In the afternoon, the family took turns taking a bath and then put on the new clothes that Zhang Hongyan had made by hand.

Dog Egg grinned, showing off his big white teeth, his little hands constantly touching this and that, his excitement impossible to hide.

Blinking her bright eyes, she looked at Xia Qingqing and asked, "Sister, do I look good in this dress?"

"Looks good, especially handsome," Xia Qingqing praised with a smile, and even gave Gou Dan a thumbs up.

Dog Egg cheered and ran out; it was obvious he was going to find Da Niu.

Xia Qingqing couldn't help but sigh, "Kids these days are so simple and honest. They're so easily satisfied, whether it's getting a piece of candy or wearing a new piece of clothing."

No wonder she had heard that people in the 1970s and 80s had a higher sense of happiness, because they didn't pursue material things much. Being able to eat their fill and dress warmly was the happiest thing for them.

Zhang Hongyan came out of the kitchen and saw her daughter standing alone in the yard. She frowned slightly and asked, "Did your brother run away again?"

"Hmm, they must have gone to Da Niu's house."

"That brat, if he gets my new clothes all dirty, I'll teach him a lesson," Zhang Hongyan muttered to herself. She hadn't let Gou Dan wear his new clothes this morning because she was afraid he would get them dirty; he still had to wear them on New Year's Day.

On the other side, Gou Dan rushed to Da Niu's house, excitedly showing off his new clothes:

"Da Niu, look at my new clothes! My mom made them for me."

"It looks great, Gou Dan, you look really smart in it," Da Niu praised with a grin. He was happy that his friend could wear new clothes.

Da Niu's mom didn't make him any new clothes this year because he had some last year, and this year it was his younger brother Er Niu's turn to have some made.

Da Niu had no objection to this, because this was the first time Er Niu had ever worn new clothes in his life. Before, he always wore Da Niu's old clothes that he had replaced.

Last year, when Da Niu's mom was making clothes, she deliberately made Da Niu's cotton-padded coat a bit longer. This year, Da Niu has grown taller, and the length is just right for him.

Looking at Da Niu's cotton-padded coat, Gou Dan thought for a moment and took off his own new clothes: "Da Niu, I'll give you my new clothes so you can have new clothes too."

Da Niu didn't stand on ceremony with him and put on the clothes with a smile: "Gou Dan, your new clothes are really warm, much thicker than mine."

After wearing it for a short while and having a bit of fun, Da Niu quickly took the clothes off and gave them back to Gou Dan.

As he put on his cotton-padded coat, he said, "I'll ask my mom to make me the same one next winter."

With an innocent smile on his face, Gou Dan said, "It's definitely possible. My sister said that life will get better and better in the future, and we will all be able to eat our fill and stay warm."

"Sister Qingqing really said that? That's great! My mom said Sister Qingqing is an amazing high school student, she must be right," Da Niu said, nodding vigorously.

......

Zhang Hongyan handed the fried meatballs to Xia Heping and said calmly, "Here, send them to the old house."

"You're so good to me, my wife," Xia Heping said with a smile as he took the bowl.

Zhang Hongyan pursed her lips and said nothing. How could she not see through Xia Heping's thoughts?

But in the end, they were just separating from the old house, not severing ties. They still had to show the proper respect and filial piety.

So every year during the Spring Festival, Zhang Hongyan would prepare a bowl of meat and vegetables and have Xia Heping deliver it to the old house.

In previous years, when life wasn't good, the dishes were mostly just a little bit of meat mixed with potatoes and cabbage, unlike this year which is pure meatballs.

Although she didn't want to give the meatballs to those people at all, she had to consider Xia Heping's feelings. They were eating and drinking well at home, but the man might still be thinking about his parents back in the old house.

Instead of waiting for the man to bring it up himself, she should take the initiative.

Xia Heping carried a full bowl of meatballs to the old house and ran into Uncle Xia. He greeted him with a smile, "Brother, I've come to deliver the food."

Uncle Xia's eyes flickered when he saw the meatballs in the man's hand and noticed the new cotton-padded jacket he was wearing.

A forced smile appeared on his normally indifferent face: "Oh, Second Brother is here. Why are you carrying such a big bowl of meatballs? Come in, it's cold outside."

Then he called out to the kitchen, "Mom, my second brother is here. He brought you and Dad a big bowl of meatballs."

Hearing the noise, Grandma Xia came out. Seeing the bowl of meatballs overflowing in Xia Heping's hand, she smiled and said, "You're so kind. Give me the bowl."

As he spoke, Uncle Xia pulled Xia Heping to the main room to warm himself by the fire. At this time, the whole family, except for a few women, were in the main room.

Old Man Xia had just overheard his eldest son's words and knew that his second son had brought over a large bowl of meatballs. He didn't give him a hard time and let him sit down and talk.

Xia Heping sat down, feeling dizzy. In all these years, his old house had never received such good treatment. Usually, he would just drop off his things and leave, rarely even getting a chance to enter.

When he returned, Uncle Xia personally saw him off: "Second brother, Mother said that you should bring your wife and children to the old house for dinner tonight."

Xia Heping stared wide-eyed at his uncle: "Mother, do you really say that?"

"Of course, second brother, don't blame your parents for being cold to you these past few years. Tell me how much they were heartbroken when the family divided the property?" Uncle Xia sighed softly.

"Actually, your parents have always been thinking about you, so don't hold a grudge against them."

Xia Heping waved his hands excitedly, "How could I hold a grudge against my parents? I know it was my fault back then, but Hongyan and Qingqing only have me, and I can't abandon them."

"It's alright, it's all in the past. Remember to come over for our reunion dinner tonight," Uncle Xia patted Xia Heping's shoulder reassuringly.

......

When Xia Heping returned home, he still had a smile on his face and told Zhang Hongyan about what had happened at the old house.

Then, looking at Zhang Hongyan expectantly, he said, "Wife, shall we take the children to the old house for dinner tonight?"

Upon hearing that she had to go to the old house herself, Zhang Hongyan's face immediately fell: "Go by yourself if you want, I'm not going."

She wondered why it had taken her so long to deliver groceries; it turned out she had been chatting with someone.

On such a fine day, she felt it was unlucky to have to eat with those people.

She still remembers how the people in the old house treated her and her daughter back then because she didn't give birth to a son.

Xia Heping may not hold grudges because those were his own relatives, but that doesn't mean she can be ungrateful.

Xia Heping was somewhat at a loss because of Zhang Hongyan's attitude. He thought that his wife no longer cared about the separation of the family property, otherwise why would she take the initiative to ask him to deliver meatballs to the old house?