A century of poverty

Chapter 109 Things Are Different Now

Returning to Guanli is a vision and a joy we eagerly anticipate since arriving in Jinhai.

Apart from my father, eldest brother, and sister-in-law who go back every year, the rest of us have rarely gone back in the past twenty years. When we do go back, we come back as soon as we've finished our business. There has never been a time when all of us siblings went back together.

Xinhui's wedding has created an opportunity for those of us who came to Northeast China to go back and reunite with our eldest and second eldest sisters. We're all really determined to go back, no matter what else is on our minds.

On the seventeenth day of the twelfth lunar month, Shuanglai received a call from her second sister: "Tell your older brothers and sisters that my wedding, Xinhui's, is on the twenty-second day of the twelfth lunar month. We'll be welcoming guests the day before, so get ready and come early!"

Shuanglai called Shaojia Store to inform me.

He knew everything about the Liu family after just one trip back home, including his fourth sister.

The joyous occasion I had been looking forward to for so many years had finally arrived. I made a special trip to Da Liu's house to arrange the departure date and travel route.

After discussion, it was decided that the eldest brother's family, the third sister's family, Shuanglai's family, and the second brother's wife volunteered to look after the houses and feed the pigs for these families, while she would stay behind. The fourth sister would take her two children, and I would take my children and set off with the first group of nineteen.

My second brother wants to check the crab ponds, and he and my fourth brother-in-law are the second group, arriving on the 21st.

After years of anticipation, our wish has finally come true, and we all rushed out of the train station with great joy.

Shuang Lai was wearing a tobacco-colored leather jacket with a camera hanging around his neck. Jiang Xiaoyu, dressed smartly, was leading the child.

The eldest brother wore a matching green sweater and a police blue overcoat. His sister-in-law, eldest niece, and youngest niece also wore brand new outfits.

The third and fourth sisters wore wool sweaters underneath cashmere coats. The children were all dressed in bright colors.

I was wearing a satin-lined suit with a satin scarf, while my son, Su Long, was wearing a green leather cotton-padded coat.

The journey of over 300 kilometers was completed in one day without staying up late.

My second sister's house has a newly built five-room main house and a spacious courtyard.

My second and eldest sisters were already waiting at the gate. They were excited and enthusiastic to see each other, and everyone greeted each other with smiles and laughter. My nephew Xinhui and nieces Xinmin and Xinhua took our bags and affectionately called us "Auntie" and "Uncle".

They led us into the two rooms on the east side and the three rooms on the west side, which were used as new houses for Xinhui.

Zhang Chunfang, the former maid of Zhang Jingtang's eldest uncle, now teaches at Liuzhuangtuo School and is Xinhui's aunt. She was there too and greeted us warmly.

After dinner, she didn't leave. She asked her second sister if she had enough luggage so she could go home to get more. If there wasn't enough room, her sister's house had a heated kang bed ready, so she could stay at her sister's house.

The second sister arranged for the eldest brother and Shuanglai to stay at her house.

The third sister's family was taken to the eldest sister's house by the eldest sister's beauty to stay overnight.

The rest of us, with the children, stayed at my second sister's house.

The next day, I got up early and my older brother and Shuanglai, along with their family of three, went to Zhangzhuangtuo to see the place where our family had lived for generations.

The next evening at dinner, Su Long didn't want to eat and wasn't as cheerful as usual. I touched his forehead; it wasn't hot. I asked him, "Where do you feel unwell? Tell Mommy if you're not feeling well. What do you want?"

The child shook his head and remained silent.

As the sun set, Zhiqiang, his second brother, and his fourth brother-in-law arrived. When Sulong saw his father, he immediately ran over and hugged his father's leg. Zhiqiang picked up the child, and Sulong happily played with his father, staying in his arms for a long time. He also ate his meal with his father with relish.

Then I realized that the child missed his father, even though they had only been apart for two days. Because he was too young to express it, he felt better as soon as he saw his father.

My heart was stirred by something deep. I thought my child was so young and that I was enough, but it turns out he can't live without his father.

I went to the side and asked Zhiqiang, "Now that you're here, do you think the person who works in the boiler room will still be there for you?"

Zhiqiang: "I don't need to stay. Tell them I've found someone else."

I said, "Then we'll have no income?"

Zhiqiang: "What's wrong with not having income? As long as we have food to eat, we'll be fine. Look, the child got better as soon as I came. Isn't that worth it?"

Since we're already here, there's no going back. We might as well make the best of it.

On Xinhui's joyous wedding day, his sister, brother-in-law, uncle, and aunt arrived early.

The village's leading figures, adorned with red flowers, arranged various matters. Xin Hui's friends and family surrounded him as he went to fetch his bride.

Holding a red flower, the Prime Minister called out, "Second Sister-in-law! Come! Let me put a flower on your head too!"

Second sister: "Oh—I'm wearing flowers too?"

The guest joked, "You have to wear it. I didn't wear it to my own wedding, so I'm making up for it for you this time!"

Second sister: "Oh! That's great!"

Big red "double happiness" characters were pasted on the gate, the courtyard wall, and the windows in the yard. Villagers came to offer their congratulations with beaming smiles.

Inside the courtyard, a ceremony platform adorned with a large red velvet carpet was set up outside the windows, and cheerful songs were playing through loudspeakers.

The kitchen in the east and west rooms was a hive of activity, with people busy stir-frying and arranging cold dishes.

7.82

"The bride has arrived! Quick, set off the firecrackers!" someone shouted. Instantly, firecrackers went off at the gate with a cacophony of crackling, popping, and banging.

Everyone turned their attention there.

Upon seeing the bride, her well-proportioned figure was dressed in a bright red gown, with a swaying hairpin beneath her red veil, glittering with gold, making her incredibly charming.

Looking at the groom, he was dressed in a beige suit and a bright red tie, making him even more handsome than before.

The newlyweds were surrounded by guests as they slowly walked onto the ceremony stage.

They used both hands to hold cameras and took all sorts of pictures.

The wedding banquet officially began at 11:18 AM, and the guests took their seats. The five rooms were filled with tables, but no one was seated yet. In the courtyard and outside, there were still neighbors and relatives waiting for the second round of guests.

My second sister's family was busy taking care of the guests, while my eldest sister and the six of us plus the children chose a quiet side table to sit down and chat about family ties, daily life, and the passing of time.

Eldest sister: "Needless to say, Shuanglai is a good business. The second son must have made a lot of money raising crabs too!"

The second brother shook his head seriously and pursed his lips: "No way."

Third Sister: "You can't listen to him, okay? Everyone knows you've made 30,000 to 40,000 yuan a year raising crabs."

The eldest sister chuckled, "Our second brother is being modest. Shuangxing, what are you doing? Just farming?"

The older brother said, "During the off-season, I take a trowel and go out to earn some money."

Third Sister: "He doesn't just earn a little bit; he also does contract work, and he still makes a net profit of one or two hundred a day."

The older woman laughed, "They can't hide this from you, you're right here. What about you guys? You farm your own land, and Old Zhou even works as a laborer. Your conditions are pretty good, aren't they?"

Third sister: "I have a student, Xiaolin. High school costs money, and it will cost even more when she goes to university."

The eldest sister said, "Taking the college entrance exam is a good thing. But with the money, not every student can get in. It's not that difficult."

"Now only the fourth and fifth brothers are still..."

I said, "We're not afraid. Zhiqiang is fine now. He can make a living doing whatever he wants. When the time comes, we'll sell the shop and get it back."

Fourth Sister: "Our Xiao Liu family has more land, and our income from farming is higher than that of the Da Liu family. It's just that his mother always stirs up trouble and makes us fight."

Eldest sister: "Sigh—you two daughters, just try to make do!"

Fourth Sister: "I don't need you to worry about me, and I don't lack anything. Wang Yuhai just isn't good to me, but he's quite popular in our area. He helps out whenever anyone needs help."

Eldest sister: "Let's put this matter behind us today, and everyone come to my house tomorrow and stay for a few days."

Second brother: "I can't stay for more than a few days. I'll just visit you and then I have to go back. The overwintering pond can't be left unattended."

The next day, our group went to my eldest sister's house in a "grand procession".