Xu Jianguo looked at the three girls who were covering their ears, took out a camera from the space, and took a beautiful photo of them with the help of the light from the firecrackers.
Soon, the sound of firecrackers ended, and the whole yard was filled with a special smell of residual gunpowder. It was this smell that made Xu Jianguo recall the scenes of the New Year when he was a child every time he smelled it.
The dumplings made by his mother, the rice noodle jelly made by his father, and the smell of firecrackers on the street are all the memories of the New Year in Xu Jianguo's mind.
However, this kind of memory has become increasingly faint with the passing of my parents and the nationwide ban on fireworks, which has directly led to people in later generations lamenting that there is no New Year atmosphere. Children hold their mobile phones or tablets during the New Year and other holidays, and they really miss out on a lot of fun.
Xu Jianguo squatted on the ground with the camera in his hand, then asked the three girls to stand beside him. The four of them faced the direction of the house and used the light in the house to take a group photo of the four brothers and sisters.
"It's time to eat dumplings!" At this time, Wen Sitian's voice came from the room.
When Funiu and Erya heard this, they ran into the house.
Xu Jianguo took the camera and looked at Daya who was standing next to him. The corners of his mouth twitched involuntarily. Just as he was about to speak, he saw the girl quickly running back into the house. In the end, he could only lower his head and glance at Xiaohei who was still squatting under the eaves looking at him.
Returning to the house with a helpless look on his face, Xu Jianguo found that everyone was sitting back at the dining table. So he put the camera in his hand on the chest of drawers, found a good angle, set the countdown, and asked everyone to take a group photo.
Then he switched the camera to video mode, ran back to the dining table and started eating dumplings.
Although Wen Sitian had already instructed the three girls before eating the dumplings, as soon as they heard that there was sugar and money in the dumplings, they immediately turned into ruthless eating machines. Even though Funiu and Erya were not very skilled in using chopsticks, it did not delay the progress.
Suddenly, a "crack" sound came from Daya's mouth. Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw that the girl spit out a piece of fruit candy with dumpling filling from her mouth, as well as a small baby tooth.
Daya, who was originally happy about being the first to eat the candy, burst into tears when she saw a tooth in the bowl.
Xu Jianguo really couldn't help laughing and burst out laughing.
Wen Sitian rolled her eyes at her in annoyance, hugged Daya and comforted her, telling her that this was all normal. The loss of her baby teeth meant that from today on, she was a big child.
Xu Jianguo sat upright, listening carefully to what his wife said. From time to time, he would glance down at her little hand pinching his thigh, and his eyes twitched unconsciously.
With Wen Sitian's comfort, Daya finally stopped crying and continued to eat dumplings with her chopsticks. However, this time, the three girls slowed down significantly.
Thinking about it, Daya is eight years old this year and it is indeed the age for her to change her teeth. Looking at her missing front tooth, Xu Jianguo always has an urge to laugh, and his mind can't help but recall the scene in his previous life when his mother used cotton thread to help him pull out his teeth.
After eating dumplings on New Year’s Eve, Xu Jianguo asked the old Taoist priest to sit on the sofa, and then brought his whole family to pay him respects and celebrate the New Year.
The old Taoist priest took out several red envelopes that he had prepared in advance and gave them to the three girls. Xu Jianguo and Wen Sitian did not receive this unexpected income because they were already married and had families.
After paying New Year's greetings to the old Taoist priest, Xu Jianguo pulled Wen Sitian to sit on the sofa. Daya then led Erya and Funniu to pay New Year's greetings to her brother and sister-in-law.
Wen Sitian took out red envelopes from her pocket and gave them to the three girls. Xu Jianguo watched from the side with a smile on his face.
At this time, Funiu asked: "Brother, we all wish you a happy new year, why don't you give us red envelopes?"
"Yes, why don't you give it to me?" Erya also asked.
After the two finished speaking, they blinked their big eyes at Wen Sitian, with a little expression of success on their faces.
Listening to the two children's words, Xu Jianguo's smile suddenly died, and then he said, "Your sister-in-law manages our family's finances. I, your brother, am broke. How can I afford to give you red envelopes?"
Wen Sitian looked at Xu Jianguo's furious look and couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Xu Jianguo looked at his wife and said pitifully, "Wife, in this situation, can you give me some pocket money in advance? Otherwise, as a brother, I will be very embarrassed in front of my sisters in the future!"
Wen Sitian looked at him with a sly look and said, "Are you sure?"
When Xu Jianguo heard this, he quickly said, "Forget it, let's not give it to him. We should save as much as possible!"
Wen Sitian looked at Xu Jianguo who was so scared that he gave in immediately, rolled her eyes at him and said, "Here you go! I have prepared it for you a long time ago!" Then she took out three more red envelopes from her pocket and put them in his hand.
In fact, Xu Jianguo noticed it when Funiu and Erya blinked their eyes just now, but this was a little secret between the aunt and the sister-in-law, so he did not expose it. Instead, he tried his best to cooperate, just to add some fun to this family.
"Hehe, brother is rich now, come on, wish me a happy new year again!" Xu Jianguo put on the appearance of a nouveau riche and spoke, making everyone laugh.
"Brother, Happy New Year!" the three girls said obediently.
Xu Jianguo was so happy that he kept laughing and kept muttering, "Okay, okay!", then he waved his hand and gave the red envelopes in his hand to the three girls.
It was past one in the morning before Xu Jianguo brought everyone back to the space. Wen Sitian took the three girls to take a bath, while he sent the old Taoist priest back to Wuwei Temple.
On the way, Xu Jianguo asked, "Master, thank you for your money!"
Xuanjue rolled his eyes at Xu Jianguo and said, "Tsk, although I don't have much money, I still have some New Year's money for the three children."
Xu Jianguo was a little surprised. In his impression, the old Taoist priest had lived alone in the Mihun Pond for decades before he met him. Logically, he should not have much money on him.
Just now when Xu Jianguo was giving out New Year's money to the children, he felt a little guilty. He thought that he was not thoughtful enough and had forgotten about this matter. Fortunately, the old Taoist priest had prepared in advance, otherwise it would have been embarrassing.
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