GBP Chapter 424 It's the New Year, we should be happy!
Chapter 424 It's the New Year, we should be happy!
After Xiaohua wished Wang Ergou a Happy New Year and received a red envelope, Li Xiangyang got up and went with him to his older sister's house.
Pushing open the courtyard gate, I saw that the courtyard was kept very clean.
"Big sister, Xiaolan, Happy New Year!" Li Xiangyang shouted.
The curtain was lifted, and Li Guihua came out of the house with Xiao Lan, her face beaming with delight: "Xiangyang, Ergou, you're here! Come in and sit down."
Xiao Lan ran over happily when she saw Li Xiangyang and Wang Ergou: "Uncle, Uncle Ergou! Happy New Year!"
Li Xiangyang squatted down and patted Xiaolan's head: "Happy New Year, Xiaolan. It's so cold, why aren't you wearing more clothes?"
Xiao Lan pouted, "It's warm inside, Uncle. Look, there's smoke coming out of the chimney." Pointing to the chimney emitting wisps of smoke, she said proudly, "I helped Mom start the fire."
Wang Ergou took out a red envelope from his pocket and handed it to Xiaolan: "Xiaolan, Happy New Year! This is your lucky money from your uncle."
Xiao Lan took the red envelope, holding it with both hands, her eyes wide open: "Thank you, Uncle Er Gou!" Then she turned to look at Li Xiangyang, her eyes full of expectation.
Li Xiangyang smiled and took out the red envelope he had prepared from his pocket, deliberately teasing Xiaolan: "Guess what your uncle brought you?"
Xiao Lan stood on tiptoe, craning her neck to look at Li Xiangyang's hand: "Is it New Year's money?"
"Smart!" Li Xiangyang handed the red envelope to Xiaolan. "Happy New Year, Xiaolan."
Xiao Lan accepted the red envelope, jumping for joy: "Thank you, Uncle!"
Li Guihua smiled and shook her head: "Xiao Lan, don't be so rude, quickly put the red envelope away."
The group entered the house, which was clean and tidy, and the heated kang (a traditional Chinese bed-stove) was warm and cozy.
Newly cut paper-cut window decorations are pasted on the wall, and several plates of homemade snacks are placed on the table.
"Happy New Year, elder sister!" Li Xiangyang took a bundle from his pocket and handed it to Li Guihua. "These are some gifts that Xiaoyun and I prepared, as well as some well wishes from Mother and Xiaohua."
Li Guihua took the bundle, a grateful look on her face: "You're too kind. Xiaolan and I have already troubled you a lot by staying here."
Wang Ergou also handed the gift he had brought to Li Guihua: "Sister, this is a small token of our appreciation from Hongxia and me."
Li Guihua warmly invited the two to sit down and poured them hot tea: "Here, have some hot tea to warm yourselves up."
Looking at everything inside the room, Li Xiangyang felt gratified.
Although the conditions were simple, you could see the eldest sister's thoughtfulness in every aspect.
He knew what divorce meant for a rural woman, but now, at least his older sister and Xiaolan had a place to shelter from the wind and rain, and no longer had to suffer the scorn of the Yan family.
"Big sister, have you been settling in well these past few days?" Li Xiangyang asked softly.
Li Guihua smiled and nodded, "Of course I'm used to it. I grew up here, I know everything about this place. Come on, it's the New Year, have some candy and sunflower seeds, eat more."
The group ate and chatted, filling the room with laughter.
Looking at the smile on his older sister's face, Li Xiangyang felt secretly gratified.
Looking at the setting sun outside the window, Li Xiangyang stood up. "It's getting late, we should go back. Big sister, if you and Xiaolan need anything, just let us know."
Li Guihua saw the two to the door and thanked them repeatedly.
……
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, according to custom, married daughters return to their parents' home.
Although Li Xiaoyun could not return to the city, Li Xiangyang decided to take her to the educated youth settlement in the village.
Early in the morning, Li Xiangyang got up to prepare. He specially killed a chicken, cooked several of his signature dishes, and prepared some gifts to take to the educated youth settlement so that he could have a reunion dinner with everyone.
"Xiangyang, why are you so diligent today?" Li Xiaoyun rubbed her eyes as she came out of the house and saw that Li Xiangyang had been busy all morning.
Li Xiangyang smiled and said, "Today is the second day of the Lunar New Year. Logically, you should go back to your parents' home. Although your parents' home is in the city, and it's inconvenient for you to go back now, the educated youth settlement is like your second home. We can spend the second day of the Lunar New Year there."
Li Xiaoyun looked at Li Xiangyang with emotion: "You're so kind."
As soon as Li Xiangyang and Li Xiaoyun arrived at the entrance of the educated youth settlement, they heard laughter coming from inside.
"Xiaoyun, you're here!" Zhang Li was the first to see them and quickly came to greet them. "Oh dear, with that belly of yours, it must be so hard for you to walk. Come in and sit down."
Li Xiaoyun walked into the house with a smile: "Zhang Li, Happy New Year!"
The educated youth in the room all gathered around, greeting Li Xiaoyun and asking about her health.
Li Xiangyang placed the gifts he brought on the table, which drew cheers from everyone.
"That's wonderful! Li Xiangyang, you're so thoughtful!" Wang Xiulan said happily. "We were just worried about not having anything good to eat!"
Zhang Li poured tea for Li Xiangyang and Li Xiaoyun: "Here, have some hot tea to warm yourselves up."
Everyone sat together, chatting about their New Year's plans and future aspirations. The atmosphere was harmonious and warm.
"Oh, right, I have some good news to tell you," Zhang Li suddenly said, her face beaming with undisguised joy. "I received the notification that I can go back to the city!"
"Really? That's wonderful!" Li Xiaoyun exclaimed excitedly, grasping Zhang Li's hand. "Congratulations, Zhang Li!"
Zhang Li nodded, tears welling in her eyes. "Thank you. But I'm really going to miss leaving here. Especially you all."
"And I'm going back to the city too," Ma Xiuying said, standing up a little embarrassed. "My dad used his connections to get me a job at a textile factory."
The room suddenly fell silent as everyone drifted into their own thoughts.
For the educated youth, returning to the city was their dream, but when the time came to leave, they were filled with reluctance.
“We’ll come back to see you often,” Zhang Li broke the silence, looking at Li Xiaoyun, “especially to see your little baby.”
Li Xiaoyun's eyes were a little red, but she still managed a smile: "Yes, you must come back often."
Li Xiangyang knew his wife was reluctant to part with him, so he gently held her hand.
"Alright, stop being sad. It's the New Year, we should be happy!" Li Dabao stood up, raised his teacup, and said, "Come on, let's wish our friendship lasts forever!"
Everyone raised their teacups and offered each other blessings. The room was once again filled with laughter and joy.
It was already dark when they left the educated youth settlement. Li Xiangyang helped Li Xiaoyun walk slowly home.
"How are you? Are you tired?" Li Xiangyang asked with concern.
Li Xiaoyun shook her head: "I'm not tired, I'm just a little reluctant to leave them."
Li Xiangyang understood his wife's feelings: "It's okay, after they go back to the city, we can go see them, and they will come back to see us too."
Li Xiaoyun nodded and leaned on Li Xiangyang's shoulder: "Mmm."
When Li returned home, her mother and Li Xiaohua had already prepared dinner.
After dinner, the family prepared to go to the east end of the village to watch the fireworks.
Many villagers have already gathered at the east end of the village, all eagerly anticipating the fireworks display.
Li Xiangyang found a sheltered spot and had Li Xiaoyun sit down. Then he and Wang Ergou went to help start the fire.
"Bang!" With a loud bang, a beautiful flower bloomed in the night sky, illuminating the entire village.