Song Chongjin was left alone and took quite a while to come to his senses, sitting there in a daze until the corners of his mouth slowly curled up in an arc, his gaze both tender and entranced as he watched Wang Yongzhu’s retreating figure.
It wasn’t until the food had gone cold that he snapped out of his reverie, taking a fierce gulp of the now cold porridge. Yet, this icy porridge, instead of chilling him,
somehow stirred up an indescribable restlessness. He felt as if his clothes were a constraint, almost wishing he could take them all off to feel comfortable.
Song Chongjin knew this must be the tonic taking effect.
With a wry smile, he dashed back to his own courtyard in a few quick steps, knowing that even in this biting cold, he probably needed to take a cold shower.
It wasn’t until dinnertime that Song Chongjin came over to the Wang family, his hair still dripping wet, steam rising from the heat of his body.
His complexion was unreadable, the tips of his ears tinged with red, his eyes lacking their usual iciness, now holding an indescribable sentiment.
He first apologized to Old Granny Zhang and then cheerfully kowtowed to wish her a Happy New Year, uttering several auspicious phrases.
Old Granny Zhang had long prepared a big red envelope for Song Chongjin. For a moment, she felt somewhat embarrassed; the tonic had taken effect too soon, cough cough, it made the boy, Song Chongjin, take a cold shower in the dead of winter. She gave him a big red envelope as compensation...
In the village, Wang Yongfu had already taken the children to make their new year’s visits. After making the rounds, the children returned with their pockets bulging with seeds and peanuts.
The seeds, peanuts, and fried cakes prepared by the Wang family had also been given away by half.
The few children were comparing how much New Year’s money they managed to collect throughout the day, a favorite pastime of the little ones.
This year, the Wang family had a comfortable life. Jinguan and the others had gone early to wish Old Granny Zhang a Happy New Year, with the elders all preparing red envelopes.
Whether more or less, each contained a few copper coins which, to the children, were already something spectacular.
Especially generous, Wang Yongzhu gave each of the six children at home a small silver bean. Round and plump, they were quite adorable.
The children were overjoyed, each clutching their silver beans without letting go.
Counting and recounting, Jinguan realized that only Song Chongjin had yet to give New Year’s money. Taking her younger siblings with her, they approached as soon as Song Chongjin had finished wishing Old Granny Zhang a Happy New Year, and they hurriedly greeted Song Chongjin themselves.
Song Chongjin was also well-prepared, giving each child a red envelope, which finally satisfied them to leave.
After some idle chat, everyone sat down for dinner.
The next day was for bringing wives back to their maternal homes. Now, in the Wang family, the Lin family had already cut off relations, and the Jiang family might as well not exist.
Only Liu Xiaoqiao and Wang Yongping were newlyweds, and Old Granny Zhang, remembering the apology gift from the Liu family to Wang Yongzhu last time, had prepared an exceedingly generous return gift.
Lady Lin was envious but had no maternal home to speak of, so she could only watch on.
Lady Jiang had long given up the thought of returning to her maternal home. Although envious, looking at the man by her side and the children playing on the ground, that envy quickly evaporated.
After dinner, Old Granny Zhang hurried her sons and daughters-in-law back to their own courtyards. She was now the head of the household and, after several tiring days of the new year, who wouldn’t want a good rest?
If Wang Laozhu were home, he would have insisted everyone keep up appearances, but Old Granny Zhang didn’t care for such formalities, urging her sons and daughters-in-law to rest while she herself lay down on the kang bed.
She had stayed up for half the night yesterday, and early this morning, she had prepared a tonic for Song Chongjin, followed by entertaining guests coming to offer New Year greetings. She simply couldn’t hold up any longer.
Song Chongjin dared not stay at the Wang family any longer, reluctantly taking Wang Yongzhu by the hand to the door. Only then did he pull out a warm, perfectly round pearl from his bosom and place it into her hand, "For your New Year’s money!"
Wang Yongzhu’s eyes lit up—today she had also received New Year’s money from Old Granny Zhang.
In the past, Old Granny Zhang would give Wang Yongzhu a substantial amount of New Year’s money each year, and this year was no exception, a full five taels of silver.
Although five taels of silver were too little for Wang Yongzhu, it was the maternal love of Old Granny Zhang, which Wang Yongzhu joyfully accepted.
She had not expected to also receive New Year’s money from Song Chongjin.
After thinking it over, he took off the purse containing the silver beans and handed it over to Song Chongjin along with the purse itself, "This is your New Year’s money!"
Song Chongjin’s eyes sparkled as he tucked the purse into his bosom and ruffled Wang Yongzhu’s hair, "Go back and sleep now!"
Wang Yongzhu looked around and, seeing no one, tiptoed up and kissed Song Chongjin’s cheek before turning and running into the house.
Song Chongjin, touching his own cheek with a slight smile, returned to his own yard. Although it was empty, he felt not at all lonely.
Wang Yongzhu rushed into the room, disturbing Old Granny Zhang who was lying on the kang and squinting her eyes. Seeing her own daughter smiling so proudly, how could she not know that she must have been teasing Chongjin again?
Old Granny Zhang glanced at Wang Yongzhu reproachfully and noticed she was holding something tightly in her left hand. She couldn’t help but take a closer look.
Wang Yongzhu leaned in and slowly opened her palm, "This is the New Year’s money Brother Song gave me."
Then, both were stunned.
In the palm of Wang Yongzhu’s hand lay a gold bead radiating dazzling light, intricately carved with fine auspicious cloud patterns, delicate and charming.
Wang Yongzhu fell in love with it at first sight, holding it up to her eyes, unable to let go.
Old Granny Zhang squinted at it for a while and huffed, "That boy, if he doesn’t get married soon, he’s likely to spend all his private silver!"
Wang Yongzhu smiled sweetly at Old Granny Zhang, "What can I do, everyone loves your daughter! It would be wrong to refuse! Actually, I find it quite difficult..."
Old Granny Zhang, both amused and annoyed, slapped Wang Yongzhu’s hand and leaned back on the pillow, watching her darling daughter’s beaming face. She radiated a mother’s warmth from the inside out.
Ever since the family division and with Wang Laozhu not at home, Old Granny Zhang had relaxed. Now, with all her sons vying to heed her words and the daughters-in-law not daring to act up, Old Granny Zhang felt that life should really be .
In the past, she had been so stubborn, refusing to divide the family and always afraid that Wang Laozhu would forsake her little girl, enduring her own lot.
Had she known then what she knew now, there would have been no need for any of it!
After the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Wang family began to bustle with activity.
It was time to prepare for the wedding of Wang Yongzhu and Song Chongjin.
An agreement was reached by both families that the ceremony would take place at the Wang Family’s side. The only preparations needed were for Wang Yongzhu’s room since Song Chongjin’s yard would be directly connected to theirs later on.
Then they would build high walls and plant thorny roses and goji berries in the corners so that not even thieves could climb in.
Old Granny Zhang also moved back into the main room, and the place was refurnished. It was even more comfortable than before.
Old Granny Zhang also estimated that the wedding would be mostly ready in another half month, and it was about time to ask someone to send word to Wang Laozhu, to have him come back.
Otherwise, what would it mean if he wasn’t there when his own daughter was getting married and they were welcoming a son-in-law?
She was pondering whom to find to deliver the message, someone reliable.
Just then, she heard someone knocking at the door.
Upon opening the door, a man she didn’t recognize stood at the entrance: "Is this the Wang family’s place? The one with the scholar?"
Jinhoo opened the door and looked at the man cautiously, "Uncle, what business do you have with the Wang family?"
The man wiped sweat from his brow, "I’ve come with a message for your family."
"A message? What message?" asked Jinhoo.
The man replied hastily, "It’s news from Qi City, saying that your family’s head, the old master, went to the county town and has fallen seriously ill due to the change of environment, and he’s now bedridden. He wishes for his family to visit him."