Chen Lie didn't know whether to praise himself for his foresight or say that he had a bad mouth.
That day, when he got home from get off work, he actually ran into Su Junyan.
The two people have different positions and different working hours. Su Junyan leaves work an hour earlier than Chen Lie, so generally speaking, they would not bump into each other.
But today, as soon as Chen Lie got off work, he saw Su Junyan leaning against the wall of the Su family's courtyard at the doorstep of his home.
Chen Lie muttered in his heart, why does it feel like he is here to block him?
Since we've already bumped into each other, it's not good not to say hello.
Chen Lie coughed, and before he could say anything, Su Junyan came over and said, "Hey, Chen Lie, it's time to get off work."
Chen Lie raised an eyebrow, "Yes, I had a lot of things to do today, so I got off work late."
Su Junyan smiled brightly, "The first-grade final exam results are out recently, aren't they? How many points did your eldest son from the Yang family get?"
Chen Lie thought, wow, Su Junyan is really not vague at all. The topic jumped directly from getting off work to the first-year final exam results. It was obvious that he came here just for this.
Besides, Su Guangzong and Su Yaozu were in the same class as Da Wa. How Da Wa did in the exam, Chen Lie didn't believe Su Junyan's words that he didn't know.
He remembered Ning Tang's words and suddenly smiled, even brighter than Su Junyan's. "You asked Da Wa how much he scored on the final exam? How would I know? I don't care. Ning Tang is in charge of studying. This is their business as women. By the way, how much did you give out in terms of Spring Festival subsidies and wages this time?"
Su Junyan didn't expect that Chen Lie would be better than him at changing the subject, and he asked about the pain in his heart - subsidies and wages!
He has been working as the section chief of the logistics department for many years, and his superiors have no intention of promoting him.
Officers in the logistics department have a fixed amount of salary and allowances they can receive each year.
Unlike Chen Lie, who can go out to sea from time to time, not only does he receive subsidies, but if he makes meritorious service, even if his rank cannot be promoted, his salary and subsidies can still increase.
Thinking of this, Su Junyan felt as if he was holding back a lot of anger, and his face suddenly turned red.
Seeing this, Chen Lie didn't dare to tease him anymore. He took a long step and walked into the yard before saying hello, "Well, I'm leaving first. My wife called me home for dinner."
When I got home, Ning Tang came up to me and asked with a smile, "Did you run into Su Junyan?"
Shen Lie was shocked, "How did you know that? You even learned fortune-telling."
Ning Tang glanced at him sideways, "Stop talking about those monsters and ghosts. I saw you two chatting in the alley on the second floor."
Chen Lie curled his lips and said, "I knew it. Ning Tang hasn't cultivated to that level yet."
He pulled a thick envelope from his pocket. "Here's this month's salary, plus the Spring Festival allowance. Please count it."
Ning Tang took the envelope, opened it, and a stack of blue unity notes fell out. He immediately smiled and said, "Sure, Captain Shen, you can really make money."
It makes me feel particularly happy to receive money without having to go out to work!
She said to the three little ones, "Your dad has received his salary. He will buy you some delicious food for the New Year."
The eldest boy swallowed his water and said, "I want to eat meat."
Ning Tang: "Okay, buy a few pounds of pork belly and let your dad cook it for us."
Erniu raised her hand and said, "I want fish, sweet and sour fish."
She likes to eat fish, especially the sweet and sour ones. Ever since Shen Lie made it last time, she has been thinking about it until now.
"Okay, let's buy them all," Ning Tang replied. "But the market will be closed the day after tomorrow. If we want to eat chicken and fish, we have to buy them in advance and raise them at home. When we want to eat them, we can just slaughter them."
She asked Sanwa, "Sanwa, what do you want to eat?"
Sanwa said loudly, "It's all OK with Sanwa."
Ning Tang was happy and patted the little kid's head. "Third kid is really easy to raise." After that, he shook out the banknotes and said, "Anyway, we have money, we can buy anything."
Chen Lie looked at Ning Tang with amusement and said, "Why do you look at the banknotes as if you were looking at your own mother?"
Ning Tang carefully put the banknotes into the box. "She's my real mother. She's the one who provides me with food and clothing. There's nothing I can do without spending money on. Those who say they don't love money are just two words: hypocrites!"
Chen Lie didn't argue with her. He glanced at the two bulging bags in the corner and asked, "What's in them?" They had been at home for several days.
"Oh, that's the red paper and ink I bought to write couplets." Ning Tang said.
This was the first time that Ning Tang was not celebrating the Spring Festival in Shangang Village and was not with Ning Weiguo and Sun Aiju. He did not want to spend the Spring Festival without the festive atmosphere, so he went to buy some toys for the Spring Festival a few days in advance.
In addition to buying red paper and ink for writing Spring Festival couplets, she also bought red lanterns and firecrackers. She set off firecrackers for the three little ones on New Year's Eve and hung red lanterns under the eaves, creating a festive atmosphere.
On February 15th, Ning Tang slept until he woke up naturally.
After having lunch with my three children, I took them to clean up and welcome the new year.
Ning Tang called the three little ones over and planned to assign tasks to them.
When they heard that they had to work, the three children lost interest.
The Chinese New Year is approaching, and the entire military family compound is decorated with lights and firecrackers, filled with a Chinese New Year atmosphere.
The friends who were familiar with Da Wa and Er Niu had made an appointment with them to play together early on, but if they had to work at home, they could not play with their friends.
So the eldest child said, "Stepmom, let Dad help you. We want to go out and play."
Ning Tang: "Whoever stays to help me with the work will get double the red envelope this year. You guys? Think about it, with the double red envelope, how many more candies and firecrackers you can buy."
Da Wa immediately agreed, "I'll help you with the work."
Erniu and Sanwa looked at each other and gave in to the double red envelopes.
Ning Tang then assigned tasks. "Big One and Second Girl, take rags and dip them in water to wipe every corner and spot on the tables, chairs, windowsills, and other surfaces. Third Girl will be responsible for handing clean rags to her older brothers and sisters so they don't have to run back and forth."
As for herself, she was responsible for sweeping and mopping the floor.
When Chen Lie returned home, he saw Ning Tang leading the three kids working hard, and the two-story building looked brand new.
He naturally took the rag from the eldest child's hand and said, "The windows outside haven't been cleaned yet, right?"
The glass windows were high up and difficult to clean from the outside. He guessed that Ning Tang and the three children hadn't cleaned that area yet.
"Smart." Ning Tang said, "But don't just wipe it with a rag. Go find some old newspapers and wipe it twice with the rag, then wipe it once with the newspaper. That way it'll be clean."
The old newspapers at home were all brought back by Chen Lie from the army. The army subscribed to newspapers every day, and a thick stack had accumulated. Seeing that no one wanted them, Chen Lie took some home, cut out the good reports, and pasted them in his own notebook. The rest were the newspapers used to wipe the glass as Ning Tang said.
Chen Lie went upstairs to get the newspaper. Ning Tang said to Erniu, "If you're going to find a partner in the future, look for a man like your father who has a lively mind. Don't look for someone who just sits back and waits for his wife and children to serve him. If you do that, you'll suffer for the rest of your life."
Erniu nodded, not quite understanding.
Shen Lie came downstairs with the newspaper. He just happened to hear this. His ears turned red and he worked even harder.
In the blink of an eye, it was the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month.
As the Chinese New Year approaches, Chen Lie still has to report to the army and even stay there longer, because when the whole country is reuniting for the Chinese New Year, there are still a large number of soldiers who cannot go home and are stationed at the border.
To this end, the troops held activities such as making dumplings, writing blessing characters, and celebrations. As the head of the regiment, Chen Lie certainly could not be absent.
At four o'clock in the afternoon, Chen Lie returned home. As soon as he entered the door, he saw Ning Tang leading three children to write couplets.
On the table in the living room lay a stack of red paper, ink, and a large bowl of paste.
Ning Tang leaned over the table, holding the brush in his right hand, dipping it in ink, and was about to write the couplet in one go.
But he was interrupted by Chen Lie, "Writing couplets."
"Yes." Ning Tang responded, "Write it now and paste it on the door later."
The eldest child rolled his eyes and yelled, "Stepmother, let me write, let me write."
Ning Tang was amused and pinched his little face, "Can you write? You know a few words."
Chen Lie complained, "You got 60 points in Chinese? How dare you write a couplet?"
Big Boy puffed up his cheeks and put his hands on his hips and said, "Don't look down on me, I can't write, but I can trace it. You guys write one first and I'll just trace it." He said in a dishonest way, "I don't care, I want to write, I want to write."
Chen Lie held his forehead with his hand. "Okay, okay, I'll draw one for you and you can copy it."
Only then did Da Wa stop making trouble.
Ning Tang gave way and let Chen Lie write.
Chen Lie took off his navy blue coat, threw it on the stool, rolled up his sleeves, and made a full gesture. "Let me think about what kind of couplet to write."
Ning Tang took an orange from the basket and peeled it while mumbling, "The first line: Unearned gain, yet enjoying the fruits of others' labor. The second line: Unearned reward, yet ascending to heaven in a single step. The horizontal line: Open your mouth and have food served."
Chen Lie glared and said, "This is nonsense. If you really write it like this and post this couplet, how can we both survive in the military dependents' compound?"
"You guys just take face too seriously. Writing couplets is fun, and it makes you happy. Hanging them outside is also a comfort to look at," Ning Tang said. "If you don't believe me, try writing an old-fashioned couplet. After two or three months, you'll see if you still remember it. But if you write the kind of couplet I just mentioned, full of beautiful aspirations, you'll have to look at it every day after get off work, even on the doorstep."
Chen Lie complained, "I'm not as open-minded as you think. I still have to write what you call the 'old-fashioned' couplet. Otherwise, what's the point of hanging it on the doorstep? Let me think about what to write."
He slapped his head and said, "That's right, I'll write, 'Every day brings wealth and good fortune, every year brings blessings and luck with spring,' and the horizontal scroll, 'Everything goes well,' what do you say?"
Ning Tang took a bite of the cool, sweet orange slices. "Not very good. Think about it yourself. Your couplet, 'Day by day, money flows smoothly; year by year, blessings and luck arrive with spring; everything goes well', is the same as mine, 'Unearned gain and unearned gains; unmerited rewards and instant success; food comes to you at your mouth'? Are they the same? In fact, common couplets all have similar meanings; mine is just more direct."
Chen Lie was stunned. After thinking about it carefully, it was true.
What is the difference between the so-called daily wealth and overnight success without any merit?
"I hate those face-saving efforts the most. Who knows, the God of Wealth might fall for our tricks. I think our couplets are straightforward, unlike other families' which are roundabout and direct." Ning Tang continued with her 'wrong logic'.
"Okay." Chen Lie compromised. "Then let's paint two. A serious one to hang outside, and a casual one to hang inside the house so we can enjoy them ourselves."
Big Baby was speechless, "You two? Have you discussed what to write?"
"Write them all, write them all." Chen Lie said, picked up the brush, and wrote two couplets in a smooth and flowing manner. He handed the couplets to Da Wa, "Here, copy them."
Big Boy was immediately overjoyed. He took the couplet and began to trace it stroke by stroke on the table.
Ning Tang asked Erniu and Sanwa, "You two? Do you want to write?"
The two little kids shook their heads.
"Then you two come with me in the living room to roll out the dumpling wrappers and get ready. We'll make dumplings tomorrow." Ning Tang said.
When Erniu heard that there were dumplings to eat, she immediately became greedy and couldn't help asking, "Stepmother, are the dumplings delicious?"
Ning Tang was stunned when he heard this. Could it be that the three children had never eaten dumplings?
She questioned Chen Lie with her eyes, and Chen Lie coughed. "In recent years, the South China Sea has been unstable. I've basically spent the New Year in the military camp. Their mother doesn't like to go into the kitchen because it's dirty. Besides, she's in poor health, so no one dares to ask her to do anything elaborate."
Why would you need to spend so much time making dumplings? Ning Tang felt that making dumplings was one of the simplest ways to cook.
Prepare the filling, stuff it into the rolled dumpling skin, pinch a few folds, and then cook it in a pot. It's very convenient.
Da Wa's biological mother probably thought that since the man was not at home, she and her three children could just fool around during the New Year.
These thoughts flashed through Ningtang's mind, and he told Erniu and Sanwa, "Dumplings are delicious. This year, for Chinese New Year, let's make dumplings with three different fillings: chives and eggs, shrimp and scallops, and corn, mushrooms, and pork. Okay?"
'Chives and Eggs', 'Shrimp and Dried Scallops', 'Corn, Mushroom and Pork', just hearing them makes you drool.
Erniu immediately said, "Okay, stepmother, I'll help you."
Sanwa raised his hand and said in a baby voice, "Sanwa wants to help too."
Ning Tang was happy: "Okay, come on."
Shen Lie saw Ning Tang leading two children in making dumplings and thought, maybe he doesn't need to do any effort. He touched his nose, put oil on his feet, and wanted to rush upstairs.
Ning Tang continued to move and said coldly, "Captain Shen? Where are you going?"
Chen Lie blinked and said calmly, "I'll go upstairs to change clothes."
Ning Tang: "Come down after you change your clothes, wash your hands and come over to make dumplings. How much effort can two little ones put in? You are the main force."
Chen Lie changed his clothes and went downstairs to the kitchen to wash his hands. He brought out flour, a rolling pin, and a cutting board, and sighed, "I really owe you in my past life. It's New Year's Day, and you can't let me rest for a few days. I just came back from the army to help you make dumplings after the celebration. I'm exhausted."
Ning Tang took the flour, poured it into the bowl, added water and kneaded it, "It's okay to be tired. Comfort is for the dead. You're dead. Once you close your eyes, you can rest as long as you want."
Chen Lie soaked the dried scallops and muttered, "Can't you just hope for me to order something good?"
The eldest child finished tracing the couplet, grabbed a piece of red paper with one hand, unfolded it, and looked at it with great satisfaction, "Dad, stepmother, second daughter, third child, come and see how my couplet turned out."
Chen Lie stood up and walked to the table. "Okay, I'll read your masterpiece, Shen Dawa."
As soon as he saw the couplet written by Da Wa, Chen Lie was immediately happy, "This couplet is written for you."
The black words on the red paper are crooked and twisted.
Not to mention anything else, just look at the word "lai" in "May wealth and prosperity come to you every day." The stroke of the word is almost written outside the red paper.
Looking at the eldest child again, his hands and face were covered with ink, just like a little cat.
However, considering the eldest child's first-grade writing level, these two couplets are already an extraordinary performance.
The eldest child puffed up his cheeks and said, "My writing is really good, okay? I'll put it on the door later."
Chen Lie: "Go away, your handwriting is too thin. You don't even think it's dirty to post it outside the door. How about this, you can write it next year during the Qingming Festival."
Da Wa looked at Ning Tang and howled, "Stepmother, Dad...? He bullied me."
Ning Tang came out of the kitchen, his hands covered in white flour. "What happened?"
The eldest child complained, "Dad said my handwriting is ugly and this couplet cannot be posted on the door. He made me write a handwritten newspaper for next Qingming Festival."
Ning Tang burst out laughing, then sternly reprimanded Shen Lie, "Why are you teasing the child for no reason? If he cries later, will you comfort him?"
"Besides, Chinese New Year is coming soon, what's the point of talking about Qingming Festival or not?" Ning Tang said, "It's not auspicious at all."
Chen Lie was secretly complaining in his heart, and she was still teaching him a lesson? She herself was not a person who followed the rules and was afraid of these monsters.
Ning Tang patted the eldest child and said, "Be good, your dad doesn't appreciate it. Let's put this couplet you wrote on your door so you can see it every day when you return to your room, okay?"
The eldest child was about to nod in agreement when he suddenly realized, "Why put it on my door instead of outside the yard?" He said loudly, "Okay, stepmother, you also think my couplet is ugly. Are you and I on the same side?"
Ning Tang looked up at the ceiling and said, "Oh, Erniu and Sanwa are calling me. I'll go back to the kitchen first."
The eldest child was relentless, "Stepmother, please don't leave. Please give me some justice."
Chen Lie picked up the eldest child with one hand and said, "What are you yelling about? If someone doesn't know, they'd think we're beating the kids during Chinese New Year. Come on, I'll take you to put up the couplets."
Ning Tang only took Erniu and Sanwa to roll out the dumpling skins, and the fillings would be prepared tomorrow.
Because Hailang Island is not like Shangang Village. In Shangang Village, after making dumplings, you roll them up with a curtain and put them on the windowsill to freeze overnight. They can be eaten the next day after they thaw. The weather on Hailang Island is hot, and it is not as cold as Shangang Village in winter. If the dumplings are not made in advance, they will not be fresh the next day.
After putting the dumpling wrappers in the chest of drawers, Ning Tang took Erniu and Sanwa to the yard to watch Chen Lie and Dawa put up couplets.
Chen Lie stood on a stool and pasted the pasted couplets on the door.
Big Baby stood by and directed, "A little to the left, a little more to the left, no, right, right! Oops, I said right!"
Shen Lie was so angry that he jumped off the stool and said, "You just give blind orders. Why don't you come here?"
Da Wa wanted to say, "Let him come if he wants to," but he tactfully said, "Come on, come on. I won't say anything more."
Chen Lie snorted and pasted the couplet "May wealth come to you every day, may blessings and luck come with spring every year, and may everything go well" on the door. He patted it with his palm to make it stick tightly.
He jumped off the stool, looked at the festive red couplets at the door, and nodded with satisfaction.
Ning Tang came over and asked, "Is it done?"
Chen Lie: "Okay, take a look at how it's done."
Ning Tang said, "It's a good sticker. It would be even better if it was my 'Unearned Gain and Enjoy the Fruits' sticker."
Chen Lie glanced at her sideways, "You guys? Have you finished making the dumplings?"
"Just roll out the dough and prepare the filling tomorrow. We'll make them now." Ning Tang said.
Chen Lie nodded, looked at the red couplets, then looked at Ning Tang and the three little kids' bright smiling faces, and for the first time he felt the atmosphere of the New Year.
The eldest child yelled, "Dad, the door is done, it's time to put up the couplets in my room."
Chen Lie was happy, "Okay, okay, I'll put it on yours."
The family of five returned to the house and went upstairs. The eldest son personally pasted the ugly couplet he had written on the door of his room.
After posting it, Chen Lie laughed, "How rude."
The eldest child didn't think the couplets he wrote were tacky. "Humph, not tacky at all. I'll write them every year and change the couplets on the door every year."
Sanwa clapped his little hands and said, "Sanwa wants to write couplets too."
The eldest child said, "When you grow up and can read like me, we can each write a couplet and put it on our door."
Chen Lie, "Write everything. I'll buy you some red paper and ink."
Ning Tang glanced down and happened to see the envy that flashed across Erniu's eyes. "Erniu, do you also want to write a couplet and put it on your door?"
The three children live in two separate rooms. It can't be that only the eldest and third child's rooms have it, while the second daughter's room doesn't. Their family doesn't make such distinctions.
Erniu nodded and shook her head. She wanted to write, but she was illiterate and couldn't trace like Da Wa.
Ning Tang paused, and asked Chen Lie to bring the red paper and ink from the table in the living room. He used scissors to cut the red paper into a square, and then took Erniu's hand and wrote a word "Fu" together.
Erniu looked at the word "Fu" and couldn't believe that it was written by her. "Did I write this?"
Chen Lie, "Yes, it was written by our Erniu. Erniu, you can post it wherever you want."
Erniu tilted her head and thought for a while, then pointed to the door and said, "Just stick it there." She could see it as soon as she stood at the door.
Chen Lie taught her how to paste the paste step by step, then picked her up and let her paste the word "Fu" by herself.
Erniu pasted the word "Fu" and got off Chen Lie. She took a few steps back and looked at the word "Fu" on the door. The joy in her heart was like bubbles in soda, popping up one after another.
Seeing Erniu so excited, Chen Lie felt a little guilty. It is said that the second child in the family has to bear the brunt of the pressure, and either the older one or the younger one will take care of it. He really had neglected her too much in the past.
The next day was New Year’s Eve.
When Ning Tang and Shen Lie opened their eyes, they saw three children standing in front of their beds in new clothes. They spread their hands, revealing their palms, and smiled brightly. "Dad, stepmom, Happy New Year! Give me the red envelopes."
Chen Lie was delighted. He reached under his pillow and pulled out three red envelopes. "I've prepared them a long time ago. Here they are for you. This is your New Year's money."
The three children took it, opened it and saw that each of them contained one dollar in the red envelope.
The supply and marketing cooperative on the island sells small firecrackers for one cent each, and candies for one cent a bag. This one dollar is enough to buy ten small firecrackers or ten bags of candies!
The three little kids immediately burst into laughter.
Chen Lie looked at Le He and took out a wad of loose banknotes, "If you say a few more nice words, there will be lucky money."
The eldest child's eyes lit up, "I'll go first. I wish my father and stepmother good health."
Chen Lie nodded and gave him another fifty cents.
It was Erniu's turn. After a moment's thought, she said, "I wish my father and stepmother good fortune."
"Yeah." Shen Lie nodded again and gave her fifty cents.
It was the turn of the youngest, Sanwa. He scratched his head, racking his brains but unable to come up with a good blessing. He could only copy his older sister's and said, "I, I also wish my dad and stepmom good fortune."
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