**Chapter 30**

  This year’s New Year celebrations were lively. It had been a bountiful year, and the vilge had distributed enough grain to st until the next autumn harvest. In the fall, many had taken the time to gather wild goods from the mountains and sold them at the commune’s purchasing station, earning a little extra for their households. Some lucky ones had even found valuable medicinal herbs and sold them to the hospital for a higher price. Even the poorest families in the vilge had enjoyed dumplings during the New Year.

  On Lunar New Year’s Eve, Dayong and Dazhi led a group of kids, each carrying a ntern, as they wandered through the vilge. Some nterns were made of wood, others of cornstalks, and the nicer ones, like those carried by Dayong and his friends, were made from gss bottles. In the dark night, the stars shone brightly, and on the ground, a small orange dragon of light meandered through the vilge, adding a festive touch to the New Year.

  * * *

  Early on New Year’s Day, Daniu got up to help her mother make dumplings. They had pnned to make them the day before, but her mother insisted that freshly made dumplings tasted better, and they shouldn’t be zy on the first day of the year.

  This year, the dumplings were filled with pickled cabbage and two types of meat—pork and deer. Ma Hongmei also washed a few coins and wrapped them in some dumplings. The previous day, they had hidden five coins, and Daniu, Dakui, Second Grandpa, and Meizi had each found one.

  As the whole family gathered, Dazhi set off a string of firecrackers in an iron bucket, creating a loud bang. Everyone then sat down to eat. Ma Hongmei had Meizi take a pte of dumplings to the three educated youths in the lower room.

  Before they could finish their dumplings, the sound of drums and gongs echoed from afar.

  “The opera troupe is here!” Dazhi jumped off the _kang_, but Ma Hongmei grabbed him. “Finish the dumplings in your bowl first.”

  Dazhi impatiently stuffed the dumplings into his mouth. Suddenly, he froze and spat out a two-cent coin, followed by a tooth. “Ouch!” he started to compin, but Ma Hongmei covered his mouth. “Hush! It’s bad luck to say unlucky things on New Year’s Day.”

  Dazhi pouted, looking a bit dejected.

  “It’s a good sign! Losing a tooth on New Year’s Day means new growth. Dazhi, your fortune is on the rise,” Fourth Grandpa, who had stayed since Little New Year’s Day, said with a smile.

  “Thank your Fourth Grandpa,” Ma Desheng said, tapping Dali on the head.

  Dazhi licked the gap where his tooth had been and reluctantly muttered his thanks. The whole family burst into ughter.

  Amid the ughter, Dazhi turned and ran out of the house. Dayong quickly finished the dumplings in his bowl and followed suit. Even Xiaocui and Meizi, who were usually more reserved, sped up their eating.

  “No need to rush. They’ll definitely come to our house,” Ma Hongmei said calmly.

  Sure enough, the sound of gongs and drums soon filled the courtyard. By then, everyone had finished eating and stepped outside to watch. Daniu saw a group of five yangge performers (traditional Chinese dance and song performers), one of whom was riding a fake donkey. As the family emerged, a man in his forties with a clown-like face stepped forward. “Cui Laosi (fourth old Cui) from Cui Family Vilge wishes the Ma family a happy New Year!” he said, cupping his hands in greeting. Then the drums changed rhythm, and two younger performers stepped forward, singing:

  “The first month brings the New Year—"

  The first day of the New Year,

  Families gather in reunion,

  The young bow to the old,

  Whether men or women, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, or oh,

  Everyone wears new clothes, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,

  Everyone wears new clothes!Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh—

  Their voices were clear and bright, and soon a crowd gathered in the Ma family courtyard.

  Ma Hongmei went to the storage room and brought out a bag containing twenty pounds of cornmeal and a wolf leg, handing it to the older performer. The man felt the contents and nodded appreciatively. He then picked up a small gong and began to py, and the performers sang even more energetically. They performed four segments of _errenzhuan_ (a traditional duet performance) and a yangge dance. The young man on the fake donkey put on a hirious show, making everyone ugh until their sides hurt.

  After about an hour, the performers moved on to the next house.

  This was a local custom. From the first to the fifth day of the New Year, yangge and _errenzhuan_ troupes would visit each vilge. They will first go to wealthier families to perform, and the hosts would give them something in return. Even if the hosts had nothing to offer, a handful of sunflower seeds would suffice. It was all about spreading joy.

  In the past, the Ma family would hire opera troupes to perform during the New Year, but in recent years, this tradition has faded.

  * * *

  On the first day of the New Year, the east room was constantly filled with visitors coming to pay their respects. The old man had asked Daniu to exchange some new money at the commune credit union, and each visitor, regardless of age, received ten cents.

  Dali returned to the forestry farm in the afternoon. They were given only half a day off for the New Year, and a meal of dumplings at the canteen was their celebration.

  This year, the lunar New Year arrived te, and by the time it was over, it was already February. On the second day of the New Year, Daniu went to Beidianzi (northern outpost) to visit Old Lin and Sanxiao. The two lived a carefree life. Old Lin was an experienced hunter who had once accidentally been injured by a bear, leaving him with a limp. Despite this, he had managed to escape thanks to his quick thinking. Sanxiao had learned hunting from Old Lin, and the two worked as forest rangers. Old Lin stayed at the ranger’s cabin, while Sanxiao patrolled the mountains like Daniu.

  Thanks to the forest, they occasionally hunted game and lived comfortably.

  After the fifth day of the New Year, Daniu pnned to go into the mountains to check the situation. This was the most dangerous time of year, as many animals were short on food, and hungry beasts might venture out of the forest.

  The weather in February was still bitterly cold, and by the end of the month, there would usually be several heavy snowfalls.

  * * *

  The second day of the New Year was when married women returned to their parents’ homes. Since Ma Hongmei was the daughter of the family, she didn’t need to go back, but Song Yuncheng had to return to the Song family. However, because there were always many tasks to handle on the second day, they usually postponed the visit by a day.

  Early on the third day, the family hitched up the sled, id out cotton quilts, and everyone climbed aboard. This year, Dali couldn’t join them due to work, but Dakui, who hadn’t seen his grandfather in three years, was eager to go.

  The sled was spacious, and the family fit comfortably.

  The Song family lived in Sun Family Vilge by the South River. They were outsiders—the Song patriarch had fled famine and settled there with his two sons, the eldest being Daniu’s grandfather, Song Guozhong, and the younger, Song Guoyi. After the patriarch’s death, the two brothers divided the family property. Song Guozhong has three sons, with Song Yuncheng being the youngest, and the family has not separated yet.

  It took over two hours to reach Sun Family Vilge, and by the time they arrived, everyone was frozen stiff.

  * * *

  Before the sled even entered the vilge, the Song family spotted them. The road ran through the center of the vilge, and the Song house was on the eastern end of the first row, built on higher ground. From inside the house, they could see the road clearly.

  “We knew you’d come today. Mom’s been sitting on the _kang_ waiting for you,” said Song Yunfeng, the eldest son of the Song family, as he greeted them. When he saw Dakui getting off the sled, he hugged him tightly. “When did you get back, kid? Look at you, so strong now!”

  “Uncle, I got back on Little New Year’s Day,” Dakui replied with a smile.

  “Don’t bother getting down. Stay seated,” Song Yunfeng said, leading the horse forward. They passed a row of houses and turned right into a vilge path. At the end stood several people. “Second Brother took his wife to his in-ws’ in the neighboring vilge. They knew you were coming today and said they would return by noon.”

  “Eldest Sister-in-w didn’t go back to her family again this year because of us,” Song Yuncheng said apologetically.

  “It’s fine. It’s like this every year. I told her to go back on the sixth day and stay a bit longer,” Song Yunfeng said. It was unavoidable—his wife’s family lived far away, and the trip took half a day. His father’s birthday was on the fourth day, and even if they don’t celebrate it grandly, they still need to have a family reunion meal. So, she always went back te but stayed longer.

  “Sister-in-w,” Ma Hongmei greeted warmly. “Happy New Year!”

  “Happy New Year, happy New Year!” The Song family’s eldest sister-in-w had a cheerful personality and was always smiling. She lovingly touched the faces and hands of the children, clearly delighted to see them.

  Also welcoming them was Song Yunfeng’s only son, Song Zhigang, and his wife, Liu Yue. Liu Yue was from the same vilge and had already visited her parents the day before, returning that evening.

  Liu Yue was thrilled to see Daniu. “I’ve been looking forward to your visit. I thought you might come before the New Year.”

  “This year, Second Grandpa came back, and Fourth Grandpa stayed with us for the holidays. There was too much to do, so I couldn’t make it,” Daniu expined. Her father had come earlier to deliver New Year’s goods, so Daniu and the others didn't come.

  “Come inside,” Liu Yue said, pulling Daniu and Meizi along. “Meizi, you’ve grown so much! You’re getting prettier by the day.” Meizi blushed at the compliment.

  Daniu and Liu Yue had been friends since childhood. Whenever Daniu visited her grandfather’s house, she would py with Liu Yue, who was eight years older and always took care of her. It was because of their close retionship that Liu Yue was chosen as a daughter-in-w by Daniu’s aunt. The two got along well, never quarreling, but there was one regret—after six years of marriage, they still don't have any children.

  The group entered the house. Her grandfather’s home was a four-room mud-brick house, with the rgest eastern room occupied by her grandfather and grandmother.

  As soon as they stepped inside, they saw her grandfather sitting cross-legged on the rge south _kang_, while her grandmother y on a smaller north _kang_. Her grandmother had been injured in her youth, and two years ago, the old injury had fred up, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down.

  Her two aunts seemed to be taking good care of her as the old dy was in high spirits. She y on the _kang_, her eyes wide open as she looked at the children.

  “Grandma, happy New Year! Your grandson is here to pay his respects,” Dakui said loudly.

  The old dy took Dakui’s hand, smiling from ear to ear. “Good, good. Happy New Year to you too.” Dakui had spent part of his childhood living with his grandmother, so he had a deep affection for her.

  The old dy then pulled Daniu closer. “My granddaughter is getting more and more beautiful.”

  Before Daniu could respond, her grandmother’s gaze shifted to the other grandchildren, looking at each one in turn. Then she asked, “Where’s Dali? Why didn’t Dali come?”

  “Mom, Dali is working as an accountant at the forestry farm now. They’ve already started work, and he couldn’t get time off. But he said he’ll come visit as soon as he gets a break,” Ma Hongmei quickly expined.

  “Dali has a job now? That’s wonderful. Hongmei, come sit.” The old dy patted the edge of the _kang_. “This morning, I kept looking out the window, and finally, I saw you coming.”