Chapter 636 Visit
As the sun on the second day of the New Year climbed over the eastern hills, a cloud of dust rose on the dirt road in Zhoujiazhuang.
Zhang Jianshe was walking in the front on a 28-inch bicycle with a bulging blue cloth bag tied to the back seat. His wife was holding Zhang Yan's hand, and Zhang Lu was jumping and following beside them, holding a string of red firecrackers.
Under the crooked tree at the entrance to the village, Captain Wang of the Public Security Squad was on patrol with two other members. Seeing the group, he approached them from a distance with a smile, "Brother Jianshe! Are you here with your whole family to celebrate the New Year?"
Zhang Jianshe braked the car and put his foot on the ground: "That's right, I want to wish Grandpa and Grandma Yimin a happy new year."
"Please come in, please come in!" The captain moved to the side.
Zhang Jianshe and his family walked along the main road of the village. The houses on the roadside all had their doors open and greeted them warmly when they saw them.
This was not the first time that Zhang Jianshe and his family came here, so they were familiar with the villagers.
When we walked under the old locust tree under Zhou Yimin's house, the gate was open.
The old man was squatting on the threshold filling his pipe. When he saw them, the pipe in his hand dropped to the ground with a clang. He quickly stood up and shouted into the yard, "Old woman! Come out quickly! Yan and the others are here!"
Grandma Zhou Yimin ran out of the house, still clutching a tablecloth in her hand. When she saw Zhang Yan, she came up to her and said, "Little Yan, I've been waiting for you to come!"
She took Zhang Yan's hand and looked her up and down. "You've grown taller. This cotton-padded jacket is really nice. Why didn't you tell me you were coming? I could have picked you up at the village entrance."
Zhang Yan looked around the yard, but didn't see the familiar figure. A trace of loss flashed in his eyes.
Zhang Jianshe took the cloth bag off the back of his bicycle and said with a smile, "Grandpa, I wanted to give you a surprise. I came here to wish you and grandma a happy new year."
Aunt Zhang also said: "Yes, uncle, aunt, we brought some things, not worth much, but it's a token of our appreciation."
As he spoke, he opened the blue cloth bag, revealing two bottles of Hengshui Laobai Gan, a bag of caozigao, and six apples in a net bag, which were bright red and particularly pleasing to the eye.
Zhang Lu took the oil-paper package from his father and held it in front of the old man: "Grandpa, this is the sugar-coated fire cake my mother made. It's for you to eat."
The old man smiled until his eyes narrowed into slits. He took the things and led them inside: "Come in and sit down. It's cold outside. Yimin, that kid..."
Before he could finish his words, he heard a "bang" from the east wing, as if someone had rolled off the bed.
Grandma slapped her thigh and laughed, "That lazy boy must have woken up! He stayed up until late last night to celebrate the New Year's Eve, and he hasn't gotten up yet. Don't be offended, little Yan, I'll go call him right away!"
Zhang Yan quickly waved her hand: "Grandma, please don't be busy. Let him sleep a little longer."
Although he said this, his eyes involuntarily glanced at the door of the wing room, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.
Zhang Jianshe put the things he brought on the kang table and chatted with the old man about the latest news in the city.
The sunlight shines through the window lattices, casting grid-shaped spots of light on the ground. Mixed with the smell of firecracker debris lingering under the eaves, the whole house is filled with the lively atmosphere of the New Year.
Zhang Jianshe put the things he brought on the kang table and chatted with the old man about the latest news in the city.
The sunlight shines through the window lattices, casting grid-shaped spots of light on the ground. Mixed with the smell of firecracker debris lingering under the eaves, the whole house is filled with the lively atmosphere of the New Year.
Grandma took Zhang Yan's hand and walked towards the east wing: "Yan girl, your brother Yimin's room is warm, go sit there. I'll go boil some water and make tea for you when he wakes up."
Zhang Yan's heart was pounding and her feet felt like they were stepping on cotton as she followed her grandmother to the door of the wing room.
The door was not closed tightly, leaving a gap. She pushed it open and a faint smell of soapberry hit her face.
Zhou Yimin was sleeping soundly on the kang, his face buried in the pillow, his eyelashes casting a faint shadow under his eyelids, and the corners of his mouth were slightly raised, as if he had had a good dream.
Grandma tiptoed out, closing the door behind her. The room instantly fell silent, with only the sound of Zhou Yimin's even breathing.
Zhang Yan walked to the kang and looked at him sleeping soundly, her cheeks slightly getting hot.
The last time I saw Zhou Yimin was a few days ago. His face is now fairer and smoother, with a light stubble on his chin. He looks a little tougher than before.
She hesitated for a moment, then sat down gently on the edge of the kang. The slight sound of the fabric rubbing against each other did not alarm him.
The sunlight from outside the window shone in obliquely and fell on his forehead. Zhang Yan stretched out her hand as if possessed, and just as her fingertips touched his cheek, she shrank back as if burned.
His skin was a little cold, with the chill of the early morning. She couldn't help but stroke it gently again, her fingertips rubbing across his brow bone, and she felt like there was a little rabbit in her heart.
At this moment, Zhou Yimin's eyelashes trembled.
Zhang Yan was so scared that she pulled her hand back suddenly, clutching the corner of her clothes and shrinking back. Her heart almost jumped into her throat, and she looked like a thief who had been caught.
Zhou Yimin hummed and opened his eyes drowsily.
At first, his eyes were still a little confused. When he saw clearly that the person in front of him was Zhang Yan, he sat up suddenly, and the quilt slid off his body, revealing the close-fitting jacket underneath: "Yanzi? Why are you here?"
Zhang Yan's face flushed red, and her ears burned like they could fry eggs. She stammered, "I... I came here with my parents to pay New Year's greetings. Grandma asked me to come in and wait for you..."
Zhou Yimin finally woke up completely. He scratched his messy hair and slapped his forehead in frustration: "Oh no! How could I oversleep!"
He threw off the quilt and was about to get out of bed, but just as his feet touched the ground, he remembered something and turned back to shrink back into the kang. "You...you go out for a moment. Let me put on some clothes."
Zhang Yan said "Oh" and didn't dare to raise her head. She turned and walked towards the door. When she reached the door, she stopped again and whispered to him with her back to him, "I'll wait for you in the main hall."
After saying that, he opened the door and ran out like a frightened deer.
Zhou Yimin looked at her back and smiled, then touched his face with his hand, as if the warmth of her fingertips was still there.
He quickly put on his cotton jacket, buttoned it up hastily, and rushed out - his future father-in-law and mother-in-law were both in the main room, and he looked so sleepy, which was really inappropriate.
As soon as he ran to the door of the main hall, he heard Zhang Jianshe's laughter: "This kid finally woke up!"
Zhou Yimin scratched his head and blushed as he shouted, "Uncle, Aunt, Happy New Year!"
But his eyes involuntarily glanced at Zhang Yan who was sitting on the edge of the kang. She was twisting the corner of her clothes with her head down, and the tips of her ears were bright red.
"It's good that you're awake. Come and sit down." Zhang Jianshe patted the empty seat next to him with a smile on his face.
Zhou Yimin had just sat down when he suddenly remembered something and stood up and said, "Uncle, aunt, please wait a moment."
As he said that, he turned around and walked quickly into the inner room. Soon he came out carrying a bamboo basket.
The basket was covered with a clean white cloth and filled with a lot of fruits.
The bright red apples are like little lanterns, with smooth and translucent skin; there is also a small bowl of strawberries, which are purple-red with some crystal water droplets on them, and they look fresh.
There are also a few bright yellow oranges next to it, emitting a faint fragrance.
"Try it yourself."
Zhou Yimin put the bamboo basket on the table, picked up an apple, wiped it with a cloth, and handed it to Zhang Jianshe, "Uncle, have an apple."
He picked up another one and handed it to Zhang Yan's mother, "Aunt, you try it too."
Zhang Lu had been sitting obediently next to her mother, but when she saw the fruits on the table, especially the bowl of strawberries, her eyes suddenly lit up, her little body twisted and turned on the chair, and her little hands couldn't help reaching for the bamboo basket.
"Xiaolu, eat later. Let your brother Yimin wash it." Zhang Yan's mother said softly.
"It's okay, Auntie. I just washed these strawberries this morning."
Zhou Yimin smiled and picked up a strawberry and handed it to Zhang Lu, "Come on, Xiaolu, try this, it's so sweet."
Zhang Lu's eyes narrowed into slits as she smiled. She took the strawberry and stuffed it into her mouth. The juice flowed down the corner of her mouth as she sipped it. She mumbled, "So sweet! So delicious!"
After saying that, he reached out again, grabbed two with each hand, and started eating them with both hands. There were some strawberry seeds on his little face, and he looked like a greedy little cat.
Zhang Jianshe looked at his little daughter, smiled and shook his head: "Eat slowly, kid, no one is going to snatch it from you."
Zhang Yan also picked up a strawberry and took a light bite. The sweet and slightly sour taste spread on the tip of her tongue. She glanced at Zhou Yimin with a smile in her eyes.
Zhou Yimin met her gaze, his heart sweet as if he had eaten honey, and he also picked up an apple and started to eat it.
The old man looked at the lively scene, puffing on his pipe, and the wrinkles on his face smoothed out. The house was filled with laughter and the atmosphere of the New Year became stronger.
As expected, it was still lively with many people, unlike previous years when there were only three people. It can’t be said to be deserted, but it was not very popular.
Seeing that the atmosphere was just right, Zhang Jianshe cleared his throat, put down the apple in his hand, and looked at the old man: "Old man, I came here this time not only to wish you a happy new year, but also to discuss something with you."
The old man paused in his pipe, tapping the bowl against the edge of the kang. A flash of understanding flashed in his eyes, and he immediately perked up and sat up straight. "Jianshe, tell me! I think it's time to bring this up."
Zhang Jianshe smiled, glanced at Zhang Yan beside him, then looked at Zhou Yimin, and slowly said, "I've talked to Yimin before about their marriage. Yan and Yimin have been together for some time and are quite satisfied with each other. I wonder if you have any opinions, old man?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the room fell silent instantly.
Zhang Lu was still concentrating on eating strawberries and didn't notice the change in the atmosphere.
Zhang Yan's face suddenly turned red, she lowered her head, her fingers tightly clenched the corner of her clothes, and the tips of her ears were so red that they seemed to be dripping with blood.
Zhou Yimin was also a little embarrassed. He scratched his head and his eyes unconsciously drifted towards Zhang Yan.
When Zhou Yimin's grandmother heard that this was about her grandson's lifelong event, she immediately put down her needlework, leaned forward, and smiled brightly: "Jianshe, we've been looking forward to this for a long time! My husband and I agree that the sooner the better!"
As she spoke, she took Zhang Yan's hand and patted it. "It's a blessing for Yimin to have such a good girl like Yan marry into our family. Look at those children in the village who are younger than Yimin. Their children are already helping out. How can we not be anxious?"
The old man nodded heavily and took over the conversation: "Your grandmother is right! However, we need to think about the date. Yimin's birthday is at the end of August. According to the old saying, he has to wait until his birthday to be considered a year older. It would be more appropriate to hold the wedding at this time."
He looked at Zhang Jianshe with sincere eyes, "I know you hope that the children will get married soon, and so do we, but we still have to follow this old custom. It can also be regarded as a good start for the children."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yimin's grandmother nodded quickly. "Right, right, I forgot about that! After Yimin's birthday, he'll be twenty. It's time for him to get married and start a family. So after his birthday, we can just pick a good date in August."
Zhang Yan's mother smiled and said, "We don't have any objections. As long as the children are willing, it's fine. You can decide the date. It won't be too late in the next few months. It will be safer to wait until Yimin's birthday is over. We'll listen to you."
Seeing the two elders' thorough consideration, Zhang Jianshe felt relieved and laughed heartily. "Grandpa, you're right! Let's do it according to the old principles! Let's wait until Yimin's birthday and pick a good date in August. I'll go back and discuss it with my family and finalize it."
Zhou Yimin glanced secretly at Zhang Yan and found that she was also secretly looking at him. Their eyes met, and then they quickly looked away, both with sweet smiles on their faces.
The atmosphere in the room was even more lively than before, filled with a festive atmosphere, as if the excitement of the wedding had already been felt in advance.
The marriage was settled, and the stone that had been weighing on everyone's heart fell to the ground. Looking at the fruit on the table again, they felt that it was even sweeter than before.
The sunlight shines through the window paper onto the strawberries, and the dense layer of hairs glows with a gentle light. The blush on the apple skin seems to be stained with joy, and even the orange segments are an exceptionally bright orange.
Zhang Lu had been distracted by the adults' conversation and had finished the strawberry in her hand long ago. She grabbed another one and put it in her mouth. Juice dripped down the corner of her mouth. She smacked her lips and said, "Brother-in-law, this strawberry is sweeter than before!"
Zhou Yimin smiled and handed her an orange: "Eat slowly, no one will snatch it from you."
He turned around and picked up another strawberry, handed it to Zhang Yan, and said, "Try it too."
Zhang Yan took it with a red face. When her fingertips touched his hand, she shrank back as if she had been electrocuted. She took a light bite. The sweetness of the strawberry mixed with the sweetness in her heart, from the tip of her tongue to her heart, and even the sour taste became particularly refreshing.
The old man looked at the scene, picked up an apple, wiped it with a cloth, and pushed it towards Zhang Yan: "Yan girl, eat more. You look a lot thinner. Didn't you eat well in the city?"
He passed some fruit to Zhang Jianshe and his wife, "Jianshe, you guys should eat more too. These are specially bought by Yimin. You can't eat them normally."
"Thank you, uncle." Zhang Yan responded softly, picked up another apple, wiped it with a handkerchief, and nibbled it in small bites.
The crisp sweetness of the apple spreads in the mouth, with a fresh fruity aroma, which is more delicious than usual.
Zhang Jianshe bit into the orange, the sweet and sour juice of the orange segments splashing on his tongue. He smiled and said, "Grandpa, you really do love your children. Little Yan is just too thoughtful, always thinking about saving money. I'll have to talk to her later. She should eat what she needs to eat."
Zhou Yimin's grandmother also said: "That's right, girls need to eat more good food to stay plump and white. After the New Year, I will ask Yimin to bring you some more fruits. You need to nourish yourself well."
Zhang Yan's mother looked at her daughter's rosy face and felt very happy. She picked up a strawberry and stuffed it into her hand: "Eat it quickly. Don't let your uncle and aunt down."
Zhang Yan picked up the strawberry and started eating it.
(End of this chapter)
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