Chapter 125 The New Son-in-law Returns

Chapter 125 The New Son-in-law Returns

For the Hakka people in Bobai, the second day of the Chinese New Year is an exceptionally important day.

Not only is it a day for visiting relatives, but it is also the day when a new son-in-law, who married the previous year, returns to his parents' home.

Even if it's not the first year of marriage, married daughters typically choose this day to bring their husbands back to visit their parents.

After breakfast, Deng Shirong took out two bamboo baskets and tied them to the back seats of the two bicycles at home.

Before securing the baskets, he tied two square wooden sticks to stabilize them, ensuring they wouldn't fall off no matter how much they shook.

Once the baskets were firmly tied, Deng Shirong placed the braised pork under one of the baskets, covered it with greaseproof paper, and added a layer of newspaper. He then filled the basket with bags of candies, biscuits, dried fruits, candied fruits, melon seeds, cakes, and other New Year's goods. The basket was nearly full.

The other basket contained big dumplings and ash water dumplings at the bottom, with hair dumplings on top, filling it halfway.

Of course, there was also the indispensable garlic.

In Hakka culture, "suan" (garlic) sounds like "suan" (calculate), symbolizing good fortune and a prosperous deal. Bringing garlic when visiting relatives during the New Year is considered an auspicious gesture.

Because garlic is essential for New Year visits, its price once soared to 20 or 30 yuan per catty in later years, even surpassing the cost of meat.

Additionally, a large cloth bag was tied to the horizontal bar of the old bicycle, containing Deng Yuntai and Zhang Xiuping's washed clothes, towels, toothbrushes, and other essentials. They planned to stay at her parents' home for at least two or three days, so they needed to bring everything with them.

After securing everything, Deng Shirong said, "Alright, it's getting late. You two should head out now!"

Zhang Xiuping held onto her bicycle and nodded. "Okay, let's go!"

Deng Shirong cautioned, "Ah Ping, be careful when riding. If you see a steep slope that might be too difficult to climb, get off the bike and let Yuntai push it for you. Don't be stubborn, okay? Yuntai, keep an eye on your wife. It's fine to ride slowly. Safety comes first."

Zhang Xiuping hummed in agreement. "I understand, Dad."

Deng Yuntai also nodded to show he understood.

The couple then bid farewell to their siblings and rode their bicycles toward New Dock Village.

…

At Deng Yunqiang's home, the couple had also prepared a load of gifts for their eldest son, Deng Changfu, and his wife, Guan Yongying. The gifts included several pieces of pork, candies, biscuits, ash water dumplings, big dumplings, hair dumplings, rice dumplings, and, of course, garlic.

After preparing the gifts, the couple gave some final instructions, and Deng Changfu carried the load as he and his wife walked to her parents' home.

Similarly, Deng Changwang carried a load of gifts similar to Deng Changfu's and walked with his wife, Dai Fanglan, to her parents' home.

Last year, only three people in Thatchfield Village got married: Deng Yuntai, Deng Changfu, and Deng Changwang. As new sons-in-law returning to their parents' homes, they naturally brought generous gifts.

Other young wives who hadn't married into Thatchfield Village last year also brought their husbands back to visit their parents. The gifts they brought were mostly pork, various rice dumplings, and garlic, though in smaller quantities.

The young wives of Thatchfield Village all brought their husbands back to visit their parents, and the married aunts and sisters from Thatchfield Village naturally did the same.

In short, on this day, almost every household in Bobai County was either hosting relatives or visiting relatives.

In these times, when relatives visited, the host would first boil a pot of tea and then fry plates of ash water dumplings, big dumplings, and hair dumplings for the guests to enjoy with their tea. Afterward, the host would kill a chicken and prepare a meal.

We Chinese are a people who value face. No matter the family's circumstances, when relatives or friends visit, we go all out to entertain them.

Even families reluctant to kill a chicken for their own New Year's Eve dinner would still kill one to entertain guests on the second day of the New Year.

Hence, there's a saying in Bobai County: "Chickens fear the second day of the New Year, and ducks fear the fourteenth day of July."

Deng Shirong's family also had visitors today. His third sister's family, including his married niece Bu Dafang and her husband, came, as did his two brothers-in-law with their families. In addition to bringing snacks, they also brought chickens and ducks.

As for pork, they didn't bring any.

After all, the pork they had for the New Year was given by Deng Shirong. Bringing some of it back would have been redundant.

So, they brought chickens and ducks instead.

"Uncle Jiu, Happy New Year!" As soon as the third sister's children arrived, they greeted Deng Shirong.

"Happy New Year, Uncle," the children of his two younger brothers-in-law greeted him.

Deng Shirong's children also greeted their elders.

Jiang Dehu and Bu Dafang had been married for over three years. He had met his wife's family several times, but this was his first time visiting their home with his wife. Seeing the grand blue brick and tile house his wife had often spoken of, he was still amazed, even though he had prepared himself mentally.

In a village of uniform mud-brick houses, this row of brand-new blue brick and tile houses stood out strikingly.

He wondered how many years it would take for them to live in such a beautiful house.

…

On the way to New Dock Village.

Zhang Xiuping and Deng Yuntai rode their bicycles one after the other.

Noticing his wife riding a bit too fast, Deng Yuntai, who was following behind, called out, "Xiuping, slow down!"

Zhang Xiuping glanced back at him with a smile. "How is this fast? When you rode with me before, you went much faster than this."

Deng Yuntai laughed. "That's because I wanted you to hold onto me. Otherwise, I wouldn't have ridden so fast!"

"Humph, I knew you had ulterior motives."

"How could I? You holding me felt so comfortable!"

"Shameless!"

The couple bickered playfully as they rode, and before they knew it, they arrived at New Dock Village.

Seeing the place where she grew up, Zhang Xiuping's spirits lifted. She rode her brand-new Phoenix bicycle through the village entrance with her husband on his Forever bicycle, greeting acquaintances along the way and wishing them a happy new year.

Today, all the married women in the village had brought their husbands and children back to visit their parents. Zhang Xiuping and her husband, each riding a bicycle, caused quite a stir.

After all, in these times, most people walked when visiting relatives. Those who rode bicycles were rare, let alone riding two high-end bicycles like the Phoenix and Forever. It was an impressive sight.

(End of this chapter)