The reunion dinner, filled with laughter, conversation, and toasts, finally came to an end. By now, the large red lanterns hanging from tall wooden poles in every family's courtyard were lit.
The men had just finished the feast. Before their food even had a chance to digest, they gathered around a platter of frozen pears and another of frozen persimmons—perfect for cutting through the richness of the meal and sobering up—and continued their chatter.
The older men picked up their pipes, packed them with tobacco, and lit them, puffing away as they listened to the children. The kids, having just finished their own meal, were already excitedly discussing the late-night New Year's dumplings and what treats they might receive at the ancestral hall the next day.
Meanwhile, the women cleared the table and washed the dishes. They hurried to finish so they could grab the dumplings they had already prepared and left outside to freeze, and then head back to their own homes.
