Among the items brought by Li Ya were new clothes for everyone and a good supply of nutritional supplements.
Some were foreign brands, sent back to China from abroad by her friends, and were quite expensive.
The entire Qin family was very pleased with Li Ya's thoughtfulness.
They became even more satisfied with their future daughter-in-law.
Qin Chuan also wore a proud smile.
"Go, go, you four men, don't just stand here. We'll be fine with me and Yan Yan!"
"Hurry up and paste the window decorations, couplets, and hang the lanterns!"
"After all this is done, we still have to go to the graveyard!"
"If we delay any longer, it will be dark!"
"Other families have already finished all this, and we're the last ones!"
Jiang Cuihua urged.
The four men of the Qin family glanced at the sky and quickly resumed their busy work.
Every year during the Spring Festival, pasting window decorations, couplets, and hanging lanterns are essential tasks.
Scalding flour with hot water and stirring it into a paste is the most traditional method for attaching window decorations and couplets. This practice was still preserved even more than twenty years later.
As the saying goes, many hands make light work. In less than half an hour, the entire farmhouse courtyard was filled with a festive atmosphere. The bright red window decorations, couplets, and large lanterns displayed a scene of holiday cheer.
"Old woman, where's the incense paper? Have you prepared the offerings for the graveyard?"
Qin Shuren shouted loudly.
"Everything is ready, just waiting for you men!"
Jiang Cuihua's voice came from the cave dwelling.
Visiting the graveyard, known as ancestral worship, is a custom observed by every family in the north on Lunar New Year's Eve.
Shortly after, each of the four men carried a large bag of offerings and headed towards the Qin family's ancestral graveyard.
The mountain paths were not good, and even motorcycles couldn't be ridden, so they had to walk.
Upon reaching the burial site of their ancestors, the Qin family men put away their playful expressions from the journey and became solemn. They first paid respects to the earth god, then knelt seriously before the graves, burned incense and paper, and laid out the offerings.
"Dear ancestors, it's New Year again, and we've come to visit you!"
Qin Shuren knelt at the very front, with his three sons kneeling one step behind, forming a neat row.
"Over the past year, our Qin family has experienced great sorrow and great joy, a life of ups and downs, more exciting than any television drama."
"I believe I will never forget this year in my lifetime!"
Qin Shuren, kneeling at the front, chattered on, while his three kneeling brothers listened quietly and remained motionless, as was the custom for ancestral worship each year.
"I have good news to report to you: after generations, our Qin family has finally prospered!"
"My three sons have become very ambitious and have completely changed our past poverty! They've built houses and opened supermarkets in the city, and even started a massive electronics factory!"
"We've become the envy of everyone in the village, and we are genuinely happy!"
"We hope that our ancestors will continue to bless our Qin family with this hard-earned wealth!"
"Your descendants are now kowtowing to you, our ancestors!"
After Qin Shuren finished speaking, he kowtowed three times.
The three brothers following him immediately followed suit.
The ancestral worship concluded, and by the time the four men returned home, night had gradually fallen.
At home, Jiang Cuihua, Wu Yanyan, and even Li Ya, all three women, were busy in the kitchen wearing aprons.
They were preparing a lavish New Year's Eve dinner.
The return of the Qin family men lightened the load significantly. Qin Shuren took the initiative to start working.
"Eldest, go slaughter the chicken!"
"Second, go slaughter the fish!"
"Third, get the beef, wash it, and cut it..."
Jiang Cuihua, with the authority of the head of the household, assigned tasks to everyone.
"Why do I have to slaughter the fish? The fishy smell is so strong, and third only has to cut beef. Mom, you're biased!"
Qin Erge, who had been peaceful for only a few hours, started causing trouble again.
Jiang Cuihua's eyes widened, and she picked up a rolling pin from beside her: "Are you going or not? Don't make me hit you on New Year's!"
Qin Erge quickly backed away, seemingly having some lingering trauma from the rolling pin.
This scene made Wu Yanyan and Li Ya, who were making dumplings, burst into laughter.
"Serves you right for talking too much and being glib!"
Qin Chuan couldn't resist adding fuel to the fire.
Qin Yang also humorously said, "Second brother, if you don't want to slaughter the fish, let's switch. Do you want to slaughter the chicken instead?"
"Get lost! I'm wearing new clothes today. That rooster is stubborn, and I'm afraid blood will splash all over me!"
Qin Erge shook his head like a rattle drum.
Thus, amidst laughter and playful banter, the sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner was served!
By this time, night had fallen outside. The courtyards and doorways of every household exuded festive cheer, with bright red lanterns hanging high, and the occasional sound of children setting off firecrackers could be heard.
The entire Qin family sat around a round table. The CCTV gala was playing on television. Qin Shuren raised a glass of wine and coughed a couple of times: "Uh... I'll say a few words first, okay!"
No one started eating, and they all listened quietly. This was almost an annual ritual for the Qin family during the New Year.
The head of the household would say a few words, summarizing the past year's gains and losses, followed by wishes for the coming year.
"We're about to bid farewell to 1998. Looking back at the past year, our Qin family has truly experienced great sorrow and great joy, with many ups and downs."
Qin Shuren spoke slowly. The three Qin brothers sitting beside him couldn't help but exchange glances. All three felt that the words were strangely familiar, as if they had heard them somewhere before.
Then they remembered: hadn't their father spoken these exact words when he knelt before their ancestors during the ancestral worship?
However, they quickly understood. Given their father's elementary school education, it was quite remarkable for him to use idiomatic expressions. What more could they expect?
"This year, our family was almost in despair at the beginning. At that time, I was severely burned all over and hospitalized, facing high medical expenses every day."
"At the same time, we had to face huge compensation..."
Qin Shuren spoke, his expression pained, as if lost in painful memories.
Around the dinner table, except for Li Ya, everyone's face was grim, as that disaster was truly devastating for an ordinary family.
It was also the most unpleasant memory for everyone.
"When I was lying in the hospital bed, I honestly wished I were dead, so I wouldn't be a burden to you all!"
*Smack!!*
Qin Shuren's shoulder was suddenly clapped, startling him awake.
Then he saw his wife glaring at him: "What kind of depressing talk is this on New Year's Day!"
Qin Shuren came back to his senses and quickly forced a smile: "Sorry, sorry! I got carried away just now!"
"In the past year, our entire family has gone through great sorrow and great joy. Actually, the person we should thank the most is one person – Xiao Chuan!"
Qin Shuren's gaze fell on Qin Chuan's face.
"Dad, what are you saying? We're family, why talk about thanks!"
Qin Chuan frowned immediately.
Qin Shuren shook his head: "No! It's different!"
"Even though we are family, Xiao Chuan, your contribution to our entire family is almost indescribable. Dad must thank you on this New Year's Eve!"