Chapter 434 We Will Be Reunited Next Year
Lunar New Year's eve.
After breakfast, Hongbin and Pengfei were putting up Spring Festival couplets.
This year's Spring Festival couplets are extraordinary. They are of a quality that can be framed. They are made by Professor Gu.
Professor Gu’s calligraphy has always been hard to come by and is only given to close friends, especially Spring Festival couplets.
Before the Spring Festival, when Tuanan went to Gu's house, they talked about Spring Festival couplets. Professor Gu taught him how to write them for fun, and he actually became interested in it. The two of them wrote quite a few couplets in one breath, and when they left, he asked Tuanan to take them all home.
Zhu Xiu Yu also got one and was very happy.
She particularly admired these intellectuals, and told Hongbin and Pengfei to be careful in pasting them so as not to waste Professor Gu's efforts.
Pengfei stood on a chair holding the Spring Festival couplets, while Hongbin held the paste in one hand to fill the missing parts, and did not forget to step on the crossbar of the stool under Pengfei's feet, for fear that he would fall.
The two of them were pasting the paper there, while Zhuang Hualin and Zhu Xiu Yu were standing in the yard helping to check whether it was pasted straight.
"Pengfei seems to have grown taller. I always felt that he was a little shorter than Dongzhe, but now he should be about the same, except that he is still a little shorter than Hongbin." Zhuang Hualin's eyes fell on his son.
"Hongbin is at least a few years older! Pengfei still has a lot of growth to do, and Pengfei is stronger than Dongzhe and Tunan. He is not picky about food, but those two are." Zhu Xiu Yu looked proud.
"Sister-in-law, wait for me to come back and prepare the New Year's Eve dinner. Let's make something fresh instead of those troublesome big dishes. It's enough to just eat comfortably." Zhuang Hualin instructed.
"Okay, I'll stew the old hen. I can't wait for you to come back. If you come back, we won't be able to eat chicken at night. We'll cook some fresh dishes in the evening and stir-fry two spicy ones. The three of them like them." Zhu Xiu Yu replied.
Nowadays, people don’t have the habit of going out to restaurants during the Chinese New Year, and they still spend the New Year together at home, so Huang Ling simply gave Suihualou a holiday. Everyone rested from the 29th to the 4th, and resumed business on the 5th.
Zhu Xiu Yu was a little reluctant and said that there might be business on the second and third days of the Lunar New Year. Huang Ling laughed at her and said that the donkeys in the production team had an easier life than you, so you can just rest assured and rest assured, there is endless money to be made.
After she said that, Zhu Xiu Yu finally made up her mind to take a rest.
If she thought about it carefully, she had four days off every month throughout the year, but she had never had a whole day off. She would only stay in the building for one day on her day off. This was the only time she had a real rest.
But she was so idle every day that she didn't know what to do and just wandered around the house.
"Okay, then just stew the chicken." Zhuang Hualin agreed.
Dr. Liu saw that she and Xiangdong had just returned this year, so he gave her a few days off so that they could reunite with their family.
"Mom!" Hongbin and Pengfei shouted at the same time.
The two were chatting and forgot about the important matter. I didn't help them check whether the stickers were pasted crookedly. After gesturing for a long time without any response, they screamed.
Xiangdong was tidying up the old hens in a corner of the yard. He watched the four of them busying around and laughed.
After packing up, Zhuang Hualin and his family of three returned to the Zhuang family.
Zhu Xiu Yu and Hong Bin were the only ones left at home. They sat in the house, eating melon seeds and watching TV, chatting about school and work.
"Hongbin, you don't have to worry too much about your job. Your Aunt Huang said she'll be going to Shanghai after the Chinese New Year. As long as you meet the requirements, you'll have the job."
"Mom, don't worry. I've always been at the top of the department in every semester's exams. Brother Tunan would call me every two days to urge me on. He said that every semester's results would be recorded in my file and would be a must-see for good employers when selecting people, so I shouldn't slack off.
Besides, I haven't done anything about the school activities, class leadership, department leadership, business competitions... so don't worry!"
Zhu Xiuyu sighed, "Yes! Thanks to him for always thinking of you. Look, it's so good to have a brother! You should treat your younger brothers and sisters the same way in the future. I heard from your Aunt Huang that Xiaoting and Dongzhe want to go to university in Shanghai. It's a good opportunity for you to take care of them."
"Of course, I'll go see them every week." Hong Bin nodded, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Mom, are you planning to buy that house..."
Zhu Xiuyu knew what he was going to ask. She looked around the house and said:
"Originally, Mom thought this was the best life I could give you, but now, we can do even better. That house is truly our own house, and it has nothing to do with my plans."
Hongbin held Zhu Xiuyu's hand:
"Mom, ever since my dad passed away, everything you've done has been for me. Now I'm finally going to work, and it's my turn to take care of you. You don't have to put me first in everything. You have to think about how to be happy. Anyway, I support you in whatever you do."
Zhu Xiuyu smiled with relief: "Mom is happy as long as she is in Suihua Building now. Oh, when can she go back to work?"
Hongbin and Zhu Xiuyu did not go to Zhuang's house, and when Zhuang Hualin entered the house, Zhuang's mother did not complain at all.
She remembered what Zhu Xiu Yu had said to her. Zhuang's mother would not want her to show up today, so she would definitely not nag her disobedient daughter-in-law for not going to spend the New Year with them.
It seems that her sister-in-law guessed right. Zhuang Hualin knew that today was undoubtedly the Hongmen Banquet.
Zhuang Hualin was not afraid. It was her elder brother who was in trouble. Her elder brother, without money, was afraid that life would be difficult.
Not only did Zhuang's mother not complain about Zhu Xiuyu's absence, she also did not complain about Zhuang Hualin.
Normally, if she only had a handful of celery in her hand, she would definitely tease her for a long time, but today, Zhuang's mother took the celery and smiled:
"I felt Chaoying was missing something, and I realized it when I saw this bunch of celery you had."
Zhuang Hualin was about to say "I don't have money", but he swallowed it back. At least he would wait and see what she said before saying "I don't have money".
Zhuang's mother and Zhuang Hualin went into the kitchen to cook.
Xiangdong originally wanted to go to the kitchen to help, but when he thought about how Zhuang's mother didn't like him and that his nose was not a nose and his eyes were not eyes, he didn't go in.
He sat in the living room and chatted with Zhuang Chaoying casually.
Zhuang Chaoying said: "What are the benefits of working in a private factory?"
Xiangdong answered honestly, "Brother, it's a thousand times better than in Guizhou. The most important thing is that Hualin is satisfied. There's not a single day in Guizhou when she doesn't want to go back to Suzhou. She's been much happier since she came back."
Zhuang Chaoying saw joy on the man's face, immense joy.
He had seen such expressions on many people's faces, including Zhou Huaiyi, Lin Wufeng, and Li Yiming... When they talked about their wives and children, they were so happy, with their eyes, eyebrows, and lips showing their joy.
At this time, he understood that in Xiangdong, Zhuang Hualin's satisfaction was far more important than a stable job.
"Pengfei, eat!" Zhuang Chaoying retracted his gaze and motioned Pengfei to eat the snacks on the table.
"Oh! Yes, uncle."
Pengfei responded, but his hands did not move.
Zhuang Chaoying grabbed a handful of peanuts and handed them over, and Pengfei had no choice but to reach out and take it.
"My uncle bought it, eat it!"
"Thank you, uncle."
Pengfei began to peel peanuts and eat them. He peeled a small pile and shared it with his father and uncle. Finally, he picked up two and put them in his mouth, chewing them slowly.
The meal wasn't very complicated, just a few more stir-fried meat dishes than usual, and we all ate together.
After eating and chatting for a while, Zhuang's mother suddenly changed the subject: "Maybe next year, the family can be truly reunited."
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