Early the next morning, Zhou Jiao paid special attention to her three sons. Seeing them full of energy after a night’s rest, her worries subsided.
Which brat doesn’t have a day with a little tantrum?
When Zhao Yuanyuan and Zhang Yuntao came over with their children, the pig at Zhang Qingfeng’s house was being stabbed, screaming terribly.
Coupled with Zhao Yuanyuan yelling like a broken record, "Jiao Jiao, I’m here, Jiao Jiao, I’m here...", the scene was particularly amusing.
Reuniting with old friends, Zhou Jiao couldn’t help but rush over to greet them.
"Well, it’s just you two who are close, huh, have you forgotten about me?"
A plaintive voice sounded, and Zhou Jiao, tightly hugged by Zhao Yuanyuan, followed the voice and saw several familiar figures—Hu Xiaohui and Li Qinglin had also arrived.
Zhou Jiao’s heart bloomed with joy as she looked at her and smiled, "When did you come back? Last weekend I heard at the office that you were on a business trip."
"Oh her, just a few days before you." Zhao Yuanyuan tugged Zhou Jiao with one hand and waved to Hu Xiaohui with the other, lowering her voice, "Linzi’s grandfather just passed away."
Zhou Jiao understood that Hu Xiaohui came back for the funeral, no wonder she didn’t mention returning home. First, it’s Linzi’s maternal family, and second, it’s about mourning, not mentioning it is normal.
From the moment Zhang Yuntao and Li Qinglin appeared, old friends of Zhang Guoqing’s in his hometown began arriving in droves.
These people were unlike official engagements, they gathered to drink and reminisce about the past, teasing each other, which amused everyone and added to the festive mood.
On New Year’s Eve, those who came to invite for a get-together in the first month also stopped by, and Zhou Jiao who was busy steaming bean buns and mantou in the kitchen also took a break.
According to the rules of Old Zhang’s family, the New Year’s Eve reunion dinner was a gathering of the three households in the old yard.
It was quite amusing that Zhou Jiao was able to rest early. Though she didn’t have a daughter-in-law, she enjoyed this blessing. The New Year’s Eve dinner of Old Zhang’s family was prepared by the grandchildren’s wives.
With the contribution of a wild boar and a roe deer by Ping An Brothers to the village, the newly appointed clan leader, Old Captain, made a decision — a clan banquet on the first night of the new year!
So for the next two days, a simple meal would suffice at her house.
On New Year’s Eve, there’s no avoiding the topic of ancestor worship.
In Mr. Zhang’s mind, the most important event of the year was the day to bring "the ancestors home for the New Year" and give the ancestors "pocket money."
In previous years, these old customs were suppressed, and Mr. Zhang could only conduct them in secret. Now, openly, from early morning he frequently checked with his wife if the offerings were complete.
Mother Zhang didn’t find it bothersome, and whenever her husband asked, she would joyfully count the items on her fingers, listing them for him. In the end, she almost recited them casually.
Mr. Zhang didn’t mention whether his adopted grandsons, Liu Yi and May 1st, should go up the mountain with him, but during this time, when Zhou Jiao gifted the elderly couple new clothes, how could she not see his thoughts?
The old man was overthinking it, Zhou Jiao wouldn’t oppose her younger sons going to pay respects to the Zhang ancestors. Although their surname is Zhou, they are also descendants of the Zhang family, her husband’s sons.
At this time of saying goodbye to the old and welcoming the new, showing respect to Zhang’s ancestors and asking for the ancestors’ blessings to protect the descendants, bringing prosperity to future generations.
Isn’t this a wonderful wish?
If the Zhang ancestors had spirits, Zhou Jiao would love for her sons to pay more respects, to bless them with lifelong safety.
Therefore, after hearing Mother Zhang finish reporting the offerings to Father Zhang, Zhou Jiao quietly went back to her own yard and added more offerings and joss paper.

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