It was the Formation that even Mo Hua could not learn.
Mo Hua was somewhat curious, but he refrained from looking because of his curiosity.
Mr. Zhuang had his reasons for everything he did; it might involve some causes and effects that Mo Hua should not touch.
As for himself, Mo Hua looked at the Formation Books while practicing Divine Sense Calculation.
Mr. Zhuang was resting with his eyes closed.
A moment later, Mr. Zhuang suddenly opened his eyes and said,
"It’s New Year’s Eve."
All three disciples were startled.
Mo Hua counted the days, and indeed, it seemed today was New Year’s Eve.
In the past, in Tongxian City, every festive season, the streets would hang red lanterns, the Market Town would display an array of goods, people bustled about, and every home wafted the scent of cooking...
But now, there was neither a village ahead nor a shop behind.
There was only a secluded mountain road, the cliffs on both sides, and the wild grass beside the road.
Thinking of Tongxian City, Mo Hua sighed softly to himself.
"I wonder how everyone in Tongxian City is faring."
"Are they festively celebrating the New Year again?"
"And my parents, are they healthy and safe?"
"I wonder if they missed me..."
Mo Hua pondered to himself, feeling homesick, with a hint of melancholy in his expression.
Mr. Zhuang, seeing Mo Hua’s look, showed a trace of compassion and said,
"When you’re away from home, everything is simple. But since it’s a holiday, we should still celebrate it in a simple manner."
Mo Hua was somewhat surprised, "Are we going to celebrate too?"
"Mhm," Mr. Zhuang nodded gently.
"But... we don’t have anything," Mo Hua murmured.
"Whatever you want, you can get from Old Kui," Mr. Zhuang said.
Mo Hua was stunned for a moment and turned to look at Old Kui.
Old Kui also nodded, "I have whatever you need."
Mo Hua’s spirits immediately lifted.
Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi were also excited.
The eyes of all three children sparkled brightly.
As if touched by the mood, the corners of Mr. Zhuang’s mouth also curled into a smile.
...
So, with Mo Hua mainly leading the preparations,
he counted on his fingers, speaking to Old Kui:
"Grandpa Gui, I want lanterns, firecrackers, ’may there be surplus every year,’ there must be fish, ’may every step take you higher,’ there must be cakes..."
Mo Hua counted them one by one.
Old Kui nodded and said, "Wait here for a moment."
Then, right in front of Mo Hua, he disappeared.
Within half an hour, Old Kui reappeared as silently as he had left, throwing several storage bags onto the ground.
Mo Hua looked and found that sure enough, everything he had mentioned was there.
And many of them were new, seemingly just purchased from some festive Immortal City.
"Thank you, Grandpa Gui!"
Mo Hua said with a beaming smile.
Old Kui nodded and then handed over another storage bag.
Mo Hua was a bit startled but looked inside.
The bag was full of nuts like pine nuts, hazelnuts, and torreya nuts, most of which were raw.
"Fry some for me, I’ve finished all the ones from before," Old Kui whispered.
Old Kui, who was always busy driving the cart and had nothing to do, liked to snack on pine nuts.
So the pine nuts that Mo Hua had fried for him before were all gone.
Thinking that since it was New Year’s, he might as well treat himself.
He had eaten plenty of pine nuts and wanted to try something new, so he bought a variety of them.