Chapter 156: “It’s Great to Celebrate the New Year!”

Chapter 156: "It's Great to Celebrate the New Year!"

Little Tiger raised his body, pawing at the bedhead with his front limbs and whimpering softly in his throat.

Plum Blossom hadn't been in a deep sleep; upon hearing the commotion, she immediately opened her eyes, propped herself up, and quietly asked, "Is it Big Tiger and the others who have returned?"

"Woof." Little Tiger suppressed his bark, wagging his tail as he waited for her to get dressed and put on her shoes before opening the door. His head squeezed through the crack, his sleek and oily body slipping out like an eel. With a burst from his hind legs, he darted out ahead.

The morning air was cold. Little Tiger skidded face-first into the ground, his doggy face scrunching up before he let out a loud sneeze: "Achoo!"

"Hey, it's Little Tiger," Chen Sanshi said, peering through the door crack. Hearing his voice, Little Tiger wagged his tail and trotted over.

"Hush." Wei Datiger was wary of him starting to howl. At this hour, his wife was still asleep, and he didn't want to wake her. He took two steps back. Chen Sanshi, who had been peering through the door crack at Little Tiger, felt a blur pass by him quickly. Instinctively turning his head, he saw his brother with one hand gripping the edge of the courtyard wall and one foot braced against the wooden fence. Veins bulged in his arm as he exerted himself, his posture akin to that of a fierce tiger. With a leap, he soared into the air and stood on the courtyard wall in the blink of an eye.

Wei Datiger sharply lifted his head, meeting Plum Blossom's gaze under the eaves in mutual surprise.

"…"

Plum Blossom's brows twitched. She first tied her rabbit-fur scarf around her neck, then knocked on Man Cang's door, calling softly through the window, "Man Cang, your brother-in-law and the others have returned. Help open the courtyard gate."

"Okay." The sound of getting up came from inside the room. Plum Blossom stood by the door without moving, pointing at Wei Datiger, who was scratching his head awkwardly while squatting on the courtyard wall. "You better come down properly. Don't jump, be careful not to sprain your ankle."

"I didn't want to wake you up. I was going to open the door myself," he muttered in explanation, but it was useless. His wife's heart was pounding at the sight of him so high up. Already a tall man, hunched on a nearly two-meter-high courtyard wall, the sense of oppression was palpable, as if a tiger were crouching atop it.

When Man Cang came out, he also got a fright. The sky was still dim, and all he could see was a shadow squatting on the courtyard wall. At first glance, his heart skipped a beat.

"Sis… Sister-in-law?" Man Cang rubbed his sleepy eyes.

"What are you dawdling for? Hurry up and open the door for me," Wei Datiger snapped at him, showing completely different attitudes toward his wife and his younger brother-in-law.

Man Cang hurried over, not needing his sister's help. He simply removed the piece of wood that was holding the courtyard gate shut.

As soon as the gate opened, the weary crowd outside rushed into the courtyard. It was only then that Plum Blossom realized that apart from the person squatting on the courtyard wall, looking unscathed and eager to jump down, every single one of those who had gone down the mountain to cause trouble for the Wu family was worse for wear. Some had faces swollen like steamed buns, while even those with less severe injuries had a cut or two on their bodies. They looked quite battered.

"Why are they so badly hurt? Didn't we bring knives?" As she drew closer, she noticed that her aunt-in-law had lost a patch of scalp, and her eldest sister-in-law's scratches weren't much better than when she had fought with Zhou Miaohua. Her neck and face were covered in marks from women fighting, which looked painful just to look at.

But the worst off were Second Uncle and Sanshi. Father and son were a sight for sore eyes. Sanshi's face was swollen like a steamed bun, his eyelids puffed up tenfold. That pitiful appearance didn't resemble someone causing trouble for others; it seemed more like he had been beaten to a pulp.

Just then, Liu Daocao opened the door and came out. Seeing Chen Sanshi, who looked like he had been pounded into a toad, she covered her mouth and tried to hold back her laughter, but the sound of her stifled giggles still escaped between her fingers. Her eyes fixed on Chen Sanshi, she made no effort to hide her mockery: "Look who this is. Haven't seen you before, have I?"

Chen Sanshi's face turned bright red. His eyelids were swollen, and he squinted at people, feeling that Liu Daocao wasn't as sturdy as usual, appearing more slender. Although he had thrown caution to the wind during the fight with the Wu family, whenever he faced this dark-skinned girl, he became incredibly nervous. Not recognizing the ridicule, he assumed she couldn't see well and hadn't recognized him. Stuttering, he explained, "I-I-I am Chen Sanshi."

"Hmph." Liu Daocao crossed her waist and chuckled. This simpleton, did she not recognize him? Clumsy and slow-witted, seeing his miserable face, she hesitated for a moment before turning around and returning to the house.

Chen Sanshi thought she had gone back to sleep. He was starving, having missed several meals. After arriving home, his tense nerves finally relaxed, and he clutched his stomach, heading straight for the kitchen.

With everyone back, the house suddenly became lively. Even though they tried to move quietly, they still woke up the people inside. Zhao Sufen came out after dressing. Without time to worry about anything else, she heard the commotion in the kitchen and headed there without hesitation, starting the stove, fetching rice, and cooking porridge.

"The knives were just for show, to prevent others from bullying us. But we weren't aiming to kill anyone; they were just for intimidation," Aunt-in-Law was exhausted. She was already old, and after two days of nonstop travel and a life-threatening escape, especially witnessing the soldiers entering the village to make arrests, seeing familiar faces being bound hand and foot, including some men who had called her aunt, the memory left her feeling utterly drained, a fatigue that permeated her entire being.

Plum Blossom supported her back to the room, saying softly, "Rest for a bit. I'll go to the kitchen and see if there's any hot water. I'll mix some honey water for you to drink."

Aunt-in-Law leaned against the bedhead. Hearing this, she forgot her worries and laughed. "What honey water? We're old folks, we don't need sweet things. Just a bowl of warm water would make us very happy."

Smiling, Plum Blossom left the room. Turning her head, she saw Big Tiger still squatting on the fence without coming down. She walked over, looking up and placing her hands on her hips angrily. "What are you doing? Have you grown roots up there?"

Wei Datiger stared at her without speaking.

Plum Blossom became even angrier. He was about to become a father, yet his personality was still so childish. After scolding him once, he was now sulking. "Then jump down, but be careful, don't…" Before she could finish her warning, he was already standing right in front of her.

Wei Datiger grinned widely at his wife. Plum Blossom was both angry and amused. She lightly punched his arm, saying irritably, "In the future, don't climb over the courtyard wall like this. It's scary."

"Understood." Being lectured by his wife filled Wei Datiger's heart with joy. He had passed the point of hunger, and his stomach no longer felt empty, but his legs were weak and unsteady. Seeing his wife head for the kitchen, he followed her there.

Inside, it was bustling. Second Sister-in-Law had also gotten up and was busy preparing food. Two pots were on the stove, one for porridge and the other for rice, ensuring both congee and dry rice were available. That little rascal Sanshi had somehow found a pancake and was currently gnawing on it. He eyed it hungrily, rummaging around for a while but finding nothing.

"Where did you get that pancake?" Not finding any, he went to snatch it from his brother's hand.

Chen Sanshi was no match for him. He could only watch helplessly as his pancake was taken away, tears welling up in his eyes as he whined, "My pancake…"

"What's yours? Once it's in my mouth, it's mine." Wei Datiger stuffed the entire pancake into his mouth, mumbling indistinctly, "Why are you standing there? Aren't you going to help stoke the fire?" Saying this, he gave Chen Sanshi a slap on the back of the head, taking two big gulps of the honey water his wife had mixed for him.

Even Mother-in-Law Zhao couldn't bear to watch. She comforted the teary-eyed Chen Sanshi, "Sanshi, go back to your room and rest for a while. When the porridge is ready, I'll call you. Auntie will fry a couple of eggs for you later. I won't give any to your brother-in-law for being mean."

Plum Blossom also handed him a bowl of honey water. "Drink some honey water. Ignore your brother; he's just a brute."

Chen Sanshi held the bowl and took two hearty sips, instantly satisfied and no longer bothered by Brother Hu. Just then, Liu Daocao called out to him from outside. He bounced out of the kitchen, his swollen, squinting eyes looking at her. "What's up?"

Wei Datiger crossed his arms and looked outside. He saw Liu Daocao stuffing something into Sanshi's arms. The girl probably felt embarrassed and didn't say a word before turning around and running away. He stroked his chin, scrutinizing Sanshi from head to toe with a critical gaze. Ignoring his face, his physique was quite impressive, a solid young man.

His cousin might be a bit dark, but her features were fine. Not only was she physically strong, but she was also quick-witted. Thinking about his Second Uncle's large family, he smacked his lips. Neither the older nor the younger generation was suitable; what they really needed was someone in the middle who could keep them in check.

However, he wasn't a matchmaker, and this matter wasn't his concern. Let them figure it out themselves.

Perhaps the girl didn't have any romantic intentions? Maybe she was just kind-hearted and offering some care casually. He shouldn't read too much into it.

Plum Blossom brought the honey water to the main room and then took a stack of clean empty bowls. Standing in the courtyard, she called out, "There's water in the main room. If you want to drink, help yourselves."

"Okay!" Wu Zhaodi responded from inside the room. She had just carried Tie Niu back from Chen Ershi's room. With neither his father nor mother at home, they probably worried that he would be scared and unable to sleep alone. Last night, Cao Xiuhong had taken Tie Niu to her room. When she entered, Tie Niu had just opened his eyes and reached out to be held. She simply carried the child back to her own room.

After changing into clean clothes, she went to the main room to pour herself a bowl of honey water. Taking a couple of sips to quench her thirst, she fed the remaining portion to her half-asleep son, who mumbled about wanting to drink when he heard the honey water.

By the time the porridge was cooked, Old Man Lin and Grandma Huang also emerged from their rooms, one after the other. Even Daya, with her large belly, slowly shuffled out, her eyes red, suggesting she had been crying.

Once the table in the main room was set, the rice was also steamed. The children held their bowls of rice gruel, slurping contentedly, their little feet swinging happily.

Cao Xiuhong stir-fried two large pots of meat, the aroma making Big Tiger and Little Tiger circle the kitchen. Such a lavish breakfast was prepared because they had guessed that the group hadn't eaten much over the past two days. Walking the mountain path had been exhausting, and they looked filthy and wretched. After eating breakfast, they were likely to catch up on sleep, unsure if they would wake up in time for lunch. Therefore, they decided to prepare a good breakfast so they could sleep soundly.

"Third Uncle, did someone hit you?" Iron Bull tilted his head, staring intently at Chen Sandi's face. Duck Egg and Goose Egg, sitting beside him, followed suit, tilting their heads to take a look as well.

"My dad got hit too!" Goose Egg, after checking on his third uncle, immediately turned to look at his father. The filial son clapped his little hands, watching the bruises on his father's face with glee.

"Iron Bull, your dad was also hit by someone." Duck Egg, being older, didn't want to mock his own father, so he turned to tease someone else's.

The kids understood nothing but knew how to laugh. Goose Egg laughed at his father, then at his mother, and didn't spare his grandparents either, especially his grandmother whose balding head amused him greatly, causing him to cackle and clap his hands incessantly.

"How dare you laugh at your grandparents, you cheeky little rascal!" Fang Qiuyan rolled up her sleeves as if to beat her son, but she was stopped by Auntie, who chuckled and said, "Children speak without restraint, they know not what they say." She too couldn't help but laugh, touching her own head and asking, "Am I really bald?"

Cao Xiuhong scooped a spoonful of porridge, while Peach Blossom helped pass the bowls. They could see clearly that a large patch of hair had indeed been pulled out, leaving a bald spot!

They exchanged glances and hurriedly reassured her, "No baldness, no baldness! Your hair is still thick and lush!"

"Haha, don't lie to me, bald is bald. It's not a big deal," Auntie didn't seem to care much. As an elderly woman, she had long passed the age of vanity. Besides, her hair would grow back eventually. What was there to worry about?

But deep down, she was happy. Looking at Big Girl's red-rimmed eyes, she guessed that mother and daughter had shared some private words in the room. Seeing everyone quietly eating porridge and picking at meat without mentioning anything about the mountain below, she didn't want to bring it up either. There was nothing left to say. Past events had faded like smoke, and from now on, they were going to live a peaceful life in the mountains.

"Rest well today. Tomorrow, you need to start working on building the houses for Straw Mother and Daughter and Big Girl." After slurping a mouthful of porridge, Auntie instructed her two sons, "Take your time, no rush. It won't be done before the New Year, but try to finish it after the New Year, before spring arrives."

Chen Dashi and Chen Ershi nodded while slurping their porridge.

"Out with the old, in with the new. Tomorrow, let's thoroughly clean the house from top to bottom. We don't have any new couplets this year, but I kept last year's. I brought them up here last time, so we can make do with those." Auntie smiled as she made arrangements, "I remember Big Girl knows how to cut paper window decorations. Does Second Family still have red paper? Big Girl can cut some out and we'll put one in each room, it will look festive."

"Okay." Big Girl nodded eagerly.

"We have plenty of preserved meats, both pork and mutton. For the New Year, we should make meatballs using fresh meat..." She looked at Wei Dahu and continued, "Dahu, you don't need to worry about building the houses. You're a hunter, and with so many people in the family, you don't need to worry about us. When you have free time, go around the mountains and catch some fish to keep. If you can hunt any wild game, that would be even better. Then we can fry some fish balls, meatballs, crispy pork, and dough twists. Not only will the children love them, but even the adults will enjoy them..."

Everyone nodded in agreement, their faces filled with joy. With so many people this year, the New Year celebrations would definitely be lively!

There were many things that could be fried, but just the thought of crispy pork alone made Iron Bull and the others drool.

Children loved the New Year. During the New Year, the cured meats hanging in the kitchen all year round would be taken down and eaten. Mothers would make new clothes, and fathers would catch fish from the river for Grandma to fry into fish balls. On New Year's Eve, the table would be full of food, and on this day, no matter how mischievous they were, their parents wouldn't raise a stick to beat them.

"New Year, New Year, New Year." Iron Bull and the other little ones slapped the table and shouted, "The New Year is great!"

Their mothers raised their chopsticks to rap their heads, scolding them with laughter, "Shut up, you're making too much noise!"

Although they were scolding the children, the liveliness in the home was all because of them.

The New Year...

Thinking back to the days leading up to the New Year in previous years, the kitchen was bustling with activity. Hot oil bubbled in the pots, and fruit balls and meatballs came out of the pot one after another. Adults and children circled around the stove, their faces filled with joy and festivity.

Not only did the children look forward to the New Year, but the adults did too.