"Dad wasn't home yesterday, did you miss me?" Sheng Xiping teased the two children on purpose.

"We've thought about it." The two little girls nodded emphatically, their soft, sweet voices ringing out in unison.

"Oh dear, baby misses Daddy, where are you thinking about him?"

Adults love to tease children like this, and then they get all sorts of different answers.

Just like now, Sheng Xinyue pointed to her nose, and Sheng Xinqi pointed to her stomach, indicating that they were thinking using the organs they were pointing to.

Sheng Xiping was overjoyed and laughed heartily. He bent down and kissed his two daughters on the cheeks, then carried them into the house.

When Sheng Xiping returned, with someone to look after the children, Aunt Li quickly prepared the meal.

Around 11:30, Zhou Qinglan and Sheng Xitai rode their bikes home. As soon as they entered the door, Sheng Xitai exclaimed, "I'm starving!"

"You have nothing to do all day, you're always starving, why don't you help with some chores when you come in?"

Sheng Xiping came out of the house and glared at his younger brother. "I don't know how your studies are going, but you've certainly eaten a lot. You're such a glutton."

This little bear has been like this since he was a clumsy rascal, and he still hasn't changed it now that he's all grown up.

Upon seeing his elder brother, Sheng Xitai immediately shrank back. "Brother, why are you back again?"

"What? This is my home, can't I come back?" Sheng Xiping rolled his eyes.

"Your school is closed tomorrow afternoon, right? You and your sister-in-law will have to carry the baby and things, will you be able to manage? I'll have to come and pick you up."

When Sheng Xitai heard his brother say this, he immediately understood. Yes, they were going home for the New Year holiday, and with all their belongings, he and his sister-in-law would have a hard time managing it.

"Wait a minute, isn't Aunt Li still here? Auntie, aren't you coming back with us for the New Year?"

Sheng Xitai craned his neck toward the kitchen and asked loudly.

Aunt Li, who was serving the food, paused for a moment, then said after thinking for a while, "Me? I think I'll stay and watch the house."

This trip will last for more than half a month. We have a color TV, a refrigerator, and so much stuff at home. We can't leave the house unattended, without someone to watch the house and cook the fire.

Aunt Li lives alone; she used to spend the New Year by herself when she lived in Lijiawa.

Li Jiawa's family has lost interest in living there. Their dilapidated house has been vacant for so long, and they don't even know what it looks like now. They can't live there if they go back.

As for going back to the forest farm with Sheng Xiping and the others, Aunt Li was afraid of causing trouble for the Sheng family.

It would be better for her to spend the New Year here by herself, enjoying a peaceful and quiet time.

"Auntie, why don't you come back with us? I'll find someone to look after the house here, and you can help with cooking and such while you're at it."

"It's alright, our neighbors are all very nice, and besides, I have my parents."

Zhou Qinglan felt bad about leaving Aunt Li alone to spend the New Year, so she tried to persuade her.

"No, no, you can go back. Leave the house to me. Don't worry, it will be just like when you were at home."

"I probably won't be used to living in that forest farm, so I'll stay in town," Aunt Li said with a wave of her hand and a smile.

Aunt Li insisted on staying in Songjianghe for the New Year, and Sheng Xiping and the others had no choice but to go along with it.

In the afternoon, Sheng Xiping went to the market and bought a lot of New Year's goods.

In the past two years, the market has been liberalized. As the year draws to a close, many villagers around Songjiang River who raise livestock come to sell their goods.

With enough money, you can buy chicken, duck, fish, and meat.

In addition, Sheng Xiping also bought some peanuts, melon seeds, candy, and other snacks to keep for Aunt Li to eat during the New Year.

Just then, the grain store received a batch of wheat flour, including both 75% and 85% flour, which could be purchased without a card.

Sheng Xiping bought ten bags of 85 powder at once and hired a donkey cart to bring them home.

Aunt Li was dumbfounded as she watched Sheng Xiping carry things back again and again.

"Xiping, what are you doing? Ten bags of flour, how long will that last?"

"Auntie, didn't you say you were going to stay home for the New Year? I'll prepare more food for you. You can cook whatever you want for the New Year. Don't worry about saving it for me."

We'll keep five bags at home, and I'll take the remaining five bags back to the forest farm tomorrow.

"It's almost Chinese New Year, so we'll steam a lot of buns and stuff at home," Sheng Xiping explained with a smile.

"Oh dear, look at you, child! How much can an old woman like me eat? You've bought so much stuff, isn't that a waste?"

Aunt Li was deeply moved when she heard this.

"Since I came to your house, I've been well-fed and warmly dressed, enjoying a comfortable old age."

You two never treat me like an outsider, you always put me first in everything. Oh dear, what am I supposed to say to that?

The old lady lost her children in her early years, and later her husband also passed away. She has lived alone for so many years, facing difficulties in every aspect.

Back when she was in Lijiawa, although the team took care of her, there were always a few scoundrels who took advantage of her poor eyesight and would steal things from her whenever they went to her house.

The old lady was already struggling, and she kept losing things and being bullied.

During the years that Shao Minzhi and her children lived with the Li family, at least no one dared to bully her.

Later, Chen Ruiqing and his wife paid for the old lady's eye treatment, and life finally got a little better.

But if you look closely, it was during the year she spent in the provincial capital and at the Sheng family's house that Aunt Li had the most comfortable time.

Zhou Qinglan and Sheng Xiping were extremely kind to everyone, treating Aunt Li with the same respect they would show to their own elders. Xin Yue and Xin Qi were also adorable and well-behaved, and Aunt Li genuinely adored the two children.

“Auntie, you don’t need to say anything. We all treat you like family, like family.”

Sheng Xiping smiled and handed all the things he had bought to Aunt Li to put away.

As for fish and meat, store as much as the refrigerator can hold, and freeze the rest in the outside storage room. If you want to eat them, just bring them back in advance to thaw.

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