Over the next few days, with Chen Yang's encouragement, the couplets were primarily completed by the two young girls, Shen Pandi and Shen Rong.
Following the example, they also practiced calligraphy at school, though their handwriting wasn't as beautiful as Chen Yang's.
However, with practice, they became more proficient. In front of calligraphy masters, these couplets would have been a disaster. But to these farmers, most of whom could only recognize their own names, they were quite good.
Despite the long-term literacy campaign, for those born in the fifties, forties, or even thirties, learning to write their names was already a remarkable achievement.
Only the younger ones, who had attended higher primary school or junior middle school, with few attending high school, would receive the couplets and offer compliments, greatly boosting Shen Rong and Shen Pandi's confidence.
This was exactly what Chen Yang wanted to see. Just like encouraging his son, Chen Yang hoped this would help Shen Rong and Shen Pandi become more confident.
After the college entrance examination, with their current grades, they were expected to get into university without any issues.
Later, when they went to study in big cities, they would encounter many highly capable classmates. Some would come from families of scholars, others would have parents who were professors, and some would have privileged backgrounds.
University is a microcosm of society. Many children from rural areas, who had never left their villages before going to university, might feel intimidated by others' excellence, realizing that besides getting into university, they had no other special skills.
Children from cities could dance, do calligraphy, play the piano, or play the violin, while they only knew farm work or herding cattle. This could easily lead to inferiority complex, making them reluctant to participate in group activities, which would be detrimental to their academic and social life in school over time.
Of course, some would use their perceived shortcomings as motivation to learn more, but this depended on individual personality.
Chen Yang's current goal was to make Shen Pandi and Shen Rong more confident, so they would be the type of people who, upon discovering disparities, would not feel inferior or discouraged, but instead strive to improve themselves, to reach or even surpass others.
As Chinese New Year's Eve approached, Chen Yang woke up early. He dressed the baby and Chen Hao in new clothes. Shen Xue styled the baby's hair into two small braids and placed a vermillion dot on her forehead, making it a particularly grand occasion.
Shen Xue also carefully styled Chen Hao's short hair. The two little ones standing together looked like a pair of New Year's painting babies, incredibly cute.
Yesterday, he and his father-in-law had gone to the market and bought plenty of food, including two roast chickens and twenty pounds of meat.
From New Year's Eve to the seventh day of the new year, there would be no vendors. After a year of hard work, everyone would be celebrating the holiday.
Even the food factory had given its workers time off for the Lunar New Year. After a whole year of work, everyone deserved a good celebration and to visit relatives and friends during the first month of the year.
After dressing up the two children, Chen Yang and Shen Xue also changed into new clothes. It was tradition to wear new clothes for the New Year to welcome the new and bid farewell to the old. The family of four wore matching outfits, looking especially festive together.
His father-in-law and mother-in-law had also put on the new clothes made by Liang Hongmei early in the morning. Shen Rong and Shen Pandi were also wearing new clothes. Yesterday, when Chen Yang went to town to buy groceries, he had picked up the clothes made for Shen Pandi.
Liang Hongmei's craftsmanship was truly exceptional. The whole family, young and old, wearing new clothes, was filled with joy.
"Dad, let's paste the couplets and the door gods. The photographer will be here at ten o'clock to take a family portrait."
"In 1979, our lives should be as prosperous and thriving as the couplets we're about to hang."
Chen Yang had specifically arranged for the family portrait yesterday in the county town. He had paid several times the usual price, and only then did the photographer agree to come to their home.
Normally, the photography fee would be submitted to the authorities. However, the extra payment would undoubtedly go into the photographer's pocket. If Chen Yang hadn't offered such an exorbitant amount, who would be willing to travel to the countryside to take pictures during the New Year?
"Alright, I'll go get the ladder."
"Dear, is the paste ready? Hurry and get a basinful. I'm ready to help Yang Zi paste the couplets."
Upon hearing about the photography, Shen Futang became fully energized.
His father-in-law had never had his photograph taken in his life.
Chen Yang also felt that the last day of 1978 should be marked with some kind of memory.
Ideally, they should have a family portrait taken once a year. In the future, these photos would be cherished memories.
"The paste has been ready for a while. My good grandchildren, you mustn't eat this; it's for pasting couplets."
"If you want to eat, Grandma will make you millet porridge; it's delicious."
Liu Chunmei affectionately stroked the little ones' heads, her heart filled with joy.
"Grandma, I want to paste couplets with Daddy."
The baby raised his chubby hand, wanting to carry the paste basin, but he was too short to reach the table where the couplets were placed even on tiptoe.
"Sister, you can't even reach the couplets. Watch me. I can climb onto the stool and help Daddy paste them."
Chen Hao clung to the stool, scrambling up onto the table in no time, about to dip his hand into the paste.
"You two, don't cause trouble. This paste was made by your grandma early this morning with rice water and flour. Don't waste it all."
"Daddy, give us candy, and go play somewhere else."
Chen Yang lifted Chen Hao down, squeezed the little ones' chubby cheeks, and gave each of them two candies and a small handful of raisins. The two children immediately stopped fussing.
Shen Pandi and Shen Rong took the opportunity to lead them outside to play in the yard. Chen Yang and his father-in-law quickly applied the paste and then climbed the ladder to hang the couplets.
After finishing the couplets and door gods at Chen Yang's house, they immediately went to his father-in-law's house to do the same. By the time they returned, the photographer had already arrived.
Shen Xue and the others had already arranged the stools. His father-in-law and mother-in-law sat in the middle. Chen Yang and Shen Xue stood behind them, each holding a child. Shen Rong crouched in front.
The first family portrait was taken.
Seeing Shen Pandi's envious gaze, her mother-in-law beckoned her over.
"Child, come here, you and Er Ni come to us. From now on, consider this your home. If you don't mind, you can recognize me as your godmother, and you'll have a companion in Er Ni."
Liu Chunmei was a soft-hearted woman, always feeling pity for this girl, unloved by her parents.
Having spent these days together, she had come to genuinely like this diligent and sensible young girl. She helped beautifully with tasks in the kitchen, from starting the fire to cooking, washing vegetables, and chopping them.
What a good girl she was. Luo Yuzhen was blind not to cherish her. Look at Er Ni, who was still like a child who hadn't grown up.
She had to wake her up every morning to eat, even though they were almost the same age. Shen Pandi was so much more sensible.
"Godmother, I will treat you as my own mother from now on."
Shen Pandi knelt beside Liu Chunmei, almost moved to tears. In this family, she felt a warmth and kinship even greater than she had experienced with her own parents.
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