On the morning of the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhang Hulan called Zhang Hujun to go to the county town to buy some mutton, chicken, fish, and some good wine.
All the things we bought were placed in the Zhang family’s old house, and the reunion dinner had to be eaten there.
On New Year's Eve, Zhang Xinyue stuck her head out of the quilt in the morning, blinked her big eyes and said, "Mom, can I wear new clothes today?"
Zhang Hulan smiled and asked, "People only wear new clothes on New Year's Day. Why do you want to wear them today?"
Zhang Xinyue nodded, "Yeah, I want to wear it today."
"Since Yueyue wants to wear it today, then wear it today."
Zhang Hulan got up from the bed and tucked the quilt into Zhang Xinyue's arms. "Wait in bed. I'll go boil some hot water for you to wash your face, and then get you some new clothes."
"Uh-huh!"
Zhang Hulan put on her clothes and went to make a fire to boil some water.
Shanzi got up as soon as Zhang Hulan arrived in the kitchen.
"Auntie Lan, I'll light the fire."
"Okay, you come and make the fire." Zhang Hulan scooped water into the pot and asked Shanzi to make the fire.
Zhang Xinyao and Zhang Xinyi got up soon after. Seeing Zhang Hulan and Shanzi boiling water, Zhang Xinyao went to help Zhang Xinyue put on clothes.
Zhang Xinyue hid in the quilt and refused to come out, "I want my mother to put it on for me."
Zhang Xinyao slapped Zhang Xinyue's butt across the quilt, "You are the one who is always bothering me!"
Zhang Xinyue arched her body into the quilt, tucked her head into the quilt, and her voice came out from under the quilt, "I want my mother to put it on for me..."
Zhang Xinyao slapped her twice through the quilt, then pulled Zhang Xinyi to the kitchen.
"Mom, let me help Yueyue put on her clothes. She doesn't want me to put them on for her."
Zhang Hulan smiled and said, "This girl is becoming more and more spoiled now."
Zhang Hulan clapped her hands, asked Zhang Xinyao to boil water, and then went to help Zhang Xinyue dress.
"Yueyue, get up and get dressed."
Zhang Hulan shouted and Zhang Xinyue immediately crawled out of the bed.
Zhang Hulan sat on the edge of the bed. Zhang Xinyao hugged Zhang Hulan's neck and put her head on Zhang Hulan's shoulder and acted coquettishly, "Mom, I want you to dress me every day!"
Zhang Hulan asked with a smile: "Do you still need your mother to dress you even after you get married?"
Zhang Xinyue said in a crisp voice, "I want to be with my mother forever. My mother gave me clothes to wear when I was ten, and I also want her to wear them when I am twenty, and when I am thirty, forty, fifty..."
“Stop, stop, stop…” Zhang Hulan patted Zhang Xinyue’s little butt and said, “When you are fifty, I will be too old to move.”
Zhang Xinyue tilted her head and thought for a moment, then said, "Then I'll help Mom put on clothes."
Zhang Hulan felt warm in her heart, "That's what you said! Then you will dress me every day."
"Yes! Yueyue keeps her word." Zhang Xinyue held out her little finger, "Let's make a pinky promise..."
Zhang Hulan cooperated by stretching out her little finger and hooking it with Zhang Xinyue's fingers.
Zhang Xinyue said, "We'll make a promise and stick to it for a hundred years..."
Zhang Hulan helped Zhang Xinyue put on her clothes and led her out of the house.
Zhang Xinyue was wearing a pink skirt and a bright red cotton jacket. She looked like a porcelain doll and was very festive.
When Zhang Xinyao and Zhang Xinyi saw Zhang Xinyue wearing new clothes, they both asked, "Mom, are you wearing your new clothes for the New Year today?"
Zhang Hulan smiled and said, "You can wear whatever you want. There are two sets anyway."
"Then we'll change too." Zhang Xinyao and Zhang Xinyi both ran to change into new clothes for the New Year.
"Shanzi, you go change too."
"Oh." Shanzi responded, and then went to change into new clothes.
Zhang Xinyao was wearing a light blue skirt and a red cotton jacket, while Zhang Xinyi was wearing purple.
Shanzi's color is the same as Zhang Xinyao's, which is light blue.
They chose their own clothes, as they both had similar tastes.
Zhang Hulan and the others had just washed their faces when Zhang Xiaobing ran over and said, "Aunt, grandma wants us to come over for breakfast."
After Zhang Xiaobing finished speaking, he noticed that Zhang Xinyue and the others were all wearing new clothes, so he decided to change into them when he returned.
In the old house, everyone had already gotten up, and Zhang Hujun and Zhang Hubing were already killing chickens and fish.
As soon as Zhang Hulan came over, Wang said, "Daniel, you will be the chef today."
"Okay, I'll cook. Chunhua and Dahua will help me, and Dad and Mom can take a rest."
Li said, "I'll help too."
"Sister-in-law, you should go back to your room and rest. I'm scared just looking at your big belly."
Zhang Hulan quickly asked Zhang Dahua to help Li back to the house.
Li is due to give birth in the next few days. Zhang Hulan was really scared when she saw Li's big belly.
Zhang Xiaobing ran up to Xiang Chunhua and said, "Mom, I want to wear new clothes, too. My cousins have all changed into new clothes."
"Okay, okay, go ahead and change him." Xiang Chunhua quickly sent Zhang Xiaobing away.
The adults were busy preparing the reunion dinner, and the children were playing in the yard.
…
We had a quick breakfast and lunch, and then started eating the family reunion dinner at 3 p.m.
Braised pork knuckle, stewed cured pork feet, stewed lamb, braised fish, and a soup stewed with pork stomach and chicken, which contains medicinal herbs such as Codonopsis pilosula, Angelica dahurica, and jujube.
In total, we cooked more than twenty dishes and the table was full of space.
Zhang Hulan poured wine for Old Man Zhang and He Wangshi, then poured wine for herself, raised her glass and said, "Dad, Mom, I wish you a happy new year, good health and all the best in the new year!"
Old Man Zhang and Wang both raised their glasses, and Old Man Zhang would only smile and say, "Good! Good! Good!"
Wang smiled and said, "This year is the happiest year of my life. I hope every year in the future will be like this year."
Old man Zhang drank the wine in his glass in one gulp. He smacked his lips and said, "Good wine!"
Zhang Hulan said, "Dad, although I'm happy today, you can't drink too much."
Zhang Hulan and Wang only took a small sip, and then Zhang Hulan poured wine for Old Man Zhang, and also filled the glasses of Zhang Hujun, Zhang Hubing, and Xiang Chunhua.
Since Mrs. Li and the children in the family were not allowed to drink alcohol, she served them some chicken soup.
Zhang Hulan poured herself some more wine, then raised her glass and said, "Dad, Mom, Big Brother and Big Sister-in-law, Hu Bing, Chun Hua, and all the children, let's raise our glasses together and wish all of us a happy new year!"
Everyone raised their glasses and said loudly, "Happy New Year!"
After Zhang Hulan toasted to Old Man Zhang and Mrs. Wang, Zhang Hujun and Mrs. Li, as well as Zhang Hubing and Xiang Chunhua all toasted to the old couple.
Finally, the children came and toasted Old Man Zhang and Mrs. Wang one by one.
We had a very enjoyable New Year's Eve dinner and everyone was very happy.
Old man Zhang drank a lot of wine today and his tongue is a little tied.
But his mind was clear and his eyes were bright. There was something strange and profound in the way he looked at Zhang Hulan...
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