The whole family travels through time and space, and the three of them struggle together

Chapter 158 Gold Hairpin Gift

In the front yard, Mrs. Song, the eldest sister-in-law, was helping Chen Xiuying to cram for the ceremony for her twelfth birthday in the capital.

"In the capital, a girl's twelfth birthday ceremony is for her to be given a gold hairpin by her family elders as a farewell gift to her childhood and to announce her entry into girlhood. Therefore, a girl's twelfth birthday ceremony is also called the "Gold Hairpin Ceremony."

On a boy's twelfth birthday, the elders in the family open the lock for him. This symbolizes the unfastening of the chains of wisdom, the liberation from childhood ignorance, and the beginning of adolescence. Therefore, the boy's twelfth birthday ceremony is also called the "unlocking ceremony."

After a girl puts on her gold hairpin, or a boy unlocks his lock, they must first kneel down and bow to thank their elders for their love. Then, they offer tea to thank their parents for raising them. Finally, they present their carefully prepared talents or gifts to thank the spectators. Only then does the twelfth-year-old ceremony conclude.

When Mrs. Song saw her daughter-in-law finished speaking, she quickly added, "I'll wear Sisi's gold hairpin. I've already had it made for her."

Mrs. Song continued, "After mother-in-law has finished putting on the gold hairpin and left, it will be your and Dajiangshang's turn. After the children have offered tea, you two should say a few words of blessing."

"What are we going to say?"

"And be joyful, and live long. The auspicious time is approaching. Please let the children come to the front yard!"

After hearing this, Chen Xiuying quickly asked Chunxi to call her daughter to the front yard, and asked Uncle Fu and Sun Dashan to go to the study and move the tables and chairs to the yard. Qing'er was sent by her to prepare tea. Then, after thinking about it, she asked Xu Wu to go to the warehouse to get a piece of red cloth and spread it in front of the tables and chairs.

When everything was ready, Zhou Sisi led Qi Xinrui and Cui Xiaotang to the front yard, and Yunxiang and Chunxi helped set up the guzheng behind them.

Chen Xiuying first briefly instructed Zhou Sisi, "Follow your aunt's instructions later. Just three steps: wear a gold hairpin to express gratitude, offer tea, and present a gift." Then she asked Zhou Dajiang to come closer. Without saying anything else, she quickly said, "Child, there will be a ceremony. Watch me. When I tell you to come forward, you go. After offering tea, you must say 'Be joyful and live forever.' Remember?"

Zhou Dajiang had been accompanying his elder brother, the Duke, and Lord Qi before, and had no idea there was such a ceremony. When his wife said this, he had no time to ask, so he could only nod and silently remember what he was going to say later.

The auspicious time had arrived, and all the spectators came out of the house.

After Mrs. Song had given Chen Xiuying her twelfth birthday ceremony, she now served as the master of ceremonies.

"The eighth day of the Jiaping year coincides with an auspicious time.

The Zhou family has a daughter who is just beginning to blossom.

The elder was kind and gave me a golden hairpin."

After she finished speaking, she raised her hand to signal. Seeing this, Zhou Sisi hurriedly moved to kneel in front of her grandmother.

Old Madam Song inserted the golden hairpin handed to her by the maid behind her into Zhou Sisi's hair and said:

"When the time comes, it is auspicious and appropriate."

Zhou Sisi kowtowed in thanks.

Old Madam Song stood up and left, and Zhou Dajiang and Chen Xiuying sat down at the table again.

Mrs. Song then sang:

"The tree trunk and the tree are both flourishing, and their kindness is as heavy as a mountain.

Today I offer you fragrant tea to express my gratitude to my parents.”

Zhou Sisi took the tea handed to her by Qing'er and handed it to Zhou Dajiang and his wife one by one.

The two took it, took a sip and put it down. Zhou Dajiang remembered his wife's words and said to Chen Xiuying:

"And be glad with all your heart, and be glad with all your heart forever."

Mrs. Song then sang:

“You are watching this ceremony today, so remember it in your heart.

I would like to offer you a dance and express my sincere gratitude.”

Next is the performance of Zhou Sisi and Qi Xinrui.

Qi Xinrui played the prelude first, and then Zhou Sisi walked in slowly with an umbrella to the music.

When Zhou Dajiang saw that his daughter had to dance, and it was a small city ballad, he decided not to just stand there and watch, he had to join in, so he started singing along with the music.

Cui Haotian saw Zhou Dajiang singing along, and he was already itching to join in, so why hesitate? He decided to join in too. He happened to have a flute with him, so he took it out and joined in with the guzheng.

As a result, everyone enjoyed a double feast of vision and hearing.

Even after Zhou Sisi finished dancing, the scene was still replaying in everyone's minds.

Beside a small bridge shrouded in mist and rain, a beautiful young girl walked slowly, holding an umbrella and wearing a golden hairpin in her hair. A breeze blew, and the umbrella blew the hairpin, which landed right in the arms of a young man on a boat. The girl wanted the hairpin, but shyly looked at the young man...

A simple ballad made everyone feel as if they were there, showing how well the zither, flute, singing, and dancing were coordinated! The crowd was mesmerized and couldn't recover for a long time.

It just so happened that Zhi Geer not only had a good memory, but also inherited his father's love of singing. After everyone finished their performance, he was still singing the part he remembered, "

The willow leaves are curved and the water flowers are turning.

The water swirled and the boat rocked.

The boat swayed across the south side of the stone bridge,

She walked slowly south of Shiqiao, holding an umbrella.

Two dark clouds, light smoke, willow leaves are bent,

The willow leaves are bent and matched with the golden sparrow hairpin.

The golden sparrow hairpin accidentally slipped into my arms,

It made her look at me in embarrassment.

……

His singing seemed to bring the performance to a perfect end. It was not until Zhi Geer finished singing that everyone burst into applause, "It was so beautiful!"

General Song stroked his beard and commented, "Well, the zither and flute playing was excellent, the dancing was beautiful, and the father and son sang beautifully too. The program was perfectly arranged! The level is on par with the palace!"

Zhou Sisi looked at Qi Xinrui and Cui Xiaotang. Only three of them knew about this. It was a complete coincidence. Only the two of them rehearsed it!

Yuan Hanlin also praised it, saying, "I always fall asleep when watching performances in the palace, but this one is different. I want to watch it again after I'm done!"

The old lady also joined in the fun, "Sisi is an adult after all. This dance has more girlish charm than before. It makes me, an old woman, wish that the gold hairpin would fall into my arms!"

The phrase 'fall into my arms' caused everyone to burst into laughter, and they all said, "You should fall into my arms!"

Zhou Sisi blushed with shame and didn't know what to say.

An Ge'er was quick to react. When Cui Haotian came closer, he patted him and said, "You're amazing! You can catch up after just a few listens. That's amazing!"

Cui Haotian blushed, "No, it's because the singing is beautiful and the guzheng playing is good, so I can close it."

Chen Xiuying also said: "Luckily, my sister-in-law, godmother, Xinrui and Haotian are here today, otherwise I don't know how to make things right."

Madam Song said seriously, "Well! You have to thank me today! I have never presided over a gold hairpin ceremony for anyone before. Even when I was a girl, I had to ask others for help. Now think about how to thank me."

Chen Xiuying knew she was joking, so she also laughed and said, "I'll thank you however you want, sister-in-law!"

"Then you have to make a promise, don't regret it."

Chen Xiuying: "We agreed, no regrets."

"Okay, give Sisi to me!"

Chen Xiuying… “Sister-in-law, please change your request.”

Mrs. Qi teased her, "Are you dumbfounded now?"

Song Tingye, who had been standing in the corner without saying a word, suddenly smiled after hearing some words.

Thus, amidst the laughter and joy, Zhou Sisi's gold hairpin ceremony came to a successful conclusion.