Chapter 34
Since their last accidental reunion, Sheng Huaizhou disappeared again. Xia Weining snorted. This man was really unpredictable. He did whatever he wanted.
As the New Year approaches, the festive atmosphere on the streets becomes stronger and stronger. There are people selling Spring Festival couplets, fireworks, and various New Year goods everywhere. The roads are filled with stalls. Migrant workers begin to return home. The county town ushers in its most lively time, and it is also the time when various businesses make the most money. Parents will meet their children's various purchasing requirements and are more restrained in bargaining than usual, so business is better. Various businesses are also trying their best to make money in these few days.
The bookstore business was very good during this period, so Xia Weining offered to go and help. Xia Weiguo and Zhou Caimei hired an extra person and asked her to have a good rest at home. However, after she really rested, she realized how tired and bored she was.
Soon, her rescuer arrived. Xia Li called and said, "My father and I are going to buy New Year's goods. Do you want to come?"
"Go. I'll be there soon."
He was lying in bed like a salted fish, but he immediately came alive after answering the phone, threw down his phone, started getting dressed and ran out.
When Xia Weining arrived, Xia Weiguo was putting chairs on the tricycle. "You guys will sit on them later."
Zhou Caimei handed over a hat and said, "It's very cold when the wind blows on it. Wear it."
Xia Li was also fully armed with a hat, scarf, and gloves, wrapped tightly.
Xia Weining didn't want to wear it at first, but when she got in the car and the north wind whistled past, she felt the biting cold and hurriedly put on her hat.
"I told you it's cold, but you didn't believe it." Xia Li laughed so hard.
"I'm going to buy a hat later."
We soon arrived at the "New Year's Goods Street", which was two miles long. Both sides of the road were lined with small vendors selling all kinds of things.
His ears were filled with the hawking and bargaining of the stall owners, and his nose was filled with the aroma of various foods. Xia Weining had not felt such a strong New Year atmosphere for a long time.
The car couldn't get in at all and had to be parked outside. There were people everywhere and it was impossible to move. She held Xia Li tightly.
"Follow me closely, don't get lost."
"Know."
Xia Weiguo bought chickens, fish and door paintings. The two felt that it was boring to follow him, so they proposed to act separately.
"Uncle, if you have bought something, please go back first. I will take Xia Li for a walk."
"I'll get you some money."
"No need." Xia Weining patted her bag, "I have money."
The two of them had the same goal and headed straight for the food area. Xia Weining couldn't help but think of how she used to always take ten dollars to the fair, and spend almost all of it on food, and she had to budget carefully. Now she can finally buy whatever she wants.
"What do you want to eat? It's my treat."
"real?"
"Fake, do you have money?"
Xia Li pouted and took out twenty yuan from his pocket, "This is all I have."
"You actually have so much? Who gave it to you?"
"My mother gave it to me."
She only had ten yuan at that time, while Xia Li had twenty. It seemed that the family's conditions had indeed improved.
"What do you want to eat?"
"I want to try everything they sell here, such as rice dumplings, fried snails, candied sticks, chicken heads, and hairy eggs."
"Children can't eat hairy eggs, but you can buy other things."
“Why can’t children eat it?”
"I don't know either, but I can't eat it anyway."
Xia Li: "...Okay, then let's eat something else."
The two people have distinct tastes. Xia Li mainly eats rare things he has never seen before, while Xia Weining is a carnivore and will not miss any meat-related stall.
After a while, both of them had their hands full of food.
After finally leaving the food stall, the two of them fell in love with the fun and stood at the ring-tossing game, unable to move.
"Want to play?"
Xia Li nodded.
Xia Weining bought 100 rings at once, 50 for each person, and each of them put on the one they wanted, but the hit rate was not very good.
More and more people gathered around and offered suggestions, which seemed to be quite useful. Xia Li got a crystal ball and a wind chime.
Xia Weining hadn't hit any of them yet, and the number of rings in her hand was getting smaller and smaller. The last one didn't disappoint her, as she hit a potted plant.
The two of them continued to stroll forward with their three trophies. It was already past dinner time and the crowds of people gradually decreased. There was no longer the density of people as at the beginning.
Xia Weining looked at Xia Li and asked, "Are you tired?"
"Not tired, I'm having a great time."
"Okay, let's go buy some hats."
The hats sold in these shops are all similar. They are all made of wool, with a ball of wool on the pointed top and two more balls of wool hanging down on both sides to protect the face.
It's a very popular non-mainstream style. She had bought it before. It was acceptable for her to wear it when she was young, but it's a bit inappropriate now.
“There’s nothing suitable.”
Xia Li picked one for her, "Is this one okay?"
A pure white knitted hat with a ball of yarn on it, and the brim can be put down or turned up.
"It feels good, I'll try it."
After putting it on, she felt pretty good and it suited her face shape very well. The boss kept praising her and said that she looked really good in it.
Xia Weining smiled and had not decided whether to buy it or not. She wanted to ask Xia Li's opinion.
"What do you think?"
But no one answered. She turned around to look for Xia Li, but there was no sign of him. Xia Weining was panicked for a moment.
The boss noticed her panic and hurriedly reminded her, "The little girl is over there."
Following the direction the boss pointed, I saw Xia Li talking to Sheng Huaizhuo, and I felt relieved.
But even so, I couldn't help but have tears in my eyes.
"Uncle Huaizhou, why are you here?"
"I'm on duty."
"I'm here to play with Teacher Xia."
"You bought so many things?"
"Teacher Xia said we should buy as much as we want today."
Sheng Huaizhou rubbed her head and said with a smile: "Teacher Xia is so good to you."
"Yes, I think Teacher Xia is the best teacher in the world."
"Xia Li." Xia Weining came over after paying for the hat. "You left without even telling me?"
"I came here because I saw Uncle Huaizhou here."
Xia Weining smiled without looking up at Sheng Huaizhou. In fact, the two of them had just looked at each other for a moment, and she saw some fleeting unknown emotions in his eyes.
"They are working, so let's not disturb them."
"It's okay, it's time."
"Oh yeah." Xia Li was very happy. "Then let's go eat."
Xia Weining was so shocked that she couldn't speak. "You ate so much just now, and you're hungry again?"
“That’s not rice.”
"Okay." Xia Weining was convinced. "What do you want to eat?"
"Grilled fish."
"Are you sure?" She asked this question almost through gritting her teeth.
Xia Li smiled and nodded, "Well, don't you like fish too?"
Xia Weining only regretted one thing now, that she shouldn't have taken them fishing in the first place.
"Uncle Huaizhou, can I grill the fish?"
"sure."
"Then let's go."
Xia Li pulled Sheng Huaizhou and skipped forward, while Xia Weining followed angrily behind, her chest heaving violently with anger.
They were both in place when Xia Weining slowly came over. Sheng Huaizhou poured hot water and placed it in front of her through the revolving table.
"Drink some water first to warm yourself up."
Xia Li seemed to have endless things to say when she saw Sheng Huaizhou. "Uncle Huaizhou, do you set off fireworks during the Chinese New Year?"
"meeting."
"Great, can I come to your house to see it?"
"Of course!"
"Teacher Xia, let's go together then."
During the Chinese New Year, every household will set off firecrackers, but only families with better financial conditions will set off fireworks, so there will be many people watching when the fireworks are set off.
Xia Weining took a deep breath, looked at Sheng Huaizhou's calm face, then looked at Xia Li's expectant eyes, and finally agreed.
"Very good."
Xia Weining looked up again and met Sheng Huaizhou's eyes. They were both distracted for a moment until the waiter came to serve the dishes. They quickly looked away and lowered their heads to drink water awkwardly.
The grilled fish here tastes pretty good. Xia Weining ate a lot of fish skin and gradually started to eat the meat with fewer bones. The rest were all thorny.
Sheng Huaizhou took out two bowls, gave one to Xia Li and placed the other in front of Xia Weining.
"They've all had their thorns removed, so you can eat them without worry."
"Wow, Uncle Huaizhou, how can you be so nice?"
"Eat quickly."
Xia Weining stared at the fish with a slight smile on his face.
After dinner, the three of them went shopping together. Xia Li walked in the middle, and the things they had bought before had been transferred to Sheng Huaizhou.
Xia Weining was now empty-handed and running after Xia Li. Sheng Huaizhou was responsible for following behind with things in his hands, watching them run, make noise, and laugh.
Xia Weining was tired from running, and when she turned around, she saw Sheng Huaizhou, who was like a guardian angel. She had to admit that it felt really good.
They played until dark, and Sheng Huaizhou sent them home. His family wanted him to stay for dinner, but he said he had something to do at home and didn't dare to stay any longer.
"Uncle Huaizhou, goodbye!"
"goodbye!"
Seeing the car window about to close, Xia Weining smiled at him and said, "Thank you for today. Be careful on the road."
"good."
The car window was only half closed, and the cold wind blew in from above, but Sheng Huaizhou didn't feel cold. He had his own way of keeping warm.
The car sped away, and her figure was no longer behind him. However, Sheng Huaizhou's mind kept appearing the image of Xia Weining smiling with a hat on. She looked like a snow girl, very spiritual.
The family fried New Year's goods today. Xia Weining ate a few meatballs and fried fish pieces, and they tasted just as he remembered.
The house was filled with prepared New Year goods, the TV was on non-stop, there was a sumptuous meal on the table, and everyone in the family was smiling. She was very happy in her heart. This was the feeling of the New Year, this was what it was like to celebrate the New Year.
In the past, my family was not well off and life was very difficult. We couldn’t prepare much for the New Year. Even when the family was together, we didn’t feel happy. During the New Year, all we thought about was how to make money after the New Year.
Xia Weining suddenly felt a little emotional. Her family worked harder and better than she had imagined.
After dinner, everyone else was busy cleaning up, while Xia Weining and Xia Li sat in the living room watching TV.
"Teacher Xia."
"Um."
"I think there's something strange between you and Uncle Huaizhou."
Xia Weining paused while cracking melon seeds and looked over in surprise. "What did you say?"
Xia Li was very serious, "Did you two have a fight?"
"Children should not interfere in adult matters."
"But." Xia Li hesitated, "I feel like there's a lack of communication between you."
"How old are you? You still know how to communicate."
“That’s how it’s played out in TV dramas.”
Xia Weining smiled and said, "Life is different from TV dramas."
Xia Li held her chin and thought carefully, "Do you feel that you have many sides? Which one is the real you?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
