The family in their hometown in northern Jiangsu Province is preparing for the New Year's Eve dinner. Qu Lianjie is sitting on a small chair and helping to peel garlic. His father, Qu Datou, is making his signature yellow dog and pig head meat. His mother, Zheng Fen, is mixing cold dishes. There is also braised pork in the pot. Ribs.
Grandma Qu originally wanted to help, but was rejected by everyone. She could only sit on a chair at the door of the kitchen and look at the busy children and grandchildren. She always had a faint smile on her face, obviously enjoying this kind of family happiness.
After Qu Lianjie finished peeling the garlic, he wanted to be lazy and put the peeled garlic on the table. Then he walked to Grandma Qu and said with a smile:
"Grandma, don't sit here anymore, this smoke is choking you. I'll accompany you to the living room to watch the Spring Festival Gala!"
Grandma Qu was so old, of course she could see what her grandson meant. She stretched out her hand and hit him gently, pretending to be displeased and said:
"You kid, you know how to be lazy, and you still use my old lady as an excuse!"
Qu Datou was cutting the pig head meat. Hearing the conversation here, he also echoed:
"Lian Jie is right, the kitchen fumes are too choking. If your lungs are not good, you should go sit in the living room!"
"Yes, Mom, it's too stressful for us to sit here and supervise the work~" Zheng Fen also made a rare joke.
"Grandma, let me help you up~" Qu Lianjie held Grandma Qu's arm.
The old lady was also a person who listened to advice. She stood up with the help of her grandson and sighed as she walked:
"Oh, I'm really old. After sitting for such a long time, my legs are actually numb. I think back when the production team was building the reservoir, your grandma and I were no worse at work than your grandpa and other men when we were young~"
The living room is also relatively close to the kitchen. As soon as I finished speaking, I walked there. The old lady sat on the sofa and continued talking to her grandson about the previous topic:
"I'm an old man now. I used to cook our New Year's Eve dinner. When I was little, I loved to eat the Xin Yuan mutton that I made. Every time during the Chinese New Year, I would fill up my belly!"
Qu Lianjie sat at grandma's feet, and while pressing the old man's legs, he suggested:
"Grandma, why don't you and my mother go back with us before we go back this time? Just stay at my place and let your grandson be filial and filial to you~"
When Grandma Qu heard this, she shook her head and refused without even thinking about it:
"I won't go there to join in the fun. There are so many people who don't know anyone. How can I feel comfortable in my hometown? I'll be hungry as soon as I walk by. I can eat at any house I enter!"
Qu Lianjie knew that what his grandma said was not an exaggeration at all. Most of the villagers in the village had received favors from the Qu family. Because they were all related to each other, they could not write two characters for "qu" in one sentence. As long as someone's family was in trouble, the old lady would Pay some money to help.
There is even a family in the village. The mainstay of the family died in a car accident outside. According to seniority, Qu Lianjie is still called uncle. The old lady still pays for the children's school fees.
Of course, she was also afraid of losing money and losing money. Grandma Qu said when she was sponsoring the money, the money was considered a loan and she would still have to pay it back after she started working as a child.
After Qu Lianjie recalled his grandmother's life in the village, he stopped persuading him. Instead, he turned to talk about the Spring Festival Gala on TV and commented with a smile:
"Grandma's magic trick of bringing fish every year is too fake. Isn't this making the audience look like fools?"
Grandma Qu nodded when she heard this, thinking of previous years' programs:
"Liu Qian's performance was still better a few years ago~"
As the grandfather and grandson chatted while watching the Spring Festival Gala, time passed slowly. The New Year's Eve dinner in the kitchen was also prepared. Everyone sat down. Qu Datou raised his glass and spoke first:
"Mom, I wish you a happy New Year, and may you have this day every year, and this day every year!"
"Okay~" The wrinkles on Grandma Qu's smiling face seemed to fade a bit.
After everyone toasted, Qu Lianjie picked up Maotai and filled up his father's wine glass, and even planned to pour some for his grandma and mother.
Zheng Fen didn't refuse when she saw this, and said with a smile:
"You kid, drink less. Mom can't drink much~"
Grandma Qu interjected with a smile:
"Today is Chinese New Year, it's okay to drink more. Grandson, please pour more for grandma!"
"Okay grandma~" Qu Lianjie said and poured half a cup for the old lady.
After returning to his seat, Qu Lianjie did not sit down. He picked up his wine glass and blessed his family:
"Grandma, Dad, Mom, I wish all the elders a happy New Year, good health and all the best in the new year!"
…
Early the next morning, Qu Lianjie slept late because he stayed up late last night, so he stayed in bed and slept deeply under the quilt.
Zheng Fen opened the door and walked in with her son's clothes in her hand, opened the thick curtains in the room, then walked to the bed and patted her son's arm, and said softly:
"Lianjie, get up quickly. After breakfast later, we have to go to your Uncle Dajiang's house to pay New Year's greetings to your Fifth Grandfather~"
Qu Lianjie likes to ride on the quilt when sleeping. When he heard his mother calling him to bed without opening his eyes, he subconsciously replied:
"Mom, let me sleep for five more minutes, I'm really sleepy~"
Zheng Fen smiled when she saw this, because hearing these familiar words reminded her of when her son went to school in his hometown when he was a child.
Then he used a little force on his hand, intending to let his son experience the familiar feeling again, and slapped his son's butt in pajamas heavily with his right hand:
"How old are you? You're still doing the same things you did when you were a kid? Get up quickly!"
"Tear, oh, please be gentle, Mom, can't I get up~" Qu Lianjie felt the long-lost "mother's love" and suddenly became energetic, and he sat up directly holding his buttocks.
Zheng Fen smiled when she saw this and threw the clothes she had washed before on the bed:
"Get dressed quickly and come over for breakfast!"
After dinner, the whole family, led by Grandma Qu, walked neatly towards Qu Dajiang's house at the head of the village as in previous years, because the fifth grandfather, the most senior member of the Qu family, lived in his house.
Qu Dajiang also knew this convention. He brought his son Qu Lianshun to greet him at the door early. After seeing Grandma Qu and others, he quickly stepped forward to say hello:
"Aunt Four, Brother Big, and Sister-in-law, wish you a happy New Year!"
Qu Lianshun, who was standing behind his father, also hurriedly paid New Year greetings to his elders:
"Fourth Grandma, Uncle Big Head..."
Qu Lianjie held many gifts for his elders in his hands and winked at his childhood playmates.
Grandpa Qu is the fourth among the brothers in the family, and Qu Dajiang's father is the seventh, so Qu Dajiang and his son call Grandma Qu the fourth aunt/grandma.
After saying hello, Qu Lianjie followed everyone into the yard of Qu Dajiang's family. Today was the Chinese New Year and their family was a big family. There were five generations and more than 30 people. Many children were running back and forth upstairs and downstairs, which made it look special. lively.
Qu Lianjie then followed his father to kowtow to the fifth master in the center of the living room to pay New Year greetings, and successfully received a red envelope.
Afterwards, he felt that listening to the elders chatting in the living room was not interesting. Qu Lianjie got up and walked outside just in time to see his childhood friend Qu Lianshun playing with his son.
Qu Lianjie smiled evilly, walked over nervously, and patted his shoulder behind him:
"Brother Shunzi~"
Qu Lianshun was startled, turned around and saw it was Qu Lianjie, and said with surprise:
"Lianjie, why did you come out?"
Qu Lianjie sat on the small bench beside him, teasing the fat boy, and replied:
"It's so boring in there. I can't get in the conversation with the elders. How old is this fat boy?"
"It's been six years since the Chinese New Year~" Qu Lianshun responded with a smile.
Then he gently patted his son’s butt:
"You kid is not called a human yet, how could I teach you before? This is your Uncle Lianjie~"
(End of chapter)
