The cold winter wind swept through the streets, hastening the pace of pedestrians carrying their holiday goods—pork and lamb for those better off, while fish for those less fortunate. Under their arms, they carried two heads of cabbage and two heads of greens, a jug of soy sauce, and a bag of sugar. Having finished their purchases, they hurried home.
For this yearly grand festival, even the households scraping by would light the hearth at home, sparing themselves from the biting wind.
The ushering spring blossoms flicked a corner, with round spring paper fluttering all over the stone bricks.
"Come, come, pass the dishes! This batch goes to the Xu Residence, and this one goes to... Don't mix up the cards, and no sneaking bites on the way! Be nimble, don't let anyone snatch it away."
"Old Shopkeeper, are Master Liu and Chen tending the stove today?"
