CHAPTER 396: CHAPTER 302: NEW YEAR’S EVE DINNER (PART 2)

Have you noticed quite a few older generation figures watching them from the side? When military parents educate their children, most often it’s direct and even involves a kick. Being disciplined or beaten in public would be quite embarrassing for anyone.

Living in the big courtyard, Zhang Guoqing has seen military men whipping their children more than once. The children in the courtyard often have distant relationships with their parents. With parents busy with work and frequently absent from home, children attend school and return, cared for by nannies. Families without nannies have their three meals at the communal canteen. As long as the children are safe, there is hardly any communication. Some children born fifty years ago rarely saw their fathers during their growth, so how could there be any affection?

This is also the reason why Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao’s family got so much attention upon returning to the courtyard. Now, anyone in the courtyard who sees Zhou Jiao, regardless of age, jokingly calls her the Zhou family’s precious jewel. Just a few days ago, when Zhou Jiao was exercising early in the morning, a five- or six-year-old child ran over and called her "precious gem sister."

As the leaders took their seats, the auditorium filled with enthusiastic applause. Following the opening remarks was the cultural performance. Though the programs were repetitious, they still sparked great interest among the people, unaware as some leaders quietly left halfway through.

Zhang Guoqing smiled and nodded slightly towards his father-in-law who was leaving. On this day, his father-in-law had to visit the troops and accompany the soldiers, while his mother-in-law had performances scheduled throughout the first day of the New Year. On the night when families everywhere gather together, their family couldn’t be together to eat dumplings and welcome the New Year.

Northeast Zhang Family Village. At this moment, the much-awaited New Year’s Eve for the children had finally arrived. On this day, Zhang Guoqiang’s family gathered in the old courtyard to celebrate the New Year with Mr. Zhang and Mother Zhang.

The two families surrounded the big table, smilingly following the routine from previous years and waiting for Mr. Zhang and Mother Zhang to say a few words before starting the meal.

In the past, Mr. Zhang would remark on how the family worked hard throughout the year and exhorted to continue the efforts in the coming year.

Mother Zhang would praise her daughters-in-law and encourage them to expand the family and work hard after the new year, advocating for frugality in managing the household.

Mr. Zhang looked at the children in front of him with a smile and said that life was getting better day by day, and he was very satisfied, emphasizing that everything relies on their own hard work. He advised the family to learn to be content and consider any matter carefully before acting.

Mother Zhang followed by declaring that she was no longer managing the family affairs, hoping the two daughters-in-law would take good care of their husbands and children in the coming year.

When Mr. Zhang picked up the chopsticks, he noticed his two sons taking care of their children, which reminded him of his younger son’s family far away, filling his heart with sadness.

If his young son were home, he would be the first to pour him wine and serve food to his mother, while cracking jokes to lighten the mood. He frequently glanced outside, seemingly expecting their return.

Having seen his father setting up red lanterns in his little brother’s courtyards at the county and village amid the snow in December, Zhang Guoqiang knew his parents were thinking of Xiao Wu during New Year’s Eve. At this moment, he deliberately joked that Zhang Guoqing and his wife managed to escape quickly, saving on the children’s New Year money.

His words elicited hearty laughter from everyone. Everyone knew it was a joke. Since Zhang Guoqing’s family moved to Beijing, their packages never stopped, and Aunt Fang would deliver them from the county to Zhang Family Village every three to five days.

Besides clothes and toys for the children, Mr. Zhang and Mother Zhang would receive every variety from cotton boots to hats, with three full sets of new clothes. Not to mention Zhou Jiao knit two sets of sweaters and trousers for the elderly before leaving, and Zhang Guoqing had already given each child five dimes.

"Without Xiao Wu at home, it really feels like something is missing. Who knows if they’re used to life in Beijing? There are many dignitaries there; it can’t be as free as home."

No matter how good it is elsewhere, there’s truly no place like home. Since his youngest son’s family left, Mother Zhang couldn’t sleep well, dreaming of her youngest son smiling and calling for her in her sleep.

Seeing her worried, Zhang Guoqiang quickly replied with a smile, "Mom, don’t you know our Xiao Wu? Wherever he goes, people welcome him."

Sure enough, only seeing Mother Zhang invigorated as she happily recalled past stories about her youngest son.

Mr. Zhang couldn’t help but ask: "Do you think Xiao Wu will really only come back when he starts work? A few days ago, his godfather said they would definitely come back after the fifteenth. The kid sends things but doesn’t say when they’re coming back; everything’s just great."

Zhang Guofu laughed, "Dad, a few days difference between returning after the fifteenth or at the end of the month is nothing. I bet Xiao Wu will definitely come back at the end of the month. Uncle Zhou won’t be willing to let go of his daughter. Just wait assuredly for your youngest son to return."

Remembering the close bond between Zhou Xiaozheng and his daughter, Mr. Zhang and Mother Zhang laughed heartily, feeling much more at ease in their hearts.

After the New Year’s Eve dinner, the village was filled with the resounding noise of firecrackers. Xi Zi and others knelt and kowtowed to Mr. Zhang and Mother Zhang. The ceremony was solemn, with both knees on the ground, forehead touching the ground, repeated three times. Receiving a dime of New Year’s money each, they happily tucked it away in the house.

Mr. Zhang led his two sons to light firecrackers in each of the three courtyards in turn. Despite the cold, the children followed along playing, gathering friends outside to play with small firecrackers.

Mother Zhang and her daughters-in-law started cooking dumplings. Once the dumplings were ready, the children, unable to withstand the cold, ran back inside. After the family ate dumplings, Mr. Zhang didn’t make the children stay up late and sent them all back to their rooms. On the first day of the new year, the family would have to go to the ancestral hall and visit elders to pay their respects.

In the main room, Mr. Zhang and his wife quietly lay on the heated bed, conversing in whispers about old stories, keeping vigil until dawn.

In the Beijing Military District Courtyard at this moment, the crowd started the countdown, and the New Year finally arrived. 1958 quietly came.

Outside, by the bonfire in the square, a few performing arts enthusiasts played cheerful music with accordions, harmonicas, and accompanied by an erhu. Spectators were reluctant to leave, singing along loudly.

Ping’an had been taken home early by Old Mrs. Cheng. Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao looked at the distant fireworks, forgetting all troubles and sorrows as they immersed themselves in the moment.

The scenes from New Year’s Eve in the courtyard in 1957 became unforgettable memories for them. Such lively scenes were gone and never to return; the objects remained, yet things had changed. When they gather again, old friends still sigh with emotion.