Chapter 175 Celebrating the New Year

Not long after Qin Hai's family arrived, Qin Wei braved the wind and snow to enter the house. Once the whole family was present, Old Mrs. Qin went into the kitchen with a smile.

Today, Grandma Qin, Ma Dahua, and Sun Zhirou all pitched in to prepare a table full of dishes for everyone. Qin Xiaoxiao was also busy, personally preparing two main dishes: sweet and sour carp and braised pork ribs.

Qin Xiaoxiao knew that her cooking skills were not very good and could not compare with those of a master chef, but she was willing to use plenty of oil and seasonings, so the dishes she made were not bad either, at least they were better than the bland dishes made by Grandma Qin and the others.

At the dinner table, Qin Aiguo, as the head of the family, delivered a speech.

"A lot of things happened in our family this year, big and small, but thankfully, they're all in the past. I hope that next year our family's life will get better and better."

Next year, Qin Ye will get married, Xiao Xiao will be married off, Qin Ming should join the army, and Qin Wei, see if he can work hard and become a minor leader or something. Qin Yue, study hard and graduate from high school like your sister, that would make me happy.

Qin Aiguo didn't have high hopes for Qin Yue; he was just glad the child was alive.

Because this girl is just too naughty. She's like a monkey if you put a tail on her. Making her sit there for ten minutes is like taking her life. He doesn't even know how she behaves in class. Does she move around like this too?

Qin Hai's lips twitched, and he glanced at his eldest daughter. Well, she hadn't heard him at all; her eyes were fixed on the braised pork ribs.

Qin Xiaoxiao looked at Qin Yue with amusement, and the rest of the family also looked at her. Then Qin Aiguo's face darkened, Qin's grandmother laughed, Sun Zhirou looked helpless, Qin Ming sighed and rubbed his forehead, and only Qin Ye and Qin Wei each slapped their little cousin on the head to wake her up.

Qin Ye patted Qin Yue's head with amusement, "What are you thinking about? You want to eat that much?"

Qin Yue swallowed hard and nodded. "Okay, can I eat now?"

Qin Xiaoxiao wanted to slam her fist on the table and laugh out loud, but reality wouldn't allow it; she was afraid her grandfather would beat her to death.

Qin Aiguo lost the desire to continue, and the pre-dinner talk ended there.

Qin Aiguo announced the start of dinner with a dark face, then took the first bite. Qin Yue couldn't wait to grab a piece of rib and stuff it into her mouth. She then squinted her eyes and said happily, "Delicious! My sister's cooking is still the best."

Qin Aiguo was too lazy to pay attention to her. He turned his chopsticks around and put them in Old Mrs. Qin's bowl.

Grandma Qin accepted the food with a smile and also put some food into Qin Aiguo's bowl.

The two exchanged a smile, instantly creating a lively atmosphere, while Qin Xiaoxiao watched from the side, feeling quite flustered and speechless.

She's full before she's even eaten; her grandparents are being unfair.

After the New Year's Eve dinner, Qin Xiaoxiao chatted with Grandma Qin, Ma Dahua, and Sun Zhirou, while Qin Yue clung to a bowl of food prepared by Qin Xiaoxiao, not letting go. No one knew where she had eaten dinner, as she had eaten so much but was not full yet.

Grandma Qin glanced at Qin Yue and whispered to Sun Zhirou, "We can't let Yue eat any more. She ate enough for dinner. If she eats any more, her stomach will burst."

Sun Zhirou glanced back at her embarrassing daughter and sighed, "Mother, don't you know what your granddaughter is like? She's just so delicious."

Just like her father.

She didn't dare say the second half of the sentence, afraid that the old lady would overthink it, and she didn't want to cause trouble during the New Year.

Grandma Qin choked and sighed helplessly, "That's right, this child has loved to eat since she was little. It's strange, everyone knows where all the food she eats goes, yet she hasn't gotten as fat as a pig."

Qin Xiaoxiao twitched her lips and silently gave her answer.

"She can eat a lot, and she can be quite dramatic!"

Grandma Qin and Sun Zhirou's eyes lit up at the same time, "That's really the case."

Qin Xiaoxiao touched her nose. "I was just kidding."

Sun Zhirou took Qin Xiaoxiao's hand and laughed, "No way, what you said is true. This child is always on the go. She probably digests all that food she eats by running and jumping around."

Qin Xiaoxiao nodded and smiled awkwardly, "Yes, Auntie is right."

Looking up again, Qin Yue was happily munching on a persimmon cake, completely oblivious to the world around her.

Envy instantly flashed in Qin Xiaoxiao's eyes.

People who are carefree live long lives, and she also wants to live a few more years.

The thought of the upcoming dual female lead made Qin Xiaoxiao instantly unhappy.

Damn it, every female lead has such a twisted worldview, how is she supposed to live?

Qin Hai and his family of four stayed for three days before returning home. Qin Yue didn't want to leave, but Sun Zhirou forcefully pulled her away.

As soon as Qin Yue left, Qin Xiaoxiao secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

That little devil is finally gone; she was truly terrified of her.

Qin Wei stayed at home for a full seven days, only returning home on the afternoon of the seventh day of the Lunar New Year. After he left, the Qin family returned to its usual tranquility.

From the first to the eighth day of the lunar new year, Grandma Qin took her two daughters, Qin Xiaoxiao and Qin Yue, to visit all the families and relatives in the village. Qin Xiaoxiao laughed so hard that her cheeks hurt. On the ninth day, she finally didn't have to visit anyone anymore, so Qin Xiaoxiao quickly asked for leave and asked to rest.

Grandma Qin was reluctant, but after Qin Xiaoxiao's persistent pleading, she finally breathed a sigh of relief and let her stay at the educated youth compound for two days before going back.

Even so, Grandma Qin allowed Qin Xiaoxiao to take away two large bags of prepared food, taking away almost all the food prepared before the New Year.

Qin Xiaoxiao didn't want to take it, but when Grandma Qin gave her a look, she chickened out and obediently carried the cloth bag containing the food back to the educated youth compound.

That evening, Qin Xiaoxiao went to the Su sisters' house for a free meal, and of course, she also took some food with her.

It was the first time the Su sisters had spent the Lunar New Year away from home, and they inevitably missed their family, so they looked a little downcast.

This New Year is also Qin Xiaoxiao's first New Year since she came to this world. In her previous life, she had no relatives and no one to miss, but that world was her root after all. Her flesh and blood and her soul told her that she did not belong here.

Qin Xiaoxiao looked dejected. She went back into the house and got a half-jin bottle of baijiu, pouring a small cup for each of them.

"You're only drinking this little bit? You can't drink too much. There are still male educated youths in the courtyard."

Both sisters understood what Qin Xiaoxiao meant, smiled and nodded, said nothing, and silently drank a glass of wine.

But they forgot that none of the three of them had ever drunk baijiu before, and as a result, they got a little drunk after just one cup.

Looking at the two sisters staggering about, Qin Xiaoxiao revealed a silly smile.

"Useless, one cup and you're done."

Qin Xiaoxiao squinted at Su Yun and couldn't help but reach out and touch her face.

"She's so young and fair-skinned, my brother got a good deal."

Qin Xiaoxiao didn't feel like she was being a hooligan at all. On the contrary, she thought her younger sister was really amazing, and even knew to "inspect the goods" for her brother in advance.

After inspecting the goods, Qin Xiaoxiao smacked her lips, got up from the kang (a heated brick bed), and squinted as she groped her way to the door.

Qin Xiaoxiao quickly opened the door, endured her dizziness, and stepped out of the Su sisters' room. She then closed the door behind her. After thinking for a moment, she went back in and forcibly pulled Su Yun up, making her lock the door.

Once there was no more noise inside, Qin Xiaoxiao pushed the door, but it wouldn't budge. Relieved, she then felt her way back along the wall.

(End of this chapter)