The balcony on the fifth floor of the discount supermarket.
Xia Xiaomei held her back and looked towards the road in the direction of the police station.
Li Chunmei came out with a blanket and draped it over Xia Xiaomei's shoulders. "Xiaomei, don't worry, they'll be back after the statement is taken. Let's go inside! The yin energy is heavy at night, and since you're pregnant, it's not good for you to stay outside. Be careful not to offend anyone."
Hearing her second sister-in-law's words, Xia Xiaomei grabbed the blanket on her shoulder and went back to sit in the living room. Her eyes were fixed on the TV, but her thoughts were drawn to Xiao Wu. The skit on TV made the audience laugh, but the laughter did not affect Xia Xiaomei at all.
In the kitchen, Li Chunmei and Xia Jianguo were preparing the reunion dinner. The range hood was humming, and every burner on the four-burner stove was lit. They were busy stewing, steaming, and stir-frying dishes.
Xia Jianguo, chopping vegetables, asked quietly, "Little sister, how are you feeling?"
Li Chunmei was cooking when, amidst the noise of the range hood, she vaguely heard Xia Jianguo speaking, but she wasn't sure what he was saying. "What did you say?"
Seeing that she hadn't heard him clearly, Xia Jianguo leaned closer to her ear and repeated, "Little sister, how is she feeling?"
"It'll be good once Xiaowu comes back. Your sister is a bit of a wistful person; she tends to keep things to herself, and with her pregnancy, she thinks about things even more."
Xia Jianguo understood perfectly, but said nothing and continued chopping vegetables. Since the reunion dinner had an auspicious time, they needed to speed up their cooking.
The door opened, and Xia Xiaomei struggled to her feet and walked to the entrance hall, where Xiao Wu and Xia Minmin were changing their shoes.
When Xia Xiaomei saw that the two of them had returned safely, she finally felt relieved.
After changing his shoes, Xiao Wu quickly helped Xia Xiaomei sit down. "Were you worried?"
Xiao Wu held Xia Xiaomei's hands and rubbed them to warm them up, as she was particularly sensitive to cold after becoming pregnant.
Xia Xiaomei blushed and shook her head, "No."
"You're always lying. Every time you lie, your face turns red. Do you want me to get you a mirror to look at yourself?"
Xia Minmin walked by, shaking her head repeatedly, saying, "Ugh... I can't bear to look. The world is going to the dogs. What are they doing in broad daylight!"
After being teased by her niece, Xia Xiaomei's face turned even redder.
Xiao Wu patted Xia Xiaomei on the back to comfort her, "This little brat doesn't understand love yet. Let's write this down and tease her about it when she has a boyfriend in the future."
Xia Minmin's slippers made a loud clattering sound as she walked. As she entered the kitchen, her stomach began to rumble; she was hungry.
"Mom and Dad, I'm home! Where's the pineapple bun? I'm hungry."
Li Chunmei turned down the stove fire, washed the handle, and led Xia Minmin out. Xia Jianguo followed her out.
Li Chunmei took a bag of pineapple buns from the refrigerator and placed it on the dining table. "Xiao Wu, have some too. We've all eaten."
Xiao Wu helped Xia Xiaomei to the dining table and sat her down. He reached out to get her a pineapple bun, but Xia Xiaomei shook her head. Xiao Wu then casually stuffed the bun into his own mouth.
Xia Minmin used both hands, one pineapple bun was no longer enough for her.
Xia Jianguo took out two bottles of milk from the storage cabinet, handed one to Xiaowu, and placed the other in front of his daughter, "How did things go?"
Xiao Wu swallowed the pineapple bun in his mouth. "It has little to do with us. Judging from Officer Fan's tone, that man committed a serious crime. He might be eating peanuts."
Xia Xiaomei's face turned pale instantly, and Li Chunmei quickly poured her a glass of warm water.
Li Chunmei said, "Fortunately, they don't have much of a deterrent effect, otherwise it would be dangerous. These people always come to cause trouble during the Spring Festival."
Xia Jianguo said, "This is considered good. If you encounter a vicious person, you might lose your life. Be more vigilant lately and lock the door when you go out. There are too few people around at night, so it's not safe."
Seeing that Xia Xiaomei's expression was off, Li Chunmei patted Xia Jianguo's arm and said, "What nonsense are you talking about! Xiaomei and Xiaowu, why don't you two sleep on the fifth floor tonight? Xiaomei and Xiaomin can sleep together, and Xiaowu, you can sleep alone?"
After considering it carefully, Xiao Wu said, "Okay, Second Sister-in-law, then I'll trouble you. I'll go downstairs and pack my luggage now."
Xiao Wu is a man of action; he said he'd pack his bags and head off right away.
Li Chunmei patted Xia Xiaomei's hand, "Don't worry, Xiaomei, we're here! Xiaomin, take care of your aunt, your father and I will continue preparing the reunion dinner."
Although I am not in my hometown, the customs are still followed according to the local traditions, such as setting off a string of firecrackers before the reunion dinner.
Listening to the sound of firecrackers, Li Chunmei muttered to herself, "I heard that fireworks and firecrackers are going to be banned. I wonder if we'll still be able to set them off next year."
The family reunion dinner must be eaten by the ancestors first before the younger generation can enjoy it. Although she had eaten two pineapple buns and a glass of milk, Xia Minmin still felt hungry.
There were eight bowls on the table, each containing a little bit of rice, and eight disposable cups filled with wine.
Li Chunmei whispered, "Mom and Dad eat, Grandpa and Grandma eat, Grandpa and Grandma on the maternal side eat, and the great-grandparents eat."
Xia Jianguo and Li Chunmei placed the chopsticks from the bowls onto the dining table, poured some water under each seat, and the ceremony was over. As the younger generation, they could then eat.
Each dish at the reunion dinner has its own symbolic meaning: steamed abalone (bringing in wealth and treasures), braised fish (abundance year after year), stir-fried "prosperity" (wealth in all four seasons), lettuce with oyster sauce (generating wealth), braised pork (prosperity), and fried meatballs (family reunion). This year, Li Chunmei and Xia Jianguo specially prepared sixteen dishes according to their ancestors' traditions.
These dishes cannot all be eaten. The elders say that having leftovers means there will be even better things next year.
Xia Jianguo raised his glass and said, "I propose we all have a toast to wish our family a smooth and successful year ahead, and that all our wishes come true."
"cheers."
Xia Jianguo and Xiao Wu drank baijiu (Chinese liquor), Li Chunmei drank red wine, and Xia Minmin and Xia Xiaomei drank coconut juice.
Xia Minmin stood up, holding a bottle of coconut juice. "Wishing Mom and Dad good health, all the best, abundant wealth, and eternal youth. Wishing Aunt and Uncle smooth sailing, soaring success, auspicious beginnings, peace in all seasons, and five blessings. I'll drink this one, you can drink as much as you like."
Xia Jianguo, Li Chunmei, Xiao Wu, and Xia Xiaomei were all amused by Xia Minmin's bold actions and burst into laughter. Judging from her posture, anyone who didn't know better would think she was drinking baijiu (Chinese liquor).
"Wishing my Xiaomin academic progress and good luck."
"I hope that Xiaxia and I will have a smooth delivery next year."
"I hope everyone will be healthy next year."
"I hope that next year will bring peace and prosperity to the country."
"Buy more houses next year."
The reunion dinner drew to a close amidst everyone's well wishes, and everyone looked forward to the coming year.
After finishing their reunion dinner, Xia Jianguo and Xiao Wu went to the kitchen to clean up the dishes and tidy up.
Xia Minmin sat cross-legged on the sofa, holding a bag of potato chips, watching the skit on TV with a happy smile.
"Xiaomin, you should go take a shower." Li Chunmei was terrified by her daughter's biological clock and would cut off the power whenever she wanted.
Xia Minmin quickly finished the potato chips in her hand, wiped the condiments off her hands with a paper towel, and took her pajamas to take a shower.
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