She was eager to test whether the Kongming lantern could take off smoothly. At this moment, Huang's father and mother also came back. They saw a pile of things on the table and asked curiously, "Wenjuan, what are you doing?"
She smiled and replied, "I'm making a Kongming lantern! I'm not sure if it will work. It's a good thing you're back now, let's go to the yard and try it together!"
"Okay, okay!" Huang Wenrong and Huang Wenxia both echoed excitedly.
Huang's father and mother also gathered around curiously.
Borrowing matches from Huang's father, Xu Mengyao held up the Kongming lantern and asked Huang Wenrong to light the cloth strip. After the cloth strip burned for a while, she slowly let go.
The Kongming lantern she made slowly rose higher and higher, and finally disappeared into the sky. The whole family was amazed. The eldest sister Huang Wenrong praised:
"Wenjuan, you really know everything! You're so smart!"
Wenxia pulled Xu Mengyao into the house and said, "Second sister, please teach me how to make one! I want to try it too."
Xu Mengyao agreed with a smile: "Okay, make a few more, write down your wishes on a piece of paper, and each family member will put one.
Huang's father and mother were busy preparing lunch in the yard. Huang's mother carefully put the steamed buns to be sold into the steamer and said to Huang's father:
"You can knead some dough first, which will save some time. We can make dumplings together later." Father Huang nodded with a smile and began to knead the dough skillfully.
As lunchtime approached, the courtyard gradually became lively. Aunt Qiu's son, daughter-in-law, and eldest grandson walked into the courtyard carrying large and small bags of gifts.
When Qiu Xin saw her parents, she cheered excitedly. The three sisters stopped their crafts and went out to watch. Qiu Xin rushed towards her parents like a little firecracker, shouting, "Mom and Dad, you're back!"
Qiu Xin's father was wearing a striped shirt and jeans, looking energetic; his mother had fluffy curly hair, half of which was tied behind her head, and she was wearing a floral shirt and white pants, with a camel-colored belt tied around her waist, looking fashionable and elegant.
Qiu Xin's uncle and his family followed closely behind. The man, wearing a blue Mao suit and glasses, exuded a sense of steadiness. The woman, with her permed, short hair hanging over her ears, wore a red plaid, padded-shoulder long-sleeved dress and black high heels, looking elegant and graceful. The boy next to them, wearing a blue and white navy suit and overalls, looked as adorable as a little sailor.
Xu Mengyao looked at the whole family and secretly admired: "This family is quite fashionable!"
She had been in this era for half a year, and the environment and people she encountered were still very simple. This was the first time she saw someone dressed so fashionably. Hearing that both couples worked in the city, Xu Mengyao was even more excited to visit the city.
The Huang family met Aunt Qiu's sons for the first time, and everyone greeted them warmly. Qiu Xin brought over a handful of White Rabbit candies to share with the three sisters, and Wen Xia reciprocated with a freshly made Kongming lantern, inviting him to fly one together that evening.
Huang Wenbin entered the house just in time for dinner, only to find the table already laden with a dazzling array of delicious dishes. Brightly colored braised chicken, fragrantly braised spareribs, tender river shrimp stir-fried with leeks, golden shredded potatoes, crispy fried tofu, and a plate of sweet canned yellow peaches beside.
He couldn't help but exclaim in admiration: "Mom and Dad, you're amazing!" Father Huang smiled and patted him on the shoulder: "Today is a good day!"
The Qiu family's firecrackers rang out, and Huang's father took Huang Wenbin out to set off his own firecrackers. After that, the family sat down to eat.
At this time, Qiu Xin brought another plate of mooncakes: "Uncle Huang, these are the southern mooncakes my uncle brought. My grandfather asked you to try them too."
Huang's father took the mooncake and hurriedly handed him the untouched can of yellow peaches on the table.
Wenxia watched the can being taken away with a look of regret on his face. Huang's mother saw this and said with a smile, "You little greedy cat, you're so greedy! We still have one bottle at home! Wait."
The little one was instantly delighted when he heard this and clamored to try the mooncakes from the south to see what was different. The mooncakes they usually bought were the most common five-nut, green and red silk mooncakes, which had a white outer skin and would crumble when bitten.
Huang's father cut each of the two yellow mooncakes Qiu Xin brought into six pieces. One was a red bean paste mooncake, and the other was a lotus seed paste mooncake. Wen Xia looked at the mooncakes on the plate curiously, picked up a red bean paste mooncake and tasted it, and then picked up a lotus seed paste mooncake.
She ate with gusto, and after finishing, she didn't forget to greet everyone: "Delicious! The black filling is delicious, and the white filling is delicious too!"
After dinner, Huang's parents busied themselves with steaming the dough. The three sisters continued making Kongming lanterns, making ten before calling it a day. Xu Mengyao came over with a pen and asked them to write down their wishes.
Wenxia even woke up Huang Wenbin from sleep and asked him to write a wish. Huang Wenbin said impatiently, "These are just children's things, play with them by yourselves."
Wenxia's face suddenly looked aggrieved.
Huang Wenrong saw this and quickly advised: "Brother, it's all for good luck! Look how much Wenxia loves you. He didn't even write down his wish, he was just thinking of you."
Xu Mengyao also held Huang Wenbin in her arms and said, "Yes, big brother, Wenxia was specially left for you."
Huang Wenbin probably realized that his attitude was bad, so he took the pen and asked Wenxia, "Which one did you do? Let me see."
Wenxia immediately took out two to show off. Children's moods change quickly and they don't hold grudges.
Xu Mengyao was the first to write down her wish of "making a lot of money." Huang Wenrong then wrote down her hope of "getting into college." When it was Huang Wenxia's turn, she scratched her head and thought for a long time, "Second sister, can I write down all the wishes I have?"
Xu Mengyao smiled and said, "Write, as long as you're happy. There are many more you can write."
Wenxia wrote several lines densely packed with words.
Xu Mengyao turned to look at Huang Wenbin, only to see that he had only written three words: "Be the eldest brother." Before she had time to think about it, she heard her eldest sister ask:
"Brother, aren't you the eldest brother? What kind of wish is this?"
Huang Wenbin smiled mysteriously and said, "You don't understand."
After saying that, he put away his Kongming lantern.
Xu Mengyao chose another Kongming lantern nearby and carefully wrote the words "healthy, safe and successful" on it.
Huang's mother came over, patted her shoulder, and said gently, "It's really well written. Put it away first. We have to go early to reserve a seat today. Let's eat something first."
After the family hurriedly finished their meal, before five o'clock, they excitedly headed for the mine entrance. The road was already crowded with people, many of them holding small stools under their arms, obviously all here for tonight's performance.
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