"Auntie, what do you think of the water temperature?" Yang Ruoqing adjusted the water temperature and asked Wang Cuilian to lie down on her back, with the hair on the back of her head just falling into the basin at the bottom.
She took a ladle of water and poured it down along Wang Cuilian's scalp while asking.
Wang Cuilian lay there, holding the armrest beside her with both hands, "Okay, very good."
"If it's hot or cold, just say something. Hot and cold water are both ready and I can redeem them at any time." Yang Ruoqing added.
Wang Cuilian said "Hey." She gripped the armrests more tightly with both hands.
Yang Ruoqing noticed that her body was tense and smiled: "Auntie, don't be nervous. It's very comfortable to wash your hair like this. The baby was also washed yesterday."
Wang Cuilian felt a little embarrassed when her emotions were noticed, "It's really comfortable. It's just that I don't know where to put my hands."
Yang Ruoqing said: "When I wash my hair, I like to put my hands on my lower abdomen and close my eyes. It's very comfortable. Mom, please give it a try."
Wang Cuilian did as she was told, closed her eyes, and indeed she felt more relaxed.
Yang Ruoqing washed her hair and chatted with her, stimulating Wang Cuilian's mood and letting her enter her circle. After the conversation opened up little by little, Wang Cuilian relaxed.
And when her hair was washed, a clean veil was put on her head, and Yang Ruoqing helped Wang Cuilian up, Wang Cuilian was still a little stunned. Is it finished now?
"Auntie, let me help you twist your hair. Come over here."
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law returned to the bedroom. The bedroom was very warm. Yang Ruoqing asked Wang Cuilian to sit at the table, and he wiped her behind with a handkerchief. At this moment, Luo Fengtang came in.
"Qing'er... aunt? Are you there too?"
Luo Fengtang rushed into the house and was startled when he saw Wang Cuilian sitting there.
Wang Cuilian said: "Qing'er is helping me wash my hair. What's that? Qing'er, my hair is almost dry. I'll go back to my room to tuck my hair up, call your uncle and mother, and we'll prepare the food." How's it going?"
Yang Ruoqing said hello happily and watched Wang Cuilian leave.
Then he turned around and asked Luo Fengtang: "What's going on with my father?"
Luo Fengtang said: "I was about to tell you, but fortunately you asked me to go over and see what was going on. My father-in-law, fourth uncle and fifth uncle were really planning to go to the mountains to find your cousin. I told them not to rush and go to the entrance of the village. Look, young boy Qing ran away and came back to say that your cousin is really back!"
"Humph!" Yang Ruoqing narrowed her eyes, "He is really sick."
Luo Fengtang said: "At this moment, your father, fourth uncle and fifth uncle have gone to the entrance of the village to ask your elder brother about the situation."
Yang Ruoqing said: "What's the point of asking? It's obvious that he deliberately left Xiaoan and Dabao behind and didn't want them to follow. My father and the others had to go and ask, and the answer they got was definitely: I got lost when I went into the forest, and I didn't see him when I came out. Xiaoan and Dabao..."
Luo Fengtang smiled, "That's probably the reply."
Yang Ruoqing raised her hand to pick up a piece of lint on his shoulder and said: "Ignore them, it's almost time. We have the New Year's Eve dinner. After the New Year's Eve dinner, we have all night to talk."
The New Year's Eve dinner was served in the front hall. Ever since Yang Ruoqing married into the Luo family, the Luo family's New Year's Eve dinner had never disappointed anyone.
Last year, Yang Ruoqing and Luo Fengtang were not at home during the New Year. Wang Cuilian handled it all by herself, so it might be relatively simple.
But this year, Yang Ruoqing had already planned the menu for the New Year's Eve dinner in her mind on the way home at the beginning of the twelfth lunar month.
"Wow, there are so many dishes, I want to eat three big bowls!"
Luo Baobao came to the main room with Tuoba Xian on his arm. When he saw the dazzling array of dishes on the table, he announced loudly with excitement.
Tuoba Xian raised her hand and touched Baobao Luo's head: "Enough is enough. It will be counterproductive if it spoils the spleen and stomach."
Yang Ruoqing came over and supported Tuoba Xian: "Mom, sit here."
The stools on which Tuoba Xian and Wang Cuilian sat were all specially made.
From the outside, the height and width are the same as other stools, but underneath is a wooden barrel with a pot of charcoal fire inside.
Naturally, the charcoal fire is not the kind of vigorous and crackling burning mode, but gentle. It is pressed under the ashes of the stove bottom. It is not smoky at all and can continue to provide warmth to the people sitting on it.
"Such a sumptuous dish, Qing'er, thank you and your aunt for your hard work." Tuoba Xian said sincerely after sitting down and taking a look at the dishes in front of her.
She also wanted to go to the countryside and help the locals, but this winter was too cold. She was afraid of the cold the most, so she had to stay in the house for the winter.
In order to avoid getting cold and getting sick while walking around, it will put a burden on the children during the Chinese New Year.
Wang Cuilian said with a smile: "It's not hard for a family if they don't speak the same language."
Yang Ruoqing directly used the serving chopsticks on the table to pick up a piece of 'Heart Is Too Soft' red date cake for Tuoba Xian and put it on the plate in front of her.
"Mom, this is steamed with red dates and glutinous rice. Please try it."
Tuoba Xian took a bite. The jujube paste was soft and the glutinous rice cake was sweet. When the two were mixed together, it left a fragrant taste in her mouth, but it did not stick to her teeth. After eating one piece, she still wanted to eat another.
"Qing'er's snacks are getting better and better." Tuoba Xian praised.
Yang Ruoqing smiled so hard that her eyebrows curled up, and she served Wang Cuilian and Blacksmith Luo dishes in turn.
Luo Fengtang opened the wine jar and poured fruit wine for everyone.
Luo Baobao was the first to hold out his bowl: "Dad, fill it up for me. I'll make a toast later."
"Okay!" Luo Fengtang happily poured fruit wine for Luo Baobao.
Yang Ruoqing looked on with a smile and told Luo Baobao: "You can't drink too much fruit wine. We will make an exception tonight on New Year's Eve, but no more than two bowls."
Luo Baobao nodded repeatedly.
The Luo family’s New Year’s Eve dinner was heartwarming.
Although both Dazhi and Chen'er were not here, seats and dishes were still reserved for them.
Luo Baobao was the first to lift his chopsticks and also the first to put down his chopsticks.
Putting down his chopsticks, he took out his handkerchief and wiped his mouth, "Mom, I'm going to play at Grandma Ga's house."
Yang Ruoqing swallowed the food in her mouth and said to her: "Don't worry, your mother-in-law's family may not have finished the New Year's Eve dinner."
Luo Fengtang said: "It's been a while, but it seems like there haven't been any firecrackers."
Setting off firecrackers is an important part of the New Year's Eve dinner. If you don't set off firecrackers, you probably haven't eaten yet.
"Listening to what you said, I don't think I heard it either." Yang Ruoqing also said.
"Crackling..."
As he was speaking, the deafening sound of firecrackers suddenly rang out from the yard next door.
"We just started having New Year's Eve dinner now. I'm afraid it was delayed by something, right? Baby, you play at home first. When your parents have packed up later, they will take you to Grandma Ga's house to pay New Year greetings." Wang Cuilian and Luo The baby is coaxing.
Luo Baobao is now a twelve-year-old girl, the same age that Yang Ruoqing traveled through.
She was already sensible in her heart, but because she was so happy and her whole family pampered her, she still maintained the innocence of a child in front of her elders.
Even though Wang Cuilian coaxed her with such a coaxing tone, Luo Baobao smiled and nodded, got up and went to drink tea at the small table next to her.
