Chapter 1335: Chinese New Year
Jiang Feifei saw a lot of agricultural books, "Uncle Han, can the books here be bought? Borrowing them doesn’t seem practical either?"
Han Xiangjun shook his head, "Probably not, you pick out the ones you need, and I’ll ask."
If they say they don’t sell, Feifei means buying them would at least provide an excuse if needed, right?
If they’re not for sale, then they’re not for sale; there’s nothing that can be done about it.
"Uncle Han, the collection here is truly abundant."
"Isn’t it?"
"Being here gives me a sense of awe."
"Hehe, my precious little one has such thoughts?" Outside, Han Xiangjun was very cautious. He was also afraid of unnecessary trouble. At home, he always called Feifei ’princess.’
The family spent the afternoon of the Small New Year’s Eve at the university.
Then they began preparing for the New Year, which was Han Xiangjun’s responsibility. The other family members were all free.
On New Year’s Eve, although no lanterns were hung outside, they were hung inside the house.
The New Year atmosphere here was much stronger. The whole family wore new clothes, and Han Xiangjun found a photographer to take pictures of them.
Opportunities like this are rare, if one wishes to have everyone present in one photo. At the very least, it would have to wait until the children grow up.
He had spent a significant amount of money, and people do have to celebrate New Year, don’t they? That’s the only way he could arrange it.
This made the family happy. There were many group photos, and Han Xiangjun took several pictures with Feifei in his arms. Wei Kaiyun even felt a bit jealous watching this.
This also gave them a chance to get to know the neighbors. People here are usually low-key.
But they just nodded in passing, without speaking.
"Xinyu, I just don’t like how it’s like this here, there’s no warmth."
"Hehe, tomorrow I will have Old Yang take you to the courtyard houses, there are more people there."
"Xinyu, I want to go to the temple fair, but Old Yang doesn’t want to."
"There are too many people. But if there are lanterns on the fifteenth of the first lunar month, we can go and see, it’s a local specialty."
"Okay, I want to check it out." Zhao Xiaoli had become somewhat playful lately, though she didn’t realize she was being fussy.
The dumplings in the evening were filled with leeks and eggs, which were grown in a flower pot indoors by Zhang Qiu’e. They grew nicely, and they added flavor anyway.
There were also three-flavor fillings, pork with cabbage, pork with pickled vegetables, and beef with scallions.
"Life is truly beautiful like this. This is how one should live." Shang Zhenkun’s face was filled with smiles, he never thought he would have such days.
On this day, every family was smiling. Rich families had meat dumplings, while average households typically had more vegetable than meat in their dumplings.
The Lv Family also had three types of dumplings, along with sweet and sour shredded radish, peanuts, and mixed cabbage hearts.
Chaoyang and Jing Chu were getting along very well. Although Jing Chu still didn’t turn beet red whenever she saw her brother like the sister-in-law, always stealing glances at him, she and Chaoyang got along very well in conversation.
Lv Beiguang didn’t participate; Jing Chu made her own decisions. Chaoyang was a steady and reliable child. If they were really together, it would be great; Jing Chu wouldn’t be wronged.
Li Xue could already confirm she was pregnant, but at this point, she didn’t dare believe it, just wanting to wait to go to the hospital for confirmation.
"Second brother, this is the first time we haven’t spent New Year’s at home."
Chaoyang nodded with a smile, "Yeah, there will be more days like this in the future. Now, I finally understand the saying that festival times deepen the longing for family."
"Our second aunt must be thinking of us."
"Isn’t she? My mom just adores you."
"Of course."
Guodong found his wife’s proud little look amusing.
The family waited until 11:30 to start boiling water for dumplings. They intended to stay up all night together.
The happiest was Lv Beiguang; he was used to being alone, but now having children around made him especially happy.
His children and daughters-in-law were all by his side, and soon there would be grandchildren too.
After eating dumplings, several people sat on the kang listening to the radio. Though now there was a gala, it was only broadcast on the radio.
Li Xue leaned against Guodong, looking lazy. Jing Chu and Chaoyang also sat together, playing cards.
Lv Beiguang looked at the scene, thinking that having many children in the future would truly be the beauty of life.
Qian Jun and Wang Yanling were having dumplings at the Liu Family’s place, but they weren’t staying up all night, as they had work the next day.
The elders watched their granddaughter eat sweetly, already confirming the pregnancy, but still wanted to see a doctor to feel assured.
Now the two elders truly felt at ease. After a woman gets married, she can only be stable once she has her own children, and once a man has children, his sense of responsibility increases.
Because there were only two elders at home and a pregnant one, the dumplings were cooked at 8 p.m.
Qian Jun had sent ten pounds of meat during the twelfth lunar month. So tonight’s dumplings were pork and scallion, and they tasted particularly delicious.
Wang Yanling ate too much and felt a bit uncomfortable.
"Qian Jun, let’s take a walk, I’ve eaten too much."
There were still many firecrackers being set off. The festival atmosphere was quite rich.
"I’ll set off fireworks at home too. I’ve prepared them."
"Hmm. Look at how beautiful those fireworks are?"
Qian Jun followed his wife’s pointing and looked, "As beautiful as they are, they’re fleeting."
"You’re really not romantic at all."
Qian Jun turned his head to look at his laughing little wife and thought, how could she look so beautiful.
In the Li Family Village, every household was making dumplings. The Tao Family siblings didn’t eat at the Li Family’s place, they made food themselves at home.
Qu Xiaoli was making dumplings while muttering about Chaoyang and Li Xue.
"Enough, when the kids grow up, there will be fewer and fewer people, and eventually, it will just be the two of us," Li Yungui comforted his wife.
Wang Menglin was making dumplings too, "Mom and Dad, I will always accompany you with my kids."
Qu Xiaoli smiled and nodded, "Great, I’ll have my daughter-in-law and grandchildren accompany me."
"Mom, I’m serious, even if Manjiang becomes successful, I won’t follow the army, I’ll stay home to accompany you."
"That’s not good; how can husbands and wives be separated for long periods?"
"Then you two come with me, or I won’t go."
Qu Xiaoli smiled and nodded; she didn’t take it seriously, but later it really happened as Wang Menglin said.
"Mom, second brother and my sister are together, they won’t be sad."
"Aren’t they? I feel at ease with the two siblings together."
"You’re really a worrier, in the future, as long as Chaoyang doesn’t return from the Capital, he won’t spend New Year’s here."
This made Qu Xiaoli stay silent. Yes, the times when her son would come back would be few. But it’s really good for him. I must not hold him back.
"I understand, I won’t say anything to Chaoyang. I’m just hoping my son will be successful."
Li Yungui also nodded; actually, once his son is successful, he wouldn’t get anything out of it.