dumplings on the first day, noodles on the second.
Having finished the dumplings, noodles on the second day were brought out in small bowls from the hands of National Day’s big aunt.
The fine noodles made National Day glance around at everyone.
The quiet big uncle, the gentle and cheerful little uncle, the two aunts with smiling faces, and a room full of kind cousins—this was his maternal family, his kin.
They welcod Old Zhang’s family with the best food, warming the chilly room with sincere, simple words.
Zhang Family mbers, especially Mr. Zhang, had a deep understanding of his in-laws’ character.
He smiled as he urged the children to eat quickly. Having made this journey every year, he learned to accept it calmly, unlike the younger generation who felt uneasy. Eating his bowl of noodles, he rembered his father-in-law.
It wasn’t just Mr. Zhang who was lost in mories; Zhou Jiao felt it most profoundly.
In contrast to this family, Qingshan’s house seed insignificant. In the end, personal deanor, education, status, and learning were inconsequential; the simplest and most sincere were still the land-bound common folk.
Having decided the date for their return visit, the Zhang Family mbers left gifts behind, hurriedly heading ho as if escaping. Midway, when they could no longer see the two uncles, the family looked at each other and couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
Sending gifts as embarrassingly as the Zhang Family was truly rare.
On the first day, pay respects to ancestors; the second day to aunts; the third day ’sweep away poverty’; the fourth day married daughters return ho.
Every fourth day of the new year, Old Zhang’s family’s three branches gather. It is also the day Zhang Family daughters return to their maternal ho. This rule had beco an Old Zhang family tradition, subtly influenced since Grandpa Zhang’s ti.
The daughters-in-law of Old Zhang’s family, even if they wanted to return ho, could only do so by the sixth day. According to Mother Zhang, the old man once said, no matter the matter, everyone must put it aside and attend the family gathering on the fourth day.
Hence, on the fourth day, everyone flocked to Uncle Zhang’s house like a gust of wind. Luckily, the yard of Zhang Qingshan’s house was large, and by noon, the main room and west wing were full of people.
No matter how difficult tis were in the past, this day was Old Zhang family’s gathering. United efforts of three branches ensured several tables of food and drink, especially when Grandpa Zhang was alive—though there might have been a lack of staple food, the flying dragon soup, roasted venison, and stewed wild boar were abundant. But now Uncle Zhang could only smile bitterly.
He was a deputy leader, setting an example by breaking the pots. If Old Zhang family mbers all visited the canteen, the remaining grains of the team would probably be cleared in one al.
It wasn’t for no reason outsiders praised Old Zhang family sons; Zhang Qingshan, the eldest, began leading his younger brothers to divide and take action separately. Soon, several families gathered enough wild ga, dried vegetables, and started cooking.
An inventive family gathering was perfectly improved by the youthful generation of Old Zhang’s family. In the courtyard, two large stoves gurgled, tempting everyone with their aroma.
Early in the morning, Zhang ili and her four cousins brought bags of candy, accompanied by their husbands and children, returning to their maternal ho.
Today, the four brothers-in-law brought sorghum liquor, delighting the Zhang Family n with laughter. The candy gifts brought by Zhang ili and her sisters were divided by Mother Zhang and her three in-laws among the elders in the clan, neighbors, and villagers. Children happily received New Year money and began to play with firecrackers all around.
Until midday, Old Zhang’s family finally welcod the grand-aunt Zhang Dan Ni and Liu Dazhuang, who arrived with their two grandsons.
The main room was set with four tables; as the stews were brought to the table, firecrackers sounded from outside. Without needing a call, as soon as the n sat, won and children began finding seats, waiting for Uncle Zhang to speak.
In the main room, sit Mr. Zhang’s three brothers, old brother-in-law Liu Dazhuang, four brothers-in-law, and Old Zhang’s eldest grandson Zhang Qingshan responsible for pouring wine.
In Old Zhang’s family gatherings, the eldest son and grandson have special status. For instance, Mr. Zhang and Uncle Zhang never had the chance to speak first. No matter how excellent National Day was compared to Zhang Qingshan, he had no right to surpass the eldest grandson, nor could he replace him as the leading figure in ancestor worship. In Old Zhang’s family succession, Zhang Qingshan was deservedly the leader after his father’s passing.
With Uncle Zhang picked up his chopsticks and a call to "begin," a clamor of bowl and chopsticks sounded. The adults exchanged knowing smiles.
National Day’s generation of youthful brothers was nurous, but a generation below, Mighty’s generation was even larger. Two tables crowded with Old Zhang’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren squeezed together. Such fertility!
Uncle Zhang saw the restless kids and quickly laughed, "Eat if you want; after eating, go play."
Children glanced at their parents’ faces and then joyfully stood to grab food.
From this mont, one could easily distinguish children’s personalities and the parental education they received.
In the enthusiastic scene, where children pushed and hurried one another, Xi Zi and Ziwen calmly cared for younger siblings, displaying the deanor of a brother. Younger siblings also politely refrained from food fights, quietly sitting and savoring the food before them.
Uncle Zhang looked enviously but couldn’t bla his own grandchildren. He knew well that different family conditions ant different educations for children.
Many people noticed this scene, each with different thoughts. But on New Year’s, no one could scold the children.
Happy children pleased the adults, and conversations soon turned to daily topics. Honest and straightforward Liu Dazhuang, the old brother-in-law, received hearty hospitality from a dozen nieces and nephews, eventually succumbing to the liquor.
Midway through the drinks, when children were satiated and ran to seize their New Year money and bolted off.
Ping’an, in National Day’s arms, couldn’t hold back any longer; he grabbed his dad’s arm, smiling flatteringly while pointing towards the departing group of siblings.
Seeing this, National Day swiftly carried his son out of the yard, gathering a group of kids to his house. He had bought plenty of firecrackers and fireworks, intending to enjoy them with his son. Today, he finally seized the chance.
A big kid holding a little baby, playing fireworks with a group of children. This grand scene attracted village kids. It finally ended when the big kid accidentally blew up his family’s bucket with a two-legged firecracker.
After the family banquet, ca the fifth day.
On the morning of the fifth day, National Day and Zhou Jiao began cleaning trash, setting off firecrackers, and ate "breaking" dumplings. From this day on, Zhou Jiao needn’t worry about New Year taboos.
Constant visitors ant severe sleep deprivation for the family.
She ignored Mother-in-law’s advice about sewing, disregarding others, shut the door, and the family slumbered heavily on the kang.
When they woke, it was already the sixth day. Early morning, the family of three packed with luggage and gifts, headed to the provincial city for New Year’s visits.
In the provincial city were Zhao Chuan Guang and four uncle’s hos, Huang Family and Zhao Family. They were rushing breakfast and dinner, hustling between houses.
Two days later, the family returned to the county with a bag full of red envelopes. No ti to rest, they followed with visits to various elders and unit gatherings.
The holiday was just ending, and work resud. This busy New Year was nearly over for National Day, yet for Zhou Jiao and Ping’an, each day was New Year.
Family worship, friends, and relatives gathered. Amidst firecrackers and laughter, days passed, and the New Year of 1959 quietly left.
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