Chapter 12

At the last market before the festival, Zhou Pingguo insisted on taking the children to buy clothes.

She held Zhou Jing’s hand, and Zhou Sen held Zhou Lei’s hand, all of them holding tightly, for fear of being separated by the crowd.

Zhou Sen, a miser, only wanted to buy clothes for his younger siblings. He reluctantly allowed Zhou Pingguo to buy new clothes for the New Year, but he himself had no intention of buying new clothes.

“Either buy them all, or buy none at all!” Zhou Pingguo said firmly.

Looking at his younger brothers and sisters who were eagerly waiting for new clothes, Zhou Sen was defeated and could only pick out a piece of clothing as well.

Everyone else’s clothes fit well, but Zhou Sen’s clothes were obviously much larger. It was obvious that he wanted to buy something bigger so that they could be worn for three years, three years after being new, and another three years after being mended.

As long as he is willing to buy it, it’s fine. As for how it looks, Zhou Pingguo is too lazy to correct it. After returning home, she plans to wash the clothes, use needle and thread to modify them, sew up the excess parts first, and then wait for Zhou Sen to grow taller, and then loosen them up little by little. Otherwise, the pants will drag on the ground, how can he wear them when he goes out?

During the Chinese New Year, people always replace old charms with new ones. Zhou Pingguo also bought New Year pictures, and under Zhou Sen’s gaze, which was staring at her with eyes that were about to pop out of their sockets, he also bought firecrackers for the two children.

“It’s been a while since our family has had a lively time. What’s wrong with letting Jingjing and Leilei play for a while? That’s how we can have the atmosphere of the New Year.”

“But let’s make it clear in advance, Zhou Lei, you can’t use firecrackers to blow up other people’s vegetable fields. If you use firecrackers to blow up other people’s chickens, ducks, dogs, pigs, etc., if I find out, I will definitely beat you with a broom.” Some children in the village did not know the seriousness of the matter and played with firecrackers recklessly. Zhou Pingguo had to scold Zhou Lei first.

“Yes!” Zhou Sen nodded. When he was a child, his family was relatively well off and they had lots of firecrackers to play with every New Year. He also did bad things like this. When his father found out, he took off his thick cotton pants and hit his butt with a clothes hanger until it bruised.

I learned my lesson the first time, and from then on I only dared to set off firecrackers in open places.

“I know.” Zhou Lei took the firecrackers, eager to try.

Doesn’t Zhou Sen understand his younger brother yet?

I quickly added, “If you want to play, ask me to join you. I will play with you. You are not allowed to play when I’m not around.”

“Okay.” Although Zhou Lei didn’t like the fact that there were so many restrictions on playing with firecrackers, he was very clear about who had the final say at home. He didn’t dare to offend his second brother, so he could only nod obediently.

Zhou Pingguo also bought some red paper to take home. The original owner was a clever little girl who could cut paper, although it was only some simple patterns. But cutting them out and pasting them in various places at home can also add a lot of New Year flavor.

On New Year’s Eve, after having a reunion dinner, the four of them sat around the table and listened to the radio broadcast of the Spring Festival Gala. In fact, the family used to have a TV, a small black and white TV, but when Zhou’s father and mother had an accident, Zhou Xin couldn’t get back in time and needed medical expenses. Zhou Erni decided to sell the TV to someone in the same village.

You can watch the big color TV next door through the small window in the kitchen, but it’s not necessary. It’s also good to listen to the sound on the radio.

Children sleep for a long time, so they couldn’t hold out for long. Zhou Jing and Zhou Lei began to doze off. Zhou Pingguo carried Zhou Jing into the room, then came out and said to Zhou Sen, “When the villagers start setting off firecrackers, you should go out and set them off too. I won’t get up.”

The mourning period for Zhou Erni was 49 days, which had already passed. According to the custom in the village, firecrackers must be set off this year. So when Zhou Jing and Zhou Lei bought firecrackers, Zhou Pingguo also bought a large circle of firecrackers.

The traditional concept in the village is that only men can set off this kind of firecrackers. Although Zhou Pingguo scoffed at it, she did not want to challenge this rural social rule. After all, she would have to move to the city in the future. What was the point of protesting?

Social development is a process. Calling it feudal dregs in the 1980s is as ridiculous as wanting to play with smartphones now.

The next morning, Zhou Pingguo kissed the little girl on the forehead and said, “Jingjing, look under the pillow, what’s that?”

The little girl got up dazedly and lifted up the pillow, “It’s a red envelope!”

“Open it and take a look. This is your own money. You can keep it or spend it.” Zhou Pingguo said.

“Thank you, sister-in-law.” Zhou Jing hooked her arms around Zhou Pingguo’s neck, acted coquettishly with her for a while, then got up and changed into new clothes.

Because they got up to set off firecrackers last night, Zhou Lei, the little pig, was already up, but Zhou Sen was still sleeping soundly. He didn’t wake up until lunchtime.

After waking up, he shyly rubbed against Zhou Pingguo and took out a red envelope from his pocket, “Here, this is for you.”

“Red envelope?” Zhou Pingguo was a little surprised. To be honest, she had never received a red envelope before. No matter whether it was Zhou Ping or Zhou Pingguo. Because they were both daughters of a poor family, they were the most easily ignored. Zhou Pingguo was lucky. When Zhou’s mother had a difficult birth and passed away after giving birth to twins, Zhou Erni asked her to come and take care of the children. Every year during the Chinese New Year, she would give her a red envelope.

Zhou Ping, on the other hand, was not married, and did not make a big fuss when she bought a house and moved into a new home, so she had no chance to receive red envelopes at all. She was just a big loser who had to pay out red envelopes.

This red envelope came from a junior, but Zhou Pingguo still said without hesitation, “Thank you, the boy is quite sensible.”

After saying that, he wanted to touch Zhou Sen’s hair again, but Zhou Sen dodged him immediately, “I’ve grown taller again, stop touching my hair all the time!”

“Okay, okay, okay.” Zhou Pingguo nodded with a smile.

This brat doesn’t let her touch him, so why doesn’t she touch Zhou Lei?

A few days ago, Zhou Pingguo shaved their heads with a razor. It was cold in winter, and she was afraid that their heads would freeze, so she left some hair. Otherwise, according to Zhou Pingguo, shaving their heads bald would be the most convenient.

Zhou Lei has a chubby head. After shaving his hair, it is very interesting to see his head in a bun. Whenever Zhou Pingguo passes by this boy, she will touch his head. Unlike Zhou Sen who is very repulsive, Lei Lei is still happy to let Zhou Pingguo touch his head. After all, he is the child raised by the original owner since he was a child, so he must be different.

Last time I went to deliver Chinese chives, I agreed with Manager Tao to do it again on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, because that day is to welcome the God of Wealth, and after that, everyone will start to go out to eat one after another.

This time, a total of 60 kilograms of fruit were shipped over. The price has dropped a bit, only 4.2 yuan per kilogram, but Zhou Pingguo is very satisfied. It’s not a big place, but this winter vacation, I have already earned nearly 1,000 yuan. Villagers may not be able to earn this much money after working on the farm for a year.