Li Xiangdong's house was packed with people, both on and under the kang (a heated brick bed). Those who couldn't squeeze in peered through the windows, marveling at what they saw.

Li Jiabao was pushed off his best spot on the kang (heated brick bed), and he said unhappily, "Brother, tell them to go home quickly! It's late, I need to eat and sleep!"

The news is playing on TV right now, and everyone is still watching with great interest.

Li Xiangdong patted Li Jiabao's head and said, "Don't pick up those stingy habits. We're all neighbors. Who are you going to kick out?"

Li Jiabao pouted and said unhappily, "I was supposed to be in the first row!"

"They'll only watch for a little while, but you can watch the rest of the time as you please!"

After calming his brother, who was about to explode, Li Xiangdong strolled over to his neighbor's house with his hands behind his back. His neighbor was cooking in the kitchen!

"Big sister, what do you want to eat tonight? I don't want to go to Mom's tonight."

"How about some sweet potato and cornmeal porridge, steamed buns, and stir-fried cabbage with vinegar?"

"Sure, boil a few more eggs, please!"

"Okay, the salted eggs are oozing oil, I'll boil a few more salty ones."

After arranging dinner, Li Xiangdong took two cornbreads and went out to train Lamei and Moli.

Of the two small hunting dogs, Jasmine was entirely black without a single stray hair, while Wax Plum was entirely black except for her four paws and eyebrows, which were yellow.

They have slender waists and broad backs, long limbs, erect ears, and move quickly and nimbly, and are also particularly intelligent.

After training the dog to sit, lie down, and run with some cornbread, Li Xiangdong started throwing sandbags into the distance to see which dog could retrieve them the fastest.

Because they don't have many neighbors around, the dogs can run freely.

When Li Lan finished cooking and called a few people over to eat, Li Jiabao's lips were pouting so much they could hang a sesame oil bottle on them. "Brother, sister, aren't they coming home for dinner? It's like they have nails stuck in their butts, they can't even stand up!"

Li Ping explained from the side, "I'm so anxious because I can't watch TV."

Zhang Huan covered his mouth, which was leaking air because he was losing his baby teeth, and chuckled, "Uncle Xiao Xiangzi said that Second Uncle brought some good food for Old Uncle. As soon as Old Uncle got off the kang (a heated brick bed), Uncle Xiao Xiangzi took the first seat."

I see.

Li Xiangdong laughed at Li Jiabao, "Are you so easily fooled now? Hahahaha~"

Everyone laughed at Li Jiabao to their heart's content.

It wasn't until 10 p.m., after there were no more TV programs, that everyone watched the snowflakes for a while before gradually leaving.

Everyone was excited, gesturing with their hands as they talked about the show they had just watched. "Xiang Dong is really living the good life. From now on, he can comfortably watch movies while lying on the kang (heated brick bed)."

"That's right! Television is so great, so many programs, it's so entertaining!"

"Didn't Xiangdong say this TV costs over a thousand yuan? Even if we don't save up for a year, we can still buy it!"

"You need a ticket to buy a TV show. Do you think TV tickets are so easy to get?"

"Buy it on the black market! I refuse to believe that money can't get things done!"

......

People left one after another, and even after they had gone quite a distance, you could still hear their voices and laughter carried on the wind.

The village dogs went from barking softly to howling loudly, then gradually calmed down, and everyone finally went home.

When Li Xiangdong returned to his room, he was astonished!

The floor was littered with sunflower seed shells, the coarse cloth sheets on the kang (a heated brick bed) were greasy and messy, and chairs and stools were scattered everywhere.

By the time Li Ping and Li Jiabao finished helping Li Xiangdong clean up, it was already past eleven o'clock.

Since his rebirth, Li Xiangdong had never slept this late. He quickly washed up and crawled into his warm bed.

The cold wind was howling outside, but it was warm inside, and the children quickly fell asleep.

......

On the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month, Li Zhen returned from Yanjing, accompanied by Liu Junbo and Ning Ruoruo!

When the three people entered, Li Xiangdong and Li Lan were in the kitchen cooking bean paste.

Besides steaming bean buns, the cooked bean paste can also be placed in a bowl and scooped into porridge for a sweet treat.

These red beans had been soaked for a day. After washing them with clean water, Li Lan put them in an iron pot with water and boiled them. Once the red beans were cooked until soft, white sugar was added.

After adding the sugar, it needs to be simmered over low heat, with one person constantly stirring with a spatula to prevent it from burning.

Li Xiangdong also creatively added some dried tangerine peel, which made the red bean filling even more fragrant.

Just as Li Lan and Li Xiangdong were tending the fire and stirring it, Li Zhen came in.

Bright light shone on Li Zhen's back, making her hair shimmer with golden light.

The light in the kitchen was suddenly blocked. Li Xiangdong looked up and exclaimed with delight, "Fourth Sister! You're back!"

Li Lan was also happy to see her younger sister. "Zhenzhen! Come inside quickly!"

Li Zhen's demeanor had undergone a qualitative change compared to before she started school. She stood tall and straight, with a relaxed and open temperament, and her voice seemed to have more confidence than before. "Big sister, Xiang Dong, look who's here?"

Li Xiangdong stuffed a handful of corn stalks into the stove and quickly stood up. "Hey! Brother Liu! Ruoruo! What brings you here!"

This was a truly unexpected delight; Li Xiangdong never imagined that the two of them would come.

Since Li Xiangdong's house had many bedrooms, he arranged for the three of them to stay in the second courtyard. The bedding was already provided; all they needed to do was light the stove and heat the room.

Li Lan didn't know Ning Ruoruo yet, so Li Xiangdong introduced them to each other. Just then, the children who had gone out to play returned, and Li Ping was overjoyed to see Li Zhen and Ning Ruoruo!

"Sister Ruoruo! Why are you back? Did you miss us?"

Li Jiabao leaned close to Ning Ruoruo and said in a self-absorbed tone.

The room was filled with laughter and chatter. Li Zhen quietly nudged Li Xiangdong, the two sisters exchanged a glance, and then went out one after the other.

"What's wrong, Fourth Sister?"

"Xiang Dong, I just took Ruoruo and Junbo back to our house."

Li Zhen hesitated, but the "our family" she was referring to was naturally Li Jin's family.

Li Xiangdong raised an eyebrow; something was up!

really.

“Our parents aren’t home, only my sister-in-law is here with Douzai. As soon as she saw the three of us, she said, ‘Who are you? It’s Chinese New Year, have you come to the wrong place?’”

Actually, the situation was even more awkward at the time.

With a forced smile, Liu Yuxiu sized up Liu Junbo and Ning Ruoruo, then put on a very caring act, saying, "Sister-in-law, I'm not trying to be mean, but why bring outsiders over during the New Year? Do you know if they're good or bad people?"

Liu Junbo and Ning Ruoruo couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable.

But Li Zhen was no longer the same Li Zhen. She said with a serious expression, "These two are my friends, and they know my parents too."

After saying that, he beckoned the two to the guest room.

To everyone's surprise, Liu Yuxiu blocked the door and said with a smile, "Really? Let's wait until Mom and Dad come back. Douzai is still young, and strangers can't just come into the house."