On the morning of the second day of the Lunar New Year, it is customary to eat noodles. There is a saying in Northeast China: "The first day is dumplings, the second day is noodles, the third day is hezi buns to take home, the fourth day is baked cakes with scrambled eggs, the fifth day is to pinch the mouths of little people, the sixth day is the horse day with donkeys rolling, and the seventh day is the human day for longevity noodles."
Eating noodles on the second day of the New Year symbolizes smoothness and longevity throughout the year. It is also a wish for everything to go well for the family and for a long life. It also symbolizes that married daughters should return home often and spend time with their families.
There are also certain customs associated with the noodles eaten on the second day. It is said that the noodles should be made from the leftover dough from the dumplings on the first day. After boiling, the noodles are then immersed in cold water, which offers a refreshing change from the rich, fatty foods consumed during the preceding days, thus preserving the tradition of "noodles on the second day."
As soon as everyone finished their noodles that morning, they began to busily prepare for the day, as it was the day for married daughters to return to their maternal homes. Returning to one's maternal home is also known as "Guining" or "Huimen," signifying that a married daughter has not forgotten her parents.
The custom of married daughters returning to their maternal homes on the second day is a manifestation of traditional Chinese filial piety. On this day, all married daughters must return to their parents' homes, accompanied by their husbands. Therefore, this day is also known as "Guye Festival" or "Welcoming the Son-in-Law Day."
On this day, the son-in-law is the absolute protagonist. Hence, there is a saying in the Northeast: "When the son-in-law enters the door, the little chicks lose their souls." This implies that on the second day, sons-in-law and daughters returning to their maternal homes are always treated to stewed chicken with mushrooms. This is also a testament to the northeasterners' appreciation for local ingredients, hinting at a sense of pride.
Mingzhe, along with the other young men, began distributing the portioned sausages and frozen fish to each household in the valley. Cui Qiao, her sisters-in-law, Hu Yuzhen, and the Yulia sisters started preparing the ingredients for lunch, while the daughters of the household pitched in to clean seafood.
Although the son-in-law, Er Zhuang, was not home due to being in the army, Mingwei's return to her maternal home proceeded as usual. Indeed, before long, Mingwei arrived with gifts for the New Year and her three-year-old son, Xiao Ping'an. Before the mother and son even reached the doorstep, they were greeted by their mother-in-law and Cui Mama, who had been waiting by the gate. The mother-in-law immediately scooped up her grandson and showered him with kisses. Cui Mama took the candy and noodles from Mingwei's hands, and the family walked into the house.
It is said that when a daughter brings candy to her maternal home on the second day, it represents wishes for a sweet and happy life for her family. Bringing noodles signifies wishes for good health and longevity for the elders of the family.
As soon as they entered the living room, everyone immediately stood up to welcome them. Mingwei, with Xiao Ping'an leading the way, first offered New Year's greetings to the elders and her third aunt. After receiving red envelopes from the elders, she then offered New Year's greetings to her sisters-in-law like Chen Lan. When Chen Lan heard Xiao Ping'an's childish voice wishing her, "Auntie, Happy New Year, get rich!" she was almost melted by his cuteness.
Chen Lan reached out and took a large red envelope from her system warehouse, handing it to Xiao Ping'an. She responded, "Here, Xiao Ping'an, get rich."
Perhaps due to her pregnancy, Xiao Ping'an's greeting made Chen Lan's heart melt. Suddenly, her maternal instincts surged, and she prepared to reach out and hug Xiao Ping'an for a kiss. Her mother-in-law immediately stopped her, chiding, "Xiao Lan, you're heavy, you can't hold him. Hurry up and sit down and rest. Look at your belly, it's already so big. This pregnancy is likely twins again."
Her own mother also rushed over anxiously, helping Chen Lan to sit on the sofa and admonishing, "Lan'er, you're already a mother of several children, don't you know to be careful? After the New Year opens tomorrow, we must invite Doctor Guo to come and check your pulse. You're only three months along, and your belly is as big as if you were five months pregnant."
With that, she appeared worried. Chen Lan touched her belly and quickly comforted her, "Mother, I'm fine. Besides my belly being a bit large, there's nothing else. My appetite has also improved a lot recently."
Just then, the young men who had gone out to deliver goods began to return one by one. Seeing Mingwei return, the children rushed forward to offer their New Year's greetings. Mingwei gave each child in the family, regardless of gender, a red envelope as lucky money.
Chen Lan looked at the scene and exclaimed, "Good heavens, we have seven children in our own family, plus one from Cui Qiao's family, two from Xiao Yue's family, one from Lin Mai's family, and two from Hu Yuzhen's family. Oh my goodness! Mingwei is really going to have to spend a lot of money! I imagine her wallet will be empty after this. I'll have to secretly give her a big red envelope to subsidize her later."
After settling Mingwei down, they exchanged pleasantries for a while before getting back to their tasks. The mother-in-law and Cui Mama hurried to the kitchen to make noodles and dumplings for Mingwei and her grandson. Eating noodles on the second day of the Lunar New Year signifies welcoming the daughter home.
The mother-in-law made dumplings for Mingwei not only because the family had a variety of delicious dumpling fillings with plenty of meat and seasoning, but also because the mother-in-law wanted her daughter to taste the dumplings from home for the New Year, just as if she hadn't married yet and was still part of the family.
The dumplings made by the family were indeed delicious. Mingwei ate a small bowl of noodles and a large bowl of dumplings. Even the three-year-old Xiao Ping'an ate five or six large dumplings. Xiao Ping'an burped and said in his childlike voice, "Grandma's dumplings are so fragrant and delicious."
The mother-in-law beamed with joy upon hearing this and happily asked, "Xiao Ping'an, if Grandma's dumplings are so delicious, why don't you stay with Grandma today instead of going home with your mother? You can stay at Grandma's and eat delicious dumplings and play with your brothers, okay?"
Xiao Ping'an tilted his head, looked at his grandmother, then at Mingwei, and then said in his childlike voice, "Want Mom, together."
Mingwei smiled, took Xiao Ping'an's hand, sat on the sofa, and replied, "Ping'an, Mom has things to do at home and needs to read and study. How about you stay at Grandma's and play with your auntie and your brothers, okay?" Xiao Ping'an nodded his head somewhat bewilderedly.
After saying this, Mingwei looked around and asked, "Mother, where is Mingzhe? I don't see my eldest brother or Xiangxi ge either?"
The mother-in-law replied with a smile, "Mingzhe took the young men of the family to deliver New Year's gifts to various households. Your eldest brother and the others stayed up late last night for New Year's Eve, so they are all catching up on sleep in their rooms now."
The lunch on the second day of the New Year is also called "Kai Nian Fan" (Opening Year Feast). The mother-in-law and the others prepared three full tables, with a rich variety of dishes, all of which carried auspicious meanings. The dishes included stewed chicken with mushrooms, braised fish, pork ribs stewed with beans, four happiness meatballs, guo bao rou, braised pork trotter, and a large seafood pot. In short, it was a table laden with food.
Indeed, a mother knows her daughter best. The moment Mingwei saw the seafood pot, her eyes lit up, and she exclaimed, "Wow! Seafood pot! There are prawns, swimming crabs, abalone, oysters... Wow! There's even a lobster... These are all my favorites."