Chapter 207 \nFebruary 7 was the day before the Spring Festival, and New Yearâs Eve. Every family was beaming. A group of children dressed in new clothes ran around the street, as their parents reminded them not to run too far. Children took care of their younger siblings.\nThe couplets written by Papa Wang himself were also affixed on the two sides of the door of Wang Chengâs house. His calligraphy was very beautiful. The Spring Festival couplets were written by Papa Wang every year. When he was in the Wangâs Village, nearby villagers would keep them to save money. Theyâd bring their red paper over and ask Papa Wang to write a pair for them.
No one here knew that Papa Wang would write Spring Festival couplets, and he was not as free as he used to be to run around to find friends to chat and play chess freely, so no one came to their house with red paper this year. The jam shop was open all morning, and many people were preparing to go home to celebrate the New Year. Wang Cheng received a call from Wang Ziyu, saying that their eldest brother was back.
Wang Ningâan rarely came back. The people in the village almost forgot that there was such a successful person in Wang Chengâs family. When they saw Wang Ningâan in a suit and leather shoes, everyone was envious of Papa Wang and Mama Wang. They did not know what good things the Guan Lanfang couple had done in their past life, but each of their children in this life were better than the next.
Seeing that there were no guests, Wang Cheng closed the jam shop.
Except for persimmon fruits, the fruits should not stay in the shop for too long. Fortunately, they had sold a lot of fruit these days. Wang Cheng moved the ones that were sold to the car. When he locked the door, Qiang Zaiâs grandmother suddenly appeared.
Their shop had not yet closed, when Qiang Zaiâs grandma led Qiang Zai, who was dressed like a little golden boy, over. Her eyes lit up when she saw Wang Cheng.
âIsnât this Wang Cheng? I havenât seen you for a long time.â Qiang Zaiâs grandma led Qiang Zai to him. Wang Cheng hadnât even spoken, when she said a lot of gossip from some time ago â related to the shop.
Wang Cheng patiently listened to her.
Liang Youshan had been yelling that day before returning to the place they were renting to pack his luggage. When Guan Jiahe rushed over, he was scolding Wang Cheng and was not guilty when he was found out. He also cursed a few sentences in front of Guan Jiahe. Not only that, but he also kicked the door vigorously. If it was not Guan Jiahe, he would have probably destroyed the furniture of the rental house on purpose.
Wang Cheng had always felt that since his wife came up with those rumors, Liang Youshanâs IQ had also been infected to decrease below the average level. It was not unreasonable for the two to become husband and wife.
When he went back to Chengping, Liang Youshan was very unreconciled, and Qi was also the kind of person who could not die before the Yellow River. She also encouraged Liang Youshan to use this to spread rumors. Wang Cheng would not let them get the better of him, and they wouldnât let him get the better of them. Liang Youshan was also stupid, and agreed quickly.
[T/N: not die before the yellow river = wonât give up until they achieve their goal, even if they know itâs hopeless.]
But the people in Chengping had long known about Liang Youshan and his wifeâs affairs. Qiang Zaiâs grandma lived up to Wang Chengâs expectations of her, and publicized it after he returned to Chengping.\nQi thought that everyone didnât know, and started to talk to a few village women who usually had big mouths. However, she was interrupted just after starting. They gloated and told her that they had already heard all about it. Qi wanted to explain, but how could they listen? Qiâs mouth was full of nonsense, and every sentence she said had to be discounted; they had all experienced it firsthand.
Yesterday, some people argued that if one wanted to hire employees in the future, one must never invite Liang Youshan. Those who opened a door to do business attached great importance to reputation. Liang Youshan deliberately spoiled the reputation of the store â who dared to invite such a person as an employee? After Liang Youshan spoiled his reputation, no one wanted to ask him for a job.
Qiang Zaiâs grandma talked endlessly, and when Wang Cheng was wondering how to end the conversation with her, the unhappy Qiang Zai began crying âwawawaâ. Qiang Zaiâs grandma had to end the topic and leave with Qiang Zai.
Wang Cheng breathed a sigh of relief. He received a call from Mother Zheng on his way home. Recently, he had been busy on both ends, so Mother Zheng had to take the initiative to call him.
At this time, Wang Cheng did not return to the Imperial Capital and had already determined that he was going to spend the Spring Festival here. Mother Zheng understood in her heart, but she was still a little unwilling. How could she not spend the first Spring Festival together with her newly-found son?
âChengcheng, your father and I want to go to Shanhai City to find you. Will this trouble you?â
After connecting, Mother Zheng first asked about his current situation, and then carefully mentioned this matter. After all, they hadnât met Wang Chengâs adoptive parents before, for fear of embarrassment.
Wang Cheng was a little surprised. âYou are coming?â
âYes. Last time I said I would like to thank your adoptive parents, but never had a chance to meet them, so your mother wanted to take this opportunity to thank them well. I am just worried that it will be too abrupt and scare your adoptive parents.â
âThis should not be, my parents are still very hospitable. However, Mother, do you not have to go visit relatives for the Spring Festival?â Wang Cheng asked.
âWe will naturally visit relatives, but your father and I will not spend too many days there.â Visiting relatives did not necessarily have to be on the first day of the first lunar month.
âI see. When are you going to come? Iâll pick you up then.â
Hearing her sonâs consent, Mother Zheng became excited, saying quickly: âYour father and I are going to take a plane at eight oâclock tomorrow morning, so we should be there at eleven.â\nWhen Wang Cheng came home, he told Mama and Papa Wang about this. They were no less surprised than him. Tomorrow they would meet their sonâs real parents â they were a little nervous. The first one to calm down was Mama Wang. Since guests were about to come, they couldnât neglect them, they should be prepared.
The arrival of Father Zheng and Mother Zheng also had a little influence on Wang Cheng, because Chu Yifeng had originally wanted to come to his house tomorrow. However, Father Zheng and Mother Zheng were not like Papa Wang, and Zheng Jingen never told them about Wang Cheng and Chu Yifengâs affairs. When they suddenly see Chu Yifeng appear in Wang Chengâs house, maybe they would think of something themselves.
Tonight was New Yearâs Eve.
Wang Cheng didnât know how city people spent New Yearâs Eve, but the Guanâs Villageâs New Yearâs Eve was very lively. The hearty New Yearâs Eve meal was prepared by Mama Wang and Wang Ziyu, the former being the chef and the latter being the help. For this meal, Mama Wang did almost everything she could.
Papa Wang took out his own cut out lucky characters and New Yearâs pictures and pasted them all over the house, while the brothers Wang Cheng and Wang Ningâan prepared the sacrifice for ancestors.
Rural peopleâs ancestor worship was more complicated. Unlike people in big cities, who only needed to prepare a bunch of flowers, rural people had to prepare a large table of delicious things to worship with, and finally burned paper money. In addition, there were many things that could not be mentioned on New Yearâs Eve. Wang Cheng had stayed in the mountains before, and had no chance to experience it. Now it was different. He didnât pay attention to the forbidden things, such as mentioning death, and Papa Wang knocked on his head without saying a word.
âHow many times have I said it, these kinds of unlucky words are not allowed to be said.â Papa Wang also rose.
âI see, Dad, you didnât have to knock so hard,â Wang Cheng covered his head and cried with grief.
Papa Wang immediately stared at him. âThis expression is also forbidden. People who donât know will think that our family is doing a funeralâŚah, pei pei pei.â He suddenly realized that he had said something that should not be said, so Papa Wang immediately stopped, saying that he was guilty of a few sins and for the ancestors not to blame him, and for the gods to continue to post upstairs.
Wang Cheng glanced at the expression of his elder brother, and said casually, âElder brother, how many days are you going to stay home this time?â
Wang Ningâan was putting a bottle of juice on the table when heard him say this. He replied: âI will stay home for a little longer this time, more than half a month.â
âWhy is your boss so good to you this time?â Wang Cheng remembered that he had been assigned by his boss to stay at the company during the Spring Festival before. That is, New Yearâs Eve and the Spring Festival must be spent in the company; it was a very rigid, unfair rule. At that time, he felt that since the employees were counting on the Spring Festival holiday, and as a result, were not given the holiday, they resigned long ago.
âThanks to your help, my value is higher. If other people value me, naturally, their attitude will be different.â Wang Ningâan laughed.
\nAfter burning paper money in the yard, Wang Chengâs family gathered around the table and happily ate the New Yearâs Eve reunion dinner. In a year, their family of five rarely got together like they did now. After eating, Papa Wang and Mama Wang did not go out to visit relatives, so they asked the three to accompany them to the living room to chat.
Wang Ningâan was the one who was taken care of the most by the couple. He was away from home all year round, for many years. Papa Wang and Mama Wang didnât say anything, but they indeed really cared about him.
Wang Cheng made an excuse to go out. The New Yearâs Eve night was more lively than the Mid-Autumn Festival. Lights were on in every home, and the street lights were turned on ahead of time. Children ran around under the poles while adults chased after them. They were all acquaintances and said hello to each other.
Wang Cheng walked a short distance. He didnât realize where he was until he heard a noise, and found that he had accidentally walked near his uncleâs house.
After a while, Wang Xiaoyan came out with a bag of garbage.
Wang Chengâs gaze fell on her belly, which would not originally be obvious, but she was stroking her belly with one hand as if she was pregnant.
Wang Ningkai then came out, shouting and taunting, his attitude completely different from when they were dating or when they were just married. Although Wang Xiaoyan was angry, she unexpectedly did not refute. Her sullen expression was completely different from before.
Wang Cheng suddenly remembered that he seemed to have heard from his parents that Wang Xiaoyanâs fatherâs company had an accident. It had been so long since it happened, but it was very likely that things hadnât been resolved. However, he had no sympathy for Wang Xiaoyan. Call it retribution. If one could form good relationships with the people around them when they were rich, one would not cause everyone disgust after falling into disgrace. The cell phone in his pocket rang, Papa Wang was asking him where he was and telling him to go home.
Wang Cheng put away his phone, looked at his uncleâs house again, and turned to go home.
Many children liked the Spring Festival because they received red envelopes. They liked making such money. His parents still gave such auspicious gifts. Wang Cheng received the red envelopes they gave, with the big words of joy printed on it. Every year, he received such a red envelope â even when following the old monk, his parents would find a way to give him the red envelope.