Chapter 27**

  Daniu had no idea that someone was eyeing her brother, but she was well aware of how sought-after her second brother was. Ever since he returned home, matchmakers had been knocking on their door.

  Dakui politely turned them all down, which left Ma Hongmei somewhat dissatisfied. She relentlessly criticized Dakui until he finally couldn’t take it anymore and confessed that he already had a girlfriend in the army. This revetion caused quite a stir—no one had expected Dakui to quietly find a partner.

  “What does her family do? How did you meet? When are you two pnning to get married? And when will you bring her home to meet us? Where will the wedding be held?” Ma Hongmei fired off a barrage of questions without pausing for breath.

  Dakui was both amused and exasperated. “Mom, it’s still early. We’ve just started dating.”

  “How long do you pn to keep dating?” Ma Hongmei gred at him.

  “I got injured a while ago and met her at the hospital. She’s a nurse there. Her family is local—her parents are ordinary workers, and she has two younger brothers. That’s about it. She’s also been recommended by her unit for a training program starting in March, which will st at least a year. If she succeeds, she’ll become a pharmacist or something simir. So, we can’t get married right now,” Dakui expined in one go.

  Ma Hongmei finally calmed down. “Forget it; you should take care of it yourself. And make sure to bring her home sometime so we can meet her.”

  Dakui nodded. “I get some leave every year. If nothing comes up, I’ll bring her back by the end of next year, and we’ll get married then.”

  Ma Hongmei nodded in agreement. She knew her son had been promoted and that, whether he stayed in the army or returned to civilian life, he likely wouldn’t be by her side much longer. So, she didn’t mind whether she liked the future daughter-in-w or not, as long as her son was happy.

  Her gaze then fell on Dali, who was grinning nearby. “Since Dakui’s marriage is settled, you’ll go on a few blind dates during the New Year.”

  Dali’s smile instantly turned into a wry one. “Alright, Mom. Whatever you say.” Knowing there was no use resisting, he reluctantly agreed.

  * * *

  Two days after Dakui’s return, it was Little New Year’s Eve. Daniu had gone into the mountains the day before and hunted some wild chickens and rabbits. She also gave some to a few close neighbors as gifts.

  Early on Little New Year’s Day, the family began preparations. This year, Second Grandpa and Second Grandma had returned, and the brothers pnned to celebrate the New Year together. A message had also arrived from the county, saying that Fifth Grandpa would be bringing Great-Aunt back today. It had been four or five years since the family had st gathered, as they were rarely all in one pce.

  Great-Aunt was eighty this year but still in good health. Fifth, Grandpa had been a county police officer before liberation and had done much during the war-torn years. After liberation, he became a county public security officer and worked until retirement. His only son, Daniu’s seventh uncle, Ma Yunting, had attended the Harbin Police Academy and ter joined the county bureau, following in his father’s footsteps. Fifth Grandpa also had a daughter, Ma Guixiang. Since she couldn’t inherit her father’s job, she graduated from high school and was assigned to work as an accountant at the county’s mining factory. Later, she married and moved to He City with her husband, where she worked at the municipal mining bureau.

  Their vilge was located in Qi City, though their area was in the northernmost part. He City was even farther away, with no direct transportation. To travel back and forth, one had to transfer multiple times. Daniu had never met this aunt in her memory.

  Early in the morning, Dali and Dakui hitched up the horse cart and headed to the town commune. They were accompanied by Sixth Uncle Ma Yunju from Third Grandpa’s family. Since Great-Aunt would be staying with her own son this time, Ma Yunju, as the eldest grandson under Great-Aunt’s lineage, had to personally fetch her.

  Both the front and back courtyards’ stoves were in use today. A rge pot of pork stewed with pickled cabbage was simmering. Two days ago, the production team had sughtered a pig, and Ma Hongmei had exchanged money for some intestines and blood to make several rge blood sausages. Yesterday, she went to the commune to buy pork bones and shoulder meat. Today, she stewed a rge pot of pork, with the pickled cabbage to be added ter. There was also the much-anticipated deer meat hot pot.

  This deer meat hot pot wasn’t the kind where you slice and dip the meat. Instead, it was a stew made by stir-frying the deer ribs and spine with seasonings until tender. Dried cabbage and peril leaves were bnched and served on a pte. When served, a small charcoal stove was pced underneath, and the stew, along with the bones, was poured into a cy pot. The dried cabbage and peril leaves were added to the pot, which kept simmering, ensuring the food stayed hot until the end. If there was no dried cabbage, potatoes could be used instead, resulting in a slightly different but equally delicious fvor.

  The deer leg meat was also cooked in the pot. Once done, the meat was shredded into strips and eaten with a simple garlic-soy sauce dip.

  The wild chicken was cut into pieces and stewed with mushrooms, while the rabbit was stir-fried with dried chili peppers. These five main dishes were complemented by stir-fried wood ear mushrooms with eggs and fried corn with pine nuts picked from the mountains. The corn wasn’t fresh; their area mainly grew rice, with only a small amount of corn pnted by the production team for the first time this year. By October, the corn was still tender, but the temperature had dropped, so the young corn was picked and distributed to each household. Daniu’s mother boiled the corn and then let it freeze in the storage room (it is winter) for a day. When it was time to make the meal, they defrosted it and stir-fried it with sugar and pine nuts, creating a dish that is especially popur with the children. Fifth Uncle Song tried it once at their house and regretted that his family had already eaten all their corn. Initially, he thought their area wasn’t suitable for growing corn and pnned to pnt something else next year, but now he reconsidered.

  Two stir-fried dishes, a chopped cabbage, boiled vermicelli, and a cold dish made with carrots and dried tofu from the tofu shop in town completed the meal. In the backyard, a rge pot of rice was soaking, ready to be cooked when the time came. Eight dishes made up a hearty feast—something even city folks rarely had in those days.

  * * *

  By noon, the family members had been fetched and arrived at their courtyard. Ma Desheng personally went out to greet them. Great-Aunt, now eighty, was still in good health. She got out of the cart without assistance and walked into the yard on her own. She was petite and delicate, clearly a beauty in her youth.

  Daniu had heard from her mother about the past between Great-Aunt and Great-Grandmother. Back then, they had been close friends and childhood pymates. Great-Aunt was two years younger than Great-Grandmother. After Great-Grandmother married Great-Grandfather, the man Great-Aunt was engaged to had passed away. At the time, Great-Aunt’s mother had also died, and people began to say that Great-Aunt was cursed with bad luck. Great-Grandmother only learned of this when she returned to her parents house after giving birth to Daniu’s grandpa. She felt deeply sorry for Great-Aunt. Later, Great-Aunt was engaged to another family, and while the man’s family was decent, he was a modern thinker who insisted on venturing out into the world. Unfortunately, he was killed by bandits halfway through his journey.

  After two failed engagements, Great-Aunt had even considered becoming a nun. Great-Grandmother then suggested that Great-Aunt come live with her and keep her company. Daniu didn’t fully understand what Great-Grandmother was thinking at the time. Although it was common for men to take concubines back then, Great-Grandfather wasn’t the type to be unfaithful. It seemed like Great-Grandmother was creating unnecessary complications for herself.

  Daniu didn’t fully grasp the situation, but she knew that Great-Grandmother and Great-Aunt had been lifelong best friends, never once quarreling. The family’s brothers also got along well, with no major conflicts. Great-Grandfather had passed away in his fifties due to injuries sustained in his youth, and Great-Grandmother followed not long after. During those years, Great-Aunt had helped Daniu’s grandfather manage the household. For a long time, Great-Aunt was the one running the family affairs until Fifth Grandpa went to work in the county, and she followed to support him.

  This was where Daniu’s deepest understanding of her family came from. Their family was rge, and while there might be minor disagreements, there were no major issues. Everyone was united, and no matter how long they were apart, they always felt close when reunited.

  * * *

  Watching her sixty-year-old grandfather help the eighty-year-old great-aunt, both of their wrinkled faces smiling warmly at each other, Daniu felt a deep sense of familial love.

  The Ma family courtyard had never been so lively. The north and south _kangs_ (heated brick beds) were filled with elders, and even Daniu’s father could only serve tea and water on the ground. The younger women were gathered in the west room, with many people

  both on and off the _kang_. Tianxiang’s wife had brought Daniu’s little nephew, and several young girls were gathered around, pying with the baby.

  The family now spanned five generations, starting with Great-Aunt.

  As Daniu stepped out of the west room, she nearly collided with Dazhi, who was holding a bone he had gotten from somewhere. “Can you be more careful? There are a lot of guests today. Take the younger kids to the backyard to py. You are not allowed to go to the river. Don't lose them."

  “Got it,” Dazhi replied, chewing the meat off the bone before putting it down and running off.

  Soon, the sound of children’s ughter echoed outside. Daniu peeked through the window and saw over a dozen kids running out. They included members of her generation and the next, with the youngest around five or six and the oldest about ten. The older ones were all in the backyard.

  * * *

  Dinner wasn’t served until around two o’clock. In the east room, two tables were set up on the north and south _kangs_, while a rge table was assembled in the center of the room. Another table was set up in the main hall, and three more in the west room. Just as everyone was about to sit down, three people walked in through the gate. Everyone turned to look—it was Ninth Uncle, Ninth Aunt, and a stranger with a camera hanging around his neck.

  “We’re taking photos! We’re taking photos!” the kids cheered.

  “Great—Aunt, Uncle, we’ve brought a photographer from the commune. Let’s take a family portrait today,” Ninth Uncle announced cheerfully as he entered.

  “Great, let’s take one,” Ma Desheng said happily. The Ma family was thriving again.

  Although not everyone was present today—some of the younger members were still at work and hadn’t returned—this was the most complete gathering in years.

  Several generations arranged themselves in order. Great-Aunt was left in the center, with the six grandpas and surviving grandmas sitting slightly behind her. But Great-Aunt gnced around and then sat between Third Grandpa and Fifth Grandpa, leaving the central position for the eldest son of the family (Ma Desheng) but sitting slightly forward. She took the little grandson from Tianxiang’s wife’s arms and gestured for Daniu to squat beside her. Daniu wanted to decline and let the eldest brother squat, but he waved her off and squatted on her other side.

  Behind them stood the next generation, which was quite numerous. Except for Fifth Grandpa's and Second Grandpa’s families, whose daughters had married out and weren’t present, the third generation was fully present. They weren’t arranged by family but by age, standing from the center outward. The wives stood behind their husbands, while Daniu’s generation squatted in front. The youngest generation stood in front of their respective grandfathers, though there were only three little ones.

  It took a while to get everyone in pce, and the photographer adjusted his equipment to fit everyone into the frame. Click, click—several group photos were taken.

  Afterward, more photos were taken: individual family portraits, group photos of the uncles and aunts, solo shots, and photos of Great-Aunt with everyone. Daniu’s family also took many pictures.

  Once the photos were done, the photographer left. Although the family insisted he stay for the reunion meal, he politely declined. Ninth Uncle had a personal connection with the photographer, which was why he had come. Otherwise, no amount of money could have brought him. As he left, Daniu gave him a wild rabbit.

  * * *

  Sitting down for the meal took quite some time due to the rge number of people. Fortunately, the _kang_ in the front room was spacious, and three small tables were combined to accommodate everyone.

  When the food was served, Daniu went to the storage room and opened a cover on the northern side of the floor. Beneath it was a deep celr with stone steps leading down. Inside, she had stored blueberry wine she had made in August. The blueberries were wild, picked from the mountains. Their area was particurly suitable for growing blueberries, and Daniu had found two slopes with good sunlight where the blueberries tasted especially good. She pnned to propagate more blueberry pnts next spring and make more wine. It was said that blueberry wine from Tiger Ridge had once been sent to the imperial pace, a testament to its quality.

  Daniu’s blueberry wine wasn’t just made from high-quality berries—she had also added “spiritual water.” By now, she could control the output of the spiritual water, no longer letting it drip daily. After storing it for a while, the blueberry wine contained at least one-tenth spiritual water. The taste was exceptional—clear and refreshing. A few weeks ago, she had opened a jar, and the fvor was delightful.

  The men preferred strong liquor, but the women and children loved the blueberry wine. It had a low alcohol content, so even the kids could have a sip or two. In the northeast, both men and women could handle their liquor.

  The meal sted three to four hours. It had been years since the family had been so lively, and as they drank, even the more reserved family members grew animated.

  Daniu was pulled into the east room to drink with her uncles and cousins. When she stepped outside, she felt a rare buzz from the alcohol. The cold north wind hit her face, instantly sobering her up. Listening to the lively sounds from inside, he couldn't help but sigh in her heart. It would be a long time before the family would be this lively again.