On the morning of the eighth day of the first lunar month in 1935, a cold wind blew.
At the door of Aiju's house, a string of firecrackers sounded.
Tudui quickly ran over and opened the door.
"Happy New Year, mound."
Although, no one could be seen clearly on the mound.
Still replied: Happy New Year, Happy New Year.
After a burst of thick smoke.
Several people stood in front of the mound.
They chattered: Xiaomei, come and give your little uncle a happy New Year.
The mound stepped aside and said with a smile: Bow, bow, everyone bows.
He stretched out his left hand and said, "Uncle Gu, please!" Aunt Gu please! Xiaomei please! It's windy outside, please come inside and sit down!
Gu Quanshi responded: Tudui, you go in first.
Mrs. Gu grabbed Xiaomei's hand and called, "Xiaomei, come in."
Xiaomei walked forward slowly.
"Uncle Gu, Aunt Gu, Xiaomei, happy New Year! Happy New Year!" Shuishui said:
Gu Quanshi smiled and said: Happy New Year everyone!
Qianqian shouted: Uncle Gu, Aunt Gu, Xiaomei, come over and have tea.
Gu Quanshi walked to the table - took a sip of tea and sighed: The room is much warmer.
Shuishui stirred up the ashes in the fire basin and called out: "Uncle Gu, come around and warm yourself by the fire."
Mrs. Gu came to the brazier and praised: "Shui Shui is so sensible and knows!"
"Aunt Gu, I'm so sorry! I just did that!" Shuishui apologized:
Mrs. Gu then said: You performed very well just now.
Gu Quanshi warmed himself over the fire and said: Shuishui, we haven't seen each other in two years, and you have grown a lot taller.
Shuishui replied: Uncle Gu, please stop teasing me. Xiaomei is younger than me and she is as tall as me.
Gu Quanshi argued: Xiaomei is a girl, she grows up faster than you - it’s not surprising.
Gu agreed: "Shui Shui, you have indeed grown much taller in the past two years than before."
Shuishui said shyly: Really! I don't think so.
"Uncle Gu, Aunt Gu, Xiaomei, come here and get some dry ingredients to eat." Tudui came over with dry ingredients in his hands.
Gu Quanshi grabbed a handful of peanuts and said with a smile: This is what I like.
Qianqian said: Xiaomei, do you want peanuts?
Xiaomei kept shaking her head.
Gu whispered: Xiaomei, these uncles and aunts take the initiative to talk to you, why do you keep your mouth shut and ignore them?
They are not outsiders, they are all our relatives.
Qianqian called: Uncle Gu, Aunt Gu, you and Xiaomei sit here for a while, I'll go in and make some water and wine...
"Qianqian, wait a minute! I'll go in with you to make water and wine." Mrs. Gu shouted:
Qianqian responded: "Aunt Gu, just sit here with everyone. I can handle it alone."
Xiaomei murmured: Grandma, I want to go in and cook water and wine.
Qianqian took Xiaomei's hand and said with a smile: "Xiaomei, can you come in with me?"
Gu pushed Xiaomei to follow Qianqian.
As soon as I entered the kitchen.
Gu asked: Qianqian, Aiju has to go to work every day, are you used to staying at home alone?
Qianqian replied: It was a bit unaccustomed to me at the beginning. There was no one around me to talk to.
However, as time goes by, I don’t feel so bad anymore!
Instead, enjoy this rhythm and repeat the same things every day, sewing, eating, and sleeping every day.
Occasionally I stand up, shake my head, and walk back and forth...
"Qianqian, please bring out the water and wine." Gu reminded:
Qianqian replied: There is still water and wine in the cupboard.
Mrs. Gu squatted at the door of the stove, carefully lighting the fire.
Xiaomei said coquettishly: "Grandma, Xiaomei also wants to add fuel to the fire."
Gu moved her body and said with a smile: "Xiaomei, come over to grandma's place to add fuel to the fire."
Qianqian asked: Xiaomei, what grade are you in?
Xiaomei responded: I am in the second grade this year.
Qianqian said: Reading is really good. You can learn a lot of knowledge from reading and understand a lot of truths from reading.
Mrs. Gu saw Qianqian's envious expression and said: Qianqian, look at your happy face! You envy reading, right? Do you regret marrying into this family?
Qianqian said: Aunt Gu, you asked two questions at once, how do you want me to answer you? Let me tell you one by one. First, I envy people who study. I also want to study. Second, I don’t regret marrying into this family because the people in this family are very good to me. If I regret it, ! That is to blame myself for my thin life, and my parents...
"Qianqian, where have your parents gone?" Gu asked:
Qianqian smiled and said, "Where can I go? They are all in the sky."
Mrs. Gu apologized and said: I'm sorry! Sorry Qianqian! I don’t know your parents! I shouldn't have brought up your sadness by mentioning it.
Qianqian continued: Aunt Gu is worrying too much. Times have changed. I am no longer obsessed with this. Aunt Gu doesn't need to worry about it!
Mrs. Gu praised: Qianqian is so open-minded, you are so young!
Qianqian replied: What can we do if we are not open-minded!
I can't let myself hit that blind spot just for the sake of it.
After all, time is moving forward, and life must also look forward.
Mrs. Gu gave a thumbs up and praised: Qianqian, you are the one.
"Ah! Qianqian, all the water and wine in the pot are boiling." Mrs. Gu said stunnedly:
Qianqian walked to the counter, took a few pieces of brown sugar, and shouted: Xiaomei, that short bucket contains water. You go over and wash your hands. Let's go out to drink water and wine!
Gu called out: "Qianqian, take the bowl out and let me hold the water and wine."
"Okay! Aunt Gu put the wine on the basin. After you put the water and wine, remember to bring the spoon on the side." Qianqian walked out of the kitchen holding a stack of bowls and chopsticks.
Xiaomei shook off the water on her hands and followed Qianqian closely.
"Sister-in-law Qianqian, has the water and wine been cooked?" Shuishui saw Qianqian coming over and asked:
Qianqian put down the bowl and chopsticks and replied: "It's cooked. Aunt Gu will bring it out later."
Xiaomei leaned on Gu Quanshi and said: Grandpa, I want to sit with you.
Gu Quanshi hugged Xiaomei and sat on the stool, smiling and saying: Xiaomei will sit with grandpa.
Qianqian saw the scene in front of her and said silently: Why is my grandfather!
"Tudui, please move your hand." Mrs. Gu held the washbasin and shouted:
Qianqian picked up the spoon and shouted: Come on, come on, let me scoop the wine for everyone. On this occasion of the New Year, I wish everyone good health, peace, happiness, and happiness!
Gu Quanshi smiled and said: In the new year, everyone should be healthy, safe, happy and happy.
Gu said: Let's drink, drink.
Tudui took a sip of water and said, "Uncle Gu, do you want to drink liquor?" There is also liquor in the back room.
"I don't drink, I don't drink. If I drink white wine, I'll get drunk after just two sips." Gu Quanshi replied:
Mrs. Gu echoed: Tudui, you mentioned liquor and drinking liquor, he is not as good as me.
I can barely have a drink...
"Aunt Gu, you know how to drink liquor, I'll go inside and get it." Tudui called:
Gu smiled and said: "No need to bother!" No need to bother!
Shuishui went into the back room and came out with a bottle of liquor.
Gu Shi said: Shuishui, do you also drink liquor?
"Shui Shui doesn't know it, I don't know it, and neither do our brothers." Tudui grabbed the wine bottle and went to pour wine for Gu.
Mrs. Gu then said: Your mother knows how to drink liquor.
Shuishui responded: "My mother can't do it either."
Gu asked: "You don't know how to drink liquor, so why did you buy it?"
"Aunt Gu didn't know something! My father bought the liquor. My dad loved to drink liquor. He ended up passing out on this road. He was drunk all day long. He and my mother quarreled ten times, and nine of them were because of It, we brothers were afraid that our mother would be sad if she saw baijiu, so we voluntarily stayed away from baijiu." Tudui said:
Mrs. Gu suddenly said: "So that's what happened."
You guys take the wine back.
Tudui said: The wine is here, you can drink it if you want.
"If you put the liquor here and let your mother see it, she will be unhappy again." Mrs. Gu argued:
Tudui continued: My mother is fine even if she sees her. On the occasion of the Chinese New Year...
"Grandpa, I want rice cakes (a glutinous rice cake made into flowers) to be soaked in wine." Xiaomei shouted:
Tudui picked up the plate and said: Xiaomei, what do you like to eat? Take it yourself.
Gu Quanshi glanced at the mound and smiled slightly.
"Dong dong dong"
There was a plate on the dirt pile and he called out: "Uncle Ping has brought food."
"Tudui, please open the door quickly, it's cold standing outside!" Uncle Ping shouted:
Tudui pushed open the door and replied: "Uncle Ping, stop shouting!" I am coming.
Ping Bo took advantage of the situation and got into the house.
"Brother Ping, come here, come and have a bowl of water and wine with Brother Yu." Gu Quanshi shouted:
Uncle Ping looked forward and said with a smile: Brother Gu, Sister-in-law Gu, happy new year, happy new year.
Tudui took the job and walked quickly to the side.
Gu smiled and said: Happy New Year! Happy New Year!
Qianqian said: Uncle Ping, I just cooked some water and wine, please sit over and have a bowl of water and wine.
Uncle Ping gathered around the table, rubbed his hands together, and said with a smile: There is wine!
Mrs. Gu moved the stool and called: Uncle Ping, sit down quickly.
Tudui asked: Uncle Ping, do you drink white wine or water wine?
"I drink white wine." Uncle Ping's eyes sparkled as he looked at the white wine on the table.
Tudui took a wine glass and went to sift the white wine.
"Tudui, you'd better stop pouring liquor. Give me a bowl of water!" Uncle Ping chirped and said:
Qianqian took the bowl and helped Pingbo scoop out water and wine.
Gu Quanshi said: Brother Ping, you can drink liquor, why not!
"Brother Gu, you don't know! The Feng Mansion has regulations. No one in the Feng Mansion is allowed to smoke or drink." Uncle Ping said helplessly:
Gu Quanshi responded: "Don't smoke, don't drink." That's good.
But this stipulation is too harsh, who stipulates it!
Pingbo replied: Who else can it be? Besides the old lady, who else can!
Then again, it can't be blamed on the old lady, who is...
"Oops! I shouldn't talk too much. I shouldn't talk too much. If I talk too much, it's not good for each other." Ping Bo said blankly:
Tudui shouted: "Uncle Ping, you drink. After you drink, you hurry back to the house and call my mother back."
Uncle Ping raised the bowl and drank the water and wine in one breath.
Qianqian said: "Uncle Ping, please bring the bowl over, and I will help you scoop another bowl."
"Thank you Qianqian! I'm leaving." Uncle Ping stood up and walked out.
Mrs. Gu touched Xiaomei's head and called: Xiaomei, this is Uncle Ping. See you soon, Uncle Ping!
Uncle Ping smiled and said: "Xiaomei is so good!" You have to listen to your grandparents. Uncle Ping will play with Xiaomei next time.
"Goodbye, brother Gu! Goodbye, sister-in-law!" Uncle Ping said to the side:
Xiaomei muttered: Grandpa, I want some flowers.
Gu Quanshi whispered: "Qianqian wants rice cakes, you can get them yourself."
"Xiaomei, you still want some flowers, I'll get them." Tudui saw that there were not many flowers on the plate.
Shuishui asked: Xiaomei, you only eat rice cakes, don’t you eat candy?
Xiaomei responded: I eat sweets every day at home, I have some!
Shuishui was surprised and said: Ah!
"Xiaomei, here." Tudui held a pot of flowers and placed it in front of Xiaomei.
Qianqian stood up and shouted: Uncle Gu, Aunt Gu, please talk slowly while I go in to cook...
"Qianqian, we just put down the bowl, you want it!" Mrs. Gu shouted:
"Water and wine can only quench thirst, they cannot fill the stomach." Qianqian argued:
"Qianqian, Qianqian, open the door quickly, I'm back." Aiju stood outside the door and shouted:
Qianqian opened the door and called out: Mom, come in quickly.
Aiju stepped into the room and said with a smile: Brother Gu, Sister-in-law Gu, Xiaomei, happy New Year to you all! Happy New Year! I kept you waiting.
"Sister Aiju has met. Why have we waited so long? The reason why we can all get together is nothing more than fate. Seeing Tudui and them being so sensible, I feel very happy. Every time I walk into this Home, I feel an inexplicable sense of intimacy..." Gu Quanshi continued:
"Brother Gu, please wait patiently, I will make food for you to eat." Aiju interrupted:
Gu said: Aiju, I will go with you.
Aiju looked at Gu and said with a smile: Sister-in-law, let's go!
Qianqian shouted: Mom, I want to go too.
Xiaomei saw her grandma walking.
She caught up and called: Grandma, wait for me.
"Qianqian, you accompany Aunt Gu and the others into the kitchen. I'll get some rice over there." Aiju said:
Qianqian called: Aunt Gu, you and Xiaomei go ahead.
Mrs. Gu walked into the kitchen and said, "Qianqian, go to the door of the stove to light the fire. I'll wash the pot."
Qianqian walked towards the door of the stove and said: Aunt Gu, I'll trouble you.
"Silly boy, what do you mean - trouble!" Gu said with a smile:
Xiaomei squatted at the door of the stove and whispered: Auntie, can you let me add fuel to the fire?
"Of course, of course. If Xiaomei wants to add fuel to the fire, just do it." Qianqian moved to the side.
Mrs. Gu stared at Qianqian and the others, "secretly happy" and said silently: "That's great."
"Qianqian, I'm so happy to see you and Xiaomei having so much fun." Aiju walked into the kitchen holding a scoop of rice.
Qianqian smiled and said: It's okay! Xiaomei's personality is similar to mine, a little shy of strangers.
Gu called out: Aiju, give me the rice.
Aiju took out a red envelope and handed it to Xiaomei.
Xiaomei saw Aiju hand over a red envelope and immediately shrank her hands.
Aiju shouted: Xiaomei, go ahead. The old aunt will give you some money and buy you a pen. I wish you "study hard and make progress every day."
Mrs. Gu took out the rice and said: Xiaomei, take the red envelope from my old aunt and thank her quickly.
Xiaomei took the red envelope and said thanks: Thank you, old aunt!
"Xiaomei is so good! Don't be polite to me! You called me - old aunt, we will be relatives from now on, we will be a family..." Aiju responded:
"Aiju, do you want to kiss me?" Gu poured the rice into the pot and said:
Aiju glanced at Mrs. Gu and shouted: Qianqian, you take Xiaomei out to play, as long as Aunt Gu and I are here.
Qianqian stood up and called: Xiaomei, let's go out and play.
Xiaomei thought Aiju was driving her away, tears burst out instantly, and she cried: Grandma.
Gu smiled and said: Xiaomei, you are out! Grandma and old aunt have something to talk about.
Qianqian wiped Xiaomei's tears and coaxed Xiaomei out of the kitchen.
Aiju saw Qianqian and the others going out and asked: Sister-in-law, what did you mean by "kissing and kissing"?
"I think I want to marry Xiaomei to your family as my wife." Mrs. Gu hesitated for a while and replied:
Aiju said happily: This is great! What do you think of Shuishui!
Mrs. Gu said: Shuishui is good, but we want Xiaomei to marry Tudu.
Aiju echoed: I can't agree to letting Xiaomei marry Tudu.
At least, I can’t promise you that in recent years.
Gu was full of questions and asked: Why?
Aiju leaned her head over and whispered: Speaking of the mound, it’s really hard to describe in words. He and Miss Feng Mansion’s second daughter some time ago...
