Chapter 92.1

Whatever the era, the happiest people during Chinese New Year are the children. It’s rare to have snacks and meat to eat, and they can also play with firecrackers to their hearts’ content.

When all the children at home gather together, it becomes even more lively. Everyone contributes their favorite toys. Fantuan and Zhuzi put their toys together. They brought various chess pieces and drawings.

Xiao Doubao’s small backpack contained his treasures, but his treasures were only suitable for his age group.

His Dad said that two-year-old Xiao Doubao had grown up, so he made him various complex puzzles. Some he couldn’t solve, so he had to ask his older brothers for help. Xiao Bao and Da Bao have the most toys, including various slingshots and shuttlecocks.

Xiao Fantuan distributed his drawings, and they kept them to play with.

Li Yufeng plucked the feathers of a big rooster and made them into a batch of shuttlecocks. After finishing pasting the Spring Festival couplets, the five little boys gathered together to play games, and the courtyard was filled with their laughter and joy.

Han Cheng’s absence was a bit long, so Su Xiaoxiao asked where he had gone. Han Cheng thought for a moment and felt that honesty was the most important thing between husband and wife. He took her back to the room and told Su Xiaoxiao about the matter of bringing Yang Mei’s parents here separately.

Su Xiaoxiao widened her eyes in disbelief and said, “I asked my mother why she suddenly decided to use this yard that had been abandoned for so long. My mother said it was for a knowledgeable person from the city. I never thought it was Yang Mei’s family. How could there be such a coincidence in this world?”

Han Cheng held Su Xiaoxiao and kissed her forehead. “It’s good that we knew about it beforehand. You don’t need to tell your parents and don’t mention it to others, so it doesn’t complicate a simple matter. Let them continue to interact as they did before. They might return to the city soon, and it will be difficult for them to have much contact in the future. They think Xiao Bao is good, so they want to teach him. Will you feel uncomfortable with that?”

Su Xiaoxiao shook her head and said, “Why would I? Having a university professor teach Xiao Bao is a great opportunity for him. We couldn’t ask for more.”

Indeed, in just two years, many intellectuals would be able to remove their hats and return to the city. Especially since they did nothing wrong, the time to return to the city will only be sooner.

Han Cheng shook his head and said, “No, Xiaoxiao, I’m not asking about them, teaching Xiao Bao. I’m talking about Yang Mei’s family living so close to our parents. Does it make you uncomfortable?”

Su Xiaoxiao was a bit speechless. She wasn’t a saint, but she genuinely didn’t feel uncomfortable. If Yang Mei’s family were troublemakers like Yang Tong’s family, she would be annoyed, but if that were the case, her parents would have already expelled them from the production team. Why would her parents treat them so well? Her mother often said that their family is composed of scholars who are all well-educated, polite, and kept to themselves.

They wouldn’t cause any trouble, and she didn’t see any reason not to accept a struggling neighbor. If Han Cheng is so cold-hearted that he cut ties with Yang Mei’s family once she left, then she would be concerned.

She knew how Han Cheng treated her. She was not unaware of how he spoiled and indulged her. He is always gentle when talking to her, especially after she gets pregnant. He took care of all the household chores when he came back from work, and she rarely had to enter the kitchen.

Buying her a watch and a coat with his bonus were all small matters. All the household income was under her control, and he never interfered with what she wanted to buy or eat.

He even added to her family’s gifts instead of reducing them. Her whole family liked Han Cheng very much.

In her mother’s words, she gained a son after her daughter married Han Cheng.

Su Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but admit that she married the right person.

Su Xiaoxiao hugged Han Cheng and rubbed her head against his chest. “Han Cheng, if I’m uncomfortable, I’ll tell you. I’ve been living a very comfortable life since I married you. Now, I’m just looking forward to our baby coming out. After that, I can eat whatever I want.”

Han Cheng hugged his wife, let her sit on his lap, and kissed her cheek. “Just thinking about food?”

Su Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but smile knowingly as she reminisced about the past and said, “I married you for meat, remember? Haven’t you forgotten?”

Han Cheng also smiled and said, “I haven’t forgotten. Just like what I said, with me here, you can have meat and regular meals, and you’ll never go hungry.”

The couple rubbed their noses together and smiled at each other.

……………..

The Su family had never experienced such a large gathering for a New Year’s Eve dinner. Su Weimin took the initiative and didn’t drink the homemade sorghum wine but opened the bottle that Han Cheng had brought to celebrate.

The New Year’s Eve dinner at the Su family’s house can’t be compared to the various delicacies on the 21st-century dining table, but in the Su Village, having meat for the New Year’s Eve dinner is already a great meal.

Various dried bamboo shoots, dried mushrooms, dried fungus, and squid brought back by Su Xiaoxiao are placed in a large earthenware pot, and on top of them, marinated chicken is added. Enough water is poured into the pot, and it is slowly simmered on a charcoal stove. The side ingredients below gradually absorb the aroma of the chicken, and the longer it simmers, the more delicious it becomes.

This eating method is similar to the simple version of potted vegetables from the 2nd Shiyi century. When the weather is cold, the whole family gathers together to eat such a pot. The more they eat, the better they taste, and the warmer they eat.

This way of eating is similar to a simplified version of a “hot pot” from the 21st century. When the weather is cold, the whole family gathers to eat from this pot, and the more they eat, the better it tastes and the warmer they feel.

Su Weimin took the lead in raising his bowl and sighed. “This is a good year. We have a good rice harvest and a good fish pond harvest, and the pigs raised by the commune are particularly fat. Everyone has received a good share of fish and meat. Our production team is the only one in the commune where every household can have a bite of meat for the New Year. Our family will soon have two more members. I won’t say anything more, but let’s wish for a better year ahead!”

The children also picked up their bowls and spoke in unison. “A better year ahead!”

Su Xiaoxiao picked up her bowl with a twinkle in her eye and said, “Dad, you’ve been the team leader for a long time, and you speak so eloquently. I wish our whole family good health and success in everything.”

The clever Xiao Fantuan had just finished pasting the Spring Festival couplets and remembered the words on them. He immediately said, “May there be an abundant harvest of grains, and may the new year bring great luck!”

Xiaobao also said, “Congratulations on the New Year, and may we have more blessings every year!”

The children took turns saying auspicious words, and even Xiao Doubao, who couldn’t read, said, “Great luck~~~”

The elongated tone at the end of Xiao Doubao’s words was adorable, and all the adults in the family laughed heartily.

Su Weimin said repeatedly, “Alright, alright, everything is good. Let’s eat.”

The children cheered, “Let’s eat!”