129 – Celebrate the Lantern Festival in the Prefectural City!
As soon as everyone’s eyes fell on his family, Lei Xiangren’s eyebrows displayed a sense of pride. He strode to Lei Daqiang and Du Shi and knelt with Zhao Shi, “Happy New Year to Father and Mother.” He ignored Wei Shi.
Wei Shi’s expression was flat as if she didn’t pay attention. Lei Daqiang was a little unhappy, but Lei Xiangren was his son, it was hard to say anything.
Lei Dabao and Lei Erbao knelt and very sweetly said, “Happy New Year to Grandpa, Grandma, and Little Grandma. May you be happy and prosperous and bring red envelopes!”
“Alright, alright, get up.” Lei Daqiang was still very fond of his two grandsons that he repeatedly told them to rise and took out two red envelopes. He gave one to each of them, “Come, take the red envelope. I hope that our Dabao and Erbao will grow up taller and clever this year.”
Lei Dabao opened the red envelope on the spot and counted the money one by one.
“Oh, our Dabao can count?” Du Shi looked at Dabao lovingly.
“Yes, Mother. Dabao is so clever! He only attended the school for a few days and can already count from one to twenty.” Zhao Shi had a look of arrogance.
Du Shi nodded with satisfaction, “Good, he’s promising!”
After counting, Dabao ran to Zhao Shi. His voice was very loud, “Mother, don’t you say that Grandpa and Grandma have a lot of money and will give us silvers for the New Year’s money? I want silver!”
Silence overtook the room.
Qin Mian was almost choked by the tea and quickly put down the cup. Lei Tie patted him on the back and pulled him to get up.
Qin Mian took out three red envelopes, two of which were handed to Lei Xiangren and the other to Lei Xiangzhi, “This is for Xinxin. We still have to visit other villagers’ homes to pay New Year’s greetings. We’re leaving first.”
Du Shi came back to her senses and immediately blew her top. She roared, “Zhao Shi! That’s how you taught my grandsons? Ah?”
Qin Mian quickly pulled Lei Tie to speed up the pace. Out of the courtyard gate, he couldn’t hold back from shaking his head, “Dabao and ErBao; these two children are dangerous.” A six-year-old child couldn’t possibly concoct that kind of conversation. It could only be learned from his parents. With parents like Zhao and Lei Xiangren, the possibility of Lei Dabao and Lei Erbao to grow up crookedly was very high.
“People who don’t belong together, don’t get to live together1,” said Lei Tie, indifferently.
“That’s insightful!” Qin Mian gave him a thumbs-up.
The snowfield was full of exploded firecrackers and scraps of red paper. When they met a few villagers, who went out to pay New Year’s greetings, they cupped their hands in obeisance and said “Happy New Year”.
With Lei Xinxin in his arms, Lei Xiangyi and Qian Shi came across them in a hurry.
“Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law, Happy New Year! Are you going back?”
Qian Shi curtsied with folded hands at her lower right side and said, “Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law, Happy New Year.”
“Happy New Year.” Qin Mian cupped his fist in the other hand and then rubbed Xinxin’s head, “Why so late?”
Lei Xiangyi said, “The child’s mother got up early feeling somewhat uncomfortable. Therefore, we delayed for a while.”
“Are you all right?” Qin Mian expressed concern.
“Thank you for your concern. I’m fine.” Qian Shi shook her head with a smile.
“I gave Xinxin’s red envelope to her Fifth Uncle. You go ahead. Be careful when you go in. It’s not very peaceful inside,” hinted Qin Mian.
Lei Xiangyi understood and anxiously told Qian Shi, “Later, you just follow by my side.”
Qin Mian and Lei Tie continued to pay New Year’s greetings. They sent several red envelopes to Lei Dagang’s house. Just after coming out of Lei Dagang’s house, they saw Lei Xiangli and Lei Chuntao running over in a hurry. They looked anxious.
Qin Mian curiously asked, “Fourth Brother and Little Sister, what are you running for?”
“Eldest Sister-in-law, Little Mother had a fetal Qi movement2; she’s going to give birth!” Lei Chuntao replied without stopping her feet, “I’m going to call the midwife!”
“Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law, I’m going to call for a doctor!” Lei Xiangli also quickly ran away.
Since they could do nothing by going to the old house, Qin Mian and Lei Tie continued to pay New Year’s greetings. When they returned home, they discussed what gifts to give.
“What should be given to a woman who had given birth?” Qin Mian had no idea.
Lei Tie shook his head, “Ask Aunt Fu?”
Qin Mian called Aunt Fu over.
Aunt Fu said, “Answering to Little Young Master; it’s usually brown sugar and eggs.”
Qin Mian thought for a moment and said, “Prepare 2 jin of brown sugar, 2 jin of eggs, and 6 jin of red jujube.”
“Yes.”
Near noon, Xiaoxi came to announce the good news: Wei Shi gave birth to a daughter and the washing third-day3 ceremony was set on the third day of the New Year. Xiaoxi conveyed the meaning of Lei Daqiang, which was to have Lei Tie, Lei Xiangren, Lei Xiangyi, and Lei Xiangli send congratulatory letters to their relatives’ homes. Each of them was responsible for a few families.
Lei Tie only gave Xiaoxi two words: Not going.
Xiaoxi didn’t dare to say a word and quickly left.
On the second day of the first lunar month, Qin Mian and Lei Tie went to Deng Village to pay a New Year’s visit.
Ever since the Deng family came over to enjoy the flowers last spring, Qin Mian and Lei Tie never invited the Deng family members to visit their home anymore. They just had people sent some fruits to them on every fruit season.
Eldest Uncle Deng and Second Uncle Deng were both smart people. They guessed that some of their family members left a bad impression on Qin Mian and Lei Tie. Later, they went to Lei Tie’s house several times without bringing their wives, daughters-in-law, grandsons, and granddaughters. They never blamed Lei Tie and Qin Mian for this. It was already hard on Lei Tie and Qin Mian to be concerned about sending them some fresh fruits from time to time. It was more comfortable for both sides to associate just like ordinary relatives.
Old Man Deng and Old Lady Deng enjoyed the special treatments. At every festival celebrations, Qin Mian and Lei Tie gave them ample gifts. Lei Tie respected the old man and the old lady from the bottom of his heart, while Qin Mian respected them because of Lei Tie’s respect.
The third day of the first month was the washing third-day ceremony of the Lei’s youngest daughter.
Early in the morning, Qin Mian asked Aunt Fu to deliver 2 jin brown sugar, 2 jin eggs, and 6 jin red jujube. When it was near noon, he and Lei Tie then went over to have lunch and learned that the name of the Lei’s youngest girl was Lei Yaqing, which was chosen by Wei Shi, and Qingqing was her childhood name.
The washing third-day ceremony required a basin where people added copper coins, gold or silver ingots, as well as gold or silver banknotes, and also longans, red jujubes, peanuts, chestnuts, and other festive fruits. Even Lei Xiangren and Zhao Shi both added a handful of copper coins. Lei Daqiang was very dissatisfied with the gifts given by Qin Mian and Lei Tie. From time to time, he pointedly glanced at them. Even more, Du Shi incessantly spoke with scathing remarks.
Qin Mian and Lei Tie had unobtrusively drifted apart from the old house. Naturally, they didn’t take their attitudes seriously. They sat at the banquet and only ate two mouthfuls of food for appearance’s sake before finding an excuse to leave.
A few days later, a rumor circulated in the village. The gist of it was that Lei Tie had forgotten his parents’ nurturing grace after he had flourished. It was easy to know that this rumor was spread by someone among Lei Daqiang, Du Shi, Lei Xiangren, and Zhao Shi. Wei Shi was a smart woman; she was unlikely. The most likely was Du Shi and Lei Daqiang.
Lei Tie was a man of few words and usually didn’t even bother to talk. So of course, he would not argue with those gossiping villagers. However, his wife was not easy to bully – he immediately summoned all the servants to publicize what Du Shi and Lei Daqiang had done in the past, and also publicize what Du Shi had done to Wei Shi.
They were all from the same village; they knew each other. Moreover, not a few villagers worked in the processing yard. Public opinion soon inclined toward Lei Tie. In Green Mountain Village, Du Shi and Lei Daqiang, the stepmother and stepfather4 couple, once again became the man and the woman of the moment5.
Unfortunately, Sun Daneng’s family was slightly affected. Sun Daneng was Sun Yu’s father. His wife, Aunt Xiulan, was so unbearably angry. If she didn’t know that Lei Xiangli and Lei Daqiang had separated, she would never have betrothed her daughter to Lei Daqiang’s family. Aunt Xiulan met Lei Xiangli in secret and asked him to solve the housing issue in the first lunar month. This way, after Sun Yu and he got married, they didn’t have to live in the old house.
With Qin Mian adding fuel to the flame, the storm was especially fierce. For several days, Du Shi and Lei Daqiang did not dare to wander around the village. They even went to their relatives’ homes to pay New Year’s greetings at the first glimmer of dawn.
On the 7th day of the first lunar month, Qin Mian and Lei Tie set out on their journey to Qingtian Prefecture. They were going to celebrate the Lantern Festival in Qingtian. It was said that the Lantern Festival in the prefectural city was especially lively, and there was nothing that one couldn’t think of whether it was to eat, drink, have, and play. Lei-Qin Le, Lei-Qin Shun, Lei-Qin Zhong, Lei-Qin Li, and Lei-Qin Xin accompanied them.
Owing to the early departure, there was plenty of time, so the carriage drove neither too fast nor too slow along the way. Lei-Qin Le’s group of five took turns driving the carriage. Qin Mian and Lei Tie just needed to sit in the carriage, nice and cozy.
In the first lunar month, many vehicles and pedestrians were coming and going on the public road. The pedestrians dressed in festive new clothes and the vehicles were hung with red cloth strips symbolizing auspiciousness. From time to time, some fragments of exploded firecrackers were seen on the roadside. The spirit of the New Year was strong.
After driving for four days, the carriage arrived in Qingtian Prefecture. The street was full of people and vehicles. It was obvious that wanting to stay in the inn would be hard. Qin Mian simply gave up looking for an inn and asked Lei-Qin Le and Lei-Qin Li to find a private residence to rent a courtyard.
To celebrate the Lantern Festival, Qingtian Prefecture had greatly changed its look. Under the veranda of the buildings, colorful festoons fluttered and red lanterns hung high, extending until the end of the street, looking like two red dragons from afar. On both sides of the street, there were roadside stalls selling sugar figurines, soup noodles, barbecues, spicy hot soup, colored lanterns, as well as stalls for riddles guessing, ring toss, acrobatics show, storytelling, and fortune-telling… How lively. Rich families’ gongzis with escorts in front and behind, warm and harmonious family of three … all of them were smiling. As though the pedestrians were knitted, their heads crowded together as they moved back and forth.
This was the first time that Qin Mian saw the night market in the ancient era. He was very excited but also felt extremely novel. He took Lei Tie to walk around one stall after another. He also bought novelty snacks and various kinds of things. In his words: Money is earned to be spent!
He didn’t carry the things he bought; it was all foisted off on Lei Tie.
Lei Tie handed over the things to the five escorts and closely followed by Qin Mian’s side to prevent from being separated. He was disgusted when the crowd touched him from time to time. However, when he saw Qin Mian’s excited eyes, all the discomfort disappeared. In his eyes, he only saw his wife’s smiling face; in his heart, he only felt his wife’s joy.
Note:
Footnotes
- (idiom)/ marriages are predestined/ people marry because they share common traits
- Fetal Qi movement refers to the abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, and other symptoms due to the mother’s constitution or affected by external factors.
- On the third day after the baby is born, a bathing ceremony will be held to gather relatives and friends to wish good luck to the baby.
- Lei Daqiang is the biological father but his behavior is like a stepfather, so he is named thus.
- It means people who make a headline; the talk of the town, etc.
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