Chapter 69.2

Translated by Aviana

Ever since laoer had returned (from the army), their family had always set off a string of firecrackers before the family dinner, displaying their prosperous days and that their family would be even prosperous in the years to come. To abruptly not set off this year, when they had been doing this for the past few years, and that to when the laoer and laosan’s families have separated recently. How would other villagers see their family?

In the end, Yang laoyezi still very much cared about his face. After all, However, what use of being over-sensitive about how you are regarded by others when people themselves weren’t present?

Just when Yang laoyezi was about to ask Yang Tieshuan to go out and set off firecrackers, he found that He-shi didn’t even buy them. At that moment, he had an impulse to smack He-shi. But when He-shi’s old face fell into his eyes and considering that today was New Year’s Eve, he refrained from raising his hand. Only when he heard the laoer and laosan set off firecrackers outside did he loosen his breath in relief.

After all, the firecrackers had been set off in their home, and outsiders wouldn’t know which family had set them off.

Once his anger cooled down, everyone gathered around the table to have dinner after offering sacrifices to the ancestors. But when Yang laoyezi swept a glance at the dishes on the table, his fury returned.

He was well aware that his old wife wanted to save money for laosi’s marriage. But, after one long busy, and tiring year, they got to celebrate New Year and have the family dinner. Yet what awaited them was a mere watery soup, pickled vegetables, and a dish of potatoes—truly a shameful matter.

However, He-shi nevertheless knew how to set priorities. While offering sacrifices to the ancestors, she arranged a lot of meaty dishes and mantous; although not as sumptuous as past years, they were still passable. As for the dinner menu, she sadly recounted.

“This year, meat wasn’t bought. I had used those presents given by laoer and laosan as offerings for ancestors. You also know what sort of situation the family is facing now. After the new year, laosi also has to get married…” He-shi wiped the rims of her eyes. Since it was ominous to cry on the lunar new year’s eve, she didn’t shed tears, nor did she bawl. But she kept wiping the rims of her eyes.

With a hunched waist, Yang laoyezi let out a sigh. After a while, he stood up and walked to the small table where the offerings to the ancestors were served. Standing in front of the ancestral memorial tablet, he began voicing a few words, pleading for forgiveness, such as the circumstances at home weren’t optimal and the likes. After doing so, he brought down the meat dishes that were used as offerings.

Usually, people tend to keep the offerings by the ancestors’ memorial tablets until they had New Year’s family dinner. But of course, some poor families also offer sacrifices to the ancestors properly before retrieving the dishes and having the family dinner. Many years back, Yang jia also followed similar practices every year. But as their days progressively became better, Yang laoyezi had long forgotten this. Abruptly having to do this, again, he couldn’t reconcile with it for a while.

Glancing at the meat on the table, the eldest branch’s kids’ eyes all gleamed with brightness. Even Yang Tieshuan and Wang-shi’s downtrodden complexions improved a lot. Ever since the second and third branches had split up, as the number of people had decreased, Yang jia began having meals at one table rather than two. The eldest branch’s kids also joined in the main table along with Yang laoyezi and the others.

After Yang laoyezi picked up the chopsticks and took the first bite, everyone else began moving their chopsticks. Their chopsticks flew across the table. Glancing at how savory everyone was eating, Yang laoyezi inexplicably became despondent. Obviously, he was the one who had asked them to not come for the meal in a fit of pique. But then, why was he feeling as if something was missing….

Recalling those two sons of his who refused to yield, Yang laoyezi fiercely guzzled a sip of wine.

On the other side, the few people in the second branch’s room were merrily eating and chatting—a perfect image of a harmonious atmosphere. Yang Tiezhu and Yang Tiegen even took out a jug of wine and began drinking. Lin Qingwan initially wanted to forbid him from drinking, but considering that today was Lunar New Year’s Eve, she didn’t stop him.

Once everyone ate their fill, Yao-shi and Lin Qingwan tidied up the table.

Thereupon, everyone sat in a circle around the kang table on the kang. Yao-shi brought out a plate of dry fruits Yang Tiegen had bought along with melon seeds, peanuts, stir-fried green beans, and a plate of zaotang. They casually chit-chatted as they snacked on them.

灶糖 (Zào Táng): Zao means kitchen and tang mean candy or sweets; literally it means “Kitchen Candy,” is a sweet treat made of maltose, used as a sacrifice to the Kitchen God

It was customary to stay up all night on lunar New Year’s Eve till the hour of rat, before going to bed.

Hour of Rat/zǐshí(子时): Zi Shi starts from 11 p.m. and ends at 1 a.m. It means the last moment of a day and also refers to the beginning of a new day. Zi Shi is with Chinese zodiac Rat sign as rats are usually active for foraging at midnight.

Lin Qingwan placed the melon seeds in her hand down, took out two red envelopes from the kang cabinet, and gifted to the two little girls, “Come here, have this, this is new year money for you two from your second bobo and second bomu.”

bó bo (伯伯): father’s older brother bó mǔ (伯母): father’s older brother’s wife

The two little girls glanced at their mother. Seeing Yao-sho nod, they jubilantly received them.”

“Thank you second bomu, second bobo.” The two little girls expressed their gratitude in unison.

Adults can stay awake late into the night, but for kids, it was hard. After sitting for a while, the two girls leaned against Yao-shi and dozed off. Yao-shi and Yang Tiegen carried the two girls back to the rooms before returning. Upon glancing at the two sleeping girls, Lin Qingwan let out a yawn one after the other as if sleepiness was contagious.

Even while she was chatting with Yao-shi, her head kept nodding off. Ever since the beginning of her gestation, she seemed to be feeling drowsy a lot.

Lin Qingwan didn’t remember when she slipped into slumber. She only remembered that while she was in sleep, when Yang Tiezhu embraced her with one arm, intending to tuck her into the kang, she opened her eyes in a daze.

“What about others?”

She didn’t know when, but Yao-shi and Yang Tiegen seemed to have already left, and the second branch’s room door had also been bored from inside.

Yang Tiezhu caressed his wife’s small face, “Sleepyhead, third younger brother, and third dimei had already retired to their room.”

弟妹 (dìmèi): younger brother’s wife

“Is it past the hour of the rat?”

“En, now go to sleep, sweet dreams.” Yang Tiezhu also laid on the kang and got under the quilt.

Lin Qingwan stared blankly before abruptly embracing Yang Tiezhu and kissing his forehead. Letting out a yawn, she then sank into slumber.

Husband, Happy new year! I am glad that I don’t have to spend this year alone!

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