Southeast opened her uncle's letter and began to read it aloud. After listening, Grandma Yan's eyes filled with tears. Her eldest son was always so thoughtful. Knowing that Xuemei had a child, he prepared milk powder; knowing that Southwest was getting married, he prepared canned food.
There was also Nan Nan's fabric, Bei Nan's soft candy, his own malted milk powder, and food for Qiangzi and his wife—he thought of and made everything, which was no easy feat. Yan Dongnan opened his second uncle's letter again. The letter was filled with longing for his elderly mother and a desire to return to his hometown to be with her again, even if it was just for a day.
The other two children also missed Nan Nan and their grandmother very much. They learned what family affection and kindness are from their grandmother.
The letter was written with heartfelt sincerity, bringing tears to Grandma Yan's eyes. After all, he was her son; no matter how unfilial he was, blood was still thicker than water.
That night, Grandma Yan was very silent. A strong smell of tobacco wafted from her room, making people unable to stop their tears from flowing.
Yan Xiaonan stood at her grandmother's door for a long, long time, but ultimately did not step inside. Perhaps her grandmother needed time to be alone; sometimes, people do need solitude.
On the morning of Lunar New Year's Eve, everyone sat in the main room early, waiting for Grandma to appear.
The heavy curtain was lifted, and Grandma walked out looking energetic, but the dark circles under her eyes were impossible to hide.
Everyone felt a pang of sadness, yet none of them tacitly refrained from asking any questions.
"Grandma, are we going to hold an ancestral worship ceremony today?" Yan Xiaonan broke the silence and asked in a low voice.
"Let's perform the rites. Also, put the letters from your eldest and second uncles on the table so your grandfather and ancestors can see them." Grandma Yan nodded.
This year's ancestral worship needs to be done with extra care. The Yan family has closed all the doors and windows, leaving only Zhongzi in the courtyard to keep watch.
Actually, every household kept their doors and windows tightly closed. It's hard to change habits that have been around for so many years, especially when it comes to ancestors, which every family values immensely.
An eight-immortal table was brought out, with a pig's head, a red paper ingot pasted in the center, placed in the middle of the table.
Four main dishes—chicken, duck, fish, and meat—were arranged around the pig's head. Bean products were also served. Cuihua and Xuemei were cooking in the kitchen, while Tang Xiaoling and Xinan kept running in and out to serve dishes.
Grandma Yan lit the sandalwood incense and candles herself, Yan Xiaonan took out the prayer cushion, and bowls, chopsticks and wine glasses were placed to the north, south and southeast. Yan Xiaoqiang poured the first glass of wine.
The aroma of vegetables, meat, and cooking wafted from the main room. Yan Xiaonan took a deep breath; it smelled wonderful and had a comforting quality.
Grandma Yan led Yan Xiaonan to kneel down and kowtow three times to the ancestral tablets. Yan Xiaoqiang quickly poured another round of wine, and then he and Cuihua knelt down together.
The Southeast couple, the Southwest couple, and finally the North and South couple also kowtowed in turn.
Once the sandalwood incense has burned out and the tinfoil has been completely burned, the worship ceremony is over.
The New Year's Eve dinner was very lavish. The pork was much tastier than the wild boar, at least it was tender and smooth.
Grandma Yan looked at her youngest son and grandchildren, and sighed in her heart that her old man had passed away too early, otherwise she could have enjoyed the happiness of being surrounded by her grandchildren.
Yan Xiaonan picked out the tenderest piece from the fish's belly and stuffed it into her grandmother's mouth: "Grandma, I wish you abundance every year and a long life."
Grandma Yan quickly opened her mouth, wanting to make sure her precious child's blessings were swallowed whole.
Southeast chuckled and said, "Nannan, what do you say to your niece?"
"Clever and quick-witted, obedient and well-behaved, study hard and make progress every day." Yan Xiaonan said casually.
Southwest looked at Yan Xiaonan with a smile, and Yan Xiaonan immediately understood.
"Wishing my second brother and sister-in-law a speedy birth of a son and all the best."
"Wishing Third Brother a bright future and an early marriage."
"I wish my dad and mom good health and all the best."
"Woof woof woof"
Oh no, I forgot about Zhongzi in the yard! Yan Xiaonan hurriedly ran over to open the door: "I wish Zhongzi finds a wife soon!"
Just as Zhongzi was about to speak, he was silenced by Nannan's blessing. Never mind.
Grandma Yan took out the New Year's money, looked it over, and couldn't help but sigh. When there were many children, there was no money to give; when there was money to give, the children didn't need it anymore.
Bei Nan received one yuan, Nan Nan received one yuan, and Grandma Yan took out two more yuan and handed them to Dong Nan: "Go to the post office when you have time. This is New Year's money for the two children. Also, get some candy and pastries to sweeten their mouths."
Yan Xiaonan nodded repeatedly, guessing that the two children had been eagerly anticipating this.
Dumplings on the first day of the Lunar New Year, and visiting one's maternal home on the second day. This year, Tang Xiaoling is not going back to her maternal home either, because Cuihua's parents are coming over, and Xuemei is heavily pregnant. So, after getting her grandmother's permission, Tang Jianjun and Tang's mother came to the Yan family.
Suddenly, Zhongzi started barking. Yan Xiaonan's consciousness spread out and she realized that her grandparents had arrived in an oxcart.
"Grandma, Grandma's here."
Grandma Yan quickly put on her old cotton-padded coat and ran to the courtyard gate, followed by Yan Xiaoqiang and Cuihua.
As the oxcart entered the yard, Bei Nan quickly closed the gate. Yan Xiao Nan wanted to laugh; Bei Nan was probably worried that someone from her grandmother's house would come over.
The oxcart contained rice and flour that the elderly couple had saved up for more than half a year, as well as a chicken and a piece of pork.
Grandma Yan nodded to herself, thinking how such a good in-law could have a son like Xiaolong. Suddenly remembering what the police captain had said, she quickly pulled Chen's mother into the main room.
The journey was long and the weather was cold; the elderly couple were almost frozen stiff. But the warmth in the main room, plus a cup of hot malted milk powder, brought them back to life.
Yan Xiaoqiang quickly fed the old ox grass and water, unloaded the things from the oxcart, told Zhongzi to watch the yard and not to go out through the dog hole, and then carried the large and small bags into the main room.
Upon learning that Xinan had gotten married, the elderly couple were overjoyed. Looking at Tang Xiaoling, they repeatedly said, "Daughter, live well with Xinan. Marrying into the Yan family is a blessing for you. Cherish your good fortune."
Tang Xiaoling nodded repeatedly: "Grandma, don't worry, I will live a good life with Southwest. You two should also take good care of yourselves."
Tang Jianjun stepped forward and greeted the two old people. Old Chen was delighted and said, "Alright, from now on, you don't need to go back to your parents' home on the second day of the Lunar New Year. You should all gather at the Yan family's house."
The main room was filled with clinking glasses and laughter until night fell, at which point Tang Jianjun reluctantly returned home.
After the Yan family lit the kerosene lamp, and Cuihua helped the old couple to bed, Grandma Yan spoke up: "Cuihua, do you think we should tell your parents about Xiaolong's wife?"
Cuihua hesitated: "Mother, my parents have already severed ties with Xiaolong, so let's not talk about it."
Even though it's called severing ties, if something really happens to their son, the parents will always worry about him. Their own parents have already worked hard enough, so they shouldn't make them sad.
Yan Xiaoqiang thought for a moment and said, "Mom, why don't you tell half and hide the other half? Don't talk about that woman's past, just say that the police are keeping an eye on her."
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