Since Mother is unwilling to say more, then I shouldn't ask. Anyway, if there's anything they can't handle, they'll definitely come to me.
New Year's Eve is here in the blink of an eye. Now we don't need to break the old traditions or bring out the ancestral tablets. We just cook some dishes, pour some wine, and light some incense as a token gesture.
Yan Aidang was the happiest one today, busy working with Yan Xiaonan, sweeping the yard and thoroughly cleaning the chicken coop.
Every room had to be thoroughly cleaned, but fortunately, Cuihua was diligent and usually kept the place spotless, so the two of them only did a token dusting and sweeping.
Yan Xiaoqiang and Daqiang began processing the pig. They cleaned the pig's head for the sacrificial offering, cut the pork into pieces, and also cut off the pig's legs for later use.
Cuihua and her two daughters-in-law set up three stoves. Southwest and Southeast helped their daughters-in-law cook, and they did a pretty good job.
Grandma Yan watched over Liu Jin, and Yan Ge and Yan Zheng played with Liu Jin as well. Only Yan Erqiang and Cai Min had nothing to do and began to silently look around the main room.
Cai Min spotted the sewing machine near the corner of the main room. She nudged Yan Erqiang and pointed at it, saying, "Let's get one next year. The kids are getting bigger, and it's getting harder to make clothes."
Yan Erqiang shook his head: "These things were all part of my wife's dowry. What's the point of you taking them?"
Cai Min looked at Yan Erqiang in astonishment: "How old is Yan Erqiang? You're already thinking about finding him a wife?"
Yan Erqiang didn't say anything. How could he possibly ask me to pay for a sewing machine?
Cai Min remained silent. If you don't want to buy, then don't buy. If you want new clothes, go to the tailor to have them made. As for you, you're on your own.
No one noticed this little incident, or rather, even if they did, no one cared; everyone was busy with their own things, and no one had time to meddle.
Cuihua is kneading dough and rolling out noodles. She'll have the noodles with pig's trotter soup for lunch today, and she'll also make braised pork and vegetables as a side dish.
Yan Aidang loved eating Cuihua's cooking; he felt that even state-run restaurants couldn't cook as well as Cuihua.
Yan Erqiang ate two bowls of noodles before he felt satisfied. He looked at Yan Aidang with a forced smile and said, "Aidang, do you eat like this at home? Won't you eat your parents out of house and home?"
Yan Aidang looked at Yan Erqiang with a smile and said, "Second Uncle, don't worry. My parents' monthly salary and allowances are enough to support not only me, but also my grandmother. They'll live a good life and won't go broke."
Yan Erqiang was somewhat annoyed. "You shouldn't expose someone's shortcomings. What's the point of this?" he said. "Yes, your parents have high salaries, but they probably don't earn a hundred yuan a month!"
Yan Aidang laughed even harder: "Let's not talk about my dad's salary. My mom is a regimental-level officer in the division hospital of the combat unit, and her monthly salary is 160 yuan."
This was the first time everyone truly knew about Yan Daqiang's family's income. Not only was Yan Erqiang surprised and jealous, but Yan Xiaonan was also somewhat taken aback.
My aunt has such a high salary, so my uncle must earn even more. But considering that they have worked on the front lines of the country for more than a decade, their high salaries are well-deserved.
Those from the southeast and southwest understand better; these are benefits earned through fighting and gunfire, and they take them with a clear conscience.
Cai Min lowered her head, but smiled inwardly. She earned eighteen a month, and Erqiang earned twenty-seven a month, which added up to only forty-five, less than a fraction of what Erqiang earned.
After years of scrimping and saving, my bank savings are less than 500 yuan, yet I still proudly show off my bank deposit slip every day.
They say comparing people is a recipe for disaster, and comparing goods is a recipe for disaster. Now let's see how smug Yan Erqiang is.
Yan Zheng suddenly stood up and ran to Yan Daqiang: "Uncle, I want to join the army."
Yan Daqiang wanted to shake his head. In his heart, although his second brother's two children hadn't been raised badly, they weren't particularly successful either.
But children's hearts are pure and cannot tolerate the slightest blow from adults. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Yan Zheng, your household registration is in Chuncheng. You need to find your local recruitment office."
Yan Zheng nodded and walked to Yan Ge's side, saying, "Brother, let's go back and find the recruitment office. I want to join the army."
Yan Ge thought for a moment and said, "Little brother, you'd better think this through. Being a soldier is tough and tiring. Can you endure it?"
Yan Zheng ignored Yan Erqiang and Cai Min and nodded resolutely: "If my uncle can endure hardship, so can I. I am a child of the Yan family."
Yan Daqiang was somewhat surprised, but things can't be done with words alone; you have to take action. If he really is a good person, it wouldn't be bad to train him properly once he has enough experience.
Yan Erqiang wanted to object, but Cai Min pushed him, saying, "The child is grown up and has his own ideas. You don't need to control everything."
Yan Erqiang stared at Cai Min in astonishment. Wasn't this woman the one most worried about her child leaving her side? How come she's changed?
Grandma Yan was overjoyed. If Yan Zheng could really join the army, then her second son's family would finally have someone successful.
Cuihua checked the time: "Mother, why don't we put the pig's head up there, and then everyone can kowtow a few times before having our New Year's Eve dinner?"
Grandma Yan nodded quickly. A large table of dishes, including chicken, duck, fish and meat, were laid out. Daqiang placed the pig's head in the center of the table, and Grandma Yan set up the incense table.
As usual, Grandma Yan led Yan Xiaonan in kowtowing, but this time, Liu Jin, under Southeast's guidance, did not follow Yan Xiaonan.
Daqiang was first, Erqiang and Cai Min were second, Yan Xiaoqiang and Cuihua were third, and the children lined up one by one in order.
Liu Jin was last in line and felt a little wronged. Yan Xiaonan secretly told him, "Next year, someone will be behind you in line."
Liu Jin was overjoyed: "Auntie, who will it be next year?"
Yan Xiaonan pointed to Tang Xiaoling's belly: "Second sister-in-law is pregnant."
Liu Jin was stunned. He opened his eyes wide and looked hard, but he couldn't see anything no matter how hard he looked: "Auntie, you're lying to me."
"Don't say it out loud. When you kowtow next year, there will definitely be people behind you in line."
Liu Jin tilted his head and thought about it. He realized that his aunt was right and he trusted her.
This year, the main seat couldn't accommodate so many people, so Grandma Yan asked Cuihua to prepare a small square seat for Nannan to sit with the Yan brothers, Xuemei, and Liujin.
But Liu Jin refused; he insisted on sitting next to his grandmother, and not only that, he also dragged Yan Xiaonan to his other side.
Yan Ai-dang's mischievous little devil has reappeared: "Liu Jin, who do you think will sit in the small square seat?"
Liu Jin rolled his eyes around, then stretched out his chubby little finger and pointed at Yan Erqiang, Cai Min, and Tang Xiaoling.
Yan Aidang quickly understood what Liu Jin meant: "Is it because they didn't go up the mountain, so they have to sit in the small square seats?"
Liu Jin nodded, but Yan Aidang objected: "Then your great-grandmother didn't go, and neither did your grandparents?"
Liu Jin rolled his eyes: "Those are my grandparents, my great-grandmother, you know?"
Well, the strict and loving party realized that they really had lost to a little kid; the kid's thinking was much clearer.
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