The first New Year's Eve dinner after the divorce was extremely lively at Old Mrs. Xia's house. Not only did all the children come, but Zheng Qianlan and her daughter also spent the night with them. Jiang Wenhua even got a big firework from somewhere and set it off in the yard as soon as it got dark.
Chen Xiangdong's family was the first to arrive. Their relationship with the Zhu family was even worse than that with Old Lady Xia. After Zhu Wenfei was arrested, although the old couple worked hard to get their son out, their job was effectively gone.
Due to the failure of both his career and family, Zhu Wenfei drinks at home when he has nothing to do. He gets drunk every day and even scares Baoyuan, a child.
Unable to bear the annoyance, Zhu Wenying simply reported him to the Rural Relocation Office, saying that as a young man of marriageable age who was not married and had no job, he should go to the countryside.
Not long after, he was forced to go to the countryside.
At this point, the old couple of the Zhu family looked at the young Zhu Wenying and her husband with murderous eyes, and they also spoke harshly to Baoyuan.
But Zhu Wenying was not someone to be trifled with. When they were about to hurt Baoyuan, Zhu Wenying directly said that Zhu Wenfei was still suffering in the countryside. If they hurt Baoyuan, they would not be able to continue their work. Then their son would not be able to receive the subsidy sent to him, and his life would become even more difficult.
These words directly grasped the lifeblood of the old couple in the Zhu family, and they cried and complained that they had given birth to a beast.
If Zhu Wenying could be scared off by such words, she would not do such a thing.
"Mom, aunt, we're here. Baoyuan, call grandma." Zhu Wenying is now much more restrained in front of Old Lady Xia, completely different from the way she looked when Old Lady Xia was first reborn.
Old Lady Xia nodded and said, "Let's sit inside. It's cold outside."
Zhu Wenying smiled and said, "This is the fruit distributed by Xiangdong and I at the factory. It's good for both the elderly and children."
Old Lady Xia took it and said, "That's thoughtful."
Old Mrs. Xia has a very complicated attitude towards the eldest son's family. In her heart, no matter whether the second and third sons, Xiang Hong, do good or bad things, she knows what is good and what is bad, but this family has no idea at all.
They only care about their own interests. What benefits them is good, and what harms them is bad. They only do things to achieve their own goals, regardless of whether there are problems or not.
When she saw them, Old Mrs. Xia actually felt a little headache.
The next person to come over was Chen Xiangbei. Seeing him carrying a lot of bags, Old Mrs. Xia could guess that he was going to the factory director's house to "beg for money" again.
However, the child didn't ask for it himself. It was probably because the factory director's wife liked him and stuffed it into his hand.
He threw the things into the kitchen and started talking, "Mom, let me tell you, I helped my teacher's wife solve a problem last month, and she wanted to give me money but I didn't accept it.
Hehe, it's just a small favor, nothing to worry about. I won't charge her this time, she will definitely make it up to me somewhere else, and then our friendship will deepen as we go back and forth."
He was smug, as if proud of his own actions. "But the factory manager and his wife are really nice people, and their neighbors are nice too. I went over there to give them some things, and they gave me these."
Old Lady Xia: "Don't always take advantage of small things."
Chen Xiangbei: "I didn't take it. Second brother, when you go back to work, please send me some things. I want to give them to them."
This year, Yu Hongzhen came in his own car, bringing Chen Xianghong and Yu Qingqing with him, and also brought a car full of gifts, showing his sincere gratitude.
Chen Xiangbei muttered, "Brother-in-law, you brought so many things, it looks like we are begging for food here at Mom's place."
Yu Hongzhen: "That's different. Your sister and I are getting married this year, so I have to bring something extra to show off."
Chen Xiangbei said sharply, "Oh, what I mean is that in the next few years you won't have to bring so much money with you, and you'll come to Mom's house to beg for food like us."
Chen Xiangbei's mouth was covered again.
Speaking of this overseas assignment, Chen Xiangnan suddenly remembered that his mother would also be assigned overseas for a few months after the New Year. "Mom, when are you leaving after the New Year?"
Old Mrs. Xia poked her head out of the kitchen window and said, "I'm leaving the next day after work."
Chen Xiangnan: "Then I'll go with you. I'll help you carry your luggage to the train station."
Yu Hongzhen raised his eyes and said, "Mom, is the place you are going to far? I can get two sleeper tickets for you two."
Old Lady Xia: "Don't bother with that. It'll only take a day. I can handle it."
Chen Xiangnan had just wanted to take advantage of his brother-in-law and get a sleeper ticket, but was rejected by Old Lady Xia. If his mother didn't want to take advantage of him, then Chen Xiangnan would not take the initiative to bring it up.
Never mind, it's good to suffer a little.
Chen Lingling came to his side silently, "Dad, are you leaving soon?"
Chen Xiangnan pinched her face and said, "Yes, Daddy is going to work to earn money to buy you delicious food."
Chen Lingling: "I don't want delicious food, I want you to stay with me."
Chen Xiangnan felt a pang of sadness in his heart and held the child on his lap. "I'm sorry, Lingling."
Seeing that he didn't agree to her request, Chen Lingling angrily went to find Old Lady Xia, "Grandma, please beat up my dad..."
The room was too small to accommodate so many people, so everyone simply moved out all the tables and chairs from home and placed several kerosene lamps on and around the table. Although it was cold, it was very lively.
Chen Lingling and Baoyuan hadn't seen each other for a long time, but there was no barrier between them and they soon started playing together.
The kitchens of the three households in the compound were all crowded with people, and not a single stove was empty.
The men were outside killing chickens and fish, placing stools and carrying tables, while the women were crowded in the kitchen cooking.
They even brought out a big pot, placed it on the coal stove, and stewed the goose.
Jiang Wenhua insisted on showing them his superb vegetable cutting skills. In order to let more people see it, he simply put the chopping board on the table outside and started cutting.
Old Mrs. Xia’s bacon was well-cured. After Jiang Wenhua cut a plate of it, he stuffed two pieces into the mouths of the two children.
Chen Lingling and Baoyuan's pockets were stuffed with roasted soybeans and sugar. Their pockets were full, and their hearts were full too. Especially when they ate the meat, they were extremely happy.
Except for the children, no one was idle.
Even passers-by kept looking inside, thinking that someone was being generous and had a New Year's Eve banquet in the yard.
This kind of New Year's Eve dinner was the first of its kind in their small city, and everyone found it novel.
Yu Hongzhen came out with several bottles of soda and placed them neatly on the table. Chen Xianghong also poured hot water for everyone, which could be used to warm their hands and drink.
Zheng Qianlan and her daughter borrowed a shed from outside, and everyone worked together to build it to protect against the wind.
Soon, dishes were brought out and placed on several tables that were put together. They were full and looked festive.
Everyone sat together, looking at the fireworks scattered in the sky, wrapped up tightly, and raised their glasses together, "Happy New Year's Eve."
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