Chapter 78: The First Day of the Lunar New Year
Zhu Yanyi only remembered, just before falling asleep, that she hadn’t told Zhu Shunyao about Zhu Yanli changing her career goal. After thinking it over, she decided to filed it away without dwelling. Her older sister was still young. Just a few days ago, she wanted to be a teacher. Now, she wanted to be a music producer. Who knew if she would change her mind again in a few days? It was better to wait a while before bringing it up.
The local custom was to eat on New Year’s Eve and play on the first day of the New Year. Therefore, one had to wake up early on the first day. Zhu Yanyi was woken up by the sound of firecrackers. Basically, the entire village set off firecrackers early on the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year to welcome the spring.
After dressing, Zhu Yanyi came out and saw Zhu Yanli eating breakfast. After brushing her teeth and washing her face, Xie Xinlian served her a bowl of red bean and lotus root dumplings. There were many red beans and only two dumplings. The lotus root had broken apart because it was cooked thoroughly, but the mixture tasted delicious. In her previous life, this was Zhu Yanyi’s favorite snack. She often made it herself, but this was the first time she had eaten it since being reborn.
Biting into a dumpling, she tasted the osmanthus filling. The fragrance of osmanthus, the softness of glutinous rice, the powdery texture of lotus root, and the sweetness of red beans made Zhu Yanyi eat with great relish.
After breakfast, Zhu Shunyao came in. She planned to take Xie Xinlian and the two girls to pay New Year’s greetings to Zhu Guifu and Gan Juhua. Then, they would set off for Zhu Yanyi’s maternal uncle’s house, which was actually Qi Qiaoer’s brother’s home.
Before the family’s economic situation improved, they always followed this routine. Later, when they had some money and at the elders’ request, they postponed visiting the Qi family until the second day of the New Year.
Zhu Shunyao led Xie Xinlian and the three family members to Zhu Guifu’s house. At that moment, besides Zhu Guifu and Gan Juhua, only Zhang Qiaolian and her daughter were there. When Zhu Shunyao and her family entered, Gan Juhua was holding a basket, seemingly putting something inside. Seeing them arrive, she immediately hung the basket aside, as if worried they might see what was inside.
“Father, Mother, I have brought Xinlian, An’er, and Ani to pay New Year’s greetings to you.” Zhu Shunyao was very respectful. No matter how much he disagreed with his father, he still considered him his father and could only think this way.
Zhu Guifu glanced at Zhu Shunyao and nodded slightly. “Hmm, are you going to pay respects at the graves?”
“Yes. We will set off shortly. We will pay respects at the graves first, and then go to Xinlian’s uncle’s house to pay New Year’s greetings and visit.” Zhu Shunyao answered seriously.
“Hmm. Since that is the case, now that you have come and I know, you may go. Be careful on the road.” On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Zhu Guifu was still quite reasonable. After all, if the first day was not smooth, the whole year would be unlucky. Even if he disliked Zhu Shunyao, he would not give him a hard time at this moment.
Zhu Shunyao understood this very well, which is why he chose to pay New Year’s greetings on the first day. As long as the etiquette was observed, it would be fine. “Then, Father and Mother, we are leaving.” No matter what, Zhu Shunyao had to maintain his attitude so that no one could find fault with him.
From entering to leaving, they did not even have a sip of water. In ordinary families, paying New Year’s greetings usually included a cup of sugar water, representing the host’s blessing for a sweet and happy year ahead. However, here, they only saw Zhang Qiaolian and her daughter, Zhu Nanhong, sitting aside in the sun, saying little. Gan Juhua did not say a single word. Not only was there no sugar water, but not even a cup of plain water was offered.
Walking out, Zhu Shunyao was in a bad mood. Her parents treated her this way. Xie Xinlian understood her husband’s feelings and said, “It’s the first day of the Lunar New Year. Don’t take it to heart. They have always been like this. Fortunately, they didn’t say anything else today. Otherwise, I would have worried they would nag at An’er and Ani.”