Little Zhuangzhuang, having finished pasting the Fu character in his hand, excitedly ran over, “Daddy, little uncle even wrote characters for me? What do these characters read? Does it mean I’m cute and smart?”
Lin Chuxia handed Qin Yang a horizontal scroll and glanced over there while she had the chance, her lips involuntarily twitching.
Fat pigs fill the pen!
Big brother really has a unique expectation.
After the lively and bustling New Year’s Eve dinner, brothers Qin Han and Qin Yang took the whole family out into the courtyard to set off firecrackers.
At this time, there weren’t that many types of fireworks, and in such small places like theirs, they had never even seen fireworks, but that didn’t affect people’s enthusiasm for the New Year.
The crackling sound of firecrackers, accompanied by the adults’ laughter and the children’s shouting, intertwined into the most wonderful notes of the human world…
Dumplings are made on the first day of the Lunar New Year.
The Qin Family prepared two types of fillings: one with cabbage and pork and the other with lamb and large green onions, both with more meat than vegetables.
As Mrs. Qin wrapped dumplings, she lamented, “Life really gets better year after year. If we turn back time five years, we wouldn’t dare to eat as much as we want even with plain-flour dumplings on the first day, but now we can eat dumplings with meat fillings.”
Zhang Guilan, while rolling out the dough, laughed and asked, “Mom, isn’t it said that the filling for the dumplings on the first day shouldn’t change? It’s also said that eating meat would lead to having a troublemaker in the family. Aren’t you afraid anymore?”
The mother-in-law truly believes in these things, and this year, she took the initiative to eat dumplings with meat filling, which surprised Zhang Guilan.
“What troublemaker or not, those were excuses people found when they couldn’t afford to eat meat in the hard times. Our family won’t have a troublemaker.”
Mrs. Qin affirmed, then added.
“It’s said that adding or losing family members can change, and this year, our Xiaxia came. We added a person; a little change won’t hurt.”
Zhang Guilan looked at Lin Chuxia, she had overestimated the mother-in-law; apparently, there were such considerations.
After eating the warm dumplings, couples Qin Han and Zhang Guilan, along with Qin Yang and Lin Chuxia, went out to pay New Year’s visits.
This was a local tradition, and for Lin Chuxia, it was her first year going to pay New Year’s visits as part of the Qin Family, Qin Yang’s face was full of pride.
The Qin Family was a large clan, and in previous years, they would first rush to Uncle Qin’s house to gather.
On the way, Lin Chuxia asked about Qin Yang’s relationship with his brothers, especially with the couple Qin Wen and Ma Suyun.
Qin Yang furrowed his brows and thought about it; it seemed he got along well with his brothers, and he hadn’t had much contact with Qin Wen’s wife.
“What’s up? Did she do something?”
The daughter-in-law isn’t someone who makes a fuss about things. If Lin Chuxia brings up Ma Suyun now, it must mean the other side did something.
Seeing him like this, Lin Chuxia knew Qin Yang’s temperament and shook her head, “It’s nothing.”
She just felt like Ma Suyun seemed to be targeting her.
If Ma Suyun’s trip to the Bun Shop last time could be seen as a coincidence, then the words she said when they met again a few days ago in front of the third aunt’s house definitely seemed targeted.
Since Qin Yang didn’t know, Lin Chuxia also didn’t want to worry him with these words.
Lin Chuxia’s nature had always been to meet soldiers with generals and to cover water with earth, meaning if nobody stirred up trouble with her, all would be well; but if her bottom line was truly crossed, she definitely wouldn’t be kind-hearted and lenient.
Zhang Guilan, overhearing their conversation, interjected.
“How would these men understand such matters?”
She walked over to Lin Chuxia’s side and spoke in a lower voice.
“If you ask me, that couple is just jealous of the two of you. Qin Wen is about the same age as our second son, and they went to school the same year. Our second son was exceptional, skipped several grades, and later got into college. Although Qin Wen is not as good as our second son, after graduating from high school, he also managed to get a job at a hardware company. And since the second son rarely comes home due to work, whenever relatives and friends gather…”
She gave Lin Chuxia a knowing look, but did not explain.
Lin Chuxia understood as well. With Qin Yang not at home, everyone would naturally praise Qin Wen, who was present and seemed to have a promising future.
“Our second son has never compared himself with him, but I always feel that couple has always been in a rivalry with us. Before, when the second son was not married, every time we all sat together, you could hear them saying ambiguous and snide remarks. Now that the second son is married, and you are so capable, I bet that couple is green with envy.”
As they arrived at Uncle Qin’s door, Qin Han warned, “It’s the New Year, why talk about all this?”
Zhang Guilan reassured Lin Chuxia with a pat on the arm, “You don’t need to worry, even if they are envious, they can’t do much about it.”
Lin Chuxia nodded her head.
Uncle Qin lived in the same yard as Qin Liang, the eldest son of the Qin Family. The group went straight into Uncle Qin’s house and first offered their New Year’s greetings to Uncle Qin and his wife.
Here, there was no need to kneel for New Year’s greetings; just saying a few auspicious phrases was enough.
Uncle Qin’s wife took out some peanuts and melon seeds to welcome everyone to sit down.
Aside from Uncle Qin and his wife, Qin Liang’s family was already in the house, as well as Qin Wen and his wife Qin Wu, with Qin Jiang’s couple yet to arrive.
Everyone was not in a hurry, chatting and waiting at the same time.
After all, celebrating New Year’s is just about sitting together, talking, and having a lively time, no matter where it is.
When Qin Jianjun saw Qin Yang come in, he crowded around his uncle, asking him all sorts of questions.
He has always admired his uncle. Last month, when their unit was featured in the newspaper, Qin Jianjun had seen it.
When he brought it up, the others in the room looked over as well.
Qin Yang casually nodded, “Yes, it was our project team.”
“Uncle, as far as I remember, you are the leader of your project team. Doesn’t that mean what was designed was by you?”
Qin Jianjun clenched his fist in excitement.
Qin Yang nodded again.
“Yeah, I just knew it, uncle, you’re really awesome.”
Qin Liang’s focus was different though; he looked at his arm. “That’s how you got injured, wasn’t it? How’s the recovery now?”
His injury was known to all his brothers, who had also visited him at the Qin Family home.
Qin Yang immediately moved his arm a little and smiled, “It’s completely healed.”
Qin Liang’s wife, Qian Chuncao, also sighed, “Oh my, you should take good care of yourself from now on. That arm of yours is not like anyone else’s. All the knowledge from a university education depends on that arm for writing and drawing.”
“Thank you, sister-in-law, I got it.”
As a rural native, Qian Chuncao felt a little embarrassed about Qin Yang’s formally polite thanks.
She immediately waved her hand, “What are you thanking me for? If anyone should be saying thanks, it should be me thanking your wife. Lihua has been working at your wife’s place, earning a salary without having to be exposed to wind and sun. She’s even gotten fairer. Last year, the matchmakers were so diligent, eager to find Lihua a match.”
In the countryside, marriage is a big affair. Lihua was just 19 that year, the right age for matchmakers to get busy.
Zhou Hongmei immediately inquired, “Is there a suitable one?”
Suyun didn’t hide anything, as it was all family. “I’ve heard there are one or two good prospects. I’m thinking of arranging a meeting for the kids after the New Year. Lihua isn’t very willing, though; the candidates are farmers too. We are farmers ourselves, so what’s wrong with