The spring breeze blows through Ping'an Village, and the fragrance of plum blossoms dances gently in the air, indicating that the New Year is getting closer and closer. The joy of the lanterns gradually permeated every corner, and the smiles of the villagers were like blooming flowers, warm and bright. In such a festive atmosphere, there is a deep-rooted traditional custom - "28 applique flowers", that is, on the 28th day of the lunar month, every household has to paste the red spring couplets to pray for good luck and peace in the coming year.
At the east end of the village, there is an elderly director of the cultural center named Sun Cixin. He always had a kind smile on his face and a love of knowledge in his eyes. Sun Cixin has a deep affection for the Spring Festival couplets, and he always patiently tells the village children about the history and significance of the Spring Festival couplets, teaching them how to choose good paper, polish good ink, and choose good words.
However, on the eve of this year's Spring Festival, Sun Cixin frowned. When he was looking through some ancient documents, he discovered a disturbing secret - behind the Spring Festival couplets in Ping'an Village, there is an almost forgotten history. This secret is linked to an ancient legend that the "guardian saint of Spring Festival couplets" appears at this time of year to watch over the peace and prosperity of the village. However, if people forget this tradition, the patron saint will leave and the village will fall into misfortune with it.
Sun Cixin knew he had to take action to make the villagers remember this important custom. He decided to hold an exhibition and lecture at the Cultural Center, hoping to arouse everyone's attention to traditional culture in this way. He believes that as long as everyone works together, the patron saint of the Spring Festival couplets can continue to bless Ping'an Village, so that every family in the village can have a happy New Year.
The sunlight of the wax moon shines through the window lattice and shines on Sun Cixin's desk, reflecting his deep thoughts. He was holding a yellowed ancient book that he had stumbled upon in the collection of the Cultural Center, which contained a story about the patron saint of the Spring Festival couplets. It is said that every year on the 28th night of the lunar month, the guardian spirit will come to the world to bring blessings to those families who hang Spring Festival couplets. But as time passed, the legend gradually fell into the dust, and people no longer remembered that ancient faith.
Just as Sun Ci was immersed in the time between the pages, a mysterious old man appeared in front of the door of the cultural center. His back was slightly hunched, and his hair was as white as frost, but his eyes shone with a strange light. The old man called himself Meng Zhigu, and he said to Sun Cixin: "I know what you have discovered, the story of the guardian saint of the Spring Festival couplets is not groundless, but real. I'm here to help you regain the faith of the villagers. ”
Although Sun Cixin was surprised by the appearance of the old man, his heart was more excited and expectant. He invited Meng Zhigu to sit down, and the two began to talk. Meng Zhigu recounted more details about the Patron Deity, saying that the Patron Deity is a being with magical powers who is able to sense the sincerity and wishes of every household. Only families who sincerely pray and strive to maintain their traditions can be blessed by the guardian spirit.
After Sun Cixin heard this, the worry in his heart became even heavier. He knew it would not be easy to get busy villagers to refocus on the tradition. But he also understands that this is the only way to preserve the harmony of the village. So, he and Meng Zhigu planned an exhibition and lecture on Spring Festival couplets together, hoping to awaken everyone's memory by showing the beauty and deep meaning of Spring Festival couplets, so that the legend of the guardian saint can once again circulate in every corner of Ping'an Village.
As the day of the twenty-eighth day of the lunar month approached day by day, Sun Cixin and Meng Zhigu's preparations were also in full swing. However, they soon encountered the expected challenge. Many villagers are indifferent to the tradition of hanging Spring Festival couplets, and some young people even ridicule it as a superstitious old custom and are reluctant to participate in it.
Sun Cixin felt heartache in the face of such indifference, but he did not give up. He traveled to every corner of the village, patiently explaining to the villagers the meaning of the couplets and the importance of the legend of the guardian deity. Meng Zhigu used his wise eyes and gentle words to tell people about the peace and prosperity brought to the village by the guardian saint of the Spring Festival couplets in the past.
At a gathering of villagers, Sun Cixin spoke passionately: "Spring Festival couplets are not only our cultural heritage, but also a link between the past and the future. It carries our expectations for a better life and blessings for our families. We cannot allow such traditions to disappear into the long river of history. ”
While Sun Cixin and Meng Zhigu were trying to convince the villagers, a young painter, Li Hanmo, was moved. He volunteered to draw Spring Festival couplets for free for every household. Li Hanmo's paintings are vivid and full of spirit, and they quickly won the love of the villagers. His actions were like a warm current, gradually melting the frozen hearts of the villagers.
Despite this, time was pressing, and Sun Cixin and Meng Zhigu were still under tremendous pressure. They must make more villagers aware of the importance of Spring Festival couplets in a limited time, and are willing to hang them on the 28th day of the lunar month to welcome the arrival of the guardian spirit. This struggle for tradition and culture is at its most critical juncture.
With the addition of Li Hanmo, the efforts of Sun Cixin and Meng Zhigu finally began to bear fruit. Li Hanmo's studio is full of various colors of paper, his hands seem to never stop, splashing ink, one after another auspicious Spring Festival couplets leap onto the paper. The villagers were impressed by his talent and came to the studio, hoping to get a pair of Spring Festival couplets to pray for good fortune.
In the early morning of the 28th day of the lunar month, the sky in Ping'an Village was exceptionally clear, and the air was filled with the smell of ink and paper. The villagers stood or sat in front of Li Hanmo's studio, waiting for their Spring Festival couplets. The children watched excitedly, and the adults were in awe, ** this moment was coming.
As time passed, more and more villagers began to participate in the activities of sticking Spring Festival couplets. They carefully pasted red and black letters on the doors and windows of their homes, and each procedure looked particularly solemn. Even young people who initially laughed at this tradition were caught up in the craze and began to take the initiative to learn and pass on the culture.
When night fell, the entire Ping'an Village was decorated with red Spring Festival couplets. The front door of every house flashed with red light, as if the eyes of the guardian saint of the Spring Festival couplets were watching all this secretly. Sun Cixin stood in front of the cultural center, watching this scene, his heart was full of emotion. He knows that this is not only a commitment to tradition, but also a transmission of the warmth of home and hope for the future.
In this warm and peaceful atmosphere, an invisible force quietly descended. No one sees its form, but it feels a warmth and tranquility. The patron saint of the Spring Festival couplets is in the hearts of the people, silently guarding every family in Ping'an Village, bringing blessings and hopes for the new year.