The woman took the instant noodles and said, "You're such a kind person, thank you."
Fang Lin said, "You're welcome. We're from the same hometown, so I should help you if you need it."
The woman didn't say anything more, tore open the two packets of instant noodles, put them in a bowl, and then poured boiling water over them.
On the afternoon of New Year's Eve, as was the custom in previous years, Dong Qing brought money into Yi Minghui's house. They sat down and talked for a while, and Dong Qing took out 10,000 yuan and put it on the table.
Yi Feifei said, "I won't say any more polite words. Don't rush back. I'll go to the kitchen to cook a few dishes and have a few drinks with your brother at home."
Dong Qing said, "Xiao Fan has been gone for a few months, and it's almost Chinese New Year. I want to visit his mother at home. If you're not busy, would you like to come with me?"
Yi Feifei said, "Okay, I also want to go back to my parents' home before the New Year. I'll go back with you."
Dong Qing said, "Of course, let's go."
Dong Qing drove to Yicun. He had no relatives in the village and rarely came here.
Guided by Yi Feifei, the car parked in front of Yi Xiaofan's house.
They entered the house, the door was ajar, and Yi Feifei pushed the door open and went inside. She saw Yi Xiaofan's mother lying on the bed and said, "Sister-in-law, what are you doing lying in bed during the New Year? Have you finished celebrating the New Year?"
Yi Xiaofan's mother sat up, tears welling in her eyes, and said, "What kind of New Year's celebration is this for an old woman like me? I didn't buy anything."
Dongqing felt a pang of sadness upon seeing this scene; the blow of losing a son would be unbearable for anyone.
If Yi Xiaofan were alive, the old lady would definitely not be lying in bed on New Year's Eve; she would probably be busy making dumplings in the kitchen to celebrate the New Year.
Dongqing could completely understand the old lady's situation at this moment. People become more frail as they get older, and now that her only son is gone, it would be difficult for anyone to get over this. He said, "Auntie, I know you can't accept the reality of losing your son in a short time, but life goes on. Don't you think what your nephew said is right?"
It was only then that Yi Xiaofan's mother noticed Dong Qing's arrival, and she hurriedly got out of bed and went to the outer room.
The old lady had aged considerably, her hair had turned much whiter, and her son had only passed away a few months earlier. She said, "Thank you for coming to visit me. Please have a seat."
Yifeifei found a few small stools at home, and the group sat down. She said, "Sister-in-law, our daughter hasn't come to visit you for the New Year."
Yi Xiaofan's mother said, "She's family too, she can't stay with me every day."
Dongqing talked for a while at home, then left 10,000 yuan for the old lady, saying, "Auntie, please accept this money. I'll come to visit you again next year when I have time."
The old lady said, "I really can't accept this money..."
Before the old lady could finish speaking, Dong Qing said, "Auntie, please accept the money because you think highly of your nephew. I really can't help you with anything else. I just hope you're doing better. I'll head back now."
Yi Xiaofan's mother didn't say anything, only two sentences: "There are still more good people in the world. You are such a good child."
The old lady's two sentences revealed his feelings at that moment; he felt mostly gratitude and even more warmth.
After saying goodbye to the old lady, Dongqing walked to the gate with Yiminghui and his wife. He took out five hundred yuan and said, "Take this money and help Auntie with the New Year celebrations."
Yi Feifei raised her hand and refused the money, saying, "You've done so much for my sister-in-law. Giving you more money would be a slap in the face to my husband and me. Take the money back. Don't worry, I've already taken care of her New Year's celebration this year."
Dong Qing didn't insist on this small matter. Yi Minghui was the old lady's younger brother and had an obligation to help her with the New Year celebrations. He said, "Alright, you help the old lady with the New Year celebrations. I'll go back now."
Yi Feifei said, "Okay, you go back first. We'll go to my parents' house first, then ride our bikes into town to buy some New Year's goods for my sister-in-law."
Dong Qing said "okay," then got in the car, started it, and drove into the city.
Although there was snow on the road, it was melting in the afternoon and wasn't as slippery as it had been the day before yesterday.
Dong Qing drove to his parents-in-law's house. Li Yuzhu had brought her three children to her parents' house this morning.
Just as Dong Qing parked the car in front of the villa, Li Yuzhu and her mother came out of the living room with their children. Dong Qing said, "Mom, I won't park here. We're going back."
The mother said, "Alright, you can go back now!"
Li Yuzhu got into the car with her three children and sat in the back seat. Dong Qing started the car and drove out of the villa.
Dong Qing was in a particularly good mood this year. He drove into a fireworks and firecrackers shop in the city and bought fifty boxes of fireworks and some firecrackers.
Li Yuzhu said, "You're really wasting money! Why did you buy so many fireworks?"
Dong Qing said, "This year is the happiest year of my life. We'll have a ton of shows on the Spring Festival Gala this year."
After listening to her husband's words, Li Yuzhu shook her head and said nothing more. She believed that making money was for enjoyment, and if her husband wanted to buy it, then so be it.
Fifty boxes of fireworks is no small amount; the shop owner loaded them all onto his motorcycle tricycle.
The boss was very happy with such a big deal, and in the end, he gave Dongqing two boxes of fireworks for free.
The boss loaded the fireworks onto his motorcycle tricycle, followed behind Dongqing's car, and started the vehicle to drive home.
Back home, Dongqing unloaded ten boxes of fireworks for each of his three older sisters' families, while he kept twenty-two boxes for himself.
The happiest people during the Spring Festival fireworks are the children. My eldest and second eldest sisters' children were overjoyed to see the fireworks, calling him "Uncle" so affectionately, probably more than they do in a whole month normally.
Li Yuzhu said, "Same as last year, everyone's coming to my house for dinner tonight."
Dong Damei said, "No, the four of us siblings will take turns. This year, we'll all have dinner at my house on New Year's Eve, next year at my second sister's house, and the year after that at my third sister's house. Is this arrangement okay?"
Dong Ermei said, "Of course! I'll come to your house and help you make dumplings."
The point of Chinese New Year is to have fun. It doesn't really matter whose house you eat at. It's the gathering of people that makes the New Year atmosphere more festive. Li Yuzhu said, "Okay, we'll have dinner at my eldest sister's house tonight. I'll also go over and help make dumplings."
Dong Sanmei said, "It's so nice that my brother and I live together."
Many people believe that siblings who live together for a long time will have conflicts, and in severe cases, they may even become enemies.
In fact, this subtle change varies from person to person. Blood ties are the bond of kinship, and many older sisters and younger brothers still have a deep emotional foundation. Most siblings can still get along harmoniously.
There are fewer conflicts between family members if they don't worry about gains and losses. As the saying goes, if you treat each other with respect and kindness, you can build a bridge of affection between siblings.
Of course, there are also many cases where siblings have irreconcilable differences, becoming enemies despite blood ties and even fighting. It's impossible to generalize about this; everyone has different ways of handling things.
The number of passengers on the train dwindled until, by New Year's Eve, there were only a dozen or so people in each carriage.
During the Chinese New Year, dumplings were provided for passengers on the train, but they weren't free.
Even if you have to pay for it, it's still nice to be able to eat dumplings on the train on the eve of the Lunar New Year. The dining car was pushed next to Fang Lin, and she said, "Give me three servings of dumplings."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
