The crowd that was talking and laughing suddenly fell silent for a few seconds, and then burst into exclamations.

"Is this Juejue?"

Back then, a child of the Xie family was lost, and Xie Jun and his wife quarreled over it, and finally divorced. Few people in the entire compound didn't know about it. Now seeing Xie Tingjue, what else is there to be confused about?

Uncles and aunts of the same generation as Xie Jun all exclaimed: "Alike... so much alike. These two brothers look like they were cut from the same mold."

"After so many years, Juejue finally came home."

Grandma Xie was particularly excited. She was stunned for a long time and couldn't even speak. After a long time, she said to Xie Tingjue: "Come here, let me touch you."

Xie Tingjue followed instructions and came to Grandma Xie, bent down, and a pair of rough and warm old hands stroked his face.

Eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth...

The long-lost brothers were found, which was truly the perfect ending for all stories.

However, Xie Tingyu's expression was hard to tell and no emotion could be seen. His eyes passed over Xie Jun and Wen Zhihua, and finally stopped on his grandmother.

Grandma Xie then remembered, took Xie Tingyu's hand, and said to Xie Tingjue: "This is your brother Tingyu, do you remember him?"

Ye Qingshui was also quite shocked when he saw Xie Tingjue. The two people looked so much alike, even their heights were almost the same. It was really hard to tell the real one when they stood together.

The news of Xie Tingjue being found was a hot topic for a while, and Xu Maofang reminded quietly:

"Eat! If you don't eat now, the food will get cold."

Only then did everyone start to eat.

Such a sumptuous meal makes people feel happy. Smelling the fragrance of the New Year's Eve dinner, some people joked:

"Old Xie, we are in for a treat today! Your dishes are much better than in previous years—"

No, these people originally thought that they would have to eat steamed buns mixed with green onions and porridge with pickles tonight, but they never expected that they would be greeted with a New Year's Eve dinner with meat, vegetables, soup, and fruit snacks.

This sumptuous and delicious New Year's Eve dinner made people mistakenly think that the Xie family had a new hostess.

Everyone hurriedly sat down and started to eat the New Year's Eve dinner.

I heard from other families in the compound that the Xie family’s bacon is delicious.

Take a piece of bacon and eat it. After finishing it, smack your lips. The rumors are true. The bacon is very chewy and preserves the deliciousness of the meat. The meat has a rich flavor and is very memorable.

The golden dumplings are grinning, and when you take a bite, your mouth is filled with oil. Your mouth is full of the delicious taste of wild delicacies. The vegetarian dumplings are oily and tender. Those soldiers who usually want to eat meat every meal pick up their chopsticks faster than anyone else.

The "flood of wealth" was quickly divided up.

The soldiers eat so fast. After being busy from the beginning of the year to the end of the year, the New Year’s Eve dinner is the most relaxing meal for them.

The greasy taste of meat makes one feel happy.

The only time they could eat meat was during the New Year's Eve dinner. Every year when they came to the Xie family for the New Year's Eve dinner, they had to bring one pound of meat coupons and one pound of grain coupons.

This year's New Year's Eve dinner is worth two kilograms of meat, not to mention one kilogram.

After they finished eating, they still felt that it was not enough, so they used bread to soak up the remaining sauce on the plate and ate every last drop of sauce. The plate with the food was wiped clean. If it weren't for the pile of bones on the other side, it would be as if no food had been served.

Ye Qingshui looked at the shiny plates on the next table, then looked at the dishes on his own table that had just started to be eaten. Ye Qingshui couldn't help wiping the sweat off his forehead.

At this time, the finale dish "Year after Year of Abundance" was served.

The soup in the small copper stove began to boil.

Mushrooms float in the clear soup. The soup, which has been simmered over low heat for a whole day, has absorbed the essence of the bones and mixed with the freshness of the mushrooms, making the soup rich. The thick soup on the other side is covered with fiery red chili oil, and a few dried peppers float on the surface of the soup.

The sliced fish was neatly arranged on the plate. The meat was crystal clear and the slices were evenly thick. He picked up a slice with chopsticks and dipped it in the soup for a few seconds and it was cooked. Grandpa Xie put the fish slice into his mouth. The fish was tender and melted in his mouth.

Grandma Xie prefers spicy food, so she eats meat in the spicy soup. After eating for a while, her mouth felt numb and she gasped for air and broke out in sweat.

The greedy child smacked his thumb and was not afraid of having his cheeks stuffed with fish meat. There was not a single bone in the thin slices of meat.

After eating and drinking, there are fruits and snacks.

The pears after the meal are crisp and refreshing. When the sweet juice flows into your mouth, you will feel as comfortable and refreshed as if you were in heaven.

The elders began to drink and reminisce, while the younger ones cleared the table and cleaned the room. The soldiers moved in unison and even washed the dishes cleanly. They thanked the teachers repeatedly before leaving.

The New Year's Eve dinner lasted until eight o'clock in the evening. Grandma Xie saved enough face. Before everyone left, they couldn't help but praise:

"Yan Chun, your granddaughter-in-law is capable."

“The New Year’s Eve dinner was great!”

"My grandson has been found. I'm afraid I'll be so happy that I won't be able to sleep tonight!"

"Your Xie family has finally had a lucky break this year."

After the New Year's Eve dinner, Grandma Xie distributed the fireworks she bought to the younger generation and asked them to go outside to set them off. When it came to Ye Qingshui, Grandma Xie grabbed a big handful.

"This is your first New Year at our house. Shuiya, watch carefully. The fireworks are beautiful."

Fireworks are such a rare thing, only the Xie family is willing to buy them. They spend a lot of money to buy buckets and sticks of fireworks.

On New Year’s Eve, every house is decorated with lanterns and the lights are on, and the aroma of meat wafts through the courtyard.

After the New Year's Eve dinner, the neighbors all put on new clothes and were in high spirits. They braved the cold night wind, cheering and setting off firecrackers and fireworks.

Ye Qingshui symbolically lit a few fireworks, but after joining in the fun for a while she lost interest and distributed the fireworks to the children in the compound.

Xie Tingyu usually didn't like to join in the fun, but there was nothing he could do. He was very popular with children, and the children in the compound loved to play with him. Ye Qingshui couldn't leave either, and was surrounded by them.

Ye Qingshui said helplessly: "I want to go back."

"Okay, I'll be right back."

Xie Tingyu said gently: "Uncle is going home, tell me what else you want to play."

He squatted down and patiently lit fireworks for each child, fulfilled their wishes one by one, and put them on his shoulders to play horse riding.

The dazzling fireworks made the man's face look like white jade, and his dark pupils seemed to be lit up, flashing with gorgeous fireworks.

A colorful firework bloomed in the dark night sky in response, and as if in response, firecrackers and fireworks in other places burst into a crackling sound.

The flaming red debris was blown all over people.

Before that moment came, Xie Tingyu quickly covered the youngest child's ears.

Ye Qingshui looked at this scene and felt a sense of envy.

If that child were still alive, would it also be carefully cared for in Xie Tingyu's arms like these other children?

But when he thought of this, a feeling of sadness surged into Ye Qingshui's heart.

It's not that she doesn't want it anymore, it's that its father gave it up. Don't come here again next year!

Ye Qingshui turned around and went back to the Xie family.

She walked into the yard and saw the light on in the Xie family's house, which had been empty for many years.

As soon as Ye Qingshui opened the door of the room, the man hugged her shoulders from behind.

Xie Tingyu panted slightly and said jokingly, "Shui'er, why are you running so fast?"

When I got closer, I found that his breath was mixed with a faint smell of alcohol, and his white jade-like face was stained with a hint of red. He paused and asked with a smile:

"The firecrackers were too loud just now. Do you blame me for not covering your ears first?"

When the sound of firecrackers rang out, Xie Tingyu saw the little girl opposite looking at him and the child in his arms with an almost envious look.

That silly look is really heartbreaking.

Xie Tingyu took out a set of women's clothes from the closet. The fabric was soft and smooth. It was a plain blue and white skirt, and its temperament matched Ye Qingshui's very well.

Tailored to fit, breathable and comfortable without being too ostentatious, it's perfect for spring when the weather warms up.

Ye Qingshui touched the fabric and carefully observed its cutting and stitching. She subconsciously asked, "This dress cost a lot of money, didn't it?"

Xie Tingyu smiled slightly and said, "This is a New Year's gift for you."

Ye Qingshui then remembered the clothes she had promised to make for Xie Tingyu, which she had neglected for a long time. She felt a little ashamed because she had put it aside for a long time because of preparations for the New Year.

She said, "Just wait a minute, I'll be done soon."

There was still a long time before the New Year, and staying up all night would be boring, so Ye Qingshui simply took out her needle and thread and started sewing wholeheartedly to kill time.

Xie Tingyu turned on all the lights in the room for her.

The bright incandescent lamp was not comparable to the dim oil lamp in the countryside, and he did not have to worry about her damaging her eyes. A slender shadow was reflected on the snow-white wall, and time passed slowly...

Xie Tingyu stared at the little girl who made clothes for him, and his heart felt slightly warm.

Ye Qingshui sewed for a long time and bit off the last thread. She was about to hand the clothes to Xie Tingyu, "I'm done!"

The moment the words fell, the gears of the old and new years met, the old year bid farewell to the new year, and the firecrackers outside the window were like soldiers on standby, stepping on the New Year's bell and rang out in unison with an overwhelming force.

This time, Xie Tingyu was finally able to cover Ye Qingshui's ears quickly and in time.

Crackling...

Snap, snap, snap…

The chaotic sound of firecrackers was like thunder and deafening, as if it was very close, exploding in people's ears and falling into their hearts.

Ye Qingshui only felt his ears suddenly warm, and when he looked up, he saw Xie Tingyu's face close to him.

Against the bright light, his face was dim and unclear, his eyebrows were slightly stretched, with a smile on his lips, his chest was warm and broad, and her rapid heartbeat could be vaguely heard. His dark pupils seemed to be attracted by a magnet, and he looked at her with burning eyes.

After the sound of firecrackers, Ye Qingshui suddenly said: "You——"

Xie Tingyu also spoke at the same time: "We——"

He quickly took over the topic and ruffled her hair: "You speak first."