These will definitely be the most precious mementos in the future.
When the children grow up, when others brag to them about seeing tigers at the zoo, they can proudly say, "I touched a tiger and took a picture with it when I was a child."
After taking the photos, Sheng Xiping put the camera back in its place, left the four children to play with Huahua, and went out to relieve himself.
When he returned, the east room had already finished making dumplings, and Sheng Xitai started boiling water.
"You're awake? How much did you drink at noon? You just walked in and fell asleep? You'll have to be more careful in the future and not drink so much."
Seeing that Sheng Xiping was still sleepy and his hair looked like a bird's nest, Zhang Shuzhen quickly poured him a glass of water and gave him some instructions.
Sheng Xiping was indeed thirsty, and he gulped down the entire large glass of water.
"I was at my master's place at noon, and we got into a good chat, and before I knew it, I had drunk quite a bit."
I was fine at first, but on the way back, a gust of wind blew me away, and the alcohol really hit me."
"Okay, sit down for a while, wake up, we'll have dumplings in a bit." Zhang Shuzhen took the water glass, put it down, and turned to go to the outer room.
Sheng Xiping sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) leaning against the wall between the two rooms, chatting idly with Sheng Liancheng. Just then, they suddenly heard the dogs barking outside.
The sound wasn't like that of a stranger; it was more like that of someone seeing family—a soft, whimpering noise.
"Who's back?" Sheng Liancheng and Sheng Xiping exchanged a glance, and Sheng Xiping immediately got up and stepped out the door.
Upon going outside, I saw a person wearing a coat and a cotton hat, bundled up quite tightly, carrying a large backpack, walking into the yard.
The figure was all too familiar; it was Sheng Xi'an, who was studying in Harbin. "Second brother, why are you back at this hour? How did you get back?"
It's almost six o'clock now. Sheng Xi'an will arrive at Songjianghe by train around 1:30 or 2:00. Could he have walked back?
"Brother, oh dear, don't even mention it. I got off the train at 1:30, and when I got to the forest railway station, I asked around, but there were no trains going back to our forest farm. The only train that came down from Shuguang Forest Farm was for business."
"I had no choice but to hitch a ride to Shuguang Forest Farm, and then walk the rest of the way back myself."
Sheng Xi'an walked eighteen miles and was quite tired, but the moment he saw his family, all the exhaustion was gone.
"You really are something. Why didn't you go to my father-in-law? He could have arranged a car for you to come back. Instead, you went all that way by yourself."
Upon hearing this, Sheng Xiping couldn't help but sigh. This simpleton never knows how to be tactful.
"I figured if I asked Uncle Zhou for help today, he would have to do me a favor."
"Eighteen miles is eighteen miles. We run every morning at school, what's a little distance?" Sheng Xi'an smiled nonchalantly.
Sheng Xiping was speechless for a moment. He really didn't know whether this kid was cunning or not.
"Come on, let's go inside. We didn't expect you to be back for the Lunar New Year. Your parents were talking about you yesterday."
Sheng Xiping reached out and took the backpack from his younger brother's shoulder, and the two brothers quickly went into the house.
"Dad, Mom, the second son is back." Sheng Xiping called out as he walked into the house.
Sheng Xitai, Sheng Yunfang, and the others heard the commotion and ran out.
Zhang Shuzhen, who was cooking dumplings, also peeked out while holding a spatula.
"Oh dear, old man, it's our second son back. He's quick on his feet; we were just about to cook dumplings when he arrived," Zhang Shuzhen said, laughing.
Which parent doesn't long for their children to be around, with the whole family gathered together in a lively atmosphere?
Sheng Liancheng put on his shoes and got out of bed, standing at the door of the east room, looking outside.
Surrounded by his brothers, Sheng Xi'an entered the house and quickly greeted his parents. "Dad, Mom, I'm home."
"Oh, it's good to be back, it's good to be back. Come on in, it's warm inside. The dumplings are already in the pot, they'll be ready soon," the elderly couple said in unison.
As everyone entered the house, Sheng Xi'an took off her hat and scarf, and then looked up and saw the television on the cabinet.
"Wow, you bought a TV for your home? It's so big!" Sheng Xi'an asked in surprise.
"Yes, your older brother brought it back from the south. It's a color TV, seventeen inches, and it's really good," Sheng Liancheng said proudly.
"Wow, it looks like my brother has made a lot of money. Such a big color TV is a rare sight."
Sheng Xi'an lives in Harbin, while Sheng Xiping lives in Gangcheng. These two brothers, one in the south and one in the north, occasionally communicate or call each other.
Sheng Xi'an knew that his brother had opened a company in the south and was doing quite well, and he was happy for his brother.
"That's right, this is the first one in our forest farm. You haven't seen it, there have been so many people coming to our house to watch TV these past few days, the whole house is packed with people."
Sheng Liancheng's eyes narrowed into slits with laughter. Anyone would be overjoyed to have raised such successful children.
"Not only do we have color TVs, but we also have refrigerators and washing machines."
Your mom said that when all kinds of wild vegetables come out of the mountains next spring, she'll cook a lot of them, blanch them, and freeze them.
I'll make dumplings for you when you come back from your holiday.
For Northeasterners, freezing everything seems to be ingrained in their genes. Even though Zhang Shuzhen had never seen anyone else use a refrigerator, she knew exactly how to use it the moment she saw it.
"Haha, my mom is really something! I have to say, this idea is pretty good." Sheng Xi'an laughed heartily upon hearing this.
Amidst the laughter and chatter, firecrackers went off outside, followed by Zhang Shuzhen calling out to serve dumplings.
Steaming hot dumplings, emitting a fragrant aroma, were served plate after plate, along with garlic sauce, chili oil, and vinegar, all laid out on the table.
With so many people in the family, the food was placed to the side, and the whole family sat around the table, each with a happy smile on their face.
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