The first day of the new year.

Before dawn, Yang Niannian was awakened by the sound of firecrackers.

She moved her arm slightly, and Lu Shishen asked in a deep voice, "Are you awake?"

Yang Niannian stretched her body and asked dazedly, "What time is it? Why are they setting off firecrackers?"

"Four o'clock." Lu Shishen replied.

Yang Niannian huddled deeper into the quilt, her arms tightly around his waist.

"I'm so sleepy. I don't want to get up so early. You shouldn't get up so early either. Let others set off firecrackers first. We can set them off after daybreak."

She also found an excuse, "The firecrackers were set off so early that they were drowned out by the sound of other people's firecrackers."

"good."

Lu Shishen pushed the hair away from her face and gently placed his hands on her ears.

Yang Niannian was indeed still very sleepy and fell asleep again after a while. She woke up again at 6:30 in the morning.

On the first day of the new year, it was inappropriate to stay in bed any longer, so she sensibly stretched and sat up.

Lu Shishen helped her put her clothes on the bed, then put on his coat while speaking.

"I'm going to go out and set off the firecrackers. You get up and wash up first. Ruo Ling is already cooking dumplings."

Yang Niannian yawned and nodded sleepily, "Okay."

To be honest, she really admired Lu Shishen's perseverance. Every time he woke up, he would get up as soon as he was told to and never stayed in bed. Even though his clothes were so cold, he wore them as if nothing had happened and didn't even get goose bumps.

Yang Niannian took her time getting dressed and leaving the house. Lu Ruoling had already brought the cooked dumplings to the table in the main room.

"Second sister-in-law, hurry up and brush your teeth and wash your face. The dumplings are ready."

"Okay." Yang Niannian glanced at the table. Her sister-in-law was quite considerate and even prepared bowls and chopsticks for Lu Nianfei and An An.

In winter, the sun comes out late, and there is heavy fog outside. The visibility is only two or three meters, and the air is filled with the smell of sulfur dioxide.

Yang Niannian had just finished washing up when she saw Lu Nianfei striding into the yard with An An in his arms.

She waved, "Come in and eat dumplings."

Lu Nianfei was not polite. After entering the house, he put An An down and sat down to eat dumplings, praising them while eating.

"Your skill in making dumplings is incredible. No wonder the old leader is addicted to them."

Yesterday, the old leader was here, so Lu Nianfei was not comfortable saying some things, but now he is speaking without any taboos.

"When Political Commissar Zhang wanted Junhao to be his godson, the old leader found a reason to refuse."

"Is there such a thing?" Yang Niannian looked at Lu Shishen for confirmation.

Lu Nianfei teased, "You don't need to ask him. He is the type who doesn't care about what's going on outside. It's strange that he knows."

Lu Shishen really didn't know about this matter. Generally speaking, not many people knew about it. After all, it was not a glorious thing, and Political Commissar Zhang would not tell anyone.

The old leader wouldn’t even say it.

Lu Nianfei also found out about this by accident. Although he was talkative, he didn't like to chat about family matters. If the old leader hadn't adopted Yang Niannian as his adopted daughter, he wouldn't have said this.

Yang Niannian had a bad feeling. "If Political Commissar Zhang and Director Ding knew about this, wouldn't they be so pissed off? They'll probably be disgusted with me again."

Lu Nianfei smiled meaningfully, "If the old leader doesn't recognize you as his adopted daughter, they won't like you either. The things here can't be explained in a few words."

As he said that, he rubbed An An's head again, "I can be considered to have benefited from following you. An An has indirectly become the old leader's grandson."

Lu Shishen glanced at him expressionlessly, "Can't eating keep you from talking?"

Lu Nianfei tutted twice, "How sour, didn't you just chat with your wife for a few more sentences? Is it that serious?"

After eating dumplings, Yang Niannian gave An An ten yuan as a New Year's gift, which made him so happy that he turned around with the money in his arms.

Lu Nianfei's teeth almost fell out. "I gave you New Year's money last night, why didn't you look so happy?"

An An bravely said, "You just gave me one dollar."

Although one dollar is not a small amount, compared with ten dollars, ten dollars is still more.

Lu Nianfei pinched his waist, "Hey, you still think it's not enough."

An An quickly hid behind Yang Niannian, "It's not too little, it's just that the happiness is not doubled."

Several adults were amused by his words.

"What's the matter that makes you laugh so happily?" Zhang Yuting's voice came from the yard.

Lu Nianfei's eyes flashed and he turned to look at the door.

Zhang Yuting was wearing a black wool coat, which made her slender figure look taller and more elegant.

Dressed like this, she doesn’t look like a college graduate anymore, but more like a career-oriented woman.

Yang Niannian called Zhang Yuting into the house, "Come in and have some melon seeds."

An An rushed over and said, "Sister Yu Ting, I haven't seen you for a long time. I miss you a little bit."

Zhang Yuting pinched An An's little face and smiled softly, "I miss you, too."

Then he said to Lu Shishen and Lu Nianfei, "Captain Lu, Brother Lu, Happy New Year."

Lu Shishen nodded slightly in response, and Lu Nianfei smiled and said, "You're paying respects a little too early this year."

Zhang Yuting glanced at Lu Nianfei, not daring to keep her eyes on him any longer, and quickly looked away.

"My parents were chatting with Sister Yu right now, so I sneaked out."

Everyone knew that Ding Lanying didn't like Yang Niannian, and Zhang Yuting didn't deliberately avoid it.

Yang Niannian smiled playfully, "Yu Hongli came to your house to wish you a happy new year so early?"

Zhang Yuting said softly, "Sister Hu has also gone. I guess they will be here soon."

As we were talking, a group of children came running over to wish us a happy new year.

Yang Niannian invited the children to eat peanuts, melon seeds, and candies. As expected, the children all stared at the candies and candies eagerly.

Yang Niannian distributed some candies and sugar cubes to the children.

Perhaps the children spread the news that her family had candies and sugar cubes, and they came in groups to wish her a happy new year.

Fortunately, Yang Niannian had prepared enough candies and sugar cubes, and whenever children came, Lu Ruoling would give them candies and sugar cubes.

Zhang Yuting stayed for a while and then left. Lu Shishen and Lu Nianfei went to the army together.

Not long after they left, the military wives came to visit in groups of three or four.

I don’t know how the military wives knew that the old leader had adopted a daughter, but their attitude towards Yang Niannian became better than before. They kept praising her and wanted to praise her to the sky.

Yang Niannian was very puzzled. She spent a whole day thinking about it but still couldn't figure out who leaked the news.

As soon as she got into bed that night, she couldn't help but ask Lu Shishen, "There was no one else at the scene last night, who spread this?"

Lu Shishen answered confidently, "Commander."

Yang Niannian uttered an "ah", she really couldn't understand, "Why did the old leader want to leak it?"

The old leader doesn’t seem like a gossipy person!

Lu Shishen, "If he doesn't tell anyone, how can he eat dumplings openly?"

Yang Niannian's mouth twitched, a little confused, "Just to eat dumplings?"

How did the old leader, this old fox, turn into an old naughty boy?

Lu Shishen looked at her innocent appearance and lowered his voice a little, "It's not just for eating dumplings."

He patiently explained, "It's not easy to get into university. Not only did you get into university, but you also got into Beijing University. Not only in the army, but also in the entire provincial capital, you are one in a million. The leader has a strong personality and can recognize you as his adopted daughter. When you meet his old comrades in the future, you will have something to talk about."

Yang Niannian suddenly understood, "I understand! No matter how powerful the old leader is, he is still an old man. When old people are together, they like to brag about their children and grandchildren. If the old leader doesn't recognize an adopted daughter or son, there will be nothing to talk about with the elderly."

Now not only do I have an adopted daughter, but she is also a capable one. Isn’t that a double buff?

Lu Shishen ruffled her hair with a half-smile, "Well, you're getting smarter."

…