Chapter 3: The Winter Solstice

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Sun Shan did not eat like his cousins, who were quick, decisive, and efficient. He belonged to a slower rhythm—taking a bite, then another, chewing leisurely. At the family feast, the dishes were already picked clean before he even finished a single mouthful of rice.

This habit often drew concern from Sun Bomin and Mrs. Su, who worried that their son would struggle to find food when he grew up, with such a dawdling temperament. They couldn’t tell whose nature he inherited.

Sun Shan couldn’t help it. Carrying the memories of his past life into this new one, a habit formed over more than twenty years was hard to break.

Fortunately, at home, they indulged him—especially Mrs. Huang, who made sure to serve Sun Shan enough dishes first before letting the other sons and grandchildren eat.

This sparked jealousy among his cousins, but what could they do? Mrs. Huang was the matriarch, and no one dared disobey her.

Moreover, Sun Shan’s temperament was the kind favored by the villagers nowadays: humble, courteous, calm, and generous—a model child indeed.

After a meal that swept through the table like a gale, leaving cups and plates in disarray, the Sun family cleared everything clean—the dishes on the table, the rice and soup from the big pots.

The women tidied up the dishes while Mrs. Su added more charcoal to the fire for Mrs. Huang and adjusted the oil lamp on the table, brightening the main room.

Then, the sisters-in-law went to the kitchen to wash the bowls and chopsticks.

The cold weather required heating some hot water first. They used wood ash for cleaning, which made the dishes cleaner.

After all the chores were done, the family rubbed their bellies and sighed in contentment.

Third Uncle huddled close to Mrs. Huang, remarking that it was warmer here near mother’s fire, which blazed brightly.

He wiped his face and asked, “Mother, did eldest sister say if she’s coming back this year?”

Today was the Winter Solstice, with over forty days left until the New Year. Usually, eldest sister would return about half a month before the New Year.

Every time she came back around now, they would have some news—usually passed from younger sister to them.

Younger sister had visited home during the day; they wondered if she mentioned this matter.

Mrs. Huang shook her head and said gloomily, “Your little sister said Chunlan won’t come back this year. Brother Jin is preparing for the county exam and has no time to return.”

Although it was a pity their eldest daughter couldn’t come home, nothing was more important than their grandson’s imperial examination.

Second Uncle, Sun Zhongli, as taciturn as the eldest brother, listened closely and said gravely, “Brother Jin has always been excellent at his studies. He will surely pass.” Brother Jin was sixteen, and tomorrow was his first examination; the family was very nervous.

Third Uncle sneered at Second Brother. Who was Brother Jin? Passing the county exam was only a matter of time.

Smiling broadly, he said, “No doubt about it. Brother Jin will definitely pass next year. The He family isn’t ordinary—they have a long tradition of poetry and scholarship. Several of their members have become successful candidates and even officials.”

Success in the county and metropolitan exams meant one could become an official.

In the past, Third Uncle had never even heard such talk.

Since eldest sister’s prestigious marriage to the capital city, everything had changed. Now the family had a promising nephew who was going to be an official.

Mrs. Huang was happy to hear her two sons speak well of her eldest grandson’s prospects.

With a studious grandson, the eldest daughter’s life would improve steadily.

She was now the family’s greatest hope. Tonight’s feast of four dishes and one soup was all thanks to her financial support.

Sun Bomin brought out some wrinkled mandarins from the inner room. This year’s harvest was poor—the entire mandarin orchard nearly failed.

Only a few scattered mandarins remained on the trees. Fortunately, the family no longer relied on the orchard for their livelihood.

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Placing the fruit on the floor, he smiled and said, “Here, eat some mandarins. They’re very sweet.” Though wrinkled, they were truly delicious.

He handed one to his mother, then one to Sun Shan, and distributed them one by one. With so many family members and a large basin, each got one, leaving only a few leftover.

Second Aunt Jiang took a mandarin, peeled it, and gave it to her youngest daughter, Xiaoxue. She tasted a segment herself and sighed with regret, “What a pity eldest sister can’t enjoy these this year.”

In previous years, the orchard had been a bumper crop. The mandarins were carried over mountains and rivers to the capital city for sale, earning a good amount of silver.

Third Aunt Zheng chimed in, “Indeed, these delicious mandarins are the He family’s favorite.”

The Sun family didn’t sell their mandarins to others—they sold exclusively to the He family.

Eldest sister said their mandarins had a unique flavor and were especially popular as gifts in the He household, which pleased others greatly.

Because of their unique quality, the Sun family’s mandarins followed a boutique strategy: small but exquisite, commanding a high price. Despite the long transport and losses, they still made a profit.

This explained why the remote mountain village family bothered to sell mandarins all the way in the capital city.

Mrs. Huang, lamenting that eldest daughter couldn’t taste the fruit, asked her eldest son, “Did Chunjiao bring some back?”

As the eldest son’s wife, Mrs. Su was in charge of many matters now, including gift-giving and exchanges.

Just finishing washing the dishes, Mrs. Su entered the main room with her four daughters. Hearing her mother-in-law’s question, she quickly replied, “Mother, yes. Little sister took quite a few back.”

No one dared to refuse. The youngest sister was favored by mother-in-law and brothers because of her youth; refusing would surely earn a slap from the matriarch.

Sun Shan saw his mother and sister come in and noticed the mandarin basin was getting emptier. Quietly, he stood up and picked some mandarins, handing one to each of them.

The sisters held low status in the family. Without Mrs. Huang’s and Sun Bomin’s approval, they never dared to reach for mandarins.

Sun Shan, being the favored little one, tried his best to secure benefits for them.

The fourth sister, only eight years old and still a child, smiled as she took a mandarin, peeled it, and ate it herself. Usually, she couldn’t eat any because the fruit was reserved for sale.

Those who wore silk and brocade were not silkworm breeders; likewise, those who ate mandarins were not necessarily the ones who grew them.

The eldest sister, Gu Yu, fourteen and nearly grown, was more sensible. She peeled her mandarin, distributed the segments to her mother and younger sister, and fed the largest piece to her little brother Shanzi.

Sun Shan shook his head. The mandarins were kept in grandmother’s bedroom, freely accessible whenever they wanted.

Third Aunt Zheng noticed the youngest sister bringing back a heap of gifts again and curled her lip. That little sister was the complete opposite of eldest sister: the eldest brought things into the home, the youngest took things out.

Hmph!

Seeing the eldest sister’s simple and foolishly generous gift, she rolled her eyes. That one was a fool.

Thankfully, since the family had split, the youngest sister only took things from the main branch, so it didn’t matter as much.

Zheng thought so, and so did Third Uncle. That morning, they saw the youngest sister bring a pig weighing less than two pounds and some cheap pastries.

In the afternoon, she took away a goose, a duck, and a large bag of mandarins. Even worse, she spent time alone in the bedroom with mother-in-law, who surely gave her some silver.

Don’t ask why they suspected this—just look at the youngest sister’s husband grinning like a boiled dog’s head, and you’ll know.

More silver for her meant less for us brothers. It was infuriating!

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Third Uncle and Zheng, who shared a bed, had exactly the same thoughts.

Eldest Brother, hearing that his wife had sent gifts in return, was relieved. Smiling, he said, “This year is a minor New Year, and the mandarin crop failed. Next year should be a major New Year with a good harvest. Then eldest sister can enjoy mandarins again.”

Eldest Brother and eldest sister had the closest relationship among the siblings.

It pained him that the eldest sister couldn’t eat the delicious mandarins.

Second Brother peeled a mandarin and gave it to the children at home. It was very sweet, and everyone liked it.

He smiled and said, “This Spring Festival will be a warm one.”

There’s a saying: “If the Winter Solstice is warm, the cold lasts until mid-March; if the Winter Solstice is cold, the spring warmth comes early.” This year’s solstice was particularly cold, requiring slow-burning charcoal, so the festival would likely be warm.

Third Uncle shrugged, “Cold or warm, as long as it doesn’t rain.” The worst was rain during the New Year, which made going anywhere impossible and canceled many fun activities. That would be boring.

His words won universal agreement.

The family chatted and ate until about nine at night. Outside, darkness had long fallen, and villagers were already asleep. Farming families ate early, slept early, and rose early.

It was rare to see the Sun family still chatting so late.

When everyone felt it was late, they dispersed.

Second and Third Brothers lived not far away—one walking east, the other west—only about two hundred meters from the old house, where Sun Shan lived.

Even in the dark, they could find their way home.

The cold wind howled outside as Sun Shan followed grandmother Mrs. Huang back to the main room to sleep.

Mrs. Huang’s main room was large, with a big bed and a small bed.

At first, Sun Shan shared the big bed with Mrs. Huang.

When he was four, after persistent begging, the family finally made a small bed for him, placed opposite Mrs. Huang’s big bed.

The two generations then slept separately.

Mrs. Huang entered the room with an oil lamp, gently tucked Sun Shan in, and softly said, “Good boy, is the quilt warm enough? Do you want another one? I’m afraid you’ll be cold in the middle of the night.”

Sun Shan laid down an old cotton mat and covered himself with a nearly new quilt, replying calmly, “Grandmother, I’m not cold. The quilt is warm.”

Mrs. Huang, seeing the thick and cozy quilt, felt reassured and returned to her own bed.

Sun Bomin took Mrs. Su and their four daughters back to the east wing. This side had three rooms: one for the couple, one for the four sisters.

The daughters’ room had two beds, two girls sharing each, so it didn’t feel cramped.

Mrs. Su told her four daughters, “Go to bed early. Get up early tomorrow.”

Though the farming work was done—the rice already harvested and stored—there were still many small tasks to handle. Farm children could not afford to sleep in.

The four sisters nodded, said good night to their parents, and went to sleep.