The 1970s: Military Family Beauty

On the first day of the Spring Festival, people started setting off firecrackers at three or four o'clock in the morning.

Jiang Furong opened her eyes and heard the rustling sound of Grandma Jiang getting dressed. She asked, "Grandma, what time is it?"

Grandma Jiang said, "It's a quarter past three. Are you all awake? That's perfect. Get up and set off firecrackers. Get dressed and boil some water. Then, at five o'clock, go to the door and each set off a firecracker."

Grandma Jiang is particular about not saying four on Chinese New Year's Day. 4:15 is said as 3:55, and 4:30 is said as 2:55 and 5:00.

Jiang Furong was used to hearing this, so she automatically calculated the time in her mind. She sat up and asked while getting dressed:

"Grandma, are those people setting off firecrackers staying up late or getting up early?"

"Both!" Grandma Jiang has seen a lot: "Firecrackers are set off to wake those who are staying up late to wake up, and to wake those who want to get up early. This is good, because the end of the year and the beginning of the year are connected, and life goes smoothly."

Jiang Zhaohui woke up just in time to hear this: "Grandma, we didn't set off firecrackers or stay up all night last night..."

Grandma Jiang quickly said, "We told jokes at midnight and asked you to sing a song, didn't we? After midnight it's called staying up all night."

In the countryside, singing is called "drama." You sing so beautifully, it's much more festive than setting off firecrackers. Only wealthy families perform dramas for big celebrations. You can sing another one later.

Jiang Chaohui happily responded "OK" and jumped down to turn on the light.

Grandma Jiang said with emotion: "It's really good to be in the army. There is always a light bulb to illuminate the house."

Jiang Xiaocui joked, "Mom, if you can't sleep in the middle of the night when you go back, you'll have to wake up my dad to talk to you."

In my rural hometown, there is no electricity or running water, and when it gets dark we can only light candles or kerosene lamps.

Buying candles or kerosene is a considerable expense. Grandma Jiang has always tried to save money and never lights a lamp unless necessary.

Grandma Jiang smiled and said, "People get less sleep when they get old. Your father often gets up in the middle of the night to make cigarettes. Why would I need to call him?"

Jiang Furong said, "Grandma, I'll bring you and Grandpa over when the time comes. If you can't sleep in the middle of the night, you can listen to the radio, watch TV, and eat steamed egg custard and sugar melon."

Grandma Jiang's face was full of smiles: "Then I really am living like a child."

She knew that Jiang Furong said this with this intention, and she also knew that Jiang Furong was different from before, and she would definitely do what she said.

After all, Xiao Wei looks reliable!

It was five minutes to five when Grandma Jiang and the others went out with firecrackers.

It was still dark, and figures of people walking on the road outside could be vaguely seen.

The chef in the guesthouse had already started a fire, and smoke was curling in the air.

Jiang Xiaocui glanced at the door of the guesthouse and asked, "Why don't we go call Xiao Wei and the others to come with us?"

Jiang Furong said, "I don't even know if this custom exists."

Jiang Xiaocui said, "Isn't there anyone at their house? Even if there's such a custom, they don't have firecrackers, right?"

What he said implicitly meant was that he wanted to invite everyone to come and play.

Jiang Furong looked around and said, "If you want to set off firecrackers, come with me to Grandma Zhao's house later. You can take Baoying with you to set them off. She has a lot of double-kick firecrackers there."

Jiang Xiaocui said with a smile: "Okay, I just want to go to Aunt Qin to wish her a happy new year, and then come to see Xiao Baoying."

"Grandma, you come first!" Jiang Chaohui raised the bamboo pole with several hundred-shot electric cannons tied to it.

"Okay!" Grandma Jiang struck a match and lit the first string of firecrackers on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

They tied the firecrackers in a row on bamboo poles and each took turns lighting her own string.

Grandma Jiang was very happy: "They all rang! It's a good omen. Everything I do will be successful this year! After breakfast, Zhaohui and I will go to the service center to have a look. We will buy two feet of floral fabric to make new clothes."

Jiang Furong looked towards the next village and said, "I remember Carpenter Lu said there's a temple fair in the village today. How about you go to the temple fair?"

Jiang Zhaohui's expression was full of joy. "I heard from my classmates that it's quite fun. There are acrobats who can hold a large water vat on their heads without letting it fall, and they are shirtless in the middle of winter. Grandma, I want to go to the temple fair."