Chapter 66 Happy New Year
"Are you going to Quan City?" Jiang Yulan couldn't help but frown.
"Yes, Sister Cheng asked me to go with her. I think this is an opportunity to see what the teether is all about over there. I can also take a look at the popular toys in Quan City." Jiang Lili explained to her.
"But Quan City is so far away." Jiang Yulan was a little worried.
"I've got Sister Cheng with me, so don't worry." In addition to looking at the teether, she also wanted to go out and take a look. She has been here for almost seventeen years, and the farthest place she has been to is Jincheng. This time she has the opportunity, and she naturally doesn't want to waste it.
"Then I'll go with you?" Jiang Yulan was still a little worried.
"No need. If you really want to go, of course I'd be happy to go. But if you just want to accompany me, there's really no need. You don't have to worry because Sister Cheng is with you." Jiang Lili said seriously.
Seeing her insistence, Jiang Yulan thought about it and felt that Cheng Yuntian was also a young girl and Cheng Dabiao would definitely have arrangements, so she nodded in agreement: "Okay, let's book the tickets first." As for the subsequent instructions, there would be no time to give them before departure.
"Thank you, Mom." Jiang Lili happily hugged her, then quickly ran to the living room and walked over to Cheng Yuntian: "Sister Cheng, please help me book the ticket."
"Sister Jiang agreed?" Cheng Yuntian was a little surprised. She thought it would be difficult for Sister Jiang to agree.
"Well, I agree. Then shall we meet directly at the train station?" Jiang Lili asked.
"I'll go book the train ticket first and see how it's available." Cheng Yuntian wasn't sure if he could book a ticket for the fifth day of the Lunar New Year.
"Okay, then do I need to prepare anything?" Jiang Li asked.
"No need for special preparation, just use your brain. Take a look at the popular toys in Quan City, and maybe you will have new inspiration when you come back." Although Cheng Yuntian said it in a teasing tone, this was also her true thought.
"The hand-torn books haven't been released yet, Sister Cheng, don't be too anxious." Although Jiang Lili had the same idea in her mind, it was one thing to think on her own and another to be urged by others.
"I'm too impatient. I'll go back first and let you know after I buy the ticket. Have a good New Year first." Cheng Yuntian's tone relaxed at the end.
"Okay, then I'll wait for Sister Cheng's good news." Jiang Lili said with a smile.
Jiang Yulan, who was in the kitchen, came out after hearing the noise. Seeing Cheng Yuntian leave, she couldn't help but frown: "Why didn't you let her stay for dinner?"
"She's in a hurry to book a ticket." Jiang Lili explained.
"Okay, then bring these fried ones over there." Jiang Yulan fried some crispy pork, peanuts and other fried foods, and everyone will eat them together at the New Year's Eve dinner tomorrow.
When they got to Jiang Aiguo's place, Jiang Yulan told them about Jiang Lili's trip to Quan City. Jiang Jianyi seemed to agree: "It's good to go out more. Lili will be seventeen soon, which is good."
"Sister Lili, where are you going? Can you take me with you?" Jiang Qitong's eyes lit up, she also wanted to go.
"Next time, I have something important to do this time." Jiang Lili explained.
"If the factory is really opened by Manager Zhang, what are you going to do?" Jiang Aiguo asked.
"I don't know either. This matter cannot be made public until a new partner is found."
"What about the contract signed before?" Jiang Yulan asked with some concern.
"If it's really him, he was the one who breached the contract first, so the most important thing right now is to find out who is behind the factory. Only then can we decide what to do next." Jiang Lili's tone was somewhat helpless, so now they were restricted.
"Then go and find out." Jiang Aiguo also supported her to go to Quan City.
Soon it was New Year's Eve. At this time, the New Year atmosphere was still in full swing. Every household had Spring Festival couplets posted on their doors, and the sound of firecrackers was everywhere. Jiang Lili was woken up by Jiang Yulan: "Hurry up, you can't sleep in during the New Year."
"Okay, I'll be right there." Having said that, Jiang Lili still lingered in bed for a long time before getting up. There was no other way, the bed was too warm in winter.
The mother and daughter left their home to go to Jiang Aiguo's place. As soon as they entered the door, Jiang Qitong grabbed them and said, "Sister Lili, shall we go downstairs to set off the fireworks?"
"Let's go." Only during the Chinese New Year can children set off firecrackers freely, so Jiang Lili followed Jiang Qitong to set off firecrackers. When they were going downstairs, the little girl came close to her and said, "Sister Lili, I saw Grandpa packing red envelopes. There is so much money this year!"
"How many are there?" Jiang Lili teased her deliberately.
"One hundred yuan, I saw it." Jiang Qitong's tone was a little excited.
Even Jiang Lili was surprised. One hundred yuan was nothing in the later world, but it was an astronomical figure now. She couldn't help but confirm with her: "Are you seeing things?"
"No, I heard from grandpa that you were going to Quan City. Grandpa said that a poor family can make a rich journey, so I'll give you more." Jiang Qitong quickly told her everything she had overheard.
"Is that so?" Jiang Lili looked thoughtful.
"Yes, hurry up, Sister Lili, there are so many people there." Jiang Qitong was afraid that there would be no room left, so she urged quickly.
"Okay, let's hurry over there." Jiang Lili said as she quickened her pace.
The sound of firecrackers filled the air. The fireworks at that time were not as brilliant as those in later times, but everyone was extremely happy. Soon, Jiang Qitong's surprised voice came from behind: "Brother Lu, are you guys coming to set off fireworks too?"
Jiang Lili was a little surprised to hear this. The Lu family was here too? She turned around and saw Lu Jiaze and Lu Hongzhe, as well as Old Man Lu beside them. She quickly greeted the old man, "Hello, Grandpa Lu."
"You guys are fine too. Then you guys go play downstairs and I'll go talk to your grandpa." Grandpa Lu came to the cotton mill this time just to chat with his old friends.
Lu Hongzhe nodded at her, then said, "You guys play first, I'll take grandpa upstairs."
"Grandpa wanted to come over to see his old friends, so my brother and I accompanied him." Lu Jiaze explained.
"So that's how it is. Let's set off the fireworks first." Jiang Lili nodded, indicating that she understood.
"Okay, let me light one." Lu Jiaze said as he lit the fireworks in his hand. Jiang Qitong beside him quickly came over and said, "Brother Lu, help me light one."
The yard was full of children setting off fireworks. In addition to fireworks, there were other children playing with firecrackers and other things. This reminded Lu Jiaze of their childhood, when they celebrated the New Year in the same way. However, Jiang Lili refused to set off the fireworks herself at that time. Compared to before, she was much braver now.
"Okay, just send me here, you go downstairs and play with them." Before knocking on the door, the old man started to chase people away, asking Lu Hongzhe to go downstairs and play with them. This child is too steady and he needs to relax sometimes.
"Grandpa, I'm almost twenty years old. Who still plays with that?" Lu Hongzhe was a little amused. Sending the old man up was just an excuse. He was no longer old enough to set off firecrackers.
"So what if you're twenty? You're still a child. Go away. You're not interested in chatting with us adults." The old man continued to drive people away.
"Okay, then I'll wait for you to go in and then I'll leave." Lu Hongzhe compromised.
When Lu Hongzhe went downstairs to the yard, Jiang Lili and the others were setting off fireworks. He didn't go over. In his opinion, those were things only children played with, and he was no longer a child.
"Tongtong, after this we should go home." The sound of firecrackers came one after another, and Jiang Lili almost shouted this sentence.
"I understand, Sister Lili." Jiang Qitong responded absentmindedly, her eyes still fixed on the fireworks blooming in the sky.
Lu Jiaze stood aside without saying a word. He was completely conflicted. Ever since his elder brother had exposed the darkness in his heart, he hadn't known how to face Jiang Lili. He hadn't wanted to come to the cotton mill today, but in the end, he couldn't help but follow. He couldn't help but wonder, why do we have to grow up? How wonderful it would be if we could still be like we were when we were little.
"Lu Jiaze, let's go." Seeing that he didn't respond, Jiang Lili couldn't help but reach out and pat his shoulder. Seeing his gaze looking at her, she said, "What are you thinking about? It's time to go back."
"You're not going to let go anymore?" Lu Jiaze came back to his senses.
"No, it's time to go home, let's go." Jiang Lili shook her head and pulled Tongtong out.
When she reached the stairs and saw Lu Hongzhe standing there, Jiang Qitong trotted over and said, "Brother Hongzhe, why don't you come and set off fireworks with us?"
"I came down too late." Lu Hongzhe explained.
Jiang Lili looked up at him. This man could lie without batting an eyelid. It seemed that she still had a lot to learn.
Noticing her gaze, Lu Hongzhe smiled politely at her. Jiang Lili quickly turned her head away: "Let's go, it's time to go upstairs."
Lu Hongzhe was a little surprised by her reaction. Did she see him coming down early? Lu Hongzhe was not afraid of his lie being exposed, so he nodded in agreement: "Let's go upstairs first."
When they returned, Mr. Lu and Jiang Jianyi were chatting happily, along with Grandpa Wu from next door. There were wine glasses in front of the three of them, and snacks on the coffee table. Seeing this, Jiang Yulan whispered to them, "I don't know why they ended up talking about their youth, and now they have to compete in drinking capacity."
"As long as Grandpa is happy." Lu Hongzhe agreed. From Yuncheng to Jincheng, Grandpa Lu said goodbye to his neighbors and friends of many years. He had never been so happy in Jincheng in all these years.
After returning home, Jiang Qitong was particularly aware of the host's consciousness. She invited the Lu brothers to stay on the sofa and brought a tea tray filled with melon seeds, peanuts and candies. She even imitated Zhou Qingfen's greetings and said, "Brother Lu, Brother Hongzhe, don't be polite. Just treat this place as your own home."
Jiang Lili raised the corner of her lips. The little girl had some sense of ownership. She pulled the two of them to watch TV together. Jiang Lili went to her room to see if she had any of her things. She would take them back later.
When she came out, she saw the Lu brothers preparing to leave. She glanced at the old people's group over there and saw that the three old men were still drinking and chatting happily. It seemed that they would not go back tonight.
"Goodbye, Brother Lu, Brother Hongzhe. Come play again tomorrow." Jiang Qitong waved goodbye to the two of them.
Jiang Lili was just hesitating whether to see them off when she saw Lu Hongzhe walking towards her and handing her a red envelope: "Happy New Year!"
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