I had my first meal of the new year with my maternal grandparents. The dishes were already laid out on the table: braised pork, stewed chicken, braised fish, hot and sour shredded potatoes, braised eggplant, and pork stew with vermicelli. The braised pork and fish were bought and brought over by my parents in town.
Su's mother and aunt were excellent cooks, and everyone enjoyed the meal immensely. Her younger cousins said, "I wish we could have such delicious food every day."
Auntie laughed and scolded, "You little brat, you're dreaming! You're lucky to have anything to eat, let alone want to eat every day. This meat and fish were brought by your aunt and uncle."
After dinner, the adults tidied up and gathered around the fire to chat, while the children ran outside to play. Su Xingran didn't like going outside, so she sat inside to keep warm.
Grandma asked Su's mother, "Huilan, what's wrong with you this year? You brought so many things to our door. Do you even have any food left at home?" Grandma was worried that Su Xingran's family had brought all the good things, and they would be short of food when they returned home.
There is still food at my mother's house. Last year, around June or July of the lunar calendar, we brought up the issue of dividing the family property again with the old family home and signed a family division agreement. In the future, after they turn sixty, we will support them every month according to the village's standard for supporting the elderly. The two brothers will split the medical expenses when they get old and sick. There will be no interference between us after that.
"Are your in-laws willing?" Grandma and Aunt asked simultaneously. Indeed, they both knew how difficult the Su couple were to deal with, so they were curious that they were actually willing to sign a division agreement.
Father Su remained silent, letting Mother Su continue. Guomin had gone to the village's respected elders, as well as the current village chief and brigade leader, to handle the matter at the old house. However, Guomin was determined not to intervene, and no matter how much they protested, he wouldn't budge. Eventually, they had no choice but to sign the agreement.
That's good. That way you won't have to work so hard in the future. You can just take care of your own little family. Grandpa nodded. He knew that it was quite difficult for a son to have biased parents.
Ranran has taken the village doctor as her apprentice and is now learning medicine from him. After thinking it over, Su's mother decided to tell Sheng's parents.
That's great! She'll learn a medical skill and become a doctor someday. Everyone gets sick and needs a doctor sometimes. Grandpa was very pleased that his granddaughter was studying medicine. He didn't have any preference for boys over girls; on the contrary, he felt that having a skill would make her life easier and less difficult.
Su Xingran's family stayed at her maternal grandparents' house for the night and will go home the next day. Her maternal grandmother slept with Su's mother and Su Xingran, while her father slept with her maternal grandfather.
The next day, after breakfast, the family of three took an oxcart from the village to the town. The grandparents were very reluctant to leave, but they had to go, and could only promise to come back to visit more often in the future.
Around noon, we rushed home. The three of us had just sat down to rest for a while when we heard knocking on the door and people talking outside.
Su's mother found it strange. Who was coming to their door? Everyone in the village knew their family; they would go back to their parents' home on the second day of the Lunar New Year and return on the third. Sometimes, if they missed the morning oxcart, they wouldn't get home until the afternoon.
Someone knocked on the door, so she had to open it. Three people stood outside: a middle-aged couple from the Zhang family in the village; Su's mother had seen them a few times when she went to work, but they hadn't exchanged greetings, and she didn't know them well, only that they existed; and an old woman dressed as a matchmaker. Su's mother was somewhat confused. What was going on?
But it was the New Year, and it wouldn't be good to turn people away. She didn't understand why these three had come to her door. She opened the door and invited them in, feeling utterly bewildered as she walked.
"Guomin, we have guests at home," Su's mother called out to Su's father, who was in the kitchen unpacking things he had brought back from his parents' home.
Mr. Su put down his work and went into the house. He was puzzled when he saw the three people in front of him. He remembered his own home and had no contact with these people. However, adhering to the principle that guests are always welcome, Mr. Su greeted them with a smile and asked them to sit down.
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