Xia Minmin, panting, rode her bicycle to the entrance of the discount supermarket and saw Xia Jianguo leading his employees to put up couplets and hang lanterns. The supermarket was decorated in red from the inside out, creating a festive atmosphere reminiscent of the Chinese New Year.
"Young boss, you're back!"
"Let's go make dumplings and get ready for our New Year's Eve dinner."
Xia Jianguo took the bicycle from his daughter and pushed it to the bike shed. "So? Did you accept it?"
"I don't know either. I stuffed the things through the window and rode away on my bike."
Xia Jianguo chuckled. This was indeed something his daughter would do. Looking at his daughter's forehead covered in sweat, her clothes must have been soaked too. "Go upstairs and change into some clean clothes before coming down for dinner."
At the employee canteen of the discount supermarket, the kitchen was bustling with activity. Li Chunmei used a coal stove and a large steamer to cook dumplings. Each pot could cook sixty or seventy dumplings, and she had to cook them five times to make enough for dinner.
Four tables were pushed together, and everyone sat together in a crowded and lively atmosphere, with all the dishes served in larger portions.
After dinner, most of the food on the table was eaten.
"Boss lady, little boss, let's clean up!"
The supermarket staff wanted to help when they saw the owner cleaning, but were refused. "You take a break, we'll serve you today."
Xia Jianguo came back with a stack of red envelopes. "Come on, everyone, come and get your red envelopes. It's not much money, but it's for good luck. Happy New Year! Go home and get some rest today. Don't forget to go to work at 10 tomorrow."
"Thank you, boss!"
"Wishing the boss a prosperous new year, a happy family, and the young boss continued academic success."
After the supermarket staff left, Xia Jianguo and Xiao Wu helped wash the dishes and basins, while Xia Minmin wiped the table with a rag. Everyone did their part.
Li Chunmei pulled down her rolled-up sleeves. "Let's go upstairs and watch the Spring Festival Gala!"
"You guys go up first, Xiao Wu and I will go to the supermarket to check it again."
Xia Jianguo and Xiao Wu inspected the supermarket with flashlights, found nothing wrong, locked the door and went upstairs.
Even before the door was opened, faint laughter could be heard.
"A gentle autumn breeze brings joy, and the bauhinia flowers bloom..."
The coffee table in the living room is piled high with pears, oranges, pistachios, pine nuts, and candies—all sorts of snacks.
Xia Jianguo and Xiao Wu changed their shoes and came in. The two sisters-in-law sat on the sofa to watch the Spring Festival Gala. Xia Xiaomei had a blanket covering her legs and a pillow under her lower back.
Li Chunmei said with a smile, "You came back just in time, the Spring Festival Gala has just started."
Xia Jianguo looked around. "Where's Xiaomin?"
"Let her take a bath first!"
Xia Minmin came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her head, her little face flushed from the steam.
Li Chunmei said, "I was wondering why you took so long to wash your hair today. Did you blow-dry it yourself or did your dad do it for you?"
"I'll brag about it myself, you guys watch TV!"
"Hurry up and don't catch a cold!"
"knew!"
Xiao Wu handed the peeled orange to Xia Xiaomei, saying, "The doctor told you to eat more fruit to supplement your vitamin C intake, it's good for your health!"
Xia Minmin came out with her hair all messy, looking like a golden lion, which made everyone in the room burst into laughter.
Li Chunmei sighed, "You might as well have your dad blow for you. Sit down and watch the Spring Festival Gala!"
Xia Minmin pouted, tidied her hair, and sat down next to Li Chunmei.
On TV, a male comedian loudly proclaimed, "If I don't lose my job, who will?"
Xia Jianguo sighed, "After the New Year, another wave of factories will close down, and I don't know how many people will lose their jobs."
Xiao Wudao said, "In the past six months, nearby factories have expanded their workforce significantly, and they will continue to recruit after the New Year. Fortunately, we have already established ourselves in Shenzhen, otherwise it would be even more difficult now."
While peeling a pistachio, Li Chunmei casually remarked, "A few days ago, I heard from my neighbors that the policy of granting residency through home purchase in Shenzhen is going to be discontinued, and that residency will no longer be allowed. I don't know if it's true or not."
Xia Minmin swallowed the banana in her mouth. "Of course it's true! The government used to offer household registration with the purchase of a house in order to promote commercial housing. Now that people no longer expect housing allocated by their work units and accept commercial housing, they naturally won't give them preferential treatment anymore."
Li Chunmei said, "Xiaomin, that makes sense. If you have money, buy a house. With inflation, money becomes less and less valuable, while houses retain their value better. Shenzhen is close to Hong Kong, and maybe some people will cross the city to work in the future. There are also many factories here, so it won't be difficult to rent out a house, and the rent will rise accordingly."
Xiao Wu suggested, "Then Xiaxia and I will pay off another house next summer."
"Tsk tsk! Me and Xiaxia! There are three Xiaxias here, which Xiaxia are you calling?" Xia Minmin asked in a strange tone and manner.
Xiao Wu was so angry he felt his teeth itch.
Xia Xiaomei's ears turned red from the teasing. She glared at Xiao Wu shyly. He had told her many times that she should be more serious in front of her niece.
Li Chunmei cleared her throat. "Xiaomin, didn't you want to call Mengmeng? Hurry up and go. Don't forget to call your Uncle Wang."
Xia Minmin had been sitting cross-legged on the sofa for too long, and now her legs were numb, making every step painful. The numbness reminded her of the Little Mermaid, that ridiculous story of exchanging her fishtail for legs.
The phone on the fifth floor was above the shoe cabinet in the entryway. Xia Minmin staggered to the entryway.
Seeing Xia Minmin walk over, Li Chunmei whispered, "Little sister, don't mind her. Minmin didn't mean any harm. You're too shy. Even a little kid like her likes to tease you."
"Second sister-in-law, don't waste your energy. Little sister's personality is something she can't change. Last time Xiaoyu teased her, her ears turned red too."
Xia Xiaomei, enraged and embarrassed, shouted, "Xiao Wu, shut up! Nobody thinks you're mute! Watch TV!"
Xiao Wu shrugged and turned his gaze back to the television.
Xia Minmin picked up the microphone and pressed a familiar number.
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