Chapter 143: Wishes

While making dumplings, Zhang Lan also told everyone about Wang Juan’s situation. This time, Wang Qian finally heard the complete story.

The situation was quite simple. According to the family tradition, the New Year’s Eve dinner was prepared by the daughter-in-law. In the past, when Zhang Lan was around, the sisters-in-law could manage the work. However, this year, with Zhang Lan absent and Han Cui being lazy, most of the labor fell on Wang Juan.

Wang Juan didn’t mind doing it once a year, but the problem arose when others started to mind. At first, Wang Zhi began to nitpick, saying that she had put too little salt in one dish and too much in another. Then, the second brother’s daughter suddenly had a stomach ache, and Wang Zhenjiang and his wife suspected that the food wasn’t washed properly. Could Wang Juan not get angry? She threw down her chopsticks and left.

“Mom, Aunt Juan also has a temper. If she didn’t throw down her chopsticks, she wouldn’t be Aunt Juan. People like that don’t suffer losses. Just wait and see. They will cause trouble, and none of them will be easy to deal with,” Wang Qian said helplessly.

Hao Lianchun also sighed helplessly. “No wonder your sister-in-law lost her temper. It’s heartbreaking to see someone who works hard not being appreciated and treated that way.”

At this moment, Wang Zhenhe greatly admired his own wisdom. They would never join in the fun again in the future. That family represented trouble. They had just escaped, but his sister-in-law had already gone in.

“Hehe, it seems that we are better off this way. Today, we can enjoy the dumplings with peace of mind,” Wang Zhenhe said. While everyone was happy for them, there was also a tinge of sadness. What kind of life had they lived in this family before?

Amidst the laughter and chatter, the dumplings were soon ready. Zhang Lan deliberately boiled a few coins, sugar, and jujubes in water and put them in the dumplings. She smiled and told everyone that whoever found a coin in their dumpling would have good luck next year.

During dinner, the dumplings were served. Wu Changyong was the first to pick up a dumpling and taste it. “Delicious, fragrant, and fresh. Niece, your dumplings are quite impressive. Even big restaurants can’t compare,” he praised.

The dumplings were filled with a mixture of three fresh ingredients, including chives, meat, and minced clams. If they weren’t fresh, it would be strange.

Chapter 142: 143. Wishes

The dumplings were filled with a mixture of three fresh ingredients, including chives, meat, and minced clams. They were so fresh and delicious.

The family sat around the dining table, enjoying the steaming hot dumplings and sipping on the mellow grape wine. The atmosphere was so delightful that even the heavenly immortals would envy it.

“Aunt, the dumplings are so delicious,” Zuo He said, but before he could finish his sentence, he felt something hard in his mouth. It was a one-cent coin.

“Grandpa, look, I found a coin in my dumpling. I’m going to be rich next year,” Zuo He exclaimed. His words stimulated the other children. The three of them quickly started eating their own dumplings. Mingyuan was the first to find a coin, Wang Xuan found two pieces of sugar, and Mingcheng found a jujube. However, they were still unsatisfied as they hadn’t found the coin their mother had mentioned.

Their stomachs were full, but they were still unwilling to stop eating until they found the coin. Wang Zhenhe began to feel sorry for them. “Mingcheng, Xuan’er, I’ll give you two more dumplings each. But after you finish these, you can’t eat anymore, or your stomachs will hurt tonight.”

The others gradually found coins in their dumplings. Zhang Lan tapped her husband and gestured with her eyes to pick out the two dumplings with small marks on them.

When Wang Zhenhe brought the two dumplings to the children’s bowls as indicated by his wife, Mingcheng and his sister finally found the coins they had been hoping for. They put down their chopsticks and exclaimed, “Mom, I’m so full. I won’t eat so much in the future. But your dumplings are so delicious. I wish we could eat like this every day.”

Old Wu couldn’t help but laugh heartily at his words. “Boy, if you eat dumplings every day, you’ll get tired of them. It’s better to enjoy them as part of a meal. Don’t lie on the kang. Later, I’ll take you to set off firecrackers. Your father bought a big plate of them this year.”

When it came to setting off firecrackers, Mingcheng and the other boys became interested. “Grandpa, let’s go out for a walk first, and we’ll set them off when we come back.”

The boys had developed a habit. They didn’t need to be reminded by the elderly to go out; they would ask to go out on their own.

Zhang Lan quickly went to prepare hot water for everyone to bathe. Tomorrow was New Year’s Day, and it was necessary for the whole family to take a hot bath to wash away the bad luck of the past year and prepare to welcome the new year.

Hao Lianchun went to help the elderly men prepare their change of clothes, while Wang Qian slowly savored the grape wine produced in the space with a small wine glass. It was delicious and sweet. As she listened to the sporadic sound of firecrackers outside, she felt that the new year was about to arrive.

“Sis, do you have any wishes for the New Year?”

Wang Qian lay lazily on the kang, feeling a bit drowsy. The grape wine she had in the evening had left her a bit tipsy.

“Wishes?” Wang Xuan’s eyes looked a bit hazy as she mentioned it. “I wish that we can clear all our debts next year and that Grandma’s family won’t cause any more trouble. That’s all I ask for.”

Wang Xuan’s wish was simple. As long as the family had enough to eat and wear, and stayed away from troublesome people, life would be good.

What everyone didn’t know was that Zhang Lan had already cleared all their debts before the New Year. As long as they occasionally sold some items, they would have no problem making a living. As for those people, Wang Qian wasn’t sure if they could stay away from them. They would have to take things as they came.

“Wanwan, come and try on the new clothes.”

Zhang Lan had finished heating the water in the small house and hurried over to help the children pick out the new clothes they would wear the next day. Her younger daughter’s clothes were still bought by her. According to Wang Qian’s intention, she could just wear her sister’s old clothes. However, Zhang Lan didn’t want to disappoint her daughter, so she secretly made a new set for her.

“Mom, you should save the money to buy clothes for Big Sis. I can just wear her old clothes. If they’re too small next year, no one will pick them up.”

Zhang Lan, seeing the pained look on her daughter’s face. She couldn’t help but tap her on the head. “Silly girl, which child doesn’t wear new clothes for the New Year? Why would you wear old ones? Our Qianqian has new clothes, and she looks so beautiful. No other girl can compare to her. Come and try them on for Mom.”

In this era, all the new clothes were made of floral fabric. Wang Qian’s new outfit was very bright and colorful. She wore a red floral jacket on top and green checkered pants at the bottom. The combination of red and green was very characteristic of the era.

Perhaps due to not having worn new clothes for a long time, Wang Qian felt awkward in her new outfit. She couldn’t help but feel that the patched clothes were more comfortable.

“Ah, my daughter looks so beautiful in this outfit.” Zhang Lan said.

“She looks just like our Zhang Lan,” Hao Lianchun said with a smile, teasingly.

“Mom, you’re flattering yourself a bit. Sister is naturally beautiful. She has all the good qualities of both you and Dad. But why doesn’t my skin look as fair as yours?” Wang Xuan complained, recalling her slightly darker complexion.

“Daughter, you can blame your dad for that. It’s his fault for being dark. There’s nothing I can do about it,” Zhang Lan said.

When Wang Zhenhe returned from burning paper money, he overheard the conversation. “Blame me for what, daughter?”

“Dad, why do I look so dark like you? Look at how fair my sister is. She looks just like Mom. I envy her so much,” Wang Xuan pouted.

Wang Zhenhe sat on the kang and lifted his eldest daughter. “Sweetheart, you’re not dark. Just think, your sister hardly goes out all day, so she doesn’t get any sun. But you’re always running around outside. It’s only natural that you’d get a bit tanned. Don’t worry. When you grow up, I’ll buy you some powder to make sure you’re even fairer than white flour.” Wang Zhenhe joked with his daughter, and Wang Xuan didn’t take it seriously.

Zhang Lan brought out the new clothes they would wear the next day. Wang Xuan saw her little sweater and put it on, then ran to Zhang Lan. “Mom, do I look good? Grandma’s knitted sweater fits perfectly and it’s warm.”

Wearing her new sweater for the first time, the little girl, who was already starting to care about her appearance, was showing off on the kang.

Some households outside had already begun to set off firecrackers in excitement. Old Zuo and the three boys returned. Mingyuan couldn’t wait and asked, “Dad, when are we going to set off firecrackers at our house?”

Wang Zhenhe, with a mischievous smile, lifted his youngest son. “Mingyuan, let’s not rush. We’ll wait until everyone else has finished, and then we’ll set them off. If anyone falls asleep, our firecrackers will surely wake them up.”

According to local tradition, firecrackers were usually set off at midnight, a custom known as “fazhi.” However, some households couldn’t wait and set them off earlier.

“Zhenhe, stop teasing. Mingyuan, don’t listen to your dad’s nonsense. Come with Grandpa to take a bath, and I’ll tell you the origin of setting off firecrackers. Then you’ll understand what it’s all about,” Zuo Zhanshan said as he took the clothes and led Mingyuan and the others outside. Wang Zhenhe quickly called out from behind, “Hey, wait for me! I haven’t bathed yet. Let’s go together, everyone.”

Zhang Lan pushed him from behind. “Hurry up and go. I’ve put the clothes in the room.”

Wang Zhenhe chuckled and said, “My wife is the best.”

After the men finished bathing, Mingyuan and Zuo He were wrapped in padded jackets and carried in by the elderly men. They emerged from the bath looking smooth and shiny, especially the three boys. Even Zhang Lan couldn’t help but feel fond of them. They looked even more beautiful, especially Zuo He, who looked particularly endearing. Zhang Lan and Hao Lianchun couldn’t help but give each of them a kiss.

“Good, you smell so nice after the bath. Come to Grandma,” the elderly lady said affectionately as she held her grandson in her arms.

After his bath, Zuo He’s fair face was flushed, making him look even more adorable and beautiful. Even Wang Qian couldn’t help but pinch the little guy’s tender cheeks, which felt really good.

“Zuo He, did you enjoy your bath?” Wang Qian asked.

Zuo He blushed even more when she pinched his cheek and nodded. “Yes, it was nice. Qianqian, you should go and take a bath. When you come back, we can play together. Grandpa bought a deck of cards today, and we can play cards later.”