Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space novel Chapter 518

Chapter 518: Chapter 402: Joyful New Year’s Reunion

dumplings on the first day, noodles on the second.

Having finished the dumplings, noodles on the second day were brought out in small bowls from the hands of National Day’s big aunt.

The fine noodles made National Day glance around at everyone.

The quiet big uncle, the gentle and cheerful little uncle, the two aunts with smiling faces, and a room full of kind cousins—this was his maternal family, his kin.

They welcomed Old Zhang’s family with the best food, warming the chilly room with sincere, simple words.

Zhang Family members, especially Mr. Zhang, had a deep understanding of his in-laws’ character.

He smiled as he urged the children to eat quickly. Having made this journey every year, he learned to accept it calmly, unlike the younger generation who felt uneasy. Eating his bowl of noodles, he remembered his father-in-law.

It wasn’t just Mr. Zhang who was lost in memories; Zhou Jiao felt it most profoundly.

In contrast to this family, Qingshan’s house seemed insignificant. In the end, personal demeanor, education, status, and learning were inconsequential; the simplest and most sincere were still the land-bound common folk.

Having decided the date for their return visit, the Zhang Family members left gifts behind, hurriedly heading home as if escaping. Midway, when they could no longer see the two uncles, the family looked at each other and couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Sending gifts as embarrassingly as the Zhang Family was truly rare.

On the first day, pay respects to ancestors; the second day to aunts; the third day ’sweep away poverty’; the fourth day married daughters return home.

Every fourth day of the new year, Old Zhang’s family’s three branches gather. It is also the day Zhang Family daughters return to their maternal home. This rule had become an Old Zhang family tradition, subtly influenced since Grandpa Zhang’s time.

The daughters-in-law of Old Zhang’s family, even if they wanted to return home, could only do so by the sixth day. According to Mother Zhang, the old man once said, no matter the matter, everyone must put it aside and attend the family gathering on the fourth day.

Hence, on the fourth day, everyone flocked to Uncle Zhang’s house like a gust of wind. Luckily, the yard of Zhang Qingshan’s house was large, and by noon, the main room and west wing were full of people.

No matter how difficult times were in the past, this day was Old Zhang family’s gathering. United efforts of three branches ensured several tables of food and drink, especially when Grandpa Zhang was alive—though there might have been a lack of staple food, the flying dragon soup, roasted venison, and stewed wild boar were abundant. But now Uncle Zhang could only smile bitterly.

He was a deputy leader, setting an example by breaking the pots. If Old Zhang family members all visited the canteen, the remaining grains of the team would probably be cleared in one meal.

It wasn’t for no reason outsiders praised Old Zhang family sons; Zhang Qingshan, the eldest, began leading his younger brothers to divide and take action separately. Soon, several families gathered enough wild game, dried vegetables, and started cooking.

An inventive family gathering was perfectly improved by the youthful generation of Old Zhang’s family. In the courtyard, two large stoves gurgled, tempting everyone with their aroma.

Early in the morning, Zhang Meili and her four cousins brought bags of candy, accompanied by their husbands and children, returning to their maternal home.

Today, the four brothers-in-law brought sorghum liquor, delighting the Zhang Family men with laughter. The candy gifts brought by Zhang Meili and her sisters were divided by Mother Zhang and her three in-laws among the elders in the clan, neighbors, and villagers. Children happily received New Year money and began to play with firecrackers all around.

Until midday, Old Zhang’s family finally welcomed the grand-aunt Zhang Dan Ni and Liu Dazhuang, who arrived with their two grandsons.

The main room was set with four tables; as the stews were brought to the table, firecrackers sounded from outside. Without needing a call, as soon as the men sat, women and children began finding seats, waiting for Uncle Zhang to speak.

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