Chapter 37
On the 28th of February, after Wang Mengmei finished her lunch work, she asked Ni Hao and Xue Ling to put up the couplets.
"There is some paste in the kitchen. After putting up the couplets, we can also put up the window decorations."
Ni Hao stood on a stool and pasted up the Spring Festival couplet that read "Wealth rolls in all seasons, and happiness comes from all directions." Xue Ling stamped her feet below, "You pasted the word 'Fu' upside down! Why did you paste it right side up?"
Ni Hao chuckled and quickly turned the word "Fu" over before it got stuck.
The window decorations were bought by Jian Li. They were clusters of flowers and various fruits and vegetables.
Xue Ling pasted it on the window and praised: "It looks really good."
Every Spring Festival, there are old ladies selling window paper-cuts on the street. In the past, they were just flowers or zodiac signs. They were not expensive, only a few cents. In recent years, with the increase of various plastic flower-shaped window paper-cuts from the south, the old ladies' window paper-cuts have gradually become unsalable.
But when Jian Li saw someone selling handicrafts in the market, she immediately bought a lot of them.
She has a lot of requirements. She wants people to cut the vegetable basket in a certain way and wants the vegetables to look like what they are in the basket.
Fortunately, the old lady was really skillful and she actually cut it out.
Jian Li paid more than ten yuan with great satisfaction and brought back many "unique" window paper-cuts.
In the store, there are pictures of fruits, vegetables and dishes. On the windows of the house, there are pictures of the zodiac signs of the family of three, as well as words like "good fortune comes from the east" and "immediate success"...
Jian Li bought a lot, and Wang Mengmei scolded her for spending money recklessly while sharing the remaining money with Xue Ling and Ni Hao.
After Xue Ling finished pasting the window paper-cuts, she helped Wang Mengmei put away all the things in the store.
The pots, bowls, pans, and utensils were washed thoroughly, and the tables, chairs, and benches were put together. There was not much wine and drinks left in the counter, so Wang Mengmei gave the extra portion to two employees and also gave each of them a portion of New Year's goods.
Wang Mengmei prepared the New Year's goods herself, including various dried goods and meatballs and crispy pork that she fried, a big bag for each person.
After tidying up everything inside and out, Wang Mengmei called the employees together and gave them two red envelopes with a smile.
"Happy New Year in advance."
Xue Ling happily took it and said, "Happy New Year, Boss!"
Ni Hao works for his master. When would he get the New Year's money? Usually during the New Year, his master would show him what else was in the store and then let him look after the store at night.
"Thank you, boss."
Ni Hao held the red envelope and thought to himself that it was a good thing that he did not miss this opportunity. If he had followed his master and changed jobs again, he would not be able to live such a life for the rest of his life.
The two of them took the red envelope and helped Wang Mengmei move the remaining things in the store to Wang Mengmei's home.
Wang Mengmei: "Then we can open the market on the tenth day after the Lunar New Year. We just need to pack up our things a day in advance."
Wang Mengmei has been busy for almost half a year and wants to take a good rest during the New Year.
Ni Hao and Xue Ling left, and Wang Mengmei lay comfortably on the bed.
She didn't want to think about anything now.
But once people get used to being busy, it's not easy to take a break. Wang Mengmei couldn't sit still after resting at home for a long time.
Jian Li and her father came back from the market with bags and bags, and Jian Li was chewing a candied haws. Wang Mengmei couldn't help but go over to see what they bought.
Jian Li pushed him away: "Didn't we agree that you would not take care of anything during the New Year this year and let me and my dad take care of it together?"
Wang Mengmei said this a few days ago. The store was extremely busy those days, and Wang Mengmei said that she didn't want to cook for the New Year this year.
She had enough to do in the store. This year she planned to do nothing but eat ready-made food. She also asked the father and daughter to watch over the fried tofu and the frying pan.
Jian Li didn't think it was a big deal. Isn't it normal? It would be a wonder if the cook couldn't be idle at home.
Although she said that, Wang Mengmei walked around the house for several circles, feeling uncomfortable.
Jian Feng was washing clothes, and she became impatient as she watched.
"Do you know how to use a washing machine? Why are you wringing the clothes with your hands? Can't you just throw them in the spinner, spin them a few times, and then rinse them?"
Seeing Jian Li clumsily putting things away, she became anxious again: "Why are you putting the fried meatballs outside? Aren't you afraid that the cat will get them? Put them in the third compartment of the cabinet... Let me do it!"
Jian Li put the things on the table and said, "Ms. Wang Mengmei, if you really have nothing to do, go out and buy something."
Wang Mengmei: "You two have bought everything, what else should I buy?"
Jian Li clicked her tongue a few times and said, "Let's go buy some clothes and cosmetics."
Jian Li pulled her mother outside and said, "Come on, let's go to the department store."
Before taking the person away, Jian Li saw her father giving her a thumbs up with a look of relief.
It's true, people are not afraid of working, but they are afraid of someone watching them work.
Jian Li took Wang Mengmei to the department store. The second floor was for buying clothes.
Wang Mengmei couldn't resist Jian Li's deception and bought a new set of clothes without realizing it, as well as a set of Qishimei cosmetics.
Wang Mengmei walked out of the department store and was blown by the cold wind. She suddenly felt that she had spent too much money.
The new outfit was a red down jacket, tight pants, and a pair of calf-length boots.
A whole set of new clothes cost more than five hundred yuan.
I spent more than two hundred dollars on cosmetics.
Wang Mengmei felt like she was crazy for spending seven hundred yuan in one go.
That's seven hundred bucks!
In the past, it was two months’ income for the family.
Jian Li knew at a glance that her mother was regretting, so she dragged her away and said, "I've already spent the money, and they won't give it back."
After taking the clothes home, Jian Feng didn't frown when he heard the price, but asked Wang Mengmei to try them on.
Wang Mengmei kept complaining in regret: "It's too expensive. Why is this thing so expensive? A down jacket costs more than 300 yuan. It must have been snatched away..."
That being said, it still feels different when you put it on.
The red down jacket makes Wang Mengmei's face look rosy, and the boots make her calves look especially slender and long.
Wang Mengmei looked at her husband expectantly, feeling a little uneasy.
Jian Feng's eyes sparkled: "...It looks good."
He pulled off the tag and said, "Don't return it. Wear it like this. I'll wear this for the New Year this year."
Wang Mengmei blushed and complained sweetly, "It's too expensive."
Jian Feng: “Not expensive.”
Such beautiful clothes are worth the price.
Wang Mengmei touched her new clothes. She didn’t know if it was a psychological effect, but the clothes looked different when she put them on.
The down jacket was pressed against her back, making even the cold winter wind less biting. The same went for her boots, which were lined with thick down, keeping her warm as if there were a small oven under her feet.
Wang Mengmei sighed: "Money is such a good thing."
Money can buy comfort.
The family of three made hot pot in the evening. The hot and spicy hot pot was steaming hot, and the family gathered around the table to watch TV. The TV was replaying last year's Spring Festival Gala. Even though it was a show I had watched before, it was still very interesting to watch.
After finishing her meal with laughter, Jian Li lay down on the bed and fell asleep like a little pig.
After Jian Feng cleaned up the house and drew the curtains, the couple discussed what to bring for the New Year's Eve dinner tomorrow.
Every year for the New Year’s Eve dinner, Jian Feng would take his wife and daughter to the Ge family’s house.
There was nothing that could be done about it. Huang Guihua always said that the Ge family had provided Jian Feng with food and had raised him for more than ten years, and that they were half-fathers of the same family. In addition, Huang Guihua was his biological mother after all, so no matter how reluctant Jian Feng was, he had to go and attend the event during the New Year.
Usually they would go for dinner and stay overnight. On the first day of the second day, everyone would see that Jian Feng was not absent, to give Huang Guihua and Ge Qiang a good reputation. Only then could they consider that they had completed their mission for the year.
Wang Mengmei was very annoyed by this matter and had to go.
You have to go, because Huang Guihua is still alive. This is how it is these days. If you have a status, you have to take care of everything.
"Just bring a box of Lulu, a box of eggs, and a box of dried vegetables, and buy a bottle of instant noodles."
Every year there are four gifts, and Wang Mengmei didn't hesitate much. She just wanted to put together four gifts as long as no one would find fault with them.
Anyway, everyone knew what was going on. Huang Guihua and I were just relatives during the New Year. It was impossible for them to be filial sons and grandsons when they were old.
As early as when Huang Guihua skinned her eldest son to death, she no longer expected to rely on her eldest son to support her in her old age.
After all, she has two promising sons, one is rich and the other is capable, so Huang Guihua is stable.
Jian Feng hummed: "You don't have to buy Lulu, just pack two kinds of dried vegetables at home."
Anyway, it's just for fun.
Wang Mengmei: "Okay."
After discussing with the Ge family, the couple discussed what to get from Wangjiazhuang.
Wang Mengmei: "I bought some clothes for my mother and a silk scarf for my sister, plus two boxes of instant noodles, a box of milk, and three pieces of dry goods."
Wang Mengmei has to go through three houses to get back.
I have to visit my sister and two younger brothers' homes.
Jian Feng hummed, "If it's not enough, go back and buy more."
Wang Mengmei turned over and said: "I really don't like the Chinese New Year. It's just a place to spend money."
In addition to gifts, people also have to give New Year's money.
How many children does the Ge family have, how many children does the Wang family have, and every New Year's Day they have to count them. It's a problem to decide which family got more and which family got less.
"How much will you give to Changjun, Changyuan, and Yaqin's children this year?"
Money has become less and less valuable in recent years, and the annual salary is rising.
Wang Mengmei recalled that when she was a child, even one or two cents was considered a great thing. Now, even one or two yuan is too much to bear.
Especially since Ge Changjun was rich, Ge Changyuan was also rich as a doctor, not to mention Ge Yaqin. Although the Ge family didn't interact much with them on a normal day, the money they gave during the Chinese New Year was not a small amount.
Last year I was given five dollars, so this year I have to give ten dollars?
Jian Feng: "Pack ten first, and then we'll see if it's enough."
It doesn't necessarily have to be returned that year. If it's really less than what others have, at worst you can make it up next year.
Wangjiazhuang was easy to deal with. Wang Mengmei didn't intend to show off. She planned to just charge five yuan for each bag and be done with it.
After calculating the New Year's money, the couple fell into a deep sleep.
The next day, New Year’s Eve, the family first set off firecrackers and put up couplets, and then changed into new clothes and went to Ge’s house.
When I arrived at the Ge family, I realized that the atmosphere this year was not as lively as in previous years.
Because Ge Ming was eventually sent to a juvenile detention center.
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