Chapter 226: The Spring Festival of Year 58

The Spring Festival of year 58, stepping on the tail of the lingering snow, carrying the scent of sulfur and stewed meat, bustled its way into the Siheyuan.

On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, the factory gave a holiday. The Steel Rolling Mill, usually roaring with machines, fell silent, but the commotion in the Siheyuan was several times louder than usual.

Sweeping rooms, washing windows, stripping and cleaning bedding—every household was busy seeing out the old and welcoming the new, and even the air was filled with a dust of bustling festivity.

In the Front Courtyard at Yan Bu Gui's house, the clacking of the abacus was louder than usual. San Dama, with her daughter‑in‑law, counted the limited measured peanuts and sunflower seeds over and over, calculating how to allocate them to guests so as to appear generous without overspending.

Yan Bu Gui took the side‑dish notebook, repeatedly studied the few items listed, furrowed his brows into knots, and muttered, "This little meat is just enough to wrap dumplings; a hint of meat flavor is enough. You won't starve, won't go naked; if you can't calculate, you'll be poor!"

In the Central Courtyard, the Jia family remained a world of ice and fire.

Jia Zhangshi directed Qin Huairu to scrub every corner of the house spotless, while she cradled her tightly wrapped precious grandson Bang Geng, perched on the kang to supervise, occasionally nagging, "Even the little corners aren't clean! Haven't you eaten? Move faster! Don't delay my great‑grandson from catching the festive luck!"

Qin Huairu straightened her not‑yet‑fully‑recovered back, a fine sheen of sweat forming on her forehead, her face pale, yet she dared not utter a single complaint, only when her mother‑in‑law turned away did she quickly wipe the corner of her eye with her sleeve.

Jia Dongxu slipped away for a breather, strolling around the courtyard to watch others at work. Jia Dongxu is a mama's boy, obeying Jia Zhangshi without question, ignoring Qin Huairu and offering no help; after work he returns, eats, and does nothing else.

The Sha Zhu household presented a different scene.

Ma Dongmei briskly directed Sha Zhu to climb up and down attaching paper cutouts and hanging lanterns, while He Yushui assisted beside her; the small courtyard rang with continuous laughter and chatter.

Sha Zhu now is kept obedient by his wife, daring neither east nor west, yet his face beams happily, sweeter than honey.

He deliberately fetched a few large bones, cleaned of meat, from the canteen, intending to simmer a rich broth to showcase his cooking at the New Year's Eve dinner.

As for Yi Zhonghai's household, influenced by the Deaf Old Lady, Yi Zhonghai has stayed out of sight this year, lowering his presence, so they remain low‑key.

In the Back Courtyard, Liu Haizhong's family, Er Da Ma busied herself with two sons, while Liu Haizhong stood with his arms folded, pacing the house, drafting the "annual summary" and "New Year's address" he intends to deliver as the "head of the household" at the New Year's Eve dinner, attempting to restore his waning authority.

In Xi Kua Yuan, Li Pingle took charge of most of the cleaning, resolutely refusing to let sister‑in‑law Lin Xueqing lift a finger.

Lin Xueqing's belly was already noticeably swollen; she sat by the sun‑drenched window, sewing tiny baby clothes, a serene, satisfied smile on her face.

Li Ping'an, rare to have a few days off, helped his sister paste couplets, then inspected the courtyard's wiring and stove to ensure safety.

He didn't go on a buying spree, only purchased a measured amount of essential New Year goods, and quietly retrieved some season‑rare fresh fruit and a piece of exceptionally fine ham from storage, preparing a lavish year for his family.

This tiny courtyard, at the cold year's end, formed its own realm of warm tranquility.

The most downcast and lonely was Xu Damao.

From the Lou side there was still no clear response; his father Xu Fugui tried again to gauge the situation, but only received a few perfunctory pleasantries from Lou Zhenhua, making it clear the marriage prospects had withered.

He had a belly full of anger with nowhere to vent; watching Sha Zhu's household's fiery vigor only added to his frustration.

He couldn't muster spirit for the New Year preparations, bought a few firecrackers and snacks at random, then huddled in his cold, empty back‑courtyard room, plotting to find a way after the holidays to marry a wife stronger than Lou Xiaoe, to vent his resentment.

On New Year's Eve, as the sky just turned dark, scattered firecracker pops began to erupt intermittently throughout the Alley.

Children, dressed in rare new clothes, pockets holding a few reluctantly saved candies, holding lit incense sticks, chased and frolicked; their little faces turned bright red from the cold, yet their eyes shone astonishingly.

Every household's chimney puffed thick white cooking smoke, the air saturated with tempting stewed‑meat aroma, the crisp scent of fried foods, and the uniquely complex, warm bouquet belonging to the New Year's Eve dinner.

Sure enough, Sha Zhu's house exuded a strong bone‑broth fragrance, prompting neighboring residents to inhale eagerly.

Jia Zhangshi, smelling the scent, swallowed hard, cursed "spendthrift," then scooped a generous piece of Red Braised Pork into her own bowl, leaving only a bit of broth for Qin Huairu to mix with rice.

Yan Bu Gui's meticulously budgeted four dishes and a soup were served, small in portion but exquisitely plated, reflecting a scholar's refined taste.

At Liu Haizhong's house, Er Da Ma's cooking was decent and the dishes fairly abundant. At the table, Liu Haizhong cleared his throat and finally began his long‑prepared "speech," ranging from international affairs to courtyard matters; his two sons rolled their eyes, only calming after Er Da Ma gave them a kick under the table.

In Xi Kua Yuan, the dishes filled the table to the brim.

Li Ping'an brought out the bottle of aged Fenjiu, poured a bit of sweet wine for his sister, and poured himself a cup.

The ham was sliced, glossy and tempting; the fresh fruit was arranged in colorful display; there were also a few stir‑fries that Lin Xueqing liked and a bowl of bone broth sent over by Sha Zhu.

The lighting was warm, the dishes steaming, the three of them sat together; though not noisy, the scene was filled with homey warmth and contentment.

"Brother, sister‑in‑law, wishing you a peaceful and joyful new year!" Li Pingle raised his cup, his face flushed with excitement.

Li Ping'an also lifted his cup, looking at his wife: "May our whole family be healthy, and may the child be born smoothly."

Lin Xueqing substituted water for wine, smiling gently: "Everything is fine."

Outside the window, the firecracker sounds grew denser, eventually merging into a deafening chorus, crackling to announce the old year's departure and the new year's arrival.

Brilliant fireworks periodically sliced the night sky, casting the Siheyuan in flickering light.

Amid this noisy celebration, Li Ping'an's ear twitched slightly.

He seemed to hear, in the gaps between the dense firecracker blasts, from the direction of the Back Courtyard, an extremely faint sound unlike the explosions, a metallic clink.

Was it an illusion? Or…

His smile remained unchanged, but his gaze sharpened in an instant, like a coiled eagle.

The festive atmosphere numbed most people, yet it served as the perfect cover for certain clandestine activities.

He rose calmly, feigning a check of the lanterns at the doorway, while his eyes swept across the dark Back Courtyard like a blade.

The firecrackers still crackled, the fireworks still bloomed.

The new year began amidst hope and clamor, yet the hidden struggle in the shadows seemed never to cease because of the holiday.

Li Ping'an knew that his vigilance, on such a day of countless families reunited, could not afford any slack.