On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Ye Zhifang woke up late again. When she opened her eyes, she found several elderly uncles sitting in the room, chatting with Father in hushed tones. They had likely come to pay New Year’s respects to Father.
It must be said that the Spring Festival Gala on New Year’s Eve was the first time Ye Zhifang had watched it from start to finish with such focus. Some of the well-known performers from that gala had since passed away, and only now could she truly witness their brilliant performances on television.
After the gala ended, the night was far from over. Ye Zhifang was dragged outside by Eldest Brother and Second Brother to set off firecrackers. They even lit two strings of two hundred firecrackers each. Ye Zhifang covered her ears and watched the spectacle until it was over.
By the time she went to bed, it was already past one in the morning, so it was no surprise that Ye Zhifang woke up late again.
Being caught still in bed on the first day of the Lunar New Year was a first for her. Ye Zhifang wished she could find a hole to crawl into. Fortunately, Mother walked in at that moment, saw her awake, and pulled her out from under the covers.
“Xiao Fang, get dressed and come pay New Year’s greetings to everyone. After that, Mom will take you for breakfast.”
With Mother’s help, Ye Zhifang put on warm new clothes. Mother also braided her hair into two pigtails, tying red ribbons at the ends of each braid.
It must be said that after this makeover, Ye Zhifang looked truly beautiful. If one only saw her standing there, no one would guess that she had any intellectual issues.
Thankfully, the Original Host had some memory of these uncles and elders, or Ye Zhifang would have had no idea how to address them.
After Ye Zhifang paid her respects to each of them, she received praise from the elders.
“Village Chief Ye, I feel like your Xiao Fang has become much smarter than before. I remember last year she couldn’t even recall who I was, but this year she got everything right. Her eyes also seem much clearer and brighter than before.”
Ye Zhifang lowered her head. Mother exchanged a few polite words before leading her daughter out of the main room. While imitating a fool’s speech was one thing, the vacant look in her eyes was another—something Ye Zhifang couldn’t quite replicate yet.
Ye Zhifang remembered she hadn’t paid New Year’s greetings to Mother and her two brothers. Luckily, they were all at home. Before breakfast, she found them and greeted each one.
“Happy New Year, Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law. Happy New Year, Second Brother.”
Ye Zhifang’s words were exceptionally clear, and she wore a cheerful smile.
“Happy New Year, Xiao Fang. If it weren’t for the tradition of not waking family members by name on the first day of the Lunar New Year, we would have dragged you out of bed long ago,” Second Brother said while cracking sunflower seeds.
At this moment, Ye Zhifang extended her hand. Aside from her, everyone in the family had at least some money—even the youngest nephew had a few coins. Of course, a few coins were still money.
Ever since Ye Zhifang transmigrated, she had taken advantage of her family’s busy moments to search through all of the Original Host’s clothing pockets. The result was truly pitiful—not a single coin was found. It must be said that even a single coin could buy a few pieces of soda candy. The Original Host was truly pitiable.
Seeing Eldest Brother, Eldest Sister-in-law, and Second Brother remain unmoved, Ye Zhifang pouted and said, “Everyone gets lucky money during the New Year. I want lucky money too. If Eldest Brother and Second Brother don’t give me lucky money, then…”
The rest of the sentence was obviously not going to be anything pleasant. At that moment, Second Brother, who was closest, quickly covered Little Sister’s mouth. “Little Sister, it’s the New Year—you can’t curse Eldest Brother and Second Brother!”
“Xiao Fang, wait. Second Brother actually prepared your New Year’s money a long time ago. It’s just that you haven’t gotten out of bed until now.”
It was Second Brother who reacted quickly, turning swiftly to head towards his room. Eldest Brother, on the other hand, was quick with his hands, pulling two one-yuan bills from his pocket and handing them over. But Ye Zhifang didn’t take them. Trying to send her off with just two yuan—that was too easy.
When Second Brother returned, he held only a single one-yuan bill in his hand, claiming it was the New Year’s money he had prepared.
Of course, in those days, ordinary relatives and neighbors would give ten or twenty cents as New Year’s money, while immediate relatives usually gave fifty cents or one yuan. Those with better means might give two yuan. Those living in better conditions might even give five yuan, which was considered a large sum of New Year’s money at the time.
“Eldest Brother, Second Brother, I remember that you’ve never given me New Year’s money since I was little. Shouldn’t you make up for all those years this time? Otherwise, if I get upset, I might say anything that comes to mind.”
Ye Zhifang twisted the corner of her clothes. The Original Host had always spoken very little, but whether her words were kind or harsh, they always seemed to work. She wanted to see if it was really true!
“Little ancestor, we’re really afraid of you. Wait here.”
This time, both Eldest Brother and Second Brother turned and went back to their rooms. Even Eldest Sister-in-law followed Eldest Brother into his room.
“Zhiyuan, I feel like Little Sister has become smarter than before. How much New Year’s money are you planning to give her?” Eldest Sister-in-law said, somewhat displeased.
Eldest Brother took out a book from the drawer, inside of which he kept his salary. At the time, he worked as a clerk in the village and earned 35 yuan a month. He planned to give his entire month’s salary to his sister as compensation.
“Zhiyuan, are you listening to me? How can you give Xiao Fang your entire month’s salary? That’s way too much.”
No matter how much Eldest Sister-in-law tried to stop him, Eldest Brother still walked out with the 35 yuan. It wasn’t as if the family only had that much money—they could just be more frugal in their daily lives.
Second Brother worked in the production team, and his wages were calculated based on work points, which amounted to about 30 yuan a month.
Soon, Eldest Brother stood before Ye Zhifang with 35 yuan in hand, while Second Brother held three ten-yuan bills, clearly also giving Xiao Fang his entire month’s salary.
Ye Zhifang accepted the money without any hesitation. The reason she wanted money was to prepare for following Second Brother to Beijing. After breaking off the engagement, she planned to start some kind of business. Whether she would return to the Ye family was something to consider later. Staying in the Ye household, doing chores with Eldest Sister-in-law, raising chickens and ducks—that wasn’t something she could do, nor was it what she wanted.
“Thank you, Eldest Brother and Second Brother, for the New Year’s money. May Eldest Brother and Second Brother have a smooth year ahead and stay healthy.”
Only after Ye Zhifang left did Second Brother glance at Eldest Brother beside him. Since when could Little Sister speak so eloquently?
“Eldest Brother, Little Sister can use four-character idioms now. Did you teach her?”
It was no wonder Second Brother was suspicious—Eldest Brother was the most educated in the family.
Eldest Brother shook his head. He hadn’t expected Little Sister to say such things either. “She probably learned it from watching TV. But it’s still impressive that she could say it.”
That same day, the Ye Family Parents found out that their two sons had given their daughter New Year’s money. In the end, they quietly gave their daughter another 35 yuan, meaning Ye Zhifang now had a total of one hundred yuan.
“Xiao Fang, keep this money safe. Spend it when you need to, and save it when you should.”
Mother Ye always felt she had let her daughter down, which is why she had been so good to her all these years. If she hadn’t brought her daughter into this world, her daughter wouldn’t have had to suffer alongside her, enduring countless scornful looks since childhood.