Chapter 79

In South Korea, the most important activity during the Lunar New Year is the ancestral memorial service. On the morning of the Lunar New Year, Koreans wake up early, put on beautiful hanboks, and perform the ancestral memorial service. Koreans believe that the deceased ancestors only return on this day to taste the sacrificial food.

The next morning, before dawn, Xia Hou Zhong Ying got up and, looking in the mirror, put on a new hanbok that Jin Zhi Yong had given him the night before, following the method he had taught him.

Men's hanboks consist of jeogori-baji (a vest and pants), Zhouyi, daopo, hechangyi, shenyi, magua, and zilingpao. Typically, the jeogori-baji is worn as the base, with other outer garments layered on top.

The hanbok Jin Zhi Yong lent Xia Hou Zhong Ying was white inside, with purple pants, and a red magua on top. After tying the wide cuffs of the pants and the ropes on the body, and putting on a pair of gubae shoes, he looked at himself in the mirror and almost fainted. He felt so awkward that he was embarrassed to face anyone.

Carefully opening the door a crack, he peeked out and saw that the Jin family and Huang Mei Ying were already up, all dressed in hanboks waiting for him. He couldn't delay any longer, so he steeled himself and walked out of the room.

"Uncle, Happy New Year; Aunt, Happy New Year; Brother Zhi Yong, Happy New Year; Tae Yeon, Happy New Year..." Xia Hou Zhong Ying walked out of the room, smiling awkwardly and wishing everyone a Happy New Year.

"Wow, Brother Zhong Ying, you look really good in the hanbok." Huang Mei Ying's eyes lit up as she praised him.

"Indeed, you do look very good," Jin's mother said with a smile, nodding.

"Hehe, I think you all look even better in women's hanboks. You look completely different from usual, and if you walked down the street, you might not even recognize each other," Xia Hou Zhong Ying said with a smile.

"Does that mean we look prettier or uglier?" Huang Mei Ying giggled and asked.

"Of course, prettier," Xia Hou Zhong Ying answered without hesitation.

"That means we don't look as pretty usually," Huang Mei Ying feigned anger, pretending to be upset.

"Tsk, Pani, you don't have to tease me," Xia Hou Zhong Ying said with a smile. "Be careful, I might be forced to say you don't look pretty usually. It's the first day of the New Year, so it's better to say nice things, hahaha."

Xia Hou Zhong Ying's witty compliments made everyone laugh.

"Brother Zhong Ying, your clothes aren't properly worn," Jin Tae Yeon said with a smile, walking up to Xia Hou Zhong Ying and helping him straighten his hanbok, like a little wife helping her husband.

Huang Mei Ying envied the two, thinking they were really affectionate.

The Jin family watched the two with smiles, seemingly already accepting Xia Hou Zhong Ying as part of the family.

"Heh," Xia Hou Zhong Ying awkwardly said, feeling stiff all over, not daring to move. He whispered, "Tae Yeon, I can do it myself."

"You're wearing the hanbok for the first time, how do you know how to straighten it? Look, the ties are all wrong. They need to be retied," Jin Tae Yeon said, slightly annoyed.

"Um, Tae Yeon, they're all watching," Xia Hou Zhong Ying whispered, reminding her. "It's not good, I'll do it myself."

"Tae Yeon, we're going to your uncle's house first. Help Zhong Ying get dressed and then bring him over," Jin's mother saw Xia Hou Zhong Ying's embarrassed red face and quickly decided to leave, pulling the others along, leaving the two behind.

The Jin family is a considerable family in Jeonju. For the New Year's ancestral memorial service, the entire family gathers at the eldest branch's house. The wives of each family have to wake up early to help with the household chores, and it's not good to arrive late, as it might invite gossip from other branches.

"Yes, Mom, I understand," Jin Tae Yeon sighed in relief and quickly agreed. Honestly, making such intimate gestures in front of her parents was quite stressful for her.

After the Jin family arrived at Jin Tae Yeon's uncle's house, they split up. Jin's father chatted with the heads of other families, the young people had their own world, with the boys and girls forming separate groups. Huang Mei Ying joined the girls, and Jin Zhi Yong joined the boys. Jin's mother stayed with the other wives to do the household chores.

Every Lunar New Year, Korean women put on beautiful traditional attire and spend the whole day in the kitchen. Foreign women who marry into Korean families also have to work from morning till night. They are responsible for preparing all the "New Year's meals." A wife's cooking skills are an important standard for being a "good wife." When preparing the "New Year's meals," the wives show off their skills and encourage each other. When the dishes are served and praised by the family, the wives feel their hard work is rewarded.

When the women gather, they naturally engage in gossip and boasting. As soon as Jin's mother entered the kitchen, another woman from another branch asked her, "Zhi Yong's mother, what about the boy Tae Yeon brought home? Is he a son-in-law?"

"Not yet, they're just good friends now. Besides, Tae Yeon is still young, and her training as an entertainer is very demanding. Her career is important, so there's no rush," Jin's mother said with a smile, intentionally mentioning her daughter's future as an entertainer.

"But it can't be delayed. Girls grow up quickly. Tae Yeon is 16, right? She's at the age to get married," another woman said. "Like our Se Yeon, who got married at 17. I was so heartbroken, I cried, not wanting to let her go, worried she would be bullied by her mother-in-law. Fortunately, her husband treats her well, buying her whatever she wants. This year, he even bought her an imported car, replacing her old Hyundai after less than two years. It was such a waste."

The woman whose daughter was Se Yeon had a look of complaint but a smile of pride, as if saying, "Look, how good my daughter's in-laws are."

"True, Se Yeon is beautiful, so she has a good life. She doesn't have to work. The last time I saw her, she looked much whiter than before. Our Jin Yeon, on the other hand, has a hard time, often being bullied by her mother-in-law. She even called me the other day to complain," another woman sighed, looking enviously at Se Yeon's mother.

"Indeed, when girls get married, they need to be careful. Not only should the husband be good, but the mother-in-law should be good too. Otherwise, they will suffer," another woman said, then looked at Jin's mother and asked, "By the way, Zhi Yong's mother, what does the family of the boy Tae Yeon brought home do?"

"He's not from our country. He's from China. His father is the president of a large state-owned company's branch in Korea," Jin's mother said proudly. "He's studying in Seoul but has already started his own business, directing movies. The one I mentioned before, with Lee Hyori, Tae Yeon also has a role in it."

"A foreign son-in-law, and his father is a big company president, so he's from a wealthy family. He's also talented, getting Lee Hyori to act in his movie, helping Tae Yeon gain fame. Tae Yeon has a good life," a woman said enviously. "And I hear China is very developed now, so wives won't be bullied by mothers-in-law. I really envy Tae Yeon."

Before Jin's mother arrived, the woman whose daughter was Se Yeon had the best in-laws and the most comfortable life, making her the center of attention among the women, satisfying her vanity.

But as soon as Jin's mother revealed Xia Hou Zhong Ying's identity, she was immediately overshadowed, feeling uncomfortable and jealous. "Zhi Yong's mother, you should be careful. I've heard that rich young men are often playboys, playing with girls' feelings. By the time they get hurt, it's too late to regret."

"Zhong Ying is a good boy," Jin's mother said, clearly upset. "His family has good morals. I heard from Tae Yeon that his father controls his living expenses to prevent him from spending money recklessly on making movies. This boy is hardworking. A rich kid, yet he runs around every day to get sponsorships, working hard. When Tae Yeon told me, I almost cried. How can such a good boy be a playboy?"

"True, not all rich kids are bad. There are good ones too," the mother of Jin Yeon agreed. "And Tae Yeon is so beautiful, and she will be an entertainer. Marrying a rich man is fitting. I think that boy really likes Tae Yeon, or he wouldn't have come home for the New Year with her."

Jin's mother smiled widely, humbly responding.

"By the way, Zhi Yong's mother, why didn't Tae Yeon and the foreign son-in-law come with you? I didn't see them when you came in. I did see a pretty girl with you," a woman asked.

"Zhong Ying is wearing a hanbok for the first time and doesn't know how to wear it properly, so Tae Yeon stayed behind to help him. They'll be here soon. The girl is Tae Yeon's friend from the same company. Her family is in America, and she's alone in Korea, so Tae Yeon invited her to spend the New Year with us," Jin's mother said with a smile.

"Oh, I see. I'll have to take a good look at the foreign son-in-law when Tae Yeon comes. I want to see what kind of person he is to catch Tae Yeon's eye," a woman said with a smile.

"Don't call Zhong Ying a foreign son-in-law in front of him. He's shy, and it will make him uncomfortable," Jin's mother said. "And they're not officially together yet, so it's not good to call him that."

"Oh, he's already spending the New Year with Tae Yeon. Isn't that clearly a son-in-law? What's there to be shy about?" the woman laughed.

"Here they come," a woman who was frequently looking at the entrance said excitedly as she saw Xia Hou Zhong Ying and Jin Tae Yeon walk in. "The foreign son-in-law is here. Wow, he really looks good. He and Tae Yeon are a perfect match."

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