Chapter 1280 - 1152: Celebrating the New Year

Chapter 1280: Chapter 1152: Celebrating the New Year

Lin Juhua is gone.

All the goodwill from the hometown went with her.

The eve of the lunar New Year is just days away.

The common saying goes: whether rich or poor, first have a good year.

Unlike the solemnity of last year’s holiday, the festive atmosphere of the New Year suddenly swept through the Big Courtyard, exuding a rich sense of the season.

Children, both older and younger, were gathering in groups, and the sound of firecrackers crackling could be heard intermittently from all directions.

At meal times, families from all over the country stationed there were showcasing their culinary skills, frying dumplings, twisting sesame sticks, steaming bean buns, steamed meats, and marinated dishes...

Busy stealing snacks, naughty little ones, adults laughing and scolding, the aroma wafting in the air...

All of this filled the Big Courtyard with laughter, stepping into this New Year’s of the eighties, it truly felt different.

Reflecting deeply on this unfolding scene, the Ping An Brothers intended to make up for the regret of not being by their mother’s side last year.

Once Zhou Jiao and Miao Lishan’s vacation started, the three big lads followed the mother-daughter duo around all day, acting as paymasters and bag carriers.

This series of actions made Miao Lishan smile from ear to ear, as Zhou Xiaozheng would say, he was almost awakened by his wife’s laughter even when asleep.

The Zhou family was jubilant, and the Cheng family was naturally no exception.

Although the eldest Cheng Sijin and his brother wouldn’t be able to return to Beijing to be with their elderly parents, they both had numerous descendants under their name.

Those kids, along with the Wen family’s three brothers, moved back and forth among the three families, bringing cheer to the Zhou family, not to mention that the Ping An Brothers had many friends.

The eve of the New Year marked the official commencement of the celebration.

Early in the morning, the Ping An Brothers went to the old house to post couplets, window decorations, and hanging lanterns, then went to invite Doctor Hu to join the celebration.

As expected, like every year, their Grandpa Doctor Hu refused to enter the Big Courtyard.

The reason?

Still the same, doesn’t like it!

With just three simple words, the Ping An Brothers didn’t insist. Seeing Aunt starting to prepare New Year’s Eve dinner, even the couplets were already pasted.

The three brothers cheerfully informed the old man that they would come over to pay him their respects on the first day of next year.

By the time they returned after getting everything done, it was already noon.

In the kitchen, Zhou Jiao was busy with the New Year’s Eve dinner and couldn’t attend to her two sons at the moment.

Instead, they chatted briefly with Miao Lishan, entertaining their grandmother, and quickly dashed into the kitchen.

"Mom, it smells delicious."

"Are we eating at noon or at midnight?"

Ping’an slapped his two younger brothers’ hands as they tried to steal fried meatballs, but couldn’t help grabbing one himself.

Zhou Jiao turned her head and smiled, "We’ll have a simple meal at noon, and then tonight after your Grandpa and Dad finish the celebration, we will have our family reunion dinner."

May 1st leaned over, sniffing the black pot on the stove, hmm, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall was being prepared.

Liu Yi raised his eyebrows at the comment, casually taking over the spatula from her hand, "Mom, let me take over, you rest for a bit. Where’s Grandma Chen?"

"At the service club."

Ping’an swallowed his food, and when he finished, he asked, "Mom, I heard there are more than thirty thousand people at tonight’s Spring Festival Gala, aren’t you going?"

May 1st chimed in, "Yeah, we’re all planning to go."

Liu Yi stirred the pot a few times, poured in some water, covered it, and gave his brother a sidelong glance: "Too many people, too much talk, and having to socialize, it’s alright if Mom doesn’t go."

"Then we will stay home with you."

Zhou Jiao smiled at May 1st, "Don’t you have any activities tonight?"

May 1st always had a way with words, grinning, "What’s more important than my Mom?"

"Your Dad has already said, he’ll be back as usual after a quick glance. You guys do as you please, just remember to come home for the reunion dinner."

"Oh, there goes my Dad beating us to it again."

Zhou Jiao laughed heartily at that.

Entertained their mother, May 1st winked at his brothers, "Mom, all the stamps we bought today are at the old house."

"From what you’re saying, will you continue to buy?"

"Yes, planning to. Not many people are buying now, but we’re contributing to the country."

Zhou Jiao glanced at the faces of her three sons, then shook her head, smiling, "Remember to wrap them in oil paper, and it’s best to put some lime in the wooden box."

"Got it."

Understanding what Zhou Jiao meant, she didn’t elaborate further, she took over her second son’s task, focusing on the lunch preparations so that a bunch of young boys and girls wouldn’t show up late.

After the midnight reunion dinner, the New Year arrived.

In the first month, visiting relatives and friends was a must, as was going to various temple fairs to browse and find something special.

This time last year, even Zhang Guoqing was at the frontline, lacking the leisure to visit the bustling Changdian Temple Fair.

This year, being a part of it, she suddenly realized that peaceful times seemed genuinely on the horizon.

Artifacts and antiques that had never been banned appeared on small stalls, and there were long-lost art stalls displaying various works of new and old painters and calligraphers.

Spring turned to summer, and life unfolded smoothly. Just when Zhou Jiao thought the next few years would be uneventful, a bolt from the blue struck.

"What did you say?"

Compared to Zhou Jiao’s panic-stricken expression, Zhang Guoqing was much calmer. He patted his frightened wife, once again conveying the unfortunate news.

"Mr. Cheng really passed away, laughed as he went peacefully in his sleep last night."

"How could it be? I was just playing chess with the old man a few days ago." Zhou Jiao closed her eyes for a moment, then quickly reacted, asking urgently, "What about the old lady?"

If not for the timing, Zhang Guoqing nearly corrected her, "The old lady is doing well now, she’s in charge at the Cheng family. We should head over first."

"Yes, we must go quickly, I thought the old lady would be first to leave, but didn’t expect, truly didn’t expect... how could he just leave like that..."

When the couple got into the car heading to the Cheng Family’s old house, Zhou Xiaozheng had already arrived with Miao Lishan, accompanying the old lady in the main room to discuss funeral arrangements.

By now, quite a few relatives and friends had gathered at the Cheng Family’s old house upon hearing the news. Zhou Jiao hurried to greet the old lady, barely acknowledging anyone else.

She understood more than anyone what Mr. Cheng meant to the old lady. He was her solid support, and now that he’s gone, wouldn’t the old lady collapse?

Upon seeing the old lady, the situation was better than Zhou Jiao anticipated; aside from Cheng Ruzhu’s crying, the old woman was calm, even comforting her crying family.

"...Silly child, stop crying. Your father passed happily; he slept away with no illness or pain, something many elderly can only wish for."

Zhou Jiao glanced at her father, stepped forward nervously holding the old lady’s cold hands, feeling chilled to the bone.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that the old lady’s vitality was fading?

Faced with the old lady’s gaze, Zhou Jiao was at a loss for words, only able to repeat one sentence, "Auntie, you still have us."