For lunch on New Year's Eve, Huang's mother showed off her cooking skills and prepared a table full of delicious food; there were braised fish, beef with potatoes, chicken pancakes, fried lamb tripe, stewed eggplant boxes... each dish was served on the table and the aroma was mouth-watering.
The food at home improved dramatically this year. No one was so greedy for meat anymore, and the eldest brother Huang Wenbin's eating manners also improved a lot, which made Xu Mengyao feel very comfortable.
After his family's firecrackers were finished, Huang's father raised his glass and said with a smile, "Today is New Year's Eve. Our family's life has improved this year. I hope that you four brothers and sisters will be healthy next year, and that our family will prosper!"
His voice was loud and powerful, full of expectations and confidence for the future.
Xu Mengyao held the teacup and clinked glasses with Huang's father. A happy smile spread across her face, and her voice was clear and pleasant: "I wish our family a prosperous life and good health."
Huang's mother also clinked glasses with a smile, and the rest of the people echoed: "It's getting more and more prosperous!"
There was a happy atmosphere at the banquet, with everyone sitting together enjoying the New Year atmosphere.
Huang's father even poured some white wine for Huang Wenbin: "Try it. You'll be 17 in a few days, a grown man."
Huang Wenbin picked up the wine glass and drank it all. Not long after, he lay down on the bed feeling a little dizzy.
Huang's father smiled and said, "You should take a rest too. There will be a fireworks show in the mine at 8:30 this evening. The whole family can go together." Everyone was looking forward to it.
Huang Wenbin slept soundly until Wenxia woke him up: "Brother, hurry up and get up to eat. We have to go watch the fireworks later!"
As night fell, Huang's mother busied herself making dumplings. Leftovers from lunch were reheated, their aroma lingering once again. Xu Mengyao made another pot of popcorn that afternoon, sending a bowl of it to Grandma Qiu's house and saving the rest for the children who would be visiting her for the New Year the following day.
After dinner, the family went out to watch the fireworks. The roads on both sides of the mine gate were hung with red lanterns, which looked particularly eye-catching and festive against the backdrop of the night.
This time they did not follow the crowd, but chose a relatively less crowded place to wait, because no matter where they stood, they could see the fireworks blooming in the night sky.
With three gong sounds, the crowd fell silent. A silver light slowly rose, then exploded with a bang, scattering countless silver points across the sky. Then, red national flags, purple stars, yellow circles of light, and blue floral patterns exploded and merged, forming a series of beautiful paintings.
The fireworks, as bright as daylight, amazed people as if they were in a fairy tale world. Even Xu Mengyao, who had seen Disney's fireworks show, was amazed by the grand scene.
The last firework exploded, sending a lit red parachute slowly drifting down from the sky. Then, a vast expanse of azaleas blossomed, illuminating the entire night sky in crimson. The beauty was breathtaking, leaving the entire audience in awe and admiration.
After watching the fireworks, everyone returned to the village, where children holding torches and setting off fireworks filled the air. Their laughter and joy filled the village. The six children in the yard quickly joined in the fun, waving torches, chasing each other, and throwing firecrackers, having a blast. The torches reflected on everyone's joyful faces, making the evening even more warm and beautiful.
As midnight approaches, every household calls their children home to stay up all night to prepare for the New Year. The deafening sound of firecrackers at midnight seems to wake the entire village.
Xu Mengyao had never felt such a strong New Year atmosphere. Looking at the happy faces of her family, she felt extremely warm and at peace in her heart. She felt that she had completely integrated into this family and become a part of it.
On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, the sun bathed the village, and the Huang family was filled with joy and laughter. The family donned brand new clothes, and in the main hall, the four siblings knelt before their parents, kowtowed, and offered auspicious words. Happy smiles filled the faces of the Huangs, and they cheerfully accepted the children's blessings, pulling out red envelopes from their pockets and handing them one by one.
Wenxia couldn't wait to open the red envelope and exclaimed in surprise, "Wow! Ten yuan! This year's New Year's money is ten yuan!"
Huang Wenbin also smiled as he opened the red envelope. After seeing the amount, he jokingly said to his mother, "Mom, this year's New Year's money is really generous. It's ten times more than in previous years!"
Huang's father glared at him in a serious manner and said angrily, "Why, you don't want it? If you don't want it, give it back!"
Huang Wenbin quickly waved his hands and said with a smile: "No, no, I'm just kidding, who wouldn't want ten dollars, hehe."
Huang's father pointed his finger at Huang Wenbin and said, "This was all your mother's idea. She said that our family is better off this year, and she wanted you to have a happy New Year. She paid for this herself, so you should thank her very much."
After hearing this, Wen Xia hugged Huang's mother's arm and said coquettishly: "I knew that mother loves us the most."
Huang's mother smiled and touched her head, saying lovingly, "Alright, alright, you brothers and sisters, go and wish your Grandma Qiu and Grandpa Cheng a happy new year."
The four siblings excitedly walked towards Grandma Qiu's house and shouted loudly before entering the door: "Grandma Qiu, Grandpa Cheng, we are here to wish you a happy new year!"
When Qiu Xin's mother heard the sound, she quickly opened the door curtain and said enthusiastically, "Come in, it's cold outside."
As soon as the children entered the house, they all wished each other a happy new year. Qiu Xin's mother smiled and responded, "Happy new year to you too. The popcorn you sent yesterday was so delicious. Thank you."
At the Qiu family, the four siblings received a warm welcome. After a lively greeting, when they were leaving, Grandma Qiu stuffed their pockets with peanuts, melon seeds and various candies.
Afterwards, Qiu Xin and Qiu Sheng also came to the Huang family to pay New Year's greetings. After some auspicious words, Huang's mother not only prepared homemade fried food and snacks to entertain them, but also did not forget to praise the two children for being excellent and sensible.
Then, other children in the village also came to pay New Year's greetings, and New Year's blessings were passed on to each household. The adults greeted them with smiles and gave them food and snacks prepared at home. The whole village was immersed in a happy and peaceful atmosphere.
At this time, Brother Hu walked into the Huang family's house, carrying a carefully selected New Year gift. As soon as he entered the door, he knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Huang's father and mother, wishing them a happy New Year: "Uncle Huang and Aunt Huang, Happy New Year!"
Huang's mother quickly helped him up and said gently, "Hey kid, why are you kneeling down when you should just be wishing a happy new year?"
Brother Hu said sincerely: "My grandfather said that your family is our benefactor. Binzi lent money to my grandfather for medical treatment before, and Xiaojuan is now helping me make money. I must kowtow to you and Uncle Huang."
Huang's father patted Hu Ge's shoulder and said with emotion: "Hu Zi, everyone has hard times. You and Bin Zi are friends, so it's only natural for him to help you. You are a kind and loyal child, and everything will be fine in the future."
When seeing Hu Zi off, Huang Wenbin followed him, because Huang's mother knew that Hu Zi had depended on his grandfather since he was a child, and that they must not have prepared much food for the New Year, so she specially prepared a basket of food for him to take back and have some dishes for the New Year with his grandfather.
There were fried meatballs, fried lotus root strips, fried sanzi (fried dough sticks), sugar triangles, stuffed Chinese sausage, and even two pieces of the reunion cake, which were cut into two pieces and placed in the bamboo basket. Tiger Brother accepted it gratefully, thanked him profusely, and left with his elder brother.
On this day, laughter and joy spread throughout the village, and everyone was immersed in the joy and warmth of the New Year.
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