Chapter 31 – Lantern Festival (Part 2)

It turned out he had already come back and handed over the green and red candied fruit strips he bought, the single tael of honey dates gifted by Fifth Sister-in-law, and the two remaining copper coins to Madam Zhou.

Madam Zhou praised Fifth Boy, gave him a honey date, and took back the copper coins.

When Fifth Boy saw Xia Daohua, he wanted to give the honey date to her.

Xia Daohua glanced at Linghua, who was drooling, then opened her palm to show the pine nuts in her hand and smiled as she refused, “You eat it yourself! If you don’t want it, give it to Linghua. I’ve got this anyway!”

Fifth Boy looked at the eager Linghua and gave her the honey date.

Linghua was overjoyed, her big round eyes squinting into crescent moons. “Brother, you’re the best!”

Old Master Xia had just finished securing the lantern pole and led the children back into the house.

All the rooms of the Xia family lit their oil lamps one by one.

As the tradition of “keeping everything bright and festive during the New Year” dictated, the Xia family’s expenses on lighting during the first lunar month were more than the entire year combined.

At that moment, Madam Zhou was in the big kitchen with her daughters-in-law and some of the older grandchildren.

She looked delighted, instructing the daughters-in-law to crush the pine nuts and sunflower seeds, cut the green and red fruit strips into tiny pieces, and finely dice the honey dates.

Then all of these ingredients were mixed with brown sugar and sesame seeds to make the filling for the Lantern Festival glutinous rice balls.

She even personally handled the millet flour and glutinous rice flour that Second Boy brought home, dividing them into two large winnowing baskets.

A big basin of sweet filling was soon rolled by the skillful daughters-in-law into plump, round balls, nearly identical in size.

These round fillings were then poured into the winnowing baskets.

Holding the baskets, they shook them fiercely in all directions.

Xia Daohua had only seen such a scene on TV in her past life. This was her first time witnessing it live.

Very soon, she noticed that Madam Zhou had started to sweat.

After all, she was getting on in years. No matter how sturdy she was, doing such physically demanding work was tiring.

Madam Zhou didn’t insist on doing more and simply passed the basket to Jiang-shi, who was the closest to her.

Jiang-shi happily took the basket and gripped both ends, shaking it vigorously.

Layer upon layer of fine powder coated the fillings, and soon each turned into a white, plump glutinous rice ball. Rolling around in the basket, they looked lively and adorable.

Once the batch was coated, Madam Zhou picked them out using long chopsticks and called over Third Daughter-in-law to replace Jiang-shi for the next batch.

This basket-shaking job required not only arm strength but also a certain finesse so as not to shake the rice balls out of the basket.

The daughters-in-law took turns, finishing one batch before starting the next.

During all this, Xia Daohua wanted to give it a try.

But to her embarrassment, she couldn’t even lift the basket, let alone shake it!

Her tiny body was just too weak!

Meanwhile, the large pot of water had come to a boil.

The first batch of glutinous rice balls went into the pot.

They tumbled around in the bubbling water, gradually turning the clear water into a milky white as it thickened.

The fragrance of the glutinous rice and sweet filling wafted through the air, and several children couldn’t help sucking on their fingers in anticipation.

Madam Zhou waved her hand, prompting Sun-shi, Wu-shi, and Jiang-shi to set the tables.

Liu-shi and Cheng-shi started preparing bowls and utensils.

Madam Zhou personally ladled the glutinous rice balls into bowls using a long-handled wooden spoon. Each bowl held six rice balls, topped with a big scoop of soup—steaming, fragrant, and filled with the warmth of family life.

The children obediently gathered around the table. The older ones helped wipe the table, arrange chopsticks, and bring out side dishes.

Old Master Xia and his sons were already seated, waiting for their bowls of rice balls.

Soon, the first round was served.

But Old Master Xia didn’t touch his chopsticks—he wanted to wait for Madam Zhou to join him.

Madam Zhou didn’t keep him waiting for long. Soon, everyone was seated at the table.

Old Master Xia raised a small wine cup and took a sip, immediately hissing from the spiciness.

He slammed the cup down on the table with a loud bang.

The room instantly fell silent.

With misty eyes, Old Master Xia spoke emotionally:

“This Lantern Festival, everyone is together, eating glutinous rice balls in harmony and unity.

What a beautiful day.

Although our Xia family is split into separate households, from the bottom of my heart, I hope that you brothers won’t grow distant. Stay close and affectionate in daily life, and support one another in times of need.

Alright, I won’t say more—let’s all eat our rice balls!”

Madam Zhou chimed in with a smile:

“After we finish, let’s all go to town to see the lantern displays! I heard this year there will even be floats parading through the streets!”

The children cheered, “Yay!”

Each one tried their best to eat faster, despite the heat.

Lihua, Meihua, Lanhua, Daohua, Juhua, Fifth Boy, Sixth Boy, Linghua, and Zaohua were all seated at a small square table. Upon hearing they’d get to see lanterns, they couldn’t contain their excitement. While gobbling down the rice balls, they kept laughing and chatting.

But Xia Daohua suddenly felt her eyelid twitching wildly.

She quietly dipped her fingers in water and tried to smooth her eyelid, but it wouldn’t stop.

She couldn’t help but feel uneasy—it didn’t feel like a good omen.

Could something terrible happen when they went to town? Could they run into human traffickers?

The thought scared Xia Daohua.

There were quite a few children in the Xia family. If they really encountered kidnappers, they might not be able to protect everyone in time!

Just as she was thinking about precautions, a loud bang rang out.

Snapping back to reality, she saw that Sixth Boy had somehow choked on a rice ball. The loud sound was him knocking over his bowl.

The kids at his table froze, but quickly came to their senses. The room exploded with gasps, crying, shouting—it was chaos!

Sixth Boy was choking so badly that he was hunched over, gasping and flailing, his face turning colors.

Xia Daohua immediately forgot everything else.

She rushed over in a flash, planted one leg forward, grabbed Sixth Boy from behind, positioned him over her thigh, then wrapped her arms around his abdomen and performed a sudden, strong Heimlich thrust.

The glutinous rice ball lodged in his throat flew out with a pop.

Accompanied by coughing, snot, and tears, Sixth Boy finally caught his breath—and burst into wailing sobs.

Xia Daohua wiped her forehead, soaked with sweat.

Sigh, this body was way too weak.

Just one Heimlich maneuver, and she was drenched!

(End of Chapter)