Li Da Niang saw Chen Lan and a few others looking at her curiously, waiting for an answer. Liu Ma Ma and Cui Ma Ma also craned their necks, watching her.
Li Da Niang slowly took a sip of Linden flower tea and continued with a smile, "The 'Shǎ gōngzǐ' is the one who leads the Yangge team. That's what we call them where I'm from. Some places call them 'lā shān de,' and others call them the leader. The 'Shǎ gōngzǐ' is the overall commander who choreographs the formations and patterns for the Yangge team. The success of a Yangge team hinges on the 'Shǎ gōngzǐ'."
Having said this, Li Da Niang slowly took another sip of tea, looked up at Chen Lan and the others opposite her, and seeing them watching her expectantly, she continued, "The 'Shǎ gōngzǐ' wears a large cloak and holds a big fan, leading the Yangge troupe from the front. His fan directs the Yangge teams behind him to change formations, and they must obey his commands for whatever patterns they perform."
Zhou Da Niang, seeing Chen Lan and the others listening intently, chimed in, "Here, every year from the third day of the first lunar month to the fifteenth, it's the liveliest time. We hold Yangge competitions every year to see which team's 'lā shān de' is better. The team with the superior 'lā shān de' will win."
Seeing that Chen Lan and the others were also interested in the Yangge competition, Zhou Da Niang continued, "Before the competition begins, the 'Shǎ gōngzǐ,' who is also the 'lā shān de,' must first prepare the ground. The 'lā shān de' will sing a few lines of '(Yángge liǔzi)' first, and the other team members will join in with backing vocals. Then, the 'lā shān de' will designate who will perform."
At this, the mother-in-law, full of curiosity, eagerly asked, "Da Niang, what does '(Yángge liǔzi)' mean?"
Zhao Da Niang immediately replied, "It's singing New Year's greetings!"
Everyone nodded in understanding. The mother-in-law said, "Oh! So it's singing auspicious words! It's the same in the Capital! It's the New Year, after all. People want good luck, and it's the same everywhere, just the names are different."
At this point, Chen Da Niang, who had been silent, asked, "I wonder what they call it in your Capital?"
Chen Lan truly didn't know. She looked up at her mother-in-law and her own mother. Her mother shook her head, indicating she didn't know either. The mother-in-law, seeing Chen Lan looking at her, coughed and said, "I've never really asked what it's called. When we were in the Capital, we used to watch the 'Wudou Zhai' stilt Yangge every year, but I never paid attention to what the leader was called. Perhaps they also call him '(bǎ tou)'?"
After speaking, the mother-in-law turned to her mother and Cui Ma Ma and Liu Ma Ma, asking, "In-law, do you know what they call it?"
Her mother, Liu Ma Ma, and the others repeatedly shook their heads, saying, "We just went to join in the fun every year, we never paid attention to that?"
Seeing that the mothers-in-law were preoccupied with the name of the leader, Chen Lan quickly changed the subject, smiling and saying, "Zhou Da Niang, Zhao Da Niang, Xu Da Niang, Chen Da Niang, Zhao Da Niang, I've invited all of you elder ladies here today because I want to form two Yangge teams in our valley before the New Year. One will be a women's Yangge team, and the other, of course, will be a men's Yangge team. These two teams will compete during the New Year. The children in the valley will be the judges. We'll give each child ten strings of small red lanterns. Starting from the third day of the first lunar month until the fifteenth, the team that gets the most red lanterns will be declared the winner. What do you all think of this idea?"
The aunties immediately became interested, and the mother-in-law also looked eager to try. She quickly asked, "Xiao Lan, what's the bet?"
Chen Lan thought for a moment and then said, "The bet is that the losing team will have to obey the winning team. This means that the members of the winning team will be in charge for the entire year. What do you aunties think of this bet?"
The aunties were very interested in this bet, and the mother-in-law also repeatedly said it was good! "Xiao Lan, this is a great bet. Isn't it about gender equality now? In our valley, we'll start with this Yangge competition. What do you elder sisters think?"
The aunties all agreed with enthusiastic nods and said in unison, "Okay, it's decided!"
Her mother, with some concern, asked, "Lan'er, if the men's team really loses, will the women really be in charge for a year? Will the men be willing?"
Chen Lan smiled calmly and said, "Mother, please don't worry about that! Don't underestimate the men in the Northeast. Although they may seem rough and unrestrained, they are very true to their word. Once something is agreed upon before the competition and they've consented, even if they lose, they won't go back on their word, no matter how unwilling they are!"
The aunties all nodded in agreement after Chen Lan finished speaking. Zhao Da Niang also explained, "That's right, it's like that. Sister-in-law, you can rest assured! The men of the Northeast are forthright and keep their word. Once they say something, it's as good as etched in stone."
Seeing that most of the arrangements were settled, Chen Lan said, "Aunties, I'll leave this matter to you all. If you need anything to form the Yangge teams, just tell my mother-in-law, and I'll find a way to prepare it for everyone."
After speaking, Chen Lan turned to her mother-in-law and said, "Mother-in-law, this task of tallying costumes and props will be yours."
The mother-in-law happily nodded and patted her chest, saying, "No problem, Xiao Lan, just watch! I promise to do a beautiful job."
With the matters discussed and arranged, the aunties prepared to leave. The mother-in-law and her mother tried to persuade them to stay for a chat, but the aunties said, "No, we'll chat again next time if we have the chance! We have a young child at home, and their father is watching them now. Men aren't very good at taking care of children, and we're a bit worried, so we're in a hurry to go home and check on them."
Chen Lan heard this and realized, "That's right! If the aunties and uncles participate in the Yangge teams, and the children's mothers are at the study group, then the children will have to be looked after by their fathers at home for a while. However, their fathers are all people with physical disabilities. A short time occasionally is fine, but for a long time, it's definitely not feasible. Then, taking care of the children becomes a big problem. What should we do?"
Chen Lan thought for a moment and then said, "Aunties, if you trust me, you can bring your little grandchildren to my place while you participate in the Yangge. I will take care of them for you, so you aunties can practice with the Yangge team with peace of mind. The children's mothers can take the children home directly after school. Aunties, what do you think of this plan?"
Zhou Da Niang was the first to happily reply, "That would be wonderful! It's really great! I was just worrying. My 'Si Xi' only has one arm, and taking care of my little grandson is a bit strenuous. It would be great if they could be sent here! Xiao Lan, it's really too much trouble for you!"
The other aunties also thanked Chen Lan repeatedly, only asking Chen Lan for help, and all stated that they would bring their little grandsons over tomorrow.
And so, Chen Lan became the first director of the kindergarten in the valley; she would officially take up her post the next day.