These Qi Refinement foods were new to him, and he didn’t know what they were, but since they were sold together, he guessed they were probably similar and bought them all.
He just wondered if they would be crunchy when he cracked them.
Old Kui looked at Mo Hua with some anticipation.
Mo Hua smiled and nodded:
"Sure!"
So that afternoon, they stopped traveling.
The carriage was parked by the roadside.
Mo Hua tied bright red lanterns on the carriage, pasted several "Fu" characters, and even hung a big red flower around Big White’s neck.
Big White wasn’t very willing, but couldn’t resist Mo Hua’s insistence.
After all, "one who takes the gift cannot refuse the asker."
It had eaten so much grass fed by Mo Hua.
In addition, Mo Hua also prepared the firecrackers, set up the Fireworks Formation, and saved it for the evening display.
Next on the agenda was preparing the New Year’s Eve dinner.
Mo Hua first fried the pine nuts and hazelnuts for Old Kui.
There were plain ones as well as ones flavored with various spices.
Old Kui took out a portion, arranged them on the table for everyone, and sneakily stuffed the rest into his sleeves.
Then it was time to cook the dishes.
Some of the ingredients were bought by Old Kui, and some were gifts from the Spirit Farmers of Thousand Families Town.
Bai Zisheng watched eagerly on the side, occasionally suggesting:
"Mo Hua, make this one, it’s delicious."
"This one should be fried, not boiled."
"This one needs to be spicy to taste good, add more..."
Mr. Zhuang wasn’t so particular, he could eat anything, but he still requested a "Steamed Bass" to prevent Bai Zisheng from ordering all spicy dishes.
Lastly, it was time to steam the pastries.
There were rice cakes, as well as various other pastries and sweets.
Bai Zixi helped Mo Hua knead the dough, and as she did, she began to shape small pieces of it.
Her fair little hands worked the pale dough, though it was unclear what she was making.
Mo Hua, curious, asked:
"Senior Sister, what are you shaping?"
Bai Zixi held an oddly shaped piece of dough in her palm and crisply said:
"A rabbit!"
Mo Hua was taken aback.
Bai Zixi frowned. "Does it not look like it?"
"It does..." Mo Hua lied through his teeth.
"It’s just a bit... plump."
The little rabbit had turned into a little pig.
Bai Zixi looked again at the "little rabbit" in her hand, puzzled. "It’s not fat..."
She thought it was quite cute.
Mo Hua was busy all afternoon and finally finished preparing the dishes.
The twilight faded, and the night began to deepen.
It was time for fireworks.
Before setting them off, Mo Hua was a bit worried, "Won’t it frighten the Monster Beasts in the mountains?"
Old Kui glanced around and said lightly, "It won’t."
Mo Hua was then reassured.
The Fireworks Formation was simple, as there was limited time, and Mo Hua hadn’t made it too complex.
Moreover, this formation was drawn directly on the ground.
This was the first time besides the Thick Earth Formation that Mo Hua used the "earth" as a Formation media for his Formation Painting.
In the dark of the night, the fireworks were brilliant.
And then it was time to eat.
Everyone sat down to dine on the ground.
Soft grass, covered with silk cloth, was laid out with a spread of food.
With a variety of dishes and Mo Hua’s improved culinary skills, the meal was delightful.
Mr. Zhuang enjoyed it the most, Bai Zisheng ate with the greatest glee, Bai Zixi ate with utmost elegance, and Old Kui was the most focused, persistently cracking pine nuts and hazelnuts.
Under the cool moonlight, amidst the tranquil mountains, there was a lively atmosphere of fireworks, noisy yet warm.
After a satisfying meal, Mo Hua no longer felt homesick.
He lay on the grass, counting the stars above.
For Mo Hua, it might not have been the most lively year, but it was the first time he spent New Year’s with his master, senior brother, senior sister, and Grandpa Gui.
It was quite festive enough.
For Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi, from a big clan, the festival used to be glamorous yet personally cold.
Full of worldly concerns and strict rules.
Now, the simplicity and bustle were more appealing.
Bai Zisheng also lay on the ground, chatting with Mo Hua off and on, occasionally tripping over his words.
Bai Zixi looked serene and graceful, yet she doubted in her heart, whether what she shaped earlier was really a rabbit?
Why did it turn into a little pig after being steamed?
Mr. Zhuang, surrounded by his three disciples, felt comfort in his heart, but there was a fleeting moment of melancholy.
This was probably the most lively New Year’s he had celebrated in his few hundred years of solitary life.