With a blink of an eye, the day of the roof-ridge raising ceremony had arrived. Everything needed for the ceremony had been prepared, and the auspicious time chosen was in the morning.
Before the roof-ridge raising, they first had to perform rituals, and then hang up the door couplets.
They set up an incense offering table, arranged various sacrificial pastries and fruits, and burned incense while bowing.
After the sacrificial rites, they invited the workers who would help with the roof-ridge raising to chant the "Roof-Ridge Raising Text".
The purpose of chanting the "Roof-Ridge Raising Text" was to pray for a solid foundation and prosperity for the household.
After chanting the Roof-Ridge Raising Text, they could proceed with the roof-ridge raising.
Gu Jinchen was busy with this, along with the two little ones, while Luo Ge, being pregnant, oversaw the preparation for the roof-ridge raising feast at the back.
The roof-ridge raising feast was mainly to express gratitude to the masters, workers, and carpenters who helped build the house.
This was different from the moving-in celebration feast.
With the sound of firecrackers "cracking and popping...", the outdoor activities were completed.
But the clamor continued, as witnessing the roof-ridge raising made people most anticipate scrambling for peanuts, melon seeds, oil papers, and rock candies, which symbolized sharing the household's auspiciousness.
When the commotion outside subsided, the roof-ridge raising feast began.
"Wife, you go and rest with the two little ones first. I'll take care of the rest."
When Gu Jinchen returned from the outdoor activities and saw Luo Ge busying around, he quickly took over.
"Look at your second young master, and then look at mine. Oh, I'm so envious," Wang Sister-In-Law said as she came out of the kitchen too, nudging Luo Ge playfully.
Hearing Wang Sister-In-Law's teasing words, Luo Ge couldn't help but shoot her a chiding look.
"Quick, sit down and eat. All this food should be enough to shut the sister-in-law's mouth."
"Haha." Wang Sister-In-Law laughed upon hearing Luo Ge's words.
Before the feast, Luo Ge and the others paid the workers their wages for this period, along with a small red envelope.
"You've all worked hard during this time. Let me toast you."
"Good."
Gu Jinchen was hosting the workers and masters, so he didn't sit with Luo Ge and the others.
Seeing them toasting and drinking, Luo Ge also smiled.
...This roof-ridge raising feast was enjoyed by all the guests.
In the afternoon, after cleaning up everything used that day, Gu Jinchen took Luo Ge and the others to tour their new residence.
"Looking at our new residence, I feel such a sense of accomplishment," Luo Ge said with a smile.
"I feel the same," Gu Jinchen nodded in agreement, for some reason feeling that peculiar sense of accomplishment too.
After the roof-ridge raising was completed, they could move the furniture in over the next few days.
Once they moved in, the old residence would need to be demolished and rebuilt in the same style, sectioned off as a small courtyard within the new residence.
"Have you two picked the rooms you like? If you've chosen, we can settle it today," Luo Ge said, lowering her head to look at the two little ones and rubbing their heads as she asked.
"The two rooms Sister-in-law mentioned earlier, with the small study room in between where you can study and do your homework later."
Upon hearing Luo Ge's words, the two little ones' eyes visibly lit up as they nodded vigorously, clearly liking those two rooms very much.
"Yun Mu likes it very much."
"Yun Yi likes it very much too."
That location was not far from the rooms prepared for their future younger siblings, and also close to Luo Ge and Gu Jinchen's room.
They liked it because when their younger siblings arrived, they could take them to play.
"Good, then it's settled."
The locations of the two rooms were quite similar, so the two little ones didn't dwell on it and each chose one side.
Just as they had chosen the rooms and walked out of the residence, they saw Lin Yun rushing in hurriedly.
"Master, Madam, Young Master Yun Mu, Young Master Yun Yi!" he called out as he ran, finally stopping to catch his breath.
"What's the matter?" The couple looked at him puzzled.
"Master, Madam, something happened in our building!" Lin Yun swallowed and quickly spoke.
Upon hearing Lin Yun's words, Luo Ge and Gu Jinchen both froze in their tracks.
"What happened?"
"Let's get in the carriage first, I'll explain on the way," Gu Jinchen said with a frown, seeing Lin Yun panting heavily, as he led Luo Ge toward the exit.
The two little ones obediently followed behind them.
