Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space novel Chapter 516

Chapter 516: Chapter 400: New Year’s Festival

New Year’s Eve is a day of family reunion for thousands of families, and this year’s New Year’s Eve became a reunion festival for the entire village.

The Old Captain, who managed things, had planned on the day they slaughtered the New Year’s pig to have a good celebration this year, to sweep away bad luck and hope for a good harvest in the coming year. He specifically kept a pig for New Year’s Eve.

In the communal kitchen of Zhang Family Village, many daughters-in-law, big and small, started getting busy in the kitchen. Each of them showed off their skills, deciding to put together the must-have four main dishes of pork knuckles, carp, ribs, and chicken. If there weren’t enough pork knuckles, pig trotters would do; if there weren’t many mother hens, they were chopped into small pieces with more mushrooms added; if there were not many ribs, more radishes were added.

The smell wafted out in waves, surrounding the village children who, with noses in the air, were unwilling to leave, eagerly waiting for nightfall.

The Old Captain, holding a long pipe, took a turn inside and outside the village. Smelling the fragrance in the air, he nodded in satisfaction. But he pondered over delaying the dumplings a bit in the evening so everyone could first fill up a little, otherwise, there really wouldn’t be enough for everyone to eat in one meal. As for the remaining few bean buns and steamed buns, they could be given to the children; the adults would make do with cornbread.

Looking at the group of drooling children in front of him, he looked up at those behind him and slowly left the canteen, as the matter of ancestral sacrifices still needed to be discussed with the old clan leader and others.

As the old year ends and the new one begins, those in Zhang Family Village couldn’t grasp the Old Captain’s worries. Every household joyfully pasted New Year’s paintings, couplets on doorways, hung ornamental money, and window paper, reveling in however they could celebrate.

Zhou Jiao was particularly delighted. At this moment, she merrily stuck a red paper with "Bountiful Harvest" on the grain storage, looked inside at the emptiness, and creatively placed a basket of multicolored grains inside. On the bicycle, she pasted "Safety in and out," and on the chicken pen, she wrote "Eggs aplenty"—whatever came to mind, she pasted it.

Standing in the yard, Zhou Jiao looked at the red "Fu" characters on the walls and door, the red window paper, and her son, playing in the snow dressed all in red. There was a rich feeling of the New Year, brimming with festivity.

Zhang Guoqing came out from the kitchen and, seeing the joyous Zhou Jiao, smiled knowingly.

"Son, stop playing for now. We’re going to gather things and head to the old house."

Ping’an saw him and happily pounced on him.

Zhang Guoqing joyfully spun around a few times holding his son, embraced his wife, and headed to the living room. He asked, "Tonight, we’re going to have New Year’s dinner in the village. Should we bring anything along?"

"Let’s ask Dad and Mom later, see what the two elder brothers’ families are doing. We’ll add some to what they’re bringing, just don’t stand out too much. Are we really not keeping vigil with Dad and Mom tonight?"

"Not being home for the New Year vigil feels off. Let’s see if Dad and Mom will come over later, if not, then forget it. The Old Captain in the village also wants everyone to finish their New Year’s Eve dinner early, so each household can take a bowl of dumplings back for the vigil."

Zhou Jiao picked up a set of new clothes and four different kinds of gifts prepared for Mr. Zhang and Mother Zhang, and said with a smile, "We won’t be at the old house tonight, so I guess they might come over to our place. Let’s go check first."

"Did you get the lucky money packets ready for Dad and Mom?"

"Yes, one person got 9.9 yuan. It symbolizes longevity, right?"

Seeing her blink with uncertainty, Zhang Guoqing rubbed her head, "Perfect, just right."

Zhou Jiao said proudly, "Besides this, I also prepared a new 10-yuan bill for Mom, ranging from one fen to one jiao, so she can give out lucky money during the first month of the lunar year."

Zhang Guoqing wiped the child’s face, applied some Harry Oil, and, picking him up, said with a smile, "Haha, that’s good. When Mom sees someone she likes, she can give them one jiao, and if she doesn’t, she can give them one fen."

The couple leisurely headed to the old house with the child.

Before they even reached the main room, they heard Zhang the Second’s hearty laugh.

"Well, speak of the devil, and the devil appears. Xiao Wu, you two came just in time. I gave Dad and Mom lucky money, but they wouldn’t take it."

"Mom, you and Dad take it. It’s for good luck and longevity, to ensure both of you live to a ripe old age," said Zhou Jiao as she placed the items down, and took the child from her.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify