Shui Jianguo also rushed back from the county town. The gift he gave to his sister was a pair of small leather boots, which looked exquisite and cute.
Now he is chatting with his wife in his room: "I have already asked for leave from the factory. Including the two days of natural rest at the end of the month, there will be a total of ten days. This year I will accompany you to celebrate the New Year in Beijing. You said we would take What would you like to eat?"
Bai Lu nestled in her husband's arms and said softly: "Aren't you already planning to give two bear paws to my dad? These are already valuable enough, what else do you want to give?
Besides, there are some here and there in Beijing and City. There is no need to carry too many things. It will be a burden on the road. "
Shui Jianguo felt that his wife was right. Although the baby in his belly had passed the three-month dangerous period, he still had to be careful.
When everyone was eating together at noon, there was a steamed cake in the middle of the table. It was Bai Lu's suggestion and several boys made it for their sister.
Although there is no cream on top, there are hazelnuts, walnuts, and raisins inside, making it very sweet and soft.
Shui Shangqing said happily: "Time flies so fast. We, Bingyue, are already three years old. I hope you will always be healthy and happy, and be happy every day."
"Thank you, dad." Shui Bingyue sat on the bench by herself without anyone hugging her.
Liu Xuemei stewed all the remaining bear paws today, and everyone in the family could eat them. There are also braised pork trotters, steamed pork with rice noodles, and spicy stir-fried cabbage.
After the meal, each person has a cup of malted milk, which is very satisfying. Thick snow has fallen in the yard. Xiaobai and Shui Bingyue were playing in the yard.
There is a fresh imprint on the yard, like a painting. When she was having fun, there was a knock on the courtyard door, and Liu Xuemei went to open the door.
"Hey, the snow is so heavy, why are you two here? Come in quickly."
It turned out that the people standing outside the door were Su Mengchen and Huo Tingchen. The two entered the courtyard without saying much.
They saw the little girl wearing a white fur hat and a sheepskin jacket with a belt around her waist, holding a white mink in her arms, looking at them.
"Bingyue, happy birthday. This is my gift to you." Huo Tingchen ran to the little girl and handed her a slingshot.
Shui Bingyue stretched out a hand to take the gift and said: "Thank you, I like it very much."
Su Mengchen squatted down, took out a jade rabbit from his pocket and handed it to the little girl: "This is your birthday gift from your uncle."
"It's too expensive, I can't have it."
"It's nothing valuable. I got it in exchange for three pheasants. It's not valuable, it just looks good." He handed it forward again.
Shui Bingyue raised her head and looked at her mother. When she saw her nodding, she took it and put it in her satchel. Su Mengchen picked up the little girl and Huo Tingchen followed Liu Xuemei into the main room.
There were melon seeds, candies, and frozen pears on the table. Shui Shangqing entertained the two of them warmly, and everyone sat down on the chairs.
"Meng Chen, have you prepared everything for the winter?"
"Yes, Village Chief Shui. I exchanged my prey for a lot of food and vegetables, which is enough to last for a long time."
"That's good. You've reached the age of marriage. Do you have a girl you like?"
Su Mengchen shook his head and said seriously: "I don't have a home of my own now, and I still have this status. I live one day at a time, so there is no need to delay others."
Shui Bingyue looked up at Uncle Su who was holding her, and showed him his face. He was a lucky man who got married late, but could prosper in no more than six years.
Su Mengchen reached out and pinched the little girl's cheek: "Why, you haven't seen me for a while and you don't recognize my face?"
"No, Uncle Su is so beautiful."
"Hahaha, Bingyue, you can't say that your uncle is beautiful, you should praise him for being handsome." Shui Shangqing didn't expect his daughter to say such things.
"She's just beautiful, as beautiful as Fourth Brother."
"I'm honored to receive such a compliment. It would be great if I could have a daughter as cute as Bingyue in the future."
Su Mengchen's compliments were very helpful to Liu Xuemei, and she replied with a smile: "As long as you are willing to get married, the children you will give birth to will definitely be good."
Huo Tingchen watched the adults chatting happily, slid off the chair, and went to hold Bingyue's hand: "Let's go out and build a snowman."
"OK."
Hearing Shui Bingyue say this, Su Mengchen put her on the ground, and the two little ones went out to play in the snow.
"Why are your brothers missing?" Huo Tingchen finally asked what he wanted to know.
"My brothers went fishing. We fish every winter. There are many big fish, much taller than me. Although they are scary, the meat is really delicious."
"That's it. I've never eaten such a big fish." Huo Tingchen was full of curiosity about fishing.
"If we get it this time, when our family makes it and eats it, I'll ask Brother Qi to call you to try it."
The people in the room, hidden by thick curtains, talked about business. Shui Shangqing said directly: "Meng Chen is here today. What important thing do you want to say?"
"I heard that Jianguo is going to Beijing for the Chinese New Year. Could you ask him to find out about Tingchen's father?"
"Jianguo is just an ordinary person in our family. The number of people he can contact is limited, so he shouldn't be able to inquire." Shui Shangqing can help, but there is no need to risk his son.
"I'm being presumptuous. I'm just thinking that Mr. Huo misses his son, which is a bit fanciful." Su Mengchen is just a spokesperson. He himself doesn't want to trouble people everywhere.
By the Qingshui River, the six men of the Shui family worked together and caught a lot of fish.
Lao Liu sighed: "Our family can catch a lot of fish every winter, it seems that it started from the year Bingyue was born."
"Don't talk nonsense outside. If someone has bad intentions and steals your sister away, you should cry." Lao Si Shui Jianshe patted his younger brother on the shoulder and went back to his business.
Xiaowu and Xiaoqi directly packaged the frozen fish according to species, saving the family the trouble of having to do it a second time.
With more people and greater strength, when they could no longer catch any more fish, they drove donkey carts to transport all the fish home.
Huo Tingchen and Su Mengchen had left long ago, and there were only their own family members in the yard. Liu Xuemei picked some fish and made them smoked, and asked her boss to bring them to her father-in-law who was far away in Beijing.
Others were busy going to the market to sell fish as in previous years, and the money earned was shared equally by everyone. So all the children of the Shui family are rich.
Shui Bingyue didn't go anywhere, just stayed at home with her mother and sister-in-law. Like a lazy kitten.
Bai Lu's body was very good and she didn't react when she smelled the smell of fish. Otherwise, Shui Jianguo might not have followed his brothers to sell fish and catch fish.
The days passed quickly, and when Shui Jianguo and Bai Lu took the train to Beijing, the family went to say goodbye to them.
Fortunately, the snow was not that thick on this day, so it was quite convenient to travel. After sending everyone home, Shui Shangqing sighed: "This year, the boss and the second child are not at home to celebrate the New Year. There are fewer people every year."
