The first day of the Lunar New Year in 1979.

The heavy snowfall has stopped, and the world is covered in white. The bright moonlight reflects off the snow, making it appear bright and clear outside.

The women got dressed, opened the door, carried firewood into the kitchen, and lit a fire to cook dumplings. When the water boiled and the cabbage dumplings floated to the surface and turned a few times, the women used a strainer to scoop them into bowls.

When the men went out to set off firecrackers, some families set off double-bang firecrackers, some set off large red firecrackers placed on the ground, and most families set off two thunderbolts hanging on tree branches.

"Crackling and popping~ crackling and popping—"

"Bang~ Sizzle~ Clang—"

"Crackling and popping—crackling and popping—"

The sounds of different kinds of firecrackers rose and fell, echoing through the sky, and occasionally a deafening thunderclap would ring out, making the nearby glass vibrate.

After the firecrackers stop, we can go inside and eat dumplings.

Li Xiangdong set off two whole strings of firecrackers, scattering red firecracker paper everywhere. After watching the last firecracker go off, he rubbed his already cold hands and went inside.

Upon entering the house, a wave of heat hits you. The eight-immortal table in the living room is already full of dumplings, bright green pickled garlic, and sesame oil and vinegar.

They were eating dumplings when footsteps sounded outside, the door was pushed open, and Li Guoqing, Li Xiangjie, Zhao Xiaojun, and Zhao Yuxi ran in.

"Second Brother, Happy New Year!"

"Happy Chinese New Year, everyone!"

"......"

Several young men walked up to Grandma Jiang, knelt down, and kowtowed deeply. They all followed Li Xiangdong's lead and said, "Master, Happy New Year!"

Grandma Jiang smiled and took out the red envelopes she had prepared beforehand, giving one to each person.

Next up was Doctor Gu, who also sent out several red envelopes.

Li Jiabao couldn't sit still any longer. He quickly stuffed the dumplings in his bowl into his mouth, then wiped his mouth and knelt down on the ground to offer New Year's greetings.

......

After finishing the dumplings, Zhao Sufang cleaned up the plates and bowls. Li Jin took Li Weijun to visit Li Jinshan's house for the New Year and then returned. Li Jin stamped the snow off his feet at the door and went inside.

Liu Yuxiu, holding Douzai who had just woken up and was dressed in new clothes, came over and said, "Douzai, quickly wish Grandpa a Happy New Year!"

Douzai clasped his hands together and said, "Greetings to Grandpa for a Happy New Year! Grandpa, please give me some lucky money!"

Li Jin smiled and asked Zhao Sufang to give her grandson a red envelope.

A short while later, Li Xiangdong led the large group over. Li Jin looked through the window and saw a group of spirited and well-behaved children, and a genuine smile finally appeared on his face.

"Dad, Mom, Happy New Year!"

"Dad, Mom, Happy New Year!"

"Sixth Uncle, Sixth Aunt, wishing you a Happy New Year!"

Li Xiangdong led the way, and a group of people knelt on the ground.

Looking at the sea of ​​people, Li Jin couldn't stop smiling. He quickly took out a handful of red paper packets from his pocket and handed out New Year's money to each of them.

Liu Yuxiu held Douzai in her arms, secretly pursing her lips. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. She put Douzai down, pushed him into the crowd, and kept saying, "Quickly wish your second uncle, third uncle, eldest aunt, fourth aunt, fifth aunt, and great-aunt a Happy New Year!"

Douzai indeed clasped his hands together and spun around, then opened his hands to ask for New Year's money.

Li Xiangdong handed the red envelope that Li Jingang had given him to Douzai. Seeing his second brother do this, even though Li Ping and Li Yan were unhappy, they still gave Douzai a red envelope as well.

Before long, Douzai could no longer hold the red envelope in his hand. Liu Yuxiu picked up her son, kissed his chubby face, and giggled, saying, "Mom will keep it for you. When you grow up, it will help you find a wife! You are the eldest son and grandson of our Li family. We're counting on you to carry on the family line!"

After saying that, she shamelessly asked Li Jin and Zhao Sufang, "Father, Mother, am I right?"

Zhao Sufang pretended not to hear and brought over a plate of peanuts, melon seeds, and dragon beard candy for the children to eat.

Seeing that the two ignored her, Liu Yuxiu was not angry. She took a piece of dragon beard candy and put it in her mouth, and then gave her husband a piece.

Li Xiangdong and Li Jin exchanged a glance.

"Xiao Huan'er, have you wished your uncle and aunt a Happy New Year? Go quickly and ask your uncle for lucky money!"

As soon as Li Xiangdong spoke, Zhang Huan cleverly walked up to Li Weijun and Liu Yuxiu, "Uncle and Aunt, Happy New Year!"

She kowtowed once, then stared longingly at Li Weijun and Liu Yuxiu.

"Oh dear, look how honest this child is, his forehead is all red from banging his head against the ground."

Liu Yuxiu rummaged in her pocket for a long time before reluctantly pulling out a red envelope and handing it to Zhang Huan affectionately.

Seeing Li Weijun and Liu Yuxiu acting so unusually, Li Xiangdong really couldn't figure out what they were up to, so he could only ask his parents to keep a closer eye on them.

With nothing much to do on the first day of the Lunar New Year, everyone went back to Li Xiangdong's house to play cards and roll dice.

The Lantern Festival has passed in joy, and the New Year is officially over.

Liu Junbo and Li Zhen both start school on the nineteenth day of the first lunar month, and they will return to Yanjing on the sixteenth day of the first lunar month. Although Ning Ruoruo's school doesn't start that early, she will also go back with them.

"I'll go with you!"

He needed to go and resolve Ning Ruoruo's accommodation issue.

The train to Yanjing was extremely crowded. Li Xiangdong bought four hard seats. He and Liu Junbo sat on the outside, next to the aisle, while Ning Ruoruo and Li Zhen sat next to the window.

"Hey, walk a little further in, there are still a lot of people in the back!"

"Who the hell pushed me?! Damn it!"

"You stepped on my shoe! Stop pushing!"

"Keep going! Keep skewering them!"

"......"

Li Zhen, clutching her schoolbag, said with lingering fear, "Luckily we came this morning, it was so crowded."

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!