Chapter 428: What a sad story

After paying New Year's visits on the second day of the New Year, even though the grandparents tried their best to persuade them to stay, his mother decided to return to Yucheng that day or the next.

This year, his mother decided to stay for a few more days to spend more time with her relatives, whom they rarely got to see.

Yucheng and their hometown were not far apart, and now that they had a car, it was even more convenient; they could go back whenever they wanted.

Most importantly, Tang Xiuxia no longer had to worry about the gossip of the women in the village affecting her precious son.

Firstly, her son was now mature, and secondly, her son had achieved success. The title of a top scholar with a perfect score in the college entrance exam was undoubtedly like a golden phoenix flying out of a poor nest in this village, where even a college student was enough to make people envious.

Nowadays, when people in the village talked about this grandson of the Tang family, they were all full of praise and flattery.

"Early on the first day, early on the second day, sleep until full on the third day!"

Just as the folk song says, there is a custom of sleeping in on the third day of the New Year.

Of course, it was also because they were too tired from New Year's Eve to the second day, and since there was nothing to do on the third day, they could rest peacefully and recharge their energy.

The building rebuilt by his younger uncle had many rooms, and both the second and third floors could accommodate people. His older uncle also had extra rooms, so Qin Tian and his mother didn't have to worry about having nowhere to sleep.

Last night, Qin Tian slept in the same room as his younger uncle, while his mother slept with his cousin and younger aunt.

There were rooms available to sleep alone, but after not seeing each other for a long time, everyone wanted to talk and chat before going to sleep.

There is a saying in the countryside that a nephew is very much like his uncle, meaning that a nephew is generally very similar to his uncle and is also relatively close.

Qin Tian, who had lacked fatherly love since childhood, was even more so.

That night, from dating to the college entrance exam, and then to college life, Qin Tian rarely had the chance to open his heart and talk freely with anyone like this.

His younger uncle also talked about his experiences in doing business outside over the years, which weren't as glamorous as outsiders saw, with many heartaches and setbacks, but fortunately, he had walked through them smoothly.

He didn't know how long they had been talking, but after a moment of silence, Qin Tian heard his younger uncle's snoring.

He slept until he woke up naturally.

He took out his phone from under the pillow to check the time; it was already almost eleven o'clock.

His younger uncle was still in his dreams, so Qin Tian didn't wake him up and went downstairs to wash up alone.

Just after brushing his teeth and washing his face, his cousin Tang Wen and his mother came over.

"Brother, where are we going to play later?"

Tang Wen asked with a smile.

"You just woke up, and you're already thinking about playing?"

Qin Tian looked at her with a laugh.

"Of course, it's not easy to come back for the New Year, so I have to play well!"

Tang Wen suddenly thought of something, her eyes brightened, and she suggested, "Why don't you drive, Brother, and take us to play in Yucheng? And call Sister-in-law too!"

"Good idea!"

His mother, Tang Xiuxia, nodded in approval with a smile.

She was naturally happy to see the younger generation getting along well with her future daughter-in-law.

"Nuannuan said they usually come back on the third day, I don't know if they are back yet."

Qin Tian smiled and said.

"Then hurry up and call to ask!"

Tang Wen urged excitedly.

"What's the rush? You go wash your face and brush your teeth first!"

Qin Tian rolled his eyes at her.

"Got it, Auntie, we're going to brush our teeth, Brother Tian, hurry up and call!"

Tang Wen urged again, then walked quickly into the bathroom to wash up.

"Xiaotian, you're up, are you hungry?"

Grandma walked over from the front room and asked with a kind smile.

"A little."

Qin Tian nodded.

"What do you want to eat?"

"Hmm..."

"Grandma, do you have *ciba*? I want to eat the pan-fried *ciba* you make."

Just as Qin Tian was thinking, Tang Wen's voice came out.

"Yes, yes."

Grandma agreed with a smile and looked at Qin Tian with an inquiring gaze

After playing with the popping firecrackers for a while, the three of them went to the riverside near the bridge to throw torpedo firecrackers into the water.

Before they knew it, a group of little tails had followed behind them—all the village children, watching them play with eager eyes.

"There's a pile of cow dung over there. Go blow up the cow dung; it's really fun."

A snotty-nosed little brat pointed toward the roadside in the distance and said to Tang Wen with his head tilted up.

"I'm not going. It's disgusting."

Tang Wen shook her head in refusal, her face full of disdain.

You couldn't buy these kinds of firecrackers in the city; she could only experience this kind of fun when returning to her hometown every year. She didn't think she was being childish, but blowing up cow dung was out of the question—that was something only snotty-nosed little brats liked to play with.

"Go on, it's really fun."

"No. If you think it's fun, go do it yourself!"

"I don't have any firecrackers. Can you give me a box?"

"No. Use your own lucky money to buy some."

Tang Wen said indifferently.

The blockheaded little brat's expression stiffened upon hearing this, and he said sullenly, "My lucky money was all taken by my mom."

"Did she say she was helping you keep it safe? And that she'd give it back to you when you grow up?"

Tang Wen asked with a smile.

"How did you know?"

The little brat looked at her, his face full of surprise.

"What a sad story."

Tang Wen looked at him with pity and took a box of torpedo firecrackers out of the bag to hand to him.

"Since you're so pitiful, I'll reward you with these!"

"Thank you, big sister!"

The little boy didn't even think about why he was pitiful; he happily took the torpedoes, called over two of his little friends, and sprinted toward the cow dung over there.

Nearby, Qin Tian and Tang Heng couldn't help but laugh as they watched this scene.

Not long after, their cousin Tang Chen called to tell them to come back for dinner.

After distributing the remaining firecrackers to the village children, they went home to eat.

When they returned home, plates of steaming hot dishes were already laid out on the dining table.

Tang Xiuxia placed a bowl of steamed fish with rice flour on the table, looked at the three of them, and said, "Go wash your hands quickly, then help bring out the dishes."

The three nodded in agreement and went to the kitchen in the back to wash their hands.

Soon, the sumptuous meal was all set on the table.

Their uncle opened two bottles of good liquor he had brought back and helped everyone pour drinks along with their eldest cousin.

After the liquor and drinks were poured, everyone took their seats around the dining table.

"Come, come, let our Provincial Top Scholar say a few words."

Their uncle said with a chuckle.

Upon hearing this, everyone's gaze immediately focused on Qin Tian.

Qin Tian didn't act coy; he smiled calmly, raised his glass, and said, "Then let me wish everyone a Happy New Year again, and may Grandpa and Grandma be healthy and have everything go smoothly!"

"Good!!!"

Their uncle shouted in approval.

"Good, good, good, let's drink, let's drink."

Grandpa beamed with joy, calling out in agreement as he raised his glass.

Everyone raised their glasses to drink together, and then they began to feast.

Half of the dishes on the table were various kinds of steamed food: steamed fish, steamed meat, steamed potatoes, steamed lotus root, steamed garland chrysanthemum...

This was also a custom in the countryside during festivals. For young people who preferred stir-fried dishes and had relatively stronger palates, it wasn't considered particularly delicious, but it was full of the taste of home.

Eating and drinking while chatting and laughing, catching up on family matters—this kind of reunion dinner was usually eaten quite slowly.

Under the "siege" of their uncle and two cousins, plus taking the initiative to toast their uncle and grandfather from time to time, Qin Tian drank quite a bit.

Before they knew it, the two bottles of white liquor had hit the bottom. Fortunately, Qin Tian and his mother had also brought back a few bottles of good liquor, so they opened two more and continued drinking.

"Xiao Tian, it's been a year, and not only have you become the Provincial Top Scholar, but your tolerance for alcohol has also improved a lot. Not bad!"

Their uncle said with a look of surprise.

"It's alright!"

Qin Tian smiled modestly.

With his current physical fitness, it was really hard for him to get drunk.