At noon on the sixth day of the first lunar month, a series of firecrackers crackled at the door of Aiju's house.
Tudui heard the noise and immediately opened the door.
He saw Boss Gu (Gu Quanshi) standing in front of him and said with a smile: Happy New Year, Tudui!
Tudui then said: Happy New Year, Uncle Gu!
He let the door open and said, "Uncle Gu, please come to the inner room!" Please come to the back room!
Gu Quanshi replied: You come into the house too.
After a burst of thick smoke, Tudu could vaguely see two people walking over from the opposite side, one of whom was about the same age as himself.
Tudui wiped his eyes and asked: Uncle Gu, who are these two?
Gu Quanshi called out: This is my wife, and the one behind is my granddaughter, Xiaomei.
"Happy New Year to Uncle Gu! Happy New Year to Aunt Gu!" Qianqian and Shuishui just walked out.
Mrs. Gu (Aunt Gu) replied: OK, OK, OK, happy new year to everyone.
Gu Quanshi stepped into the room, put the gifts on the square table, and said: Your mother went to work in the Feng Mansion again, right?
"My mother is the maid of the third lady. She has to serve the third lady every day..." Tudui responded:
"Xiaomei, how about we go over there and play!" Qianqian pulled Xiaomei and whispered:
Xiaomei said nothing and hugged Gu Quanshi's feet tightly.
Gu Quanshi shouted: Xiaomei, go play with your aunt.
"Uncle Gu, Aunt Gu, come over and warm yourself by the fire. Aren't you cold standing aside?" Tudui came out from the back room with a pot of hot tea and shouted:
Mrs. Gu responded: "I'm going to warm myself by the fire later. It's my first time coming to your house and I want to look around."
Gu Quanshi held Xiaomei's hand and said: Xiaomei, sit on that stool.
Mound poured tea and muttered: Aunt Gu, you drink a bowl of hot tea - to keep out the cold.
Mrs. Gu took the tea and said: Thank you!
Tudui smiled at Mrs. Gu and said, "Uncle Gu, what about you!"
"Put it on the table, I'll drink it later." Gu Quanshi called:
"Uncle Gu, Aunt Gu, Xiaomei, please use it!" Qianqian came out with a plate of new year's goods and asked:
Gu Quanshi looked at the peanuts on the plate and replied: Let's eat together.
Tudui handed Xiaomei a bowl of tea and called: Xiaomei, drink tea.
Xiaomei leaned against Gu Quanshi, patted Gu Quanshi's back with one hand, and stared at the plate intently.
Gu Quanshi asked: Xiaomei, that’s what you want to eat (Gu Quanshi points to the rice cake), right?
Xiaomei nodded and muttered: Yes.
Tudui held the plate in front of Xiaomei and said: "Xiaomei, you can take whatever is on the plate as you please."
Gu smiled and said: Xiaomei, don't be afraid of strangers, these are your uncles and aunts.
Shuishui asked: Why does she call us uncle and aunt? We are about the same age.
Mrs. Gu continued: Because I am your aunt and she is my granddaughter.
"Qianqian, Tudui, Shuishui, are there guests at your house?" Uncle Ping stood outside the door and shouted:
Tudui opened the door and shouted: Uncle Ping, come in quickly.
Uncle Ping raised his feet and asked: Who is in your house?
"Brother, Happy New Year!" Gu Quanshi saw Uncle Ping walking in and said politely:
Pingbo glanced at it and replied: Happy New Year.
"Mound, who are they?" Ping Bo saw a few unfamiliar faces sitting in the room and asked:
Tudui took the rice bowl from Uncle Ping and said: This is Uncle Gu, this is Aunt Gu, and this is their granddaughter. They are friends my mother met on the street.
Ping Bo then said: Oh!
Gu Quanshi called out: Tudui, I heard you call him - Uncle Ping!
Uncle Ping interrupted: My name is Hong Jiaping, I work as a slave in Feng Mansion, and I work in Feng Mansion with my child's mother.
There were rice bowls placed on the dirt pile, and he called out: "Uncle Ping, please go back to Feng Mansion and tell my mother that there is a guest at home and ask her to come back quickly."
Ping Bo and Gu Quanshi thanked each other! He ran towards the outside of the house in large strides.
Tudui said: Uncle Gu, Aunt Gu, please sit down for a while, my mother will be back soon.
Gu Quanshi said: Tudui, Qianqian, Shuishui, you are not old, you are all very sensible and polite...
"Uncle Gu, Aunt Gu, you have been here for so long, and we haven't entertained you for dinner. None of us can cook..." Tudui interrupted:
"You don't know how to cook! I'll teach you." Mrs. Gu shouted:
Qianqian replied: This is not good!
Mrs. Gu responded: "There's nothing wrong with it!" You prepare some rice and I will teach you how to cook.
Tudu called: Sister-in-law, you take Aunt Gu to the kitchen, and I'll get some rice.
After a while, Mrs. Gu lit a fire and said, "Qianqian, pour some water into the pot. You have to clean the pot first."
Qianqian moved closer to the stove (because Aiju made a large stove, Qianqian stood at the same height as the stove).
Tudui moved a low stool over and placed it next to Qianqian's feet.
Gu smiled and said: Tudui is so smart.
Tudui shouted: Sister-in-law, I will bring the water, and you stand on the stool and pour water into the pot.
Qianqian then said: Yes.
"Wow" Qianqian poured a ladle of water into the pot.
"Pah!" Mrs. Gu turned the fire on.
"Qianqian, come down here and wait until you grow up before cooking." Aiju walked into the kitchen and said:
Mrs. Gu turned her head and called out: Aiju, you are back.
Aiju replied: Sister-in-law, happy New Year!
Mrs. Gu replied: Happy New Year!
Aiju saw Xiaomei standing next to her and said softly: Xiaomei, happy New Year! Have these uncles and aunts ever bullied you?
"Qianqian and the others are so sensible, how could they bully Xiaomei!" Mrs. Gu continued:
Xiaomei hid behind Gu's butt, her eyes constantly peeking at Aiju.
Mrs. Gu shouted: Xiaomei, please call me "old aunt".
Aiju responded: Xiaomei called "old aunt", Xiaomei and Qianqian went out to play.
Xiaomei hugged Gu and didn't move.
Qianqian coaxed: Xiaomei, let’s go out and play hide-and-seek.
Xiaomei muttered: I won’t go.
"Xiaomei, grandpa is sitting outside. You go out and play with grandpa." Gu said:
"Xiaomei, let's go." Qianqian grabbed Xiaomei and called:
Xiaomei struggled and said: Let me go.
"Xiaomei, let's go out to play. The kitchen is too narrow and we can't help here." Shuishui moved and said:
"Tudu, why don't you get out!" Aiju shouted:
Tudui said: Mom, I want to learn cooking from Aunt Gu.
Aiju said: "Get out of here, you are not sensible at all, you left Uncle Gu alone outside, you..."
"Hahaha~ I forgot about Uncle Gu." Tudui said with a silly smile:
Gu said: Aiju, children like cooking so much, you can make a small stove in front of the big stove.
Aiju continued: Yes, yes, yes, Sister-in-law Gu has a great idea.
"Tudu, what are you still doing here!" Aiju said:
"I just walk away, I don't want others to look at me, I don't want others to learn from me when I'm studying." Tudui stepped forward and read:
Aiju said: This stupid boy is so stupid, I don’t know what he will become when he grows up!
Mrs. Gu replied: Just a kid! It’s inevitably a little silly! The mound is not even 10 years old!
Aiju washed the stove and replied: Tudui is 9 years old this year. He grows up very fast, but he is not sensible and is always playful.
Mrs. Gu responded: Aiju, you don't have to be too hasty. Tudui is very sensible. When we came to your house today, he greeted us very well and politely. He was not shy at all, and he was not afraid of life.
Aiju said: It's true that Tudui is not afraid of life. Among the three brothers, Shuishui is the most afraid of life.
Mrs. Gu responded: Speaking of your son, I haven't seen your eldest son yet. Where has he gone now?
Aiju replied: I get very angry when I mention him. He left us and ran away from home for some reasons. He doesn’t want to think about this family, and he doesn’t want to think about Qianqian either. The girl who went out just now is——Qian Qian, Qianqian is my eldest daughter-in-law.
That stinky rock, he made us worry so much.
Gu advised: Don't worry, Aiju! Your eldest son will surely turn bad luck into good fortune.
Aiju thanked her: Thank you Sister-in-law Gu for your kind words!
Mrs. Gu said: Actually, I heard my husband talk about your eldest son, and I finally believe it! If your eldest son can venture outside, he must have a reason to do so.
Maybe he will be a general in the future.
Aiju argued: I don’t care what happens to him in the future, but right now our family is about to collapse.
Mrs. Gu replied: Aiju, you are a great person. You will definitely handle this matter regarding your eldest son...
"Sister-in-law Gu, why am I telling you this! Today is the sixth day of the Lunar New Year. I wish Sister-in-law Gu and her family health, happiness, peace and happiness." Aiju congratulated:
Mrs. Gu then said: Aiju also wants to be happy and joyful.
"Lila" Aiju poured some vegetables into the pot.
Mrs. Gu shouted: Aiju is really a good hand, she works so neatly.
Aiju stir-fried the salsa and shouted: Sister-in-law Gu, what are you talking about?
Gu poked her head and repeated: Aiju is really a good hand, she works so neatly.
Aiju smiled and said, "Sister-in-law Gu, thank you!" Aiju is a servant. Apart from doing some housework, Aiju is useless.
Mrs. Gu replied: Don't be humble if you love Ju! I also cook a lot, but I can't cook as well as you.
Aiju picked up the vegetables and said, "Sister-in-law Gu made me feel embarrassed."
Gu said: Aiju, I can’t tell the truth.
"Qianqian, come in and serve the food, let's eat!" Aiju shouted loudly:
Mrs. Gu called out: Aiju, please pass me the bowls and chopsticks, and I will hold them out.
Aiju responded: Sister-in-law Gu, I will take out the bowls and chopsticks in a moment.
"Aiju, I'm going out by the way, why are you so polite to me!" Gu said:
"Sister-in-law Gu, I'm sorry to trouble you." Aiju handed over the bowls and chopsticks.
"Mom, what dishes are we going to serve!" Tudui and Qianqian walked into the kitchen together.
Aiju responded: "Look at the bowls of vegetables on the stove and take them."
"You hold the vegetable bowl steady and don't knock it over." Aiju warned:
Mrs. Gu shouted: Tudui, Qianqian, you are holding the dishes and come with me!
"You guys go out quickly. When I lift the rice pot, the ashes on the rice pot fly everywhere." Aiju said:
As soon as Aiju's words came out, Qianqian and the others walked out one by one.
"Brother Gu, you've been waiting for a long time. Aiju has been cleaning up inside for a while." Aiju called:
Gu Quanshi replied: Aiju, where did you go with your words! Your hands and feet are so nimble! It took a while to prepare the meal. I hope you can cook it longer so that I can chat with Tudui and the others for a while.
Aiju then said: This guy Tudui, he didn't offend Brother Gu, right?
Gu Quanshi replied: No! They are very sensible, I like them very much.
"Xiaomei, come here, come and see "old aunt" quickly, and quickly wish "old aunt" New Year's greetings." Gu Quanshi shouted:
Xiaomei moved slowly, looking particularly shy.
"Xiaomei is good! Xiaomei is the most obedient." Aiju took out a red envelope from her arms and handed it to Xiaomei.
Gu Quanshi said: Aiju, we are brother and sister. I came to your house. There are so many children in your house, but I didn’t give any red envelopes. Please take it back quickly.
Aiju argued: Today is the occasion of the Chinese New Year, and everyone is celebrating. You are visiting my home, and I will give Xiaomei a red envelope - as it should be. I wish Xiaomei a happy and healthy growth.
Gu Quanshi replied: No way! useless!
Aiju called out: Brother Gu, let Xiaomei catch it quickly.
Gu said: "Xiaomei catch it, please thank "old aunt" quickly.
Xiaomei caught the red envelope and said softly: Thank you "old aunt"!
"Xiaomei, let me give my old aunt a hug." Aiju bent over and said with a smile:
Xiaomei grabbed the red envelope and ran straight to Gu.
"Xiaomei, why are you so shy! Just let my old aunt hug you." Mrs. Gu shouted:
Aiju stood up and shouted: Brother Gu, Sister-in-law Gu, Xiaomei, come around to eat. When the food is brought out, it will get cold easily.
Qianqian quickly helped everyone add food.
Gu Quanshi said: Xiaomei, let’s go eat.
Tudui quickly pushed the brazier under the table.
Mrs. Gu called out: Aiju, look, the children are so obedient and you are not satisfied yet. Your demands on them are too high.
Aiju smiled and said: Sister-in-law Gu, brother Gu, you serve the food. There are only a few dishes on the table. Which one do you like? You can do it yourself, Aiju’s home is a bit shabby...
"Aiju, I don't like hearing what you say. What do you mean - shabby? We are not from a wealthy family. The table you prepared is filled with tofu and meat, and with your cooking skills, it is simply a delicious table. Delicious food." Gu Quanshi replied:
"Aiju said it wrong, Aiju slaps her own mouth, slaps her mouth." Aiju slapped her face one after another.
Everyone laughed unevenly: Haha~
