I was a big shopper; I bought all the pretty fireworks and firecrackers, as well as snacks—things that Xiaohan wanted but I couldn't afford to buy.
The shop owner was overjoyed to have bought so much stuff and helped us carry it home in a trolley.
There was nothing I didn't look at along the way.
Especially the children, they all ran over and followed.
"Xiaohan! Did your family buy all of these?"
Xiao Han looked smug, her back ramrod straight:
"Yes! My brother bought them all for me."
The children looked at me, and one little girl said:
"Xiao Han! Your brother is tall and handsome, how about letting him be my older brother too?"
"How can that be? He only became my brother because my mother married his father."
“Then I’ll have my sister marry him, and he can be my brother-in-law.”
No, do kids these days have so many ideas?
"You should just give up! The sisters my brother brought are all very beautiful, and there are even foreigners among them. Your sister is no match for them."
"How will I know it won't work if I don't try? I'm going home to call my sister."
Just as the little girl who had spoken ran off, another little boy said, "I'll go home and call my sister too."
"I'll go too."
Holy crap? How come they all have older sisters?
I remember that family planning was done very well in Northeast China.
"Xiao Han! Why do they all have older sisters? Don't you have family planning here?"
The shop owner answered for Xiaohan: "Here, if the first child is a girl, you're allowed to have another one."
If the first one is a boy, then they won't be allowed to have any more.
We talked as we walked home.
Liu Xinying's mother rushed out as soon as she saw it: "You've brought the convenience store back with you! Xiaohan! Did you make your brother spend money?"
"Grandma! No, it was my own idea."
"Brother! You should call her Grandma!"
Um... actually, I'm not planning to change my address so soon. Like Liu Xinying, I can accept her, but I can't bring myself to call her "Mom".
"Oh dear! I'll do whatever your brother asks. Old man! Hurry up! Help me move these things inside."
"Wow! Why did you buy so much? Kid! You can't spend money like this again."
"It's a happy time of the New Year, it's okay."
Liu Xinying's family is not well-off; they can only afford to buy a chicken, a fish, and some meat for the Chinese New Year.
Fireworks and firecrackers are always set at 500 shots plus a dozen or so two-shot bursts.
I never buy cannons or fireworks.
Xiao Han is so happy this year! We not only brought good wine and food, but also bought so many snacks, candies, and fireworks.
Before evening even arrived, she was already letting loose with us in the yard.
Around noon, I received a phone call:
"Zheng Yang? This is Sun Yanqing."
Sun Chaoqun's father?
What do you want?
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