The sound of firecrackers occasionally erupted.
The Tang Family’s kitchen was bustling with activity and the aroma of meat. Tang Zhengde was cooking, Zhang Hualian was preparing side dishes, Tang Yue was seated in front of the stove tending the fire, and Tang Jun was scooping hot water to clean the bowls and dishes.
As night fell, every household lit up with electric lights.
The table was laden with an abundance of dishes.
"Xiao Jun, go call Granny Tang, your eldest uncle’s family, and your youngest uncle’s family over for dinner," Tang Zhengde, who was cooking fish, called out to Tang Jun at his side.
Tang Jun responded and exited the kitchen, quickly making his way to the neighbors and called out, "Granny, eldest uncle, eldest auntie, youngest uncle, it’s time to eat."
"Xiao Jun, today, did your dad make these dishes?" Granny Tang asked as she emerged from her room.
"Yes." Tang Jun nodded and replied, "My dad made lots of delicious dishes. Granny, come quickly, or the food will get cold."
"Your dad’s shop must have made a lot of money, right?" Wang Aihua asked Tang Jun with a gossiping look. During Little New Year, when they returned, they brought more and better things than in previous years.
"I don’t know." Tang Jun shook his head; even if they really made money, he couldn’t reveal that.
"Eldest sister-in-law, the business at my second brother’s store is good, but they also work very hard," Tang Mingli said. Since early this morning, his second brother and sister-in-law have been busy non-stop. In the afternoon, they didn’t rest either and started figuring out how to make buns.
"Mingli, what you said— do you think your older brother doesn’t work hard at the timber yard?" Wang Aihua said unhappily. Her gaze flitted over to her son’s slightly older youngest uncle and asked, "Mingli, I heard that your clothes selling business is doing well, and you’ve made quite some money, right? When do you plan to bring home a bride?"
"You’re absolutely right, Mingli. A good business is one thing, but you need to put some thought into this lifelong matter," Granny Tang immediately joined the conversation. She was nearly worried to death over her youngest son’s marriage prospects.
He’s already 22 and not married yet, without even a partner in sight.
"Xiao Jun, come on, let’s have a couple of drinks today," Tang Mingli said, wrapping his arm around Tang Jun as they walked away, not wanting to respond to Granny Tang’s words.
At Tang Zhengde’s place, except for the two daughters who were married off, the Tang Family members all gathered together, sitting around a round table, lively as ever.
In past years, the day that Tang Yue hated the most was today. Even though she only had her mother as a relative, she had to spend New Year’s with the Tang Family every year.
This year, Tang Yue was very happy. Although Granny Tang’s words were sometimes unpleasant to hear and she was a bit stingy, she was ready with money when it really mattered.
"Older brother, your foot hasn’t fully recovered, drink less," Tang Zhengde hesitated to pour more alcohol for Tang Zhengyuan, who had already drunk quite a bit.
Tang Zhengyuan, annoyed, puffed his cheeks and glared, "Zhengde, it’s New Year’s, what is this, I come to your house for New Year’s and you won’t even let me drink?"
Tang Zhengde remained silent.
Tang Zhengyuan poured himself a drink.
Wang Aihua had been continuously talking to Zhang Hualian, trying to find out whether their shop was really making money or not.
Zhang Hualian only mentioned that they were barely getting by. Although the shop was making money now, who knows about the future?
Among the children, Tang Yue was the oldest, followed closely by Tang Xian, Tang Jun, and Tang Min.
Tang Zhengyuan also had an eldest daughter, Tang Hui, who was married and did not return home.
Tang Xian attended the Second High School, and compared to Tang Yue, his performance was substantially inferior, especially when he heard Tang Jun saying that Tang Yue ranked first in the entire grade, Tang Xian was shocked and looked at Tang Yue, asking, "Tang Yue, did you... really get first in the whole grade?"
"Luck." Tang Yue cracked a smile, if you added up her age from two lifetimes, she was already in her sixties, older than her parents, and now, being together with Tang Xian and a few other kids, she always felt a bit out of place when speaking.
"It’s not just that, my sister went to the Provincial City for a competition, and she also won first place," Tang Jun immediately boasted with pride.
Before, Tang Jun and his siblings had always lived in Wangjiang County and had no opportunity to boast. Now that he had the chance, the pride in Tang Jun’s demeanor was even greater than if he himself had scored first place.
To the uninformed, one would think it was Tang Jun who scored first place, not Tang Yue.
"When did this happen?" Tang Xian sized up Tang Yue; the Provincial City competition only had one spot from their school, and he heard that if you didn’t place, it was because First High had taken all the spots. He hadn’t inquired into it too much, only knowing that the problems were exceptionally difficult.
"It was during the time I went for the competition," Tang Jun couldn’t remember which month it was.
"Xiao Jun, scoring first in exams doesn’t mean much; it just means I was lucky and happened to come across questions I could answer," Tang Yue said in a voice neither hurried nor slow. Her vocal tone was very pleasant, and with a faint smile on her face and her bright eyes, they seemed as if they could speak.
Tang Xian kept looking at Tang Yue, as if trying to figure out how, unbeknownst to him, her academic results had become so impressive.
But as he watched, Tang Xian’s attention fell on Tang Yue’s bright eyes. Previously, Tang Yue’s bangs had covered her eyes; her features looked good, but lacked the vivacity of her eyes. It wasn’t until now, as Tang Xian took a closer look, that he realized her features were really quite beautiful.
Her skin was on the fair side with rosy cheeks, giving her a very healthy appearance, with red lips and white teeth, and long eyelashes that fluttered attractively.
Tang Xian shifted his gaze away uncomfortably.
Suddenly silent, Tang Xian did not speak. Tang Yue, unconcerned, continued talking with Tang Jun.
Tang Min’s heart was set on the delicious dishes, and she had no interest in speaking.
As night deepened, everyone gathered around the fire, talking and chatting. Tang Zhengyuan had drunk some wine and his voice, full of vigor, never stopped filling the room.
The sound of New Year’s fireworks began, and Tang Yue lay in bed, yet she was completely devoid of sleepiness. This was her first New Year since being reborn, and from now on, the family’s days would surely get better and better.
On the first day of Zheng Yue, everyone went out to visit relatives and friends; the village was even more lively and festive than usual.
Tang Yue, not fond of going out, bowed to Granny Tang for New Year’s greetings and then stayed at home, clutching a book from the second year of high school, which she had salvaged from a recycling station, perfect for reviewing the second-year curriculum.
In Wangjiang County, the Mo Family.
"Si Yu, after the New Year you’ll be twenty-three, when will you find a partner?"
"Have you met any girl you like?"
"How much time do you have at home this visit? Aunt Wang’s daughter is two years younger than you; I’ve seen her, she’s a teacher and also pretty. Why don’t you meet her tomorrow?"
Mo Xiaolin was excited about her son’s return, immediately revealing her intentions to start the matchmaking process. Her son was going to be twenty-three after New Year’s, and yet had no partner, which really worried her as a mother.
"I won’t meet her." Mo Siyu refused without a second thought, pursing his lips and saying, "Mom, stop setting me up on blind dates. Aren’t we going to visit uncle’s house tomorrow? Did you buy everything you need to bring?"
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