position of the Liu clan leader and became a fair, selfless and wise elder. He was fair in the clan, never took advantage of his clan members, and was always willing to help the poor.

Therefore, the old man is deeply respected and loved by everyone and is a well-known elder.

Seeing that the old man was happy, uncle Liu Yuansheng smiled and suggested: "Dad, you are 79 years old this year. Jingzhai and I mean to celebrate your birthday. What do you think?" The old man heard this and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

People in Beijing call birthdays of people over 50 "doing birthdays". Usually, the tenth birthday is called a "big birthday", such as the 50th, 60th, and 70th birthdays, but in reality, the 60th birthday is often celebrated when the person is 59 years old, and so on.

As he got older, he liked the younger generations to gather together and have a lively time. However, he still reminded them: "Yuansheng, Jingzhai, I am of course happy that you brothers are filial to me, but I will not allow a grand ceremony. I will be satisfied if our family can have a lively time."

Third uncle Liu Hong listened to this and said in dissatisfaction, "Brother, what are you talking about? Are we not allowed to join you in your birthday celebration?"

"I don't agree to this!"

Liu Yuanhai echoed, "Third uncle is right. Uncle, you can't just deal with your birthday so simply."

"Don't say we don't agree." Liu Yuanhai added, "The villagers don't agree either."

"Yes, great grandfather, we don't agree!"

"right!……"

The old man looked at the opposition from his younger brother, nephew, and grandchildren, and for a moment he felt a little embarrassed. He knew that if he refused, these people might not give in, but if he agreed, he felt that it would be extravagant and wasteful, and acting in a high-profile manner was not what he wanted.

The old man was in a dilemma for a moment, "This..."

Liu Zhiye looked at the old man and felt a little embarrassed. He advised: "Grandpa, we are all sincere, please just follow our wishes! Don't worry, the cost of celebrating a birthday is just a small matter for us."

The old man was silent for a moment, then sighed and nodded.

Third uncle Liu Hong suggested with a smile: "The Double Ninth Festival is less than two months away. I think we can use the Double Ninth Festival to celebrate your birthday."

Hearing this, the eldest uncle nodded in agreement and said, "The day proposed by Third Uncle is a good one. That day is Respect for the Aged Day, so let's go with that day!"

Liu Jingzhai also smiled and agreed, "This is a good day. In the past, we old Beijingers were used to celebrating our elders' birthdays on this day."

The Double Ninth Festival is also called "Respect for the Aged Day" or "Daughters' Day" in the capital.

Speaking of the filial piety of the old Beijing people, they are particularly distinctive when it comes to celebrating birthdays.

In the old society, no matter whether the family was rich or poor, the birthday of the elderly must never be neglected, and birthday celebration was a big event in the family.

At this time, when children gather together, it can not only enhance family unity, but also demonstrate family culture and strength.

It can be said that birthday celebration is like a complete piece of music, which brings people not only respect and filial piety, but also the sharing of joy and family affection.

Speaking of the Double Ninth Festival, there are many important customs in the old capital, one of which is eating flower cakes.

"A Brief Account of Scenery in the Imperial Capital" is a book from the Ming Dynasty that records the humanities of the capital, and provides important information for people today to study the customs of the old capital.

Among them is the description of "Daughter's Day", which says that on this day, married daughters will go home to visit their parents, and their parents will prepare flower cakes for their daughters to eat, and the whole family will enjoy the joy of reunion together.

The Girls' Day mentioned here is the Double Ninth Festival, and the love and care of parents for their married daughters is also incorporated into this flower cake.

Regarding the custom of eating flower cakes on the Double Ninth Festival, the book "Wulin Jiushi" records: "On the Double Ninth Festival on September 9, people in the capital drink new wine, wear cornel hairpins and chrysanthemums, and give chrysanthemum cakes as gifts. They are made of sugar, meat, and sorghum flour, with shredded meat and duck cakes on top, decorated with pomegranates, and marked with colorful flags."

In the Ming Dynasty, Shen Bang's "Wan Shu Miscellaneous Notes" also said: "In September, flower cakes are steamed. The flour is used to make cakes as big as a basin, and two or three layers of dates are spread on them. If there are girls, they will welcome them home and eat them together."

Although the Girls' Day has long faded from the memories of many ordinary people, the traditions of eating flower cakes and respecting the elderly on the Double Ninth Festival have been preserved to this day.

It is precisely because of the homonym of "gao" that people will wish each other a long life and prosperity for their families on the Double Ninth Festival.

………………

In the blink of an eye, nearly two months had passed.

Liu Zhiye and his family hurried back to Liujiazhuang on the afternoon of October 17th, because the next day was the Double Ninth Festival and also the old man’s 80th birthday party.

In order to celebrate the old man's birthday, their family chose to return home early and join in the busy life of their uncle's family.

The whole family works together to shoulder this special responsibility and filial piety.

Liu Zhiye and his friends had just returned home when they saw their aunt and sister Liu Yucui preparing to make "Huaqi Cake", commonly known as "Chongyang Flower Cake".

Some people may ask curiously: "What does Chongyang Flower Cake look like?"

In fact, it was recorded as early as in the famous book "Kyoto Customs" which records the customs of the capital, that "Double Ninth Flower Cake" usually has two cute goat patterns on it, which means "Double Ninth Festival". This kind of flower cake is finely made and is sold in some pastry shops in the capital.

There is also a kind of flower cake that contains more homely flavors, which is made by ordinary people themselves. Yellow rice and glutinous rice are steamed into dough cakes, and the middle is wrapped with dates, chestnuts, nuts, etc. Because the upper and lower layers have clear colors, it is also called "gold and silver cake".

Some clever women would paste patterns such as "double happiness", "fortune, wealth and longevity" and "joy" on the cakes, and then insert colorful small flags. These flower cakes can be eaten and become works of art to be appreciated. Such flower cakes have become a good gift for relatives and friends on the Double Ninth Festival, and are also called "flower flag cakes".

After leaving Deng Ru and Gan Ning, Liu Zhiye briefly explained a few things to his uncle. He asked, "Uncle, is there anything else that needs to be prepared at home? I will go back to pick up Tie Lin and the others, and I can take them with me."

Uncle Liu Yuansheng was also busy setting up the banquet hall with a few brothers. Hearing this, he thought for a moment and suggested: "The wine and food are ready at home. You might as well buy some fruits, snacks and other snacks to serve at the banquet."

Liu Zhiye responded: "Okay!"

After he met up with Liu Tielin, Liu Zhitai and He Hongmei, he discovered that there was another heroic girl.

The girl is tall and has an extraordinary temperament, giving people a fresh and refined feeling.

Before he had the chance to ask who it was, the girl saluted him respectfully: "Hello, Chief!" He was surprised and delighted by the girl's proactive greeting.

Liu Zhiye smiled and returned her greeting, "This comrade is..."

Liu Zhitai, who was standing by, quickly explained to her, "Brother! This is Comrade Guo Lin, the second team leader of our women's special police squadron." Then, he touched the back of his head and said embarrassedly, "Hey! She is still my girlfriend."

Liu Zhiye heard this and said with a smile: "Wow! You, a blockhead, have finally come to your senses! You now know how to date, not bad!"

Then, he extended his hand warmly to Guo Lin and said in a very welcoming tone: "Comrade Guo Lin, hello. Is it okay for me to call you sister-in-law?"

Liu Zhiye's enthusiasm made Guo Lin feel warm. She responded shyly: "Commander! You can call me whatever you want!" Liu Zhiye deliberately said dissatisfiedly: "Hey! Why call me commander in private? You should call me big brother!"

Guo Lin responded boldly: "Okay, big brother!" Then he looked shyly at the grinning Liu Tielin, his eyes full of tenderness.

Liu Zhiye nodded secretly in his heart. He had a good first impression of this girl and thought she was a good match for his younger brother Liu Tielin.

The three brothers and two younger sisters-in-law started their journey while chatting and laughing. They first came to "Daoxiang Village" and carefully selected some delicious snacks. Then, they went to the dried fruit shop and bought a bunch of delicious snacks.

On the way home, Liu Zhiye asked Liu Tielin to drive, and he began to inquire about Guo Lin's personal and family situation.

"Sister-in-law, where are you from? Who are your relatives?"

As soon as Guo Lin saw Liu Tielin's elder brother, she asked about her personal situation. Although she was a little nervous, she tried to stay calm and began to tell her story: "Brother, my hometown is northern Shaanxi. I moved to Beijing with my parents when I was young. Now I live in..."

It turns out that Guo Lin's hometown is in northern Shaanxi. His father Guo Wei is an old Red Army soldier who joined the Red Army in northern Shaanxi led by Lao Liu in 31.

Later, while studying at the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University, he met his mother Han Ya, who was a progressive youth. Soon after, the two became revolutionary partners under the arrangement of the organization.

Now her father Guo Wei is a senior leader in the Frontier Production and Construction Corps, and her mother Han Ya is a deputy director of the Frontier Art Troupe.

Guo Lin is only 20 years old this year. She was born in 1941. She has an older brother and an older sister, and they are all working in the army.

Influenced by her family environment since childhood, she developed a strong interest in wielding swords and guns.

As she grew older, the country entered a stable and peaceful period, so she applied for the Beijing Public Security College, determined to become a people's policeman, fight crime, and maintain social peace.

After she graduated, Dongcheng District happened to set up a public security brigade, so she signed up for the training of the public security detachment. After hard work and unremitting struggle, she successfully passed the selection of the special police team.

During her time in the SWAT team, she trained hard, constantly improved her skills and qualities, and soon became a leader in the team.

During this period, she met the equally outstanding Liu Tielin. The two admired each other and soon developed a spark of love. They only confirmed their relationship recently.

When they returned home, Liu Zhiye's grandfather and uncles were so happy that they couldn't stop smiling when they learned that Tielin was in love and brought his girlfriend back.

As there were too many people returning home that day, they had no choice but to move into Liu Zhiye’s new home, a large courtyard house with three entrances.

This courtyard is large in scale and full of artistic and cultural atmosphere. That night, they spent a special night here.

When they first came to this courtyard, He Hongmei and Guo Lin were very surprised. This courtyard was so large and beautiful that it was unbelievable. Even in feudal society, such courtyards were rare.

The buildings in the courtyard are well-arranged, with carved beams and painted rafters, and antique style. The courtyard is paved with exquisite stone slabs, and both sides are planted with various flowers, plants and trees, making people feel like they are in a beautiful garden.

The architectural style of the courtyard is simple and elegant, full of strong traditional cultural atmosphere.

He Hongmei and Guo Lin looked at each other and realized that what they knew about the Liu family was just the tip of the iceberg, and the Liu family was obviously far from an ordinary country family.

From the various rumors about Old Liu's family, they realized that this family seemed to be hiding a huge secret.

------

The next day.

In the morning sunshine, the whole family had a lively breakfast and then started a busy day.

Liu Zhiye brought his two younger brothers and spread red felt and wedding felt in front of the birthday hall.

The longevity hall is located in the main room of the main house and is the place for birthday celebrations and ceremonies.

On the front wall is hung an embroidered or painted image of the God of Longevity, or a central hall with the word "longevity" or a longevity curtain, with longevity couplets on both sides reading "May you be as blessed as the East Sea and as long-lived as the Southern Mountains".

There are also images of the three gods of happiness, wealth and longevity. On the table there are candlesticks with longevity candles inserted in them, a pair of flower tubes for arranging flowers, and an incense burner.

The birthday star - the old man, wearing a robe with longevity patterns, sits on the armchair in the center of the birthday hall, accepting the kneeling worships of the younger generations in turn.

The eldest uncle respectfully led his brothers to kneel down and wish the old man a happy birthday: "Dad, I wish you good fortune as vast as the East Sea and a long life as great as the Southern Mountains! May your sun and moon be bright and your life long!" Then they kowtowed to the ground.

"Okay, okay! Children, get up!" said the old man with a smile on his face.

Then, Liu Zhiye brought some young people of his grandchildren to congratulate the old man respectfully: "I wish Grandpa to be as constant as the moon, as rising as the sun, as long-lived as the Nanshan Mountain, never collapsing, and as luxuriant as the pine and cypress. May all be inherited by you. May you have both happiness and longevity, and live a hundred years!"

The young people echoed in unison, their voices were uniform and powerful, their words were full of respect and blessings, like a hymn praising life.

The old man accepted the blessing with a smile, his face was filled with happiness and satisfaction. He gave a light support with his hands, "Okay! My dear grandchildren, get up soon!"

Then, the whole family stood on both sides of the birthday hall and returned the greetings to the relatives and friends who came to pay their respects.

The gifts from relatives and friends include birthday banners with a red background and gold print, embroidered with blessings such as "The benevolent will have longevity", "May you live forever", and "Three Wishes from Huafeng".

After this overture, the transition section begins, and the birthday peaches and birthday gifts are presented in turn.

The old man held Xiaoxian in his arms and enjoyed this rare family happiness...

What follows is the climax of the music – the birthday banquet.

The quality of the birthday banquet directly affects the success of the celebration. The quality here is not simply the quality of the dishes, but includes the location, environment and even the tools used in the celebration.

First of all, let’s talk about the location of the birthday party. Since there are too many people today and the old house can’t accommodate them, we choose to hold it in Liu Zhiye’s new house.

Old Beijingers like to hold birthday banquets at home. The unique courtyard buildings and relatively closed environment make it easy to create a special family atmosphere.

Preparations for the birthday banquet begin two or three days in advance. A gold-plated longevity character is hung in the middle of the birthday hall, and couplets on both sides read "May you be as blessed as the long-flowing water of the East China Sea, and may you live as long as the evergreen pines of the Southern Mountains."

The "stable" items on the table in the main hall on weekdays were temporarily "laid off" and replaced with fruits such as persimmons, oranges, and longans, and candlesticks carved with patterns of cranes and turtles.

The birthday banquet officially begins, and a flowing banquet is indispensable, symbolizing happiness that continues like an endless stream of water. Villagers come one after another to share in the joy, and tables are replaced continuously, conveying happiness, continuing feelings, and the stove is prosperous, and the joy is reunited.

Looking at the table again, four dishes are on the table. The so-called "four dishes" also implies auspiciousness and peace. Four plates of each dish must be prepared in the birthday banquet.

Just like in traditional crosstalk, when talking about the Manchu-Han Banquet, there are long passages mentioning "four dried foods, four fresh foods, four candied fruits..."

The same is true for birthday banquets. Guests and friends take their seats and while away the time there are four kinds of snacks: black melon seeds, white melon seeds, candied dates and peanuts.

After a short break, the dishes are served! First, four cold dishes, then four stir-fried dishes, then four steamed dishes, and finally longevity noodles as the staple food, which is in line with the scene today.

Today's birthday banquet for the old man was extremely lively. Close relatives including Liu Yuansheng, Liu Jingzhai, Liu Zhiye, Liu Zhitai, Liu Tielin, Liu Yucui and other family members gathered together, as well as his disciples and grandchildren whom he had taught, as well as relatives from the same village. There were more than 200 people, and the scene was very grand.

Fortunately, their family conditions allowed for so many people to come, otherwise they would have gone broke. In fact, there were many relatives and friends who chose to leave after celebrating the birthday, so nearly 30 tables of banquets were set up.

There are eight people seated at each table, symbolizing the "Eight Immortals Celebrating Birthday". Add to that the "bottom is 44", which means it is "stable"!

At this grand birthday banquet, relatives, guests and friends raised their glasses, expressed blessings and laughed continuously.

The old man also enjoyed a rare grand celebration party, which was rare in his life.

(End of this chapter)