Chapter 1298 - 1170: Before the New Year 4

Chapter 1298: Chapter 1170: Before the New Year 4

Early the next morning, Zhou Jiao paid special attention to her three sons. Seeing them full of energy after a night’s rest, her worries subsided.

Which brat doesn’t have a day with a little tantrum?

When Zhao Yuanyuan and Zhang Yuntao came over with their children, the pig at Zhang Qingfeng’s house was being stabbed, screaming terribly.

Coupled with Zhao Yuanyuan yelling like a broken record, "Jiao Jiao, I’m here, Jiao Jiao, I’m here...", the scene was particularly amusing.

Reuniting with old friends, Zhou Jiao couldn’t help but rush over to greet them.

"Well, it’s just you two who are close, huh, have you forgotten about me?"

A plaintive voice sounded, and Zhou Jiao, tightly hugged by Zhao Yuanyuan, followed the voice and saw several familiar figures—Hu Xiaohui and Li Qinglin had also arrived.

Zhou Jiao’s heart bloomed with joy as she looked at her and smiled, "When did you come back? Last weekend I heard at the office that you were on a business trip."

"Oh her, just a few days before you." Zhao Yuanyuan tugged Zhou Jiao with one hand and waved to Hu Xiaohui with the other, lowering her voice, "Linzi’s grandfather just passed away."

Zhou Jiao understood that Hu Xiaohui came back for the funeral, no wonder she didn’t mention returning home. First, it’s Linzi’s maternal family, and second, it’s about mourning, not mentioning it is normal.

From the moment Zhang Yuntao and Li Qinglin appeared, old friends of Zhang Guoqing’s in his hometown began arriving in droves.

These people were unlike official engagements, they gathered to drink and reminisce about the past, teasing each other, which amused everyone and added to the festive mood.

On New Year’s Eve, those who came to invite for a get-together in the first month also stopped by, and Zhou Jiao who was busy steaming bean buns and mantou in the kitchen also took a break.

According to the rules of Old Zhang’s family, the New Year’s Eve reunion dinner was a gathering of the three households in the old yard.

It was quite amusing that Zhou Jiao was able to rest early. Though she didn’t have a daughter-in-law, she enjoyed this blessing. The New Year’s Eve dinner of Old Zhang’s family was prepared by the grandchildren’s wives.

With the contribution of a wild boar and a roe deer by Ping An Brothers to the village, the newly appointed clan leader, Old Captain, made a decision — a clan banquet on the first night of the new year!

So for the next two days, a simple meal would suffice at her house.

On New Year’s Eve, there’s no avoiding the topic of ancestor worship.

In Mr. Zhang’s mind, the most important event of the year was the day to bring "the ancestors home for the New Year" and give the ancestors "pocket money."

In previous years, these old customs were suppressed, and Mr. Zhang could only conduct them in secret. Now, openly, from early morning he frequently checked with his wife if the offerings were complete.

Mother Zhang didn’t find it bothersome, and whenever her husband asked, she would joyfully count the items on her fingers, listing them for him. In the end, she almost recited them casually.

Mr. Zhang didn’t mention whether his adopted grandsons, Liu Yi and May 1st, should go up the mountain with him, but during this time, when Zhou Jiao gifted the elderly couple new clothes, how could she not see his thoughts?

The old man was overthinking it, Zhou Jiao wouldn’t oppose her younger sons going to pay respects to the Zhang ancestors. Although their surname is Zhou, they are also descendants of the Zhang family, her husband’s sons.

At this time of saying goodbye to the old and welcoming the new, showing respect to Zhang’s ancestors and asking for the ancestors’ blessings to protect the descendants, bringing prosperity to future generations.

Isn’t this a wonderful wish?

If the Zhang ancestors had spirits, Zhou Jiao would love for her sons to pay more respects, to bless them with lifelong safety.

Therefore, after hearing Mother Zhang finish reporting the offerings to Father Zhang, Zhou Jiao quietly went back to her own yard and added more offerings and joss paper.

Zhang Guoqing, seeing Zhou Jiao’s initially fine mood turn downcast, quickly asked about other matters to divert her attention. At that moment, he thought of the late Old Mrs. Cheng.

In past years, a few days before the New Year in Beijing, the living old lady would quietly prepare joss paper for them, and their family would secretly go up the mountain with the Cheng family to burn paper for their ancestors.

Now that she’s gone, there’s no one left to thoughtfully prepare incense and joss paper for them...

When the time came, Mr. Zhang couldn’t hide his beaming smile, leading a group of male members from his family, first running to the doors of Uncle Zhang and Uncle Zhang’s house, shouting to hurry up the mountain.

Of course, he wouldn’t admit he was bragging to Uncle Zhang: You laughed at me for adopting two grandsons, but look, aren’t they my grandsons!

The only one who understood his thoughts might be Mother Zhang, watching her husband leave, she patted Zhou Jiao’s arm, inviting the women of the house into the yard.

Yes, the women of the house.

Zhang Family Village had a rule for ancestor worship, family males must attend, family females cannot participate, a custom passed down from ancient times.

Of course, it wasn’t just Zhang Family Village like this. Nowadays it’s probably the same across the country. It’s just that the Zhou Family only had Zhou Jiao as their descendant, or rather Zhou Xiaozheng never thought his treasured daughter was inferior to a son.

The descendants of Old Zhang’s third house were estimated to be the largest branch in Zhang Family Village, taking turns with the clan to worship at the graves of deceased ancestors.

When they arrived at the graves of Grandpa Zhang and Grandma Zhang, this was the main event for the third house.

Starting with the oldest and highest-ranked Uncle Zhang, he drew a circle in the snow in front of the grave with something, and Mr. Zhang and Uncle Zhang placed the folded "ingots" and joss paper from the three families.

Seeing more than twice as many "ingots" and joss paper compared to the other two households, Uncle Zhang didn’t react, but Uncle Zhang gave Mr. Zhang a sidelong glance with a smirk.

Was Mr. Zhang afraid?

No, he wasn’t!

Giving parents extra pocket money wasn’t his fault.

Among his own brothers, he could yield, but giving grandpa pocket money, this was the children’s filial piety, and it’s no fault of his that his elder nephew didn’t contribute!

"Dad, Mom, my two brothers and I brought the children to see you. How have you been? This time we’re giving you more pocket money, don’t be stingy..."

After Uncle Zhang recited some words, he instructed Mr. Zhang and Uncle Zhang, "You also have a good chat with Mom and Dad."

"Alright, big brother, you go ahead," Mr. Zhang responded casually, turning to instruct the three Zhang brothers, "Oldest, light the fire, second, throw in the joss paper, Xiao Wu, come over here, grandpa surely misses you, you’re his favorite, he hasn’t seen you for so many years, he would miss you..."

Uncle Zhang, initially feeling a bit sentimental facing the grave of his parents, couldn’t help but laugh at his second brother’s words.

His laugh made the younger generation kneeling behind not hold back their chuckles, following suit.

For a moment, even Uncle Zhang, who was pouring a cup of wine on the ground, found it both funny and annoying, glaring around to remind everyone to be serious.

After burning the joss paper.

The senior members knelt at the front, with the younger ones behind, bowing their heads. Then, a string of firecrackers was set off, and the third house of Old Zhang’s family cheerfully descended the mountain, unlike any other.

Especially the children below the Ming generation who were shouting, celebrating the New Year. For these youngsters, how could they feel anything for the deceased ancestors?

The three Zhang brothers didn’t stop them, figuring that if their parents could hear in the afterlife, they would be pleased by the cheers of these kids.