The second day of the Lunar New Year was a rare sunny day, and Xia Jianguo drove Li Chunmei and Xia Minmin to visit their maternal grandparents.
After entering the alley where Xia's maternal grandfather lived, the alley, which was originally quite spacious, became very narrow due to the large number of people visiting for the New Year, making it inconvenient to ride a bicycle. So Xia Jianguo and Li Chunmei got off their bikes and walked.
"Little prodigy, are you going to visit your grandparents for the New Year?"
Xia Minmin pointed to herself, "Are you talking to me?"
"Yes! I'm talking to you!"
"Oh, we're going to visit my maternal grandparents for the New Year."
How are you so smart?
"I'll try! You can do it too if you memorize a little bit every day."
Xia Minmin really felt like she had become a celebrity this time; gossip spreads incredibly fast in small places.
Xia Minmin's face was stiff from smiling so much in that alley, which was less than 300 meters long.
Happy New Year, Grandpa and Grandma!
"Hey, Happy New Year, Xiaomin!" Grandpa Xia handed Xia Minmin a red envelope.
Xia Jianguo placed the New Year's gifts on the table, and Li Chunmei took out a red envelope and handed it to Xia's maternal grandmother, saying, "Mom and Dad, Happy New Year."
Grandma Xia said, "Several groups of people have come to see Xiaomin early this morning, and more will probably come later."
Xia Minmin covered her face with her hands, "I don't want to be a mascot!"
Grandma Xia brought out a plate of braised eggs for Xia Jianguo and the others to eat. "Yesterday, your second uncle's son came to pay his respects for the New Year. I told him that you had something to discuss with him. Today, when you go to your second uncle's house to pay your respects for the New Year, you can consult him."
"Mom, I understand."
Li Chunmei asked, "Mom, didn't my eldest sister and younger sister come back today?"
"They sent word through someone that they could only come after the Lantern Festival."
After a good rest, the family of three went to pay New Year's visits to Xia's two great-uncles, and had lunch at Xia's maternal grandmother's house.
I sat at my great-uncle Xia's house for a short while before getting up and leaving. His children all lived in other places, and my great-aunt had passed away many years ago.
Uncle Xia's family was very lively; they had three sons and three daughters, making their family prosperous.
When they learned that Xia Jianguo and his group were going to Shenzhen, they were very enthusiastic. They gave Xia Jianguo the documents he needed to go to Shenzhen, precautions for the journey, and even the phone number of the convenience store downstairs from his rented apartment so that they could contact him in the future.
After Uncle Xia left.
Xia Minmin ran back to her maternal grandfather's house alone, while the other two strolled back slowly.
"Jianguo, we need to get our border inspection permits before we can cross the border."
"Yes, the document processing office will only reopen on the eighth day of the new year."
"How about we go after the Lantern Festival? There should be fewer people then. We have families with us, so we need to be careful."
“We’ll take the train, which is safer than a private bus.”
"I'll bring my ID and ride my bike over to buy tickets tomorrow morning. You guys just stay home and wait for my sister and the others."
"good."
There were about ten people sitting at my maternal grandfather's house, chatting animatedly about something.
When Xia Minmin skipped and hopped in, everyone immediately looked at her.
"Little prodigy, you're back!"
"Come, come, sit down."
Xia Minmin took two steps back and glanced at the graffiti she and Li Qing had drawn on the outer wall last time. Hmm, they hadn't gone to the wrong place.
Grandma Xia got up and pulled Xia Minmin into the house, saying, "Go away, you people are all scaring my granddaughter."
"Little prodigy, touch my daughter-in-law's belly!"
"First, touch my daughter's belly. She's due in a couple of months and she's quite anxious."
"I'm even more anxious!"
Xia Minmin shook her grandmother's hand, "Grandma, why did you make me touch their bellies?"
"Because they want their grandchildren to be as smart as you."
"All right!"
The situation gradually spiraled out of control, and the noise grew louder and louder. "Stop arguing, I'll touch them one by one."
When Xia Jianguo and his wife came in, they saw their daughter moving among the pregnant women, touching her belly and muttering something unintelligible.
Those people all looked very happy, as if they had been baptized.
After taking these people away, Grandpa Xia said to Xia Jianguo and his wife, "You made the right decision to take Xiaomin to Shenzhen. Xiaomin is so young and has already shown off. It's not good for her future development in Ankang's environment."
Xia Jianguo said, "Yes, I'm just worried that people will say she was a prodigy when she was young but may not be successful when she grows up."
"Raising a child means worrying for ninety-nine years out of a hundred. That's how it is for all parents."
"Dad, Chunmei and I plan to take 5,000 yuan with us to Shenzhen this time. We'll leave the rest with you for now, and you can transfer it to us after we've settled in."
"Okay, I understand. Give me the money before you leave."
After lunch, several more people came and asked Xia Minmin to touch her belly. Xia's maternal grandmother was worried that more people would come looking for Xia Minmin, so she urged the family to go home quickly.
Xia Minmin was still in shock. Anyone who didn't know better would think she knew some kind of witchcraft. They all came to her to touch their stomachs and told her what to do.
"Second brother and sister-in-law, why are you back so early? I thought you would come back after dinner." Only Xia Xiaomei was warming herself by the fire in the main room.
Li Chunmei said, "Don't even mention it. Today, many pregnant women came to Xiaomin to touch their bellies, saying they wanted to borrow Xiaomin's cleverness and wit, which made Xiaomin hide in her room."
"Huh? How can there be such a person?" Xia Xiaomei was very angry.
"By the way, little sister, give your ID card to your second brother later. Go buy train tickets early tomorrow morning, and apply for border inspection permits on the eighth day of the lunar new year. We'll probably leave around the Lantern Festival."
"Immigration pass?"
"Yes, if you go to Shenzhen without this, you'll be treated as a vagrant and deported."
Xia Jianguo unloaded the cured meat and pickled vegetables that his maternal grandparents had packed for him and put the bicycle into the warehouse.
"Second brother, eldest brother said he's visiting his wife's house for the New Year these days and won't be coming back. Eldest sister called and said she'll be coming to visit tomorrow."
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