The next morning, I was awakened by the sound of firecrackers. Yu Chengfei was still sleeping soundly. I knew he was too tired, so I got out of bed quietly. My dad and Yu's father were snoring loudly on the big bed outside. I walked out of Yu Chengfei's house with two strings of firecrackers, first set off one string at his door, and then set off another string at my door.
Today is the first day of the Chinese New Year, and every family is setting off firecrackers to celebrate. The sanitation bureau where my mother works has notified us that we don’t have to clean the streets at 7 a.m., but we must clean the streets at 5 p.m. The streets are now almost a sea of firecrackers, and I can’t help but worry about the huge workload in the afternoon. When I got home, my mother and Yu’s mother had already gotten up, and they were busy cooking. When my mother saw me coming in, she asked me, “Is your father up?” I said, “No, he’s still sleeping with my uncle.” My mother said, “How long should they sleep on New Year’s Day? Let them get up and eat.” I got the order and went to Yu Chengfei’s house and woke up the two adults.
"Wake up your brother too." Father Yu pointed at Yu Chengfei's bedroom and said, "Tell him to get ready to kowtow to me!"
Every New Year's Day, Yu Chengfei and I would kowtow to the four adults and say some auspicious words in exchange for lucky money. I ran to Yu Chengfei's bed and saw that he was sleeping soundly. I shook his body, but there was indeed no reaction at all. I knew that Yu Chengfei was really tired. He was in those Internet cafes every day and stayed there almost 24 hours a day. This should be the most comfortable sleep for him. After thinking for a long time, I still couldn't bear to wake him up. Anyway, there was no rush to kowtow, so I walked out and said, "Let Brother Yu sleep a little longer."
Father Yu looked at Yu Chengfei and said nothing more. After breakfast, everyone changed into new clothes, but Yu Chengfei was still sleeping soundly. Father Yu couldn't help it anymore, so he dragged him out of bed, changed his clothes quickly, and then dragged him to the main room by his collar, and made him kneel on the ground again.
"Haohao, hold on to your brother!" Yu's father told me.
"Okay." I quickly held Yu Chengfei's chest with my hands to prevent him from falling to the ground. I said in my heart: "Brother, I will support you, forever."
During the whole process, Yu Chengfei was still sleeping. The adults of both families were used to this scene, so no one found it strange. After the adults on both sides sat down, I said respectfully: "I wish my parents, uncles and aunts good health and all the best." Then I helped Yu Chengfei kneel down together. Yu Chengfei also murmured: "Well...health...all the best."
After saying auspicious words and bowing our heads, the adults on both sides gave us lucky money.kUishA. I wanted Yu Chengfei to sleep a little longer, so I carried him back to the bed, covered him with the quilt, and looked at his face. I didn’t feel that he was domineering at all. He was just the Yu Chengfei who took care of me when I was a child.
The adults went out to play cards and have fun. I didn't have any friends in Dongguan Town. I sat at the gate of Yu Chengfei's house with nothing to do. Suddenly, I felt that this year was meaningless, and a sense of sadness arose in my heart for no reason. I called Xia Xue first to wish her a happy new year. I told her about the funny things that happened here, and she laughed out loud on the phone. Xia Xue also told her about her family. Last night on New Year's Eve, she called Taozi and Zhuantou over. Zhuantou made her family laugh every time he said something, and said how could this child be so humorous.
Xia Xue asked Tao Zi to talk to me again. I wished her a happy new year first, and then I had to make a few jokes with her: "How is it, has your brother told you when he plans to become my second wife?" Even through the phone, I knew Tao Zi must have blushed. Tao Zi said: "Don't listen to my brother's nonsense, how can it be possible. You and Sister Xia Xue just live a good life. I am very happy to see you two happy." I know she said this sincerely, and I also know that she must be sad.
Xia Xue snatched the phone and said, "Okay, stop teasing Taozi. I'll come visit you another day. We're going out to play!"
After hanging up the phone, I opened the phone book and dialed the few remaining names in it, Nan Nan, Yuan Shao, etc., and wished them a happy new year. Nan Nan yelled on the phone: "Good brother, wait at home, I will give you a big red envelope!" I sat on the threshold of Yu Chengfei's house, looking at the sky and laughing happily. In Dongguan, I have no friends; but in Beiyuan, I have a lot of friends. After laughing, I lowered my head to look at my phone. There was only one name in the phone book that I hadn't dialed.
After hesitating for a long time, I called the girl named "Zhou Mo". I thought she would not answer and was ready to send a text message, but she picked up the phone as soon as it rang, as if she was holding the phone in her hand.
"Hey, Happy New Year." I said casually.
"Yeah, you too, Happy New Year!" Her tone was also relaxed.
There was a long silence. "Goodbye," I said. "Goodbye," she said. After hanging up the phone, I let out a long breath.
I sat on the doorstep for a while, and suddenly saw a seven-seater van coming on the road and stopped steadily at the door of Yu Chengfei's house. I stood up and looked at the vans in astonishment. As soon as the door opened, Nan Nan jumped out first.
"Haha, Mouse!" Nan Nan ran towards me, followed closely by Yuan Shao, Meng Liang, Zhang Beichen, Zhao Yifan and the others, all of whom came out with smiles on their faces. "Sister Nan Nan!" I shouted, my tone full of joy, and then I greeted everyone else one by one, "Why did you come today without telling me in advance!"
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