Chapter 114

"Lu Haici... Lu Haici... Going to pay New Year's greetings." Early in the morning, while the Lu family was still eating, Ji Yang came running over excitedly. It can be said that the happiest day of the year for the children in the family compound is the first day of the first lunar month, because on this day they can pay New Year's greetings to each household, which is the happiest and most lively day. At the same time, it is also the day when they have the most snacks.

"Wait for me..." Lu Haici ate the dumplings made by his grandmother and asked Lin Qingqing, "Mom, can I bring my sister to pay New Year's greetings? In this way, we can get two portions of New Year's money and two portions of snacks." Don't look at his young age, he is still very smart.

In previous years, when they were visiting families with brothers and sisters during the New Year, they would bring double the gifts. Even when someone else came to their house, they would bring double the gifts.

Before Lin Qingqing could answer, Lu Cheng said, "It's too cold outside. Your sister can't do it."

"Oh..." Lu Haici felt a little sorry.

"It's okay. Put your sister in the stroller and push her carefully." Lin Qingqing didn't care. It was the first day of the first lunar month in 1968. According to the solar calendar, it was January 30, 1968. Xiaobao, who was born on September 25, 1967, is now 4 months old. Occasionally, Lin Qingqing and her mother would take her out to let her see the outside. And Lu Haici was in high spirits today, so Lin Qingqing didn't think it was a problem.

However, Xiaobao still had to pay special attention to keeping warm. Xiaobao is the nickname Lu Haici gave to his sister, because he is the baby of his parents, the eldest, so his sister is called Xiaobao. Straight men are not so particular about naming.

However, Xiaobao's full name is Lu Hanyan, which is the name Lu Cheng gave him. As a mother who does not have the right to name, Lin Qingqing does not care at all. For her, the most important thing is that her daughter can be loved by everyone.

"Hey." Hearing that his mother agreed, Lu Haici was very happy.

Seeing this, Lu Cheng did not say anything. Anyway, he had no status at home.

So, Lin Qingqing first put a big blanket on the baby stroller. The baby stroller was very big. It was made by a carpenter based on the design drawn by Lin Qingqing. If the blanket is used as a bottom pad, the whole baby can be wrapped. Moreover, it can also be used as a bed. As long as the wooden board at the bottom is buckled, it can be used as a bed for the baby.

Then, Lin gently carried Xiaobao to the stroller, and then hugged her tightly, leaving only her little face exposed. Because it was warm, her little face was red, like a red apple.

Xiaobao was still wearing a hat, and she was warm. Her pair of black eyes were moving around, as if she was curious about something, and as if she knew she was going out, her little mouth was open, and she was very happy.

The stroller has a wooden board to block the wind, and there is a hook next to it. The hook is used to hang a bag. When Lin's mother pushed her out, she had to put milk bottles, handkerchiefs, etc. in the bag. And now, Lu Haici hung a cloth bag on it, which was used to hold the New Year's gift from her sister.

"Mom, I'm leaving." This was not the first time Lu Haici pushed a cart, and he was very skilled.

"Thank you, auntie, happy new year." Ji Yang took the red envelope from Lin Qingqing and happily put it in his trouser pocket.

"Be careful." Lin Qingqing said.

"I know." Lu Haici and Ji Yang responded loudly.

Lin Qingqing smiled and shook her head, and she followed him out. Sure enough, Lu Haici pushed the cart to the Ji family next door, and he was heard saying loudly: "Uncle Ji, auntie, my sister and I are here to pay New Year's greetings, and wish you all a happy family and a happy new year." He brought his sister with him.

There were steps on the eaves of the Ji family's house, and Lu Haici's cart could not go up, so he stood in the yard.

Seeing this, Xu Huijuan came out and saw Lu Haici pushing a stroller. She hurried back into the house. She had only prepared one red envelope for Lu Haici, but now Xiaobao was here, so she had to prepare two. Fortunately, she had red paper at home, so she could wrap it quickly.

When Xu Huijuan went out again, she brought two red envelopes and a plate of food. "Hai Ci, I wish you and Xiao Bao a happy New Year." She handed two red envelopes to Lu Hai Ci, "Take the New Year's money, one is for you and the other is for your sister, don't throw it away. There are also food here, do you have a bag?"

Lu Hai Ci took the red envelope: "Thank you, Auntie, there is a bag." He opened the cloth bag hanging on the stroller, and after Xu Huijuan poured the candy, peanuts and sweet potato chips from the plate into it, he hung it up again.

Then, Lu Hai Ci pushed the stroller and went to the next house with Ji Yang.

Lin Qingqing looked at this scene and found it interesting. She told Lu Cheng and Lin's mother, "I'll go take a look too." She didn't walk too close, but followed from a distance. She felt a little sorry that there were no mobile phones in this era, otherwise she could take pictures and record all these things, which would be enough for the children to recall in the future. Thinking of this, Lin Qingqing planned to go to the department store after the New Year to see if there were any cameras for sale. If there were, she would buy one and take pictures herself.

Lu Haici was a very considerate person. On the way to visit every household during the New Year, he did not forget to ask his sister if she was cold, and would gently touch her little face, for fear that she was frozen.

Ji Yang said, "Sister is wearing so many clothes, she won't be cold."

Lu Haici said, "Sister is still young, children can catch cold easily."

Ji Yang: "Okay."

The two of them met other children on the way to pay New Year's greetings, so the group going to pay New Year's greetings together became larger and larger.

Lin Qingqing followed for a while and then stopped and went back home. To be honest, she felt cold.

About two hours later, Lu Haici came back pushing the stroller: "Mom, grandma, dad, I'm back."

Lin's mother hurried out: "Are you cold? Come in and drink the hot brown sugar tea." As she said that, she picked up the little baby in the stroller and hurried back to the house.

Lu Haici followed behind and took off the cloth bag on the stroller. When Lu Haici entered the house, Lin Qingqing brought him a bowl of brown sugar water. The brown sugar water at home was kept warm in a clay pot. When children came to pay New Year's greetings, Lin Qingqing would always serve them a bowl. It was not because she was generous, but in this weather, the children were running around to pay New Year's greetings. Although they were happy, they might get frozen, so she was on guard.

Lu Haici gulped down the brown sugar water, and then poured out the things in the cloth bag with great interest, and then said, "Look, Mom, these are the snacks that my sister and I brought as New Year's greetings." As he said that, he opened his schoolbag again, "Mom, and this is the New Year's money for my sister and me." Some families wrap the New Year's money in red paper, while others give it directly without wrapping.

Because of Lin Qingqing's relationship, Lu Haici would give New Year's money to every family he visited. However, people give New Year's money just for fun these days, and usually give one or two cents. It makes the children happy, and it won't affect the family. Of course, there are also those who give generously, such as Xu Huijuan, Zhang Hongping and Yu Xiuyao, who give fifty cents.

In fact, it's the same for all of them, because their families are close, so Lin Qingqing gave more New Year's money to Ji Yang and Qin Ming.

It was the first time for Lin's mother to see her children take out New Year's money, and she was a little surprised and said, "It's a lot."

Lin was shocked: "That's right." There are more than 100 families in the family compound. Even if each family gives Lu Haici one cent, it will add up to one yuan. Of course, some families give more than one cent. So Lu Haici can get about three yuan of New Year's money every year.

"Mom, all this New Year's money is for my sister." Lu Haici said generously. As he said that, he ran into his room again and took out a red envelope he had prepared yesterday, "Mom, this is the New Year's money I gave to my sister." A very stylish brother.

Lin Qingqing smiled and accepted the New Year's money that Lu Haici gave to Xiaobao, but she said: "Mom will accept the New Year's money you give to your sister, but she cannot accept the New Year's money given to you by others. You should divide these New Year's money given by others into two parts, one for you to put in your own piggy bank, and the other for your sister's piggy bank."

Lu Haici heard it and did not object: "Does your sister have a piggy bank?"

Lin Qingqing went into the house and took out a piggy bank: "I just made it a few days ago." It was exactly the same as Lu Haici's piggy bank. She thought that her daughter would receive more or less New Year's money this year, so she made one for her in advance.

"Wow, that's great." Lu Haici happily put the other half of the New Year's money into his sister's piggy bank, "Mom, put the New Year's money I gave to my sister in the piggy bank too."

The little guy was still worried that the New Year's money he gave was taken away by his mother.

Lin Qingqing didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She opened the red envelope given by Lu Haici and saw a brand new dollar inside. She thought that this might be something Lu Haici had exchanged somewhere. Then he stuffed it into Xiaobao's piggy bank.

Lu Haici looked at his own piggy bank and then at his sister's piggy bank. He picked it up and weighed it. His piggy bank was heavier than his sister's piggy bank, and there was too little money in his sister's piggy bank. But it didn't matter. He would take his sister to pay New Year's greetings every year, and the money would increase.

"Hai Ci, this is the New Year's money your grandma gave you." Seeing that her child had finished her own work, Lin's mother took out two red envelopes from her trouser pocket. The red envelopes she made were more beautiful than those outside because she tied them tightly with a red rope. Then she put the red rope around Lu Hai Ci's neck, and the remaining one was naturally put around Xiao Bao's neck.

Lu Hai Ci's eyes lit up: "Thank you, grandma." He and his sister both brought the New Year's money given by their grandma, and they were obviously brother and sister.

Lin Qingqing felt that her mother was very cunning, and she had not considered this. But she remembered when she was a child, whether it was her childhood or the original owner's childhood, their grandmothers also prepared New Year's money in this way. Like the original owner, she liked to bring such New Year's money to pay New Year's greetings, as if... this was a way for children to show off.

Unlike herself, in their hometown, many children brought New Year's money in this way during the New Year. But in the Gaoshan'ao Production Brigade, only the original owner wore it like this, so the original owner was envied by many people since she was a child.

Compared with Lin's mother, Lin Qingqing took out her red envelope a little embarrassedly. There was no red rope, only red paper wrapped, which was a little shabby. She handed her daughter to Lu Cheng, and then took out her red envelope: "Lu Haici, Happy New Year, this is the New Year's money that mom gave you, I hope you can grow up healthy and happy this year." "

Thank you, mom." Lu Haici ran into his room again, and then took out a red envelope and gave it to Lin Qingqing, "Mom, Happy New Year, this is the red envelope I gave you."

Lin Qingqing: "..." After crossing over, it was the first time she received a red envelope, and she was so moved that she wanted to cry.

Seeing this, Lu Cheng couldn't help but narrow his eyes. As a straight man with a strong character, he never prepared New Year's money for the New Year. Now, he regretted it a little. But... he handed over all his money and had no money to prepare for the New Year's money.

"Oh, our Lu Haici has prepared a New Year's money for mom?" Lin's mother joked.

"It's not a New Year's money, it's not a New Year's money

." Lu Haici explained with a red face, "Mom, take a look, do you like it?" Lin Qingqing also knew that it was not a New Year's money, she could feel it. But seeing Lu Haici's blushing face, she became more curious. So, under the attention of the family, Lin Qingqing opened the red paper, and inside was a red hair flower.

"Mom, do you like it?" Lu Haici asked nervously again.

Lin Qingqing immediately bent down, held Lu Haici's face, and kissed him hard: "I like it very much, thank you son." She put on the flower immediately.

Seeing this, Lu Cheng's eyes deepened. He stared at his son. This little bastard has been able to please people since he was a child. Looking at his daughter-in-law's happy face, Lu Cheng, who was penniless, decided that he would deduct a little from the next bonus and buy a gift for his daughter-in-law.

Lunch was made by Lin's mother and Lin Qingqing. Lu Cheng held the baby and Lu Haici played with his sister.

While cooking, Lin's mother gently asked her daughter: "Xiaobao is already four months old. It's not good for you and your son-in-law to sleep in separate rooms. Why don't you switch your son-in-law? I will take Xiaobao and Haici to sleep together."

Lin hesitated slightly: "This is not good. Haici is already ten years old. Although you are the grandmother, but..."

"What's the big deal? Use a piece of cloth to separate the middle of the house. Xiaobao and I sleep inside, and Haici sleeps outside. Besides, I am his grandmother, what can I do?" Lin's mother thought that when she gave birth to the child, the child's father couldn't stand it after one month. Since she came, the son-in-law has been sleeping in a separate bed from her daughter. It has been a year. If it continues, it will probably be bad.

Lin Qingqing didn't know her mother was thinking this way, but when it came to sleeping with Lu Cheng, she certainly wanted to. After all... two people who love each other and have been sleeping in separate rooms for a year, who wouldn't want to sleep together? "We still have to ask Haici's opinion on this matter. This is his room, and we need his consent." Lin Qingqing said democratically.

Lin's mother said, "He will definitely be happy."

In fact, Lu Haici was very happy after hearing his mother's question. Sleeping in the same room with his sister is definitely better than sleeping in the same room with his father.

So at noon, Lin Qingqing turned out all the rags in the house, took them apart, and used a sewing machine to make a curtain.

Lu Cheng felt that happiness came at the right time. He was just about to mention this matter these days, but his mother-in-law and daughter-in-law brought it up. Thinking that he could sleep with his daughter-in-law at night, his heart beat faster, and he even thought about how to sleep at night.

It goes without saying how to sleep at night. Anyway, when Lin's mother gets up to go to the toilet at night, she can still hear the noise across the street.

After the New Year, students will go back to school. Since selling firewood, the children in the family compound go to pick firewood whenever they have time. They even pick firewood on the way home from school, not to mention on weekends.

From picking firewood during the winter vacation to the summer vacation, their wallets have become fatter. When the weather is hot, they can use the money they earn from selling firewood to buy popsicles at the supply and marketing cooperative.

However, this summer vacation, the Lu family was more lively than before because Lin Luming was coming.

It had been too long since they had seen Lin's mother, and Lin's father and Lin Luming finally couldn't stand it anymore. Just looking at the photos sent by their daughter was not enough to soothe their longing.

At the entrance of the county train station, a military car was parked there. Lin's mother was holding Xiaobao in the car, looking outside, and said to Xiaobao: "Little baby, your grandpa and uncle are coming, are you happy?"

"Ah...ah..." Nine-month-old Lu Xiaobao couldn't speak yet. When she heard her grandmother's words, she could only babbled in agreement.

At the train station, Lu Cheng brought Lu Haici to see Lin's father and Lin Luming getting off the train. Lu Haici shouted loudly, "Grandpa...uncle..."

Lu Haici was so happy that his voice was not small. Hearing his voice, Lin's father and Lin Luming looked over here.

"Dad, Lu Ming." Lu Cheng stepped forward and took a large bag of things from Lin's father's shoulders.

Lin's father didn't refuse. These things were really heavy. His mother treated him as a laborer and didn't care at all that her son would be exhausted carrying all these things along the way.

"Brother-in-law, Haici." Lin Luming was also happy to see Lu Haici.

Lu Cheng nodded: "The car is outside, and mother is outside too, let's go inside and talk."

When they got to the car, Lu Cheng put the things in the back, then opened the passenger door and let Lin's father sit inside. It was the first time for Lin's father to ride in this kind of car, and he looked around curiously as soon as he got in the car, not at all shy. The Lin family was once a wealthy family, and Lin's father lived a wealthy life when he was young, so he was not shy. Lin Luming was a little shy, but when he saw his mother inside, he forgot about being shy, and then looked at the child in Lin's mother's arms, and asked curiously: "Mom, is this my niece?"

Lin's mother said: "Of course it's your niece, why are you as dark as a monkey?"

Lu Haici couldn't help laughing when he heard it.

Lin Luming also laughed and said, "Mom, you look better now than before, like an old lady in the county town."

When Lin's father heard what his son said, he looked behind him and then sneered. Not to mention, his son was as dark as a little monkey, and he was as dark as an old monkey. Compared with his wife, he was simply unbearable to look at.

Lin's mother didn't know how worried Lin's father was. She said, "Your sister made the clothes for me and used vanishing cream for me. How could I not look good? Women, no matter how old they are, have to dress up. Your sister said, if a woman doesn't dress up, what kind of woman is she?" If it were in the past, she would not say such a thing. She would rather save the money for her children than spend it. But after living with the concubine for more than a year, even her iron-hard heart was led astray.

But besides knowing how to dress up, Lin's mother also realized the fun in it. Looking at her increasingly younger face, she felt that her daughter was right.

Lin Luming said, "Sister is right." How could her sister be wrong when she is so amazing?

Lin's father felt wronged. The daughter dressed her wife to look younger, but she didn't bother to dress up her father.

Lin Qingqing didn't go to pick up anyone today. She wanted to cook at home. Since her father and brother were coming, of course she had to cook a good meal. She first cooked fish and tofu soup today, then made shredded chicken, followed by scrambled eggs with tomatoes, cold eggplant, and stir-fried winter melon. There were five dishes in total, not many dishes, but the portions were sufficient. Especially the shredded chicken, but she put a whole chicken in it. The hand-shredded chicken also contained cucumber shreds and peanuts. The bowl was too small for her, so she used a vegetable bowl that she usually used to put vegetables in. It was specially made by a carpenter.

After she was ready to wait at the gate of her family's courtyard, she heard Lu Haici's voice: "Mom, we are back."