The night before New Year's Eve was filled with the sound of firecrackers.

After washing up, Li Chunmei quickly woke Xia Minmin up. They were going to the cemetery to pay their respects and also to pay New Year's greetings to the village elders.

Xia Jianguo was sweeping the yard outside. The road was right outside the yard, and he would often greet his relatives and friends from the same village.

"Happy New Year, Founding of the Nation! Wishing you prosperity and good fortune!"

"Brother Yuan, Happy New Year! Wishing you prosperity!"

"Jianguo, when did you come back?"

"He came back on the afternoon of the 29th. Brother Yuan, you must have made a fortune in Yangshi last year!"

"No one's as good as you guys being bosses!"

"What kind of boss am I? At best, I'm just a laborer."

"You're being modest. Everyone in Ankang Town knows you now. After returning from Yangshi, I accompanied my wife to her parents' home, and everyone in their village knows about you and your daughter!"

"This isn't because I benefited from my daughter's fame, nor is it because I have the ability myself."

"Don't be modest, raising a smart daughter is also your ability."

"Jianguo, you keep sweeping. I'm going to wish my grandfather a Happy New Year. If I'm late, he'll beat me up."

"Uncle Jian, Happy New Year."

"It's the founding of the nation! Happy New Year! Happy New Year!"

While they were talking, Xia Jianguo had already finished cleaning the yard.

"Jianguo, Xiaomei, breakfast is ready. The noodles are in the kitchen, go get them yourselves." Li Chunmei carried two bowls of noodles into the room.

Xia Minmin slowly applied a box of moisturizing cream.

"Xiaomin, come and eat noodles quickly. Today it's your favorite chicken soup noodles."

The chicken noodle soup was leftover from yesterday's family reunion dinner. Xia Minmin loves stewed free-range chicken, especially chicken stewed overnight. After stewing the chicken twice, the meat is fully flavorful and the meat falls off the bone easily.

Xia Jianguo, Li Chunmei, and Chang Xiaoxia Minmin all have the tastes of the elderly; they both like meat that is a bit chewy.

Li Chunmei looked at Xia Minmin, who was in a daze, and said, "Xiaomin, hurry up and eat, stop dawdling. We still have a lot to do today."

"Ugh, the Chinese New Year holiday is so tiring!"

"You didn't do anything, so why are you tired? Your parents are busy every day and they haven't complained of being tired."

"Mom, I'm emotionally exhausted."

Li Chunmei remained silent. She no longer knew how to respond to Xia Minmin's words. It was really difficult to raise a child when they grew up. She thought she might as well send Xia Minmin to school in Shenzhen. She was exhausted!

Xia Xiaomei pushed the door open and came in. "Second sister-in-law, have you and Xiaomin finished eating? I'm here to clean up the dishes. Second brother said that once we're done, we'll go to the cemetery to pay our respects to Mom and Dad."

"I'm done eating. Xiaomin, there's still a little bit left. Have your older brother and the others gone out? There's been no word from them."

"They probably haven't gotten up yet."

Seeing that Xia Minmin had finished eating, Xia Xiaomei quickly cleared away the dishes and took them out.

Li Chunmei collected the trash from the room and put it in the storage room in the backyard. No trash can be thrown outside before the third day of the Lunar New Year.

Xia Jianguo wrapped a scarf and put a hat on Xia Minmin, "Are you ready? We're going to the cemetery, remember to change into your rain boots."

"Let's go! Let's go!" Li Chunmei and Xia Xiaomei changed into their rain boots and carried the offerings for the tomb sweeping out of the backyard.

Xia Jianguo reached out to take the bags from the two of them, saying, "Second brother, you can hold Xiaomin for a while. The road was muddy last night because of the rain, and Xiaomin doesn't have rain boots."

Another day without legs, how happy!

Kneeling and kowtowing before the grave, Li Chunmei kept praying, "Mom and Dad, please bless us so that we can have a smooth trip to Shenzhen. It would be even better if we could make money."

After this ancestral worship, the next time I can come might be a year later; I won't be able to return for the Qingming Festival.

After you get home, wash your rain boots immediately after changing them, otherwise the mud will dry and become difficult to clean.

Just as they were about to set off to pay New Year's greetings to the village elders, Xia Jianshe opened the door and came out.

Xia Xiaomei said, "Big brother, we're going to visit relatives for the New Year. Do you want to come with us?"

"You guys go ahead!" he said, and then walked towards the backyard.

Xia Jianguo and his entourage, carrying New Year's gifts, began their New Year's visit.

When you encounter acquaintances on the road during the Chinese New Year, you will inevitably stop to exchange greetings.

"Jianguo, Second Sister-in-law, Little Sister, and Xiaomin, Happy New Year! Are you on your way to Second Uncle's house? We mentioned you when we visited Second Uncle. Hurry up and go!"

"Brother Wen, Happy New Year."

"Uncle Wen, Happy New Year! I wish you a prosperous and successful year ahead."

"Brother Wen, Happy New Year! Have you all paid your respects to your elders?"

"Yeah, I just came from my uncle's house. Where's your older brother?"

"Brother Wen, you know our relationship hasn't been good these past two years, yet you still come to me asking about him!"

"Jianguo, you go and pay your respects for the New Year. I still need to buy some things for your sister-in-law, so I'll go ahead first. See you later."

"See you later."

The group continued moving towards their destination.

"Second Uncle, Happy New Year! I'm here to wish you a Happy New Year." Xia Jianguo handed the gift he was carrying to his second uncle.

"Second Uncle, Happy New Year."

"Second Uncle, Happy New Year."

"Second Uncle, Happy New Year! I wish you good health and a hearty appetite."

"Are Jian Guo and Xiao Mei here?"

"Second Uncle, my little sister has come to visit."

"Come, everyone, sit down. Qiuyue, serve tea to your brother Jianguo, sister-in-law, and little sister. Get a bottle of milk for our little one; your older brother brought it back for me."

"Big brother is so filial, you are truly blessed."

“Jianguo, I understand that you brothers had a conflict yesterday. In life, we should be forgiving. Your older brother is immature, so there’s no need to hold it against him.”

Li Chunmei said bluntly, "Second Uncle, you said the same thing when we divided the family property last time. We were only married for a short time and we were already burdened with six or seven thousand yuan in debt! I just want to ask, why?"

“Chunmei, I know you feel wronged, but Jianguo is not only well-educated and clever, but also has a better life than his older brother. Now that his older brother is gone, the two brothers should support each other.”

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