Chen Lan looked at her mother-in-law's sad and distressed expression and knew that she was once again recalling unpleasant past events. It was probably because ever since Xu Mingxuan left, there had been no news of him, and although her mother-in-law didn't say anything, she still couldn't let go and was constantly worried about him.
Although her mother-in-law often comforted Cui Mama, telling her to relax and not to think about useless things, saying, "Chunmei! Relax, don't think about those things! That brat is blessed with good fortune and will be fine! Didn't you forget? He has noble people to help him! I believe he will be fine!"
Even though she said that, her mother-in-law's heart didn't feel that way. Perhaps because she was always concerned about Xu Mingxuan, her mother-in-law would often recall unpleasant memories from the past recently.
Chen Lan felt that this couldn't continue. She really needed to find something for her mother-in-law to do to divert her energy and attention, so that she wouldn't always think about the past.
So Chen Lan smiled and said, "Mother-in-law, Mother, although our valley is a bit remote and cannot be as lively as the bustling markets in the capital, we can still hang red lanterns in the valley to make it festive! We can also do stilt walking and Yangge dances! These are very lively! Like Grandpa Zhou, Grandma Zhou, and the elders and young women from the Northeast, they should all know these. Let's have them dance then, it will surely be just as lively and fun!"
As she spoke, she suddenly remembered that she hadn't asked the native Northeasterners if their New Year customs were different from those in the capital.
So she quickly took two sips of Linden flower tea and continued, "Oh! Right! Mother-in-law, we also need to take some time to ask Grandma Zhou and the others if the New Year customs in the Northeast are different from those in the capital. We don't want to get it wrong and offend them."
Her mother nodded repeatedly and agreed, "Yes, yes, Lan'er is right. We need to pay attention and ask clearly, otherwise it will be awkward. Moreover, there is the saying (ten miles different skies, a hundred miles different customs); and the capital is not close to here, at least over a thousand miles away. I think it's better to ask clearly!"
After speaking, she looked at the mother and daughter-in-law. Seeing them both nodding in agreement, she elegantly picked up her teacup from the coffee table and took a sip of Linden flower tea, continuing, "If there's no difference, that's even better! If there is, we should pay attention to avoid offending them unknowingly, which would make us uncomfortable and hurt our harmony. Don't you think so?"
Her mother-in-law nodded repeatedly and agreed, "Yes, yes, my daughter-in-law's mother is right, it makes sense. I'll go invite Grandma Zhou, Grandma Zhao, and Grandma Xu over to ask them properly?"
Saying that, she prepared to get up. Chen Lan quickly stopped her and said, "Mother-in-law, please sit down. I'll go invite the aunts over. It's still snowing outside, and the roads are slippery and difficult to walk." Without waiting for her mother-in-law to refuse, she got up, put on her coat, changed her shoes at the door, and quickly went out.
Her mother-in-law was stunned for a moment. She smiled cheerfully at her mother and said, "This child, I'm not so old that I can't walk! What's a little snow? When I first married Mingxuan's father, I wasn't as old as Lan is now. That winter, it snowed heavily, and I went hunting with his father!"
Her mother reached out and patted her mother-in-law's hand, smiling, "Daughter-in-law's mother, you're talking about when you were young. We can't deny age. We still need to be careful to avoid falling. Not only will you suffer, but you'll also worry the children and cause them trouble!"
Her mother-in-law patted her mother back, "Daughter-in-law's mother, I know, I know. I can't deny age now. I've been having nightmares every night lately, dreaming of bad things. Maybe it's my age, and I should pay attention to myself."
Her mother was anxious when she heard this and asked with concern, "Daughter-in-law's mother, why didn't you say anything earlier if you weren't feeling well? Let Lan get you some calming pills. You'll be fine after taking them for a while! Wasn't I sick some time ago? I also had nightmares all night. After taking some calming pills that Lan gave me, I can now sleep soundly until dawn and no longer dream at night."
Her mother-in-law's eyes lit up with interest when she heard this, and she quickly asked, "Daughter-in-law's mother, are there really pills that stop nightmares? If so! That would be great! I haven't slept well lately and have a severe headache every morning when I wake up. If there are pills that help people sleep, I will definitely take them!"
Her mother and mother-in-law were chatting happily. Soon, Chen Lan had invited Grandma Zhou and the other old ladies over.
The two mothers-in-law quickly stood up to greet them. After some pleasantries, everyone sat down. Liu Mama and Cui Mama, having finished their work in the kitchen, poured a cup of Linden flower tea for each of them.
As soon as everyone sat down, the mother-in-law eagerly asked, "Old sisters, the New Year is almost here. I invited you all over today to ask about the New Year customs in the Northeast and any taboos. I'm afraid the children might not be sensible and break any taboos, which would be bad!"
Grandma Zhou, the mother of Zhou Sixi, smiled and said, "Old sister, it's not as serious as you say! It should be similar to the customs in your capital! We have a New Year rhyme in the Northeast. Let me tell you to see if it's all similar?"
After saying that, she coughed and cleared her throat, "The twenty-third, send off the Kitchen God; the twenty-fourth, sweep the house;
The twenty-fifth, frozen tofu; the twenty-sixth, go buy meat;
The twenty-seventh, slaughter the rooster; the twenty-eighth, make the dough;
The twenty-ninth, steam the buns; the thirtieth night, stay up all night;
The first and second day, walk the streets."
After saying this, she paused to take a sip of tea and looked up at her mother-in-law and mother.
The mother-in-law and mother looked at each other and nodded, saying, "It's not much different from the New Year customs in the capital!"
At this moment, Grandma Zhao, the mother of Zhao Tie, added, "In the Northeast, we have a custom of lighting longevity lamps on New Year's Eve, which signifies a good omen for a long life and continuous incense!"
The mother-in-law and mother also said, "The capital also has this saying."
Grandma Xu, the mother of Xu Hao, added, "There's a rule here about not getting a haircut in the first month, and the saying about the second month, the dragon raises its head."
The mother-in-law and mother also nodded and replied, "The capital also has it."
Grandma Li Daqiang smiled and added, "When it comes to the liveliest New Year in our area, it's the Yangge dance. From the first day of the first lunar month, it's truly lively! When my Qiangzi's father was young, he was also a '(silly young man)'!"
Saying that, as if recalling something funny, she couldn't help but laugh.
Chen Lan, her mother, and her mother-in-law became interested and asked in unison, their eyes wide, "Auntie, why do you say '(silly young man)'?"