Chapter 209: Earning a Living

In the evening, the Great Mixed Courtyard was festooned with lanterns and ribbons; the adults chatted and laughed, while the children ran about in new clothes—it was extremely lively.

The weather tonight was fine, with stars and a moon; even in these times the moon was bright.

Lu Beitang specifically called Zhao Daye over, they sat around a table and opened a bottle of white wine.

Lu Ying and Lin Qingyan kept bringing dishes to the table, and Chen Xianglan called out, "Second, Zhao Daye, you eat first; the dumplings will be served soon. San'er, wait to set off the firecrackers."

Before the dumplings are taken out of the pot, firecrackers must be set off; it's a custom.

I remember when we were kids, it was older brother Lu Feng who set them off; later Lu Cheng and the older brother competed to set them off.

Until that year, when the older brother prepared to go to the countryside for a labor team, he said a memorable line to him.

"It wasn't that the older brother insisted on competing with you to set off firecrackers; it was the New Year's firecrackers that could only be set off by the family's main pillar. From now on, the New Year's firecrackers can only be handed over to you."

At that time Lu Cheng didn't understand the sentence; now he does.

As the family's main pillar, one must shoulder everything; it's extremely hard.

Originally the older brother intended to bear everything on his own shoulders, but under the policy he had to go to the countryside for a labor team, and from then Lu Cheng had to take on all of that.

With the firecracker sounds "pīlīpālā" cracking, Lu Cheng looked up at the moon, not knowing whether his older brother was now eating dumplings.

He picked up Qing'er, who was covering his ears, and brought him inside; steaming hot dumplings were placed on the table.

"Come, come, Qing'er, sit on grandpa's lap." Lu Beitang took Qing'er over and said, "Grandpa will pick a dumpling for you—meat‑filled, a bit hot. Take a small bite first, haha, is it tasty…"

"Tasty." Qing'er snapped his head down.

"Haha, eat more; this whole bowl is yours. No one can snatch it from my Qing'er."

Lu Beitang likes children, but unfortunately he now has only one great‑granddaughter.

Second Lu Ying refuses to marry, and Third Lu Cheng still shows no sign of wanting children.

That worries him to death—if there were many children, future New Years would be so lively.

Zhao Daye lifted his chopsticks and said, "Lu San'er, look how much your dad cherishes children; you should seize the chance too."

He mentioned the unopened pot, and Lu Cheng shifted the focus onto his sister.

"No rush, no rush; first wait until my sister gets married."

As expected, when Chen Xianglan heard that, she started nagging again.

"Ying Ying, after the New Year, you must honestly go on a match arranged by me."

Lu Ying immediately glared at her brother and said, "If you can't speak properly, shut up."

"Don't talk about your brother. Let me ask what you want. How old are you this year and you still refuse to marry? After the New Year you'll be a year older, wanting to stay at home as an old maiden."

"A girl's prime years are only a few; now you can still pick and choose, but when you get older, only others will pick you."

Chen Xianglan said something, and Lu Ying kicked her brother under the table; finally Lu Cheng couldn't stand the pain and quickly interrupted his mother.

"Mom, Mom, it's New Year's today; let's talk about something happy."

Lu Cheng took the wine bottle, poured a cup for himself, and said, "Master, it's New Year, happy New Year. I first toast you, elder, wishing you a long life of a hundred years—no, a thousand years, ten thousand years."

Xu Erye waved his hand and said, "Alright, alright, I don't want to live that long."

Lu Cheng smiled, tipped his head back and drank the wine, then refilled, "Zhao Daye, Happy New Year, I also wish you a thousand years, ten thousand years."

Zhao Daye laughed merrily, "You're treating me like a turtle to keep."

"Look at you, alright, alright, I'll go first." Lu Cheng poured another cup, raised it before Lu Beitang and said, "Dad, I toast you with this cup, thanking you for raising me so big. I was immature before, caused you many worries; these years you've worked hard, sob sob…"

Lu Beitang suddenly panicked, "You kid, how did you start crying while speaking?"

Lu Ying rolled her eyes and added, "He's faking crying, and you still believe him."

Lu Beitang and Chen Xianglan both stared, and Lu Ying, having no choice, picked up some vegetables and said, "Alright, alright, pretend I didn't say that."

Lu Cheng poured another cup for Chen Xianglan.

"Oh dear, I don't know how to drink, why pour for me?"

"It's fine, Mom. It's New Year; if you can't drink, just sip a mouthful—everyone does. Let's all raise our glasses together and toast to the new year."

"Come, come, Happy New Year…"

In the laughter, the glasses clinked together—the sound of New Year blessings.

The house was brightly lit, filled with laughter and chatter; in the courtyard children ran and frolicked. Tonight was a night‑keeping‑the‑new‑year, and the children finally had a reason to stay up all night.

Xu Erye finished his meal and went back to play cards with the others.

Although there is still no Spring Festival Gala, there is a model opera to watch; the people who came to Wu Guiwen's house lined up from the house to the courtyard.

Nobody knew yet that Wu Guiwen had already decided: after giving everyone free TV for such a long time, once the New Year is over he would require money for tickets to watch.

Wu Guiwen's words immediately provoked the neighbors' discontent, and they began to criticize.

Seeing Wu Guiwen holding his breath, Lu Cheng leaned back laughing; now he finally understood why Mom didn't buy that TV.

As long as he bought it, he had to let the neighbors watch, and keep showing it; any day he stopped, dissatisfaction would arise instantly.

Wu Guiwen got angry; after kindly letting everyone watch TV for so long, not a single word of thanks fell his way.

Finally he turned off the TV and chased everyone away.

Lu Cheng laughed and prepared to go to sleep; he wasn't planning to stay up all night, since tomorrow he had to get up early to pay New Year's respects to his parents, and then take Qing'er to bow, which could earn him some pocket money.

He was about to return to the house when Da Hu, who had been playing outside, suddenly ran over.

"Lu San'er, Lu San'er…"

"Calling dad, why do you keep forgetting? When you call 'dad', listen, I'll give you New Year's money."

"Dad."

"Hey, so well‑behaved." Lu Cheng reached into his pocket and gave Da Hu two mao.

Da Hu took the money and was about to leave, but Lu Cheng called him back, "Hey, hey, why did you just call me just now?"

Da Hu scratched his head, "Oh, I almost forgot, there's a bald guy outside looking for you."

"Bald guy?"

Yeah, he asked me whether Lu San'er lives here.

Lu Cheng thought, on New Year's Eve, who would come looking for me, and when he stepped out, he found it was Guo Tuzi.

Guo Dage? Why did you come?

Guo Tuzi pulled out five yuan, and Lu Cheng instantly understood.

It's not Guo Dage, just five yuan, and you even bother to come on New Year's Eve.

Guo Tuzi slapped the money into the other's hand first: "I knew it was you who left it. Didn't I tell you? I don't like owing anyone. Since the New Year hasn't arrived yet, I quickly pay you back, otherwise I can't even sleep properly."

Lu Cheng looked at the money in his hand, a helpless expression on his face.

Guo Dage, I didn't mean anything else…

I know, Lu San'er, I appreciate your goodwill, thank you, but my wife's illness can't be cured by a few coins from others; it requires a great, great amount of money.

A lot of money? In this era I can't run a business; where could I earn so much?

But Lu Cheng, looking at this plain man, actually thought of a way to make money.