There is Room for Rebirth in the 1950’s

Early the next morning, Zhou Jiao paid special attention to her three sons. Seeing that they were full of energy after a night, she put down her worries.

What kid doesn't have an awkward day?

When Zhao Yuanyuan and Zhang Yuntao came over with their children, Zhang Qingfeng's pig was stabbed with a knife and screamed horribly.

With Zhao Yuanyuan shouting like a repeater, Jiaojiao, I'm coming, Jiaojiao, I'm coming..., the scene is particularly joyful.

When old friends reunited, Zhou Jiao couldn't help but rush to greet them.

Okay, just the two of you, huh, you've both forgotten about me, right?

A plaintive voice sounded, and Zhou Jiao, who was hugged tightly by Zhao Yuanyuan, followed the movement and saw several familiar figures at a glance - Hu Xiaohui and Li Qinglin were also here.

Zhou Jiao was immediately elated and looked at her coming with a smile on her face, When did you come back? I went to the work unit last weekend and heard that you were on a business trip.

She was just a few days ahead of you. Zhao Yuanyuan held Zhou Jiao with one hand and waved to Hu Xiaohui with the other. She lowered her voice and said, Lin Zi's grandpa just left.

When Zhou Jiao heard this, she understood that Hu Xiaohui had come back for the funeral, so no wonder she didn't mention returning to her hometown. One is Lin Zi's maternal family, and the other is a simple matter, so it's normal not to mention it.

After Zhang Yuntao and Li Qinglin appeared on this day, it was like turning on a faucet, and Zhang Guoqing's old friends from his hometown began to come to his door one after another.

These people are different from official social gatherings. Everyone gets together to drink wine and reminisce about the past. They each tease each other, which makes each other laugh and adds to the celebration.

On New Year's Eve, people who came to invite guests for the first lunar month stopped one after another. Zhou Jiao, who was busy steaming bean buns and steamed buns, also stopped working in the kitchen.

According to the rules of the old Zhang family, the New Year's Eve reunion dinner is undoubtedly a gathering of three people in the old home.

It's funny to say that Zhou Jiao can rest early. She does not have a daughter-in-law yet, but she enjoys this blessing. The New Year's Eve dinner of Lao Zhang's family was prepared by his grandsons and daughters-in-law.

In addition, the three Ping An brothers contributed a wild boar and a roe deer to the village, which made the old captain who took over the position of clan leader make up his mind to have a family dinner together on the first night of the new year!

So these two days her family just has simple meals.

On New Year's Eve, we have to say, worship ancestors on New Year's Eve.

In the mind of Mr. Zhang, the most important event of the year is to take the ancestors home for the New Year and give them pocket money on this day.

In the past few years, the old customs had been suppressed, so Father Zhang could only come in secretly. Now he can do it openly. When he gets up early in the morning, he will ask his wife to check whether the sacrifices are complete from time to time.

Zhang's mother didn't feel annoyed when she saw this. When her husband asked, she happily read to him one by one with her fingers. It almost comes off by the end.

Father Zhang didn't mention whether his grandsons Liuyi and Wuyi, who were passed to his in-laws, would go up the mountain with him, but when Zhou Jiao gave them new clothes and trousers, how could he not see his thoughts.

It's just an old man's overthinking. Zhou Jiao would not object to a pair of young sons going to pay homage to the ancestors of the Zhang family. Although their surname is Zhou, they are also descendants of the Zhang family and the sons of her man.

On this occasion of bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new, we would like to express our filial respect to the ancestors of the Zhang family and pray that the ancestors and gods can bless future generations and make them prosperous.

Isn't this a good wish?

If the ancestors of the Zhang family were alive, Zhou Jiao would like to have her sons worship him more often to bless them with a safe life.

For this reason, after she listened to Zhang's mother report to Zhang's father that the sacrifice was over, she quietly returned to her yard and added another sacrifice and paper money.

Zhang Guoqing saw that Zhou Jiao, who was still fine, was in a low mood, and quickly asked about other things to divert her attention. At this moment, he also thought of the deceased Mrs. Cheng.

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

Now that she is gone, no one will bother to find money for incense candles for them anymore...

When the time came, Father Zhang could not hide the smile on his face. He led a group of men in his family to the door of Uncle Zhang and Uncle Zhang's house to drink and go up the mountain.

Of course, he wouldn't say that he was just showing off to Uncle Zhang: Aren't you laughing at me for adopting two little grandsons? Look, it’s my grandson or my grandson!

The only person who might understand his thoughts was Zhang Mu. Watching her husband and the others leave, she patted Zhou Jiao, who was holding her arm, and called the women at home into the yard.

Yes, the woman of the house.

There is a rule for ancestor worship in Zhangjia Village that men of the family must go there, and women of the family are not allowed to participate. This is a custom passed down from ancient times.

Of course, this is not the case in Zhangjiacun. It is estimated that it is similar across the country now. In other words, Zhou Jiao is the only child in the Zhou family, or Zhou Xiaozheng never thinks that his precious daughter is inferior to his son.

The descendants of the third brother of the old Zhang family are estimated to be the largest in Zhangjia Village. They take turns with other members of the same clan to pay homage to the tombs of their deceased ancestors.

Arriving at the graves of Grandpa Zhang and Grandma Zhang was the highlight of their third marriage.

It was Uncle Zhang who was the oldest and the most senior, who first drew a circle on the snow in front of the grave, and placed the folded Yuanbao and paper money from the three families with Father Zhang and Uncle Zhang.

Looking at the yuanbao and paper money that were obviously more than double the amount of the two rooms, Uncle Zhang didn't react at all, but Uncle Zhang glanced sideways at Zhang's father with a half-smile.

But is Father Zhang afraid?

He won't!

It's not his fault that he gave his parents more pocket money.

Other brothers can show humility to each other, but the old son gives pocket money to his grandfather, who has grown up with him. This is the filial piety of the children. Who wants the eldest nephew not to add a share?

Dad, Mom, my two younger brothers and I brought the children over to see you. How are you doing? I'll give you two more pocket money this time. Just say it, don't be reluctant...

After Uncle Zhang finished talking, he told Father Zhang and Uncle Zhang, You also have a good chat with your parents.

Okay, brother, please mind your own business first. Father Zhang responded smoothly, turning to instruct the three Zhang Guoqing brothers, The boss will light the fire, the second brother will throw the paper money in, and Xiao Wu, come here, your father must miss you the most, he will I love you. I haven’t seen you for so many years. He should miss you so much...

Uncle Zhang was originally looking at the graves, thinking about his father and mother, and he was still a little sad in his heart. He was amused by his second brother's words and couldn't help laughing.

When he smiled, the juniors kneeling behind him no longer had to hold back their laughter and started laughing softly.

For a moment, Uncle Zhang, who was pouring a cup of wine on the ground, was dumbfounded. He looked around and glared at everyone to be more serious.

Burn the paper money.

The older ones go in front, while the younger ones kowtow from behind. Afterwards, a series of firecrackers were set off, and the third family of the old Zhang family came down the mountain happily.

Especially the children under the Ming generation are shouting to celebrate the new year. What feelings can these young children have for their deceased ancestors?

Uncle Zhang and the three brothers did not stop them. They thought that their father and mother had spirits underground, and they should be happy to hear the cheers of these children.