"Big brother, you set off the firecrackers."
"Alright, all of you stand back a bit," Xu Mingri said, touching the fuse of the firecracker with a lighter before running away.
"Crackling and popping," everyone covered their ears, watching the firecrackers crackle and pop non-stop until they were all gone before they sat down to eat.
"Come on, let me say a few words first," Old Xu said, holding his wine glass and looking at the large family. Including the children, there were fifteen people in total. Apart from Old Xu, Granny Liu, and three older children who were sitting, the other adults were standing around the table.
"Today is Chinese New Year. After this day, you will all be a year older, and your mother and I will also be a year older."
I hope we can all be this together and this happy every year for Chinese New Year. You all need to stick together and get along well, okay?
"I know, Dad, don't worry. It'll be even more lively when the fourth brother and his family get married!" Xu Mingri, as the eldest brother, said first.
"Yes, Dad, we've always had a great relationship, so you can rest assured!"
"Of course, Dad, it would be great if you weren't so stingy. How much are you planning to give them in red envelopes this year?" This is what Xu Mingjiang said.
Old Xu pretended not to hear and said directly, "Alright, everyone eat, the food is getting cold."
Everyone was used to Dad's attitude; in any case, Mom would eventually give it to them anyway.
The most important part after dinner is giving out red envelopes, an activity the children look forward to all year.
Granny Liu took out four red envelopes and looked at her three grandchildren standing in front of her with a smile.
"Come on, one for each of you. You're a year older now, so be good, okay?"
"Okay, thank you, Grandma!" the children said in unison.
Old Xu coughed a few times. Xu Dingwen, the eldest and most clever of the three, led his younger siblings and shouted loudly in his grandfather's direction, "Thank you too, Grandpa!"
Old Xu smiled with satisfaction. That's more like it; he got a share of the red envelope too!
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