Chapter 865: Chapter 738: Mr. Zhang’s Plan (Fifth Update)

Compared to Beijing, the weather in Zhang Family Village in the Northeast, a thousand miles away, is even colder. At night, you can’t see a ghost on the road, let alone on Little New Year’s Eve, when every household closes their doors to secretly worship the Stove God.

According to legend, Lord Stove was originally a star in the sky, and because of a mistake, he was demoted by the Jade Emperor to the mortal world to become the "East Kitchen Fate."

He sits solemnly between the stoves of every household, recording how people live and act. Every year on the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month, Lord Stove must go to heaven to report to the Jade Emperor the good and evil of each family, allowing the Jade Emperor to reward or punish them. Therefore, people worship the stove on the 24th of the twelfth lunar month, sending off the Stove God to ascend to heaven.

Zhang Family Village is located in the northern part of Huaxia. Unlike the South, where Little New Year’s Eve is on the 24th of the twelfth lunar month, they have always followed the tradition of Little New Year’s Eve on the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month.

The custom of "men do not worship the moon, women do not offer to the Stove" means that worshiping Lord Stove is reserved for men.

In the kitchen, Mr. Zhang shoos away the women and children, takes a picture of Lord Stove from his inner pocket, and respectfully sticks it in front of the stove, muttering not to blame him.

On a table set before the stove, he places candy, clear water, beans, and fodder, and then melts a piece of milk candy with fire and sticks it on Lord Stove’s mouth.

In earlier years, it was still common to use Guandong sugar to stick Lord Stove’s mouth to prevent him from speaking ill at the Jade Emperor’s place and to make his mouth sweet, encouraging him to speak good words.

But Mr. Zhang felt that gods are like people and would probably prefer milk candy to Guandong sugar. Since they were making Lord Stove’s mouth sweet, they should use the best.

Didn’t you see that since the Zhang Family started using milk candy, life has been getting better? Because of this, he started privately reminding his two old brothers last year to definitely use milk candy.

No matter if Uncle Zhang and his partner believe it or not, he doesn’t want to tell just anyone!

Mr. Zhang led Zhang Guofu and his two brothers to kneel on the ground, kowtowing three times, stood up, and took down the picture of Lord Stove along with the grass horse, setting them on fire for burning, kowtowing as he prayed.

After completing the ritual of worshiping the Stove God, Mr. Zhang signaled his wife to bring in the daughters-in-law to quickly tidy up the aftermath. Even though every household tacitly worships in private, it may not be apparent to outsiders, so it’s best to avoid causing trouble.

In the living room, Mr. Zhang sat cross-legged on the kang, took out a long pipe, grabbed some tobacco leaves from a basket, lit it, inhaled deeply, and exhaled slowly with half-closed eyes.

"Dad, feeling comfortable?"

Zhang Guofu watched his second brother squinting and winking as he massaged their father’s back, he couldn’t help but laugh.

"Not bad, you’ll keep massaging tonight."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Guofu couldn’t hold in his laughter any longer.

"Dad, are you and Mom really going to Beijing after the New Year? Better not go. Both my elder brother and I are in the county, and if there’s anything, we can discuss it with you and Mom. If it’s too far, the two of us will be at a loss."

Zhang Guofu shook his head in disagreement: "No, we must go. Jiao Jiao is pregnant, and if our family doesn’t go over, it won’t look good. Dad, you and Mom can stay for a few days and then come back."

"Big brother, do you think this time will be like last time, just staying for a week or so? Our Xiao Wu keeps writing to ask if there’s less grain supply and how Dad and Mom’s health is, saying how great Beijing is. I think if you go this time, it might be two or three years before you can return home."

Mr. Zhang thought of the letter his youngest son sent him, talking about how from the courtyard house in the hutong you could see the Imperial Palace, and how the little grandson won’t be close if not kept around, and he grinned.

"Dad, don’t just smile. Think about what Beijing has. In our village, you still have your old brothers, and in the county, you have plenty of old friends. What do you have in Beijing?"

Upon hearing that their parents were going to live there permanently, Zhang Guofu thought that wouldn’t do! He paused for a while, looking at Mr. Zhang eagerly: "Dad, you better not go. Let Mom go and take a look at Jiao Jiao and then return."

Mr. Zhang gave him a side-eye.

"Hehe, let my second sister-in-law go with Mom."

"No way. She’s somewhat like the eldest sister-in-law. Mom should not go; Dad, you go! Then you just say you’re worried about Mom, and as long as Mom doesn’t go to Beijing, Xiao Wu won’t dare to keep you."

Mr. Zhang worried that the two daughters-in-law might hear, so he glared at him: "What nonsense are you talking! We’ve already discussed this. After the New Year, your mom will take your wives, and the three of them will go to Beijing. When Jiao Jiao is about to give birth, your mom and I will go over. Don’t worry about useless things. Don’t you see that Uncle Zhou only has Jiao Jiao, and there’s no shortage of people at home to look after the month."

Zhang the Second frowned. What’s the point of the women going over? They’re loose-mouthed, and by the time they come back, who knows what they’ll say. As for his eldest sister-in-law, though she seems to have changed now, who can guarantee her nature?

Mr. Zhang, wise with age, could clearly see the disagreement in his two sons. But his daughter Jiao Jiao had made a good point; they should flex some muscle, not just hide away.

He also knew the temperament of the two daughters-in-law. It would be good to take them there and let Jiao Jiao teach them a few tricks. They should see the cunning people of Beijing, otherwise, they wouldn’t know the heights or depths of the world and might implicate the sons in the future.

"Dad, I’ll go see if big sister can get some leave so she can go with Mom."

Mr. Zhang rolled his eyes at his second son: "And leave Old Zhang to take care of the house? Your big sister can’t leave; she has to manage the home, and although your brother-in-law is a good person, he’s indecisive."

"What about second sister?"

Mr. Zhang shook his head: "A daughter married off is like water spilled. She has her own family, and her child is still young."

Zhang Guofu and his brother looked at Mr. Zhang in surprise. Their father had always treated his five children equally, without preference for sons over daughters.

Mr. Zhang hesitated as he tapped his long pipe and said softly: "I plan to let your mom take your wives to see the world. Only after seeing more dangers and broadening their horizons will they not live life recklessly."

Zhang Guofu and his brother exchanged glances.

"Later, I’ll write a letter to Xiao Wu, and he’ll understand my meaning. Besides men holding up the family with strength, the women at home must also be sensible and know their limits. That way life can only get better."

After speaking, Mr. Zhang closed his mouth and stopped talking. Some things can only be understood by themselves; saying more wouldn’t help.

At night in the master bedroom, Mother Zhang blew out the light and lay down next to her husband. Remembering the surprised and happy expressions of the two daughters-in-law, she felt a bit uneasy.

"Husband, should we discuss this with Xiao Wu first?"

Mr. Zhang laughed upon hearing this: "No need. Your youngest son, upon knowing you’re bringing his two sister-in-laws, will be able to guess what his father intends."

"And what about Jiao Jiao, should we give her a heads-up? I’m worried she’s too naive and won’t hold back, revealing everything."

"No. Besides the two of us, she doesn’t trust others."

"True. I just worry that these two might stir up trouble."

"A while back, Ah Guang said a storm was brewing. I’m not worried about the children we’ve raised, it’s just these two daughters-in-law that concern me. Let Jiao Jiao keep them in check over there, especially the eldest’s wife."

"You’re making it sound more complicated, you should just go with them. I’m worried it won’t be handled well."

Mr. Zhang patted his wife, "I can’t leave during the New Year; the village’s winter work is about to wrap up, and we need to watch over what comes next. This is something your youngest son secretly arranged for the village; I need to ensure he doesn’t get entangled with others.

More so, you should ask Xiao Wu how to manage school affairs after the child is born. If needed, we might have to go take care of the grandson. No matter how attentive a servant is, it won’t compare to us personally caring for the child."

Seeing her husband’s point of view, Mother Zhang didn’t try to persuade him further. Her husband had his reasoning, and as to what that was, she didn’t understand, so she would just follow his arrangements.