Chapter 21 I want to spend the New Year with my mother
Uncle Shu was carrying a flatbed cart full of things.
The two sacks of sawdust were from the lumber mill where Uncle Shu worked, where he made furniture. Such sawdust was the best for starting a fire.
There was also a scrap of wood from the edge of a burlap sack, which couldn't be used to make anything, but it was excellent for starting a fire.
In this day and age, no matter which factory it is, it can always provide some convenience for life somewhere.
Just like Yao Shula's family, the sawdust and wood used to heat the large pot in the kitchen were all brought over by Uncle Shu.
Yao Shuxin had previously said that her uncle would send these things over, and it turned out she wasn't just saying it casually.
Besides the kitchen supplies, Uncle Shu also unloaded a bamboo basket from the flatbed cart.
"Your family didn't have any pickled radishes or dried green beans this winter."
Your aunt prepared some things for you, so I brought them over.
In addition, there were five large cabbages, a bundle of vermicelli, and a small bucket of soybean oil.
During the Lunar New Year, families should make some steamed buns, perhaps with dried green beans or cabbage.
If you don't want to wrap them, that's fine too. We'll bring you some once we've finished wrapping them.
There are also three pounds of meat. Do you want to fry meat chunks or make something else?
Oh, and this too, your aunt specifically asked me to bring it to you.
Red dates and longans are hard to find. Your aunt queued for a long time at the dried goods counter of the department store before she could buy them.
She said you two sisters should eat more of this now.
You can cook it into porridge, soak it in water, or eat it dry.
Uncle Shu showed Yao Shula the contents of the basket one by one.
After looking at the items, Uncle Shu took out an envelope from the inner pocket of his clothes.
"Here is thirty-five yuan, and my family has prepared fifteen yuan for you."
Your other two uncles each gave you ten yuan.
Although the machinery factory provided subsidies and deducted living expenses from Yao Guohua's salary, you will still need to spend money no matter what you do in the future.
It's the end of the year again, and everyone's busy preparing for the New Year!
"Take this, buy whatever you like."
As he spoke, Uncle Shu stuffed the envelope into Yao Shula's hand.
"Uncle, we have money..."
"You don't have any money! Every place in the family costs money, and what about Shuxin and Shuli? Don't they need money to go to school?"
Use that little money sparingly, and tell your uncle if you encounter any difficulties.
Your uncle will figure something out for you!
Also, on the night of the 29th, he brought Shuxin and Shuli to our house.
"Your aunt specifically told me that you must come to our place for the New Year." Uncle Shu said as he carried the things into the kitchen.
Yao Shula quickly pulled Yao Shuli over to help.
“Uncle, we’re celebrating the New Year at home this year,” Yao Shula said hurriedly.
"Nonsense, you three siblings don't live with us, you live on your own."
"This place is deserted..."
Uncle Shu suddenly stopped talking.
He saw the cabbages piled up in the corner of the kitchen wall, and the radishes in the basket.
In addition, there was a basket of meat on the dining table in the kitchen, all of it good meat...
“Uncle, we just bought it this morning. We can manage to celebrate the New Year on our own!” Yao Shula said earnestly.
Uncle Shu still wanted to persuade him...
"Uncle, this is my mother's house. She has lived here for so many years, she must be here too!"
During the Lunar New Year, we want to spend the holiday with my mother.
"On the second day of the Lunar New Year, I will definitely take Shuxin and Shuli to my uncle's house to wish my uncle and aunt a Happy New Year," Yao Shula said earnestly again.
After a long while, Uncle Shu finally nodded.
"Okay! Your uncle will be waiting for you to come back and visit on the second day of the Lunar New Year!"
Since you're all ready, and you're an adult now, then this year... the three of you siblings will spend the New Year together.
"Be sure to tell your uncle if you need anything!" Uncle Shu finally agreed.
After moving everything to the kitchen, Yao Shula then pulled Uncle Shu to the main room.
Looking at Schumann's photo on the long table in the main room, Uncle Schumann remained silent for a long while before speaking.
"Schumann, Shura has grown up and is now able to manage the household very well. You can rest assured."
Neither Yao Shula nor Yao Shuli spoke.
However, Yao Shuli's eyes immediately turned red.
After taking two sips of the tea that Yao Shu had poured, Uncle Shu got up and left.
He only asked Yao Shula to follow him when he was about to leave.
"The tea shop has freshly baked ring-shaped pastries and twisted dough sticks today. Your aunt knows someone at the shop."
When I passed by, that person was out running errands and hadn't returned yet.
You should be back now. Come with me.
I ordered one pound of ring-shaped pastries and one pound of twisted dough sticks for you.
It's inconvenient for me to push the flatbed cart; you can come with me to get it back.
Yao Shula immediately instructed Yao Shuli to guard the door, and then she went out with her uncle Shu.
...
After waiting for almost fifteen minutes, Yao Shula finally received two packets of tea snacks wrapped in oil paper.
The aroma of oil and a sweet fragrance could be smelled even through the oil paper, making Yao Shula feel very happy.
The streets were bustling with activity, and everyone had smiles on their faces.
I'm happy to have bought the New Year's goods I wanted, happy that I can add another dish to this year's New Year's Eve dinner, and happy for... the coming year.
Yao Shula also had a smile on her face.
This is what Chinese New Year should be like! This is the true spirit of the New Year! This is what it should be like...
Yao Shula, who had already reached her doorstep, looked at everything in front of her in disbelief.
The front door was tightly shut, and a crowd had gathered to watch the spectacle.
Yao Shula's legs felt a little weak.
Could something have happened at home while I was just going out to get two packets of tea snacks?
Yao Shuli is home alone!
Thinking of this, Yao Shula quickly pushed through the crowd of onlookers and squeezed towards her doorstep.
It wasn't until she squeezed right up to the front that Yao Shula saw what was happening in front of her.
Yao Guohua stood at the entrance of the Yao family home with a gloomy face.
Meanwhile, Yao Shuli sat on the wall, watching Yao Guohua, who was locked out of the door.
Another child was perched on the wall.
That child was the same little Tiantian who had come a couple of days ago and insisted on holding the photo frame.
"You clap once, I clap once." Yao Shuli, perched on the wall, swung her legs and tilted her head back while loudly singing a self-composed children's song.
"We're having old hen today!" Little Tiantian chimed in promptly.
“You clap twice, I clap twice!” Yao Shuli continued.
"There's a toad standing outside the door!" Little Tiantian chimed in enthusiastically.
"You clap three times, I clap three times!"
"Oh, Big Sister is back!" Little Tiantian, who wasn't looking up at the sky, was the first to see Yao Shula.
When Yao Shuli saw Yao Shula return, his face was full of joy.
"Sister, this guy is coming back to steal our things!" Yao Shuli shouted, pointing at Yao Guohua.
"I'm here to get my things..."
"Yao Guohua, do you still want to bring back other women to take my mother's house? Do you have any shame?" Yao Shula immediately seized the moral high ground.
Yao Guohua...
"What's wrong with me coming back to get my own things?"
"How did you end up leaving your things at someone else's house?"
"Is this because you see we finally managed to buy some New Year's goods, and then you're thinking of taking them all away to give to other women, and then helping them raise their children?" Yao Shula continued.
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