With less farm work to be done, the off-season for farmers is slowly beginning.
There's only some light work in the fields, like managing vegetables and pruning fruit trees. The men in the family use their spare time to do odd jobs and earn some extra money.
Fang Shugen's mother said she was going to visit relatives during the off-season, so she went out as well.
There were only three people in the family: Fang Shugen, Fang Shugen, and Fang Shugen.
Fang Shugen's father used to be a bamboo craftsman, and Fang Shugen learned some simple skills from him.
During the off-season for farming, Fang Shugen makes brooms and bamboo baskets.
They would go to town to sell their wares during the Lunar New Year to earn some money.
The roots of the square tree were split open to cut through the green bamboo, and the strips fell down in a rustling sound, forming the frame of a broom.
The warm winter sun shone on Fang Shugen's rough hands.
Hua Mei squatted by the doorway, picking vegetables, pinching the withered yellow leaves between her fingers and tossing them into the bamboo basket one by one.
The sound of a baby crying came from inside the house. Hua Mei hurriedly stood up and picked up her daughter, sitting on a bamboo chair by the threshold, quietly watching Fang Shugen work.
Fang Shugen looked up and saw Hua Mei staring at him.
"What, you want to learn too?" Fang Shugen teased her.
Hua Mei lowered her head, a smile she couldn't hide playing on her lips.
Wait a moment, Hua Mei came out carrying her daughter in one arm and a bowl of warm water in the other, and placed it on a low stool at the foot of the tree.
Seeing that he was sweating, I picked up the towel draped over the back of the chair and handed it to him.
Hua Mei has been unusually gentle and quiet these past few days.
She didn't know what her mother-in-law had gone to do, but she really enjoyed the days when it was just the three of them at home.
She truly hoped that the three of them could continue living peacefully like this.
A week or so later, Fang Shugen's mother came back, shouting as she entered the door, seemingly very excited.
“Everything is arranged,” she said softly as she walked to Fang Shugen’s side.
Fang Shugen's mother was in a good mood after returning home, and would occasionally hum a little tune while working.
Every household has started preparing for the Lunar New Year.
The processing workshops in the neighboring village have already started making rice cakes.
Fang Shugen's family is mixing the glutinous rice and regular rice in the right proportions, soaking them overnight, and will take them to the processing workshop tomorrow.
"Mother, should we make less this year? You and Hua Mei will be going there for a while next year," Fang Shugen said in a low voice while weighing the rice.
"Just like last year, we'll bring something with us when we go."
"Oh, okay."
Early in the morning, before the mist had completely dissipated, thick smoke was already billowing from the chimneys of the rice cake factory.
At the factory gate, a long queue had already formed, with villagers from neighboring villages carrying baskets full of soaked rice, their faces filled with anticipation.
Stepping into the rice cake factory, the heat and aroma of rice immediately dispel the winter chill.
Inside was a row of steaming stoves.
The water in the large pot was boiling, and the steamers were stacked one on top of the other, with steam constantly rising from the gaps.
Inside the stove, firewood crackled and burned, casting a red glow on the faces of the workers and the entire factory.
Fang Meili also came to the rice cake factory with her parents.
Everyone was busy working while chatting and catching up.
"Your daughter is quite diligent and lively. How old is she this year?" asked Meixiang's mother, an old lady from the neighboring village who was also queuing up to make rice cakes.
"I'll be 23 after the New Year."
"Oh, have you found a good family for them?"
Not yet?
"You're getting on in years, what kind of family are you looking for?"
"Young man, be down-to-earth. As for your family's circumstances, we're just farmers, we're doing alright."
"Would you like to visit my cousin's son in our village? He's a tall and strong young man, and he's also very hardworking."
"Hehehe, no rush, let me ask my daughter first," Meixiang's mother said, declining the offer.
This year, the rice cake factory installed a new machine. After the rice is steamed, it is poured into the machine and comes out as strips of rice cake. The snow-white rice cakes wriggle out of the small opening of the machine like worms, and the people in the rice cake factory cut them into sections.
The sliced rice cakes were taken out and laid out to dry on bamboo trays.
Rice cakes can also be baked in the oven; the crispy exterior makes them even more fragrant.
"Meili, bake some pieces and take them to Meixiang later. Meixiang likes to eat this too."
Fang Meixiang's mother added a few extra pieces to the roasting.
Before going to bed that night, she said, "Her dad, Meili will be 23 after the New Year. We should make a decision."
"Meihao is capable of getting into university based on her current grades, but it's hard to say until the results are released."
"Yes, if she can get into university, she'll have a government job, and Mei Li can find a son-in-law to live with her. If she doesn't get in, the two sisters can discuss it themselves and decide who wants to stay at home."
"Is Meihao taking the exam next July?"
"Well, let's wait until Mei has taken the exam before we talk about it. I was making rice cakes today. People from the neighboring village were trying to find a husband for Mei. I just gave them a few casual replies. Actually, she's about the right age to find a husband."
The Lunar New Year period is also the time when matchmakers are most active.
The matchmakers were unaware of their family's arrangements, and several matchmakers had already come to inquire about Mei Li's situation.
Fang Meixiang's mother said to wait and see.
"Still waiting? If you wait any longer, you'll become an old maid! Get married early, while you're still young and have the means to choose your partner."
"A girl should marry early and enjoy happiness sooner. Once the New Year is over and spring arrives, there will be no time to carefully select a bride."
After hearing so much from the matchmaker, Fang Meixiang's mother started to worry that it might make her too old.
“Meili, you’re old enough to find a husband. We have three daughters. My older sister married Da Miao, and she’s in the same situation. You and Meihao, Dad and I are hoping that one of you will stay at home and find a husband to live with you.”
"Mom, let Meihao stay at home. I'm getting married," Fang Meili replied resolutely.
"You even have this thought in your mind?"
"Yes." Fang Meili bit her lip.
From a young age, she would get very angry when her classmates said that she had a mentally challenged older sister, but there was nothing she could do to change that.
Fang Meixiang married into the village, and some people jokingly called her "Da Miao's Second Sister-in-Law," which she found very offensive.
She didn't want to have to find a son-in-law to live with her in the village again.
"We don't know if Meihao can get into university. If she does, she'll get a job and her household registration will have to be transferred. We originally wanted to wait until after her exam to see."
Fang Meili kept her head down, flicking her nails with her fingers without saying a word.
“But we’re worried about getting too old for you. Several matchmakers have come to talk to us this year, so we wanted to ask for your opinion first,” Fang Meixiang’s mother continued.
"Why don't we ask Mei Hao now?" Fang Meili looked up and shouted at the top of her lungs, "Mei Hao, Mei Hao!"
Fang Meihao came down from upstairs.
"Meihao, are you confident about getting into university?"
"It's hard to say before the exam. Some people study very well, but their scores don't match their usual performance when it comes to the crucial moment of the exam."
"If, and I mean if, you don't pass the exam, you can find a son-in-law to live with you in the future, and have your husband come to live with you."
Fang Mei blushed, "You're not even married yet, and you're talking about me being married."
"We're discussing it now. Mom said that one of our husbands will come to our house."
"Meihao, do you want to stay at home from now on?"
"I have a long way to go, I haven't thought about it, and I don't know."
"Asking you is the same as not asking at all, so how can we discuss it? You should go upstairs and read your book." Fang Meili waved her hand.
Fang Meihao obediently went back upstairs.
“Focus on your studies and don’t think about anything else.” After saying that, Fang Meixiang’s mother turned to Fang Meili and said, “Dad and I had this plan before, but we didn’t ask for your opinion. Now we know what you think. You said we also want Meihao to get into university, and you…”
"Alright, alright, Mother, the exam is next July, so it's only half a year. Let's talk about it after Mei takes the exam. I'm not in such a hurry to get married. Let me take care of Nian Dongqiang a little longer."
"Dong Qiang?" Fang Meili fell into deep thought. She had an idea in her mind, but she didn't know if it was appropriate.
Fang Meili glanced at her mother.
She pursed her lips and didn't say anything, deciding to wait until Mei Hao finished her exams in July.
February 12, 1983, was Lunar New Year's Eve. CCTV held its first Spring Festival Gala, but in this small village, no one had a television set.
Just like every Lunar New Year's Eve, everyone was busy preparing for the New Year's Eve dinner early in the morning.
The firewood brought from the woodshed was piled up thickly behind the stove.
On this day, the wind carried the aroma of meat.
Children who have new clothes can't wait to put them on after taking a bath on New Year's Eve.
The adults behind them shouted, "Don't get it dirty, or you won't get new clothes tomorrow!"
In the evening, an eight-immortal table was set up in the courtyard, and the table was filled with abundant offerings: steaming braised pork, a whole poached chicken, noodles, and rice.
Once everything is ready, a firecracker will be set off to notify the ancestors to come for a meal.
Incense and candles are lit, and wisps of smoke rise up. The family members kowtow in order of seniority, solemnly and devoutly.
As night falls, the New Year's Eve dinner begins.
A year's hard work finds solace in this meal.
While the village housewives were planning what dishes to cook for Lunar New Year's Eve.
Yu Jihong was thinking about what flowers to put on the New Year's Eve dinner table.
She thought the azaleas she had placed on the dining table last time were very beautiful.
Today there are delicious dishes on the table, and she also wants to put a beautiful vase of flowers in the middle.
There aren't many flowers blooming this season.
She cut a few sprigs of wintersweet, shook off the snow, and placed them in the middle of the table early in the morning.
"Is it pretty?" Yu Jihong picked up Fang Yu.
"It looks great!" Fang Yu clapped her hands happily.
Yu Jihong put Fang Yu down, and just as Fang Yu's feet were about to touch the ground, Yu Jihong picked her up again.
Sitting on one side of the table, framed by flowers.
Tilting her head, she forced a smile amidst her disappointment, capturing this moment of longing.
"Another year has passed!" She looked at Fang Yu, a chill running through her.
"Third brother, let's go take photos in the first month of the lunar year."
Yu Jihong said to Fang Sandi, who was tending the fire in front of the furnace.
"good."
On Lunar New Year's Eve last year, Fang Meixiang was in postpartum confinement.
Fang Damiao ate at her house, and Fang Meixiang's mother sent food over to Fang Meixiang.
This year, Fang Damiao and his family burned the fire themselves.
"I wonder what Meixiang and the others are eating?" Fang Meixiang's mother looked at the meat on the table. The whole family was eating, but Fang Meixiang hadn't had any, and she was thinking about it.
"Da Miao won't skimp on his appetite."
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