During the Chinese New Year, from New Year's Eve until the fifth day of the first lunar month, no one wants to scold their children. This period will be a good time for them to do whatever they want, and it is also a happy time that they look forward to from the beginning of the year to the end.
After eating and drinking their fill, the children would go outside in groups of three or five, holding their unpacked firecrackers and playing. Even the chill of the winter night, with heavy snow falling, couldn't stop the children's playful nature.
Before nightfall, the old captain asked each family to take a bowl of dumplings home. As for how to heat them since some families didn't have pots, he didn't say, and no one else mentioned it either.
Later, Zhou Jiao learned that each family's bowl of dumplings had already been offered to their ancestors, and of course everyone took it home. Otherwise, no one would eat the saliva of others' ancestors.
The head of each family picked up the ten dumplings in his hand and happily led his family back home to hang lanterns, distribute New Year's money, eat dumplings, set off firecrackers, and celebrate the New Year's Eve.
As the crowd dispersed, only the aunties and grandmas who worked in the cafeteria were left to clean up the mess, and the elders such as the old clan leader who was sitting at the head of the table.
Father Zhang was among them. Tonight he was still drinking wine and chatting with the clan leaders.
Zhang Guoqing saw this and pointed to Zhang's mother. Soon he saw Ping'an holding his grandmother's hand tightly and pulling Zhang's mother to go home.
The couple laughed secretly, picked up their son, and took Zhang's mother back to their own yard.
At the doorsteps of each house, the three Zhang Guoqing brothers shouted together, erected wooden pillars, and lit red lanterns. Beneath the red lanterns were the happy smiles of the families and the cheers and jumps of the children.
The gates of the three houses were wide open. The three Zhang brothers all kept their doors open, and no one closed the door. This seemed to let Zhang's father and mother know that the children were waiting for them to come home.
When Zhou Jiao learned the news about the canteen from Zhang Guoqing, she expected that tonight's New Year's Eve dinner would be simple and prepared some dishes in advance.
At this time, she began to prepare her own New Year's Eve dinner.
Stewed carp, hen stewed with chestnuts, pork and sauerkraut stewed with vermicelli, three fresh vegetables, stewed beans, corn, pine nuts and shrimp, candied sweet potato,
This dessert is a hodgepodge of red date steamed cake, sticky rice dumplings, and canned food.
As Zhang Guoqing brought out the delicious dishes she cooked from the kitchen and placed them on the large table in the living room, they soon filled the entire table.
After paying homage to her ancestors in the old courtyard, Zhang's mother began to wander around the homes of her three sons, observing whether there were any taboos in their homes.
She didn't notice it at first, but as the aroma started to waft in, she came in and took a look, and was startled. Wow, this was even more sumptuous than the cafeteria.
Without waiting for her to speak, Zhang Guoqing gestured to her with a smile and stuffed a piece of steamed cake into his mother's mouth. Seeing his mother's smiling eyes, he felt it was worth it.
This New Year's Eve dinner was a decision made after careful consideration by the couple. After tonight, it would be almost impossible for the three brothers to have a happy reunion with their parents every New Year's Eve dinner.
This is a helpless reality. In the future, their focus will not be in the Northeast, and it is impossible for their parents and brothers to drag their children to Beijing to spend the New Year with them.
In order to leave behind good memories, Zhang Guoqing hopes that tonight's family reunion will remind his family and brothers on future New Year's Eves: That year, our family was reunited.
"Mom, I'll go call Dad. When he comes back, I'll call my two brothers and their families over. Tonight, we'll have a family reunion dinner."
What could Zhang's mother say? The child was ready. She smiled and nodded, then picked up her grandson and went to the kitchen.
In the kitchen, Zhou Jiao quickly finished cooking. She returned to the living room, took out a jar of liquor and a jar of fruit wine, and placed them on the counter. On the kang were two wooden plates of frozen pears and persimmons, and a basket filled with various roasted nuts and candies.
After tidying up, Zhou Jiao lit six red candles in the living room. With the new year comes a new beginning, and she hopes that her family will live a peaceful and prosperous life in the coming year.
Soon, Father Zhang came in with his three sons. He sat on the kang, watching his children and grandchildren gradually gather around him. He couldn't describe the feeling in his heart at that moment: a mixture of sadness and joy.
"The happiest thing in my life is having you three sons. I thought this year's New Year's Eve would just pass by. I felt empty in my heart just now, and always felt that this year was not going well. I didn't expect that my eldest son and his wife thought of me. Children, our family's New Year's Eve has begun."
After hearing this, everyone looked at Zhang's mother with a smile, waiting for her to speak.
Mother Zhang smiled and said, "I am very happy and satisfied this year, and I am very happy tonight as well. After the New Year's Eve dinner, you must work harder next year. I won't say anything more this year, there are many dishes waiting for us, let's eat."
Everyone laughed out loud. As long as the two elders are happy, that's all that matters.
Zhang Guoqing poured wine for Zhang's father and mother. "Big brother, pour yourselves, and sisters-in-law pour yourselves too. Let's toast to our parents and wish them happiness every day."
"Uncle, wait for us."
"Okay, drink your juice and take your time. We're not in a hurry."
Fill the cups, raise them and shout, "May your parents be happy every day."
Mr. Zhang and his wife were so happy that they couldn't stop smiling and drank the wine in their glasses in one breath.
With the three Zhang Guoqing brothers accompanying their father to amuse him, and the three Zhou Jiao sisters-in-law accompanying their mother to tell funny stories and join in the children's childish talk, the whole family laughed so hard during the New Year's Eve dinner.
As soon as midnight passed, Father Zhang gave the order, and his three sons lit firecrackers simultaneously at the doorsteps of their three homes. As the crackling sound rang out, and as the bursts of firecrackers rose and fell in the village, the New Year finally arrived.
Zhou Jiao served up a colorful and flavorful New Year's Eve dumpling. Five colors, five different fillings, these exquisitely crafted dumplings kept the well-fed family busy, even after they were stuffed.
"I've eaten five cents."
"Brother, I ate some brown sugar cubes."
"I, I got my two cents too."
As the children cheered in surprise, and as each member of the Zhang family found brand new coins, red dates, and brown sugar cubes in their food, under the illumination of the red candlelight, every face was filled with happy smiles.
After eating dumplings, just like in previous years, Xizi and the other children brought sleepless little Ping'an to the kang and kowtowed to Zhang's father and mother to wish them a happy new year.
The children shouted in unison, "Happy New Year, Grandpa and Grandma, may everything go well." The laughter of the Zhang family spread out of the Zhang family courtyard and floated at the foot of Beishan Mountain.
Zhang's father and mother were wise and open-minded elders. They treated all children equally, regardless of gender, from the eldest grandson Xizi to the youngest Ping'an.
The children smiled happily as they held the brand new New Year's money.
Zhou Jiao admired this very much. Preferring sons over daughters was unacceptable, and favoritism was even more unacceptable. Since her son was her own, her siblings wouldn't mind if she showed some favoritism. But grandchildren were different. They were far removed from their grandparents, and since they were young, they were prone to holding grudges.
The Zhang family is blessed to have Zhang Dad and Zhang Mom. As parents, they have earned the respect and love of their families through their actions.
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