Little Star shook her head seriously: "No, we have to eat together as a family."
"Okay, then Auntie will definitely get up early next time and have breakfast with Little Star."
Little Star nodded happily: "Today is Chinese New Year, I want to go with Brother Xiaoshan and Brother Xiaochuan to pay New Year's visits and ask for lucky money."
Ye Weiwei rubbed his little head: "Okay, then your aunt will give you a big red envelope later!"
Little Star cheered happily, "Auntie is the best!"
Huo Xiao pushed open the door and came in, picking up Xiao Xingxing and holding her above his head. "Where's your uncle? How's he?"
Little Star looked at Huo Xiao with feigned difficulty and remained silent.
Huo Xiao said angrily, "You brat! I've been cooking delicious food for you every day and teaching you boxing and reading!"
After saying that, he tossed the little star into the air.
Little Star giggled happily, making a flying gesture, "Fly higher, Uncle, fly higher!" Huo Xiao hugged her and stopped tossing her, "Uncle, how about it?"
Little Star reluctantly replied, "Okay, then."
Huo Xiao laughed in exasperation: "What do you mean by 'also' good?"
You heartless brat!
Little Star seized the opportunity to make a request: "If my uncle lets me take ten airplane rides and ride a horse ten times a day, then he'll be a good uncle."
Huo Xiao: ...
"You little rascal, you've got a lot of tricks up your sleeve! You're so young and you already know how to bargain! Where did you learn that from?"
Little Star giggled, "I won't tell you that Brother Xiao Chuan taught me! I can't betray Brother Xiao Chuan!"
Huo Xiao: ...
Ye Weiwei: ……
Even Ye Huaijin outside the door couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Little Star looked at the three adults with a blank expression, not knowing what was wrong with them.
He struggled to stretch out his little arm towards Ye Huaijin, "Second Uncle, I want to ride in a big airplane and ride a big horse..."
Ye Huaijin reached out and took him, then hoisted him onto his shoulder: "Come on, your second uncle will take you on a big airplane and a horse ride!"
Soon, the sounds of the uncle and nephew laughing and joking could be heard from the courtyard.
After Ye Weiwei finished washing up, she called them to eat. The two of them played around in the cold weather until they were sweating profusely.
Ye Weiwei was afraid that Xiaoxing would catch a cold, so she quickly wiped the sweat off his head, then rubbed her palms together to warm them and massaged his forehead, ears, and little hands.
After dinner, Huo Xiao and Ye Huaijin first put up Spring Festival couplets and the character "福" (good fortune) on the front door and the main entrance of the main room. They also hung two strings of red chili peppers on the wall of the main room, symbolizing a prosperous and thriving future.
These red chili peppers were specially brought over by Liu Guilan yesterday, who instructed them to make sure to hang them up today.
After cleaning and tidying up the house, Ye Weiwei took out the gifts her second brother had brought to the Huo family's old house, chopped off a large piece of frozen venison from the backyard, took a dried rabbit, a large pumpkin, a large winter melon, and the New Year's red envelopes she had prepared for the younger generation, and then set off for the old house.
Along the way, they encountered many villagers who greeted them warmly. Ye Weiwei and Huo Xiao responded politely and courteously. When they met people they were on good terms with, they would stop and chat for a bit. Their smiles never stopped throughout the journey.
At the Huo family's old house, adults and children alike got up early to get busy.
Because Ye Weiwei's second brother was also going to have his New Year's Eve dinner here and stay up all night with her, Liu Guilan took it very seriously and started preparing lunch right after breakfast.
As soon as Little Star arrived at the door, she excitedly called out to the people inside, "Brother Xiaoshan, Brother Xiaochuan, I'm here!"
Xiaoshan and Xiaochuan rushed out from inside upon hearing the noise. The three mischievous boys successfully met up in the yard, then huddled together and whispered to each other for a while before going out to play together.
Ye Huaijin was ruthlessly abandoned by her little nephew. Looking at her nephew, who was not afraid of strangers at all, a tender look flashed in her eyes.
When Liu Guilan and Old Man Huo saw Ye Huaijin carrying a large bag of things, and heard that they were all for them, they immediately said that Ye Huaijin was wasting money.
"We're all family, this is too formal!"
"We are so happy that you can come here for the New Year. Next time, we won't spend so much money."
Ye Huaijin smiled and said, "It's just a small token of my appreciation. I didn't know what you liked, so I just bought some myself. Please don't mind."
Liu Guilan scolded, "You're complaining about such good stuff? You must be looking down on everyone else. But this is a one-time thing! If you're so formal next time, I won't let you in."
Ye Huaijin quickly smiled and agreed.
The more Liu Guilan looked at the handsome young man, the happier she became. She couldn't help but think how wonderful a girl must be to be worthy of him.
Anyway, those girls in their village shouldn't even dream about it.
There's not even a fingernail's worth!
I made eight dishes for lunch.
As usual, Liu Guilan and Su Xuemei were in charge of cooking, and Ye Weiwei had no chance to shine. Liu Guilan arranged for her to keep Ye Erge company and talk to him.
Ye Weiwei introduced each member of the Huo family to her second brother.
Ye Huaijin quickly struck up a pleasant conversation with Huo's two older brothers.
When he sincerely wants to befriend someone, he easily wins people's favor, as if he has a natural affinity for them.
Of course, this only applies to people he wants to befriend and approve of.
Ye Weiwei knew her second brother well; among the three brothers, he was the most cunning and scheming.
The meal was served, a feast with both meat and vegetables, and it looked, smelled, and tasted delicious.
The three naughty boys, who were called back for dinner, couldn't help but drool when they saw so much delicious food on the table, and were then sent by Liu Guilan to wash their hands.
The whole family was sitting around a large table, filling it to the brim.
Old Man Huo smiled and picked up his small wine cup, inviting Ye Huaijin, "Little Ye, make yourself at home, don't be shy."
Ye Huaijin quickly stood up, held the wine cup in both hands, and clinked it with Old Man Huo's cup. "Thank you, Uncle Huo, Aunt Liu, thank you everyone."
Liu Guilan quickly asked the person to sit down: "We country folk don't have so many rules. Just be comfortable and don't feel constrained."
Huo Hai and Huo Jiang smiled and told Ye Huaijin not to be so formal.
After Old Man Huo picked up his chopsticks and started eating, everyone else began to pick up food.
Ye Huaijin praised each dish without eating a single bite, using a variety of words that made Liu Guilan beam with joy.
Sister-in-law Su Xuemei couldn't help but exclaim, "No wonder he's Weiwei's brother. You can tell he's a cultured person. He used some words that I'd never heard of before. I think he's really impressive."
Ye Weiwei and Huo Xiao exchanged a smile.
Ye Weiwei: "This shows that Mom and my sister-in-law are excellent cooks."
Ye Huaijin exclaimed, "It's really wonderful, it feels like home. I haven't had such a lively meal with my family in a long time."
In the past, I rarely went home for the Spring Festival because of military missions. Now that something has happened at home, it's even less likely that we can be together.
Ye Weiwei reached out and grasped Ye Huaijin's hand. "Second Brother, it will be alright! Everything will be alright."
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