In Yu Xiangnian's memory, Yu Jiashun rarely spoke to her so seriously. The last time he spoke so seriously was when she came back from abroad.
She said unconvincedly: "I didn't interfere! Cheng Jingmo is my husband. He has lost contact. Can't I go and ask him?"
"Nian Nian!" Zhao Ruozhu winked. "We'll have the reunion dinner today. We can talk about anything later."
Yu Xiangnian muttered in his heart, "Reunion dinner! Cheng Jingmo and Yu Xiangyang are not at home, how can it be a reunion?"
On New Year's Eve, Yu Jiashun went out very early.
The others were also busy putting up Spring Festival couplets, setting off firecrackers, and killing chickens and fish for the New Year's Eve dinner.
The adults were busy all day, and the three children ran in and out and played all day.
After eating the New Year’s Eve dinner, we washed up and started to stay up all night to celebrate the New Year.
There was no TV at home. The family gathered around a fireplace, eating melon seeds, candies, chatting and laughing, while the three children were playing cards.
The atmosphere is quite lively!
Yu Xiangnian thought back to the Chinese New Year last year.
Cheng Jingmo also bought chicken and fish and cooked seven or eight dishes.
But she ignored Cheng Jingmo and Xiaojie at that time, and was angry that Zhao Ruozhu did not let her go home for the New Year.
I had no appetite during the meal, so I just ate a little and then washed up and went back to my room.
I sat alone in the room and cried for a while, feeling very wronged.
The crackling sound of firecrackers heralds the arrival of the new year.
Zhao Ruozhu ordered Yu Xiangguo to go out and set off a string of candles outside the door as well, "to ward off evil spirits and disasters, and keep the family safe and sound."
As the deafening sound of firecrackers rang out, Yu Xiangnian silently made a wish in his heart: Cheng Jingmo, Yu Xiangyang and the other three would return safely.
The first wish of the New Year was given to Cheng Jingmo.
After the New Year's Eve party, everyone went back to their rooms to sleep.
Yu Xiangnian was sleeping soundly when he heard the sound of the car returning, and then the voice of Yu Jiashun downstairs.
I didn't hear what he said specifically.
There were occasional sounds of firecrackers throughout the night, and Yu Xiangnian didn't sleep well that night.
I had several dreams in succession. One time I dreamed that Cheng Jingmo was walking barefoot in the snow, another time I dreamed that Yu Xiangyang was being chased in the dense forest, and another time I dreamed that Cheng Jingmo, with red eyes, told her to wait for him to come back...
Chuyi woke up very early, thinking that it was impossible for it to snow in Nancheng. Yu Xiangyang ran faster than a rabbit and no one could catch up with him.
It was just a dream I had because I couldn’t sleep well. Thinking of this, I felt a little more at ease.
After dinner on the second day of the Chinese New Year, Yu Xiangnian took Xiaojie back to the staff quarters.
Spring couplets and blessing characters are posted on the doors of every household, children are running around in new clothes, and everyone is still immersed in the New Year atmosphere.
There is nothing posted on the door of their house, so it looks very unfestive.
The first thing Yu Xiangnian did when he returned home was to rummage through all the drawers and cabinets for a long time before he found a few pieces of red paper.
The edges of the red paper have turned a little yellow, probably from what Cheng Jingmo bought last year.
Xiao Jie was very discerning and found the brush and ink from somewhere. He said they were used by Cheng Jingmo to practice calligraphy.
Yu Xiangnian seemed to have never seen him practicing calligraphy.
She asked Xiaojie, "Have you ever practiced calligraphy?"
Xiaojie shook his head.
Yu Xiangnian could only pick up his pen: I wish you a healthy and safe New Year, and may the spring be full of vigor and vitality.
Horizontal banner: safe and smooth
Xiao Jie looked at Yu Xiangnian's twisted calligraphy and his facial expression twisted.
"Aunt, are you sure you wrote Spring Festival couplets?"
Other people's couplets all have seven characters in them, but Yu Xiangnian's eight characters look awkward no matter how you read them!
Yu Xiangnian also fell into deep thought as she looked at the words. After a moment, she said, "This better expresses my good wishes for good fortune and happiness."
In fact, she only hoped that they would return safely, and she wrote whatever she thought of.
Xiaojie’s inner thoughts: The wish is beautiful, but the handwriting is ugly.
"Let's go, let's put it up." Yu Xiangnian said.
Yu Xiangnian stood on a stool to stick it on, and Xiaojie looked from below to see if it was straight and aligned.
Although it was a few days later than other families, the Spring Festival couplets were still posted.
Yu Xiangnian didn't say anything, but he began to count the days in his heart.
Another week passed. At noon that day, she was working at home when Daya ran in in a panic and said, "Auntie, go out and take a look! Xiaojie broke Duan Yuanlong's head!"
Yu Xiangnian put down his pen and followed Daya to the playground.
At this time, a group of people had gathered here, and a woman's voice could be heard cursing.
Yu Xiangnian squeezed into the crowd and saw a woman pointing at Xiaojie's nose and cursing him.
Next to her stood a boy about the same age as Xiaojie, with one hand covering his head, blood oozing from between his fingers, and a lot of blood on his face.
Xiaojie stood opposite them, covered in dust, his clothes were torn, and there were several scratch marks on his face.
He clenched his fists, held his head high, and looked determined to fight.
Yu Xiangnian slapped the family member's hand away and said, "Don't point your finger at the child and scold him! If the child makes a mistake, you can criticize and educate him, but don't say such dirty things."
When the family member saw Yu Xiangnian, he felt a little timid, but he couldn't lose face.
"How do you educate your child?" the family member puffed out his chest and said very reasonably, "Look, he broke my son Longlong's head."
Yu Xiangnian was not intimidated at all, and said in a steady tone, "Take your child to the clinic to bandage the wound first. If you have anything to say, we can talk after that. There's no rush."
"My Longlong's head was broken by your Xiaojie with a stone! You have to pay for the medical expenses!"
Yu Xiangnian said, "Okay, it's important to take the child for a checkup first. Let's go."
Xiao Jie grabbed Yu Xiangnian's hand and said, "Aunt! I'm not wrong! Duan Yuanlong deserves to be beaten!"
"How dare you talk like that?!" The family member pointed at Xiaojie and cursed, "I'm going to say you have no home..."
Yu Xiangnian looked at her coldly and said, "Think it over before you speak!"
The family member paused, looking embarrassed.
Yu Xiangnian still said in the same tone, "Do you want to go and see your son's injuries first, or do you want to argue here first?"
The family member grabbed the child and said, "Let's go! If he gets hurt anywhere, we won't let him go!"
Everyone came to the health center.
The doctor examined the wound and asked questions like, "Are you dizzy? Do you want to vomit? Are your eyes blurry?"
The children all shook their heads.
It appears to be a scalp injury, not a concussion.
The doctor disinfected the wound and sewed two more stitches. The child cried loudly in pain.
The child's head was wrapped in gauze, and he looked like a wounded soldier on the battlefield.
The family member held the child in his arms, his eyes red with heartache.
Yu Xiangnian paid the medical expenses, two dollars.
After leaving the clinic, Yu Xiangnian asked the family member, "Do you want to argue now, or send the child back first and talk tomorrow?"
The family member confidently said, "While everyone is here, let me testify! It was Xiaojie who hit my Longlong on the head with a rock today."
Yu Xiangnian said, "Okay, then I'll ask these two kids why they're fighting."
Yu Xiangnian looked at Longlong and said, "Student Duan Yuanlong, I want to ask you, why did you and Xiaojie fight? Please tell the truth."
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