Chapter 648 A new year has begun.
The Li family had a very lively New Year this year. Although Li Dalang, who was stationed at the border, was absent, not only did Doctor Liang, the young boy from Shaoyang, and Fang Chengxian celebrate the New Year at the Li family's home, but Li San Niang also invited Song Fuling and her daughter, Linglan, and Xiao Ping'an to come.
Thus, in addition to Wu Qiaolan and Bao Ya, who were members of the Li family and had been living in the Li family for a long time.
These twenty-odd people filled not only the main hall of the Li family home, but also the side hall.
There were many people, so a total of four tables were set up. The men sat at two tables, and the women with children sat at two more tables.
Because they had to stay up all night to welcome the New Year, the men, led by Li's father and Dr. Liang, drank tea and talked in the main hall, while the women, led by Li's mother, ate snacks and chatted with the younger children in the side hall.
Li San Niang was playing cat's cradle with Lu Zhu'er and Qiu Xiang, and the three of them were playing back and forth.
Sister-in-law Li has finished her postpartum confinement, but her body has not fully recovered. She sat on the low couch, with her sleeping son, Xiao Liulang, beside her.
Sitting at the round table in front of the low couch were Li's mother, Li's second sister-in-law, Wu Qiaolan and her daughter, and Linglan;
Meanwhile, Kogoro and Xiao Ping'an were following Song Fuling, playing a puzzle game called "Monopoly" that was part of the New Year's gift that the Xing family had given to Li San Niang.
The three of them were having a great time playing on the small table next to the round table.
Looking around, Li's mother thought of her son, Li Dalang, who was away from home: "I wonder when Tiger Head will be able to come back next year?"
Judging from this, it looks like it will be another six months before I can come back.
When Li's mother heard what her sister-in-law, who was sitting half-reclined on the low couch, said this, she looked at Xiao Liulang beside her and saw that he was sleeping soundly. Then she got up and sat down at the round table. She reached out and poured tea for her mother.
“Mother, Tiger Head is such a big man, how can he not take care of himself?”
I think he should be able to come back by next summer solstice. Mother, just you wait, he'll definitely be back.
The group started by talking about when Li Dalang would return, then moved on to the local market, and finally to the latest and greatest things happening in the West Market.
As they talked, it got late at night. Although there were many people setting off firecrackers in the neighborhood, the sound of the night watchman could still be heard.
"Alright, it'll be midnight in half an hour. I'll go to the kitchen to boil some water."
As soon as Wu Qiaolan got up and left, Li Ersao followed her.
Linglan felt too embarrassed to stay any longer. Seeing that Xiao Ping'an was engrossed in playing games, she got up and went to the kitchen as well.
By midnight, after each child had eaten a small bowl of soup noodles, the younger children were already tired from playing and their eyes were all blurry after eating the soup noodles.
After greeting her mother and the others while holding the sleeping Lu Zhu'er, Li San Niang returned to her own courtyard with Qiu Xiang.
After settling Lu Zhu'er in, Qiu Xiang took out a brocade pouch from her bosom and handed it to Li San Niang.
Li San Niang looked at him with a "no way" expression and didn't want to accept the brocade pouch.
Qiu Xiang found it amusing. She took Li San Niang's hand, stuffed the brocade pouch into her hand, and then said with a smile, "San Niangzi, please open it and take a look. The master asked me to give it to you."
Li San Niang just wanted to enjoy the New Year's Eve festival. After a whole year, these few days were the only time she could finally rest, spend time with Lu Zhu'er, and not have to think too much.
Now, having to receive a secret letter from Mr. Bu Ke, Li San Niang was truly in a bad mood.
"Sir, really, how can anyone work during the New Year?"
"Sir, does he never take a vacation throughout the year?"
Although she expressed her disdain verbally, Li Sanniang didn't stop working. After opening the package, her expression gradually became somewhat guilty.
Li San Niang looked up at Qiu Xiang and said awkwardly, "The master said upstairs that he would organize smallpox vaccination after the spring and asked me if I wanted to participate."
He also said that once the smallpox vaccination program was finished, he would recommend me for credit.
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"Perhaps Third Sister can even obtain an official position like the men."
Li Sanniang shook her head: "I dare not dream of becoming an official. I would be satisfied if I could receive a few words of praise and elevate my status in the medical profession."
As a young woman, my words carry little weight. If I possessed even a fraction of the authority bestowed upon me by those above, I could at least present my methods for protecting women and children.
The two exchanged a few more words before parting ways to rest.
The following day, New Year's Day, marked the beginning of a new year.
Li San Niang was awakened by the sound of firecrackers set off by people in the neighborhood at dawn, but she didn't want to get up. She turned around, hugged Lu Zhu'er, and went back to sleep.
But today is the New Year, how can we allow Li San Niang to sleep in like this?
However, after lying there for a little over fifteen minutes, Li San Niang got up.
After Li San Niang, Lu Zhu'er, and Qiu Xiang left the courtyard, they greeted Li's parents in the main hall, and the entire Li family gathered together.
Thus, everyone followed Li's father to begin the ancestral worship ceremony. After Li's father recited the prayer and was the first to offer incense, the rest of the Li family members followed suit, offering incense, kowtowing, and bowing three times.
"Third Sister, when you go to the Wang family later, please control your temper and don't make a scene."
Yes, today Li San Niang still has to take Lu Zhu'er to the Wang family for dinner and give Wang's mother and Wang Ziheng a good look, after all, they are Lu Zhu'er's biological father and grandmother.
This time, Brother Li said in advance that he would go with them. Originally, Sister Li San thought that Brother Li Er would be fine, and that Brother Li Da, who was finally able to take a vacation at home, could spend time with Sister Li Da and Xiao Liulang.
But Brother Li refused: "Why can't I go?"
How could I have delayed spending time with your sister-in-law?
It's just a meal at the Wang family's house; I can be home before 3 PM, it won't take long.
I have to go and see if that second son of the Wang family has gone astray. What if he makes you and my second brother suffer?
My second brother has a good temper; even if someone insults him right in front of him, he won't lift a finger.
Don't worry, my elder brother went. As long as they have a good attitude, he won't lay a hand on them.
Since Brother Li has already said so, how could Third Sister Li possibly say anything to stop him from going?
So, the three siblings, along with Lu Zhu'er, Qiu Xiang, and Lao Shi, drove the carriage out of the Li family and headed towards the Wang family.
Of course, there were also six gifts prepared by Li's mother in the carriage. This time, Li San Niang didn't give Lu Zhu'er any further instructions.
After all, Luzhu'er is all grown up now, no longer a little child. She understands that she is going to her father's house, knows etiquette, and knows how to greet people.
Therefore, Li San Niang only told her that she was going to the Wang family to pay New Year's respects to her father, and that was enough for her to understand what was going on.
But little Dewdrop had a good memory; she remembered visiting her half-brother (who wasn't actually her father) at the Wang family's house during the last Mid-Autumn Festival.
"Mother, will I be able to see my brother this time too?"
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