She thought that she wouldn't see Shen Jize again after the holiday started.
Unexpectedly, on the 29th of the lunar year, Shen Jize actually parked his car in front of her stall.
"Boss, is there any more?"
Hearing the familiar voice, Lin Wei immediately looked up and asked, "Chen, what are you doing here?"
Lin Wei knew that Shen Jize was from Hong Kong Island, which was also part of China, and they also had the custom of celebrating the Lunar New Year.
Transportation wasn't very developed back then; if people wanted to go back there for the New Year, they should have left long ago.
Shen Jize replied matter-of-factly, "I've moved to Jiangcheng, so naturally I'm here. But I was busy with other things for a while and only came back today. I didn't expect to hear that you've set up a stall here again. Could you weigh some for me so I can buy some to try?"
Just as Lin Wei opened her mouth, ready to agree, the customer opposite her objected.
"No, don't think you can cut in line just because you know someone. Boss, we've been waiting in line for a long time. You can't do that."
"Ah... this is my classmate. Sorry, I'm cutting in line. Just one line, okay? I'll give you a discount later."
Ignoring the customers' objections, Lin Wei turned to ask, "What would you like to eat?"
"Give me a little of everything, enough for two people."
"good."
Meatballs, radish balls, fried peanuts, and fried broad beans.
Lin Wei's stall only had these four items.
As she said, vegetables fried in the same oil used to fry meat are just as delicious as meat, which is why they sell very well.
But meatballs are a must-have for the New Year's Eve dinner in Jiangcheng, and no matter how many there are, they're never left out.
That's why they can sell from morning till night.
They've even started setting up their stalls earlier and earlier, from the initial 10 a.m. to now 7 a.m.
Working from July 18th to 18th, more than ten hours a day, is truly unbearable.
Especially around mealtimes.
I can't eat meat after smelling it too much, and vegetarian food just doesn't feel right.
In short, those 6 days were extremely difficult to get through.
But thankfully, after seeing Shen Jize off, it was already New Year's Eve. They only stayed for half a day before going home for their New Year's Eve dinner.
At the dinner table, Lin Wei poured a drink for Lin Xiaomeng and Lin Yuanjun.
"Let me take this opportunity to express my thoughts." Lin Wei turned the cup towards Lin Xiaomeng.
“Aunt, thank you for taking us in back then and preventing us from ending up on the streets. I am also very grateful for your tolerance of all my secrets. I really didn’t expect that you would never get angry with me once in all this time.”
Lin Xiaomeng rolled her eyes at her and laughed, "I've been so angry so many times, but when I think about how much you've endured, I should feel sorry for you, not blame you. But Weiwei, everything is resolved now, and the burden on your shoulders can finally be lifted. I also hope you won't carry so much burden. Your aunt is your family, and she can help you raise Yuanyuan."
"With your aunt around, you will never end up on the streets."
“We know that Auntie won’t kick us out. It’s just that I… I like making money. I feel that making money makes me feel secure. Auntie, I’ve had a hard life since I was a child. My mother controls the family’s finances and is unwilling to spend a penny more on us. She’d rather we starve than be satisfied.”
"Actually, I didn't want to grow up to have this kind of personality, but I know it's wrong, so I think that I should earn more money. Only when my wallet is full will I not have any other thoughts."
"And Auntie, you're really happy when you're making money. You can see that from Aunt Zhang."
When it comes to Zhang Min, Lin Xiaomeng really has nothing to say.
"Your Aunt Zhang... never mind, I won't say anything more."
-
After the New Year's Eve dinner, it's time to officially begin visiting relatives and friends and giving out red envelopes.
In the past, Lin Xiaomeng's family had no children, so the red envelopes she gave out were never taken back. But this year, it's been incredibly lively.
Moreover, the red envelopes from the Gao and Su families were particularly generous.
"We've been waiting for this day for years. Here, take it, don't refuse."
Lin Wei couldn't possibly refuse, "This red envelope is so thick, there must be a lot of money inside. Just give it to Yuanyuan, I'm all grown up now."
"How old are you? It's our family rule that as long as you don't get married, you'll always receive a red envelope. Here you go."
Lin Xiaomeng knew that the two families wanted her to take back the red envelopes she had given out before.
It was a kind gesture, so she didn't refuse.
"Alright, just accept what the elders give you, but compared to that, my red envelope is much smaller."
"Just a token gesture will suffice."
After the families sat down and had a cup of tea, Zhang Min asked, "Hey, Sister Meng, we've all finished our New Year's Eve dinner. Why isn't the Lei family from next door coming over to wish you a Happy New Year? They're usually the most eager to visit you."
Lin Xiaomeng was generous, considering that the children received a lot of New Year's money. The Lei family and Lin Xiaomeng's family knew each other and were neighbors, but their relationship was not deep. At least for a long time, Lin Wei was not familiar with the Lei family.
But every year during the Spring Festival, the Lei family would always be the first to visit Lin Xiaomeng to offer their New Year's greetings.
Nothing more.
Red envelopes, please.
And these are red envelopes that are given out and not exchanged.
“Sister Meng’s family has two more children this year, but she only has one child. She doesn’t feel comfortable giving him more, so she simply pretends to be deaf and dumb.”
Lin Xiaogou pursed her lips, "Can this be faked? Soon the neighbors will all be visiting each other. There are only a dozen or so kids in our alley. Even if she gives a lot, it's only a dozen or so yuan. She's just being stingy. And even if she doesn't want to give it, she'll still have to give it to them later. If she really goes this far, people in the alley will probably talk about her from now on."
Unfortunately, they're not afraid to talk about it at all.
After the New Year's Eve dinner, the couple took their child and went out.
When passing by their three houses, they didn't even say hello, as if they didn't see them, and then just left.
Zhang Min was almost laughing in exasperation. "No, look how stingy he is. It's just two more kids."
-
On the bus, Xiao Hongyan defended herself, saying, "It's not about the two yuan. It's fine if you give it to her child, but her niece and nephew are not her children. Is it necessary to give them the money?"
His wife, Lei Wenjun, said with a grim face, "But you should have at least said hello. We're all neighbors and work in the same company, so we're bound to run into each other all the time. If it were just Lin Xiaomeng, that would be one thing, but Zhang Min and the Gao family are both here... Anyway, what you did was wrong. Zhang Min has such a big mouth, she's bound to spread this around."
Xiao Hongyan didn't take it seriously, "She's not working at the factory now, how could she spread the word?"
“When the neighbors start exchanging New Year’s greetings, Zhang Min’s mouth will surely tell everyone. Not everyone in our alley has been laid off, so someone will definitely spread the word.” Lei Wenjun was annoyed. “It’s just a matter of 2 yuan, is it really necessary? The New Year’s gifts you’ve bought over the years have cost more than 2 yuan to deliver to your house. Do you think I don’t know what you’re up to?”
Xiao Hongyan was furious. "Well, Lei Wenjun, I do your laundry, cook for you, and take care of the kids. And this is how you criticize me during the New Year..."
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