Chapter 37

On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, having a bowl of hot meat dumplings and drinking a bowl of fragrant chicken soup is truly a great pleasure.

Throughout the year, it is only on the first day of the New Year that one can indulge like this.

After finishing breakfast, the Lu family all felt warm and cozy. On the first morning of the New Year, they had to take the children to visit the military district’s wives for New Year’s greetings. This year was particularly special, as it was the Lu family’s first New Year in the military district, which made Jiang Chunzao feel particularly attentive.

Because they were going out to visit, Jiang Chunzao specifically wore a new outfit she had made for the New Year and applied fragrant snow flower cream, which Lu Lin had bought for her. She usually used it carefully, but she used more of it during the New Year.

The two children, Shitou and Moli, ran out of the yard in their brand-new clothes. After Jiang Chunzao finished dressing herself, she used rouge to dot little red marks on the children’s foreheads. They immediately transformed into little year-painting dolls, delicate and adorable.

When Lu Lin came in from the yard and saw his little wife dressed in a fitting new outfit, with water-like eyes, a pretty little nose, and soft cherry lips, he was momentarily stunned and stood still, unable to move.

It was Jiang Chunzao, after she finished dressing the children and was ready to go out, who smiled at the dazed Lu Lin and teasingly said: “Colonel Lu, what are you doing? If you keep standing there like that, we won’t get out the door.”

Hearing his little wife’s words, Lu Lin looked at the children who were covering their mouths and giggling, and a flush of embarrassment appeared on his handsome face. He let out a light hum and led his family out the door.

Since it was the New Year, the military district was full of festive cheer. The wives had dressed their children in new clothes, neat and tidy, and were taking them out to visit others.

Jiang Chunzao and her family walked along, greeting the other families. The two children, who usually had sweet mouths, were dressed like little year-painting dolls, especially little Moli, who was greeting uncles, aunts, and everyone with a sweet voice, making the military district’s families adore them.

In previous years, Jiang Chunzao would have taken the children to visit the Lu family elders, but this year, since they were in the military district, she was far from the troublesome relatives of the old Lu family, which made her feel quite at ease.

Since she got along best with Sister Zhao, Jiang Chunzao’s family first went to visit Sister Zhao. When they arrived at her home, the Zhao family was chatting inside. Upon seeing the Lu family, Sister Zhao quickly came out to greet them, warmly offering them candies and snacks to make them feel at home.

Lu Lin and Captain Zhao had been comrades for many years and shared a great bond. As soon as they met, they went straight to the study to talk. The two children, Shitou and Moli, gathered together with Qiangqiang and whispered to each other.

When Sister Zhao saw that only she and Jiang Chunzao were left in the room, she smiled and said:

“Look at this family! It’s the New Year, but they’re just like usual, a mix of cats and dogs. In the end, it’s just the two of us left. Let’s not bother with them; they’re busy ahead, and we haven’t seen each other for a while. This New Year, we’re here to enjoy ourselves. Let’s not worry about anything else and just have a good chat!”

Jiang Chunzao smiled and nodded, sitting on the kang (a traditional heated bed) as she chatted with Sister Zhao for quite a while.

Since they still had other houses to visit, Jiang Chunzao and her family stayed at Sister Zhao’s for half a day before getting up to leave. Sister Zhao knew they still had other places to visit and didn’t try to keep them, simply smiling as she saw them out the door.

The next stop for the Lu family was Minister Chen’s home, followed by a visit to Colonel Fang’s house. Jiang Chunzao couldn’t help but feel that something seemed off with the Fang family, as if they were keeping something on their minds. However, since it was the New Year and it was a private matter for their family, she didn’t press the issue.

The Lu family spent most of the morning visiting different families. By the time they returned home, the children and Jiang Chunzao were all exhausted. Meanwhile, Lu Lin, who was used to training in the military, seemed unaffected and was at home chopping firewood and heating the kang.

Once Lu Lin had the kang nice and warm, Sister Zhao brought the children over to visit the Lu family. Jiang Chunzao had already prepared hot tea, candy, snacks, and jujubes with longan, ready to welcome them.

Sister Zhao, smiling, led the children inside. Jiang Chunzao was so enthusiastic, continuously stuffing milk candies, jujubes, and longan into Qiangqiang and Zhuangzhuang’s pockets. Nowadays, most families would offer hard fruit candies during the New Year, but the Lu family was one of the few who offered milk candies to their guests.

Qiangqiang and Zhuangzhuang were thrilled, as they usually only got one or two pieces of fruit candy, but now their pockets were filled with milk candies. Their eyes widened in excitement.

Sister Zhao, busy in the background, said:

“Chunzao, that’s enough! These milk candies are precious, let the two little boys have one or two pieces to try. The rest can go to Shitou and Moli.”

Hearing this, Jiang Chunzao stuffed a handful of jujubes into the boys’ pockets and smiled:

“It’s fine, Shitou and Moli already have plenty at home. It’s the New Year, let’s give the children a little extra candy.”

It only happens once a year.

Shitou and Moli both smiled and nodded, showing no signs of being protective. Upon hearing this, Sister Zhao’s smile grew even wider, and she quickly said:

“Two little rascals! You only care about Aunt Chunzao’s candy, but you don’t even know how to say thank you.”

“Thank you, Aunt Chunzao!” Qiangqiang and Zhuangzhuang quickly shouted, their little voices bright and loud, causing Lu Lin, who was in the yard, to laugh.

Sister Zhao stayed at the Lu family for quite a while, helping Jiang Chunzao with some household chores while chatting about things at home. Eventually, she took the children and left. Soon after, Sister-in-law Fang came with Mingming, and throughout the morning, the wives from the military district brought their children one after another to visit the Lu family. When the children left, their pockets were all full, and their faces were full of smiles.

Before long, it was noon, and as usual, Lu Lin’s family had hot dumplings for lunch. In the afternoon, there was nothing much to do at home, and they didn’t need to go out to visit anyone anymore.

Jiang Chunzao naturally lay on the warm kang for the afternoon. Lu Lin, apart from occasionally helping his little wife with a cup of tea, spent most of his time playing with the children in the yard.

Shitou took out the wooden gun his mother had bought when they went to the market and started making “pew pew” sounds while playing with his sister. Xiao Moli, like a little tail, ran after her brother, making Lu Lin smile from the sight.

In the evening, according to the custom of Lu’s village, it was time to give the children their New Year red envelopes.

Shitou and Moli, following their father’s teaching, raised their little hands and obediently wished their parents a Happy New Year. Their cute appearance made Jiang Chunzao exclaim how adorable they were. She hugged them and gave each of them a kiss before handing them their red envelopes.

This year, the parents were especially generous, slipping a dollar into each child’s red envelope. When the children saw the shiny new bills, they were overjoyed. Especially little Moli, who, like a little money-loving kid, clutched her red envelope with her chubby hands, smiling so wide that her little rice teeth were visible.

The lively first day of the New Year passed just like that. For Lu Lin and his wife, the New Year was considered over once the first day had passed.

After all, this year they were in the military district, and unlike previous years, when they would visit relatives from the second to the sixth day of the New Year, this time they didn’t have any of those visits to make. So, on the second day of the New Year, Lu Lin and his little wife slept in, enjoying a nice, lazy morning.

However, for Shitou and Moli, this year’s New Year had only just begun! After the second day of the New Year, there was still the third day, the fourth day, and all the way until the fifteenth day of the first month—there was still a lot of New Year celebrations to enjoy!

On the morning of the second day of the New Year, Jiang Chunzao decided to take out the sausages that had been made and hung up before the New Year. She planned to cut them up and steam them with white rice. Earlier, Lu Lin had hung the sausages under the eaves of the house.

Jiang Chunzao asked Lu Lin to take down the sausages and cut them into pieces. The whole family could already smell the delicious aroma of the meat wafting through the yard.

Shitou and Moli, the two little ones, were not playing and jumping around as usual in the yard. Instead, they were sitting quietly on small stools, their little faces resting on their hands, waiting eagerly for the fragrant sausage and rice to be ready.

Jiang Chunzao was busy in the kitchen, occasionally looking over her shoulder to check on the children. Every time she looked, she met their bright, eager eyes, which made her smile at Lu Lin and say: “These two little gluttons, they know there’s good food at home, and now they won’t go outside to play.”

Lu Lin, who was helping his wife, chuckled when he heard this and said: “The kids all love sausage and rice, so we should make it more often.”

Jiang Chunzao smiled and nodded, seeing the children’s longing faces. Without saying a word, she hastened her work.

When the fragrant sausage and rice were ready, the two little ones cheered and immediately began eating happily. Watching their children eat so contentedly made Lu Lin and Jiang Chunzao feel even more satisfied than if they were eating themselves.

The lively New Year soon passed, and with it, the cold winter slowly came to an end. As winter melted away and spring arrived, the ice and snow receded, and the earth began to turn green again. The frozen valleys came to life with fresh growth.

Spring, the season of new beginnings, had arrived, and with it, the start of the spring plowing season. As the weather warmed, the sisters-in-law shed their heavy winter coats and became busy. They spent their days in the fields, carrying tools and working hard without any free time.

At the Lu family home, Jiang Chunzao, now six months pregnant, had a round belly. She had to be careful even while walking. Most of the household chores and farm work were taken over by Lu Lin.

However, Lu Lin still had to attend to matters with the military, and there were so many things at home that he couldn’t handle it all on his own. Fortunately, Jiang Chunzao’s parents, who lived far away in the old family home, were concerned about their daughter. After discussing it, they decided that Mother Jiang would come to the military district to help out with the household.

When Mother Jiang arrived at the military district, she didn’t come empty-handed. She brought two large, fat chickens and several bundles of goods with her. Mother Fang, who saw this, couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy, telling Fang Man that her eyes were turning red with envy.

But jealousy was of no use. Mother Jiang was tough and capable, and when Mother Fang had thought of asking the Lu family for some favor, she didn’t expect that as soon as she started talking, Mother Jiang immediately caught on to her intentions. With hands on her hips, she scolded Mother Fang and sent her packing out of the door.

To be fair, Mother Fang was no pushover either, being a woman of strong character, but when she faced Mother Jiang, she had no choice but to admit defeat.

That winter, Mother Jiang and Lu Lin worked together to cultivate the family’s one-acre plot of land, burning last year’s corn stalks and using them as fertilizer in the soil.

Having farmed her whole life, Mother Jiang was also skilled at handling household chores. Last year, the chickens raised by the Lu family had grown into healthy, lively birds. Mother Jiang took care of the housework daily, sweeping the floors, wiping the tables, and keeping everything in the Lu household neat and tidy.

The wives in the military district, seeing all of this, couldn’t help but be envious. They kept sighing to Jiang Chunzao about how capable her mother was, and how, despite having lived so many years, they had never met anyone so capable.

Jiang Chunzao could only blush and smile awkwardly when she heard these comments. After all, her mother was so efficient that it made her feel like an idle, good-for-nothing fish in comparison.