Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Aunt arrives.
The two of them touched their ears at the same time, then bent down and put their hands into the water at the same time.
There is really nothing more important than catching fish right now.
The river water that had just rushed down from the canal was very muddy, and it was impossible to see where the fish were. One could only vaguely judge by the water plants and the movement of the water.
Not long after the three of them fished, Mu Mian heard Liu Guizhi's surprised voice behind him, "How did you three little girls get here so quickly? Where did you come from? We didn't see anyone along the way."
Xu Lele's face was full of smugness, "Shi Xiaolian took us to take a shortcut. Mom, look, I touched two! Can I fry them and eat them?"
Liu Guizhi said casually, "I'll fry it for you if I have oil."
Liu Shuangcui was curious, "Where did you take the shortcut?"
Mu Mian pointed behind him, "We got out from that bush."
In fact, it wasn't really a road at all. Adults couldn't fit through it. Only children could pass through the small gaps in the bushes. She had just had several strands of her hair shaved off.
Liu Shuangcui muttered: "No wonder."
Liu Guizhi and Liu Shuangcui were among the first group to arrive. Not long after they arrived, the shallow area of the creek started to become crowded.
Some people would hold up the fish excitedly and laugh, while others would fight over a big fish, and the people nearby would have to separate them if they touched a fish.
For a moment, it was extremely lively.
Mu Mian dragged her bag, bent over and searched hard, and quietly caught more than ten fish, including three or four big ones and some half-grown ones.
Seeing that her daughter hadn't moved, Liu Shuangcui thought she hadn't caught anything, but when she got closer she saw a big bag full of them.
Liu Shuangcui was surprised, "Did you poke the fish nest?"
Mu Mian chuckled, "What a lucky guy! How many did you catch, mom?"
Liu Shuangcui: "There are only four or five mediocre ones. I don't think there are many left. Let's go back."
As he said this, he picked up the big bag in his daughter's hand. The fish and water together were quite heavy, about thirty kilograms.
Mu Mian could actually carry it. She didn't feel any effort at all when dragging it just now, but since her mother had already carried it away, she was relieved.
Mu Mian was relieved, while Shi Xiaolian rolled up her big bag and lifted it once, twice, three times...
The bag didn't move at all and never left the water.
The fish inside flicked their feet a few times, as if they were unhappy about someone tickling them.
Shi Xiaolian: “………………”
Mu Mian had just come out of the water when he saw this scene.
After hesitating for a second, Mu Mian walked over silently and said, "Let me help you carry it."
Then a hand was lifted up, as easily as lifting a bag of cotton.
Shi Xiaolian: “………………”
Shi Xiaolian followed him to the shore silently and helped pull a corner of the bag. "Thank you."
Mu Mian smiled and said, "No need. Didn't you just take us through a shortcut?"
Xu Lele came over from nowhere and squeezed next to Shi Xiaolian, "My elder brother took mine away, I will help you carry it too."
Mu Mian, who didn't feel the weight at all, was silent for two seconds, and said tactfully: "It's actually very light."
The main reason was that it was quite difficult for three people to walk side by side, as the road was not wide to begin with, and she almost tripped just now.
The two people who realized that they had done more harm than good quietly let go of her hands. Xu Lele kept talking like a little sparrow, "Sister Mianmian, how could you lift it up? Why can't I lift it up? Can you lift me up too?"
Mu Mian walked in front without looking back, "You can try next time."
Xu Lele immediately expressed his anticipation with an exclamation mark.
The little girl jumped up and down, and soon she started to harass Shi Xiaolian again, "Why didn't Teacher Shi and the others come? Oh, yes, you just said that you went to Uncle Li's place."
"Is your mom sick again? Is it serious? Last time I had a fever, my mom gave me some very bitter medicine. It was so horrible!"
"But my mother said that if I didn't eat it, she would take me to the commune for injections. Injections are even more terrifying. A long needle poking my butt is so scary that it would scare a child to death!"
Shi Xiaolian: "I was just blown by the wind and couldn't stop coughing."
Xu Lele frowned, "That must be very uncomfortable."
As we talked along the way, we unknowingly returned to the foot of the mountain where the brigade was.
Mu Mian adhered to the principle of being a good person to the end and helping others to achieve their goals, and helped Shi Xiaolian carry the goods to her home.
As soon as she arrived at her door, she ran into Shi Xiaozhu and Tian Hongjuan who had just returned from Uncle Li's place.
Tian Hongjuan looked at the big bag of fish in surprise, "Xiao Lian, you went there too?"
When they went out earlier, the little girl was still at home.
Tian Hongjuan glanced at her little girl's wet clothes and pants, and her eyes immediately turned red.
She forced herself to look at Mu Mian and Xu Lele, "Thank you so much for your help. Come in, I'll pour you some hot water."
Mu Mian looked at Tian Hongjuan's red eyes and felt a little overwhelmed by the scene. He knew without thinking that the other party must be blaming himself for not being able to help and becoming a burden.
Mu Mian shook his head. "My grandma must be boiling water at home. Aunt, you guys are busy. We'll leave first."
After saying that, he pulled Xu Lele and ran away.
When Mu Mian arrived home, hot water had already been poured into the basin. Zhao Meihua pulled her granddaughter over and said, "Hurry up and soak your hands and feet with your mother."
Mu Mian walked over obediently and said, "Actually, the water isn't that cold."
The older generation has their own health-preserving theories. Zhao Meihua added another bucket of hot water. "It's not good to soak for too long if it's not cold. You girls should pay special attention to this."
Mu Mian nodded obediently, "Got it, grandma, I will definitely pay attention!"
Mu Mian looked at the fish in the bucket next to him and laughed again, saying something similar to Xu Lele, "If I could catch so many fish every day, it would be worth it to just soak in the water."
Liu Shuangcui laughed, "This little brain
, that’s a nice thought. ”
Mu Mian stared at the two larger ones, then looked at her mother, "Should we give two to Auntie and Sister Taozi?"
Liu Shuangcui smiled again, "That's good. You still remember your aunt and the others."
Mu Mian puffed up her cheeks, "Of course, my aunt is very kind to me."
Liu Shuangcui patted her daughter's head and said, "Don't worry, let your father take the two big ones to them when the time comes."
Zhao Meihua brought out the warm rice and said, "Your luck is incredible. I think the fourth and fifth brothers only got a little."
Mu Mian, who realized belatedly that he was hungry, wiped his feet and said, "Because we went early, the big ones weren't taken away yet."
When talking about this, Liu Shuangcui sighed, "Xiao Lian is really amazing. She seems to be much more sensible. She even knows where the shortcut is from such a far distance."
Zhao Meihua followed with emotion, "She is also blessed with a bright future. The second branch of the Shi family is just like that. Without Shi Chuncao to interfere in the middle, as long as they can stand on their own feet, they can live a good life."
Mu Mian nodded silently in his heart, he would definitely be able to stand up, after all, he was a person who had started over again.
---
Thanks to the heavy rain, the brigade was bustling these two days, and the smell of fish wafted out of the windows of every household from time to time.
When Sunday comes, Mu Mian's house is bound to be even more lively.
After the rain, the sky has been extremely blue these days.
Mu Mian got up a little earlier than usual, without combing his hair yet, and came to Zhao Meihua with a small bag in hand, "Grandma, this is a birthday gift for you. I wish you a long life, good health, and a delicious meal!"
Zhao Meihua smiled so hard that her eyes wrinkled together, "Okay, now that you say so, I'm sure you'll live a hundred years!"
Mu Fugui came over curiously and asked, "What did you sew for your breast?"
Mu Mian: "It's a small purse, used to put money in grandma's pocket."
She had discovered long ago that nowadays middle-aged women like to wrap their money in a handkerchief, and her small purse is essentially the same as a handkerchief.
Zhao Meihua looked at it over and over again. "It's quite big. I don't have that much money to buy it."
Mu Mian put aside his ambitions and said, "I will have it in the future. I will earn money to pack it for you and fill it up."
The three adults laughed out loud. Mu Fugui teased his daughter, "I'll just give you milk. Will your mother and I not give it to you in the future?"
Mu Mian waved her hand and said, "Give it all to me!"
Liu Shuangcui came closer to take a closer look and said, "It's well sewn. The stitches are very dense."
Zhao Meihua also praised, "Some girls are born with dexterity, our Mian Ya is one of them."
Mu Mian smiled so much that his eyes curved. "Grandma, why don't you turn it inside out and take a look?"
The focus of her little purse is inside.
Mu Fugui, who was about to go into the kitchen to work, stopped when he heard this, "What's in there? Are you giving your grandma a surprise?"
Almost as soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Meihua flipped out.
I saw the words "Long Life" sewn in red thread on one side of the small purse.
Mu Fugui exclaimed loudly, "Our daughter is so amazing!"
The handwriting is neat and tidy, and it looks very nice, and most importantly, the meaning is good as well.
Besides, only you can see it inside, so it is not ostentatious.
Zhao Meihua's wrinkles became more prominent when she smiled. "Okay, okay, I like it very much."
Mu Fugui couldn't let it go and looked at it again and again, "I can definitely become a tailor in the future!"
Being a tailor can make money. A ready-made garment sold from the supply and marketing cooperative is many times more expensive than cloth.
Mu Mian shook his head and raised his round face, "I don't want to be a tailor. I want to go to college in the future!"
Mu Fugui was stunned for a moment, then he laughed heartily, "Hahaha good! You have ambition, I will be the father of college students in the future!"
That smile was as if Mu Mian had already passed the exam.
Zhao Meihua smiled and took the small purse from her eldest brother's hand, then went into the house and put it away carefully.
I really like it, and I'm a little reluctant to use it.
---
Although there are only two tables today, there is indeed a lot to do.
The old lady is the birthday girl, so it has nothing to do with her.
Mu Mian wanted to help, but unfortunately the kitchen was so small that she couldn't squeeze in. There were already enough people from her fourth uncle's and fourth aunt's families and her younger uncle's and younger aunt's families.
In addition, Aunt Guizhi and a few others came over to help after breakfast, and they were very generous and brought some things with them.
Mu Mian followed her grandmother and arranged the two large tables and chairs that Comrade Mu Fugui had brought over.
After finishing, Mu Mian looked outside and asked, "When will the second and third aunts arrive?"
Zhao Meihua: "It's still early. It's so far away, we have to wait."
Mu Mian thought about it and it seemed to be true.
Her second aunt Mu Chunfen and third aunt Mu Dongxue both married far away and were not even in the same commune as her mother's family.
Both of them married into Heping Commune, and the sisters' husbands' families were cousins.
The man Mu Chunfen married was Su Maoshi, a retired soldier, and they were in a fashionable free love relationship.
At that time, Su Maoshi had to retire due to an injury to one of his arms. The two met in the county, caught a thief together, and fell in love at first sight.
Mu Chunfen introduced Su Maoshi's cousin Zhong Zhimiao to her sister only after she got married.
The two sisters live in the same commune, so they are close to each other and can take care of each other, but they are too far away from their mother's home.
If I were to rely solely on walking, it would take me half a day just to get here, not to mention the journey back.
I guess I have to leave home early today, otherwise I won’t be able to make it in time for lunch.
After Mu Mian arranged the tables and chairs, she and Mu Wan helped her aunt hold the twin sisters.
With these two little guys around, Zheng Xialan can hardly do anything.
Maybe because there were so many people and it was a bit noisy, the two sisters just showed signs of falling asleep, but within half a minute, they immediately started humming again.
Mu Wan was horrified, "Xiaomia, Xiaoomia, they are not going to poop, are they? What if they poop on me? I just washed my clothes!"
Mu Mian picked them up and walked around, "I don't think so. Auntie just changed their diapers. I think they will be fine if I carry them around for a walk."
Mu Wan, who didn't really want to take care of a baby and didn't know how to do it, followed suit and rocked the baby as he walked.
After a while, he said in a very magical tone: "I really don't hum anymore."
The four sisters, two big and two small, walked to the gate of the yard. Mu Wan casually glanced into the distance and then stopped.
She leaned against Mu Mian, "Hey! Look! Is that my second aunt, third aunt and the others?"
Mu Mian faced the inner courtyard and saw no one. He subconsciously replied, "No way, Second Aunt and the others..."
She wanted to say that it was impossible for people to come so early.
But who else could those two families in the distance be if not her second aunt and third aunt?
Mu Wan shouted at the top of her voice: "Grandma! Second and third aunts are here!"
Mu Mian wanted to remind them but it was too late. The Xiao Mi Miao sisters, who had just closed their eyes for a while, were frightened and started crying loudly.
Mu Mian hurriedly waved his arms, but unfortunately it didn't work, and in the end, the child was taken over by Mu Xinglong and his wife.
In just a short while, the families of Mu Chunfen and Mu Dongxue had already come to the front, and their voices were also loud, "Mom!"
Zhao Meihua went to greet them, "Why are you here so early? Did you leave home before dawn?"
Mu Chunfen looks a lot like the old lady, and already has some wrinkles on her face. "No, it's a coincidence. I have to thank my sister-in-law's daughter."
Liu Shuangcui helped take the baskets from their backs and replied, "Are you talking about Dongping? Did you meet her?"
Mu Chunfen's laughter seemed to be cut from the same mold as Mu Fugui's. "Hahaha, that's right. I caught up with them at the purchasing station to collect the goods and took a ride on a truck. Otherwise, I would have been in trouble."
The last time we met was when I went back to my parents’ home during the Chinese New Year. The adults talked for a long time before they noticed the children.
Apart from the two sisters Xiao Miemiao whom the two families had never met, Mu Mian was the person mentioned the most.
From time to time, she would raise her little face and smile at this person and that person.
Sister Mu Chunfen not only brought things for the old lady, but also brought some things for each of the children. Due to limited resources, they were all small things.
Mu Mian received two beautiful hair flowers and thanked them sweetly, "Thank you, Second Aunt and Third Aunt!"
Mu Chunfen moved her niece's head and asked, "Are you being polite to your aunt?"
Mu Xinglong squeezed in holding his little girl, "Second sister, where is my daughter's? You can't not prepare it just because I don't have long hair. I'm going to make a fuss for my daughter. You guys are bullying them because they can't talk."
Mu Chunfen slapped Mu Xinglong on the back and said, "Get out of my way. You are so grown up but you still don't behave properly."
Mu Xinglong hissed in pain, but did not move. He winked and said, "Really?"
Mu Dongxue's temperament is more like Mu Xingwang's, steady and gentle. "How could yours be missing?"
Then he handed over a bag and said, "Here, your second sister and I prepared this to make up for the shortage of wheat seedlings.
Yuejiu, when your wife was giving birth, I really couldn't find the time to come over. ”
We were busy with spring plowing at that time, so it was not realistic to come here from so far away.
Mu Xinglong smiled so much that the corners of his mouth almost reached the back of his head, "Hehe, I knew that my second and third sisters loved me!"
The wrinkles on Zhao Meihua's eyes never opened today, and she was smiling the whole time. "You are already an adult, and you are still teasing your second and third sisters."
Mu Xinglong held the bag without even looking at what was inside, looking very happy, "How can it be a joke? This is called crying children get candy."
Little Orange, who was playing with his brothers and sisters in the yard, immediately caught the key words from his father's mouth and ran over, "Sugar? Where is the sugar?"
Mu Wan also heard it, and pulled Mu Mian next to him and ran over here, "What? There's candy? Who's going to give me candy?"
Mu Mian, who was dragged here to ask for candy, said, “………………”
She was really grateful to her cousin for remembering to give her some candy when she asked for it, even though it was only Schrödinger's candy.
Mu Chunfen and the others laughed out loud, "Hahaha, here comes the crying baby, Xiaowu, give us some candy!"
Mu Xinglong: “………………”
Little Orange had no idea of his father's embarrassing situation. He turned his head to look around and said, "No one is giving out candies. Dad, you are lying!"
Mu Xinglong: “………………”
I really don't want to admit that this silly boy is my own child.
But there was more than one stupid person. Mu Wan, who ran over excitedly with his little cousin, curled his lips and said, "My uncle just likes to lie."
An expression that shows someone who is used to being cheated.
The adults burst into laughter again.
“Hahahahahahahahahahahaha…”
"Haha, Xiaowu, look at what you are wearing."
"I was led astray by my elder brother when I was a child."
"Hey, you want to blame me for everything, right? It's obviously you who grew up crooked. The fourth brother is not like that."
"Alright, alright, you're just a laughing stock, you don't act like a brother."
…………
…
Amid the lively atmosphere, two tables of dishes were served, including fish, rabbit, and cured pork and pig's trotters. They looked better than during the Chinese New Year, but there were too many people, and each person only had to take two bites with their chopsticks. The only thing that could be taken a little more was the fish.
Even though they could only eat a few bites in total, the children were very happy.
Mu Mian finally understood what her grandmother meant by "being disturbed by noise that makes your head hurt."
Her second aunt and third aunt had two children each and three children each, for a total of five children.
Not counting her eldest brother Mu Zhuo, there are eight of them here, enough to fill the whole table.
People like Cao Chunfeng, Liu Guizhi and a few other old ladies who were on good terms with her didn't bring their children with them, they just came on their own.
These days, every family's financial situation is limited. Those who are a little bit savvy will not bring their families with them to a banquet, as it would be embarrassing.
---
The lively times are always short-lived. Mu Chunfen and her friends had to rush back not long after finishing their meal.
It's not the New Year now. In the winter, people don't work or go to school, so everyone can squeeze together on the kang and stay together for two or three days.
It’s not possible now. There is too much work to do in the fields and at home.
Sisters Mu Chunfen and Mu Dongxue each held one side of the old lady. Zhao Meihua was a little reluctant to let go, so she put a lot of things in her two daughters' backpacks.
Mu Chunfen pulled the person aside and said, "Mom, stop pretending. It's not like we don't have any at home. You can keep some for yourself."
The old lady refused, "It's not for you, why are you talking so much? Look at how skinny the kids are, eat more."
Mu Chunfen smiled and said, "You're talking as if I don't give them food. They're all growing, how can they not be thin if they grow taller?"
Mu Wan, who was watching from the side with curiosity, took over her aunt's words and said, "Xiaomi is not thin, she is so fat!"
Mu Mian, who was helping her mother pack her things, said, "…………"
Forget it, just be fat, being fat is a blessing!
Mu Chunfen laughed out loud, "Mian Ya is not yet ready to grow old."
Mu Dongxue continued, "She looks better without the hairline. Her little face is round and chubby, and she looks blessed. The more I look at her, the more I like her."
As he spoke, he even teased the child, "Why don't you go to Third Aunt's house to play for a few days? Sleep with your cousin. Her father just made a new bed for her."
Mu Dongxue and Zhong Zhimiao’s first child is a girl who is fourteen years old and named Zhong Tian.
Zhong Tian smiled and said, "Okay, okay!"
Before Mu Mian could say anything, Mu Fugui was already annoyed, "Third sister, what are you doing?! Are you trying to take my daughter away with you before you leave?"
She even urged the old lady, "Mom, haven't you finished your things yet? If they don't go back now, they won't be home until midnight."
Mu Chunfen groaned and said deliberately, "Look, it's only been half a day and Big Brother is already annoyed with us. It's true that a married girl is like water spilled."
Mu Fugui made a "tsk" sound, "I won't be annoyed if you don't grab my daughter. It will probably be dark halfway through your journey. Do you have a flashlight? If not, take mine first..."
Mu Chunfen waved her hand and said, "I've brought it. It's at the old dormitory."
After chatting for a while, everything was basically done.
Zhao Meihua and Mu Fugui and his wife saw the two families off to the village entrance, and the Mu Xingwang brothers followed.
Mu Mian was assigned the task of looking after the house, so he tidied up the yard with Mu Qiu and Mu Wan.
After about twenty minutes, the three adults came back.
Liu Shuangcui took the handkerchief from Mu Qiu's hand and said, "Xiao Qiu, stop busying yourself. Let me handle it. You can go back and read."
Mu Qiu looked outside and asked, "Did my dad and the others go straight home?"
Liu Shuangcui nodded, "Yes."
Mu Qiu took Mu Wan back with him.
While Mu Mian was moving the chair, she saw her grandmother looking out of the yard from time to time.
Her grandmother was still reluctant to leave her two daughters, so Mu Mian didn't bother her and helped her mother put away the pots and pans.
Mu Fugui, a grown man, was not so considerate. He said carelessly, "Mom, you are still watching. If you are so reluctant to let go, I will take you to see my second and third sisters next time I have a chance!"
"Then you can stay at their house for ten days or half a month, until you get tired of each other and then come back."
The old lady was still in a low mood, and didn't pay any attention to the second half of her eldest son's irrelevant sentence. She just sighed, "My old arms and legs can't walk."
Mu Fugui: "I said that the family should buy a bicycle."
Mu Mian perked up all of a sudden, "What? Dad, are you going to buy a bicycle?"
Three big things, three big things.
Although she had seen all kinds of bicycles in her previous life, bicycles are truly rare in this era.
Having a bicycle would be much more convenient, as you don’t have to walk all the time to go anywhere.
In their team, only the team leader's family and the accountant's family had it, no one else had it.
Liu Shuangcui chuckled, "Your father has been nagging for half a year. He can buy it whenever he wants. Where's the ticket?"
Mumianyanba is here.
That’s right, her family doesn’t have any tickets.
Tickets for the three major items are very difficult to get. Ordinary workers in the city usually only have food tickets, industrial tickets, and some miscellaneous daily tickets.
Tickets for the three major items are a benefit only available to qualified and capable workers. There are not many of them, and it is considered very good to have one in a year.
Mu Fugui was also very embarrassed.
Liu Shuangcui called out to the father and daughter, "Don't just hang there, come and help move the table to Guizhi's house."
He also assigned a task to Mu Mian, asking her to return the borrowed pots and pans.
With just the food from their own home, there would be no way the two tables today could accommodate all the food.
Liu Shuangcui had already sorted out which ones belonged to which family, and also took out a few bags of peanuts that had been fried in oil and were very fragrant.
Liu Shuangcui instructed, "Give these to others one by one."
Mu Mian picked up a stack of plates and a bag of peanuts and walked away, "I know."
After arriving at Cao Chunfeng's door, Mu Mian first shouted at the top of his voice, "Auntie, Auntie Chunfeng, are you home? I'm here to return the plate."
Cao Chunfeng poked her head out of the house and said, "I'm here, I'm here. Have your aunt and the others left?"
Mu Mian nodded, "Okay, let's go. Auntie, take this peanut and eat it as a snack."
Cao Chunfeng groaned, "Your mother just likes to be picky. What snacks do I have at my age? You can take them home and eat them yourself."
Da Zhuang, who had just returned from playing outside, came over and asked, "What snacks?"
Mu Mian has already grasped the essence of these polite scenes. When you have children, just give them what you want.
She handed it to Dazhuang, "Fried peanuts."
Da Zhuang immediately grinned, "Thank you, Sister Xiaomian!"
Cao Chunfeng patted her boy lightly on the back of his head and said, "I've told you so many times, Miss Mian is younger than you."
Da Zhuang had a good point, "But she can beat several of me."
Cao Chunfeng: “That’s right.
”
Mu Mian, who had already walked four or five meters away, said, "…………"
Although, she really doesn't do it often.
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