– Maternal Grandparents’ Home

In the afternoon, Lei Xiangren brought Lei Dabao and Lei Erbao over, and invited Qin Mian and Lei Tie to go to the old house for dinner – Lei Xiaoyun’s family and Lei Xiaofeng’s family had come. Lunch would be at Lei Dagang’s, and dinner would be at Lei Daqiang’s.

Lei Tie refused.

Lei Xiangren curled his lips and did not say anything. He helped Lei Dabao and Lei Erbao to put the fried dough twists and sweet guozis in the dishes into their pockets, while he grabbed two pieces of sangzas before leaving in a hurry with his two children.

On the third day of the first month, Lei Daqiang and Lei Dagang went to Lei Xiaoyun’s house to pay New Year’s greetings. Qin Mian stayed at home, while Lei Tie went with them. After the New Year’s gifts were delivered, he did not stay for a meal and returned alone. Upon seeing Qin Mian sitting in front of the table with the dishes and tableware waiting for him, and White Spot also looking at the direction of the gate, Lei Tie’s heart was extremely secured.

On the fourth day of the first month, the Lei Family went to Lei Xiaofeng’s house to pay New Year’s greetings. Lei Tie had lunch at Lei Xiaofeng’s house. Lei Xiaoyun ranted and raved at Lei Tie, but he kept silent. Lei Xiaoyun could do nothing about it.

On the sixth day of the first month, Lei Tie reminded Qin Mian to add brine to the fermented tofu. Qin Mian sealed the earthen vessels after adding brine. He solemnly put the two earthen vessels in a corner of the kitchen and waited for a year to open.

On the seventh day of the first month, the Lei’s kinsfolk made an appointment to visit Lei Tie’s home. Lei Dagang’s, Lei Daqiang’s, and Lei Xiaofeng’s families all came. Lei Xiaoyun’s family did not come, nor did she send a New Year’s gift. Qin Mian and Lei Tie did not care about it.

After the tenth day of the first month, the custom of receiving guests basically ended, and the villagers began to invite the people they were on friendly terms to dinner. Qin Mian and Lei Tie also ran around for a day to invite Li Zheng’s family, Zhao Wenzhong’s family (who had rented them a house), Zhang Dashuan’s family, Grandpa Jiang and Wu Di to have dinner at home. The following day, Zhao Wenzhong, Zhang Dashuan, Grandpa Jiang, and Wu Di returned the hospitality1. With these exchanges, the relationship between them had become closer. It was not strange to say that men’s friendship came from the wine table.

The weather was getting warmer, yet it was still very cold in the house. However, standing under the sun for a while could get one’s body burning hot.

On the twelfth day of the first month, the accumulated snow had completely melted, the warm sun hung high in the sky, and the ground was 80% dry. Lei Tie and Qin Mian prepared gifts and went to Deng’s Village to visit Lei Tie’s maternal grandparents.

Lei Tie drove the oxcart, while Qin Mian sat next to him eating melon seeds.

“Grandpa, grandma, and second uncle are very good people, don’t worry.” Lei Tie suddenly popped out a sentence.

Lei Tie did not mention his eldest uncle, eldest aunt, and second aunt. Qin Mian thought about it and knew what was going on. He put a melon seed kernel in his mouth, “Do you see me looking like I’m worried?” Also, he was not really 15 years old.

Lei Tie tightly held his hand and took a bite of his finger.

Upon seeing that they were almost there, Qin Mian wiped his mouth, took out a bamboo cup to rinse his mouth, fixed his clothes, and patted off the melon seed shells that had accidentally fallen on Lei Tie’s clothes.

At the entrance of Deng’s Village, an old couple about 60 years old stood under a tree while raising their heads and looking around, seemingly expecting something. The old man had grey hair and a grey beard and looked very spirited. The old lady had a head full of silver hair, rosy complexion, and slightly stout. These two old people were exactly Old Master Deng and Old Madam Deng.

Lei Tie saw them and said to Qin Mian, “That’s grandpa and grandma.”

Qin Mian was slightly moved, “They must be here every day to wait for you. Otherwise, it’s impossible to know that we’re coming today.”

“They’re really good people,” said Lei Tie.

The old couple also saw them, and a happy smile appeared on their wrinkled faces. The old lady even beckoned them to her side. Qin Mian could not help remembering his grandparents.

“Grandpa, grandma.” Lei Tie jumped out of the cart, nimbly knelt down, and kowtowed.

Qin Mian did not hesitate to kneel on his side, “Happy New Year to grandpa and grandma.”

“It’s fine, get up quickly. Don’t dirty your clothes.” Old Madam Deng lifted Qin Mian up and looked at him. Seeing that the child was clean and his eyes were bright, she immediately took a liking to him. She took out a red envelope from her sleeve pocket and put it into Qin Mian’s hand. She said with a smile, “This is a little bit of grandma’s regard. Keep it.”

“Thank you, grandma!” Qin Mian had a way to get along with the oldies. He did not refuse and took it into his bosom pocket in easy-mannered. Then, he held the old lady’s arm and raised his eyebrow at Lei Tie with a smile, “I have, but you don’t. Quickly give a smile, maybe grandma will give you a red envelope.”

Lei Tie looked at him helplessly and indulgently, still unable to smile.

Upon seeing that Qin Mian was teasing deliberately, the old lady laughingly said: “I won’t give even if he smiles. He’s an adult.”“I’ll give grandma a smile.” With that, Qin Mian smiled at the old lady.

The old lady was so happy that the wrinkles on her face deepened. “Alright, grandma will give you another red envelope.”

Qin Mian took it with a grin and passed it to Lei Tie. “Here, don’t be angry with me.”

The old lady laughed even more happily.

The old man put his hands behind his back as he watched with cold detachment. He had not acknowledged Qin Mian.

Qin Mian did not care much about it. No one could make everyone like them.

At this time, White Spot jumped out of the cart, walked to Qin Mian, rubbed against his leg, and ran ahead.

Qin Mian quickly called it, “White Spot, don’t run around.”

White Spot looked back at him and ran back obediently.

The old man stared at White Spot. A spark flashed in his eyes and he asked Qin Mian, “Is this a wolf?”

Qin Mian was startled and said, “Grandpa doesn’t have to worry. It’s very clever and won’t hurt people on its own initiative.

The old man nodded and his expression softened. He said to him (QM), “Let’s go home.”

Qin Mian was puzzled by his inconsistent attitude, but it was a good thing that the old man was willing to give him a good face. He supported the old lady to walk at the front and Lei Tie led the ox with the old man to walk at the rear.

When the old lady asked Qin Mian how old he was and where he was from, Qin Mian answered truthfully.

They went to Eldest Uncle Deng’s house first. Eldest Uncle Deng and his wife had three children. The eldest and the second were both daughters, and both were married. The only son, Deng Quan, was also married with two children; a boy [子] and a girl [女]. Both happened to make up a “好2” character. Their names were Kunzai and Xiya.

When they paid New Year’s greetings to Eldest Uncle and Eldest Aunt, Eldest Aunt appeared very warm, but Eldest Uncle looked very cold.

The two children came to kowtow to Qin Mian and Lei Tie. Qin Mian gave Kunzai a red envelope of 16 Wen and a small wooden sword and gave Xiya the same red envelope and a hair string. Lei Tie was careless. He failed to mention preparing gifts for the children before the New Year. The wooden sword was what Qin Mian asked him to make while he found the red hair string from the space. In fact, it was a shoelace from a pair of new shoes that he had not had time to wear. It was a mixture of blue, purple, red, and yellow threads. It was novel and unique, which could not be found in this era. The shoelaces were very long. Qin Mian had divided the two shoelaces into four parts. In any case, besides him, no one knew that they were shoelaces.

Xiya liked the “hair string” very much. She thanked him happily and urged her mother to tie it on her head into a bowknot. It looked very beautiful.

After moving the gifts out of the cart, Qin Mian and Lei Tie went to the second uncle’s house.

Second Uncle Deng was kinder than Eldest Uncle Deng. While Second Aunt was polite to the point of alienation, she did not make things difficult for Qin Mian and Lei Tie. The couple had a daughter and two sons. The daughter was married; the eldest son Deng Zhong had a son and a daughter; the youngest son Deng Xiao had a son and two daughters. Qin Mian was impartial. The five children’s gifts were the same as those of Kunzai and Xiya. The reaction of the three girls was almost the same as Xiya’s. They happily tied the hair string to their hair.

Second Uncle Deng was a thoughtful man. As soon as he saw that the red envelopes and the gifts were given by Qin Mian, he guessed that Qin Mian was in charge of Lei Tie’s household. He concluded that the two of them had a good relationship. He patted Lei Tie on the shoulder and said in a low voice, “No matter what is going on with you two, live well henceforth, and your mother can also be at ease in the Nether World.”

Lei Tie said: “He is my wife.” His tone was flat but firm.

Second Uncle Deng was stunned and sighed silently. He squeezed Lei Tie’s shoulder hard, “You’re an adult, and you’ve your own ideas. Second Uncle only wishes that everything goes well with you.”

Qin Mian sat across them at the table, seemingly drinking tea, but actually was listening to them. He caught sight of a carrying pole and a small wooden rack in the corner. On the wooden rack hung wooden people, sewing kits, small embroidered pouches, and other small things. He asked, “Second Uncle, those are…”

Second Uncle chuckled, “Brother Tie didn’t tell you? I’m a trader.”

Qin Mian’s heart skipped a beat. He took a look at Lei Tie and said to Second Uncle Deng, “Have you tasted the fried hemp leaves, fried dough twist, and sangza sent by Lei Tie last time?”

Second Uncle Deng nodded, “Yes, it tasted good. The children like them very much.”Qin Mian faintly smiled and said to Lei Tie: “We give the recipes of fried dough twist, sangza, fried hemp leaves, and sweet guozi to Second Uncle.”

Second Uncle Deng was startled and hurriedly said, “There’s no need to!”

Lei Tie looked at Qin Mian deeply, “Listen to you.”

Second Uncle Deng still had something to say but Qin Mian interrupted him with a wave of his hand. “Second Uncle, don’t refuse. We don’t plan to make money with these snacks. At most, we usually make some for ourselves. These snacks are not complicated to make. They are very suitable to be sold from house to house. Plus, the production cost is not high. Although Second Uncle won’t make a big fortune, you can still make a small profit relying on ‘freshness’.”

“This…” Second Uncle Deng twisted his hands, still thinking he did not deserve it, “How about this: after earning money, I’ll share it with you.”

Qin Mian smiled, “Second Uncle had reached out a helping hand to Lei Tie. Lei Tie and I remember it in our hearts. Is Second Uncle unwilling to give us a chance to repay you?”

Lei Tie also said, “Second Uncle, don’t refuse anymore. My wife always keeps his words, and I listen to him.”

Second Uncle Deng laughed in spite of himself. These two children; Qin Mian returned the favor on behalf of Lei Tie, while Lei Tie praised Qin Mian in front of him.

Both did it for the other’s sake.

Speaking of it, if he refused, he would be regarded as an outsider. Thus, Second Uncle Deng nodded, “In this case, Second Uncle shamelessly accepted.”

Qin Mian described the process of the snacks in detail, and Second Uncle Deng attentively committed to memory.

After sitting there for a while, Qin Mian and Lei Tie returned to Eldest Uncle Deng’s house. Lunch was arranged at Eldest Uncle Deng’s house.

When Second Aunt learned that Qin Mian had given Second Uncle Deng a few recipes, she adopted a better impression of Qin Mian and Lei Tie.

Lunch at the table was very peaceful, and there was nothing unpleasant about it.

After lunch, the old lady pulled Qin Mian and Lei Tie to chatter endlessly.

It turned out that in the first two years after the death of Lei Tie’s biological mother, Deng Shi, Old Master Deng, Old Madam Deng, Eldest Uncle, and Second Uncle were very concerned about Lei Tie. They would visit him every two months and send him some self-made clothes, shoes, and socks. But with Lei Xiangren’s birth and Du Shi’s instigation, Lei Daqiang’s heart was more inclined towards Du Shi. At the same time, something happened in the Deng Family – Eldest Uncle Deng and Second Uncle Deng split up. Eldest Uncle Deng was the eldest son, so the old parents followed him. On one side were the son and grandchildren, while the other side was the only grandson. Eldest Aunt believed that the old lady was partial, and she made quite a lot of mocking words. Second Aunt was not bad, but she was very stingy. She could not bear to see Second Uncle thinking of Lei Tie, and they always fought at home because of Lei Tie. These three reasons led to the complete neglect of young Lei Tie, who ultimately ran away from home.

After saying so much, what the old lady meant was to hope that Qin Mian and Lei Tie would not hate them.

Lei Tie shook his head to mean that he did not.

Qin Mian also did not think of that to the Deng family. Lei Tie was forced to run away from home, and the main culprits were his own father Lei Daqiang and Du Shi. Despite the kinship, the Deng Family was the maternal grandparents’ home3. They were indeed not to blame.

Now, Lei Tie had grown up smoothly and had a small family. There was no need to worry about some small things in the past.

Dinner was at Second Uncle’s house, and Second Aunt was very enthusiastic.

Qin Mian and Lei Tie knew that it had something to do with the recipes.

After dinner, the sun had set. The two went home bathed in the sunset glow.

Lei Tie had drunk wine a little too much and held Qin Mian’s hand without letting go. Qin Mian worried that if he let the man drive the cart, the oxcart would run into the ditch, and so he drove the cart himself.

“Wife,” Lei Tie leaned against Qin Mian’s shoulder, and the puff of wine-smelling breath blew in his ear, “I always remember the day I left home…”

Footnotesgive a return banquet/invite back to dinnermeans Good外家 also meant an external family. It might have something to do with being “external” which might mean that they weren’t actually obligated to interfere (remember how patricidal the ancient people were) You can correct me if I’m wrong