Chapter 388 Good Fortune Shines Brightly, Peace and Safety Every Year
The third concubine's tutoring was a great success, and soon it was Xia Xiaoxiang's turn to have her tutoring results evaluated.
The music from the gramophone played several times until everyone was tired of dancing.
Grandma Lou sat calmly in her chair, waiting for the younger generation to come and offer their New Year's greetings in turn.
Starting with Lou Fengju, Mao Mao and her brothers lined up. When it was her turn, she held her little head high. Xia Xiaoxiang, watching from the side, also proudly held her head high.
"grandmother!"
Mao Mao confidently puffed out her little belly and said in her sweet, childlike voice, "Mao Mao wishes you good health, longevity, and peace year after year, um... blessings... blessings..."
Xia Xiaoxiang: "..."
Mao Mao turned to look at her mother.
Xia Xiaoxiang: "…………"
Without getting a hint, Mao Mao turned back and said loudly and confidently, "Happy New Year, Grandma!"
The second concubine patted Xia Xiaoxiang's shoulder reassuringly: "At least you remembered three sentences, that's progress."
Grandma Lou smiled and handed her the red envelope: "Yes, Grandma received Mao Mao's blessing. May you have peace and safety every year. Happy New Year to our Mao Mao too."
Holding an extra-thick red envelope, Mao Mao stood happily in front of her father.
This time, Lou Dashuai spoke first: "We can't say the same things to Grandma, Dad wants to hear something new."
Maomao: "..."
Lou Dashuai, holding the red envelope, adopted his usual negotiating tone: "If you want Dad's red envelope, you'll have to..."
Before she could finish speaking, she felt a wet, milky scent on her face.
Mao Mao gave her dad a big kiss, then her heels touched the ground again. Sweet little dimples appeared on her cheeks, and her big eyes sparkled: "Happy New Year, Daddy! Mao Mao is wishing you a Happy New Year!"
Lou Dashuai immediately grinned, showing his big teeth, his smile so wide that his eyes disappeared.
There was no time for negotiation; he immediately handed over the red envelope: "Happy New Year, Mao Mao! Oh, good, good, good."
"Thank you, Dad."
After a round of New Year's greetings, Mao Mao had so many red envelopes in her arms that she could hardly hold them all.
But the happy times weren't over yet.
Lou Yansui picked up a stack of manuscript papers and said gently, "Maomao, I've written a new story for Maomao. Would you like to hear it?"
"want!"
Not only did Mao Mao want to listen, but the whole family came to listen, and even the wives temporarily put down their mahjong.
The story is also particularly fitting for the occasion, telling the story of Maomao and Maomao celebrating the New Year.
The manuscript paper Lou Yansui held in her hand was thicker than ever before.
"Ah Sui, is this story very long?"
“Yes, this story is very long.” Lou Yansui turned the manuscript to the next page: “But we’re staying up all night tonight, and the night is still long, so I can tell the story slowly.”
"Perfect timing, there are no fireworks today, so we can listen to them at our leisure."
"Huh?" Mao Mao tilted her little head up and looked at everyone in confusion: "Aren't there any fireworks this year?"
She still remembers setting off fireworks with everyone last New Year; it was so beautiful.
Fireworks aren't set off every day; they're only shown during festivals like Chinese New Year, and Mao Mao rarely gets to see one.
"Yes, the situation is special this year, so there won't be any fireworks." The First Madam gently patted her head. "Mao Mao wants to see fireworks, so I'll have your third brother draw them for you later, okay?"
Lou Hongjian squeezed in, his peach blossom eyes smiling: "Yes, yes, I'm really good at drawing."
Mao Mao nodded obediently: "Okay."
Anyway, even if there are no fireworks to watch, Mao Mao still has stories to hear.
She loves listening to Mao Mao's stories the most.
Mao Mao sat in her father's lap, her head resting against his broad chest. She was surrounded by her other mothers and brothers. Everyone else found their own place. Old Madam Lou leaned back in her usual recliner, with a fluffy white cat lying on her knees.
The firewood in the fireplace was burning, occasionally crackling and popping.
Everyone remained quiet, listening to Lou Yansui's gentle voice as she read the story.
As Mao Mao listened to Maomao's stories about celebrating the New Year, she herself was surrounded by the joy of the New Year with her family.
Although Maomao doesn't have as many family members as Maomao, in the stories before this, he and his cat had countless thrilling adventures and made many new friends. At the New Year, he also wished his friends a happy new year and even prepared a "sumptuous" New Year's Eve dinner for himself and his cat.
Although Maomao is a homeless child, he has cats to keep him company and close friends, so he is not lonely.
When the long new story was finished, Lou Yansui picked up her water glass and took a sip. The hands of the Western clock in the hall ticked away for a long time.
Lou Hongjian ran downstairs with his camera in hand, shouting, "Ah Chun, come quick, help us take pictures!"
"Come on, come on, it's time to take this year's family photo!"
Everyone quickly stood up and stood in neat rows.
Last year, we took a family photo. The photos were developed and not only kept in a thick album, but also framed and hung on the wall so we can see them every day.
As usual, Mao Mao was held in the arms of Commander Lou and surrounded by a group of people. She sat in the center, and the big white cat also came over with its tail wagging. It jumped onto Old Madam Lou's lap and squeezed itself in.
Meow~
Lou Dashuai gestured to show his youngest daughter's height: "Well, our Mao Mao is a little bit taller than last year."
Mao Mao, with her legs crossed, said, "Mao Mao has grown up."
"That's right, it's New Year again, and our Mao Mao has grown another year older."
"As you grow up, you naturally grow taller."
"Even if you grow a year older, you're still a little one."
"I took a lot of photos of Mao Mao and collected a whole album." Lou Hongjian said with great enthusiasm, "In the future, I will also take photos of Mao Mao often to record her growth. Even when Mao Mao grows up, she can look back at them often."
Mao Mao happily responded, "Take pictures of everything!"
"Yes, yes, take pictures of them all."
"Every year from now on, everyone should take a family photo."
"Alright, alright, look at the camera. Ah Chun has been holding it up for ages."
Everyone quickly perked up and smiled at the camera.
Crack!
The family's image was captured on film.
Everyone, whether standing or sitting, was enjoying themselves against the backdrop of the New Year.
In the black and white photograph, the sky outside the window is overcast and devoid of stars. One can foresee that the first day of the new year will be a bad day.
But so what?
No matter what storms may come in the future, as long as the people I love are by my side, I will be fearless in the face of any hardship.
Even if they are scattered in different places in the future, their hearts will remain closely connected.
May good fortune shine upon you, and may you enjoy peace and safety year after year.
—END—
It's finished!
That's right, it's over!
War is inevitable in this historical context, and it will be unavoidable if I continue writing. But Mao Mao is just a cheerful little girl who loves to eat, and I don't really want to write about cruel things in my stories about her. Children just need to be happy.
Although the story has ended, in some parallel universe, Mao Mao is still surrounded by her family, eating, going to school, making friends, and continuing her carefree and happy life. Of course, there are also her two uncles who persistently want to be dads, haha.
Wishing everyone good fortune, peace, blessings, and smooth sailing in all endeavors!
P.S.: Are there any side stories you'd like to see? I might not write one if you click, but I'll consider them.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com