I couldn't take it anymore; when I went home for Chinese New Year, the family genealogy book ha

Jiang Chen, wearing a military overcoat, with his hands in his pockets and old cloth shoes on his feet, strolled leisurely in the newly built cultural square in the center of the village.

On the edge of the square, several old men were sitting side by side in a row of brand-new rocking chairs, basking in the sun. Among them was Grandpa Jiang Wanshan.

The old man had his eyes closed, two walnuts twirled in his hands, and a copper pipe rested on his lap. Sunlight shone on his wrinkled face, making him appear peaceful and content.

"Great-Grandpa, sunbathing?"

Jiang Chen leaned over and plopped down on the empty rocking chair next to him.

Jiang Wanshan didn't even lift his eyelids, and just grunted "hmm" through his nose.

"Great-Grandpa, the winter solstice is coming soon, and this square is just sitting empty anyway. How about... we make a big splash this year?"

Jiang Wanshan then opened his eyes and glanced at Jiang Chen.

"What mischief are you up to now? I heard those cardboard factories have stopped supplying us. Is that resolved?"

The old man was very well-informed; he heard everything that happened in the village, no matter how small.

Jiang Chen was amused.

"It's just a few scraps of cardboard, no rush. Don't worry, the villagers won't starve."

He leaned closer to the old man and lowered his voice.

"I looked through the village chronicle yesterday and came across something interesting. It says that our Jiangjia Village used to have an old tradition of holding a pig-slaughtering feast every winter solstice. Is that true?"

Upon hearing the words "pig slaughtering feast," Jiang Wanshan paused in his hand as he was fiddling with walnuts.

A glimmer of light seemed to appear in his cloudy eyes—a light of longing.

He tapped the ash from his pipe and sighed.

"That was a long time ago. Your grandfather was just a young boy back then. When the winter solstice came, the whole village would bring out the fattest pig they had raised all year, set up dozens of big pots, and the men would slaughter the pig, drink, and brag, while the women would stew the meat, make dumplings, and chat. That was what a festival was all about."

The old man's tone carried a hint of desolation.

"Later, life got poorer and poorer, and the young people all went out to work in order to make a living. Only the old and the young were left in the village, and this custom gradually fell into disuse. It's been more than ten years... and no one mentions it anymore."

Jiang Chen slapped his thigh.

"That's perfect! Before, we didn't have enough people, but now, with the factory workers and other villagers, we have over a thousand people, all here!"

His voice rose, filled with excitement.

"This year, I'll foot the bill! I'll buy fifty large black pigs, each weighing over 300 jin (150 kg)! Let's revive this old tradition that's been interrupted for over a decade! Let the whole village celebrate the Winter Solstice in a lively and festive manner!"

"What? Fifty heads?"

Jiang Wanshan almost dropped the walnuts in his hand.

Several old men sunbathing nearby, their ears perked up like rabbits, all turned their heads.

"Is Brother Chen going to hold a pig-slaughtering feast?"

"Fifty pigs? My goodness, three hundred pounds each, that's so much meat!"

"Even if everyone in the village had ten jin (5 kg) of food, they couldn't finish it!"

Jiang Chen's voice wasn't loud, but in the quiet square, it was loud enough for everyone around to hear.

A passing villager overheard this and immediately ran towards the canteen.

"Breaking news! Breaking news! Brother Chen is treating the whole village to a feast of pork stew! Fifty huge fat pigs!"

The news spread like wildfire.

Less than ten minutes later, the village loudspeaker blared out, and it was Wang Dagou's raspy voice.

"Notice! Notice! The village committee has decided, after deliberation, that to celebrate this year's bumper harvest and promote the village's traditional culture, the Jiangjia Village Pig Slaughtering Culture Festival will be held on the Winter Solstice! Fifty large, fat pigs will be slaughtered on-site, and there will be a village-wide feast—enough to keep everyone entertained! Please spread the word!"

As soon as the loudspeaker announced it, the whole village erupted in excitement.

Jiang Mancang, who was working in the field, stopped hoeing when he heard the broadcast, and a smile appeared on his honest face.

In the canteen, Jiang Youfu, who was busy in the kitchen, lit up when he heard that there were fifty pigs, and he swung his spatula even more vigorously.

Among the patrolling security team, Jiang Shitou took off his coat and ran two laps shirtless in the cold December wind, yelling loudly.

"Wow! Finally, I can eat as much meat as I want!"

The entire Jiangjia Village was plunged into a festive atmosphere of anticipation for the upcoming New Year because of this news.

Jiang Chen nodded in satisfaction as he looked at the bustling scene before him.

Chu Tiankuo wanted to use the cold rules of capital to trap him.

He then used this most primal and passionate human touch to tell Chu Tiankuo.

Jiangjia Village is not so easy to surround.

He jumped onto a stone platform at the edge of the square and waved to the growing crowd below.

"Everyone, quiet down!"

The crowd fell silent, and hundreds of eyes stared at him.

"At a pig-slaughtering feast, the pig is the star! And the process of slaughtering the pig is quite particular!"

Jiang Chen's gaze swept across the crowd, finally landing on a man who was 1.9 meters tall and as strong as a bear.

"He Da Zui!"

The man whose name was called squeezed out of the crowd, a simple and honest smile on his face.

"Brother Chen, what's up?"

"Uncle Big Mouth!" Jiang Chen pointed at him and announced loudly to the whole village, "This is the most famous pig butcher in our Qingshui Town, a skill passed down through generations!"

"I'm entrusting you with the crucial task of making the first incision in these fifty pigs! Any questions?"

He Dazui thumped his chest loudly.

"no problem!"