New Year's Day.
Every household gets up early in the morning to set off firecrackers, eat dumplings, clean up, visit their elders to wish them a happy new year, and then visit other relatives.
In Shanghe Village, which was covered by snow, you could faintly see couplets pasted on the doors and windows, as well as red paper with the wish of good luck when going out pasted on the trees at the entrance. The children who had been staying in bed were dragged out of bed by their mothers to eat and prepare for New Year's greetings.
But before the villagers of Shanghe Village could happily go to pay New Year's greetings, they heard a series of shrill children's voices.
"Help, someone save my sister."
"Li Laoer's family is going to kill someone!"
Li Ming ran and shouted, his voice was miserable, his steps were staggering. He took a short nap at Xie Zhengchuan's house last night. Su Li made dumplings for him early in the morning and also made two eggs for him. He was full and energetic now.
Li Ming was sent out of the village by Xie Zhengchuan when the sky was dark. He was first asked to shout around the village and then run back into the village.
There was no fear of running into Li Laoer's men, because Xie Zhengchuan went to find Xie Zhengyang and Xie Zhenghe to keep an eye on Li Ming early in the morning, while he rode his bicycle to the county police station to report the case.
Li Ming's shouting startled the villagers who were immersed in the New Year atmosphere. Every family was happily waiting to greet each other on New Year's Day, but who would have thought that something would happen on the first day of the New Year.
At that moment, adults and children all opened the door and stretched their heads to look outside. The strange man just ate a few mouthfuls of food and hurried out to see what was going on.
Soon Li Ming led a lot of people, who gathered in groups of three or four and walked towards Li Laoer's house. Xie Zhenghe handed Li Ming over to Xie Zhengyang, and he went to find Liu Changqin and Li Waishan. One was the village party secretary and the other was the old village chief. I believe that the people of the Li family would not dare to do anything in front of them.
The Li family had no idea what was happening outside. Old Mrs. Li had a sullen face from early in the morning, which made the second and third sons of the Li family tremble all over. They stood there and dared not move, and they didn't dare to go to the dinner table.
The people from the Li family's eldest house scolded the couple while they were eating.
"Second brother, I'm not saying anything to you, but you're already this grown up and you can't even take care of a child. Where are you going to find him now? What if something happens?"
"Yes, second brother, second sister-in-law, I told you that I would tie them up and take them to Lusong for marriage. Look at what you did. You let the child out because you were soft-hearted. You have been trying to find the child all night but still can't find him. Aren't you deliberately trying to make mother unhappy?"
"Uncle and aunt, although today is New Year's Day, you have made grandma unhappy. I will save some for you after everyone finishes their meal." Li Dani said considerately.
The two boys from the big room were busy eating dumplings and didn't care at all whether Li Laoer ate or not.
When Li Laoer and his wife heard what Li Dani said, they felt grateful, "Thank you Dani for thinking about my uncle and aunt. You guys eat first. My uncle and aunt are not hungry."
Old Madam Li slammed the table and said, "It's time to eat first. Someone will come to pay New Year's greetings soon. I'm upset by your deliberate intentions on New Year's Day. Second brother, go to Erni's room and ask her where Xiao Ming went. If she doesn't tell me, I'll beat her until she says, 'You bastard, let's see how long she can keep her mouth shut.'"
"Yes, yes, mother, don't worry, I will go and ask now, right now."
After saying this, Li Laoer hurried to Li Erni's room.
Here, Li Ming brought a group of people to the Li family in a mighty manner. The sound of "dong dong dong" knocking on the door interrupted the Li family members who were still having breakfast.
Old Lady Li said, "How come someone came to pay New Year's greetings so early?"
Mr. Li said, "Mom, you eat first. I'll go open the door. It must be our youngster who wants to come to ask for New Year's money."
"If we drive the children away, it will be a shame for people who come to pay New Year's greetings to see them. How can we afford to give these little brats so much money?"
"Where's your mother? I'll go right away." Boss Li said as he walked towards the door.
"Stop knocking, stop knocking, go to someone else's house to wish them a happy new year. I don't have any lucky money for you, go away now."
Boss Li opened the door.
He was shocked when he opened the door. More than a dozen people outside the door were looking into the yard. Boss Li felt embarrassed thinking about what he had just said. It was really embarrassing that their family was unwilling to give New Year's money to the younger generation, and so many people heard it. But now no one cared about these things.
Boss Li said to everyone, "You've come to pay New Year's greetings so early. Come in and have some big cakes. The fried banana leaves are so delicious!"
Xie Wangcai put his hands in his pockets and said to Li Laoda: "Hey, where is your Li Laoer?"
"What?"
"Oh my, your Xiao Ming was screaming for help all over the village. The child was so cold that his face turned pale and his clothes were covered in mud. How could you beat the child like this?"
"That's right, how can you hit a child like this?"
Someone looked into their main room and saw Old Lady Li still eating. "Hey, Auntie, let's eat. It's New Year's Day, why is your little grandson freezing outside? You guys are eating delicious food here."
Boss Li finally reacted, "What? What are you talking about? You guys, you came to our house and threw shit on us during the New Year. How could we beat our child? The kid ran away on his own. Who can we blame? Where did the kid go?"
"I'm here." Li Ming rushed over like a little cannonball.
When Boss Li saw him, he rushed over to grab him and said, "Hey, you bastard, where have you been all night? Come back with me."
Old lady Li put down her chopsticks and looked outside the door. Seeing that the noisy family had not come in to wish a happy new year, she led everyone out quickly.
Li Ming dodged Boss Li's hands and said, "Go away, go away, I want to find my sister."
"Little bastard, let's see where you can run."
Xie Zhengyang hurriedly tried to stop Boss Li, "Hey, Big Brother Li, don't hit the child, don't hit the child, there are so many people watching."
"Get out of the way. I won't beat him. I'll just take him home."
Old lady Li walked to the door and shouted, "What are you making a fuss about? It's New Year's Day and you've been looking for me, little bastard. Where have you been? Your parents have been looking for you all night. Go home with your uncle, you troublemaker."
It was not easy for Li Mingtu to get out, so how could he go back so easily? He looked at the people of the Li family with cracked eyes and said, "Let my sister go, let my sister go."
As soon as he said this, everyone in the Li family froze. Old Lady Li quickly took two steps and reached out to grab him, "Look at what you are talking about, kid. Your sister is waiting in the house."
Li Dani's breathing became tight, and she echoed Old Lady Li, saying, "That's right, little brother, what are you talking about? Go home quickly and don't delay everyone from going to pay New Year's greetings. Don't make a fuss during the New Year."
"Shut up, you evil woman."
Li Dani said helplessly: "Tsk, tsk, it's all my elder sister's fault. My elder sister is so bad. Don't be angry. You run away from home all the time. You are not afraid of grandma worrying about you. You are so naughty. Go home and eat something and drink some hot water. You have been freezing all night!"
Li Dani looked like a warm-hearted older sister, which made everyone who had just heard Li Ming's words couldn't help but doubt. After all, only a few people would believe what a child said.
Li Ming saw that everyone was looking at him in a confused manner, and his eyes turned red with anxiety. He clenched his fist and hit Li Dani. Li Dani turned the situation around with a few words, and was knocked to the ground by Li Ming without noticing.
Boss Li looked at his daughter being knocked to the ground, pushed Xie Zhengyang away, and grabbed Li Ming, "You little beast, you dare to hit your elder sister, I will beat you to death." Then he took off his shoes and started spanking him on the butt.
"Ah~ I didn't say anything. It was that bitch Li Dani who wanted to marry my Big Brother Lu. Big Brother Lu was dating my sister, but my sister didn't want to, so they tied my sister and me up. I just escaped last night. Ah~ah~ Beat me to death, beat me to death. You are all bad people, you must die."
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