During the Chinese New Year, Mrs. Cheng's house was the most lively. A lot of people came to the house, especially the younger generation. The third sister Cheng Ru used the house next to the old lady. She prepared new bedding in all the seven or eight rooms on the three floors, waiting for the sisters to come back and let them stay at ease. The four sisters gathered together to talk, and they were happy to say anything, with endless things to say.
Mi Zehai and Cheng Qing also came back to celebrate the New Year. They first went to have a reunion dinner with Mi Hong. Mi Hong's temperament was as weird as before. After the meal, he didn't even let them clean up and drove them back.
Mi Zehai stood at the door and said, "Dad, if you don't want me to stay here with you, then I'll let Yangyang come over..."
Mi Hong closed the door in front of him, and it made a loud "bang" and almost hit him in the face.
Mi Zehai rubbed the tip of his nose, stood there and called him again, wanting to speak, but Cheng Qing beside him pulled his sleeve, shook his head, lowered his voice and said, "What are you talking about? Didn't you see that Dad is angry?"
Mi Zehai said with a bitter face: "I didn't do anything else, why do you have to praise Yangyang every time he comes, and then close the door and chase me away when I come."
Cheng Qing was amused by him, and dragged him back while saying, "Yangyang never talks so much to you when he comes here. Not to mention Dad, my ears are almost callused from listening to him. He just repeats the same two sentences over and over again, and he asked three times whether he had done the physical examination."
"I haven't seen him for a year. I'm worried."
"Dad just wants to have some peace and quiet all year round!"
When the two chatted all the way back to Old Lady Cheng's place, the Spring Festival Gala had just begun, and the family was making dumplings while watching TV and laughing. Seeing the couple coming back, Cheng Ru immediately smiled and said, "Oh, brother-in-law, you're here just in time. Let's make the dumpling wrappers. You're the best at this job in the family!"
Yonezawa Hai took off his down jacket and washed his hands. Then he took the rolling pin, sat on a small stool and started working.
It was very lively here with many people, each one talking about interesting things in their daily lives. After a while, Yonezawa Hai's previous depressed mood was dissipated and he was amused to laugh twice.
Mi Yang also wanted to come and help, but was driven aside by Old Lady Cheng. "It's enough to have the adults here. You've been busy all day. Go over there and play with them!" She pointed to where the children were gathered nearby. She didn't care that Mi Yang was now in college and still treated him like her own flesh and blood. In the eyes of the old lady, he was still a child no matter how old he was.
Mi Yang wanted to stay: "Grandma, I want to join you. I can wash the dishes or something."
The old lady refused and pushed him away.
Mi Yang went to the group of children, and the five children there all raised their heads and shouted "cousin", and Mi Xue followed suit. Mi Yang was amused by the little girl, pinched her little face and smiled: "Why are you shouting, I am your real brother."
The little girl giggled. Her pockets were filled with candies. She didn't know whether it was filled by Old Lady Cheng or some aunt. She felt like a little hamster.
The children of several aunts' families are younger than him, so Mi Yang took out a flying chess set and played with them. There were many snacks on the table, but no one was in a hurry to call for dinner this time. The girls in the family were concentrating on watching the Spring Festival Gala, and they were particularly happy to see their favorite stars.
Mi Yang was also watching the Spring Festival Gala.
Uncle Benshan was still in the Spring Festival Gala this year. His skit "Torchbearer" made the whole family laugh non-stop. Everyone was watching the Spring Festival Gala and talking about next year's Olympics.
Cheng Ru said, "If you ask me, we should make an appointment as a family to buy tickets and go watch it together. It would be great if we could cheer for the show in person!" She turned her head and said excitedly, "Mom, haven't you always said that you wanted to travel to Beijing? You haven't even seen the university that Yangyang attends!"
Mrs. Cheng was about to say that she didn't want to go because she was too old, but she changed her mind after hearing the second half of her sentence: "Well, it's good to go and take a look."
Mi Zehai immediately said, "Then I will be responsible for buying the tickets. I am short on time and may not be able to keep up with the group. Our family will send Qing'er and Xiaoxue as tour guides, and Yangyang as a local guide."
Cheng Ru said: "Then I'll take care of the accommodation!"
Cheng Chun was a step late, so he said, "Then let's wear the same uniform. I'll take care of the clothes."
Cheng Ge smiled and said, "It's good to have more sisters. I've been thinking for a long time, so let me have the meal. Don't fight with me for it!"
While they were talking, the dumplings were wrapped. While the big pot was cooking the dumplings, the small wok next to it was also busy. First, four plates of cold dishes were served, followed by a few stir-fried dishes. In the casserole there was chicken and duck soup that had been prepared in the afternoon. Lu Shi didn't like steamed fish, but he liked to get a big carp for the occasion during festivals. The one with a red tail was especially festive, so he made sweet and sour carp with it. It had a sweet and sour taste, and the children loved it the most.
As soon as the adults called out in the kitchen, the children would take turns cheering and going to serve the dishes. They were brought into the dining room one after another like flowing water: scallion-fried sea cucumber, four-happiness meatballs, a whole boneless roasted chicken, fried meatballs and crispy pork... The table was full of main dishes, with only two or three stir-fried vegetables in the corners. However, in the center was a lotus egg custard, which was specially prepared for the old lady and could be seen at a glance.
The men in the family opened the wine. The aroma of the top-quality Wuliangye filled the air as soon as it was opened. Mi Zehai also poured a small cup for Mi Yang and asked him to drink some with him.
Old lady Cheng and the other children drank mango juice together. It was New Year's Day, but the children were very sweet-mouthed and kept saying nice and auspicious words to the old lady, making her laugh uncontrollably.
The old man went to bed early at night. He was too old to endure the night, so I didn’t stay with them to celebrate the New Year.
The children had a rare chance to stay up late and no one wanted to go to bed. The elders also went back to rest one after another and told them to sleep next to the old lady before leaving and not to make any noise.
On New Year's Eve, families started setting off firecrackers and fireworks. Mi Yang gave his younger brothers and sisters some fairy wands and asked them to go out and play with them for a while. By midnight, the place was lively again.
Just after midnight, Mi Yang received a call from Bai Luochuan. Hearing the fireworks being set off over there and the people wishing each other a happy new year, Mi Yang smiled and said, "Grandpa Bai must be asleep. Please wish him a happy new year for me. I'll go over and wish him a happy new year tomorrow."
"No, he's with me, you talk to him." Bai Luochuan said as he handed the phone to Old Bai. He waited by the side and watched the old and the young chatting with each other with a smile. Seeing that they had been talking for a long time and had no intention of hanging up, he did not rush them. He put on a thick coat and went to the yard to set off two more strings of firecrackers for festive occasions.
When he came back, Bai Lao was talking to Mi Yang about tomorrow's arrangements. He smiled and said, "Okay, I've been bored these past two days. Come and keep me company. Bring your little monkeys with you. There's enough space here for them to play."
Bai Luochuan came in and took off his gloves, then asked, "Will Mi Yang come over tomorrow?"
Bai Lao returned the phone to him and said contentedly, "Come here, he said he would stay with me for a day. His family and relatives are all gathered together, so he doesn't have to run back and forth to pay New Year's greetings. It's quite convenient."
Bai Luochuan smiled and said, "We'll all get together. I'll let Xiaoguai wish you a happy new year tomorrow."
Bai Laoshao was thick-skinned, but Bai Luochuan didn't care. He felt particularly at ease when he was with the old man. Bai Laoshao had known about him and Mi Yang's affair a few years ago, but he still asked Bai Laoshao for a red envelope, "I gave mine, Xiaoguai should have one too, right?"
Bai Lao shushed him, stretched out his hand to drive him away and said with a smile: "Go quickly, I'll give one to each family!"
Luo Jiangjing and Bai Jingrong came over hand in hand, holding two red envelopes in their hands. Seeing the grandfather and grandson laughing and joking, Luo Jiangjing also laughed after hearing the last sentence: "What are you talking about? It's so lively, one for each family?"
Before Bai Luochuan opened his mouth, Old Bai said, "One red envelope for each family. Your Luochuan received it."
Luo Jiangjing said, "Since you gave it, we can't leave it behind. Luochuan gave it to you. This is from your parents." She handed over two red envelopes and pushed her husband. Bai Jingrong nodded and said, "Take it. You have done a good job this year and you have worked hard."
Bai Luochuan was in a good mood for the New Year, and took it with a smile and said, "Thank you, Mom and Dad."
Luo Jiangjing took out another one and handed it to him: "Here is another one. Give it to Xiaoguai for me tomorrow when you see him."
Bai Luochuan took it calmly, and Luo Jiangjing sat and chatted with him for a while. Eight out of ten sentences were about Mi Yang, and the mother and son were very relaxed. Bai Jingrong, who was standing next to him, took a closer look, probably a little strange, but seeing that his wife and old father were talking about other people's children as usual, he knew a lot about their studies and daily life. He just thought Mi Yang was particularly outstanding and didn't think much about it.
The author has something to say: This was yesterday, and I’ll add a little more for today.