Chapter 210. Joy and Sorrow

They spent several days in the earthquake shelters. Eventually, the two elderly men had enough. Since the earthquake hadn’t caused major issues, the aftershocks couldn’t be worse than the initial one. Under their guidance, the Wang family gradually moved back into their homes. As they lay on the warm kang, there were still people in the village spending time in the earthquake shelters.

Soon, New Year’s Eve arrived. Before the New Year, Wang Zhenhe heard that his father-in-law’s back was troubling him and personally went to check on him. By this time, Zhang Wanyou’s back had improved, so Wang Zhenhe brought the elderly couple to his home to celebrate the New Year together. When he went, his eldest brother’s family didn’t even show their faces. Feeling sorry for the elderly couple, he took them on a long detour and brought them back by car.

With the addition of Zhang Wanyou and his wife, the Wang family suddenly became lively. Zuo Xiangcheng and his wife also came over. To Wang Qian, this large family gathering seemed even more joyous than modern times. Despite different surnames, everyone’s hearts were united.

Zuo Zhanshan sat with Zhang Wanyou in the house, drinking hot water and chatting with the elderly men, while watching the excited children running in and out. The contentment in his heart was irreplaceable.

“Brother, I truly envy you. Look at how devoted your youngest son and his wife are. They even let you take care of your grandson. Sigh, I’ve failed in raising my children. I can only hope that my youngest son will make something of himself.”

Seeing how well the Zuo family son and daughter-in-law treated their parents reminded him of his own situation. He realized that he hadn’t done anything to wrong them. He had built a new house for them when they got married, furnished it with the latest items, and even during the initial years of their marriage when they didn’t have children, his in-laws never said a word. But why couldn’t he earn their genuine affection?

Zuo Zhanshan, through his grandson, also learned about the situation in Zhang Wanyou’s home. He patted Zhang Wanyou’s shoulder and said, “Brother, don’t worry. Isn’t there a younger one? He’s doing well in the military. Besides, someone who has served in the military can’t be compared to your eldest son.”

Meanwhile, Zhang Lan and the others were busy in the kitchen. This was the last New Year that Zuo He and the others would be spending here. Zhang Lan had prepared a rich variety of dishes, hoping that after the children left, they would remember the home they had stayed in.

Watching Zhang Lan so occupied, Peng Ziyun felt somewhat guilty and said, “Sister, I feel ashamed. We’ve had you take care of the children for so long. We just decided to take them away without considering your feelings. I’m sorry for the trouble we’ve caused you.”

Zhang Lan reached out and held Peng Ziyun’s hand. “Sister, don’t say that. Although I love the three children and will miss them, you are their parents after all. What mother wouldn’t miss her children? There was no other way for you.” The two women continued to cook while sharing some amusing stories about the children.

At lunchtime, a spread was laid out – fish, meat, and seafood. It wasn’t much different from what would be seen in later years. The table was full of dishes, and even the elderly man was salivating at the delicious spread. The dishes were a feast for the eyes, nose, and taste buds.

“Everyone, start eating. This year, we have our own pork. Just enjoy the meal,” said someone at the table.

Two tables were combined today, and the large family squeezed onto the kang. It was a bit cramped, but the lively atmosphere made up for it. The adults and children were chatting and laughing. At this point, they didn’t care about the food; what mattered most was the mood. The Wang family was in high spirits.

In stark contrast, at the old courtyard, Wang Zhenhai’s family didn’t join them today. They had their own meal at home. Whether it was good or not, eating in peace was what mattered to them. Meanwhile, Wang Deshan’s family hadn’t eaten yet. Han Cui, alone in the kitchen, felt uneasy. With a heavily pregnant belly, she was seated on the kang, while the entire family waited for her to cook. She usually relied on others for everything, but today, doing the work herself, she felt quite frustrated.

“Daughter, when will the food be ready? We’re all waiting. You’re turning lunch into dinner,” shouted Zhu Qiyu from the kang. Han Cui, feeling irritated, replied from the kitchen, “Mom, it’s not easy doing this alone. If you’re hungry, come and give me a hand. It would speed things up. I can’t manage it all by myself.”

Everyone on the kang stayed put. No one wanted to cook. It was too cold to wash vegetables with cold water in the middle of winter.

Seeing no one come to help, Han Cui grew anxious. Her eyes teared up, and a splatter of hot oil burned her hand. “Oh my, my hand!” she exclaimed.

Han Cui dropped the spatula and went inside. “Mom, I’ve injured my hand. Quickly get some ointment for me,” she requested.

Seeing his wife injured, Wang Zhenjiang promptly got off the kang and lamented, “Why do you have to be so stubborn? You shouldn’t have insisted on cooking. Look at what has happened now. It’s the New Year, and you’ve gotten hurt. I don’t know how long it will take to heal. If others see this, they might think we mistreat you.”

After bandaging his wife’s hand, Wang Zhenjiang spoke up, “Mom, my wife can’t cook anymore. You and younger sister should go and cook. We can’t have an injured person cooking for everyone. It wouldn’t look good if this got out.”

Realizing they couldn’t rely on Han Cui today, Zhu Qiyu’s expression soured. Reluctant to cause a scene on New Year’s Day, she grabbed Wang Zhi and went downstairs to cook. The Wang family didn’t have their meal until the afternoon.

After the meal, Han Cui excused herself, claiming she wasn’t feeling well, and left with the two children, not even helping to clear the table.

Zhu Qiyu, exasperated, said to her daughter, “Zhi’er, go and ask your sister-in-law to come over later. How could they not come for lunch on New Year’s Day? I won’t argue with them on New Year’s Day. Tell your brother and them to come over for dumplings in the evening. With so many people, when will we finish all the work?”

Wang Zhi also didn’t want to work. Chopping vegetables and rolling dough was exhausting. Following her mother’s instructions, she put on her coat and hurried out.

Wang Zhenguo helped Ma Fenqing to their room to rest. The couple sat on the kang, tallying their earnings for the year.

At year-end, Wang Zhenguo’s bonus was less than Ma Fenqing’s, as he was a temporary worker while she was a formal state employee, enjoying the privileges of a secure government job.

The couple laid out the money and bonuses they had saved throughout the year on the kang. Ma Fenqing took out twenty yuan and handed it to her husband. “Zhenguo, keep this for your New Year expenses. You can use it for food or entertainment, but don’t spend it carelessly. We still have children to support.”

Twenty yuan was a significant amount, and even Zhu Qiyu had never given him that much, no matter how much she cared for him.

Wang Zhenguo’s face lit up, and he said, “Wife, you’re the best. You should keep the two silver ingots I gave you safe. They are for our son’s future marriage. With those, our future will only get better.”

In truth, Wang Zhenguo had more than just that amount, but he had hidden the rest. Some things, even between husband and wife, couldn’t be completely shared. Some things were earned through his own efforts and were meant to be kept as his private savings.

Seeing her younger sister-in-law approaching and hearing her reprimand Han Cui, Wang Juan couldn’t help but find it amusing. They only remembered them when there was work to be done. She wasn’t someone they could manipulate as they pleased.

“Wang Zhi, go back and tell our mother that we’ve prepared the dumpling filling and dough. If we go over after eating, the dough will dry out. Tell her we’ll come over for a visit after dinner,” Wang Juan instructed.

This time, Wang Juan didn’t want to serve their entire family. Why should she? They all had hands and feet but never helped. They only knew how to eat and were always picky. She had her own temper. Why should she endure such hardship?

Seeing Wang Juan unmoved, Wang Zhi’s face, previously glowing with excitement, now took on a pitiful look. “Sister-in-law, if you don’t come over, I’ll be scolded by our mother. Besides, it’s the New Year, and we should have a family reunion meal. Look at how every family celebrates. We can’t stand out. Mom and Dad want you to come. It’s a time for the family to sit together and have a reunion meal. This way, others won’t laugh at our lack of unity.”

This was the first time Wang Juan had heard Wang Zhi speak so reasonably. She understood that Wang Zhi was simply asking for their help. However, making dumplings wasn’t too much work. After a moment of consideration, she realized that not going would look bad in front of the villagers. She didn’t want people to gossip about such a trivial matter.

After thinking it through, she said, “Alright, younger sister-in-law, just for your sensible words, I’ll go. But remember, everyone has to pitch in when working. This meal isn’t just for our family. Everyone must help. We were all raised by our parents. Every child is precious to their parents. You go back first, and we’ll come over later.”

In the afternoon, Wang Juan visited Zhang Lan’s home and sat for a while. She didn’t want to go too early, fearing there might be more work. She also took the opportunity to chat with her sister-in-law about the events at the old courtyard at lunchtime.

Geng Lianhua warmly welcomed her to sit on the kang.

“Aunt, don’t trouble yourself. I’m going to the old courtyard later to help make dumplings. How’s your health? We’ve been enjoying the seafood you’ve sent over, but we haven’t had time to come and visit you,” Wang Juan said.

Geng Lianhua smiled and replied, “Dear girl, we’re all doing well. Eating a little seafood is nothing. As long as you and your sister-in-law are doing well, that’s all that matters. If you want to eat something, just let Zhang Lan know, and I’ll make it for you. We live by the seaside. These things are nothing to worry about.”

The women chatted and laughed in the house, and Wang Juan left when it was nearly time.

As Geng Lianhua returned, she said to her daughter, “Lan’er, your sister-in-law is quite extraordinary. You should learn from her in the future and not act foolishly. Look at Wang Juan – she clearly timed her visit, obviously not wanting your grandmother to ask her to work.”

After enjoying a meal of seafood dumplings on New Year’s Eve, everyone engaged in activities or went to sleep. The year 1974 arrived amidst a heavy snowfall.

Zuo He and the others lay on the windowsill, gazing outside. The swirling snow turned the world into a blanket of white. “Wow, it’s snowing so heavily. Mom, come and see,” they exclaimed.

Zuo He woke up Peng Ziyun, who was still sleeping. The kids had fallen asleep early last night, but Peng Ziyun and a few others had stayed up until midnight.

With sleepy eyes, Peng Ziyun, upon seeing her son’s adorable face, couldn’t resist giving Zuo He a big kiss. “Good boy, why are you up so early? The sun hasn’t even risen yet.”

Nestled in his mother’s arms, Zuo He, with a contented expression, said, “Oh, it hasn’t risen yet? Then let’s sleep a bit more.” He reached out and pretended to pat Peng Ziyun to sleep.

Zuo Xiangcheng roused his drowsy son. “You’re up, why sleep more? Hurry, get dressed and go for a walk with your grandfather. The weather is nice, and there won’t be many people on the main road. You kids can run around freely.”

Zuo Xiangcheng wished he could cuddle his wife and sleep a little longer, but with the kids around, he couldn’t rest peacefully. But Zuo Yu and the others weren’t having it. The three kids squeezed in between the couple, and for a moment, the kang turned into a bundle of laughter.

“Good boys, let’s all get up. It’s rare to have snow on the first day of the lunar year. Let your father take you out for a snowball fight. Oh, Comrade Zuo Xiangcheng, you hardly see the kids all year. This is your chance to fulfill your fatherly duties. Kids, let’s lift your father up,” Peng Ziyun ordered, and the three kids pounced on Zuo Xiangcheng.

Realizing the situation was turning against him, Zuo Xiangcheng hastily jumped up. “Kids, get dressed. I’ll take you out for a walk.”

Zuo He and the others put on the new clothes prepared by Zhang Lan and Hao Lianchun, looking energetic as they stepped out of the house.

Hao Lianchun and Zhang Lan had risen early to prepare breakfast and hot water for the family. Seeing their grandchildren dressed in new clothes, the smile on the old lady’s face never faded.

“Grandma, happy New Year. Aunt, happy New Year,” they greeted.

Zhang Lan quickly helped everyone wash their faces. The elderly men also went out for a stroll and returned, their hair and clothes covered in snowflakes.

After breakfast, they followed the tradition of bowing to the elderly and wishing them a happy New Year. The lucky money given was two yuan each. Zuo Xiangcheng and his wife also gave Wang Qian and her family one yuan each.

After eating, Mingyuan became impatient and emptied his school bag. Zuo He did the same, and both of them stood ready with their bags, looking as if they were heading to school.

Peng Ziyun, unaware of the situation, asked Zhang Lan quietly what was happening with the boys’ serious demeanor. Upon hearing the story, Zhang Lan found it amusing and recounted the previous year when they had carried their school bags to visit relatives, leaving Peng Ziyun in stitches.

“Sister, who did our two sons take after? They are so thoughtful. I can see these boys growing up to be responsible and family-oriented individuals,” Peng Ziyun remarked.

Once Wang Qian and her family were ready, the siblings and their children set off together. This year’s group was a bit larger, as Zuo Hao and Zuo Yu joined. They hadn’t experienced this way of visiting before, so they greeted everyone without considering age, just calling them by their relationship, following the lead of their younger brothers.

After visiting around, the cousins gathered at Wang Zhenhe’s house. Wang Qian also went to Zhang Lan to discuss their income for the year, ensuring they were fair and didn’t end up being taken advantage of.

Zhang Lan affectionately patted her daughter and, upon the return of Zuo He and Mingyuan, was presented with a bag full of things.

“Grandma, these are for you and grandpa to eat. When we’re gone, you can eat these and think of us,” Zuo He said. This heartfelt sentiment almost brought tears to the old lady’s eyes. Holding the considerate grandson, Hao Lianchun quietly wiped away a tear.

“Hehe, in the future, write letters to your grandparents when you have time, so we know how you’re doing up north. When you return home, don’t quarrel with your brother. You are all brothers and should take care of each other,” Zhang Lan advised.

Peng Ziyun felt uneasy hearing this, knowing that her mother-in-law cherished her grandsons. Taking the children away was a blow to the elderly couple.

“Mom, when Xiangcheng and I take our vacation, we’ll definitely come to see you,” Peng Ziyun assured her.

As the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were having a heart-to-heart conversation in the next room, Wang Zhenhe hurriedly returned. He had gone out with his elder brother to visit relatives. Particularly with the older relatives, he had taken along two bottles of wine. However, after presenting the wine, he had received a heap of items in return. Looking at the things in his hands, he felt quite satisfied with the day’s harvest.

“Qianqian, come and see what Dad has brought for you,” he called out.