Seeing that Sanni was understanding, Yitiao put down the fire stick and distributed the last skewers of squid. Because Sanni had wasted some ingredients, in the end, each of them could get a skewer of squid tentacles, neither more nor less.
Jiu Tiao and Xiao Lu shared a skewer. Then the little lion, because his auntie wouldn't let him eat, was sent to sit on a small stool and watch eagerly.
Sanni saw that she had also been given an equal share of the squid skewers, and fearing that the squid skewers would be taken back if she changed her mind, she immediately wiped her eyes and ran to the side to eat.
"Woo woo~" Although the little lion was not one who liked to grab food, he felt a little aggrieved when he saw that so many of his brothers and sisters had food to eat while he had none. His little nose turned red.
"It's okay, little lion, you can eat it next time you come," Liu Tiao comforted him with experience. He had similar experiences before, and it wasn't a big deal. He had comforted Qi Tiao, Ba Tiao, and Jiu Tiao in the same way.
I don't know whether the little lion understood or not. After pouting, he moved to the side of the bench and didn't look at his brothers and sisters who were eating happily...
Jiu Tiao licked the delicious food on his lips, rubbed the little lion, and had a slightly compassionate expression...
After finishing their skewers, the children split up into two or three groups and happily played together. The adults spent the day making buns, dumplings, and steamed buns, and then played cards in the evening.
On January 21st, New Year's Eve, the whole family was in high spirits, enjoying a sumptuous and lively reunion dinner. Cheng Zhenyu, with nothing to do and having lost several days in a row, urged them to play cards.
Several children were looking for red envelopes to play with.
This year, the stakes were raised. Although Cheng Zhenyu had failed at poker, she had thrived at work, handing out 30 red envelopes, each containing a dime.
Cheng Fugui and Zhao Fangrui, the elderly couple, received 15 red envelopes, each worth two cents. Wang Xiaomei did the same. Cheng Zhenzhu received 15 five-cent red envelopes, tucking a few into corners for the children to find.
The children, who had been feeling a bit sleepy, perked up when they saw the red envelopes. Even the yawning little deer and lion cub forced themselves to stay awake.
In the end, as expected, almost two-thirds of the red envelopes were taken away by a group of people. Sanni held three two-cent red envelopes in her hands, looked at the deer who had a ten-cent and a five-cent red envelope in his hands, and then saw that her little lion brother who couldn't walk also got one, and she began to doubt her life.
However, she didn't dare to question it anymore. Holding a few cents in her hand, she climbed into bed unwillingly.
Little Tiger and a few Tiao Tiao were more energetic. They played on the bed for a while before they felt sleepy. Just as they were about to go back to their own nests, they found that Little Lion and Jiu Tiao had fallen asleep in the quilt hugging each other, with their little cheeks puffed up and looking like little white buns.
They said the room seemed a lot quieter...
Because there were so many people, the house was bustling for a few days on the first, second, and third days of the Lunar New Year. Then, on the fourth day, Cheng Zhenyu and the others discussed leaving. Since Cheng Zhenyu and the others had to go back to work soon, Zhao Fangrui and the others decided not to bother and just go back together.
Little Tiger was the first to disagree. Since we were already here, why didn't we wait until the winter break was over before leaving?
Cheng Zhenyu glanced at his nephew and said, "Do you think everyone has winter and summer vacations like you guys?"
Xiao Huzi thought that those who didn’t have winter or summer vacations should leave first, and those who did have winter or summer vacations should stay first.
But when he thought about his own significantly larger New Year's gift money this year, he fell silent. Hahahahaha, he was lucky today and found a handful of ten-cent red envelopes. Because his aunt was lazy and had haphazardly placed the red envelopes in a few places, he flipped through them and found fifty cents...
"...Okay, then we won't be bringing the dried seafood this time." Cheng Zhenzhu had originally wanted to try to persuade her mother and the others who didn't have to work to stay, but seeing that she couldn't persuade them, she could only help with the packing. The dried seafood was omitted this time; the others said they didn't want it, so they could free up their hands to carry the wine.
"Mom and Dad, these two cans are tonic wine, please don't drink too much..." Because her family had written to her about the wine a long time ago, Cheng Zhenzhu had put the wine on the cabinet very early. There were more than a dozen cans, two of which were specially prepared for her parents.
"Don't worry, your father wouldn't dare drink too much. He'd stink if he drank too much," Zhao Fangrui said. The old man craved alcohol, but the alcohol his daughter had given them last time made his body stink. So, even if he craved it, the old man, who didn't like bathing, wouldn't dare drink too much. He was afraid that drinking too much would require a long, scrubbing bath.
Cheng Zhenzhu nodded, feeling somewhat relieved. These two bottles of wine were truly tonic. Because his parents were afraid of the cold, the wine was stronger...
"Big sister, leave these to me too. Don't worry, money isn't a problem." There was enough wine, and even with Little Tiger and the other kids helping carry the wine, there were still a few cans left. Cheng Zhenyu looked at the remaining cans with a pity, wishing her husband had eight hands to carry them...
Zhao Jiawang was also a little excited as he carried two jars of snake wine. He had personally experienced this wine, and it was truly a good thing. Drinking it made him full of energy and radiant.
Because her elder sister was so forthcoming, Cheng Zhenzhu readily agreed, "Well, don't worry, I'll save it all." Her elder sister looked as if she was about to empty the house, but she wasn't at a loss. Her elder sister, a major customer, paid her 30 yuan for a can of wine, far above the market price.
Plus, Dawei and his team sell some wine, so if she makes some wine every year, it's enough for the family's expenses...
After packing up their belongings, the group of people, young and old, left Sanshi Island early the next morning. Cheng Zhenzhu led a few tearful children to see them off. Watching the boat drift away, she couldn't help but sigh that another year had passed.
It’s already 1975…
On the twelfth day of the first lunar month, before the Lantern Festival, Comrade Dawei and his friends came over, played with the kids, and stayed for two days. They also didn't order any dried seafood, but took a few extra bottles of wine with them.
Jiu Tiao already knew his grandfather, and when he saw him leave, he was quite depressed for a while. But within a few days, he became cheerful again, hanging out with his brothers Qi Tiao and Ba Tiao every day, and often didn't come home until dinner time.
Cheng Zhenzhu accompanied them for a few days at first, but found that the children played by themselves and did not touch dangerous things, so she stopped accompanying them and asked Xiaoqi to help look after them while she stayed at home to make wine and do tasks.
Those who have to study get up early and go to bed early every day. During the holidays, they go to the mountains and the sea to catch rabbits and fish. Before they know it, a month and a half has passed.
In the blink of an eye, it is March with the gentle sea breeze.
In March, the people of Sanshi Island began to work in the mountains again. This year, Jiutiao could walk, jump, and even let go of his hands. Cheng Zhenzhu changed her clothes and led the three children up the mountain to earn work points. Qitiao and Batiao were now also able to earn one work point, of course, provided Jiutiao stayed out of the way...
When Yitiao and the others learned that their third brother had only accumulated two work points in a week, they felt a little disappointed. It happened that they had a day off the next day, so they rolled up their sleeves and said they were going to go up the mountain right after breakfast in the morning.
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