Next came the New Year.
Miao He spent this New Year happily and comfortably. Dalang was always by his side, with two lively kids around. The family didn’t worry about money or food. Dabai and Maomao were there to pet and hug without any restrictions. Having furry, warm family members to keep warm in winter was better than a hand warmer.
However, the thick blankets in winter, coupled with the brief separation, meant that Miao He found himself being passionately embraced by Yang Dalang many nights. He often complained while making rice cakes or rolling dumpling skins. But complaints aside, when Dalang hugged him at night, his mind quickly became fuzzy. Ah, Dalang’s charm was becoming more irresistible.
On New Year’s Eve morning, they pasted the Spring Festival couplets. Miao He held Mantou and Wotou, watching Yang Dalang seriously write and paste the couplets. Seeing Yang Dalang, who was focused and serious while writing, made Miao He swoon a little.
Then came the various fried, stewed, and pan-fried dishes for the New Year’s Eve dinner. They kept eating bits while preparing, so by the time the dinner started, they were already half full. But they still had to eat because it was their first “reunion” as a family.
Even when Mantou and Wotou couldn’t stay awake and fell asleep, Miao He didn’t want to take them to the room. Yang Dalang brought small bedding to the main hall, which was heated, so there was no worry about catching a cold. Thus, they stayed as a family, sipping plum wine and chatting softly about trivial matters, the cozy and warm atmosphere growing as the night deepened.
By midnight, the firecrackers woke Mantou and Wotou. The crackling firework lights made the two kids stare wide-eyed, not frightened at all. After the fireworks, it was time to eat dumplings. The New Year was truly complete and perfect.
So, with the last sip of wine that night, Miao He, slightly tipsy, couldn’t help but say, “May we have this day every year, and may we live in the moment every year.”
Yang Dalang also raised his cup, “Yes, year after year, day after day.”
Miao He, slightly drunk, giggled, “Ah, Dalang, you’re amazing.”
That night, Yang Dalang received a New Year’s gift: a fully flushed, rosy little Miao He.
He was passionate and straightforward, and at their most intimate moment, he whispered the most beautiful and moving words.
***
After the family spent a harmonious and smooth New Year, it was the Lantern Festival.
As mentioned before, during the Lantern Festival, the entire family would go out to worship the heavenly officials. Usually, it was a time when it snowed heavily, with the world covered in silver white. But this year’s snow wasn’t as abundant, worrying the older generation. However, for Miao He, keeping hold of his two kids who were excited by the snow was already a lot of effort.
“Hey, stop running!” As soon as he caught Mantou, Wotou’s short legs started running again.
Though there was no fear of falling, as they were bundled up like little cotton balls, their little hands were gloved, and even if they fell, their faces wouldn’t touch the ground because their clothes supported them. But as a parent, Miao He couldn’t help but worry, busy grabbing Mantou while Wotou slipped away. He was exhausted.
At this time, Yang Dalang had been invited into the ancestral hall to discuss details of the lantern festival. This meant his opinions were now on par with the other elders. After all, he was the largest landowner in the village, and the village head specifically pulled him in to show goodwill.
So Miao He was left outside, busy. Aunt Yang was there too, but she had two fast, mischievous boys to handle, who ran further and faster, causing more trouble, and she couldn’t keep an eye on everything at once.
Wotou, happily playing tag with Miao He, laughing “ga ga ga,” didn’t watch where he was going and bumped into someone’s leg.
“Thud,” his little bottom hit the ground softly. “Oh!”
Miao He hurried over, squatting down to hug the little Wotou. Looking up, he saw a young woman, no, a woman with a married hairstyle, looking unfamiliar. Miao He couldn’t place her and just saw her looking at him with a peculiar, unfriendly gaze.
“You are He Ge’er?”
Feeling a bit of hostility, Miao He stood up, holding Wotou, and moved away a little.
“Yes, and you are—“
The woman didn’t answer but said, “Having children means teaching them, otherwise what if they hurt others?”
Miao He blinked. But since his child didn’t understand yet, the fault was his. He apologized, saying he’d be more careful next time.
“What happened?” Yang Dalang asked as he returned from the discussion, patting Miao He’s back.
Miao He shook his head, “Wotou accidentally bumped into someone, it’s okay.”
Yang Dalang took Wotou from Miao He’s arms. Wotou, seeing his dad, hugged his head. Children were sensitive to emotions, and Yang Dalang let his son snuggle, giving the woman a closer look.
She seemed less hostile now, somewhat reserved as she nodded, “You are Yang Dalang, right? I am Miao Qiang’s wife, Shi Mei. People say you and Qiangzi grew up together and are very close. I haven’t met you before.”
Hearing Miao Qiang’s name, Yang Dalang’s expression cooled, but he nodded. Then, he bent down to pick up Mantou, carrying one child in each arm, and told Miao He they could now go to the ancestral hall to offer incense.
Miao He nodded and was about to follow when the woman hurriedly stepped forward, “Yang Dalang, is there a misunderstanding with Qiangzi? You’ve known each other for so many years, don’t let others’ words easily affect you. I’m Qiangzi’s wife; can I be a mediator? You two should sit down calmly and talk–“
Before she finished, Miao Qiang rushed over, dragging her away. “What are you babbling about!! Come with me!!”
Shi Mei resisted slightly, “Why? If there’s dissatisfaction, it should be talked out, that’s what friends do! I asked around, and people couldn’t clearly explain. Don’t you think there might be a misunderstanding?”
She had only heard these rumors a few months after marrying in. She was shocked and suspicious, harboring ill feelings towards Miao He. But she didn’t want to believe her husband was the envious man people spoke of. Miao Qiang had been kind to her and his mother since they married, and she was satisfied.
But after asking around, she found others’ explanations vague, her mother-in-law Shi Qing unwilling to discuss it, and she couldn’t ask Miao Qiang directly. Feeling more uneasy, the strong-willed Shi Mei decided to find out for herself!
Even if Qiangzi was at fault, he could be forgiven. If she could reconcile Qiangzi and Yang Dalang, people would stop spreading rumors. As for He Ge’er, with her as the legitimate wife, there was nothing to fear. Wanting to help her husband, Shi Mei felt it was her duty.
But Miao Qiang didn’t appreciate her meddling! “There’s nothing to say! My affairs are none of your concern!! Go!!”
“Qiangzi!! Don’t be like this, I know you’re not jealous of Yang Dalang!! You still keep the hunting knife he gave you, wiping it every day, Mother told me–“
“Shut up!!” Miao Qiang’s face changed. Seeing Aunt Qing watching worriedly from afar, Miao Qiang, feeling cornered, became furious. “Shut up, shut up, shut up!! Come with me!!” He violently dragged her away, not daring to look at Yang Dalang.
Miao He, slightly stunned by this scene, still felt it had nothing to do with him. Looking back at Yang Dalang, who was carrying both children, Mantou and Wotou were wide-eyed and innocent, tightly clinging to their dad’s shoulders, creating a comical contrast with Yang Dalang’s stern expression.
Miao He couldn’t help but laugh.
“Only you can manage these two. Let me carry one.”
Yang Dalang shook his head, indicating it wasn’t necessary, and reminded, “Don’t mind them.”
“Mm. I know.”
Meanwhile, Miao Qiang, after pulling Shi Mei to a secluded spot, harshly scolded her.
“From now on, don’t go looking for Yang Dalang!! If you do, don’t come back to our house, got it!!”
His harsh words made Shi Mei feel uneasy, “…Qiangzi, what are you hiding?”
“Don’t ask!! Can’t you understand?!!”
Seeing him so agitated, Shi Mei dared not ask further.
But Miao Qiang, looking up, saw his worried mother watching from afar. Her concerned and doubtful gaze suffocated him, preventing him from considering any other possibilities.
***
After this episode, Miao He and Yang Dalang enjoyed the lantern festival with their kids. Especially at night, when all the lanterns were lit, the atmosphere was lively and beautiful. In a time with little night lighting, this brightly lit scene was rare. The kids were thrilled, waving their little fists more excitedly than when they saw candy.
But in the shadows of the lantern festival, some people had their eyes on Miao He’s family.
It was the village high-level meeting that Yang Dalang attended that morning. During the meeting, someone couldn’t help but go off-topic, asking if there was any land left for rent at Yang Dalang’s place. Everyone noticed that after renting out land for peanuts and wheat, there was still a lot of idle land.
In response, Yang Dalang acknowledged that after the New Year, more land would be rented out for growing rice.
This news caused a stir because renting land for wheat was already a good deal, but renting land for rice, a more profitable crop, was even better! Getting a good deal on rice land was excellent!
So, people tried to secure more land for themselves, with some elders reminding Yang Dalang to be fair to avoid causing chaos in the village. But since it was all private land, he could rent it to whoever he wanted. Yang Dalang calmly responded, “We’ll see,” dismissing their concerns.
This left the eager villagers anxious and helpless.
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Thank you for your suggestions ! Keep on !! I’ll be happy to work on it ?
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Thank You for the new chapter ???(?? ? ?? )
The only thing that gives me the ick in this novel is how everyone seem to automatically associate their wealth and prosperity solely to Dalang T.T welp.