Chen Guifen didn't dare to say more, for fear that He Hongjin would get angry about these things and his health would be in trouble.
The night passed in worry and sighing.
The time when Brother He and Zhao Lanxiang left yesterday was strange. Chen Guifen guessed that the couple would not spend the year at home.
After having breakfast at home, Chen Guifen called Minmin and asked her to go to her uncle's house together.
Minmin's stomach was full, and her eyes lit up when she heard this, but she sat back down after leaving the table.
"Grandma, I'm not going. I want to stay at home."
"Why aren't you going? Your grandfather and I won't be back at noon, how are you going to eat lunch? Come on, come with me and warm the stove for your uncle and aunt."
Minmin shook her head and ran to her parents' room:
"I'm not going, I'm just staying home!"
Chen Guifen coaxed Minmin for a long time, saying that Lu Miao had bought her new clothes and she would be able to see Yunyun when she went over.
Minmin remained indifferent, so Chen Guifen had to give up and told her not to run around at home and to bring her lunch back at noon.
Minmin agreed.
Today is New Year's Eve, and we will start pasting couplets and offering sacrifices to our ancestors at around four or five in the afternoon.
After that time, people in the village no longer visit each other.
But before that, you can still visit.
The Fu family became bustling since morning.
As the two elders in Jingbei had expected, people from the county did come to visit.
In addition to those cadres, Yu Hao from the team also came.
Yu Hao was worried that they wouldn't have enough firewood to burn when they returned for the New Year, so he sent over two bundles of firewood and a chicken.
Lu Miao said that the firewood could be kept, but the chicken was not wanted.
Yu Hao refused to take it back and left quickly with the pole.
As soon as Yu Hao left, Tianzao, who was married to the brigade, came to visit with some things.
Tianzao had work in her eyes. While chatting, Lu Miao repeatedly stopped her, but she still helped to clean the area in front of the door. She even took a linen cloth and helped Tian Guihua wipe the tables and chairs in the main room.
Lu Miao felt a little embarrassed.
No one can compete with her for the housework, and she really does nothing when she comes back.
Lu Miao packed some nuts and snacks as a return gift for Tianzao. She drank the orchid tea that she thought was particularly delicious, and also packed a small bag for Tianzao.
Afterwards, he took out the paper-cut window decorations he had brought back from the bottom of the box and distributed some to each family.
The wives of each family praised her and repeatedly asked her how she cut out such a delicate thing.
Tianzao laughed bluntly:
"My sister-in-law taught me to read and write, and I even came here to show my appreciation! What should I do now? I've taken away more than I brought in. Isn't that taking advantage of me?"
The wife of another grassroots cadre nearby laughed and said:
"Comrade Lu treats you as one of his own. Don't be shy, or you'll seem awkward!"
Lu Miao smiled and nodded:
"That's the truth."
"Ha ha ha ha……"
The women in the room laughed out loud.
They were chatting animatedly when Chen Guifen came over.
When Lu Miao heard Chen Guifen say that Brother He and Zhao Lanxiang were not there, he asked why Minmin was not brought over.
Chen Guifen told the truth about the situation. Lu Miao put his things down and said with a playful smile:
"It must be that Auntie said something wrong. Minmin has been close to me since we were little. If it were me who went, she would definitely come."
As she spoke, Lu Miao asked Tian Guihua and Tian Zao to help entertain the wives and daughters of the cadres from the town and county, while she went to the He family.
Half an hour later, Lu Miao brought Minmin over as instructed.
The women in the county all came here with their men.
They just came to visit and say hello. It was not a good time to stay long on New Year's Eve, so they left after exchanging a few pleasantries.
Lu Miao sent the person away and turned to look at Minmin who was picked up by her.
Minmin is in a very bad condition.
Even though Lu Miao had just been punished by Chen Guifen last night, he couldn't bear to watch it.
The little girl's hair was a mess and had lice.
He was not tall and wore a baggy cotton coat like an old lady's. He looked like a barrel from head to toe.
His hands were black with frostbite, and his face was malnourished, with patches of white here and black there, and his skin tone was extremely uneven...
If I tell others that I am a little beggar, I guess people will believe me.
If Lu Miao could bring someone here, he would definitely not let Minmin go on like this.
After finding two unused jackets, Lu Miao asked Chen Guifen and Tian Guihua to alter them for Minmin to wear.
Lu Miao carried the stove and kettle to the backyard, and bought everything including benches and basins. Then he turned around to get the shampoo and took Minmin to the backyard.
Taking advantage of the good sunshine in the morning, Lu Miao wrapped a towel around Minmin's neck, first combed Minmin's hair with a comb, and then combed it with a rake.
Lice are not like fleas, they can jump and dance.
But every time he combed his hair, Lu Miao still felt his scalp tighten when he saw the lice crawling densely on the comb.
He swatted the lice into a basin filled with water, and combed Minmin's hair until no more lice could be found. Then Lu Miao took the water to the ditch outside the backyard door and poured it out. He then came back to add new water to wash Minmin's hair.
"If your parents don't come back these few days, you can come to your aunt's place with your grandparents, do you hear me? If your grandparents are too busy to come, you can come by yourself."
Lu Miao gave Minmin instructions while rubbing foam into her hair.
Minmin was silent for a while, then said sullenly:
"I'm not coming."
Lu Miao leaned over to look at her and asked with a smile:
"Why don't you come? Doesn't your aunt love you enough?"
Minmin pursed her lips and lowered her head in silence.
Minmin knew that she was dirty and her mother disliked her, but her aunt didn't.
If this isn't hurting her, then what is?
Minmin looks thin, but she is thirteen years old after all, so she still understands some things.
She knew in her heart that she couldn't come because her aunt was so kind to her.
But she is still young after all.
Lu Miao coaxed her and said that it was okay if she didn't want to come, but if there was no one at home to cook, Minmin would have to come and eat when it was time for dinner.
If her parents were not at home, she would come over to eat and then go back quickly, and there should be nothing wrong.
Minmin thought about it and nodded slightly.
Lu Miao patted the foam on her head, led her to stand up and bend her waist, slowly rinsed off the foam, and then washed her hair twice again with shampoo, changing the water three or four times before stopping.
Lu Miao, Tian Guihua and the children had lunch in the backyard. It was cold, but the weather was good and it felt comfortable in the sun.
After Minmin's hair dried, Lu Miao combed it and styled it, then used a hair tie to tie a playful little bun at the back of her head.
Minmin quietly raised her hand and touched it several times. Seeing that it was still the same as when she was a child, she was extremely surprised.
But that’s not all.
Lu Miao moved the stove and kettle to the front room, set up the bathtub and called Minmin to take a bath.
Minmin felt embarrassed, but she couldn't refuse, so she had to force herself to do it.
Lu Miao felt uncomfortable when he saw her this time, and he felt even worse when he saw that she was so thin that only a skeleton was left.
It was New Year's Day, and in front of the children, so Lu Miao didn't say anything. He just silently worked with Tian Guihua to scrub Minmin's body clean. (End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com