Lin Juhua is gone.
She also took away all the favors from her hometown.
The 30th day of the twelfth lunar month is just a few days away.
There is a saying among the common people: Whether you have money or not, just have a good New Year first.
Unlike the solemnity during last year's New Year, the festive atmosphere of the New Year seemed to sweep across the entire compound, exuding a strong sense of the New Year.
There were more and more children of all ages visiting in groups of three or five, and the crackling sounds of firecrackers in their hands could be heard from all directions from time to time.
When it was time for dinner in several family compound, military families from all over the country showed off their cooking skills and started frying meatballs, twisted dough sticks and fried dough sticks, while others steamed bean buns, steamed meat, and braised dishes...
The naughty kids were busy trying to steal their success, the adults were laughing and scolding, and the air was filled with fragrance...
All of this filled the compound with laughter. As we entered the new year of the 1980s, it was indeed different.
The three Ping'an brothers were deeply moved by the scenes around them, and they also wanted to make up for the regret they had when they were not with their mother last year.
As soon as Zhou Jiao and Miao Lishan had their holiday, the three young men followed them all day long, acting as payment machines and bag carriers.
This series of actions made Miao Lishan smile from ear to ear. In Zhou Xiaozheng's words, he was almost woken up by his wife's laughter when he was asleep.
The Zhou family was in high spirits, and the Cheng family was no exception.
Although the eldest brother Cheng Sijin and his brother are far away and cannot return to Beijing to be with their elderly parents as they wish, they each have many descendants.
These children, together with the three brothers of the Wen family, moved back and forth between the three families, making the Zhou family also very lively, not to mention that the three brothers Ping'an had many good friends.
New Year’s Eve is the official start of the Chinese New Year.
Early in the morning, the three Ping'an brothers ran to the old house first, posted couplets, window flowers, and hung lanterns in each courtyard, and then ran to invite Dr. Hu to celebrate the New Year together.
As in previous years, as expected, their master, Doctor Hu, refused to enter the compound.
Any reason?
Still the same, don’t like it!
Just three simple words, Ping An brothers did not force it. Didn't they see Aunt Ya start preparing the New Year's Eve dinner, even the couplets were already posted.
The three brothers happily told the old man that they would come again to kowtow to him on the first day of the next year.
When they came back after finishing their work, it was already noon.
In the kitchen, Zhou Jiao was busy preparing the New Year's Eve dinner and didn't have time to ask the two brothers.
Instead, they chatted with Miao Lishan for a few words, amused their grandmother, and soon came into the kitchen.
"Mom, it smells so good."
"Are we having lunch at noon or midnight?"
Ping An patted the hands of his two younger brothers who were secretly eating the fried meatballs, and couldn't help but grab one himself.
Zhou Jiao turned her head and saw Wan Er smiling. "Let's have a quick meal at noon. After your grandpa and your dad finish the party in the evening, we will have a family reunion dinner."
Wuyi moved aside and sniffed the black pot on the stove. Hmm, his Buddha Jumps Over the Wall is here again.
Liuyi raised an eyebrow when he heard that and took the spatula from her hand. "Mom, I'll do it. You take a break. Where's Grandma Chen?"
"Go to the service center."
Ping An swallowed the food in his mouth and waited for him to finish speaking before asking, "Mom, I heard there will be more than 30,000 people at the Spring Festival Gala tonight. Are you not going?"
Wuyi agreed: "Yes, we can all go through it."
Liuyi used a spatula to stir the pot twice, poured water to cover it, and glanced at his brother: "There are so many people and so much talk, and we have to attend social events, it's okay if Mom doesn't go."
"Then we'll stay home with you."
Zhou Jiao looked at Wuyi with a smile, "You don't have any activities tonight?"
Wuyi was always sweet-talking and said with a smile: "What activity is more important than my mother."
"Your dad said he'll be back soon as usual. You guys can just have fun on your own, but remember to come home for the New Year's Eve dinner."
"Oh, my dad got there first again."
Zhou Jiao laughed happily when she heard that.
This amused his mother. Wuyi winked at his brothers proudly and continued, "Mom, the stamps we bought today are all at the old house."
"From what you said, I mean, I still have to buy it?"
"Yeah, that's the plan. Not many people are buying it right now, so we want to contribute to the country."
Zhou Jiao glanced at her three sons' faces and shook her head with a smile, "Remember to wrap it in oil paper, and it's best to put some lime in the wooden box."
"I understand."
Now that Zhou Jiao understood, she didn't say anything more. As a result, her second son had to finish the work at hand and hurry up to eat lunch. If she was late, a bunch of young men and women would come to the house.
After the midnight family reunion dinner, the New Year also arrived.
During the first month of the lunar year, people inevitably visit relatives and friends, and even more so, they go to various temple fairs to buy some favorite treats.
At this time last year, even Zhang Guoqing went to the front line. Zhou Jiao was in no mood to stroll around the Changdian Temple Fair which was once again in full swing.
And when she immersed herself in it this year, she suddenly realized that a peaceful and prosperous era seemed to be really coming.
Cultural relics and antiques that have never been banned appeared on small stalls, and even long-lost painting booths reappeared, hanging paintings of new and old painters and calligraphers.
As spring passed and summer came, life went smoothly. Just when Zhou Jiao thought that she would have nothing to worry about in the next few years, a bolt from the blue struck.
"What did you say?"
Compared to Zhou Jiao's panic-stricken expression, Zhang Guoqing was much better. He patted his wife in his arms and told her the unfortunate news again.
"Mr. Cheng is really gone. He passed away smiling in his sleep last night."
"How could that be? I was playing chess with him a few days ago." Zhou Jiao closed her eyes, then realized what was happening and asked hurriedly, "What about the old lady?"
If it weren't for the wrong timing, Zhang Guoqing almost opened his mouth to correct her, "The old lady is fine. She is the one who runs the Cheng family now. Let's go first."
"Yes, we have to go first, and we have to go quickly. I thought the old lady would go first, but I didn't expect it... How could she just leave like that..."
When the couple got in the car and rushed to the Cheng family's old house, Zhou Xiaozheng had already arrived with Miao Lishan and was accompanying the old lady in the main room to discuss the funeral arrangements.
At this time, many relatives and friends who heard the news gathered at the Cheng family's old house. Zhou Jiao didn't bother to greet them and hurried to see the old lady first.
She understood better than anyone how much Elder Cheng meant to the old lady. He was like a mountain supporting her, and now that he was gone, the old lady would surely collapse.
When she met the old lady, the situation was better than Zhou Jiao had imagined. Except for Cheng Ruzhu who was crying bitterly, the old lady was very calm and even comforted her tearful family members.
"...Silly child, stop crying. Your father's death was a happy one. He passed away peacefully and without any illness or pain. It's something many elderly people would never hope for."
Zhou Jiao glanced at her father, walked forward and nervously held the old lady's hand. It was icy cold in the summer, so cold that she shivered uncontrollably.
Why did she always feel that the old lady's vitality was declining?
Facing the old lady's eyes, Zhou Jiao didn't know how to comfort her. She could only repeat one sentence over and over again, "Aunt, you still have us."
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