Chapter 91 Popcorn

Shen Xuewei let go, and Chen Fanglan picked up the piglet and put it in the pigpen.

The piglet squealed pitifully and hid behind its mother.

Shen Xuewei picked up a bamboo pole and hit the sow again, driving a piglet to the door.

Grandpa Chen quickly grabbed him and continued his previous actions.

After about half an hour, they finally castrated the entire litter of piglets, and everyone took their belongings and went home.

Grandpa Chen put down what he was holding, washed his hands, and went to the Wu family to help slaughter the pig.

Besides the Chen family, several other families in the village also went to help.

After helping out at the Wu family's house, everyone in the village ate a pig-slaughtering feast there before returning home.

The next day, they went to the Chen family to slaughter the pig, and the villagers all came to help.

While everyone was busy slaughtering pigs in the drying yard, a little old man riding a tricycle slowly passed by on the road.

As he walked by, he shouted into the village, "Popcorn popping! Come quick, popcorn popping! Anyone want some popcorn popped?"

Hearing the noise, Chu De'an, who was busy hunting down Da Huang, shouted into the house, "Grandma, Auntie, I want to eat popcorn!"

Grandma Xi called out, "Then go to the side of the road and tell him to stop."

"Weiwei, prepare some corn and some rice, and go with your cousin to find that old man to make popcorn."

"Okay, Grandma."

Chu De'an took off running to the roadside and called to the old man who was making popcorn.

Shen Xuewei rushed upstairs, filled up some rice and corn, picked up two clean burlap sacks from the side, and ran downstairs towards the village entrance.

Grandma Xi chased after her, "Weiwei, wait, Grandma hasn't given you the money for your popcorn yet..."

Shen Xuewei didn't turn her head and said in a clear voice, "No need, Grandma, I have money on me."

She gradually ran away, and seeing that she was moving very fast and that she had money on her, Grandma Xi stopped chasing after her.

When passing by the Wu family's house, Shen Xuewei also let out a howl at the Wu family's door.

"Yu Hong, hurry up and get some stuff to make popcorn!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Wu Yuhong immediately followed behind her with the things in her hands.

The old man who makes popcorn has stopped his tricycle and is waiting at the village entrance for the group to bring their things.

Chu De'an stood to the side, staring curiously at the dark popcorn machine on the tricycle.

Shen Xuewei and Wu Yuhong arrived one after the other with their things. Upon seeing this, the old man unloaded the popcorn machine from the car.

Adhering to the principle of first come, first served, the old man made popcorn for Shen Xuewei first.

The old man charges two yuan for each popcorn machine.

Shen Xuewei took out four yuan from her pocket and handed it to him. After taking it, he cleaned the popcorn machine a little, poured in the corn, and threw in a few grains of saccharin.

Then, he asked Shen Xuewei to bring over some dry firewood or corncobs to start a fire.

Just as Shen Xuewei was about to go, Chu De'an, who had been waiting for a long time, volunteered:

"Sis, wait here, I'll go get it."

"Okay, then go quickly, and take some extra with you, and get some for Yuhong too."

"I understand, sis. I'll definitely complete the mission."

He turned and swept past them like a gust of wind. Shen Xuewei and Wu Yuhong were sitting on a rock nearby. After exchanging only a few words, he ran back with a winnowing basket full of corn cobs.

He poured the corn cobs down next to the group, then took the winnowing basket and went home to get more.

Seeing that there was something to start a fire, the old man placed a few corncobs under the popcorn machine and lit them, then slowly cranked the machine.

Shen Xuewei and her companion stood by, adding corn cobs to the pot from time to time.

Chu De'an brought corn cobs twice more, and then stopped going home to get more, instead tearing down some dry tree branches nearby.

With a loud bang, the first batch of popcorn was ready.

Shen Xuewei packed the popcorn into a sack and had Chu De'an take it back.

Chu De'an ate hot popcorn and carried the sack back home.

When she reappeared in front of them, her second maternal grandmother from next door was following behind her.

My second maternal grandmother's face radiated joy.

Because that morning, Chen Fangdong, who hadn't been home for over a year, finally returned.

Then, two other households also brought their own ingredients to make popcorn.

After finishing his work in Xiaoli Village, the old man who makes popcorn loaded the popcorn machine onto his tricycle and slowly rode away.

With the arrival of the Spring Festival, Xiaoli Village was transformed from its usual peaceful and tranquil state into a place filled with laughter and joy, and even the air smelled of firecrackers.

Chu Fu rode his bicycle, taking Chen Fangli home to pay New Year's visits.

Wu Yuhong's older sister, Wu Yufen, also returned to her parents' home with her husband and children.

After staying at her parents' home for a short time, she came to the Chen family to chat with Chen Fanglan.

On the Chen family's drying ground, a mahjong table was set up, and everyone gathered around to play mahjong in a lively atmosphere until they heard people calling them to dinner, at which point they went home.

Chen Fangyang also returned with Zhao Fang'er and Zhao Xiannan.

Because there weren't enough rooms in their home, Chen Fangli and her family of three left by bicycle after having dinner at the Chen family's house.

Zhao Fang'er gave each person in the family a red envelope.

Before Grandma Xi came to find her, Shen Xuewei secretly glanced at the amount in the red envelope.

Neatly arranged, ten silver dollars.

Before she could hide it, Grandma Xi came over and exchanged the red envelope for a ten-yuan note.

Chen Fangmin was still unable to return to the Chen family to pay New Year's greetings.

Even though they had known this would happen, Grandpa Chen and Grandma Xi were still somewhat disappointed when they received her call saying she couldn't go back to her parents' home.

Grandma Xi said sadly, "Amin, it's been over ten years since you last visited your father and me. Is it because he won't let you come back? Otherwise, Mom will save up some money and come see you again, okay..."

Chen Fangmin held her phone, her heart filled with indescribable bitterness.

"Mom, it's too chaotic outside, it's inconvenient for you and Dad to come. Let's wait a bit longer, I'll definitely come back to see you when I have time."

To divert Grandma Xi's attention, Chen Fangmin steered the conversation toward Shen Xuewei.

"Mom, has Xiaowei caused any trouble for you and Dad? Has she been obedient? Has she helped you with chores?"

When Shen Xuewei was mentioned, the sadness on Grandma Xi's face faded, and a smile returned.

“Weiwei is great. She helps your dad and me with chores when she gets home. Also, Amin, Weiwei’s grades are excellent; she’s first in her grade again this time. Your dad says that if Weiwei can keep it up, she’ll definitely get into university in the future…”

Chen Fangmin gave a perfunctory reply, but inwardly she didn't take it seriously.

In rural primary and secondary schools, the questions are very simple; what's so difficult about getting first place?

"Okay, Mom, I understand. If there's nothing else, I'll hang up now and call you back later when I have time."

Grandma Xi paused and asked, "Aren't you going to talk to Weiwei? She's sweeping outside. I'll call her in."

Chen Fangmin interrupted her, "No need, Mom. There's nothing else to do, no need to call her over. If she misbehaves, you can hit her or scold her as you please. That's all... *beep beep beep*"

"Hello...hello, Amin...sigh."

Grandma Xi put down the phone helplessly. "That Amin, what kind of mother is she...?"