Zhou Jiao heard her ntion this yesterday. Holding the child, everyone ca out to join the excitent.
The barber asked her to gently hold the child’s head, making sure he didn’t move. Using a hot towel, he wiped the top of the head, and quickly finished the haircut, placing the hair into the red cloth Mother Zhang had prepared.
Mother Zhang had Zhou Jiao wrap the red cloth and place it under Ping’an’s pillow.
After the barber finished tidying up his tools, Zhang Guoqing ca in and took him to the main room, insisting that he not leave without having a drink. The barber was soone he personally invited from the county town. Since he rode confidently over, how could he just be sent off with a red envelope without eating? He wasn’t here just for the red envelope; being here was more about honor with his skill.
The cooks, photographers, and barbers invited today were all given a small bamboo basket of gifts and a red envelope by him, spreading good fortune to everyone.
In the bedroom, Lin Lishan brought out a set of red silk cotton-padded jacket and pants. Seeing what was in Zhou Jiao’s hands, she ca over to take a look and knew that it was made by her personally. She rolled her eyes at her in mock displeasure, comparing it to hers and realizing it couldn’t quite match Zhou Jiao’s handiwork.
Mother Zhang finished bathing Little Ping’an, dressing him fresh and new, while Lin Lishan personally adorned him with a golden lock, gold bracelet, and gold anklet, and pulled out the jade pendant given by Huang Hui Min to place outside his clothes.
Little Ping’an looked around with big bright eyes, smiling at sothing unseen. Dressed in bright red outfits, his fair smiling face was even more charming than a picture-book child, only missing a big carp to hold.
Everyone watched him in amazent. He seed remarkably clever for just one month old, with expressions that seed to understand. They all praised him cheerfully.
When the photographer arrived at the Zhang Family, he was escorted to the main room by Eldest Zhang, Zhang Guofu. He declined Mr. Zhang’s offer to take a rest, arranging chairs and stools in the courtyard instead.
Everything was ready. Zhou Jiao removed Ping’an’s jewelry, putting the jade pendant inside his clothes but decided to leave the golden lock. Her father had prepared it, specifically a thin piece, and it wouldn’t make much difference.
Carrying the child, Zhou Jiao joined everyone in the yard for photos. Besides Ping’an’s full moon photo and a family portrait of the three, Zhang Guoqing asked the photographer to take group photos of everyone, a family portrait, and photos of his parents, among others. The group took turns until one full roll was used up.
Right after the photos, it was ti to start the feast. Cold dishes were already set on the table, waiting for the hot dishes to be served as everyone took their seats.
As everyone sat down, hot dishes were brought out, and Zhou Jiao greeted them, then returned to the room with the child. Zhang ili had stayed in the room throughout, only appearing briefly for the family portrait and then disappearing. When Zhou Jiao entered with the child, it was her intent for her to take a seat at the banquet.
"Sister, give the notebook, you go have a bite."
Zhang ili shook her head, "Deal with these social obligations first. When the guests leave and everyone goes ho, the gift money has already been recorded by Xiao Wu. Unopened, as soon as the envelope was opened, it’s been sealed back up with nas recorded. Left are Uncle Zhou’s five brothers; how do you plan to arrange those? Originally, Xiao Wu said your godfather would keep them first. But now, five people ca all with roughly the sa gifts and the sa amount of money."
"Set them aside first. I’ll ask my mom later. My dad should have given instructions." Zhou Jiao looked at these red envelopes, feeling a headache. Social obligations like these were her least favorite.
Thinking of the prepared return gifts, Zhang ili couldn’t help but ask, "Besides relatives, if village return gifts are all small bamboo baskets, aren’t Xiao Wu’s gifts too lavish? So people only brought a few eggs."
Zhou Jiao frowned and looked troubled, "Where’s mom? Let’s go to mom. I don’t understand either. It’s all arranged by Xiao Wu. Listen to mom."
"Mom said earlier to check if two hundred portions are enough? She said it definitely wouldn’t be enough. Your grandmothers and great-aunts have two people coming; you can’t just give two portions, can you? And for our uncle’s family—the sons from the separated family division all brought gifts, they have to get one too. Mom’s idea is to give eggs and cornal balls to the villagers directly. For the elders and ancestors at those two tables, give each a small bamboo basket, not caring if anyone ca bearing gifts. The remainder goes to relatives."
Zhou Jiao quickly nodded, "Okay, listen to mom. We’ll do as mom says."
Zhang ili covered her mouth and laughed, collapsing onto the table. She knew Jiao Jiao despised these kinds of social niceties. Seeing her eagerly nodding before she even finished speaking, she couldn’t help but laugh. That’s how much she hated these obligations.
"Alright, that’s it. You stay in this room; don’t leave! There are too many things inside. If soone who’s not careful cos in and casually takes sothing, it’d be over. I’ll be right back. You stay here safely, don’t wander off." Zhang ili said, still unsure, glancing around inside to see her nod before walking out.
Zhang ili had been guarding all morning, worried about things going missing. What Zhou Xiaozheng, the Cheng Family, and the Lin Family sent was all gold and jade pendants. Now they filled a box. The villagers who ca to help earlier saw the golden lock on Ping’an’s body and their eyes almost popped out. If they knew about these things inside, they’d all rush over to grab them.
She still rembered those years of land reform. The whole crowd had red eyes as they rushed in to grab, even trampling people to death. If it hadn’t been for the soldiers intervening at the end, no one might have escaped. Now she finally understood why Zhou Jiao kept everything hidden all the ti. Today, even Cheng Hongli and others weren’t brought into the bedroom, nor did she insist on it.
Seeing what she saw today, she feared she might sleep-talk and let the child’s father overhear. Just thinking about this celebration and the previous three-month gift ceremony made her heart pound. Zhang ili planned to discreetly remind Zhang Guoqing not to drink too much when he was out, lest he let anything slip after getting drunk.
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