It was still pitch black when Li Guifang got up quietly.
When I passed by the main hall, I saw a few young people still playing poker there. Li Mingyuan's face was covered with notes, and Li Mingli had several hairpins on her forehead - it seemed that they had lost a lot.
"Mom, Happy New Year! Why don't you sleep a little longer?" Li Mingli was sharp-eyed and was the first to notice her, holding a handful of cards in her hand.
"It's time to cook again, let me help you" Li Mingyu is still active!
Li Guifang waved her hands: "You guys have your fun. I'm old and can't sleep well."
As she walked towards the kitchen, she heard Li Mingyu's wailing from behind: "Little sister, you are cheating! This one doesn't count!"
In the kitchen, she groped in the dark and turned on the small light bulb. The coal stove that was left on last night lit up immediately!
After a while, the water in the pot was bubbling.
Li Guifang had just put the dumplings into the pot when the Wang family next door fired the first one.
"Oh, it's really early for an old player!"
Li Mingli poked her head in and said, "Mom, let me help you."
"Go away, go have fun!" Li Guifang waved the spatula to chase them away. "It's New Year's Day, so I'll let you relax."
High school students have very few opportunities to play!
The little fat guys in the pot floated up one by one and were spinning on the water.
As the sky outside gradually turned pale, Li Jianghai set off a string of New Year's firecrackers!
The children were up too. Li Anyang, wearing a bright red cotton-padded jacket, looked like a walking red envelope. He rushed into the kitchen and shouted, "Happy New Year, Grandma!"
Following behind was Duoduo, with pigtails and new socks—one red and one green—that she had on inside out. "Grandma, I want dumplings with money in them!"
Li Guifang shouted through the door, "Come and serve the dumplings!"
After the family happily finished eating dumplings, the adults were still searching for coins in their bowls. "What's going on? Why didn't I get any?" Li Mingyuan said, peering through the bottom of the bowl.
"It's not still in the tank!"
"No, I left some out on purpose when I packed it!"
No matter what the adults are doing, the younger ones can no longer hold back.
The youngest, Li Anyang, knelt down with a thump, but he used too much force and jumped up and down while covering his knees with a cry of "ouch", and his new pants were stained.
"You have to say auspicious words to get the red envelope!" Li Jianghai deliberately waved the red envelope slowly, his eyes narrowed into slits.
"Grandpa is blessed as vast as the East Sea and lives as long as the Southern Mountains!"
"Grandma is getting younger and younger, her business is booming and she's making a fortune!"
"I wish our family can have meat every meal!"
The children shouted at the top of their lungs. Duoduo was the smartest one. She hugged Li Guifang's legs and said, "Grandma is the most beautiful grandma in the world! Duoduo loves grandma the most!"
Li Guifang laughed so hard that she fell backwards, and quickly took out the red envelope.
An Yuan took the red envelope and stuffed it into his pocket, then he grabbed his brother and ran out: "Let's go! Let's buy some cannons!"
"Wait, wait!" Li Guifang grabbed An Yuan by the collar. "Don't run around with an empty bowl on New Year's Day! Leave some food in your bowl, or you'll marry a pockmarked wife!"
The whole room was filled with laughter, and the sound of firecrackers outside the window continued to crackle.
Li Jianghai held up the coin he had just eaten, his eyebrows flying with pride: "Look! I got the jackpot again this year!"
He was showing off while stuffing food into his mouth, and then there was a "crunch" sound. "Ouch! Another one!" The old man covered his cheek and grinned.
"Serves you right!" Li Guifang laughed so hard she slapped her thigh. "I let you show off! Now, you've got two coins on New Year's Day. I'm afraid this year is going to be a disaster!"
"What does this mean?" Li Jianghai said excitedly, the coins jingling in his hands. "It means that I, Old Li, will make a fortune this year!"
He turned around and approached Li Guifang seriously, "Hey, our 'Chief of Staff', please give me some advice. What kind of job should I do? Should I open a grocery store or a small restaurant?"
"Come on!" Li Guifang snatched the coin from his hand. "Let's settle the bill first!"
Everyone in the room laughed like crazy.
Li Anyuan rolled on the ground laughing so hard that the back of his new cotton-padded jacket was covered in dust.
Duoduo covered her stomach and cried out "Ouch, I laughed so hard I almost choked"; even the most calm Li Shuhang was laughing so hard that he wiped away tears.
The sun slanted in through the window, illuminating the room full of laughter.
The dumplings on the table were still steaming, and the sound of firecrackers outside the window came one after another. The new year began in this lively atmosphere.
After dinner, seeing that the sun was shining brightly, we went out together to wish our neighbors a happy new year!
That's how it is in the slum, you visit my house, I go to your house to chat, we say Happy New Year to each other and say a few auspicious words, that's considered New Year's greetings!
Only children would wear their brand new cotton-padded jackets with big pockets sewn on them, and run from the street to the end of the alley like a group of cheerful little magpies.
They knocked on doors from house to house, shouting "Happy New Year".
Often every family will specially prepare some candies and biscuits, waiting for these little magpies!
"Here, take it!" Aunt Zhang grabbed a handful of fruit candies and stuffed them into the children's pockets.
"Come, try the sesame candy I just made!" Grandma Wang smiled and stuffed a piece into each child's hand.
If they came across a house that didn't prepare anything, the children didn't get angry, but waved their hands with a smile: "It's okay, we'll go to the next one!"
Li Anyuan's pockets were already bulging, and they jingled as he ran.
Duoduo, this delicate little girl, only picked out those Lingbuling fruit candies and stuffed her pockets until they were almost bursting.
Li Shuhang was the most honest. He ate while walking, with sugar residue on the corners of his mouth.
The neighbors stood at the door, looking at these happy little ones running around, with smiles on their faces.
Before they knew it, some children ran home crying!
The children passed by Old Wang's house with laughter. The leading boy shouted "Happy New Year, Grandpa Wang". One after another, the children said piles of nice words.
Seeing that there was no candy left and preparing to go to the next house, I saw Old Mrs. Wang slowly taking out a bag of candy from the inner room. The candy wrappers were yellowed and sticky together, as if they had been left for a long time.
"Come on, come on, one piece each, don't take more."
She opened the package with great care, picked up some sugar residue on her fingers, and licked it.
A few older children were quick-eyed and quick-handed. They grabbed a piece and ran away, as if they were afraid of being called.
But the little kids who fell behind were a little hesitant, and lined up and stretched out their hands slowly.
Duoduo stood at the back, staring at the sticky candy, and quietly retracted her feet.
"What's the matter? Are you disgusted with me?" Old Mrs. Wang squinted her eyes and looked at her with a hint of displeasure in her tone.
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