Chapter 1 The Most Important Thing

"What are you all standing around for?"

Just as the villagers were crowding at the entrance of the village in a chaotic mess, the old patriarch's words immediately made everyone realize what was most important: "Go tell Datong's mother to kill the chickens, warm the wine, and steam the buns…"

"The lads are back! We need to prepare a feast. Everyone, come and eat, come and eat!"

"..."

The villagers laughed and ushered Hu Ma and the others, along with the carriage, into the village. Someone had already informed Zhou Datong's mother and his honest father, who had already opened the courtyard gates wide. Neighbors borrowed tables and benches, set up a shed, and prepared to lay out the feast.

Logically speaking, because it was their own children returning home for the New Year, it couldn't be considered a major event for the entire village and couldn't be hosted in the name of the village.

But the old patriarch was happy and didn't want the lads to go home to eat separately as soon as they returned. So, he added a table, then another, and truly turned it into a potluck feast.

Without even needing to be asked, the families of Zhou Liang, Zhao Zhu, and Li Wazi voluntarily brought vegetables, meat, rice, and flour to help out. The women of the neighborhood also came to help with steaming buns and frying meatballs. Jar after jar of wine was brought up.

The prominent and respected members of the village came without being invited, sitting at the table smoking their pipes and chatting:

"I knew Datong and that little Hu Ma were good lads."

"In all these years in our village, the only ones who'd peek at widows bathing at such a young age were those two!"

"Liangzi and Zhuzi are good too, so steady. Now, their families have some face in the village."

"Look at Li Wazi, with such a blessed face. Surviving such a disaster, he's sure to enjoy good fortune in the future…"

"..."

Not only was the village lively, but even the coachman who had brought Hu Ma and the others back to the village was invited to the table. He was also a straightforward man, his face flushed, repeatedly saying that he was just a driver who was paid by the young master to send people back home and that sitting at the table wasn't appropriate.

But the villagers were happy and insisted on seating him at the table. Outsiders were guests, and sending the lads back was a great contribution.

People who hosted celebratory events were generous. Even beggars could get a bowl of meat.

In the past, Hu Ma, Zhou Datong, and the other children weren't allowed at these village feasts. Only Zhou Datong could mooch a few pieces of meat, thanks to his connection with the patriarch.

But this time was different. The young ones, including Li Wazi, were all seated at the table, accompanied by the patriarch, the second elder, and several other elders of the village. Even wine bowls were placed in front of them at once.

When the dishes began to be served, the importance the village placed on them became even more evident.

Although the village was poor, chicken, fish, and meat were essential for a feast; it couldn't be considered a proper feast without them.

But usually, the village's conditions were limited, and they couldn't really afford to eat like that. These main dishes were often just wooden chickens and wooden fish, with some sauce poured on top, just for show.

But today, the old patriarch had spoken, and they really did kill chickens and serve fish. And a square piece of meat was placed right in the center of the plate. Although it wasn't large, it was genuine bai taisui (white meat), a real hard dish!

In terms of pomp, it wasn't much different from the last time the village hosted the Red Lantern Goddess Society's stewards.

Well, the only thing missing was Widow Li. Right now, Widow Li was in Zhou Datong's kitchen, helping to fry the fish. Before long, three dishes were served, and the old patriarch led the toast, and the feast began.

The villagers crowded around five or six tables, and even those who couldn't sit at the table watched the festivities from afar.

The old patriarch was overjoyed, repeatedly leading people in drinking. When the alcohol took effect, he took out the items that Hu Ma and the others had brought back to the village one by one, praising everything he saw.

The pork brought back from the city looked so fatty, and the rice was so white, it was clearly what rich people ate.

And the cloth…

…No one touch it! My Datong brought it back to show filial piety to me. I'm going to save it to make my burial shroud.

Even the villagers, who initially didn't quite believe that Hu Ma and the others had become stewards after only a short time away, couldn't help but believe it when they saw these good things.

In earlier years, there had been those who went to the city to make a living, but being able to support themselves and bring back some grain to support their old mothers and wives during the New Year was already considered good.

Who would have thought that these young ones could bring back so many good things after just one year?

No amount of boasting could be as persuasive as these tangible goods. One by one, weren't they all things that the villagers rarely saw?

When they saw the things that Hu Ma had brought back, which included cloth, candy, fine tobacco, and wine, they were both envious and puzzled. The Hu family didn't have anyone in the village anymore. Who was he bringing so many things for?

Hu Ma simply smiled and said, "The things I brought back are naturally for Second Grandpa. Second Grandpa taught us all, which wasn't easy. Shouldn't we show him filial piety?"

Hearing these words, not only was Second Grandpa so moved that his eyes almost turned red, but even the patriarch became solemn and came over with a wine bowl:

"Second Elder, you've been teaching the children of our village to worship Tai Sui every year and have taught several promising ones."

"You are a great contributor to our village. I must toast to you…"

"..."

Second Grandpa, such a rough man, was both moved and flustered by the patriarch's words, and he became somewhat incoherent:

"They are all our own children, isn't this what should be done? What's with the politeness, you old codger?"

"..."

The patriarch's face darkened: "My old codger is not your old codger?"

The villagers burst into laughter.

Who would dare to laugh at Second Grandpa and the patriarch usually? But today, anything was allowed.

Led by the old patriarch, many people toasted Second Grandpa. Even Hu Ma and the others who had just returned were forced to drink a few bowls. Second Grandpa's dark face glowed red as he looked at the things Hu Ma had brought back to show filial piety, and he sighed, "I knew you lads were thoughtful and would show filial piety when you became successful, but I didn't expect you to be so successful that I would see it this year."

Hu Ma smiled and said, "This is just the beginning. I'll be showing filial piety every year, how could you be left out?"

"Don't just focus on showing off by coming back."

Second Grandpa put on the airs of an elder and scolded Hu Ma, saying, "Making a living outside isn't easy."

"Focus on your affairs there and don't run short of money when you're out there."

"..."

But after scolding him, he also sighed softly and said, "But it's a good thing you came back this year."

"Your婆婆 (pópo - paternal grandmother), just entered the old hearth this year. It wouldn't look good if there were no juniors to burn paper for her in the first year."

"If you didn't come back this time, thinking that you were out learning skills, it would be understandable, and your pópo probably wouldn't blame you. But in the eyes of the people in our village, it would feel a bit lacking. But now that you're back, I can rest assured…"

"..."

Hu Ma nodded and said, "I understand."

In fact, Second Grandpa didn't know the true situation of his婆婆 and only thought she was really gone. He valued the ancestral rites.

If Hu Ma didn't come back, he wouldn't mention it, but he would feel a sense of regret in his heart.

As for the villagers, they would have even less knowledge and might spread rumors. It would be ridiculous for an elderly person who had passed away in the first year to have no juniors to burn paper for her.

The feast lasted until evening, and it was completely dark before it ended. The villagers dispersed, and Hu Ma returned to his small house.

Having only been gone for a few months, the small house seemed a bit lonely and dusty. Hu Ma cleaned it up, and that night, he slept inside.

Misty from the alcohol, he vaguely felt as if pópo was still in the outer room, chanting incantations and watching over him.

Counting the time he had been in this world, it hadn't been short, and he had experienced so many things, yet it still felt like a dream.

But in any case, the path he had taken had already begun, and he had to continue walking it well.

It was as if this group of lads returning from the city had injected a pool of fresh water into the village.

Of course, Hu Ma and the others weren't actually returning from the city. The village they stayed in could at most be considered a town. But the villagers didn't care about that. The Red Lantern Goddess Society was in the city, and returning from the Red Lantern Goddess Society meant they were city people too.

It was now the end of the year, and the farm work had become idle. The villagers only worked hard all year for these few days of leisure.

Drinking wine, playing cards, it was everywhere.

It was just that since Cui Family Third had passed away, there were fewer pai gow (Chinese dominoes) games.

However, because these lads had returned, there were many more people visiting and chatting. The doorsteps of Zhou Datong, Zhou Liang, Zhao Zhu, and Li Wazi's houses were almost broken.

Those with children came to inquire about what the city was like, how the skills were learned, thinking that they should also have their children put in some effort in the future so they could be like these promising lads and work in the Red Lantern Goddess Society.

Hu Ma didn't receive this treatment because he was being invited everywhere these days.

When they first heard that Hu Ma had actually become a steward, the villagers couldn't believe it. But when Zhou Datong, Zhou Liang, and Zhao Zhu explained what had happened in the village, they finally believed it. It turned out that the Hu family lad was not only promising but also had such great skills.

Thinking that their own children would have to rely on him to take care of them in the future, and maybe the village would even have to rely on him, everyone was eager to invite him to drink wine.

This was rare in the village. In the past, as the end of the year approached, the lively ones were the few wealthy families in the village.

But this year, it seemed that the most lively one was the Hu family.

Although Hu Ma understood what the villagers were thinking, he really wasn't used to it being like this every day.

It could only be blamed on the fact that he hadn't been promoted to security captain in his previous life before he came here and hadn't learned how to socialize with these important people.

Fortunately, there was Second Grandpa, who, seeing that there were too many families inviting him, scolded, "Don't be so polite, even if little Hu Ma has become a steward in the Red Lantern Goddess Society, he's still a child whose feathers haven't fully grown. Why are you inviting him to drink wine every day?"

"If you keep inviting him, are you going to invite him to a widow's kang ( platform bed)?"

"..."

Hearing Second Grandpa say this, the villagers restrained themselves a bit.

Second Grandpa's status was now extraordinary. Hu Ma had become a steward in the Red Lantern Goddess Society.

Second Grandpa was the one who had taught the steward of the Red Lantern Goddess Society.

Because of this spare time, Hu Ma cleaned up the house inside and out and learned about the affairs of worshiping the old hearth from Second Grandpa.

This was the most important thing for him in returning to the village.