In a small village surrounded by ancient traditions, the arrival of the new year always carries with it a sacred and warm atmosphere. The village is nestled in a lush valley surrounded by rolling hills, and a clear stream runs through the village, with its water jumping between the rocks and making a pleasant tinkling sound.
On New Year's nights, the elders of the village gather around the fire to tell the children an ancient legend. Legend has it that the night of the New Year is the moment when a deity called the "God of the Year" descends to the earth. The god of age has unpredictable powers and can bestow good fortune or calamity on each family, depending on their performance. Therefore, the villagers will get busy, cleaning the houses and preparing food for the arrival of the god of the year.
On this New Year's Eve, the windows of every house are warmly lit, patterns cut out of multicolored paper are hung under the eaves, and candy and preserved fruits wrapped in red paper are placed in front of the door to pay homage to the god of the year. Children excitedly set off firecrackers in the yard, and laughter filled the whole village.
However, this year's legend seems to be different from previous years, as the legendary god of the year is no longer an abstract deity, but has become a mysterious old man who will quietly come to the village at midnight to find those families who truly know how to be grateful and giving. This legend makes the villagers even more excited, and everyone is looking forward to becoming the object of the favor of the god of the year.
As night falls, the hustle and bustle of the village gradually subsides, but everyone's heart is full of anticipation. Uncle Zhang, an elderly man, sat on his kang head, surrounded by a pot of steaming tea, and told his grandson Li Xiaoming a story about the god of the year. His voice was hoarse and powerful, as if every word contained ancient wisdom: "O Xiaoming, the god of the year will not only bless those who are hardworking and kind, but he will also give special favors to those families who truly understand the meaning of life. ”
Li Xiaoming listened intently, his eyes flashing with curiosity and yearning. He was a clever and clever child, and he was always full of infinite fantasies about such mysterious and wonderful stories. Uncle Zhang looked at his grandson's appearance, and secretly decided in his heart that this year he would help Xiaoming meet the test of the gods together.
Preparations for Chinese New Year's Eve have already begun. Uncle Zhang led his family and neighbors to clean the courtyard, hung red lanterns, and placed cereals wrapped in red paper at the door, symbolizing the harvest and abundance in the coming year. They also hung strings of firecrackers under the eaves, ready to be lit at midnight to ward off evil spirits and welcome the arrival of the god of the year.
When everything was ready, Uncle Zhang gathered the whole family and said earnestly: "Remember, the god of age not only cares about our external preparation, but also cares about our heart. We must feel the harvest of this year with our hearts and help our neighbors with actions, so that the gods will see our sincerity. ”
Li Xiaoming nodded, he was determined to be a sensible child, not only to help the family prepare, but also to spread love and help in the village. He believed that as long as the whole family was united, the gods would definitely feel their sincerity.
The footsteps of Chinese New Year's Eve are getting closer and closer, and the whole village is filled with a festive and tense atmosphere. Families are busy with the final preparations, hoping to get the favor of the god of the year. In the courtyard of the Zhang family, Li Xiaoming is helping to hang bunches of bright peppers and corn, symbolizing the prosperity and warmth of the family.
At this moment, a strange old man appeared at the entrance of the village. His back was slightly hunched, he was wearing an old cotton robe, a shabby hat, and his face was covered with the marks of time. The old man walked slowly into the village and looked around, as if looking for something. His gaze finally rested on the door of the Zhang family, revealing a hint of a smile.
Li Xiaoming was the first to notice this uninvited guest. He stepped forward curiously to greet him: "Grandpa, are you from **?" Is there anything going on in our village on Chinese New Year's Eve? The old man replied gently, "I am a passer-by, and when I saw the bustle of your village, I wanted to come and join in the fun." ”
Uncle Zhang heard the conversation outside and walked out. He looked at the old man in front of him, and vaguely felt in his heart that this old man was not an ordinary person. He warmly invited the old man into the house: "Old brother, Chinese New Year's Eve is the time for reunion, since you are here, please come in and spend it together." ”
The old man did not refuse, and followed Uncle Zhang into the house. The rest of the family also gathered around to greet the unexpected visitor. Although no one knows the true identity of this old man, they are willing to share their happiness and joy on this special day.
After dinner, everyone sat around the fire, and the old man listened to the Zhang family talk about the story of the old god, and a deep light flashed in his eyes. Li Xiaoming sat on the side, and became interested in this mysterious old man, and he always felt that the old man had an indescribable attraction.
As the night deepened, the hustle and bustle of the village gradually fell silent, leaving only the occasional sound of firecrackers to break the silence of the night. In the living room of the Zhang family, the fire crackled, reflecting the expectant faces. Uncle Zhang and Li Xiaoming chatted with the mysterious old man, while the rest of the family were busy in the kitchen, preparing for the midnight worship ceremony.
There was a deep wisdom in the old man's eyes, and his words were not many, but each one was meaningful. Li Xiaoming couldn't help but be driven by curiosity, and asked cautiously: "Old man, are you really just a passing traveler?" ”
The old man smiled slightly, and turned his gaze to Uncle Zhang, as if seeking his consent. Uncle Zhang nodded, signaling that the old man could trust them. So, the old man spoke slowly, with an otherworldly rhythm in his voice: "I am indeed a traveler, but I am not an extraordinary man. I am a messenger of the gods, and I have come here tonight to find those families who truly know how to be grateful and giving. ”
In an instant, the entire living room was in shock. The Zhang family's eyes widened and they looked at the old man in front of them in disbelief. Li Xiaoming's heart was beating faster, and he felt both excited and nervous. Uncle Zhang bowed deeply and expressed his respect: "It turns out that we are the messenger of the god of the year, and we are deeply honored." ”
The messenger looked around and continued, "The god of the year has been watching over your good deeds. Not only are you loving to your family, but you are also generous to your neighbors. Now, I have a task for you, and if you can complete it, the gods of the year will bestow upon you the greatest blessing for your entire village. ”
The Zhang family looked at each other, their eyes full of determination and confidence. They replied in unison: "Tell us what the task is, and we will do our best to accomplish it." ”
The messenger nodded and smiled mysteriously: "The task is very simple, it is to find and plant a magical seed before dawn tomorrow. This seed will bring you endless good fortune. ”
After hearing this, the Zhang family was full of doubts, but they knew that this was an opportunity not to be missed. They decided to go into search of the seed that would bring miracles.
Under the guidance of the envoy, the Zhang family took Li Xiaoming on a journey to find the magic seed. The night was like ink, and the stars were shining, and they carried torches through the fields, crossed the stream, and came to an ancient wood. The messenger stood under a towering ancient tree, pointed to the depths of the tree, and said, "The seed is hidden here." ”
Li Xiaoming cautiously reached into the tree hole, groped for a moment, and finally touched a warm and glowing small stone. He carefully took it out, and saw that the surface of the stone was smooth as jade, and it emitted a faint light. The whole family held their breath and knew that this was the magic seed.
Back at home, the Zhang family quickly dug a small pit in the backyard and buried the glowing seeds in it. As the last handful of soil covered the seeds, the entire courtyard suddenly lit up with a dazzling light, and in the light there seemed to be countless voices singing, celebrating the coming miracle.
Soon, the light faded and everything returned to calm. But when the first rays of sunlight shone on the earth the next morning, the Zhang family was pleasantly surprised to find that the seed had taken root and sprouted, growing a unique plant. Its leaves shimmer with a gold-silver sheen, and the flowers give off a refreshing fragrance that envelops the whole village.
The envoy appeared at Zhang's house again, and his face was filled with a satisfied smile: "You have completed your mission, and the god of age is very satisfied with your performance. This plant will bring you health, wealth and good fortune. Remember, true blessings come from your love for your family and your good deeds to others. ”
Since then, the luck of the Zhang family has become a legend in the village, and the flowers that bloomed from that magical seed are also regarded by the villagers as the blessing of the gods. Every time a new Chinese New Year's Eve comes, the Zhang family will surround the plant and tell the story of the messenger of the god of age, reminding future generations to always be grateful and pass on love and help. And Li Xiaoming has also grown into a more sensible and kind child in the process.