Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Waiting is also a pleasure
There is no New Year's Eve this year, and the New Year will be celebrated on the 29th. This year, I only made new clothes for my grandmother Li Hongying and Huo Xiaobao, so they have to wait a little longer.
Miao Ying was fine, as he had brought a lot of clothes from his mother's home, and he was able to find a piece of clothing that was 70% to 80% new. Huo Xing didn't have any new clothes at all, and it took the two of them working together to find a piece of clothing that didn't have so many patches.
The family of five was neatly dressed in new clothes. Grandmother prepared some paste and prepared to paste up the Spring Festival couplets they had bought from the teacher yesterday. Miao Ying held the bowl of paste while Huo Xing pasted them on the side.
Put one on the door, one on each bedroom, and one on the kitchen.
After pasting the tablets, grandma moved a stool to the middle of the yard and placed three tablets on it, one for Huo Xing's grandfather, and the other for Huo Xing's eldest uncle and second uncle.
Because there were no conditions, the incense and candles were placed in the yard, and the paper money was placed in a basin.
The grandmother stood in the front and lit the incense and candles with her own hands. Then it was Li Hongying who kowtowed to her father-in-law whom she had never met. Finally it was Huo Xing and the other three.
"Old man, please bless our family from heaven so that everything goes smoothly and we don't have so many troubles."
After paying homage to the ancestors, grandmother put the tablet away and had a quick lunch. In the afternoon, Miao Ying began to prepare today's New Year's Eve dinner.
Li Hongying was helping out, her grandmother was lighting a fire in front of the stove, and Huo Xiaobao was playing alone in the yard. Because he was wearing new clothes, he didn't move much, just holding his shuttlecock.
The radish meatballs that my grandmother wanted are very easy to make. Just cut the radish into shreds, add the minced meat and eggs, mix them together, and then steam them in a steamer.
Egg custard is easier to make and is placed last.
Huo Xing went out because he said he wanted to eat fish, but they couldn't buy any fish in the town, so Huo Xing planned to go to the river to catch fish by himself, which was not a difficult task for him.
Not many people go out on the 29th day of the lunar year, so Huo Xing walking in the village at this time looks particularly special. He didn't mean to be seen, but he lived in the deepest part of the village and had to pass by the villagers' houses wherever he went.
When he came back, the fish in his hand was seen by everyone. Ye Feng saw Huo Xing walking in a hurry through the wall of his house.
He called Erniu over and asked, "You have a good relationship with Huo Xiaobao. Do you know anything about his family situation?"
Although they had agreed to talk later, he and Miao Ying had never chatted. Seeing Huo Xing holding the fish, he poked his husband and asked, "Where did you get the fish?"
Ye Feng's husband's surname is Qin. He went to school for a few years when he was young. Now he works as an accountant in a restaurant in the town. He lives a happy life. Qin Qiang knows Huo Xing. When Huo Xing sold game to their restaurant in the past, he was the one who paid the bill for Huo Xing.
"Where else could it have come from? I must have bought it."
Ye Feng kicked him and said, "Where can you find fish at this hour? Go buy me one too, okay?"
Qin Qiang quickly begged for mercy: "If he didn't buy it, then he caught it in the river. Didn't you see his shoes are wet?"
"On New Year's Day, they have to go to the river to catch fish just for a bite of meat. How can their family live like this?" Ye Feng was a soft-hearted person. He called Erniu over and brought him a bowl of meat that he had just cooked. "Give it to Xiaobao."
Erniu swallowed his saliva, took the bowl and went obediently. Ye Feng instructed him from behind, telling him not to take back the gift.
His parents-in-law also watched with a smile and had no complaints. Ye Feng had done this kind of thing many times. It was just a bite of food, not a big deal.
At the Huo family's side, Huo Xiaobao saw his brother Erniu holding a bowl and quickly ran over to greet him. Erniu remembered his father's words, saying that he should come back quickly after delivering the things, so he handed the bowl to Huo Xiaobao and wanted to run away. Before he ran out of the yard, he was caught by Huo Xing.
Miao Ying came out of the kitchen with a smile and looked at Erniu: "Thank you for bringing meat to Xiaobao."
Erniu struggled, but found that he could not break free at all, so he lay motionless in Huo Xing's hand like a cat being grabbed by the scruff of the neck.
Miao Ying returned his bowl to him, with a few pieces of radish meat patties in it. This time they didn't roll them into meatballs, but steamed them directly into meat patties: "This is made by my family, let your family have a taste too."
Erniu didn't want it, but he couldn't beat Huo Xing, so he finally took the bowl back.
Miao Ying stood in the yard, watching his small figure leave, and said to Huo Xing, "The people in this village are all very nice."
Huo Xing nodded, then went back to the kitchen to help Miao Ying process the fish he had caught.
It gets dark early in winter, so they eat earlier. There is no special main hall for dining, so the whole family squeezes into the kitchen and the dishes can only be placed on the stove.
There was a steamed meat pie, a dish of pickled fish, a bowl of steamed egg custard for Huo Xiaobao, some round dumplings, and Miao Ying's fried minced meat and sour cowpeas. Next to Huo Xiaobao was a bowl of meat given by Erniu's family.
It’s already very rich.
None of their family drinks, so they didn't buy any wine. However, the table became a little quiet after they started eating, and Miao Ying always felt like something was missing.
So he put down his chopsticks. Huo Xing noticed it immediately and looked sideways at him.
Miao Ying cleared his throat and the rest of the people looked at him.
"Eating in such a dull manner isn't lively at all," Miao Ying said. "Then let me say a few words."
"This year is our first year together, so our conditions are a little poor, but it will definitely be different next year." Miao Ying looked around the kitchen, "At least we should have a table to eat at."
Grandmother and Li Hongying both laughed, and Huo Xiaobao's face was covered with egg custard paste.
Huo Xing also looked at him with deep eyes.
"Also, I need to send Xiaobao to school next year, buy some land, and save some money!"
"Okay." Li Hongying said, "Our whole family will follow you."
Miao Ying patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, I will make sure our family lives a good life. Mother and Grandma, you can also tell me what you hope for next year. Only when you have a goal can you have motivation."
Grandma also smiled: "Grandma doesn't have any big wishes. I just hope that you and Ah Xing can have a baby soon. While I can still move, I can help you take care of the child."
Miao Ying's eyes widened, and he nearly choked on a mouthful of fish. Giving birth? Who? Him?
He quickly said, "Don't worry, don't worry. A man should build a career first and then start a family."
Grandma wanted to persuade her, but Huo Xing rarely spoke and took the initiative to pick up some food for her: "Don't worry."
Li Hongying also nodded: "Our current conditions are not very good. Let's wait a little longer, at least until our house is bigger."
Miao Ying quickly replied: "Yes, yes, the house is so small now, there is no room for sleeping."
Seeing his relieved expression, Li Hongying smiled and said, "My biggest wish this year is to make new clothes for you and Ah Xing."
Simple goals are the easiest to achieve. Miao Ying said, "Then I want something complicated."
Next it was Huo Xiaobao's turn. He had already finished a bowl of egg custard and said, "I want to make a lot of friends and play outside every day."
Miao Ying raised her hand and touched his head: "Okay, you will have many friends after you go to school."
Finally it was Huo Xing's turn. Everyone's eyes were on him again, just like yesterday. Maybe it was because of his previous personality, or maybe it was because he had always avoided them, but he seemed to be slowly integrating into this family these days.
Huo Xing thought about it and just looked at Miao Ying: "My wish is to fulfill your wish."
Miao Ying smiled after hearing this and patted him on the shoulder generously and cheerfully: "Brothers united in purpose can achieve great things! I'm glad that you share the same ambition as me."
Just as Grandmother and Li Hongying were about to figure out what was wrong with what he said, they were fooled by Miao Ying's jokes.
Everyone enjoyed the meal very happily, and several people washed the dishes quickly. After washing the pots and pans, Li Hongying boiled some hot water and said that everyone should soak their feet tonight. She and her grandmother were too old to stay up late. Huo Xiaobao had already started to doze off, so they washed their feet first. After they both fell asleep, it was Miao Ying and Huo Xing's turn.
Miao Ying didn't have a basin for soaking his feet. When he was in Nankouba Village, he always used Huo Xing's basin to soak his feet. The next day, Huo Xing would use this basin to wash his face. Miao Ying was determined not to use the foot basin to wash his face, so he used a ladle to wet his face towel every day.
Although they left in a hurry, they did not forget to take anything with them, including this basin.
Miao Ying sat by the bed, waiting for Huo Xing to bring water. Looking at the familiar basin, Miao Ying couldn't help but ask, "Can't we get another basin? Why do I have to wash my face in a foot basin?"
Huo Xing paused: "Let's make another one later." They really didn't care about that, but Miao Ying thought he could change.
The water was very hot, so Miao Ying just dipped his feet in it and then put them aside to wait. Huo Xing sat next to him. He had thick skin and seemed not to feel the heat.
Miao Ying saw him put his foot down, so he put it down too, but he was startled by the burn and quickly raised his foot again.
Huo Xing glanced at him sideways, and waited for him to put his foot down tentatively next time. There was only a dim oil lamp in the room. Even in the dim light, Huo Xing could still see Miao Ying's feet, which were white and glowing.
After being scalded by hot water, it becomes white with a hint of red, like a piece of warm jade.
Miao Ying's feet felt cold on the edge of the basin, but hot when they were put into the water. Huo Xing's feet were still in the water, so he thought of a good idea.
Put your feet on Huo Xing's feet, so you won't feel cold or hot. He is really a genius.
The moment his foot stepped on Huo Xing's foot, he keenly felt that Huo Xing's breathing stagnated for a moment.
Huo Xing moved his feet, and the water on the soles of his feet touched the soles of Miao Ying's feet. Miao Ying was scalded and lifted his feet a little, but soon fell on the instep of Huo Xing again.
Huo Xing's skin color is not white, his whole body is wheat-colored, and his feet are no exception. His feet are very big, and they look like they are twice as big as Miao Ying's feet. His feet are placed on Huo Xing's feet, just like pedestrians standing on a boat.
Miao Ying laughed and said, "Your feet are so big!"
Huo Xing moved his lips but no words came out. It was not because his feet were big, but because Miao Ying's feet were too small.
Finally, the water was no longer so hot. Miao Ying put his feet in the water and sighed with comfort. In order to make him feel more comfortable, Huo Xing had already put his feet in, wiped the water with a towel, sat aside and waited for Miao Ying to finish soaking, and then poured the water for washing feet.
Huo Xing spent a lot of time waiting, waiting to grow up, waiting to become a master, waiting for prey to fall into the trap. He never thought that waiting was a happy thing, but now it is.
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