The next morning, Lu Ting took Lu Fengnian to visit the house with four courtyards. The more Lu Fengnian looked at the house, the more satisfied he became.
"Ting'er, look at the gate. This family's ancestors must have been high-ranking officials. This house is really nice, but why are there no flowers or plants in the east courtyard garden?"
"Yan Yan didn't like to pull out all the fruits, so she planted them all with pomegranates and grapes."
"Are you sure she doesn't like it?"
"Yan Yan said that she hadn't moved in yet, and that they didn't know how to take care of the flowers and plants, so they just pulled them out and planted fruit trees. In a few years, they could come to the courtyard to pick fruit.
We planted pomegranates and grapes in the east yard, and cherries and dates in the backyard. Together with the existing persimmon tree, we will never have to worry about having no fruit to eat.”
"Why don't you plant some pear trees?"
Lu Ting raised his eyebrows and looked at Lu Fengnian in disbelief. Is there anything wrong with his father's IQ?
Seeing his son looking at him like a fool, Lu Fengnian was a little annoyed. "What's wrong? Can't we grow pears in such a big yard?"
"Dad, if you plant persimmons, everything will go well. If you plant cherries, everything will be prosperous. If you plant pomegranates, you'll get lots of seeds. If you plant red dates, you'll have a son soon. Do you think these pears can be kept at home?"
Lu Ting touched his nose awkwardly. "How come you're even more superstitious than your grandfather?"
"Shh, Dad, please stop talking nonsense. Planting those trees is just for good luck. Who would plant willows, locust trees, mulberry trees, and cypress trees in their own yard? Pear trees represent separation, so it's best not to plant them in your own yard."
"Alright, you're getting more excited the more you talk, aren't you? Just tell me this, but don't keep talking nonsense outside. Otherwise, if someone puts a sign on you, I won't come to your rescue."
Lu Ting curled his lips, "Dad, do I look like a fool to you? Okay, we've finished touring the courtyard. Let's go back early. I still have to take Yanyan to the department store later."
"We've bought all the New Year's goods. What are you going to buy at the department store?"
"See if the family needs anything and buy some, and by the way, buy some new clothes for the children. Adults don't have to wear new clothes, but children definitely have to wear them, otherwise it's not the New Year at all."
"Alright, we're not allowed to set off firecrackers this year, nor are we allowed to put up door gods or couplets. It's so cold and lonely. If we don't give Yiming new clothes, how can we have any New Year's atmosphere?"
It was only nine o'clock when Lu Ting took Lu Fengnian to look at houses and sent his father home. When he got home, he took Su Yan's hand and left.
"What are you doing? I want to prepare the New Year's dinner with my mother."
"Dad and Xiaojin will help, let's go shopping at the department store."
When he heard about shopping in a department store, Lu Yiming ran over and said, "Dad, I've never been to a department store before. Can you take me there?"
"It's cold outside, so stay home. Dad will buy you something delicious later."
"No, I want to go with you."
Su Yan thought that her child had never been to a department store before, so she decided to take him to see it. There were many people in the department store yesterday, but there shouldn't be so many people today on New Year's Eve.
"If Yiming wants to go, then take him with you! And then buy him a toy for the New Year."
"Yan Yan, it's inconvenient to take care of the child."
At this time, Lu Yilan came over and said to Su Yan shyly, "Aunt, I have never been to a department store. Can you take me to have a look?"
Su Yan looked at Lu Ting, and Lu Ting sighed, "Okay, go ahead if you want to go, but you have to walk on your own. If anyone wants to carry you, don't go."
"Uncle, I will leave by myself later, and Brother Yiming will leave by himself too."
"Dad, I'll go by myself and I promise not to wander around with them."
Lu Ting drove his wife, children and niece to the department store. Lu Ting held Lu Yilan's hand, and Su Yan took Lu Yiming to the counter selling fabrics and ready-made clothes on the second floor.
"Yan Yan, I want to buy you a new set of clothes for the New Year."
"We agreed not to wear new clothes for the New Year this year."
“It’s fine to wear it at home.”
The styles of clothes these days are not very good-looking, so there is no need to waste that money.
"Really, that's not necessary. I'll wear last year's cotton-padded jacket for the New Year. You can just buy a new coat for each of our Chou Yiming and Yilan to wear over the jacket."
"I brought you here specifically to buy you some new clothes for the New Year."
"Okay, I know what you mean. Instead of buying new clothes, just buy two pieces of cloth!"
Seeing that his wife couldn't be persuaded, Lu Ting stopped trying to persuade her. He first bought a corduroy jacket for Lu Yiming and Lu Yilan, and then went to the counter to buy a piece of black and a piece of khaki-gray corduroy cloth.
Su Yan planned to use the fabric to make two pairs of trousers, and use the remaining fabric to make two pairs of sleeves for Lu Yiming.
Seeing someone selling tweed coats, she planned to buy Lu Ting another black one, but Lu Ting quickly stopped her, "Yan Yan, didn't you buy me a coat before? I haven't worn that coat many times, so it's better not to buy it."
Su Yan didn't say anything. She waited for Lu Ting to take Lu Yilan and Lu Yiming to buy hairpins, and then she quickly took out her money and bought the long woolen coat.
This one is more expensive than the one she bought for Lu Ting a few years ago. It is a standard style and a tweed coat can be worn for decades.
The couple spent hundreds of dollars shopping and bought a lot of things. As soon as they got in the car, Su Yan directly threw the coat she bought for Lu Ting into the space.
Lu Ting didn't care and thought that it was inconvenient for her to wear the clothes she bought for herself.
It was exactly half past twelve when I got home. Hua Min had almost prepared the dishes and the copper stove hot pot was on the table. All I had to do was serve the dishes.
After all, it is the New Year's Eve dinner, so chicken, duck, fish and meat are the four indispensable ingredients. Add a copper stove hot pot and they are the five main dishes, which represent a good harvest. For the hot pot, prepare cabbage, spinach, coriander and lettuce, which will bring wealth in all seasons.
Hua fished out a piece of mutton and a piece of radish from the copper pot and placed them in Lu Yiming's bowl. He also scooped a spoonful of mutton soup for him and said, "Ting'er bought half a lamb. I stewed a lamb leg today. I think there will be about ten pounds of mutton left. I'll chop off half of it and take it to grandpa's house for New Year's greetings the day after tomorrow."
"Mom, just chop the mutton and carry a bag over. It's not a good idea to carry a big piece of mutton over."
"Okay, I understand. Have you prepared the New Year's gift for your father-in-law?"
"We're all ready."
A few days ago, I killed a sheep and four chickens on my space, and gave them half to my family and half to my father-in-law. I gave away the gifts before the New Year, and on the second day of the New Year, I can bring some cigarettes, alcohol, tea, candy, and biscuits.
"The Su family is celebrating the New Year in the courtyard again this year, so we'll move in too. Our two homes aren't far away, so we'll invite them over for dinner when they're free."
Su Yan smiled and said, "My sister-in-law seems to be pregnant again. My mother probably doesn't have time to come over as a guest."
Su Yan didn't expect that Wang Yan would choose this time to have a second child. Not only was she still in internship, but she didn't know if she would have the chance to be transferred back to Beijing. It was not a wise move to have a second child now. She might even lose her job.
Hua Min looked at Su Yan and Lu Ting, then at Lu Jin who had been eating silently.
"Jin'er, find another one after the New Year!"
"Mom, let's forget about finding a partner. I'm afraid if I find another wife, she will beat Lanlan when I'm not around. Just look at Comrade Ke Yannan in our compound. He's going to spend the New Year in the hospital this year."
Hua Min choked. What does that mean? Does that mean Jin'er will never find a partner in this life?
"Your aunt is marrying off her daughter on the 18th day of the first lunar month. Zhenzhen is already married. Are you really not planning to find another one?"
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