Cai Min very decisively picked up her bowl and chopsticks and went to the small square seat. Tang Xiaoling also consciously went down to her seat.
Xuemei simply took her bowl and chopsticks and went downstairs. As long as Nannan was there, this little guy Liujin was fine.
Cuihua placed a large bowl of chicken soup on the small square seat and sat down. It was quite nice to have four people filling the table.
The group chatted and laughed, taking whichever dish they liked, creating a light and cheerful atmosphere.
Xuemei gave Cai Min a strange look. How come this woman changed after just one afternoon? Her previously indifferent attitude had started to improve.
The atmosphere at tonight's New Year's Eve dinner was wonderful. No one was causing trouble. The three brothers drank baijiu and ate pork. It turns out that life can be so wonderful.
As dusk fell, Cuihua took out the kerosene lamps and began to light them one by one. She would have to keep watch tonight, at least until midnight.
Yan Xiaonan took Liu Jin and Grandma to bed. The old are old and the young are young, so they should all go to sleep.
Cuihua, along with Xuemei and Tang Xiaoling, started kneading dough to make dumplings. Dumplings for the first day of the Lunar New Year are traditionally served at the maternal home on the second day.
Yan Erqiang didn't want to keep watch at night; he had to catch the train back tomorrow, so he decided to get some sleep and pulled Cai Min back into the house.
Daqiang and Xiaoqiang were playing cards, while Dongnan, Xixin and Aidang were discussing national affairs. Yan Jun and Yan Zheng were already very tired, but they insisted on sitting in the main room.
When the hands of the watch reached twelve, Yan Xiaoqiang and Yan Daqiang and a few others went to the yard to set off a string of firecrackers to signify the arrival of the New Year.
As dawn broke, Xuemei and Tang Xiaoling got up. Today was the first day of the Lunar New Year, and they had to put all the dumplings in the pot so that everyone could eat them when they got up.
The two worked together: one tended the fire, the other scooped water, one cooked dumplings, and the other fetched bowls and plates.
When all the dumplings were on the table, everyone was sitting neatly together.
Wishing you a Happy New Year, may the New Year bring you new beginnings.
After finishing the dumplings, Grandma Yan took out her New Year's money, one yuan for each person as usual, even Ai Dang received some. Although Ai Dang had a job, he was still unmarried and a child.
Daqiang also took out his New Year's money, fifty cents each, because he couldn't let his mother have too much.
Erqiang had already planned it out. His third brother's family only had Nannan and Liujin, so he would give each of them two mao (0.2 yuan). His third brother would also have to give back two children, so he wouldn't lose out. As for Yan Aidang, he's too old to need New Year's money.
Yan Xiaoqiang also took out his New Year's money. He also took 50 cents. Ai Dang, Yan Ge, and Yan Zheng each took 50 cents, while Nan Nan and Liu Jin each took one yuan.
Yan Zheng was overjoyed. He received so much lucky money this year, a total of two yuan!
Southeast smiled and took out some money, not much, two mao each. Southwest also took out some money, two mao each. Ai Dang looked at the four mao in his hand and was both amused and exasperated.
Liu Jin took the two mao (0.2 yuan) and returned it to Dongnan: "Dad, I want the big one, I don't want this one."
Southeast laughed: "Six jin, tell Dad how big you want it."
Liu Jin rummaged through Dongnan's pocket and pulled out two one-yuan bills: "Auntie, Auntie, let's each have one."
Xuemei covered her mouth and laughed. This little brat is using his father's money to flatter Nannan.
Yan Xiaonan put the money away without any hesitation: "Next time we go to town, your aunt will buy you some liqueur-filled chocolates."
Grandma Yan's face has gained another layer of wrinkles. As long as the family is united and loving, that's better than anything else.
There was an urgent knock on the door. Yan Xiaoqiang frowned. Could it be some other troublemaker?
The village chief stood anxiously outside the door as the door opened: "Qiangzi, hurry and help! The roofs of many villagers' houses have collapsed under the weight of the snow. We need to rescue them quickly."
Upon hearing this, Yan Xiaoqiang grabbed a shovel and ran out, followed by Yan Daqiang, Yan Aidang, and the southeast and southwest.
Yan Xiaonan was startled. On New Year's Day, she was afraid someone might be crushed to death. After thinking for a moment, she went to Xuemei's room, rolled up the quilt that Erqiang and his wife had used, and went outside.
"Grandma, I'm going to school to light the kang (heated brick bed)."
Grandma Yan nodded, "Be careful."
There are more than 30 households in the village, and the roofs of at least a dozen of them have collapsed. Yan Xiaonan stood by the roadside, closed his eyes, and used his consciousness to look at the collapsed houses.
Sure enough, many people were trapped underneath. Some could move but couldn't climb out, while others were pinned under the roof beams and were unconscious. Among them were children and the elderly.
Yan Xiaonan closed her eyes even tighter, her consciousness spreading outwards. The roof beam moved to the side, and an escape hole appeared in the compacted area.
The village chief led the villagers in a rapid rescue operation. Ye Chen'er saw Yan Xiaonan and quickly ran over: "Nannan, come on, let's go and heat up the kang (heated brick bed) in the school."
Yan Xiaonan nodded, and Ma Minghua and Ma Mingchun also ran over. The group ran towards the school.
One by one, the people were rescued and transferred to the school. Yan Xiaonan and the others not only heated the kang (a traditional heated bed) but also boiled water, and Tang Xiaoling even came over with several baskets.
The basket contained steamed buns, flatbreads, and some pork. These were originally intended for Erqiang to eat on the road, but saving lives was the priority now.
The village doctor was also busy, ignoring the minor injuries, but mainly focusing on the several people with broken ribs and leg bones, worried that their bones might shift.
The roof of Fenqiu's house also collapsed, but fortunately, their kang (heated brick bed) was not under the main beam, so it was only slightly damaged.
The dung ball was searching everywhere for Ma Mingchun. Their cowshed was fine, but they needed to set up an oxcart to take the seriously injured man to the town hospital.
Yan Xiaonan quickly gave the quilts and blankets to Ma Mingchun, as it was cold on the road and the injured should not suffer frostbite.
When Yan Xiaonan saw Tang Xiaoling trying to run back, she grabbed her and said, "Second sister-in-law, you absolutely mustn't run or fall, you know?"
Tang Xiaoling felt strange, but years of habit had made her listen to her mother and Nan Nan, so she quickly nodded and slowed down.
She saw Southwest moving the fallen logs, so she ran up to her and told her what Yan Xiaonan had just said. Southwest's eyes lit up.
"Xiaoling, listen to me, walk back slowly, don't carry heavy things, and absolutely don't fall."
Even Tang Xiaoling, who was usually slow-witted, understood. She clutched her stomach and said, "Southwest, we..."
Yan Xinan nodded: "You're going to be a mother, and I'm going to be a father."
Tang Xiaoling's face shone with the unique radiance of a mother as she carefully walked home, step by step.
The rescue efforts were in full swing, and Ma Da Sao led a group of old women to set up pots and start fires. Those who had food donated it, and those who had strength contributed their labor.
Accountant Ma checked the list one by one until all 120-plus people in Mushroom Village were accounted for completely, then he let out a long sigh of relief.
Suddenly, more than a dozen households and over sixty people in the village were left homeless and gathered at the school, waiting for the village chief's arrangements.
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