The arrival of Chen Ruiqing and his wife initially caught Zhang Shuzhen and the others somewhat off guard.
Later, after the conversation was open and everyone cleared up their misunderstandings, the atmosphere gradually improved. Everyone chatted and laughed, and it was quite lively.
After lunch, Zhang Shuzhen set up a tablecloth on the kang (a heated brick bed) and laid out many things on it, including books, pens, scales, money, spoons, rulers, and so on.
Today is Sheng Xinhua's first birthday. Even if we don't have a banquet or make any special arrangements, we should at least have a traditional "grasping ceremony" (a traditional Chinese custom where a baby is chosen for a specific birthday celebration).
"Auntie, what are you doing?" Chen Ruiqing and his wife were a little confused when they saw this, not knowing what Zhang Shuzhen was going to do.
"Oh, you've come at the right time, today is Xinhua's first birthday."
Oh dear, these days people don't pay attention to these things anymore, so we didn't make any special arrangements at home. I was thinking of keeping it simple and just having the child do a traditional "first birthday celebration" (抓周).
Logically, Sheng Xinhua should have been given the opportunity to choose his first birthday presents before lunch.
It was delayed because Chen Ruiqing and his wife came, so it was postponed until after lunch.
"Oh dear, Auntie, look at the mess this has made! We had no idea about this."
Upon hearing this, Chen Ruiqing was filled with regret. If he had known it was the Sheng family's grandson's first birthday today, they would have at least brought some congratulatory gifts.
When I arrived this morning, I only brought some snacks and canned goods, which was far too little.
"Heh, what's the big deal? It's just a kid's birthday." Sheng Xiping chuckled nonchalantly on the other end of the line.
"Who cares about these things nowadays? This is just something to do when there's nothing else to do, to amuse the kids."
As he spoke, Sheng Xiping picked up his son and placed him on the tablecloth.
"Son, look at these things. Grab whatever you like."
Sheng Xinhua was playing with Chen Feng when he was suddenly lifted onto the tablecloth. Seeing so many things he didn't usually get to play with, he became very happy.
This looks good, that looks interesting too. I look left and right, but I don't know which one to pick up.
After wandering around for a while, hey? There's something good here.
Sheng Xinhua's eyes lit up, and he crawled over to a wooden gun in front of him, grabbed it, and started fiddling with it in his hand.
"Whose gun is this? Why is this thing displayed here?"
Zhang Shuzhen was stunned. When she was putting things on the tablecloth, she didn't put the gun on it.
"This is Xiaofeng's wooden gun. I put it in there when you weren't looking."
Over there, Sheng Xitai scratched his head and said in a low voice.
He just felt there weren't enough items, so he randomly picked a few things and put them in.
Upon closer inspection, Zhang Shuzhen realized there were several extra items.
These were toys that Sheng Xiping made for Chen Feng and Sheng Xitai when he had nothing else to do—wooden knives, wooden guns, and the like.
In front of Chen Ruiqing and his wife, Zhang Shuzhen couldn't make a scene, so she could only glare at her youngest son and be done with it.
At that moment, Sheng Xinhua also picked up the wooden knife.
Good heavens, with a knife in one hand and a gun in the other, the little guy was overjoyed, grinning from ear to ear.
Boys, how many of them don't like knives and guns? It's in their nature.
"Oh my, Auntie, your grandson is something else! He'll be a great soldier in the future!" Chen Ruiqing exclaimed upon seeing him.
The "first birthday celebration" is simply a way to bring good fortune and auspiciousness.
These days, for ordinary people, joining the army is considered a very good career path. If you can stay in the military and develop your career gradually, your future prospects will definitely be bright.
Even if you serve in the army for a few years and then retire, if you come from the forestry system, you can still be assigned a job when you come back. It's much better than being a sent-down youth.
So when Chen Ruiqing said that, Zhang Shuzhen immediately became happy. "Oh, that's great! If Xinhua can really join the army and stay in the military in the future, it will be a blessing for the Sheng family."
The Sheng family had been farmers for generations, and no one of them had ever been particularly capable.
It wasn't until Sheng Liancheng's generation that he came to Northeast China to work as a laborer. He sent most of his monthly salary back home to support his fourth and fifth children's education.
Later, both of them went to university, got married, and started families. Among the brothers, they were the ones who had the best lives.
By the time it came to Sheng Xiping's generation, the eldest son's family in their hometown were still farming, one member of the third son's family had been hired to work, and the children of the fourth and fifth sons' families were still young, but they were living in the city, so it was estimated that things would not be bad for them in the future.
After doing the math, it turns out that no one from the Sheng family has ever served in the military.
These days, joining the army is a very prestigious thing, bringing honor to one's ancestors. If Sheng Xinhua really joins the army when he grows up, he will be the first in the Sheng family to achieve this.
"That's not necessarily true. Who knows, Xinhua might become like my older brother and love hunting in the future."
Just as Zhang Shuzhen was overjoyed, Sheng Xitai, who was standing next to her, said something unhurriedly.
Upon hearing this, everyone in the room was instantly stunned.
Everyone glanced at Sheng Xiping, then at Sheng Xinhua, who was holding the knives and guns with obvious affection. Yes, you don't have to be a soldier to handle knives and guns. Hunters use them too, don't they?
Upon hearing this, Zhang Shuzhen angrily slapped her youngest son.
"You brat, I'm not like you. Are you still not done? If you can talk, then talk. If you can't, then shut your mouth."
It's infuriating! The "first birthday celebration" is all about saying nice things. Whether or not it will come true in the future, it's just a beautiful symbol and blessing.
Everyone hopes their children will be successful and accomplished; who would want their children to go hunting in the future?
Sheng Xitai was slapped and dared not speak again, only pouting and staying to one side.
Seeing this, Chen Ruiqing quickly came to the rescue, saying, "It's good to enjoy hunting. Look at Brother Xiping, he also loves hunting. As long as hunting doesn't interfere with your regular work, it's fine."
Zhang Shuzhen was so angry that she slapped her son without caring that Chen Ruiqing and his wife were there.
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