Chapter 201 Annual Review
That night, after midnight, firecrackers blasted across the country to welcome the arrival of the new year.
The sound of firecrackers in Naye Village lasted longer than in previous years, announcing that the villagers' economic level had increased during the year.
In many places, people stay up all night on New Year's Eve. However, in Naye Village, people don't follow this rule. They usually start setting off firecrackers after midnight, have a midnight snack, sit by the fire and chat to digest the food, and go to bed around two in the morning.
They said they were going back to sleep, but in fact they just went back to take a nap. They had to get up around four in the morning and then be busy cooking. The whole family had to go to worship the great-grandfather before dawn.
It’s not so difficult for adults, as they can handle a whole night without sleep. But it’s more difficult for children, as they are woken up after only two or three hours of sleep. That feeling is really painful.
In later generations, in order to have a good night's sleep, adults would prepare in advance. After setting off firecrackers in the early morning, they would take things to offer to their grandparents, so that they would not have to get up at five or six o'clock the next morning like before.
Once someone took the lead, almost everyone in the village followed suit.
After all, it’s freezing cold and you’re sleeping comfortably in bed. Who would want to get up so early to do something?
In order to avoid troubling his children, daughters and daughters-in-law in the morning, Deng Shirong brought the methods of later generations to the present era. After setting off firecrackers, he would take his children, daughters and daughters-in-law to offer sacrifices to his grandfather.
"Happy New Year, Jiugong!"
"Uncle Jiu, congratulations on your prosperity!"
"Jiugong, why are you offering sacrifices to Grandpa Zu now?"
“…”
When Deng Shirong returned with his sons, daughters and daughters-in-law after offering sacrifices to his grandfather, his actions had basically spread throughout the village and sparked discussion among the villagers.
It can be predicted that next Spring Festival, there will be many people who follow the trend and offer sacrifices to their ancestors early.
…
The next day.
It was the auspicious day for the new son-in-law to return home. Although the Ou sisters were both pregnant, bringing the new son-in-law back home was a very solemn event. Even if they were pregnant and had difficulty moving, they couldn't just let it go.
As for Deng Yuntai, although he is not considered a new son-in-law, it is a consensus among all men in Bobai County that he should accompany his wife back to her parents' home to visit relatives on the second day of the Lunar New Year.
Finally, after some discussion, Zhang Xiuping held her child and walked to Tanlian intersection with the two pregnant Ou sisters. They then took a bus from Tanlian intersection to Longtan Street, and then walked to Poxin Village.
As for the three grown men, Deng Yuntai, Deng Changyuan and Deng Changdong, they followed behind with gifts on their shoulders.
It wasn't very far from Longtan Street to Poxin Village, but it was a long way from Naye Village to Tanlian Road. It was hard for two pregnant women to walk. Especially for Ou Guohua, who was about to give birth in about three months. It was really hard for her to walk such a long distance with a big belly.
After having breakfast in the morning, several people went out and did not arrive at Poxin Village until around 12:30 noon. This speed was quite slow.
When the three girls returned to Poxin Village, they naturally became a hot topic in the village again.
After all, it is indeed a very rare thing for three sisters who grew up together to marry in the same place.
…
When Deng Yuntai returned to his mother-in-law's house on the second day of the Chinese New Year last year, he stayed at her home for three days and was warmly received by her family. This year, he came again on the second day of the Chinese New Year, and the treatment he received was no worse than last year.
Xiaodong's children are treated like little princesses because of their father's status.
…
At the Ou Guohua family, Deng Changyuan, the new son-in-law, was also warmly received by his mother-in-law's family.
Originally, Deng Changyuan worked as a plasterer in a tile factory, earning 60 yuan a month, which was already very good, and few people in the countryside could compare with him.
Now it is even more amazing. He became a big vat master ahead of time. His income has skyrocketed from 60 yuan per month to more than 200 yuan. Except for a small group of bosses in the countryside, no one else can compare with him in terms of income.
Plus, he is considerate to his wife. Which mother-in-law wouldn't like such a son-in-law? ...
In Ou Guofang's family, Deng Changdong, the new son-in-law, is treated well.
This year, his family has produced a lot of harvests from the chickens, ducks, pigs and cows they raised. Especially the calves have grown up. They will be valuable if they are raised for another half a year or so. Once these cows are sold, the family will probably have enough money to build a new house.
Seeing that their daughter's life is getting better and better after marriage and the couple get along well, the parents are naturally happy and will naturally not think badly of the new son-in-law.
…
When the daughter-in-law brought her eldest son back to her parents' home for the "annual inspection", the third sister and two brothers-in-law also came with their families.
While chatting, the topic of opening a restaurant in the county town was inevitably mentioned.
Deng Shirong said, "I will do this after the 15th. However, it is not easy to open a restaurant in the county. If there is no suitable storefront, I may have to spend money to build a house. It will take several months to open the restaurant."
Deng Shilan said worriedly, "Brother, you run such a big restaurant, and with Dashi's skills, how can he be qualified to be a chef?"
Deng Shirong smiled and said, "Don't worry, Third Sister. I will hire another chef. Dashi will just be a kitchen helper. When he has mastered the cooking speed and skills, he can be the chef on his own."
"That's good!" Deng Shilan felt relieved after hearing that.
Deng Shirong looked at Chen Bangguo and said, "Bangguo, your task is very heavy. You are mainly responsible for the purchase of the restaurant. You have to spend some time to buy the ingredients. The ingredients must be cheap and fresh. If you do well, you will keep doing this. If you don't do well, you can only take other positions in the restaurant."
Chen Bangguo said excitedly, "Uncle, I will do my best."
Deng Shirong nodded, looked at Chen Bangli and Chen Bangfeng and said, "As for you two sisters, for the time being, you can only help wash vegetables and dishes in the kitchen. When you learn to speak the local dialect and have improved your interpersonal skills, you can be assigned to other positions."
Sisters Chen Bangli and Chen Bangfeng nodded repeatedly after hearing this. Even if they just went up to help wash the dishes, it would be a good job for them.
After talking about opening a restaurant, the topic turned to Deng Yunheng.
"Brother-in-law, why doesn't Yunheng come back to celebrate the New Year during the holiday?"
"Beijing is too far away from here. It takes more than ten days to go back and forth. There are a lot of people during the Spring Festival travel rush. It would be too painful to rush back for the Spring Festival. So when I sent him to school, I told him not to come back for the Spring Festival. If he wants to come back, he can wait until the summer vacation!"
"So that's how it is, I was wondering why you didn't come back!"
"It takes more than ten days to go back and forth, and most of the time is spent on the road. It's really boring."
“…”
(End of this chapter)
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