Fang Meixiang's family's New Year's Eve dinner this year was more lavish than in previous years. "There's a Spring Festival Gala tonight, broadcast live, so we need to get the TV set early," Fang Meixiang said.
"Live broadcast? It means that the performance is happening in Beijing, and it will be broadcast on our TV right away?" Fang Meixiang's mother asked curiously.
"Yes."
"Haha, what's the difference between this and watching from Beijing? I'll go adjust the antenna mast later." Fang Damiao stuffed a piece of meat into his mouth.
Fang Damiao held the bamboo pole with the antenna attached to it from the outside, as if it were a precious treasure, and slowly turned it around.
"Dad, there are still snowflakes, spin it again."
Fang Damiao sighed and turned the bamboo pole to the southeast again, his arm aching from holding it up, but he didn't dare to relax. "How is it now?"
Fang Dongqiang ran in and out, acting as a messenger. "Understood! Understood! Just stay still."
Fang Damiao quickly leaned the bamboo pole against the wall and weighed down the bottom with a stone, afraid that the wind would blow it off course again. He dusted off his hands and went inside.
That night, no matter how much the other children wanted to come, they were kept at home by their parents. Only Fang Meixiang's family sat in front of the television.
The words "Spring Festival Gala" in red appeared on the screen, zooming in and out, with a packed audience in the background. The camera then panned to the stage, where the first program, "Paying New Year's Greetings," began. The whole family sat up straight, immersed in the festive atmosphere, eagerly anticipating the next program.
That night, the whole family stayed up together to welcome the New Year until the Spring Festival Gala ended.
"Dongqiang, we're going home. See you next year!"
"See you tomorrow! See you next year, tomorrow is next year." Fang Dongqiang stood up and straightened his back. "How come it's not late tonight, even at this hour?"
"Because today is Lunar New Year's Eve." As soon as Fang Damiao opened the door, a blast of crisp, cold air rushed in.
The night was still warm from the firecrackers. Fang Damiao held Fang Meixiang's hand tightly. The sound of his shoes rolling over the frozen ground mingled with the occasional distant firecrackers.
Having walked this road countless times, the excitement of watching the Spring Festival Gala at his mother-in-law's house was still warm in his heart. Fang Damiao looked at the few window lights that were on and said, "It's time to make money. Look, when we have money, the whole family can watch TV together. How happy is that? If I make more money, we can build a house and buy a TV so we can watch it at home."
Fang Meixiang looked at her husband's profile, nestled beside him, and felt very at ease.
During the first month of the lunar calendar, the children ran to Fang Dongqiang's house to watch TV again.
Fang Yu wore a light pink corduroy suit. The top was a round-neck Peter Pan style with a small off-white magnolia flower embroidered on the chest, and the cuffs and hem were trimmed with fine beige piping. She wore flared pants with an elastic waistband, the cuffs slightly flared, lightly brushing her ankles as she walked. Her two ponytails were tied high into braids, the ends of which were tied into bows with pink ribbons, hanging down on either side of her shoulders. The bows swayed gently with her steps, attracting the envy of the little girls her age. Among them was Fang Huahua, who had short, ear-length hair and wore a patched-up cotton-padded jacket, who couldn't help but take a second look.
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Fang Meili also came. "Fang Yu, your mother dressed you up so nicely?"
“Aunt Meili,” Yu Jihong often took Fang Yu to Fang Meili’s shop. Fang Yu and Fang Meili were also quite familiar with each other. “I’ll take care of my little sister.” Fang Yu pulled Yuan Tingting to sit next to her and occasionally told her what was on TV.
"Fang Yu's mother really knows how to dress her up!" Fang Meihao thought, noting that among the group of children, Fang Yu was dressed the most brightly.
"Yes, that's how people should live."
Fang Meili and Yuan Xinkang sat for a while before heading back to the shop. Since they had a TV at home, they also brought Yuan Tingting a change of clothes so she could stay at her parents' house for a few days.
"Tingting, your father and mother have gone back to do business. Be good at your grandmother's house. I'll show you around now."
"It's alright. There's nothing to do during the first month of the lunar year, so you can focus on your business and let her stay here for a few more days," Fang Meixiang's mother replied.
"Aunt Meili, I come over to take care of Tingting even when I'm not teaching," Fang Yu said as she ran over.
Yuan Tingting snuggled up next to Fang Yu. "Tingting likes being with me too," Fang Yu said, picking Yuan Tingting up in her arms.
"Look, even a child understands a lot. She sees Fang Yu is pretty and likes to be with her," Fang Meixiang's mother said with a smile, looking at her niece next to Fang Yu.
"Dongqiang, you should take Tingting with you too," Fang Meili reminded Fang Dongqiang.
"Oh, didn't Fang Yu bring it? I'll bring it when Fang Yu goes home." Fang Dongqiang said with a slightly nonchalant, old-fashioned air.
This made Fang Meili laugh, "Fang Yu is a girl who matures early."
"Goodbye, Aunt Meili!" Fang Yu said to Yuan Tingting, "Tingting, say goodbye to your parents! You're with your sister now!"
Fang Huahua sat to the side and looked at Fang Yu. Why did Fang Yu act like family? She wouldn't dare to talk to them like that.
Fang Yu took Yuan Tingting back to sit next to Hua Hua and watch TV. "Hua Hua, I'll be taking care of my little sister these next few days. You can take care of the little brother, and I'll take care of the little sister."
Fang Huahua nodded.
"Huahua, I asked my mom, and she said I'm very..." Fang Yu wanted to say pretty, but was a little embarrassed to say it, "My mom said I'm great, and she and my dad both love me, so they only had me."
Fang Yu's braids, bow, and pink dress made Hua Hua think she was really nice and beautiful. Not only did her parents like her, but Fang Dongqiang's aunt and grandmother also liked her.
It turns out it was her fault that her parents wanted to have another baby brother. Hua Hua glanced at Fang Jingming.
Fang Meihao was going back to work after only a few days at home, and she reminded Fang Dongqiang, "Dongqiang, you can't just watch TV. You have to do your homework too. Only if you get good grades can you go to junior high school in the county town."
"I know, I know! I've almost finished my homework!" Fang Dongqiang replied easily.
"Don't be arrogant! Don't think that just because you know the answer, you don't need to listen. You must listen carefully to the teacher in class."
Before Fang Meihao went home, her mother also reminded her, "Meihao, if someone introduces you to someone, you can talk to them if you think they're a good match." Fang Meihao's mother said softly beside her.
"Mother, are you in such a hurry to marry me off?"
"You'll get married sooner or later. You've been studying for so long, you should hurry up and get married."
Fang Meihao answered just like Fang Dongqiang, "I know, I know!"
When Fang Yu arrived at Fang Dongqiang's house, she brought Yuan Tingting with her. "Fang Yu, have lunch here. Please take care of Tingting for me," Fang Meixiang's mother called to her.
"No, Grandma Dongqiang, my mom said I should go home as soon as other people start cooking." Fang Yu goes home every time it's mealtime.
"Your mother raised you very well."
"Goodbye, Tingting! I'll come back to take you again tomorrow."
As Fang Meixiang's mother watched Fang Yu skip and hop home, she thought to herself, "How could such a good woman do such a wrong thing?"
With the start of the new school year approaching, Fang Huahua will be able to start first grade in the second half of the year, and Fang Shugen also wants to prepare her to attend kindergarten for half a year first.
“Kindergarten is all about playing, what can you learn there? You can just go straight to first grade in the second half of the year,” Fang Shugen’s mother disagreed.
"Let her go to school. All the children in the village go to kindergarten for six months first."
“But there are also those who didn’t go to school. It’s not like we’re not letting her study. When primary school starts in the second half of the year, I’ll take her to register.”
"Mom, we can afford the tuition now. It's always good to learn more."
“I will let her study. She is my granddaughter, and I want her to be successful. You can go out there without worry. Last year, we were doing well at home. You earned money outside, and we grew food and crops at home. Look, Hua Mei, everything is fine, isn’t it?”
"I'll register Huahua for kindergarten first, then we'll go."
“Go early. Seeing how much money you’ve made outside, some people in the village are planning to go out again this year. If you go late, there won’t be any work to do.” Fang Shugen’s mother thought for a moment and then said, “It’s Huahua’s first day of school. I also need to check the date and find an auspicious day to go.”
Fang Shugen couldn't persuade his mother otherwise, so he had to go out first. Fang Damiao, along with some other young and middle-aged people from the village, also went out to work, some to find small businesses.
Fang Shugen's mother took Huahua to the kindergarten to ask, "16 yuan? Do we have to pay extra for lunch here?"
Fang Shugen's mother thought it over and realized that if Huahua started kindergarten, Jingming would be left without anyone to take care of him. They would have to pay the 16 yuan tuition fee and also pay for his meals.
Fang Shugen's mother negotiated with the teacher, "Teacher, her father is out of town, and we are busy with work in the fields. Could you bring her younger brother with you when you come to kindergarten?"
The teacher glanced at Fang Jingming and said, "If she doesn't cry or make a fuss, we can let her sit next to us. There are also some older children who are left here because no one at home can take care of them."
"So, if I pay for one person, both of them can come, right?"
"If two people come to your house, you have to pay for both!"
"Two dollars? He's so young, he can't understand or read, and he's sitting here with his sister, so it won't bother the teacher."
"Hehe, we all charge tuition fees here."
“Teacher, we don’t bring him every day. We only bring him occasionally when we’re busy at home. We bring him ourselves when we have time.” Fang Shugen’s mother thought for a moment and then said, “Teacher, his sister can take care of him at home, so you don’t need to give him books. Right, no need for books. Even if you had books, he wouldn’t be able to study. Why would you charge tuition if you don’t want books?”
No one has ever bargained like this before when studying here, and the teacher is also helpless, "He has to eat here eventually."
"Teacher, I'll go back and think about it some more. The children are still young, and we're not from this village. I don't know if we can handle the back and forth. I'll come back after I've thought it through." Fang Shugen's mother brought Huahua and Fang Jingming home.
"Grandma, why did you come back instead of studying there?"
"Huahua, if you go to school, you'll have to walk back and forth like this every day."
“Okay, Fang Yu and Dong Qiang walk like this every day too. I’ll go with them.”
“They’re starting primary school now, so they won’t be able to go with you,” Fang Shugen’s mother thought for a moment. “Huahua, we’ll stop sending you to kindergarten. You can start primary school in the second half of the year, and then you can go with them.”
After Yuan Tingting went back, Fang Yu would occasionally help Fang Huahua take care of her younger brother, and Huahua also liked being with her.
"Okay, then I'll go to primary school and go with them."
“Yes, he’ll be starting primary school in the second half of the year, and you can stay home and take care of your younger brother for another six months. Hua is so sensible and obedient.” Fang Shugen’s mother chuckled, agreeing with her wishes.
Fang Shugen's mother brought Hua Hua and Fang Jingming home. Hua Mei was hanging out the laundry and was stunned when she saw them return. She knew her daughter was going to school.
"flower……"
"Mom, I'll go back to school in the second half of the year and start first grade."
Why aren't you going to study again? Hua Mei looked a little unhappy, her face stiff.
When Fang Shugen's mother saw her expression, she said, "Hua Mei, you gave me that look as soon as Shugen went out? Don't be so happy and content as soon as he comes back, but you look like this as soon as he leaves. Shugen's father has been gone for so many years, and I've managed to get by all by myself. Working hard and raising children is a woman's real job."
Hua Mei turned her head away, hung up the clothes, and took the washbasin inside.
Hua Hua continued to stay at home with Fang Jingming.
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