On the second day of the Lunar New Year, according to the customs of Shenjiaba, married daughters return to their maternal homes to pay New Year's greetings.
This can also be said to be the son-in-law paying New Year's greetings to his parents-in-law. Of course, the children also pay greetings to their maternal grandparents and uncles. Shen Futang and his brother's parents have long passed away, and Zhao Donglai and his wife's three sons are not yet married, so they don't need to pay greetings to their parents-in-law.
Therefore, on the second day of the new year, Zhao Donglai and Shen Xiaoxia, carrying large bags of gifts, went to their two elder brothers' homes to pay New Year's greetings early in the morning.
Chen Yang didn't know what Cui Xiufang had said to her mother-in-law and wife yesterday, but now they were all acting like a loving family.
The two sisters-in-law were busy in the kitchen early in the morning preparing dishes for today's feast. Hosting guests had always been a rotating responsibility between Shen Futang and Shen Guangfu, but regardless of who was hosting, both sides would work together in preparation.
Last year, the two aunts' families were hosted at Uncle Shen Guangfu's house. Today, it was Chen Yang's father-in-law's turn to host.
Chen Yang's new house had an eight-immortal table, and they had a carpenter make a large round tabletop for it. With so many people today, they couldn't fit without the round tabletop. So, they decided to have the feast at Chen Yang's house instead of his father-in-law's courtyard.
Shen Rong, Shen Pandi, and Shen Mei, along with two little ones, were playing with firecrackers in the courtyard.
These were toys that children loved, and they had to set off firecrackers on New Year's Eve and the first day of the new year.
There were inevitably some scattered firecrackers with unlit fuses on the ground, and these little brats would pick them up, put them in their pockets, and play with them secretly.
Later, as living conditions improved, factories specifically made scratch-and-snap firecrackers for children. With their New Year's money, children would buy these things to their hearts' content at the small shops by the village entrance.
Even later, there were more varieties: all sorts of fireworks, like sparklers, double-burst firecrackers, and sky rockets...
Many people might still remember that the scariest thing about returning home for the New Year was walking down an alley and a snot-nosed child grinning at you.
These little brats were up to something mischievous. You clearly knew there were firecrackers in the alley, but you just didn't know where.
Then, when you were caught off guard, the firecrackers would suddenly explode, scaring you. Just as you were about to find the naughty kids to settle the score, they would have already run off in a flash.
The babies, Bao Baozi and Chen Yang's two little ones, were still too young, so Shen Rong and the others didn't dare let them play. They just followed behind them.
Shen Mei's two younger brothers, Shen Wen and Shen Wu, were eight or nine-year-old boys, right in their mischievous phase, and they played non-stop.
Just then, Zhao Donglai and his wife, carrying gifts, were arriving at the entrance with their three children. They hadn't even entered yet.
"Bang."
"Bang bang."
The sudden sounds of firecrackers nearly startled him.
Setting off firecrackers wasn't the scary part. It was firecrackers that suddenly exploded at your feet that were truly frightening.
"You two little bastards, you scared your eldest aunt and uncle.
"Hurry up and greet them."
Shen Guangfu and Shen Futang were squatting in the corner smoking. During the New Year, they had switched from dried tobacco to Hongmei cigarettes, fearing they might affect the children, so they moved to a farther corner to smoke.
"Eldest aunt, uncle, happy New Year."
Seeing Zhao Donglai and Shen Xiaoxia arrive, they quickly went to greet them.
Shen Xue also came out and quickly led her younger siblings to greet them.
"Big brother, second brother, happy New Year."
"Shen Wen, Shen Wu, you two boys, those firecrackers almost blew a hole in your uncle's shoe sole."
"Shen Rong, Shen Mei, you two girls are getting prettier as you grow up."
They didn't usually gather together. Except for Shen Xue and Chen Yang, who had visited them a few more times last year, Zhao Donglai and his wife hadn't seen these nephews and nieces for a long time, so they greeted them warmly.
"Come in quickly and have a seat."
The families greeted each other. The eldest aunt chatted with the children for a while, giving each of them a red envelope as lucky money. Then, amidst the children's laughter, she ran into the kitchen.
When she came to her maternal home, she rarely considered herself a guest and always went to the kitchen to help.
"Xiaoxia, you're a guest today. Hurry and rest. It's enough with your second sister-in-law and me here. You don't need to."
"Eldest sister-in-law, second sister-in-law, we're family, why be so polite? If you tell me to sit, how can I just sit? As women, we're more comfortable chatting in the kitchen."
Amidst the smell of smoke, the two sisters-in-law and the eldest aunt began to chat about family matters.
Outside, Shen Futang and Shen Guangfu were chatting with Zhao Donglai on a long bench. Chen Yang also accompanied them. Now that he was married, he was qualified to sit with the elders.
Someone like Zhao Wukang could only stand nearby, and he would only respond when his two maternal uncles said something.
Zhao Wujing and Zhao Wufeng successfully joined the firecracker army of the children.
Of course, these children all had red envelopes in their pockets. Their eldest aunt and uncle had prepared red envelopes for the children, and their father-in-law and second uncle had also prepared them.
The money wasn't much, just a few dimes, but it was for good luck.
"Regarding my eldest nephew's marriage, how are you and your eldest sister discussing it?"
"Now that my eldest nephew has entered the food factory, he's a proper state-owned enterprise worker, earning a national salary. You've also become a workshop director, and your eldest sister has saved some money selling radios. These conditions are not bad even in the city."
Shen Futang gestured for his brother-in-law to crack sunflower seeds while glancing at Zhao Wukang.
As the eldest brother, he always cared about his siblings' affairs, even for the younger generation.
"I was planning to inform you and second brother this time. Before the New Year, he found a girl he liked. She works at the cotton mill and is a year younger than Wukang."
"Xiaoxia and I have also seen her. She's pretty and lively. According to acquaintances at the cotton mill, she's diligent and has no bad habits, according to her neighbors."
"Wukang also likes her. So, we're planning to formally propose after the seventh day. We've discussed it with her parents. If all goes well, we'll hold their wedding on the sixteenth of the first lunar month."
Zhao Donglai was very happy. His eldest son getting married was a great relief.
Before, when the family's financial situation was poor, many girls they approached were not interested, which had worried him greatly.
Now, the girl his son liked worked at the cotton mill, a factory no worse than the food factory. Crucially, her two brothers were already married, and she was their only daughter.
Heaven knew that her parents doted on her. Even if they offered a large betrothal gift, they wouldn't worry about her parents keeping it, as her two brothers were married and she would receive a significant dowry.
"Good, very good."
"If you need any help from us brothers when you go to propose, don't hesitate to ask. We, as maternal uncles, must support our eldest nephew's marriage."
Shen Futang was very happy to hear that Zhao Wukang's marriage was almost settled.
"What are you standing around for, boy? Hurry up and light cigarettes for your eldest uncle and second uncle. Then you can have your two maternal uncles help you out."
Zhao Donglai quickly urged Zhao Wukang to light cigarettes for his two maternal uncles. When proposing, there would inevitably be drinking, and he knew the drinking capacity of his two brothers-in-law.