Chapter 201: Annual Review
That night, after midnight, firecrackers echoed across the country, welcoming the arrival of the new year. In Thatchfield Village, the sound of firecrackers lasted longer than in previous years, a clear sign that the villagers' economic situation had improved over the year.
In many places, people stay up all night on New Year's Eve. However, in Thatchfield Village, this tradition isn't strictly followed. After midnight, they set off firecrackers, have a midnight snack, sit by the fire to chat and digest their food, and then head to bed around two in the morning.
While they said they were going back to sleep, it was more of a short nap. By four in the morning, they had to get up again to start cooking. The entire family needed to worship their ancestors before dawn.
For adults, staying up all night wasn't too difficult, but for children, being woken up after only two or three hours of sleep was painful. In later years, to ensure a good night's sleep, adults began preparing in advance. After setting off firecrackers early in the morning, they would take offerings to their ancestors, avoiding the need to wake up at five or six the next morning.
Once someone started this trend, nearly everyone in the village followed suit. After all, who would want to leave a warm, comfortable bed in the freezing cold to do such tasks early in the morning?
To spare his children and daughters-in-law the trouble, Deng Shirong adopted this modern approach. After setting off firecrackers, he took his family to offer sacrifices to their ancestors.
"Happy New Year, Uncle Jiu!"
"Uncle Jiu, congratulations on your prosperity!"
"Uncle Jiu, why are you offering sacrifices to Grandpa Zu now?"
By the time Deng Shirong returned with his family, his actions had already spread throughout the village, sparking discussions. It was clear that by the next Spring Festival, many would follow his lead and offer sacrifices to their ancestors early.
The next day was the auspicious day for the new son-in-law to return home. Although the Ou sisters were both pregnant, this tradition was too important to skip, even if it meant some difficulty for them.
Deng Yuntai, though not a new son-in-law, still accompanied his wife back to her parents' home, as was customary in Bobai County on the second day of the Lunar New Year.
After some discussion, Zhang Xiuping, carrying her child, walked with the two pregnant Ou sisters to Temple Lotus Intersection. From there, they took a bus to Dragon Lake Street and then walked to New Dock Village. Meanwhile, Deng Yuntai, Deng Changyuan, and Deng Changdong followed behind, carrying gifts.
The journey from Thatchfield Village to Temple Lotus Intersection was long, and walking such a distance was particularly hard for the pregnant Ou sisters, especially Ou Guohua, who was due in about three months.
After leaving in the morning, they finally arrived at New Dock Village around 12:30 PM. The slow pace was understandable given the circumstances.
When the three sisters returned to New Dock Village, they naturally became the talk of the town. After all, it was rare for three sisters who grew up together to marry into the same place.
Last year, Deng Yuntai had stayed at his mother-in-law's home for three days during the New Year and was warmly received. This year, his treatment was no less grand. Xiaodong's children were treated like little princesses, thanks to their father's status.
At the Ou Guohua household, Deng Changyuan, the new son-in-law, was also warmly welcomed. Previously, Deng Changyuan had worked as a plasterer in a tile factory, earning 60 yuan a month—a respectable income in the countryside. Now, as a master craftsman, his income had skyrocketed to over 200 yuan a month, putting him among the top earners in the village. His considerate nature toward his wife only made him more beloved by his in-laws.
In Ou Guofang's family, Deng Changdong, the new son-in-law, was also treated well. This year, their family had reaped bountiful harvests from their livestock, especially the calves, which would soon be valuable. With the prospect of building a new house on the horizon, the parents were naturally pleased with their daughter's improving life and the harmonious relationship between the couple.
When the daughters returned to their parents' homes for the "annual inspection," the third sister and two brothers-in-law also came with their families. During their conversations, the topic of opening a restaurant in the county town inevitably came up.
Deng Shirong said, "I'll handle this after the 15th. However, opening a restaurant in the county isn't easy. If there's no suitable storefront, I may have to spend money to build one, which could take several months."
Deng Shilan worriedly asked, "Brother, you're running such a big restaurant. With Dashi's skills, is he really qualified to be a chef?"
Deng Shirong smiled and reassured her, "Don't worry, Third Sister. I'll hire another chef. Dashi will start as a kitchen helper. Once he improves his speed and skills, he can take on the role of chef."
"That's good!" Deng Shilan felt relieved.
Deng Shirong then turned to Chen Bangguo and said, "Bangguo, your task is crucial. You'll be responsible for purchasing ingredients for the restaurant. You'll need to find fresh ingredients at good prices. If you do well, you'll keep this role. If not, you'll have to take on other positions in the restaurant."
Chen Bangguo responded excitedly, "Uncle, I'll do my best."
Deng Shirong nodded and then addressed Chen Bangli and Chen Bangfeng, "As for you two, for now, you'll help wash vegetables and dishes in the kitchen. Once you've learned the local dialect and improved your interpersonal skills, you can take on other roles."
The sisters nodded eagerly. Even washing dishes was a good job for them.
The conversation then shifted to Deng Yunheng.
"Brother-in-law, why didn't Yunheng come back for the New Year?"
"Beijing is too far. It takes more than ten days to travel back and forth, and the Spring Festival travel rush makes it even more difficult. When I sent him to school, I told him not to come back for the New Year. If he wants to return, he can wait until summer vacation."
"I see. I was wondering why he didn't come back."
"Spending more than ten days just traveling back and forth is really not worth it."
(End of this chapter)