Chapter 47
Xie Jinyun, who had just gotten up, came over and said, "Grandma, I want to drink too. I haven't had breakfast yet. I'm so hungry!"
"There is food in the room. Isn't there a big tea tray on the tea table? There is everything in it. Help yourself." Grandma waved her hand, "Don't disturb the adults."
Xia Qingtang smiled and said, "Grandma, Xiaoyun didn't affect my work. It's more lively when he talks here."
Grandma said, "He just wants to take advantage of me because he sees that I love you. Don't pay any attention to him."
Thinking of the fierce look on her face when her grandma used a bamboo stick to help her beat someone yesterday, Xia Qingtang couldn't help but reveal a particularly sweet smile: "Grandma loves me so much. If I were Xiaoyun, I would definitely be jealous."
"Then let him be jealous. Grandma likes Qingtang." As she said that, grandma reached out and smoothed Xia Qingtang's black braids, then turned back to Xie Jinyun and said, "Aren't you hungry? Go in and get something to eat."
Xie Jinyun ran into the house and saw a large tea tray on the coffee table. On it were various snacks that Aunt Liu had fried and bought, including fried hemp leaves, small twisted dough sticks, Sanzi, glutinous rice noodles, sesame crisps, walnut cakes, peanut candies and a handful of various candied fruits.
Next to the big tea tray was a normal-sized tea tray, which contained sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, roasted peanuts and cracked walnuts.
These foods are usually bought and eaten, but only during the Chinese New Year would such a complete set be purchased, so Xie Jinyun did not clamor for chicken soup. He took a clean plate, grabbed a little bit of the food in it, and then carried the full plate to the backyard to continue watching Xia Qingtang make eight-treasure rice pudding.
Xia Qingtang cooked red bean paste on the brick stove. A sweet aroma filled the whole yard. The neighbor next door poked his head out and asked, "What are you doing? It smells so sweet?"
Xie Jinyun said proudly: "My sister-in-law is going to make eight-treasure rice!"
"Oh, Xiaoyun, you are in for a treat."
While munching on some fried dough twists, Xie Jinyun kept circling around Xia Qingtang like a greedy little cat.
Xia Qingtang scooped a little red bean paste for him to taste: "Is it sweet enough?"
"Enough, enough, it's delicious." Xie Jinyun licked her lips, "Sister-in-law, why did you make so much red bean paste? How much eight-treasure rice do you need to make? Can we finish it?"
Xia Qingtang smiled and said, "I'll only make two bowls of Eight Treasure Rice Pudding, but the red bean paste will be useful later. It can be used to make glutinous rice balls and red bean paste buns."
During the first month of every year, many people would come to the Xie family to pay New Year's greetings. During this period, except for the closest relatives, not many people would eat at other people's homes. After all, food was in short supply, and even during the New Year, one had to consider whether other people's food rations were sufficient.
Therefore, the Xie family would not invite others to dinner, but when many relatives, not far away, came to pay New Year's greetings, they could not be sent away with just a cup of tea and some snacks. So every year after the reunion dinner at noon, Grandpa Xie would go out to work, and the whole family would make buns and steamed buns at home together. On the morning of the first day of the first lunar month, they would be steamed and put in a large steamer. When guests came to pay New Year's greetings, each person would take one and eat it.
This thing is hot and can be eaten with tea. It can also help to fill your stomach. It is really the best treat.
In previous years, Sixth Aunt would make buns stuffed with cabbage, vermicelli and lard. This year, Xia Qingtang was going to make red bean paste anyway, so Sixth Aunt planned to make some more red bean paste buns so that if there were any children coming, she could give them sweet buns.
Xie Jinyun smiled happily: "Sister-in-law, it's great that you're here. There are many more delicious foods this year."
"I can also cook a lot of other delicious food. When there is enough food in the future, you can come to my house and I will cook for you." Xia Qingtang said with a smile.
She and Xie Jinxuan's new home had been cleaned once before the Chinese New Year, and they would clean it again after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month before they could move in.
"Then can I go to your house for dinner every day in the future?" Xie Jinyun glanced at her grandmother and asked in a low voice.
Xia Qingtang whispered, "I have no problem with that. It depends on whether your brother agrees."
Xie Jinyun's face fell: "Forget it, forget it, my brother will definitely say that I disturbed you, so I'd better not go."
"It's okay. If I make something delicious, I'll send it to you." Xia Qingtang continued to make eight-treasure rice pudding while chatting.
Soon, two bowls of eight-treasure rice were placed in the steamer and then on the brick stove. Xia Qingtang tended to the fire in the stove and said to Xie Jinyun, "Xiaoyun, if you don't leave for the time being, please help me watch the fire here for a while. It's enough to keep the fire like this. If it gets too small, please help me add some firewood."
"Okay, no problem!" Xie Jinyun patted his chest.
Xia Qingtang walked into the house with a smile and went to help Xie Jinxuan put up the couplets.
Xie Chengye and his mother were pasting window decorations and blessing characters in every room. When they reached the third floor, his mother looked at the extra dressing box and round mirror on the bedroom desk and couldn't help but whispered, "Look at Jinxuan's room, it's really changed. After Qingtang came, the room is always fragrant. They moved out after the New Year, and I'm a little reluctant to let them go."
"My son will definitely have to move out when he grows up." Xie Chengye stood in front of the glass window and pasted window paper-cuts on it with an indifferent expression.
Xie's mother whispered, "You are also a son, so you didn't move out."
"Isn't my situation special? Besides, you have a son, and Xiaoyun will live with you for a long time." Xie Chengye grinned, "And Jinxuan and the others live in the compound. If you have time, you can go see them every day."
"Then they will definitely find me annoying. I don't want to be that kind of annoying mother."
Xie Chengye looked at her expression and saw that she didn't seem to be worried anymore, so he said, "Have you figured out what happened last night?"
"You still remember? I saw you snoring every time you turned over, and I thought you didn't take it seriously."
"What did you say, did I not take to heart?"
After pasting the window paper-cuts, the two walked out together and went to the study room opposite.
Mother Xie whispered, "I haven't figured it out either, but Jinxuan is my son. He is essentially a kind and upright person. I only believe this."
"Hey, don't worry, Jinxuan won't go astray. He has Qingtang watching over him. That girl is very wise. With her around, Jinxuan won't go astray."
The wise Xia Qingtang was helping Xie Jinxuan hold the stool and pass the paste at the door, while directing him: "Go a little higher, a little to the left... Yes, it's done now..."
The couplet at the gate of the courtyard is the largest one. Each one is as long as the gate. With Xie Jinxuan's vigorous and powerful calligraphy, it looks very imposing.
"Yes, it looks good." Xia Qingtang said, "It's obviously the home of a cultured person."
Xie Jinxuan smiled and said, "If this was said a few years ago, it would have been an insult."
"It's different now. Everyone wants to go to college and become an educated person," said Xia Qingtang.
Xie Jinxuan smiled and said, "Being a cultured person is definitely temporary. In a few years, studying alone will definitely not be enough. I'm afraid everyone wants to be rich."
This year is the first year of reform and opening up. People nowadays do not realize that there will be a gap between the rich and the poor in the future, but Xie Jinxuan is obviously not an ordinary person. He has realized that there will be people who work hard to make money in the future.
Xia Qingtang looked at Xie Jinxuan with a strange look and said, "We are all human beings, why are you so smart?"
"Where did you get that from? How am I smart?"
"I think you can see the future."
Moreover, they can foresee the future without having to live their life again. These are the people who are truly wise and capable. Their vision is longer than that of ordinary people.
Xie Jinxuan said: "These are not my abilities. If you look at history books, you will know that making money is written in the course of history."
"Do you think people who want to make money are vulgar?" Xia Qingtang asked, wanting to see what Xie Jinxuan thought about making money.
"Vulgar? How can making money be vulgar? The ancients said that a gentleman loves money but gets it in a proper way. As long as the policy allows, wanting to make money is a good thing."
Xia Qingtang smiled slightly: "You are right."
After putting up the couplets, she hurried back to the backyard to check on the progress of the eight-treasure rice pudding. The chicken soup had just boiled over, so her grandmother served her a bowl of it to taste.
This is an old hen bought from the countryside. It was stewed in the largest casserole at home. A layer of bright yellow chicken fat floats on the soup, and the aroma is fragrant.
Xia Qingtang carefully scooped a spoonful of chicken soup from the chicken fat, blew it cool before putting it into his mouth. He immediately squinted his eyes happily: "It's so delicious!"
Being able to eat a bowl of old hen soup at a time like this is simply the happiest thing in the world.
The chicken was stewed until it was boneless, and one could bite off the meat with just one mouth, without using teeth. Xia Qingtang finished this bowl of happy chicken soup carefully, and then went to help Aunt Liu.
The family worked hard for the whole morning and this year's reunion dinner was finally on the table.
There are four meat dishes and four vegetarian dishes in total. The meat dishes include braised fish, braised pork with potatoes, spicy duck, and stewed chicken soup. The vegetarian dishes include stir-fried vegetables, stewed white radish with shiitake mushrooms, stir-fried vermicelli with bean sprouts, and cold-mixed bean curd sheets.
I only drank half of the white wine I opened yesterday, so I continued drinking it today.
Those who don't drink alcohol drink malted milk. Xie's mother also took a can of oranges and placed it next to them. Xie Jinyun poured out the canned water and drank it as a beverage.
The whole family raised their glasses together, and Grandpa Xie smiled and said, "This year's reunion dinner is particularly sumptuous. Our family has a big happy event this year. We have a new member. My wife and I are very happy. I don't have too many wishes for next year. I just hope that everyone is safe and healthy, those who work will be loyal to their jobs, and those who go to school will absorb more knowledge. Well, that's all I have to say. I wish you all a happy new year."
Everyone had a smile on their face, said "Happy New Year", and clinked their glasses happily.
Xia Qingtang took a sip of the malted milk in his cup, then sat down with everyone else.
Grandma took clean chopsticks and started to pick up food for the young people. She put a chicken leg in Qingtang's bowl and a chicken wing in Xie Jinyun's bowl.
"Xiao Yun eats chicken wings, and she will fly high in the future and go to Beijing to study in university." Grandma said with a smile.
Xie Jinyun immediately said: "Then brother also wants to eat a chicken wing, brother has an exam this year."
Xie Jinxuan quickly said, "I won't eat chicken wings anymore. I don't want to go to another province. I just want to go to the provincial capital university."
"Why?" Xie Jinyun was puzzled. "It's so impressive to go to Beijing to study at a university."
"I don't need to be pretentious. Besides, I can't get that high a score. The provincial university should be my best choice." Xie Jinxuan said matter-of-factly: "If I really go to Beijing to study at a university, I will have to separate from your sister-in-law, and I don't want to do that."
The whole family laughed, and Xie Jinyun said like a little adult: "Brother, you are tripped up by your love."
Xie Jinxuan said: "We couldn't get into university back then, and even if we are stuck now, there is nothing we can do. Getting into a university in the provincial capital is my best choice. But you are different, your path is easier, so you have to work hard. If you want to go to Beijing, then take the exam and go to Beijing."
"Don't worry, my grades are pretty good now. Maybe I can get into Kyoto University and show you guys."
Grandpa Xie laughed out loud: "You have great ambition! Then grandpa wishes you success in advance. If you really get admitted to Beijing University, grandpa will send you to college."
"Okay, okay! Then we have a deal!" After saying that, Xie Jinyun raised the glass and toasted with Grandpa Xie, which was considered an agreement.
The meal was lively and lively. When they had finished most of the dishes, Aunt Six went to the kitchen and brought out two plates of upside-down eight-treasure rice pudding: "Come, try our Qingtang's cooking."
She used a clean spoon to give each person a portion. Mother Xie took a bite and immediately praised, "It's delicious, sweet but not greasy, fragrant and soft. This red bean paste is well cooked. It takes a lot of effort."
Xie Chengye said: "Qingtang, when you move, you can prepare a table at home and invite us to dinner."
"That's for sure. I was planning to invite the whole family over to have some fun after we move in, as a way to warm up the house." Xia Qingtang said, "My cooking skills aren't as good as Aunt Six's, so I'll cook some dishes that Aunt Six doesn't usually cook, just to give her a taste of something new."
"When are you going to move there?" Xie Chengye asked.
"Come back after work on the 16th day of the first lunar month and move everything. I don't have a lot of stuff, so Jinxuan can move the things in the study first. On the 16th day, we'll move the things in the bedroom, and that's it. I'll cook at home on the following Sunday, and we'll all go over for lunch."
"Okay, okay, I will definitely go." Xie Jinyun said: "Sister-in-law, make me this eight-treasure rice pudding when the time comes. It's so delicious. These are not enough for me today."
Because we only made two bowls of eight-treasure rice, each person got not much.
But glutinous rice is not easy to digest, so eating this much at one time is just enough.
Xia Qingtang said: "It doesn't matter. If I have free time at home during this period, I can continue to cook for you."
Grandma said, "Don't spoil Xiao Yun too much. He's a grown man now, but he's still always so greedy."
"Xiao Yun is still a child. Not to mention that he will be greedy, even Jin Xuan and I will be greedy." Xia Qingtang said: "Now that we have the ingredients at home, we can make some for him. If the red beans and other things are used up, we won't be able to make it even if we want to."
Xie Jinxuan said: "If the red beans are used up, we can buy more. They are not rare. Qingtang also likes sweets, so let her make more and we can enjoy it together."
As he spoke, he shook Xia Qingtang's left hand under the table.
Xia Qingtang turned to look at him, and the two smiled at each other. Grandma saw it all and couldn't help but laugh too.
After the warm family reunion dinner, Grandpa Xie went to the living room to rest for a while, and Xiao Wan drove over to pick him up. With him came the old man’s personal secretary, who held a small pot and brought it directly to grandma.
"These are the fried spring rolls we make at home. I remember you like them, so I brought some over."
Grandma happily accepted the spring rolls. Aunt Six quickly cleared the small pot, cleaned it, and filled it with fried dumplings she had made. She handed them to the secretary and said, "There are sweet and salty ones. Take them back for the children to eat."
After Grandpa Xie and the others went out to work and the kitchen was cleaned up, the whole family sat together. Xie Chengye suggested playing mahjong, and grandma agreed. Xie Jinxuan went upstairs to take out the mahjong tiles that she had hidden for a long time, and while playing with them, she explained to Xia Qingtang who was sitting next to her how to play the game.
Xie Jinxuan could remember and count cards. After watching him play for a few rounds, Xia Qingtang gradually figured out the trick. Within two hours, she had learned how to play mahjong, and because of her luck as a novice, she won the most.
Aunt Six prepared the stuffing for the buns and brought them out: "Come over and help make the buns!"
Xie's mother said, "Okay, no more fighting, go help make dumplings."
Xie Chengye was still unsatisfied: "You're not going to fight anymore? Then what should I do? I don't know how to make dumplings."
"You can go out and play, or listen to the radio and play chess with Xiaoyun, just don't disturb us." After saying this, Mother Xie washed her hands and went to help Aunt Six.
Xia Qingtang also knows how to make dumplings, and the dumplings she makes are particularly good-looking, just like those sold in state-owned restaurants.
Seeing how beautifully she made the dumplings, Aunt Six said, "Qingtang is amazing. You are so young, but you can do everything, including making beautiful dumplings. You are so talented. When I was your age, my cooking skills were not as good as yours."
Xia Qingtang smiled and said nothing.
In fact, she had acquired these skills through years of working as a nanny. When she was really 21 years old, she would not have had such good skills.
Everyone was talking and laughing, chatting while making dumplings, and listening to the radio nearby.
There was a news broadcast about a big person going to Country M. After listening to it, Xie Chengye said, "This is really different. In the future, can we also go to Country M to take a look?"
Xie Jinxuan said: "Of course you can go, but you have to learn a foreign language first, otherwise you won't be able to speak a word when you go."
"I heard that the first thing students do when they enter university is to learn a foreign language." Xie's mother said, "I remember that mom learned a foreign language when she was young. Do you still remember it now?"
Grandma spoke a few words fluently in a foreign language, then smiled and said, "How can you not remember? I still remember everything I learned when I was young. I never thought I would be able to use it in the future."
Xia Qingtang's eyes widened: "Grandma is amazing!"
"It's nothing special. When you went to girls' schools, you had to learn this. You haven't learned it before. If you really learned it, you would definitely learn it better than me."
Xia Qingtang thought about the future society and felt that he should learn a foreign language by himself so that he could have an extra skill.
After everyone finished making the buns, Aunt Six took out another ball of dough and said, "Okay, now let's start making dumplings. We'll cook them tonight."
The filling of dumplings is different from that of buns. It is just a simple filling of leeks, eggs and shrimp skin. But because it is Chinese New Year, a lot of eggs are put in. When wrapping them, Xie Jinyun said: "I want to eat a few more in the evening."
At six o'clock in the evening, Aunt Liu had cooked the dumplings. Xie Jinyun ate a big bowl of them. After wiping her mouth, she slipped out to set off firecrackers with her friends.
Xia Qingtang and Xie Jinxuan also took some scattered firecrackers to set them off outside in the yard. She was timid and didn't dare to set them off directly, so Xie Jinxuan took a small bamboo stick, broke a small hole in it, and stuck the small firecracker in the hole. This way it was not so scary to set them off.
Xia Qingtang played for a while and felt his ears buzzing. In addition, the temperature dropped sharply after dark, so he rubbed his hands and went into the house.
"Qingtang, come in." Grandma suddenly poked her head out from the door of her bedroom and waved at her mysteriously.
Xia Qingtang hurried over: "Grandma, what's wrong?"
Grandma pulled her in and pointed to the phonograph on the table and said, "Close the doors and windows, let's play this."
"The phonograph." Xia Qingtang whispered, "Has it been repaired?"
"Yes, Jinxuan found someone to secretly fix it for me." Grandma smiled and said, "I secretly listened to it once the other day. It works and sounds great. Today is New Year's Day, so let's have some fun with it."
Having said that, grandma asked Aunt Six to close the curtains, and then she started playing the show herself.
Some dull but elegant music sounded, and Xia Qingtang felt as if he was watching a TV drama set in a foreign land.
Grandma was in the bedroom, tapping the beat slowly to the music. She closed her eyes slightly, her expression full of nostalgia. I wonder if she was thinking about the past.
Aunt Six and Xia Qingtang didn't say anything, just listened to the music quietly.
As Xia Qingtang listened, he couldn't help but smile - it was so nice to celebrate the New Year here.
It is lively, warm and interesting here, just like Xie Jinxuan, making her feel extremely happy.
For the first time in her two lifetimes, she felt that the Chinese New Year was something truly worth looking forward to.
After listening to the music for a while, grandma carefully put the phonograph back into the cabinet. When they walked into the living room, they saw Xie Jinxuan coming in from outside wearing a thick coat.
"Where did you go?" asked grandma.
Xie Jinxuan said: "I called grandpa and asked him if Tian Guoqiang had returned home."
"We should go back now. We really can't find anyone. Can we still stay here for the New Year?" said grandma.
"Yes, they went back. It was cousin Feiyang who drove to the train station to pick them up, and then took them directly to grandpa's house. Grandpa said that Tian Guoqiang complained to him, saying that we bullied him, and he was scolded as a result."
"What's the point of scolding him now? He's already a useless person." Grandma curled her lips in disdain.
"Grandpa said the same thing. He said he would write a letter to apologize to grandpa and grandma, and also sounded a warning to Tian Guoqiang, telling him not to come here again, let alone interfere in the affairs of the Wu family."
"Can Tian Lao Er listen to your grandfather's words?"
"It doesn't matter if he doesn't want to listen. If he dares to interfere, I won't be polite to him either."
Grandma laughed and said, "That's right. Even though he is your uncle, you don't need to pay attention to someone who is not nice to you."
Aunt Six said, "Come to think of it, where can Comrade Xiao Wu hide on his own during the New Year?"
"Isn't she rich? Find a guest house for her to stay in and give her some money. Maybe she will even cook for her every day." Grandma said uninterestedly: "Okay, let's not talk about this person. I'm a little hungry again. I need to eat something."
We all sat with grandma in the living room and ate some snacks, just waiting for Grandpa Xie to get home from get off work.
On the night of New Year's Eve, the Xie family would stay up until midnight. Xie Chengye went out to set off firecrackers. The whole family said Happy New Year to each other before going back to bed.
Xia Qingtang usually went to bed early, and at this moment he was so sleepy that he could hardly open his eyes. He returned to the bedroom and just lay down when he lost consciousness.
The next morning, she woke up to the sound of firecrackers. She looked outside and saw that the sun had come out. She quickly got up and went to wash up.
After packing up, I went to the first floor and found that some people had come to pay New Year's greetings. The aroma of steamed buns came from the kitchen. Xia Qingtang went into the kitchen. Aunt Liu smiled and said, "Come and have two buns, and then sit next to grandma. Most of the people who come to pay New Year's greetings today are relatives of the family, so you should get to know them. After the third day of the New Year, it will be the people from grandpa's work who will come. You don't need to get to know them. Just stay upstairs and go out to play if you want."
Xia Qingtang ate a few buns and then sat next to her grandmother to get to know the relatives who came to visit her during the New Year.
Everyone praised her for being good-looking and energetic, and some elders even secretly gave her red envelopes in order to please the Xie family.
Of course Xia Qingtang would not accept those red envelopes. She gave them all to Xie Jinxuan and asked him to return them to those relatives.
On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, a new wave of people came to pay New Year's greetings, so she and Xie Jinxuan didn't have to go downstairs. They both stayed upstairs reading and chatting, and they were very comfortable.
However, Xie Jinxuan was only relaxed for one day. On the fifth day of the New Year, he also went out to wish people a happy new year with gifts in his hands. According to convention, he had to visit the homes of his leaders, colleagues, and some old classmates.
Xia Qingtang has no feelings for his relatives, so he doesn't plan to visit them.
Xie Chengye did ask Xie Jinxuan if he wanted to go to the Xia family to wish them a happy new year. Xie Jinxuan then asked Xia Qingtang. She thought about it and said, "We are coming back from the steel mill on the seventh day of the first lunar month. I will go to the cotton mill to wish them a happy new year. Then I can stop by to see my dad."
Xie Jinxuan took out the New Year's gift that she had prepared long ago. Xia Qingtang whispered, "You actually prepared it long ago? Did you guess that I would go to the Xia family to take a look?"
"Yes, we are going to the cotton mill anyway, so we must stop by to take a look. Regardless of your mother's condition, it is not a big deal to check on your father." Xie Jinxuan whispered, "Besides, don't you want to go and see if Wu Jinfeng is at your brother's place?"
Xia Qingtang chuckled: "You still understand me. I really want to go and see what Xia Qinghai is doing."
On the seventh day of the New Year, the two of them went out on their bicycles after breakfast.
The weather has been good during the Chinese New Year this year. The sun is shining almost every day and it is especially warm during the day. Children don’t like to stay at home and run around everywhere during the day. The same is true on the streets. Children can be seen playing everywhere, making the scene even more prosperous.
When they arrived at the steel mill, they paid New Year's greetings to the Hu family and the third aunt's family respectively, drank some tea and ate some homemade snacks at both sides, and then rode their bikes to the cotton mill.
Xia Qingtang went to wish Chairman Qin a happy new year first. When Chairman Qin saw Xie Jinxuan, he said, "Xiao Xia, your husband is so handsome. You married such a good man, why was your wedding so quiet?"
Xia Qingtang smiled and said, "Thank you for the compliment, boss. I am a shy person. Besides, marriage is a matter between two people, so being quiet has its own advantages."
Chairman Qin asked Xie Jinxuan some questions about her work and also asked about their living conditions.
Xie Jinxuan said: "We live in the provincial party committee compound."
"Yes, your company does have extra houses, but you are so young, you can only get one house, and you can't have children for the time being."
Xie Jinxuan and Xia Qingtang just laughed and didn't say anything.
Fortunately, there were other guests coming to Chairman Qin's house. When they saw someone else coming, the two of them left.
Xia Qingtang turned a corner and took Xie Jinxuan to Wen Xiaoli's house.
When Wen's parents saw that Xie Jinxuan was very handsome, they quickly asked him if he had any brothers to introduce to their daughter.
Wen Xiaoli blushed: "Mom and Dad, it's not like I can't get married, what are you doing?"
Father Wen said: "That's not our intention. We just want to ask. If Xiao Xie has a good brother, it would be a good thing to introduce him to you."
Xie Jinxuan said: "Uncle is right, unfortunately my cousins in the local area are already married or have a partner, but there are some good unmarried guys in our unit. If Comrade Wen needs them, I can help introduce them at any time."
"Thank you, thank you, but I don't want to find a partner this year, thank you." Wen Xiaoli said quickly: "I just want to work hard this year and strive to get the position of team leader."
Xia Qingtang said: "You can definitely become a team leader. When you become one, tell me if you want to find a partner. I will help you check it out then."
"Okay." Wen Xiaoli then laughed.
After sitting at the Wen family for a while, it was already noon. Father Wen invited them to have dinner at home. Xia Qingtang smiled and said, "We are just about to go to my house to take a look."
"Oh, you should go. It's just the right time to go back for dinner." Mother Wen smiled and said, "I saw your mother the other day. She was thinking about you too."
Xia Qingtang smiled and said, "She must be thinking about me by scolding me. I know it all."
Mother Wen said, "Hey, your mother is just like that. She scolds you, which means she still cares about you."
"Then we'll go over now." Xia Qingtang shook Wen Xiaoli's hand, "See you on the 14th day of the first lunar month."
After coming out of the Wen family, Xia Qingtang and Xie Jinxuan walked slowly forward. After walking one row forward, they arrived at where the Xia family lived.
They walked in along the crowded path and soon arrived at the door of Xia's house.
The Xia family is still the same, except that there are red couplets posted on the door, which makes the house look more festive.
The sun is shining brightly today. Zhao Meizhen is cooking on the earthen stove at the door. Xia Daming and Xia Qinghai are both sitting at the door basking in the sun. Xia Qinghai is holding a newspaper in his hand, reading it intently.
"Hey, Qingtang is back?" The neighbor next door was the first to notice Xia Qingtang and Xie Jinxuan and immediately shouted.
Zhao Meizhen and Xia Daming looked up at the same time, and Xia Daming jumped up happily: "Qingtang is back! And Xiaoxie is here too! Come on, come on! We have been talking about you guys these days, and we didn't expect you to really come today!"
Having said that, Xia Daming hurried into the house to move a stool.
Zhao Meizhen put one hand on her waist and held the spatula in the other, and said very rudely: "Why did you come back? I remember that I don't have a daughter like you anymore!"
After not seeing each other for such a long time, Zhao Meizhen has changed a lot. Her previous illness made her even thinner. Her face is almost skin and bones. Her eyes are dark and she always looks like she is glaring at people when she looks at them, which seems a little scary.
She was still wearing the same coat she wore last year, and it was obvious that she had not bought any new clothes for the New Year.
But Xia Qinghai, who was sitting there with a smile on his face, was wearing a brand new dark blue coat, which showed that in this family, as always, everything depended on their son.
Xia Qingtang ignored Zhao Meizhen. She waited for Xia Daming to come out of the room and said, "Dad, Jinxuan wanted to come see you and wish you a happy new year. This is a little gift for you."
As she spoke, she took out a bottle of white wine, a bag of brown sugar and a bag of cloud cake from the cloth bag that Xie Jinxuan was carrying and handed them to Xia Daming. He took them and smiled so hard that his teeth were showing.
"Why did you bring some liquor? I can't bear to drink such good liquor!"
Bringing white wine to someone else's house during the Chinese New Year is indeed a very high-end gift, no wonder Xia Daming is so happy.
Zhao Meizhen immediately snatched the thing from Xia Daming's hand: "Of course you can't drink it. Such good wine, leave it there and let Qinghai take it to give to the leader later!"
Xia Daming was stunned for a moment and didn't say anything.
Xia Qinghai smiled and shook hands with Xie Jinxuan: "Brother-in-law, please sit down. Our house is rather simple, I hope you don't mind."
Zhao Meizhen sneered, "He dares to look down on our family? I heard that the house allocated to people of his age in the provincial party committee compound is a warehouse, which is not even as big as our house. How dare he look down on our family?"
Xia Qinghai looked at his mother and just smiled. He didn't intend to explain and said, "Dad, don't just stand there. Pour some water for your brother-in-law and sister."
"Oh yes, I'll go get some water." Xia Daming finally reacted and ran into the house to get some water.
Xia Qingtang said: "Dad, there's no need to pour water. We just came here to wish you a happy new year and we'll be leaving soon."
"How can you go back? It's already noon. Eat at home before going back." Xia Daming said, "Look, lunch is ready."
Before Xia Qingtang could refuse, Zhao Meizhen scolded, "Do they think they are worthy of eating my family's food? Get out! Get out now! I've already said that I don't have this daughter anymore, why are you still inviting them to dinner?"
Xia Daming said, "What's wrong with you? Your daughter and son-in-law are coming back to pay New Year's greetings. Can't you say something nice? It's New Year's Day, do you have to make a fool of yourself in front of the neighbors?"
After being yelled at by Xia Daming, Zhao Meizhen lowered her head in embarrassment, but still muttered quietly: "There is no food for them at all, what should they eat? Eat northwest wind?"
Xie Jinxuan said: "We will go back now, father-in-law doesn't need to worry anymore, and we won't drink water either."
Xia Qinghai smiled and said, “Brother-in-law, you are a noble man who is different. You came to our house with Qingtang and refused to drink even a glass of water.”
Sometimes he does this on purpose. He looks smiling, but what he says is sarcastic and makes it difficult for people to respond.
"Yes, he is noble. He just doesn't want to drink your water. What's it to you? If you have the ability, you can be noble too." Xia Qingtang deliberately retorted in a low voice.
Xia Qinghai still smiled: "What you said makes sense, I think so too, people still have to find a way to live a good life, just like you."
Xia Qingtang heard something behind his words, but she still couldn't be sure that Wu Jinfeng was definitely hidden by him.
After thinking for a while, Xia Qingtang said, "Oh, Dad, I need to go to my room to find something. I think I left it at home..."
As she spoke, she walked to the shack where she had lived for many years, took out the door key she had taken with her, and prepared to open the door.
"You can't go in!" Xia Qinghai and Zhao Meizhen rushed towards Xia Qingtang at the same time, especially Zhao Meizhen, who pushed Xia Qingtang away.
Xie Jinxuan held Xia Qingtang and couldn't help but ask, "What are you doing? If you can't go in, then you can't go in. How can you do it?"
Zhao Meizhen put her hands on her waist and wanted to curse, but was stopped by Xia Qinghai. He smiled and said, "No, no, we didn't do anything. It's just that there are a lot of sundries in this room now. It's very dirty and messy, so it's not convenient to go in."
"Yes, it's not convenient to go in! And there's nothing of yours in the house, get out of here! Don't stay here!"
Xia Qingtang walked to the small window of the shed and saw dark blue curtains hanging on it, which were not there before. The curtains were drawn tightly even in broad daylight. Considering the strange behavior of the mother and son, Wu Jinfeng was probably in the shed.
At this moment, there was a sudden collision sound from inside the shed, like the sound of a body hitting the wall.
As soon as the voice came out, Zhao Meizhen's face turned pale instantly.
Xia Qinghai did not change his expression. He smiled and said, "Sure enough, if a house is not occupied for a long time, mice will live in it. I went in to get something before the New Year and saw several big mice, each as big as this. Listen, the noise these mice make is so loud! Haven't you been afraid of mice since childhood? It's better not to go in, so as not to scare you."
Xia Qingtang quickly looked at Xia Daming. He stood there, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated. After a long while, he said, "Qingtang, there shouldn't be anything of yours in that room. After you moved out, your mother and I went in to clean it up, and we didn't find anything of yours. If there was, I would have sent it to you a long time ago."
"Okay, I get it. My things might be lost." Xia Qingtang said, "But it doesn't matter. Just buy another one. Dad, take care of yourself. We'll go back now."
"Ah... you really aren't going to have lunch here..." Xia Daming ran to Xia Qingtang.
"No, I can't eat the food she cooks." Xia Qingtang said.
"Then...then let me take you out..." Xia Daming said in a low voice.
"Okay, let's go together." Xia Qingtang took the lead and Xia Daming quickly followed her.
Xie Jinxuan pushed her bicycle behind the two of them, listening to their conversation silently.
Xia Daming didn't ask anything else, just asked her how she spent the New Year and whether the food was good at her husband's house.
Xia Qingtang answered them one by one. When Xia Daming heard that she was eating well and living well, he said, "That's fine. As long as you live well, I'll be relieved. Although I haven't met Xiao Xie's family, but Xiao Xie is such a good person, his family must be good. You always say that your in-laws treat you well, and you have gained some weight. I believe that you must be living much better now than at home."
Xia Qingtang said, "How was Dad's New Year this year? Did he have a good time? Zhao Meizhen is not in good health, so who prepared the New Year's Eve dinner?"
"Your mother's health has improved a lot, and she cooks now. She cooks better than me. My cooking is OK for daily meals, but not so good during the Chinese New Year. Besides, I don't know how to make dumplings, so I still have to rely on her." Xia Daming said, "We bought a lot of food this year, and your mother cooked four dishes and a soup, a dish of meatballs, and the dried vegetable and salted pork rice that we ate last year. It was so delicious, we ate it all, and there was still not enough to share."
"Eat it all? Really? Last year my brother came back for the New Year, and there were four of us at home, so everything was eaten. This year there's one less person at home, but everything was still eaten up. It seems everyone's appetite has increased." Xia Qingtang said deliberately.
Xia Daming's expression froze instantly. He looked at Xia Qingtang with fear in his eyes, like a child who had done something wrong.
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