By around six in the evening, dinner was ready.

In other households, they might just eat dumplings, with fancier ones adding a dish or two.

But in their home, aside from the ceremonial dishes, they had another large table spread with braised carp, chicken stew with mushrooms, cured duck, stir-fried cured pork, braised pig’s feet with soybeans, pig skin jelly, cabbage and vermicelli with blanched pork…

Liu Honghua’s eyes widened as she looked at the feast, feeling uneasy and even a sense of guilt creeping in.

Was it not a crime to indulge like this?

She wouldn’t dare eat even if she wanted to!

Their family usually prepared just dumplings for New Year’s, where was all this lavish meat and fish coming from?

Oh my, this was something else.

If she went around the commune, not a single household would be eating New Year’s dinner like this.

If there had been just one dish of pork and vermicelli stew, she would have been drooling over it.

But now, with this whole spread of meat, she didn’t dare touch it! It was almost like a dream she couldn’t even imagine.

During the New Year’s Eve dinner, everyone in the village waited for the loudspeaker to announce the evening report.

Without the loudspeaker’s call, no one dared to start eating.

After a while, the loudspeaker played the song “The East Is Red,” and instantly everyone became solemn.

After that, another song, “Sailing the Seas Depends on the Helmsman,” was played.

After these songs, there came a slightly distorted voice through the loudspeaker, “Fellow villagers, all fellow villagers, it’s New Year’s! Enjoy your New Year’s Eve dinner at home, no need for permission, just play the songs and that’s it!”

With this announcement, everyone happily started to celebrate.

Soon, firecrackers were heard.

Some households had bought firecrackers but were hesitant to light them.

Upon hearing the loudspeaker, they immediately took them out to welcome the New Year.

Jiang Lin also took some to give to Cheng Rushan.

He lit an incense stick and asked Wensheng to hold the firecrackers with a long thin pole while he lit them.

Jiang Lin was afraid of startling Wensheng, but Cheng Rushan assured her it was okay.

Cheng Yunzhi and Yan Runzhi supported each other as they went out to watch.

Da Bao and Xiao Bao held Jiang Lin’s hand and squeezed to the doorway.

It was still very cold on New Year’s Eve, making them shiver.

Wensheng held the pole, and Jiang Lin asked him, “Wensheng, are you scared of the loud noise?”

Wensheng smiled at her, “Mom, I’m not scared at all.”

Cheng Rushan held the incense stick, blew on the tip, then lit the fuse of the firecracker. “Sizzle—”

He stepped back, and behind him, the firecrackers crackled and popped.

Wensheng held the pole, with deafening firecracker noises ringing in his ears, the cheers of his family celebrating the New Year, flickering flames, Cheng Rushan’s tall and handsome figure, Jiang Lin’s bright and joyful face, Da Bao and Xiao Bao’s innocent and carefree expressions, Cheng Yunzhi, Yan Runzhi, and…

He felt so unfamiliar with everything around him, yet so familiar and longing for it all.

Familiar yet strange, why was it like this?

Suddenly, he felt a bit lost.

Everything seemed close by, yet far away from him.

Gradually, he couldn’t hear the firecrackers or the cheers anymore.

He could see them, but couldn’t hear or touch them, as if he was shouting desperately but his mother couldn’t hear with her eyes closed.

Unconsciously, tears streamed down his face.

He didn’t know why he was crying or what he was crying about.

The firecrackers stopped, but he still couldn’t hear anything.

His mind was fuzzy, surrounded by noise, as if something was keeping him apart.

Jiang Lin had entered the courtyard with Cheng Rushan holding Da Bao and Xiao Bao.

When she didn’t see Wensheng, she ran back out.

In the dim light of the courtyard, she saw him holding the pole, still in the posture of lighting firecrackers.

She ran over and patted him.

“Wensheng? What are you staring at? After lighting the firecrackers, let’s go home and eat meat.”

The moonless night, with brilliant starlight that wasn’t enough to illuminate her face, gave her a somewhat mysterious look.

He heard her voice, dropped the pole, and embraced her tightly.

Jiang Lin patted his back gently and asked, “Wensheng, are you scared?”

Wensheng let go of her and loudly exclaimed, “No way!”

Jiang Lin, a bit startled by the volume, chuckled. “Why so loud?”

Cheng Rushan came out from the courtyard. “What’s wrong with Wensheng?”

Wensheng exclaimed loudly, “My ears are ringing! Buzzing like a nest of hornets!”

He plugged his ears with his index fingers and then let go, laughing.

Cheng Rushan held Jiang Lin’s hand, reassuring her not to worry, that Wensheng was fine.

He walked over to Wensheng, lifted his hand to press and massage his ear and the acupuncture points on the back of his head. “He’s just hungry. Let’s go eat more meat, that’ll fix it.”

Upon hearing this, Wensheng immediately ran inside, shouting, “Eat meat!”

Jiang Lin asked Cheng Rushan, “Did the firecrackers scare him earlier?”

Cheng Rushan replied, “We also set off firecrackers at the grave, and he didn’t react. It seems the New Year scene touched him.” In truth, Cheng Rushan wanted to stimulate Wensheng with such scenes, as magazines suggested that a bit of stimulation could help restore his normal mental order.

Yet, he couldn’t bear to push Wensheng further and decided to comfort him gently, just as he would with Da Bao and Xiao Bao.

Jiang Lin said, “Maybe we should just let things happen naturally.”

Cheng Rushan embraced her and led her inside, saying, “Alright.”

Due to the large number of people, they set up two tables: one on the heated brick bed for the elders and children, and another on the ground.

Cheng Rushan brought over two bottles of wine and poured for his parents, Jiang Lin, and his older brother’s family.

Suddenly, Wensheng said, “I want some too.”

Cheng Rushan looked at him, “You’re still young.”

Wensheng protested, “I have a beard now, I’m not young.”

He touched the tiny bit of stubble that had grown since Cheng Yunzhi had shaved him clean in the morning, finding it quite novel.

Cheng Rushan poured him a little wine and said, “Try it first.”

Wensheng lifted the cup, licked his lips, felt the spiciness, but being a man, he wasn’t afraid.

He tilted his head back and drank it all in one go, then grimaced and fanned his mouth.

Da Bao and Xiao Bao teased him.

Da Bao said, “You insisted on drinking it, but it tastes awful. Grandma said it’s like urine.”

Xiao Bao, curious, dipped a chopstick in it and confirmed it was indeed awful.

They weren’t interested; where was the sweetness to enjoy?

Yan Runzhi sighed, “When did I ever say that?”

Undeterred, Wensheng asked for another cup.

Cheng Rushan poured him another, this time not allowing him to drink it all in one gulp.

Jiang Lin turned to Cheng Yunzhi and said, “Dad, could you say a few words for everyone?”

Cheng Yunzhi trembled as he lifted his wine cup, the other hand quickly supporting it.

He said, “Our family has been vindicated, and life is getting better. Your grandparents and great-grandparents would be happy to know this. You brothers support each other, setting an example for the children. Let’s all be happy during the New Year, and I won’t speak of anything gloomy.”

He wanted the children to get along harmoniously, but he didn’t say much.

Kind words were as light as water, and if the eldest son was truly sincere, actions in the future would speak louder than a few words now.

If he didn’t sincerely change for the better, the Cheng family would simply act as if they didn’t have this eldest son.

Yan Runzhi nodded, “I feel like life is pretty good right now. I’m content.”

Cheng Ruhai saw everyone looking at him and quickly lifted his wine cup with both hands.

Seeing Cheng Yunzhi and Yan Runzhi sitting on the heated brick bed, their father’s hair now gray, he couldn’t hold back tears and quickly wiped his eyes.

“This wine is really spicy. Mom, Dad, brothers and sisters, from now on, I’ll look up to you all and live well.”

Liu Honghua was still deeply immersed in the guilt of all the meat and fish on the table, unable to extricate herself.

She felt overwhelmed by guilt, unable to speak.

When it was her turn to speak, she held her wine cup, glanced at Yan Runzhi and then at Jiang Lin.

She wanted to talk about serious matters, but her tongue tied itself in knots.

“Sister-in-law used to be… misled by lard, making foolish mistakes. I think, wasn’t that silly? Can’t be like that anymore. Mom, Sister, before I… got it wrong. I owe you all an apology.” She drank up the cup of wine.

Yan Runzhi nodded silently, and Jiang Lin also nodded.

Cheng Rushan remained silent.

He never took others’ words at face value; matters of concern were investigated personally.

He judged people not by what they said but by their actions. “Everyone must be hungry. Let’s eat.”

Da Bao and Xiao Bao, already acting as hosts, poured orange juice, hawthorn juice, and canned apple juice for their cousins.

The two of them enjoyed several glasses themselves.

Jiang Lin reminded them, “Don’t just drink cold water till your bellies are full. Eat some vegetables.”

Since they would be making dumplings later in the night, Jiang Lin didn’t eat too much to avoid feeling too greasy.

After a satisfying meal, they chatted. Cheng Rushan led them to carry stalks of wheat straw from the front gate to the main hall, piling them up beneath the offering table.

This was where they would kowtow and pay New Year’s respects.

With Cheng Fugui’s brothers having fallen on hard times, and the villagers still working at the brick kiln and embroidery workshop, there would surely be many men and children coming to pay their respects to Cheng Yunzhi in the evening, so they needed to prepare in advance.

The brothers respectfully kowtowed to the offering table and their ancestors, lit bright red candles, and then the children took turns kowtowing to the elders and receiving lucky money.

Yan Runzhi had already placed money in Cheng Yunzhi’s pocket as agreed, giving each child one yuan, treating them equally, including Wensheng.

The eldest three children received their lucky money, but when they saw it was only one yuan, they hesitated to accept it.

Yan Runzhi said, “Take it. You’re all grandchildren, and Grandma and Grandpa think of you dearly.”

The three immediately accepted the money, thanked them profusely, and were overjoyed.

Da Bao and Xiao Bao also kowtowed and received their money, thanking them.

Later, they quietly discussed among themselves, “Are you going to keep the money for yourself or turn it over?”

“Can we keep it for ourselves?” In past years, their lucky money had only been a few cents.

If they didn’t keep it, Mom would take it away.

Da Bao proudly stuffed it into his pocket. “Of course I’m keeping it. I already have several yuan. Grandpa and Grandma and Uncle all gave me some.”

The other three envied him greatly.

How could their grandparents and uncles be so generous?

Soon, men and children from the village came to kowtow to Cheng Yunzhi and Yan Runzhi.

They didn’t need to give lucky money; a handful of melon seeds and peanuts sufficed.

Due to the Cheng family’s special status, their children didn’t need to visit others to pay respects during the New Year, only kowtowing to their own elders.

So, Da Bao, Xiao Bao, and Wensheng played among themselves.

With good relations with local businesses, Jiang Lin and Cheng Rushan took Wensheng, Da Bao, and Xiao Bao early to pay their respects to the shopkeeper’s wife.

She was delighted and gave each of the boys one yuan.

She then sent her daughter and several grandsons to pay respects to Cheng Yunzhi and his wife.

The first unfettered year, both adults and children played happily until nine o’clock.

The children were still busy kowtowing on their way home.

Cheng Rushan held Jiang Lin’s hand as they walked home slowly.

Every household had their lights on, casting a dim yellow glow on the snow piled along the road, reflecting a gentle radiance off the walls and tree roots.

He stopped, pulled Jiang Lin into his arms, and kissed her passionately against a large tree.

Despite the freezing weather, Jiang Lin couldn’t help but remember what her northeastern classmates had told her about children sticking their tongues to iron railings in temperatures below minus thirty degrees.

She couldn’t help but laugh.

Her laughter prompted Cheng Rushan to gently nibble on her, deepening their kiss even more.

She chuckled softly, “Are we going to freeze together like this?”

Cheng Rushan lifted her up suddenly, and Jiang Lin quickly pleaded for mercy.

His voice was low and husky, “Kiss me.”

Jiang Lin teased, “You’re cold.”

Out in the freezing cold, kissing like this was a bit silly.

He pressed her closer to him, encouraging her to kiss him back willingly.

Back at home, Jiang Lin brought out apples to wash and give to the children.

She found the apple skins too tough, so she used a small knife to peel them, though the knife wasn’t quite right, and the peels ended up a bit thick.

Liu Honghua watched nearby, wincing at the sight.

Peeling apples?

That would be grounds for scolding in any other household.

But here, whatever Jiang Lin did, nobody said a word—her family felt it was only natural.

Liu Honghua couldn’t resist and quietly ate the apple peels left in the bowl when no one was paying attention.

There was still a thick layer of flesh on them, so it seemed wasteful to throw them away.

Just as Jiang Lin came downstairs to pour water for Da Bao and Xiao Bao, she saw Liu Honghua stuffing the last piece of apple peel into her mouth.

Quickly pretending not to notice, Jiang Lin poured the water and went back inside.

In her heart, she knew Liu Honghua was the type to take advantage and be meticulous about every little thing.

If she had stolen a few apples, Jiang Lin wouldn’t have been surprised, but she never expected her to sneakily eat the apple peels.

After eating dumplings late at night and sending Liu Honghua and the children off to sleep, Jiang Lin packed a few apples for her to take back.

After the New Year and visiting relatives, both adults and children took advantage of the time to rest and play, as spring work would start in February.

Cheng Xianglan ultimately didn’t return to her mother’s home, which disappointed Cheng Yunzhi slightly, though he didn’t say much about it.

On the tenth day of the lunar year, Cheng Yulian, Shang Zonghui, and others came to find Jiang Lin. “Manager, when are we starting work? Everyone is eager.”

They had earned money last year and had enjoyed an unusually abundant and comfortable New Year.

Now they were more eager than Jiang Lin.

Jiang Lin replied, “The brick blanks we stockpiled have all been fired. It’s not suitable to thaw and work on them now. Let’s wait a bit longer and see what the foremen say.”

The three foremen had done well here last year and had made money too.

They had left reluctantly, not closing the brick kiln factory until the Small New Year.

According to them, work couldn’t start until after the Lantern Festival, busy with spring activities up to Qingming.

Jiang Lin thought if they had machinery to help with spring planting and sowing, it would save a lot of labor.

That way, they could free up time to work at the brick kiln factory.

Cheng Rushan didn’t travel far during the whole first month.

Jiang Lin’s maternal family didn’t need her to visit either.

With no other relatives, the family spent the Lunar New Year together, enjoying each day happily.