Chapter 13, the Festival of Sacrifice, is utterly absurd!
Beauty can be a trap!
Yu Man forced herself to calm down and was about to greet the two children when she met Xiu Xiu and Xiao Chun's two incredibly bright eyes. Their little faces were full of excitement and mischief, as if they were covering their mouths and giggling.
Yu Man coughed lightly, deliberately put on a stern face, and gently pushed their backs: "What are you looking at? Come in quickly! Xiuxiu, take out your homework and review it. Xiaochun, your mother isn't home, so eat here tonight."
She deftly slipped into the kitchen, clearing her mind, and with the ingredients she had, quickly stir-fried a plate of fragrant fried wild vegetables with pork cracklings. She then steamed a bowl of smooth egg custard, served with some warmed millet rice—simple yet tempting. She first served a bowl each to the eagerly waiting Xiu Xiu and Xiao Chun, letting them eat at the small table in the yard, and instructed Xiu Xiu to keep an eye on Xiao Chun.
Then, she found a bamboo basket with a lid and carefully filled two large bowls with the remaining food, the rice topped with glistening wild vegetables and tender yellow egg custard. After Xiaochun finished eating, she picked up the basket and led Xiaochun by the hand: "Come on, let me take you home, and I'll take the food to your father on the way. Your mother left in a hurry, so she probably didn't have time to cook."
When they arrived at Xiaochun's house, her father, who had difficulty walking, was leaning against the door looking around. When he saw Yu Man carrying a food basket, he paused for a moment. Yu Man told him about her encounter with Aunt Zhao, and Xiaochun's father smiled gratefully: "I was wondering where this girl had gone... I thought she had gone crazy again. Man'er, this... this is too much to ask..."
"Uncle, why are you being so polite with me? Eat it while it's hot." Yu Man handed over the basket.
Xiaochun's father didn't refuse much, and accepted it with a smile, thanking him repeatedly. He then turned around and scooped a handful of crisp pickled vegetables from his own pickling jar, insisting on giving them to Yu Man: "Homemade, it's nothing, take it back and try it!"
Yu Man thanked them and went home. At this time, Deng San Niang and Yu Chengfu also returned after finishing their work, and the family sat down together for a meal.
On the kang (heated brick bed), Deng Sanniang picked up some food with her chopsticks and asked, "Father, I've prepared all the incense, candles, paper money, sacrificial offerings, and fruits for the memorial service. Father's tenth death anniversary is in a couple of days, and we need to have a grand celebration. You decide whether to hold it at our own home or at your third brother's place? Mother is with him, so logically..."
In previous years, on the anniversary of his grandfather's death, since his grandmother lived with his third uncle in the next village and Yu Chengfu's family was of modest means, they would usually just hold a simple memorial service at home. But this year is a significant anniversary, marking ten years since his grandfather's death, so the ceremony needs to be more solemn and all the children should ideally gather together.
After finishing the last bite of rice, Yu Chengfu put down his chopsticks, wiped the sweat from his palms on his clothes, and then spoke as if he had made up his mind: "The matter of the ancestral sacrifice... the third brother brought it up today, meaning that it should be held at our house. The three of us siblings will kowtow to Father together."
The "home" he referred to was the home of his eldest brother. Although his grandmother lived with his third uncle, the old house and his grandfather's memorial tablet were still there, so it was reasonable for the eldest son to preside over the grand ceremony.
As soon as he said it, Yu Chengfu's eyes unconsciously and cautiously glanced at his eldest daughter, Yu Man. He knew that Aman was a shrewd and perceptive girl who understood many things. This year's memorial service was being held at their own home, which would inevitably bring up those unpleasant old stories from years ago when the family divided their property, especially the things that happened before and after her mother's death... Not to mention Aman, he himself also had some reservations. If it weren't for this important year, he wouldn't have been able to hold back.
Yu Man was sipping her soup when she felt her father's gaze and couldn't help but sigh softly. Her father was honest and soft-hearted, always trying to smooth things over and maintain a semblance of harmony, yet afraid of wronging himself. She swallowed the soup, looked up, and said calmly, "It's only right that we hold it in our family. Grandpa's memorial tablet is here, and you are the eldest son. The ten-year memorial service should be organized by our own family. Grandpa will be happy to see Uncle and Aunt come back together."
Deng San Niang didn't notice the subtle exchange of glances between the father and daughter, nor did she know much about the old grudges within the Yu family. She only knew that her family and her third uncle's family didn't have much contact and their relationship was superficial. Hearing both of them say this, she readily agreed: "Alright! Since it's decided to be at our house, I'll start making arrangements tomorrow! If we don't have enough tables, chairs, bowls, and chopsticks, I'll borrow some from the neighbors. I'll also double-check the offerings. I'll make sure everything is done perfectly!"
In her memory, the last time she had any proper interaction with her third uncle's family was when she gave birth to Xiuxiu. They did come, but didn't stay long, only leaving behind half a piece of cured meat that looked quite old and was almost spoiled at the edges. She was weak at the time and didn't think much of it. Later, her sister-in-law from her maternal family, who came to take care of her, complained privately that the third son of the Yu family was very uncouth. After that, there was even less interaction during holidays, except for her second sister, who was married to her husband's husband and lived in a neighboring village, with whom she would occasionally exchange some homegrown vegetables and dried vegetables.
After settling down, the family chatted for a while before washing up and resting.
In the stillness of the night, the oil lamp had long been extinguished. In the darkness, Yu Chengfu tossed and turned, finally letting out a deep sigh.
Deng San Niang was still awake when she heard him sigh. She asked in a low voice, "What's wrong? Still thinking about the sacrificial ceremony?"
Yu Chengfu remained silent for a while before murmuring, "...I wonder if Aman is still thinking about that matter..."
"Which matter?" Deng San Niang asked, puzzled. When she married into the family, A Man's mother had already passed away a few years earlier. She didn't know the details of what happened earlier when the family separated and when A Man's mother was seriously ill. She only vaguely felt that something was amiss.
She waited quietly for a while, and just as she was about to ask again, she heard Yu Chengfu's breathing gradually becoming even and heavy beside her—he had actually fallen asleep while talking.
Deng San Niang was so angry she wanted to laugh. Listening to his snoring, and then listening to the next room where there was no sound, she thought that Aman was probably fast asleep. She shook her head, stopped thinking about it, and closed her eyes.
On the day of the ancestral worship ceremony, just as dawn was breaking, Yu Chengfu changed into the new clothes he had just made and went to the village chief's house. The village chief, Yu Zhengde, was Yu's grandfather's cousin. He was highly respected in the village for his seniority, fairness, and integrity. It was most appropriate for him to preside over the opening of the ancestral hall.
Xingcheng Village is home to people of all surnames. Some came here to escape disasters, but the Yu family has lived on this yellow land for generations. Their ancestral hall is located at the east end of the village. It is made of blue bricks and black tiles. Although it is old, it is clean and tidy because the clansmen clean it from time to time. Yu Chengfu invited the village chief over and opened the heavy copper lock on the door of the ancestral hall.
Yu Man and Deng San Niang arrived shortly after. Although the ancestral hall wasn't dirty, the mother and daughter still carefully wiped the offering table, ancestral tablets, and chairs with freshly drawn water. Xiu Xiu, being small, arranged the items next to each other.
Not long after, Yu Chengfu's second sister, Yu Man's second aunt Yu Chengxiu, and her family arrived. The second aunt was gentle and soft-spoken; she was married to a similarly honest farmer from a neighboring village, surnamed Wang. The couple brought their only daughter, Wang Xing'er, who was three years younger than Yu Man. Xing'er inherited her parents' shyness; upon seeing Yu Man, she only whispered "Sister Man," then blushed and hid behind her mother.
"Brother, sister-in-law, Aman Xiuxiu, we're late." Second Aunt Yu Chengxiu greeted them with a smile. Her husband, Wang Zhiyi, also smiled憨厚ly and rolled up his sleeves to help move the long table used to display the offerings. Xing'er silently picked up a rag and continued to do some meticulous wiping work with Yu Man and Deng Sanniang.
My second aunt's family are honest and hardworking people. With their help, the ancestral hall was quickly and neatly tidied up inside and out.
Everything was ready, and all that was left was for the arrival of Uncle Yu Chenglu's family and his grandmother, who lived with Uncle Yu.
The ancestral hall fell silent for a moment, save for the occasional crowing of roosters and barking of dogs outside. Yu Chengfu stood at the door, glancing towards the village entrance every now and then. Deng Sanniang was arranging the incense and candles, while her second aunt, Yu Chengxiu, nervously clutched the hem of her clothes. She was gentle by nature and somewhat afraid of facing her domineering third sister-in-law and biased mother later. Xing'er clung tightly to her mother, barely daring to breathe.
As the sun rose higher, nearing noon, the atmosphere inside and outside the ancestral hall shifted from solemn anticipation to a tense and awkward one. Yu Chengfu paced faster and faster at the entrance, his brow furrowed. His second aunt, Yu Chengxiu, and her husband exchanged uneasy glances. Even the village head, Yu Zhengde, frowned. He stroked his white beard, gazing at the empty village entrance, and muttered under his breath, "Nonsense! Utter nonsense!"
On the tenth anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party, it was extremely impolite for his own family members to be late, making the elders and the village chief wait. What angered him even more was that the old lady of the Yu family, who lived with her third son, was also so ignorant of etiquette and allowed her son to be late.
Just then, footsteps approached from afar, but not from the village entrance; they came from another alley. Pei Mingyuan, accompanied by Pei Ji and his mother, appeared at the entrance of the ancestral hall, carrying prepared incense and offerings. According to village custom, in-laws or close friends would come to offer incense and mourn after the main family had already performed their own sacrifice. Pei Mingyuan had deliberately timed it, figuring the Yu family's own offerings should be nearly finished, before bringing his family over as a sign of respect.
But as soon as he stepped into the courtyard, he sensed that something was wrong. Although the ancestral hall was properly arranged and the incense and candles were lit, Yu Chengfu's family and his second aunt's family were just standing there, and the village chief looked displeased, so the main ceremony had obviously not yet begun.
Pei Mingyuan, being a perceptive man, immediately understood that the third branch of the Yu family had not yet arrived. Even he showed a hint of surprise and barely perceptible embarrassment on his face, and quickly stepped forward to bow to the village chief and Yu Chengfu: "Uncle Zhengde, Brother Chengfu, it seems we have arrived early and have disturbed you."
Village chief Yu Zhengde sighed and waved his hand: "Mingyuan, it's not your fault, it's Chenglu and the others... sigh!" He didn't want to say anything bad about his younger generation in front of outsiders.
Pei Ji followed behind his father, his gaze immediately falling on Yu Man. He saw her standing quietly by the offering table, her expression serene.
Feeling embarrassed, Madam Pei whispered to Deng San Niang, "San Niang, how about we go back first and come back later?"
Deng San Niang was seething with anger, but she couldn't let it out. Just as she was about to speak, she heard Yu Man's voice: "Uncle Pei, Aunt Liu, since you've come, it's a sign of respect for the grandfather. There's no reason to let our guests make a wasted trip. Why don't you sit in the side room for a while and have some tea? I suppose Uncle and the others... are just delayed by something on the way, they'll be here soon."
Her words were perfectly tactful, fulfilling all the proper etiquette without embarrassing the Pei family, while also subtly attributing the Third Uncle's family's lateness to a mere "delay," giving both sides a way out.
Seeing that Yu Man was so calm and sensible, Pei Mingyuan's impression of her as "intelligent but not used properly" changed slightly, and he nodded in agreement: "Then we will bother you for a moment."
Just as the three members of the Pei family were being led to a side room, Yu Chengfu's face grew increasingly grim. As he prepared to go to the village entrance, a commotion finally came from that direction. A slightly worn donkey cart slowly approached, carrying the belated Yu Chenglu family, along with the stern-faced old lady of the Yu family, who was being carefully supported by her daughter-in-law, Li Shi.
All eyes, inside and outside the ancestral hall, instantly focused on it.
A note from the author:
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