"Not necessarily. But it's better if I'm around."
Gu Wei also knew that it was impossible to spend every Chinese New Year with his grandfather and the others.
But he will try his best and cherish every moment they spend together...
The 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month is the Little New Year.
Also known as the Kitchen God Festival, the Stove God Festival, or the Dust Sweeping Day, it is a traditional Chinese festival.
The date varies by region; in northern China, the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month is the Little New Year.
In most parts of the south, it is the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month.
After breakfast, Gu Wei and the others started sweeping the shed and tidying up the house.
Many hands make light work, and since we clean regularly, the job was finished in no time.
Now is the prime time for people to buy New Year's goods, so they went to the store in front to keep busy.
Busy times always fly by.
It wasn't until Qiao Xinghai drove over that Gu Wei glanced at the time and went outside.
They had arranged in advance to pick up vegetables from Zhao Dajiang's house.
Qiao Xinghai's wife also built a greenhouse, but the area planted was not large. After sharing it with her family and relatives and friends, there was nothing left.
However, I have learned a lot from this experience and am confident that I will plant another crop of vegetables after the Chinese New Year.
After Gu Wei got into the car, he noticed that Qiao Xinghai had a stubble beard and bloodshot eyes, and asked, "It's almost Chinese New Year, why are you still so busy?"
Qiao Xinghai laughed, “Busy. We timber truck drivers usually make one trip a day, but to increase our income, most of us make two or three trips. Many people are willing to go to more distant forest farms. The timber in the hinterland is of better quality and the cost is different. The hard work required is several times greater... This requires getting up early and working late.”
"This job is too hard."
Gu Wei sighed sincerely.
He knew that the timber transport roads in the forest area were mostly simple gravel roads, and the snowy roads were extremely slippery, so drivers had to be extra careful when driving.
Moreover, there are many snowdrifts and icy areas that require extra caution. After a day of bumping and banging, not only the driver but also the passengers will have aches and pains.
“There’s no job in the forest that isn’t tough. We’re alright, we drive the logs. Those loggers have to climb mountains and endure snow and ice, and they don’t get a holiday until New Year’s Eve.”
Qiao Xinghai spoke fluently and at length.
Gu Wei quite enjoyed listening to these things and occasionally raised some questions.
The two chatted casually as the car soon drove into the alley where Zhao Dajiang lived.
Perhaps hearing the noise of the car, Zhao Dajiang and Zhao Zhengyuan, who were working in the yard, hurriedly ran out, each carrying a handsaw.
"You've arrived."
"Come inside quickly."
As Gu Wei and Qiao Xinghai walked into the courtyard, they said, "It's alright today, not too cold."
"Yes, it's good that it's not too cold, otherwise I'm really afraid the vegetables will freeze."
Because of Gu Wei's prior instructions, Zhao Dajiang picked most of the leafy vegetables in the greenhouse, packed them all into several large buckets lined with cotton quilts, and then wrapped them tightly in layers of cotton quilts.
As they were loading the truck, two women, arm in arm, came out of the house across the street.
Gu Wei glanced at it subconsciously before looking away.
The two women then walked over.
Hey bro! Didn't recognize me?
One of the women, wearing a red hat, chuckled and pulled her scarf down, revealing her nose and mouth.
Gu Wei saw that it was Xu Qiuhe, a waitress at the state-run restaurant, and gave a slight smile. "Sister Xu. I didn't even dare to recognize you just now."
Gu Wei glanced at the person next to her again and recognized her as her younger sister, Xu Qiuyue.
However, he didn't intend to say hello.
"Everyone's bundled up in this freezing weather, wearing hats and scarves. Even strangers might not recognize you from across the street." Xu Qiuhe glanced at the carriage. "Where are your relatives taking these vegetables?"
Zhao Dajiang and her family lived next door to each other, so it was impossible for them not to know about the greenhouse vegetable growing project.
Gu Wei frowned slightly and said succinctly, "The city."
Xu Xiuhe, observing Gu Wei's expression, could tell that he was unwilling to talk about it. "Then let's get in the car quickly, so the food doesn't freeze. We siblings can talk again when we have time."
"Okay, goodbye then, Sister Xu." Gu Wei's expression softened slightly; he liked dealing with sensible people.
"Goodbye." Xu Qiuhe pulled her younger sister to stand aside, but did not leave.
Zhao Dajiang and the others had already placed several layers of cotton quilts on top and then tied it up simply.
He then jumped off the train and said, "Be careful, it's cold and the road is slippery."
"Don't worry, Uncle Zhao, you should go back inside."
As Gu Wei spoke, he opened the car door and got in.
Qiao Xinghai often ate at state-run restaurants and recognized Xu Qiuhe.
After the car had driven a few meters forward, he asked, "You seem to know that waiter quite well?"
"We're not that close, we just talk when we meet." Gu Wei could still see those people at the door through the rearview mirror, and they hadn't moved.
Qiao Xinghai shook his head with a smile, "I understand now. Look at how energetic you are. That shrewish old woman speaks softly and gently, not like that brawler with his spear."
Gu Wei straightened his leather hat, smiled, and said nothing.
Xu Qiuhe was hoping to get some information out of Zhao Dajiang and the others.
Unfortunately, the father and son were both tight-lipped, and after a few perfunctory replies, they went into the hospital.
Xu Qiuyue stomped her foot hard and said somewhat unhappily, "Big sister, are you trying to freeze me to death? Why are you going on and on about this?"
Xu Qiuhe knew that her younger sister loved to dress up and was not warm enough if she wore too little clothing, so she quickly apologized and said, "It's my fault, I forgot that you're not dressed as warmly as I am. Let's hurry back to Mom's house."
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