My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]

"On the 23rd, sticky candy melons; on the 24th, sweep the house... On the 28th, knead the dough; on the 29th, steam the buns; on the 30th, stay up all night; on the first day of the new year, twist and turn. Dumplings are a must for New Year's Eve."

Early in the morning on New Year's Eve, the sound of firecrackers crackled non-stop. Children, dressed in new clothes, hopped and skipped through the alleys, singing nursery rhymes loudly, as joyful as little magpies.

Ever since the pig slaughtering on Little New Year, their courtyard had been bustling with activity, and the festive atmosphere had lingered until today. The New Year was indeed a busy time. Every household, aside from thorough cleaning, had prepared an abundance of delicious food. This New Year was filled with non-stop feasting, with the aroma of fried pork fat lingering in the alleys, tempting the children, who circled around the stoves every day.

In just a few days, the children's cheeks had rounded out. After all, how could one not let the kids taste the delicious food being prepared? The New Year was undoubtedly the time of the year with the most indulgence. Even the most struggling families would have at least one meal of dumplings.

A group of children gathered in the alley to set off firecrackers, attracting kids from neighboring alleys. On a day like this, every child had firecrackers in hand, and they played together, the sounds rising and falling in waves.

When Xing'er and Erlin arrived, the fun had already begun. The two little ones ran over on their short legs, shouting, "We're here!"

Erlin excitedly shook the firecrackers in his hand, saying, "Look, I have some too."

The older kids had their own way of playing, which was loud and boisterous, while the younger ones preferred smaller, less intimidating firecrackers. Xing'er was also proud, wearing the same expression as Erlin, shaking her firecrackers and saying, "I have some too, I have some too."

The girls still preferred the small firecrackers that didn't require lighting. The loud ones were exciting, but they were also a hassle.

Yuanyuan said, "Mine are the loudest, the loudest among all the small firecrackers."

"Come on, give it a try."

Yuanyuan happily threw her firecracker, eliciting a chorus of "Wow!" from the kids. Li Zhenzhen cheered, "I'll do it too, I'll do it too!"

She jumped up and down, saying, "My brother bought me so many this year."

Having two older brothers who were already working certainly made her the envy of the other kids. But soon, Yuanyuan lifted her chin and declared, "My parents will buy me and my brother lots and lots too."

"Me too."

"Me too, me too."

The children quickly shook off their envy and started hopping around again. After all, their parents would buy them firecrackers too. Bai Qingqing, however, turned to Xing'er and said, "Xing'er, your hat is so pretty."

She was a little girl who loved pretty things, and this caught her attention.

Xing'er immediately replied, "My mom knitted it herself. Do you like it?"

The girls' eyes sparkled as they nodded in unison, "It's beautiful!"

They all burst into laughter, and Xing'er said, "I watched my mom knit the hat. I learned how to do it, and I'll teach you all."

Her mom's knitted woolen hat looked perfect for winter.

She loved it too.

"I want to learn."

"Me too."

"Great, let's all learn together."

As they were playing and laughing, snowflakes began to fall from the sky. Large snowflakes landed on the children's hats. Yuanyuan looked up, and a snowflake landed on her face. She shouted, "It's snowing!"

The kids cheered and jumped up and down, shouting, "Let's have a snowball fight!"

"Okay, let's wait until there's more snow, then we'll have a snowball fight..."

Yuanyuan's clear voice drew everyone out of their houses. During the previous pig slaughtering feast, everyone had their own tasks, and they had gained some experience. Today, they were even more at ease. The sound of chopping on cutting boards, the loud chatter of the elderly women gossiping, and the men's bragging all stopped as everyone stepped outside to look at the snow. In no time, the ground was covered in a thin layer of white.

Zhao Guihua exclaimed, "Oh, it's snowing!"

Old Man Zhuang said, "A timely snow promises a good harvest. Our lives are getting better and better."

"Absolutely, it's a good omen."

Aunt Zhou smiled and said, "Do you remember? The day you moved in, I was sitting at the door sewing shoe soles. You were pushing a broken tricycle into the courtyard, and the snow was so thick that day."

Zhao Guihua replied, "How could I forget? You asked me why I was moving on such a snowy day."

The older they got, the clearer they remembered the past.

Aunt Zhou squinted and said, "My child had just learned to walk back then and accidentally knocked over your bowl. You made me pay for it."

Zhao Guihua put her hands on her hips and said, "We were so poor back then. We only had two bowls. If you didn't pay for it, how was I supposed to eat? Besides, have you ever heard of someone breaking a bowl on the day they moved in? I could have beaten you up, but I didn't."

Aunt Zhou retorted, "It wasn't on purpose. What does a one-year-old child know?"

"A one-year-old doesn't know anything, so I held you accountable. If the child doesn't know, shouldn't the adult? Even if it wasn't on purpose, you shouldn't break someone's bowl on their moving day. You didn't even want to pay me back at first. I was so annoyed with you."

"Me too. I thought you were being too petty."

Mutual dislike ×2

That's how it was back then—they simply didn't get along.

This was also why Zhao Guihua and Aunt Zhou had been at odds from the start. As they reminisced, both of them laughed. Zhao Guihua said, "We were so poor back then."

Aunt Zhou nodded, "Absolutely. We were really poor. We had to count every little thing, or we wouldn't have enough to eat."

"Life is so much better now. It keeps getting better every day."

"Who could argue with that?"

Aunt Wang, seeing the two of them reminiscing, said, "What are you two standing at the door chatting about? Come inside and help with the vegetables. My husband may be the chef, but we all need to pitch in. We can't let him do all the work."

"Oh, oh, oh!"

Everyone laughed meaningfully. Aunt Wang said, "You don't understand. We're old companions."

Wang Zizhen was quite familiar with the people in the courtyard and didn't hold back, saying, "Aunt Wang, you're from the Northeast, and Uncle is from Beijing. How did you two end up together? It's truly a case of fate bringing people together from afar."

The others pricked up their ears. Ming Mei and the others' eyes lit up, their ears perked up, their faces full of "I want to hear the gossip." Their generation mostly met through arranged marriages, but it was clear that the older generation had a different story.

Everyone was intensely curious.

It wasn't just the women who were interested; even the men were the same. Zhuang Zhixi grabbed a stool and sat down next to his wife, joining the women's gossip circle.

Zhou Qun quickly joined in too; he never missed out on gossip.

Bai Fendou looked around, feeling like he should act more like a man and not join the women. He decided to stay with Zhuang Zhiyuan and Yang Lixin. But... he was really curious too!

Although he didn't openly join the group, he still listened intently.

They had never talked about this before, and he really wanted to hear it!

Aunt Wang, noticing that the chatter had quieted down and everyone was looking at her, felt a little embarrassed.

"It's just how we met."

Ming Mei, ever the gossip, pressed, "How exactly did you meet?"

Everyone nodded eagerly, saying, "Yeah, how exactly? Tell us! Even though both of you are from the North, there's still some distance between the Northeast and Beijing."

Aunt Wang: "I was only twelve or thirteen when I came here. Back then, my hometown was in chaos because of the Little Guizi, and life was always on thin ice. Coincidentally, we had a relative in the capital who was said to be doing well, so our whole family came to seek refuge. But when we arrived, we found out that our relative had been killed. It turned out he had deliberately infiltrated the enemy ranks—he was part of the resistance against the Japanese. Because of this, his entire family was executed. The neighbors took pity on us and quickly warned us never to reveal our connection to that family. We were fortunate to meet kind-hearted people; otherwise, if we had carelessly announced our ties, we might have been arrested too. That kind-hearted person was my mother-in-law."

"Ah?"

Aunt Wang laughed and continued, "Later, with her help, our family rented a place in a large courtyard and settled down. Years passed in the blink of an eye. By then, her family was already working as cooks. Even during famine years, cooks never starved, so their family was doing alright. To be honest, at first, their family didn’t take a liking to me. He could have found someone better, given his circumstances. Our family had fled here as refugees, with no real roots. Families with some standing weren’t keen on marrying into ours. We knew our place and didn’t dare aim too high. But as they say, life is full of uncertainties. Later, an air raid hit, and both our families lost people. At that time, everyone was struggling, so we leaned on each other for support and encouragement. Eventually, we got married."

Situations like this were quite common in their era. The social environment was harsh, and life was incredibly difficult for ordinary people. Every day was a gamble, and they relied on each other to get through those tough times.

"It wasn’t easy for you and Uncle Li either."

Aunt Wang: "You’re absolutely right!"

She added, "The good life we have now didn’t come easily. We must cherish it."

"Absolutely, absolutely."

Zhao Guihua: "It’s the New Year; let’s talk about something festive. Who’s going to chop up this chicken?"

"Pfft! Is killing a chicken a festive thing?"

Zhao Guihua glared: "Why isn’t it festive? Killing a chicken is festive! Eating meat is festive! This is what wealthy people do."

"Right, right."

Everyone burst into laughter.

"This chicken meat is really something special."

"I love chicken meat the most."

Li the Cook: "You all handle this old hen, and today I’ll make you a proper old hen soup. Just wait and see—my cooking skills won’t disappoint."

Zhao Guihua: "Are you adding radish slices?"

"Yes!"

Adding a few radish slices to the soup—slurp~ the flavor is just incredible.

You wouldn’t trade it for being an emperor.

"Sir, I’ve prepared this dish." Li Weiwei went to cut the meat. Braised pork belly was also a must.

This was the pork belly from the pig they slaughtered a few days ago. The meat was perfectly marbled, looking absolutely top-notch. As a cook, Li Weiwei couldn’t help but marvel, "This meat is truly excellent. If we went out to buy meat, we might not find anything this good."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Although buying a whole pig meant some parts were average, each cut had its own way of being prepared, offering different options. He finished preparing the pork belly and then sliced a piece of lean meat, salted it, and coated it with flour, saying, "We’ll fry the crispy pork last."

Li the Cook and Yang Lixin were in separate rooms, each managing their own cooking stations. Everyone else was helping out, except for Old Man Zhuang, who couldn’t do much and was playing chess with Lan Sihai. This was their usual routine every New Year’s Eve.

Zhuang Zhiyuan, as usual, was watching the commotion.

He sighed deeply, "Dad, you’re really terrible at chess."

Old Man Zhuang shot him a look, "It’s the New Year. Even children know to say nice things. Don’t you know that?"

Zhuang Zhiyuan laughed and immediately clasped his hands in apology.

Old Man Zhuang: "A true gentleman watches chess in silence. Don’t cause trouble here. Go, go watch the kids set off firecrackers. Don’t disturb me."

With so many people around, some help was just unnecessary.

Zhuang Zhiyuan was shooed away and happily went to the gate to watch the children set off firecrackers. As he reached the entrance, he saw a row of young men squatting by the doorframe—Li Junjun, Hutou, and the Su brothers were all there. They were watching the kids set off firecrackers with great enthusiasm.

Su Jinlai: "These kids don’t know how to have fun. Just setting off firecrackers is boring. There should be some stakes involved!"

"Setting off firecrackers with stakes?" Zhuang Zhiyuan asked curiously. Su Jinlai, not realizing who had asked, replied smugly, "Yeah, like blowing up a dung pit!"

Zhuang Zhiyuan: "..."

His mouth twitched. This brat really had no sense of decency.

It was then that Jinlai realized who he was talking to. He turned around and saw Zhuang Zhiyuan, immediately feeling embarrassed. "Uncle Zhuang, I was just joking, haha, hahaha."

Zhuang Zhiyuan pointed at him from a distance, "You better watch yourself. Don’t teach the kids bad habits, or I’ll tell your parents."

Sometimes, the simplest threat works best—telling the parents!

Su Jinlai panicked instantly, "I-I-I… I wasn’t encouraging the kids to cause trouble! I was just joking, really, just joking. If the kids dared to blow up a dung pit, I’d definitely stop them, for sure."

Who would dare provoke Aunt Ming Mei?

He wasn’t crazy.

He even suspected he couldn’t beat Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan.

Upon hearing this, Tuan Tuan, Yuan Yuan, and the other kids immediately shouted, "We never planned to do that! Brother Jinlai always tries to egg us on. This isn’t the first time. He’s such a bad brother. We’re good kids."

"Yes, we’re good kids!"

"Good kids!"

They all chimed in.

Su Jinlai chuckled, "…Okay, my bad. You think I’m encouraging you to do bad things, but actually, I was just testing you, hehe, testing to see if you’re sensible kids. I wasn’t really trying to get you to do that."

The kids all made strange noises, "Eww~~~"

Brother Jinlai’s words weren’t trustworthy.

Su Yinlai sighed sincerely, "Brother, how did you end up like this? Even the kids don’t trust you."

Su Jinlai snorted, puffing out his chest, "They’re still young. They don’t understand the charm of a humorous man like me."

"Eww~~~"

This time, everyone joined in. It was no wonder the kids disliked Su Jinlai. He was utterly unreliable.

Su Jinlai: "Hehehe."

At this point, Zhuang Zhiyuan did notice one good thing about Su Jinlai. To be honest, the guy had plenty of flaws and almost no redeeming qualities. But today, he found one—this guy had a really good temper. No matter what anyone said, he could just grin foolishly.

But then again, maybe that was for the best. If he didn’t have at least one good trait, how would he ever find a wife? His two admirers—one had turned against him, and the other had fallen for Li Junjun. Zhuang Zhiyuan almost felt a pang of sympathy for Su Jinlai.

Wait, no, actually, he didn’t deserve any sympathy.

The guy brought it all on himself.

"By the way, I didn’t see Guan Hong and Zheng Huimin this morning." He remembered they usually spent the New Year together.

Everyone shook their heads. Indeed, they hadn’t been seen.

This was the time to ask the all-knowing children: "Yuan Yuan, did you see Guan Hong and the others? Aren’t they supposed to have lunch with us?"

Yuan Yuan nodded, "Yes, Sister Guan Hong and Sister Zheng Huimin went out early this morning to buy sugar-coated haws."

She added, "Sugar-coated haws taste best when they’re freshly made."

Speak of the devil.

Just as they were talking, Guan Hong rode back with Zheng Huimin on her bicycle. Zheng Huimin was carrying a large bag, "Kids, I’ve got all kinds of sugar-coated haws!"

She happily jumped off the bicycle, "Come and share."

"Wow!"

Everyone gathered around. Yuan Yuan asked, "What flavors do you have?"

"Hawthorn, and the yam ones you’ve been dreaming about."

The kids were buzzing with excitement. Although Zhao Guihua had made them once before, the kids were eager to try the yam sugar-coated haws sold outside. They had been disappointed when they couldn’t find any.

It was Zheng Huimin who had discovered an old master who made them, but he had been on a break. It was only after Zheng Huimin persuaded him that he agreed to make a batch for New Year’s Eve.

Zheng Huimin: "Come on, try it and see if it's good."

"Okay~"

The children happily went over to grab some.

Zheng Huimin: "Everyone gets one yam and one hawthorn stick. Help yourselves."

"Thank you, sister."

Guan Hong and Zheng Huimin both laughed. After handing out the candied haws to the kids, they distributed them to the others. Hutou didn’t hold back, saying, "Thanks."

Su Jinlai, shaking his leg: "So, all you did this morning was go buy candied haws?"

Guan Hong snapped: "If you don’t want to eat it, then don’t! Stop with the nonsense!"

Su Jinlai: "..."

This woman is so fierce. Turns out her previous gentle smiles were all an act. Women are really good at deceiving people.

He decided not to argue with her, but his body betrayed him as he reached out and grabbed two sticks of candied haws. Well, no harm in eating them.

He took a bite: "Mmm, delicious."

Zheng Huimin then moved closer to Li Junjun and said, "Brother Junjun, here you go."

Li Junjun: "I don’t really like sweet things."

"You’re lying. Who doesn’t like sweets? Just eat it, why are you putting on airs?" Su Jinlai scolded him. This guy was always putting on a show, pretending to be a gentleman. What a schemer.

Can’t you see? Zheng Huimin and Guan Hong have both shifted their affections.

Although, although he also wanted to get along with them, he couldn’t help feeling a bit down.

Hmm, Li Junjun is really cunning.

Su Jinlai: "What a scheming guy."

Li Junjun: "...???"

What’s wrong with Su Jinlai now? But then again, it would be strange if Su Jinlai wasn’t acting up. He didn’t bother with the guy and looked up at Zheng Huimin, who was smiling brightly. "Try it, maybe the ones I bought are especially delicious."

She wasn’t one to beat around the bush. If she liked someone, she’d show it directly.

Usually busy with work and making money, she didn’t have much time to get close to Li Junjun, but this rare break gave her the chance. Well, money was the most important thing, but after that, Li Junjun came next.

She said, "I’ll pick one with less sugar for you."

"Don’t listen to him. He loved sweets when he was a kid. Now he says he doesn’t like them? He’s just trying to get your attention," Su Jinlai piped up again.

Zheng Huimin couldn’t take it anymore and said, "Shut up! No one thinks you’re mute if you don’t talk. Be careful, or I’ll poison you!"

Su Jinlai: "!!!"

Li Weiwei, who had just come out to pour water: "..."

Indeed, women are scary, really scary. He couldn’t handle them. At his age, he should focus on his career. No matter what his grandparents said, he was determined not to go on blind dates. Absolutely not. A young man like him couldn’t handle women.

Li Weiwei quickly slipped back inside, thinking that work was the only thing he could rely on.

He entered the room looking a bit flustered. Zhao Guihua asked, "What’s wrong with you?"

Li Weiwei: "Women are not to be messed with."

Zhao Guihua: "???"

But soon, she laughed and said, "You should focus on what’s in front of you first."

Li Weiwei: "You’re right."

Zhuang Zhixi wasn’t like his older brother, who wandered around everywhere, nor was he like the other guys who sat at the entrance watching the commotion. Instead, he stayed inside helping with the vegetable prep. He smiled and said, "Weiwei, you really should think about the present..."

There was a hint of something deeper in his words. Li Weiwei scratched his head, confused: "What do you mean?"

When he looked up, he saw Li the Cook staring at him with a death glare. This made Li Weiwei gulp and say, "Grandpa, what’s wrong?"

Li the Cook let out a cold laugh. "What’s wrong? You think I’m too old to handle things? How dare you make decisions on your own!"

Li Weiwei: "What?"

Li the Cook was furious: "Tell me, did you quit your job?"

He couldn’t believe his grandson had quit. Although he hadn’t yet become a full-time employee, it was only a matter of a couple of years. But to his surprise, the kid had gone ahead and quit without a word. If Zhou Qun hadn’t accidentally let it slip, he wouldn’t have even known.

How infuriating!

He shouted, "You little brat, you’re getting bolder by the day. Tell me, why did you quit? Oh no, I’m going to beat you up, you..." Before Li the Cook could even move, Li Weiwei bolted out the door, fast as a rabbit.

He wailed, "Help! Don’t hit me! You can’t hit kids during the New Year!"

He howled as Li the Cook chased after him, wielding a spatula. "You little rascal! How dare you quit your job? What do you think you’re doing? Do you know how hard it was for me to get you that job? You just up and left without a word. Do you think I’m too old to handle you now, huh?"

Li Weiwei: "Ahhh!"

The kids, hearing the commotion, quickly ran inside, and everyone else stood up.

"Tell me, what do you think you’re doing!"

Li Weiwei: "I want to set up a stall! I don’t want to work a regular job!"

"You... you useless brat!"

He was about to charge at Li Weiwei again, but everyone quickly stopped Li the Cook. Zhao Guihua said, "What are you doing during the New Year? It’s bad luck to hit someone during the holidays."

"But... but..."

"Enough with the 'buts.' The kid’s been thinking about this for two years. You can’t stop him forever. It’s better to let him try sooner rather than later. You’re not listening, so he had to take matters into his own hands. But you should also reflect on your own responsibility in this." Zhao Guihua was the first to step in and mediate.

"What responsibility do I have?" Li the Cook huffed, his beard bristling.

"They’re adults, not kids anymore. You can’t expect them to live exactly as you do. Times have changed. If the kids have ideas, you shouldn’t stand in their way. The more you stop them, the more they’ll want to do it. I say, let him try. If he succeeds, it means the times are different, and our old ways don’t work anymore. We have to trust the younger generation’s judgment. If he fails, well, it just proves that young people are still inexperienced, and he’ll realize that the older generation’s advice holds more weight. He’ll listen more in the future."

Li the Cook: "Huh?"

Zhao Guihua: "Think about it. Doesn’t that make sense?"

Aunt Zhou chimed in: "Exactly, what era are we living in? You can’t just dictate everything. The kids have their own ideas, and you need to respect that. You can’t just do whatever you want. If you keep acting like a tyrant, I’ll have to call you out. You’re not more enlightened than an old lady like me? Besides, I don’t see anything wrong with Weiwei wanting to set up a stall. We all do it. I earn more in a month than you do in a year. You’ve never done it, so you don’t get to criticize. Stop acting like you know everything just because you’re old."

Aunt Wang: "Old man, stop getting so angry. Since he’s already quit, let him try his hand at setting up a stall."

Li the Cook: "What, you’re siding with him too..."

He grumbled, but Aunt Wang was practical: "I just think everyone’s making good points."

Zhou Qun, who had accidentally caused the trouble earlier, quickly tried to smooth things over: "I think it makes sense too. Setting up a stall is a good idea. After the New Year, I’m thinking of doing it on weekends too. Uncle Li, you need to keep up with the times."

"So you’re saying I’m outdated?"

"No, no, no."

Zhuang Zhixi stepped forward and put an arm around Li the Cook. "Alright, Uncle Li, I know deep down you agree. You’re just feeling a bit embarrassed, but it’s really nothing. Parents can’t always control their kids. If you love them, you’ll let them try their ideas. It’s worth a shot, don’t you think? Besides, let’s see how it goes. Maybe it’ll turn out great. Looking at Weiwei’s face, I can tell he’s a lucky kid. I predict he’ll do well. He won’t let you down."

Li the Cook couldn’t help but laugh. "Cut it out. You don’t know the first thing about fortune-telling."

Zhuang Zhixi: "I just learned it. It came to me in a flash of inspiration."

"Pfft!"

"You’re full of nonsense."

Zhuang Zhixi: "How could that be? Come on, let’s go inside and continue cooking. Weiwei, you come too. Your grandpa won’t hold it against you. Uncle Li, it’s not auspicious to hit or scold people during the New Year, is it?"

"Exactly."

Li the Cook: "You little rascal!"

He snorted and said, "I’m letting it go this time, for everyone’s sake."

Li Weiwei was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed. He began flattering his grandfather profusely: "Grandpa, don’t worry. I’ll work hard and won’t let you down. I’ll make sure to do well and grow the business."

Zhao Guihua suddenly thought of a phrase and said, "Make it big and strong, and create even greater glory."

"Pfft!"

Everyone burst into laughter.

Li the Cook finally softened. As his grandson approached, he gave him a light kick. Li Weiwei: "Ouch!" He clutched his backside.

Li the Cook said awkwardly, "You better work hard! Don’t mess around with the neighbors. When it comes to food, keep it clean; when it comes to business, be honest."

Li Weiwei nodded immediately, saying, "I know, I know."

He raised his hand in a pledge: "I’ll work hard for sure."

Li the Cook finally stopped scolding him. Meanwhile, Yang Lixin looked at his son with envy, stepped forward, and patted the boy on the shoulder, saying, "You’ve got more guts than your dad."

Li Weiwei chuckled and scratched his head. He had expected a storm of anger and a beating when his secret was revealed, but to his surprise, everyone managed to calm his grandpa down. He never expected things to turn out this way.

If he had known, he would have done this sooner. Why wait so long? He happily trotted inside, saying, "Grandpa, I’ll get to work!"

Li the Cook: "Hmph."

Zhuang Zhixi laughed: "Stop huffing. It’s not good to be grumpy during the New Year. Let’s be happy."

Li the Cook: "You’re always so carefree. By the way, have you sold all your Clivia plants?"

Zhuang Zhixi nodded: "Sold them all. I’m done with that."

He said, "The market’s too volatile now. Keeping those Clivia plants around is just too risky. Better to cash out."

"You’ve got a good head on your shoulders."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Well, since I sold the Clivia, I’m thinking of buying a shop. That way, I won’t have to deal with the wind and rain anymore. Having a shop makes things much more convenient."

"That makes sense, but buying a shop is a big expense. You can still sell stuff outside..."

Zhuang Zhixi: "It’s not the same. With a shop, you don’t have to suffer from the elements. Plus, the shop itself is an asset. If I ever stop using it, I can rent it out for extra income. How much interest do you get from keeping money in the bank?"

Hearing this, Li the Cook found it quite reasonable.

He said, "You’re right."

Zhuang Zhixi: "So, saving up to buy a shop is really important."

"Buying a house is important, buying a shop is important. Looks like we’ve got to earn more money."

"Absolutely."

Li Weiwei watched his grandpa chatting with Uncle Zhuang and couldn’t help but think that his grandpa, who usually seemed as stubborn as an ox, was surprisingly easily swayed by Uncle Zhuang. It seemed that in the future, if he had any problems, he should turn to Uncle Zhuang.

Of course, Aunt Zhao and Aunt Zhou were also great. They always had good advice too.

Lan Sihai and Old Man Zhuang were playing chess and joined the conversation. Lan Sihai said, "You did the right thing by selling them. If people found out you had so many Clivia plants, you might get robbed."

Everyone turned to look at Lan Sihai, who continued, "You don’t follow the news much, but I read the papers regularly. There have been quite a few violent incidents over Clivia plants. They’re worth a fortune, and money can drive people to do terrible things. Just the other day, a man’s younger brother led a group to rob his older brother’s family for their prized Clivia. The older brother’s family was attacked, and the neighbors called the police. They caught the culprits on the spot. There are many stories like this, so selling them was the right move. Spending the money is better. No one can steal a shop from you, but keeping cash or valuables at home isn’t safe."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Ever since their courtyard was burglarized, even Aunt Zhou opened a bank account. These days, the only place you can trust is the bank. Keeping money at home is just too risky.

"We live honest lives and work hard for our money. We can’t let thieves profit from our efforts."

"Exactly."

"By the way, what’s the latest on Jiang Baohong and the others?"

Zhuang Zhixi knew about this. He had been following the case closely, checking on the progress every few days. After all, he wouldn’t be satisfied unless those people served long prison sentences. They had nearly harmed his family’s children.

And that bizarre Jiang Baohong—they had barely any interaction, but she had been fixated on his family out of jealousy. She even joined in on the robbery. It was beyond intolerable.

Trash like her deserved to be behind bars.

He said, "The case isn’t too complicated. They’ll probably be sentenced in the first half of next year. Jiang Baohong applied for a mental evaluation three times, but each time she was deemed sane. She tried to use insanity as an excuse to avoid prison, but the law is just. It didn’t give her that chance."

"Good."

"How long will they get?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "It’ll be a heavy sentence. Their actions were particularly egregious."

"That’s for the best."

Wang Xiangxiu breathed a sigh of relief. After all, her family had been targeted. If those people were released after just a few years, she would have been terrified. That old man Cai hated her and would probably seek revenge.

She said, "It’s best if they never get out."

Zhuang Zhixi: "He’s already quite old. Even if he does get out, he’ll be in his twilight years. Who knows if he’ll even live that long?"

"That’s true." Wang Xiangxiu thought of her mother-in-law. Although she never mentioned it, she knew about Gou Lanxiang’s death. When someone passes away, the family is always notified, so how could Wang Xiangxiu not know?

She just chose not to bring it up and pretended not to know.

She really didn’t want anything to do with that woman, nor did she want her son to have any connection to her, even in death.

Just as Su Pandi had thought, Wang Xiangxiu wished she could grind Su’s mother’s bones to dust. Even though she knew she might have made mistakes in the past, it’s always easier to forgive oneself and hold grudges against others to feel better.

So Wang Xiangxiu really didn’t want to talk about her. She cleared her throat lightly and said, "Where did we put the mackerel?"

Life was good now. The children had turned over a new leaf, and she was working hard, saving up some money from her stall. There were many days ahead, and she needed to keep going. Wang Xiangxiu quickly regained her composure and said, "I’ll go prepare the fish. Aren’t we making fish dumplings for dinner?"

"No rush. You can handle the fish this afternoon. For now, chop up the rabbit, and we’ll stir-fry it with chili later."

"Got it!"

The sounds of frying, boiling, and chopping echoed from several rooms. Everyone was busy, but their faces were filled with joyful smiles. Zhao Guihua said, "The shrimp we bought this year is really good. Look how fresh it is."

Aunt Zhou proudly said, "Of course. Jiang Lu and I picked them out at the market. We spotted them right away. They were a bit pricey, but it’s the New Year—good food is what matters most."

"The old hen is nice and plump too," Aunt Zhou added, praising the chicken.

"Well, of course. We wouldn’t buy it if it weren’t. Let’s cut some up for fried chicken snacks for the kids this afternoon."

"Weren’t we going to make crispy pork?"

"We’ll do both. The kids can have some, and so can we. Why should they get all the good stuff? There’s enough for everyone."

"Then let’s make a bit more..."

"Ah, who would’ve thought that life would get better as we got older? Tonight, we’ll watch the Spring Festival Gala on your color TV. I wonder who’s performing this year? I love the singing and dancing performances. It’s so different from listening to the radio."

"I’m a big fan of Zhao Zhongxiang. His presence, his voice, his face—he’s so handsome," Aunt Zhou said, her eyes sparkling.

"I love ‘Unforgettable Tonight.’ They sang it last year, and it was wonderful. I wonder if they’ll do it again this year."

"..."

The morning was bustling and lively. Although everyone was busy, no one felt tired—just happy. As noon approached, Zhao Guihua stood in the yard and called out, "Kids, it's time to eat!"

"Coming!"

The children responded, dashing home in a flash.

Li Zhenzhen muttered, "Xing'er's family already called them to eat. We're getting impatient."

"Exactly, exactly."

Zhao Guihua urged, "Let's go, let's go."

The courtyard was packed with people, all gathered together, squeezing in tightly. Despite the cold weather, the atmosphere was warm and lively. Everyone was in high spirits, and the crowding didn't matter—it only added to the festive vibe.

"Everyone, find a seat and sit down. Squeeze in a little."

"Hey, kids, come sit on the kang."

"Coming!"

"Hutou, Xiao Yanzi, Su Yinlai, Su Tonglai—you're all still kids, come over here."

"Okay~"

"Guan Hong, come over here."

"Coming, coming!"

She loved this kind of atmosphere. Ever since she moved into the courtyard, initially because of Su Jinlai, she had grown to adore this lively environment and the thriving way of life.

Everyone squeezed in, divided into several tables, and finally settled down.

Zhao Guihua said, "Old Man Lan, you're the eldest in our courtyard. Would you like to kick things off?"

Lan Sihai smiled and stood up. This wasn't the time for sarcasm or teasing—he had mellowed a lot over the years.

The old man cleared his throat and began, "Ladies and gentlemen, it's a rare honor for me to start things off today, and I'm truly happy. Although I'm the oldest in this courtyard, I still feel young at heart. So, in the new year, I'll continue to hold myself to the standards of a young person."

The crowd burst into laughter.

Lan Sihai continued, "If an old man like me can set such a standard, none of you should slack off either. Learn from me—stay young, stay healthy, and live freely. That's how you find happiness. I've been in this courtyard for over a decade now, and as you all know, Ming Mei is my granddaughter. I originally came here for her. Back then, the machinery factory wanted to arrange better accommodations for me, but I thought, 'Wherever I live, I might as well live close to my little girl in this courtyard, so I can keep an eye on her. If the Zhuang family ever mistreated her, I'd give them a piece of my mind.' But thankfully, they've been a loving couple, and their lives have been thriving. My hope is that every family in this courtyard can be as harmonious as Ming Mei and her husband. In the new year, may everyone continue to prosper—may money flow in abundance, and may everyone stay healthy and strong. I also hope the children grow up healthy, happy, and excel in their studies. People of my generation didn't have many opportunities for education, so you must cherish the opportunities you have today. I'll be honest with you—if I had the same conditions as you when I was your age, I would have already become a renowned scientist. My mind is sharp as ever."

Zhuang Zhixi couldn't help but laugh and said, "Grandpa, you're really boasting about yourself now."

Lan Sihai retorted, "If you can brag about yourself, why can't I? Anyway, may everyone embrace new beginnings in the new year, and may your fortunes rise like sesame flowers, higher and higher!"

The crowd immediately applauded. Lan Sihai sat down, but soon stood up again. "Oh, one more thing—let's also thank today's chefs, Li the Cook and Xiao Yang. Everyone, eat well and drink well!"

"Let's raise a toast!"

"Cheers, cheers!"

Everyone clinked their glasses and shouted, "Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

The atmosphere quickly heated up, and everyone dug in. The lunch spread was lavish, with all kinds of hearty dishes.

As everyone ate and drank, the children eagerly reached for the food. Although life had already improved, such a feast was still a rare treat. Yuanyuan chirped, "This braised fish is delicious!"

"Be careful of the fish bones."

"Got it."

Ye Sitian said, "I want to eat braised pork."

Her older brother, Siyuan, quickly picked up a large piece of pork and placed it on her plate. The little girl couldn't finish it in one bite, and her mouth was soon shiny with grease. Outside, the sound of firecrackers continued. Zhuang Zhixi said, "We'll set off fireworks tonight. I bought a big one."

"The big ones are the best!"

"Exactly."

"I love them!"

Ye Sitian asked, "Can we come watch the fireworks tonight too?"

"Of course! We'll also eat dumplings together and watch the Spring Festival Gala."

"Wow!"

"The Spring Festival Gala starts at 8 PM. How about you kids perform a little show for us beforehand?"

"Okay!"

The children eagerly agreed, patting their chests without a hint of shyness. Everyone laughed.

"Su Tonglai, you're taking the college entrance exam this year, right?"

Su Tonglai nodded, "Yes."

"Then you should perform first. You're studying acting now, so you can't hold back."

Su Tonglai smiled, "Alright, I'll lead the kids and put on a good show for everyone. If we do well, you have to give us New Year's money!"

The children's eyes lit up, and they chimed in, "Yeah, yeah!"

Xiao Yanzi said, "I want to join too. I'm still a high school student, so I count as a kid..."

"Pfft, you really are..."

Hutou teased, "Little sister, you looked so money-hungry just now."

Xiao Yanzi tossed her head, "I don't care!"

Everyone burst into laughter, and the festive atmosphere carried on into the afternoon. The day remained busy. As winter days are short, it grew dark early. By evening, the TV was on, showing last year's Spring Festival Gala. Everyone laughed and chatted as they wrapped dumplings.

Zhuang Zhixi led the children outside to set off fireworks.

"Whoosh... bang~"

The sound of fireworks filled the air, and the children squealed with delight, unfazed by the cold. Earlier in the afternoon, they had built a snowman in the yard. Despite the howling north wind and drifting snowflakes, their enthusiasm remained undiminished as they ran around, their breath visible in the chilly air.

Tuantuan ran around wildly and suddenly bumped into someone at the entrance. He took a few steps back and shouted, "Sister, I'm sorry!"

A girl in a coat, carrying a handbag, rubbed Tuantuan's head and said, "It's okay."

She smiled and asked, "Is this Courtyard 44?"

It was too dark to see clearly.

Tuantuan said, "Yes, it is."

He tilted his head and asked, "Sister, are you looking for someone?"

The girl nodded, "Yes, I'm looking for Zheng Huimin. I'm her younger sister, Zheng Huifang."

The newcomer was none other than Zheng Huifang, who had returned for the New Year. Her train had been delayed, and she had rushed to make it back by evening. Though travel-worn, her cheeks were flushed with excitement.

She was finally home.

Tuantuan called out, "Zheng Huimin, Sister Zheng, your sister is here to see you..."

He added, "I know you, Sister. You're the one from Guangzhou who sends us all the goods."

Zheng Huifang looked at him in surprise and said, "You're so smart."

Tuantuan replied, "I know everything."

He called out again, "Sister Zheng, your sister is here!"

Zheng Huimin, who had been inside wrapping dumplings, froze for a moment upon hearing this. She didn't even bother to put on her shoes and rushed out, her eyes red with emotion. "Huifang!!!"

Zheng Huifang cried, "Elder sister!"

The two sisters ran toward each other and embraced tightly. Though they used to bicker constantly when they lived together, their bond had grown much stronger since their family had gone through so much.

Both of them were crying—they hadn't seen each other in two years!

Zheng Huimin held her sister and said, "It's so good to see you. Why didn't you let us know you were coming?"

Zheng Huifang, equally emotional, replied, "I thought I wouldn't make it back. Time was tight, but the factory finished early, so I hurried to buy a ticket. I figured contacting you would take too long, and writing a letter wouldn't be fast enough, so I decided to just come back."

"This is wonderful. We'll talk all night."

"Okay."

"Come on, let me introduce you to everyone. These are all the people from our courtyard. We're celebrating the New Year together—it's so much fun."

Everyone in the courtyard was curiously watching Zheng Huifang, as many had never seen her before. However, Zheng Huifang recognized several people herself. She quickly walked over and hugged Aunt Zhao, who was standing at the doorway, saying, "Aunt Zhao, I’ve missed you so much."

She then turned and hugged Aunt Zhou, embracing each one tightly and not letting go. Finally, she hugged Wang Zizhen, exclaiming, "Sister, thank you."

Wang Zizhen smiled and patted her back, while Zheng Huifang was so moved that tears welled up in her eyes.

The aunties advised her, "It’s the New Year, don’t cry! The New Year is supposed to be full of joy."

Zheng Huifang nodded firmly and said, "Okay!"

"Great! Now that you’re back, we must celebrate the New Year together. Come on, you must be freezing. Let’s go inside. We’ll introduce everyone properly once we’re warm."

Zheng Huimin followed behind, smiling and remarking, "My sister is more popular than I am."

Guan Hong teased, "It’s obvious. Everyone’s drawn to her looks. Your sister is really pretty."

"Stop it! It’s not about looks. My sister is just a good person."

"Whatever~"

"Come on, everyone, let’s go inside. Zheng Huimin, put on some socks. Your feet must be freezing…"

Amid the chatter, Zheng Huimin felt the warmth of their concern and blushed, saying, "I know, I know!"

Just then, Aunt Wang called out, "Come inside! The dumplings are about to be cooked!"

"The dumplings are going in the pot~"

With that, the men from each household hurried out to light firecrackers… *Bang! Bang! Bang!*

The sound of firecrackers echoed continuously, one after another, as the louder they were, the more festive it felt. This was the time when the men of the households truly shined, setting off firecrackers nonstop.

The deafening sound of firecrackers filled the air, and both adults and children were beaming with joy.

After what felt like an eternity, a voice called out from inside, "Dinner’s ready~"

"The dumplings are done!"

The men and children quickly rushed inside. At that moment, the evening news was on, showing the national leader visiting various workplaces to extend New Year’s greetings to the working people. Across the country, there was an atmosphere of celebration and harmony.

Zhao Guihua organized everyone, saying, "Sit where you were sitting at noon. Huifang, sit next to your sister. Everyone, take your seats."

"Come ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‍on, sit down, sit down…"

Everyone gathered around the table, their faces glowing with happiness. This year, their courtyard had seen its share of events, but the bad ones were few, and the good ones were plenty. This year had been even better than the last, with every household earning more money and living more comfortably.

Many had bought new houses, and others had acquired new furniture. Life had simply gotten better.

These were truly wonderful times.

Everyone exchanged cheerful words, raising their glasses in celebration. As they did, the clock struck eight. A lively and jubilant opening dance began, and the hosts took the stage one by one: "Dear viewers, friends across the nation, hello! The 1984 Spring Festival Gala is now beginning! In this new year, we wish you all a happy family reunion and boundless happiness…"

The blessings poured out endlessly.

Zhao Guihua stood up and took the lead, saying, "Let me, Zhao Guihua, start us off. As we bid farewell to the old and welcome the new, the entire Zhuang family wishes you all a Happy New Year in advance."

"Happy New Year!"

"What was it that Uncle Lan said at noon?"

"Sesame blossoms, rising higher and higher!"

"That’s right! Sesame blossoms, rising higher and higher. Life will only get better!"

"May everyone prosper, everyone…"

"May we all strike it rich in the New Year!"