As Nan Nan got into the back of Li Guifang's cotton-padded jacket, she heard a familiar voice coming from outside the courtyard gate.
Li Yun led the whole family into the yard in a lively manner, carrying large and small bags of New Year's goods in their hands.
"Oh! Yun is back!" Li Jianghai was so excited that the pipe in his hand almost burned his pants. He put the pipe on the windowsill in a hurry.
He stood up suddenly and took two steps at a time to meet him!
Li Yun was leading her entire family. She was carrying two heavy fruit baskets and smiling broadly: "Brother, sister-in-law, Happy New Year!"
He turned around and shouted behind him, "East, north, call for help!"
Wang Xiangdong and Wang Xiangbei bowed in unison: "Happy New Year, Uncle and Aunt!"
The two young men were more energetic than the other, wearing neat new clothes, looking like two door gods.
The eldest daughter-in-law, Ji Enli, was holding an exquisite gift box and said softly, "Uncle and aunt, these are supplements for you two elders."
The second daughter-in-law, He Xia, was not to be outdone and quickly handed over the gift she had prepared: "This is the New Year's gift distributed by our unit. I saved it especially for you."
The eldest son’s wife looks well-educated and well-mannered, but it’s hard to say about the second son’s wife!
Li Guifang was so happy that she couldn't stop smiling. She clapped Li Yun's hands and looked at her two daughters-in-law.
"Oh my, these two girls are more beautiful than each other! You are so lucky, Yun girl!"
Nan Nan, who was standing by, couldn't help but listen to the adults' pleasantries and kept tugging at Li Guifang's clothes, "Aunt! What are you eating today?"
"You greedy cat!" Li Yun said, as if to hit him. "You only know how to eat!"
Li Jianghai quickly protected his niece behind him: "It's New Year's Day, don't hit children!"
Then he took out a few crumpled bills from his pocket and said, "Here, Nannan, use these to buy some candy."
Li Mingyu, who was standing by, curled his lips and said, "Well, this has drained all our savings!"
This made everyone in the yard laugh. Even Huang Xiuying from next door was leaning over the wall to look over here.
"Eat, eat, eat, all you know is eating!" Li Yun was about to pull Nan Nan's ears again.
The little girl was as nimble as a loach and hid behind Li Guifang in a flash: "Aunt, help me! Brother Yu said he wanted to eat stewed pork ribs!"
"Stewed pork ribs are easy!" Li Guifang pinched Nan Nan's little face lovingly.
Turning around, he shouted towards the kitchen, "Xiaomei! Put up our big iron pot!"
Then he explained to everyone, "Nannan is such a lucky girl. The other day the Zhang family slaughtered their New Year pig, and I just happened to buy five pounds of top-notch ribs!"
She was about to go to the kitchen when Li Yun pulled her back: "Sister-in-law, please take a rest. I'll take care of the meal tonight!"
As he spoke, he rolled up his sleeves quickly.
"Girl, it's a rare opportunity for you to come home, how can I let you cook?"
Before Li Guifang finished speaking, she had already gone to the vat to look for spare ribs.
In the kitchen, Wu Xiaomei was busy processing a freshly slaughtered chicken, her hands still stained with chicken feathers and blood.
Seeing her mother-in-law bringing the ribs, she took them without saying a word and started chopping them, busy as a whirlwind.
Ji Enli stood at the kitchen door, feeling a little embarrassed as she watched Wu Xiaomei busying around.
She usually doesn't do housework, and now she wants to help, but she doesn't know where to start.
He Xia's reaction was completely different.
She saw the oil splashing when Wu Xiaomei was chopping the ribs, and frowned openly.
Afraid of splashing her, he quickly hid aside and even changed his position.
I was afraid of getting my new wool coat dirty.
Wang Jixian dumped the Maotai on the table and whispered mysteriously into Li Jianghai's ear, "Brother, let's drink this today! It was a government gift a while ago. I guarantee it's authentic!"
"Good boy!" Li Jianghai clapped his brother-in-law on the back, making Wang Jixian stumble. "You still understand me!"
Nan Nan squeezed in and out of the crowd, jumping up and down with a red envelope in her hand: "I have money! I want to buy ten candied haws!"
Li Mingyu grabbed her by the collar and said, "Little ancestor, come buy me some soda!"
It was bustling here when suddenly a "clang" sound came from outside the courtyard wall.
Li Mingyuan and Li Mingyu came back carrying two buckets of clams, small fish and shrimps.
Nan Nan was the first to rush out. Seeing the two buckets full of seafood, her eyes widened: "Wow——"
At lunch time, two large round tables were set up in the yard.
Wu Xiaomei was busy looking after the children. She only hurriedly ate a few mouthfuls of rice after everyone had almost finished eating.
He Xia glanced at this scene and curled his lips in disdain.
After the meal, Li Mingli and others took the initiative to help clean up the dishes.
He Xia frowned again when he saw Wu Xiaomei washing dishes alone in the kitchen.
It was past three in the afternoon and the sunlight in the yard was already setting.
Everyone was chatting in the main room, and He Xia frowned because of the strong smell of smoke.
She glanced at Li Jianghai who was smoking, but didn't dare to say anything. She just walked quickly to the yard to get some fresh air.
As soon as I reached the well, I saw Wu Xiaomei coming out of the room holding a bunch of wet sheets.
He Xia took two steps back reflexively, fearing that the urine stains on the sheets would get on her coat - a piece of clothing imported from Shanghai that she had saved up three months' salary to buy.
"Ouch! What's that smell!" She pinched her nose exaggeratedly and looked Wu Xiaomei up and down.
My cousin's wife was still the same. Her apron was stained with greasy food from lunch, and her hair was casually tied up with a pair of chopsticks, with a few strands sticking to her sweaty forehead. She looked like a country woman.
She has been married to the Li family for so many years and has given birth to two boys, but she still looks like a country bumpkin.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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