Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 517 - 401: Firecrackers Ring in the New Year

Chapter 517: Chapter 401: Firecrackers Ring in the New Year

It’s New Year. From New Year’s Eve until the fifth day of the first lunar month, no household likes to scold children. This period will be their wanton good days and the happy times they look forward to all year.

After eating and drinking their fill, the children run outside in groups of threes and fives with little firecrackers they have just opened to play and frolic. The winter night is biting with heavy snow flying around, but it doesn’t stop the children’s natural love for playing and noise.

Before it gets late, the Old Captain lets each family take a bowl of dumplings home, but for some families without a pot, how they will heat them up, he didn’t say, nor did anyone bring it up.

Only later did Zhou Jiao learn that these dumplings from each house had been offered to each family’s ancestors, of course, each person taking their own home. Otherwise, who would eat the food in others’ ancestral offering?

The heads of each household happily picked up the ten dumplings in their hand, leading their families back to hang lanterns, distribute New Year money, eat dumplings, set off fireworks, and stay up for the Year.

As the crowd disperses, gradually only the aunts and elder women helping in the kitchen are left cleaning up the mess, and a table seating the old clan leader and other elders.

Mr. Zhang is part of this group, as tonight he is also accompanying the clan leader, drinking little liquor and chatting about family matters.

Seeing the situation, Zhang Guoqing gestures to Ping’an towards Mother Zhang. Soon, he sees Little Ping’an holding onto his grandmother’s hand and pulling Mother Zhang to go home.

The couple secretly laughs, picks up their son, and pulls Mother Zhang back to their small courtyard.

At each family’s door, the three Zhang brothers shout in unison, raising wooden pillars and lighting red lanterns. Under the glowing red lanterns are the joyful faces of their family members, with children cheering and jumping.

The doors of the three families are wide open, and the Zhang brothers unanimously keep their courtyards open, seemingly wanting Mr. Zhang and Mother Zhang to know the children are waiting for them to come home.

Zhou Jiao learned about the canteen news from Zhang Guoqing, and she anticipated that tonight’s New Year’s Eve dinner would end simply, preparing some dishes in advance.

At this point, she begins preparing the New Year’s Eve dinner belonging to her own family.

Stewed carp, chicken and chestnut stew, pork sauerkraut stew with vermicelli, three earthy delicacies, stewed green beans, corn pine nut shrimp, caramelized sweet potatoes,

Red date cake, sticky bean buns, and a mixed fruit can dessert.

With each fragrant and attractive dish cooked by her brought out of the kitchen by Zhang Guoqing and placed on the large table in the living room, it quickly fills the whole tabletop.

Mother Zhang, after worshipping ancestors at the old courtyard, starts going around in her three sons’ houses, observing if there are any taboo places in the three sons’ households.

She didn’t notice at first, but as bursts of fragrance come over, she enters and is startled. Good heavens, this feast is even richer than at the canteen.

Before she can speak, Zhang Guoqing smilingly gestures and pushes a piece of cake into her mouth. Watching his mother squinting with a smile, he feels it’s worth it.

This New Year’s Eve dinner was a decision made after deep consideration by the couple. After tonight, it would be unlikely for the three brothers to reunite with parents for a complete dinner each year.

This is an unavoidable reality. In the future, their focus will not be in the Northeast, and the parents and brothers with their children cannot all run to Beijing to spend New Year with them.

To leave a beautiful memory, Zhang Guoqing hopes tonight’s family gathering will make family and brothers remember the reunion every New Year’s Eve in the future: That year, our family was once united.

"Mom, I’ll go call Dad. When Dad comes back, we’ll call the two older brothers and their families over. Tonight, our family will have a New Year’s Eve dinner."

What can Mother Zhang say? The children have already prepared. She smiles and nods, takes her grandson to the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Zhou Jiao prepares quickly. Returning to the living room, she takes out a bottle of liquor and a jar of fruit wine and sets it on the counter. On the kang, she places two wooden trays with frozen pears and frozen persimmons, inside a basket are assorted fried snacks and candies.

After tidying up, Zhou Jiao specially lights six red candles in the living room. New year new atmosphere, she hopes the family will have peace, prosperity, and lively days in the coming year.

Soon, Mr. Zhang arrives with his three sons. Sitting on the kang, watching one after another come over, gathering around his children and grandchildren. At this moment, his heart feels indescribable, somewhat sour, somewhat joyful.

"The happiest thing this life for me is having you three sons. Originally thought this New Year’s Eve would just pass like this, just now felt empty, thinking this New Year was not solid. I was surprised my old son and little daughter-in-law thought of what was in my heart. Kids, our family’s New Year’s Eve starts now."

Listening to this, everyone smiles and looks towards Mother Zhang, waiting for her to speak.

Mother Zhang smiles and says, "This year, Mom is very happy and satisfied, and tonight feels very delighted. After the New Year’s Eve dinner, next year you all should work harder. Mom won’t say more this year, many dishes await, let’s eat."

Everyone laughs heartily after hearing. As long as the two elders are happy, everything’s well.

Zhang Guoqing pours wine for Mr. Zhang and Mother Zhang, "Oldest brother, second brother, pour yourselves some, sisters-in-law too. Let’s toast to Dad and Mom, wishing them happiness every day."

"Uncle, wait for us!"

"Alright, you drink juice, take your time, we’re not in a hurry."

Filling up the cups, everyone raises their glasses and shouts, "Wishing Dad (Grandpa), Mom (Grandma) happiness every day."

Mr. Zhang and Mother Zhang smile broadly, downing their cups of wine in one go.

With the three Zhang brothers accompanying Mr. Zhang in joking around, Zhou Jiao and the three sisters-in-law accompany Mother Zhang in talking about funny stories, mingling with the children’s playful words. This New Year’s Eve dinner is filled with family laughter, tilting and swaying.

Once twelve o’clock passes, Mr. Zhang gives the command, and the three sons simultaneously light firecrackers at the doors of the three houses. As the crackling sound rings out, along with the alternating loud and soft firecracker sounds inside and outside the village, the New Year finally arrives.

Zhou Jiao brings out the colorful and varied New Year’s dumplings. Five colors, five fillings, exquisite dumplings allowing the well-fed family, no matter how full, to be unwilling to put down their chopsticks.

"I found a five-cent coin inside."

"Brother, I got a piece of brown sugar."

"I, I also found two cents inside."

With the children’s joyful exclamations, as everyone in the Zhang Family finds coins, red dates, and brown sugar pieces inside the dumplings, under the glowing red candles are faces filled with happiness.

After eating dumplings, just like previous years, this time Xi Zi with several kids brings the unsleepy Little Ping’an in front of the kang, kneeling to pay respects to Mr. Zhang and Mother Zhang.

The children’s unified voices wishing "Grandpa Grandma Happy New Year, may everything go smoothly." Let’s the laughter of the Zhang Family drift out from the Zhang Family Courtyard, floating at the North Mountain Foot.

Mr. Zhang and Mother Zhang are wise and open-minded elders. They treat all grandchildren equally regardless of gender or whether it is the eldest grandson Xi Zi or the youngest Ping’an.

Children holding brand new New Year money happily squint their eyes.

Zhou Jiao is very impressed by this. Favoritism based on gender should be avoided, and bias even more so. Sons are ones own, and favoritism towards them might not be begrudged by siblings if they are generous, but grandchildren are different. Grandchildren are one step removed from grandparents and being children, they easily hold grudges.

Having Mr. Zhang and Mother Zhang is the fortune of the Zhang Family children. As parents, they use their actions to gain respect and love from the family.