Most of them were visiting relatives and friends to exchange New Year's greetings, all dressed in new clothes and carrying New Year's goods.
Whether they know each other or not, the first thing they say when they meet is "Happy New Year," followed by exchanging cigarettes and a few pleasantries.
Happy Chinese New Year, bro!
A middle-aged man wearing a military overcoat greeted Su Jianguo.
Happy Chinese New Year!
Su Jianguo quickly got out of the car, took out a bottle of Daqianmen cigarettes from his pocket, and handed it over.
Where are we going?
"Let's go to my second uncle's place!"
The man took the cigarette and said with a smile.
"What is this...?"
"Let's go back to Sujiatun and wish the old man a Happy New Year!"
The two stood by the roadside for a while, smoking and chatting about this year's harvest, before heading off on their separate ways.
The closer you get to Sujiatun, the stronger the festive atmosphere becomes.
Almost every household had brand-new Spring Festival couplets pasted on their doors and red lanterns hanging up.
Children, dressed in new clothes, set off firecrackers in the snow; women gathered together to chat and eat sunflower seeds; and men gathered in twos and threes to smoke and play cards.
"Dad, our village is much more lively than the city!"
Su Mingfu said excitedly.
He grew up in the city and was fascinated by the New Year celebrations in the countryside.
"Of course! Celebrating the New Year in the countryside is the real deal."
Su Jianguo smiled and pointed ahead.
"Look, our village is just ahead!"
At the entrance of Sujiatun village, several teenagers were setting off firecrackers.
Upon seeing strangers enter the village, they immediately surrounded them.
Happy Chinese New Year! Who are you looking for?
A little girl with pigtails asked timidly.
Su Jianguo was delighted.
"Little girl, it's your Uncle Jianguo! I gave you candy when I came back last time, don't you recognize me?"
The children then recognized Su Jianguo and cheered.
"Uncle Jianguo is back! Happy New Year, Uncle Jianguo!"
Su Jianguo took out a handful of fruit candies from his pocket and gave them to the children, who ran off happily.
As you walk further into the village, you encounter more and more villagers.
Everyone greeted Su Jianguo warmly when they saw him.
"The founding of the nation is here! Happy New Year!"
"Wow, this must be the third child! He's grown so tall!"
"Hurry up, the old man's house is bustling with activity!"
Su Jianguo responded to each question, occasionally stopping to offer cigarettes to the elderly and exchanging a few words with people his age.
Su Mingfu followed behind, imitating his father in greeting the elders, and received a lot of praise.
After turning two corners, Grandpa Su's courtyard came into view.
The courtyard gate was wide open, and bursts of laughter and conversation came from inside the house.
"Dad, it seems quite a few people have come to wish us a Happy New Year today."
Su Mingfu said in a low voice.
Su Jianguo nodded and leaned his bicycle against the wall.
"Your grandfather is a high-ranking member of the village family; it's been like this every year."
The father and son walked into the yard carrying New Year's goods, immediately drawing cheers:
"The founding of the nation is here!"
"Oh my, Jianguo is back!"
"Come inside quickly! Come inside quickly!"
The main room was crowded with people. Several respected elders from the village sat on the kang (a heated brick bed), with Grandpa Su sitting in the middle, his face ruddy.
There were twenty or thirty people standing or sitting on the ground, including Su Jianguo's uncles and brothers, as well as other villagers who came to pay New Year's visits.
"Father! Mother! Your son has come to wish you a Happy New Year!"
Su Jianguo said loudly as he placed the New Year's goods on the table.
Grandpa Su smiled so hard his eyes narrowed into slits.
"Good, good, it's good that you're back!"
Without waiting for his father's reminder, Su Mingfu walked directly to the kang (a heated brick bed), knelt down with a "thump," and respectfully kowtowed three times.
Happy Chinese New Year, Grandpa and Grandma! Wishing you both boundless happiness and longevity!
That shout made everyone in the room laugh.
The old lady quickly got off the kang (a heated brick bed), helped her grandson up, and stroked his head, saying repeatedly.
"Good, good, good! My grandson is so sensible!"
Grandpa Su was overjoyed and pulled out a bulging red envelope from his pocket, handing it to Su Mingfu.
"Here you go! This is the New Year's money Grandpa gave me!"
Su Mingfu touched the thickness of the red envelope and stared in surprise.
"Sir, this is too much!"
"Not much, not much!"
The old man waved his hand.
"My eldest grandson is so well-behaved, he deserves a reward!"
A chorus of exclamations immediately filled the room.
One person praised Mingfu for being clever, another praised the old man for being generous; the atmosphere was so lively it could have blown the roof off.
Watching this scene, Su Jianguo felt both gratified and moved.
At this time of my life, my family was so poor that we couldn't even afford to give out New Year's money. I had never seen anything like this before.
He sat down next to his father, took a cigarette offered by someone, and joined in the lively chatter.
The conversation ranged from this year's harvest to next year's plans, from new developments in the village to changes in the city, filled with laughter and joy.
Suddenly, a commotion arose outside the courtyard, and the excited shouts of children grew louder as they approached.
"Uncle Jianjun is back! And he brought a soldier with him!"
Upon hearing this, Su Jianguo immediately stood up and quickly walked to the courtyard gate.
Su Jianjun and Wang Guixiang were getting off the tractor, and standing next to them was a young man in a crisp military uniform with a straight posture.
"Mingchao?"
Su Jianguo's eyes widened in disbelief.
Three years had passed since I last saw him, and my nephew had grown from a callow youth into a dashing soldier. He was over 1.8 meters tall, with broad shoulders, a straight back, and a sharp, angular face under his military cap, with a resolute gaze.
"Uncle! Happy New Year!"
Upon seeing Su Jianguo, Su Mingchao immediately stood at attention and gave a standard military salute, his voice loud and clear.
Su Jianguo stepped forward, grabbed his nephew's shoulder, and looked him up and down.
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