Chapter 322

Li Li Xuewu smiled at Xiao Yan's mother, who was sitting at the end of the kang watching this side, and said: "Old Aunt, we are all one family. Shen Guodong is also someone you watched grow up. He only has one grandmother. Today, since we are all here, I will propose marriage to you on behalf of my brother."

Shen Shen Guodong was sitting beside Old Lao Biaozi, trembling with nervousness; he kept pinching his thigh, but he couldn't feel the pain because of his nervousness.

"Ah!!!"

Just then, Old Lao Biaozi let out a shout: "Shen Shen Guodong! If you're nervous, pinch your own leg!"

"Hahahahaha."

Startled by Old Lao Biaozi's shout, Shen Shen Guodong wasn't nervous anymore. He stammered to Xiao Yan's mother: "Old Aunt, Dazhuang and I are brothers, I will treat Xiao Yan well."

Xiao Yan's mother was smiling, but tears were already flowing down her face.

Seeing her mother nod, Xiao Yan threw herself into her mother's arms and cried.

Li Li Xuewu signaled to Old Lao Biaozi and the others, took Old Lao Biaozi, Shen Shen Guodong, and Yang Yang Erhai off the kang, and without putting on their shoes, knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Xiao Yan's mother.

Wen San saw this, handed the child in his arms to his wife, and followed by jumping off the kang and kowtowing once.

Although Wen San was a generation older than Li Li Xuewu and the others, he had always felt guilty about Dazhuang's death, so he also kowtowed to Xiao Yan's mother.

Li Li Xuewu straightened his upper body, knelt, and said: "Aunt, it's Dazhuang's blessing to have brothers like you."

Then he said to Shen Shen Guodong: "Shen Guodong, Xiao Yan is entrusted to you, take good care of her."

Then she said to Shen Shen Guodong: "Shen Guodong, Xiao Yan is entrusted to you, take good care of her."

Wen San poked Shen Shen Guodong from behind, and Shen Shen Guodong reacted, kowtowed, and replied: "Mom, don't worry, you were my godmother before, and you'll be my own mother from now on. I will treat Xiao Yan well."

This "godmother" was something they had established when Li Li Xuewu and the others were hanging out on the streets; the brothers had agreed that each other's parents were godparents to the brothers, and they had to take care of each other if anything happened.

This was also why Old Lao Biaozi had been supporting Dazhuang's family before Li Li Xuewu returned.

Wen San persuaded them to get back on the kang, and because of the happy event, everyone's enthusiasm for drinking was even higher.

This marriage was considered settled, so Shen Shen Guodong and Xiao Yan poured and toasted liquor for the elders and brothers.

Xiao Yan was so shy she couldn't raise her head, being held by her mother and talked to.

They drank until past one o'clock. The men on the kang first drank tea, chatting and boasting to each other, talking about their own glorious pasts or the embarrassing things their brothers had done.

Qin Qin Huairu led Yu Li and the others to clear the table and wash the dishes. After cleaning up, everyone went to the west courtyard.

Because Wen San had thrown a lot of wood before eating, and Old Lao Biaozi had thrown in a few coal balls, the fire was still burning.

Old Lao Biaozi was drunk, staggering as he carried the 500-round firecracker toward the fire, but fortunately, Li Li Xuewu was quick and pulled Old Lao Biaozi back.

"If you want to commit self-immolation, put down the 500-round firecracker first; we don't have many firecrackers."

"Hahahahaha."

Old Lao Biaozi laughed at himself, shook the firecracker in his hand, and said: "It's okay, Wu Ge, I can do it!"

Li Li Xuewu pushed Old Lao Biaozi, who kept shouting "I can do it," onto a wooden stump, snatched the firecracker from his hand, and handed it to Shen Shen Guodong.

Yang Erhai took the pole that had been prepared long ago and propped the firecracker up over the fire.

"Crackling!"

"Crackling!"

Old Lao Biaozi had bought five strings of firecrackers and a box of double-kickers, which were the best firecrackers that could be bought in this era.

Fireworks were out of the question; they could only watch the fireworks rising in the distant sky.

They had reserved three strings to set off on the first, fifth, and fifteenth days of the New Year, so they were prepared to set off two strings tonight.

Yang Erhai picked one string, Seeing Sha Zhu picked one string, and both were placed over the fire.

This really exploded; the sparks were flying everywhere, scaring the onlookers into covering their ears and running away.

Especially the children, who ran toward their parents in a swarm.

Those who ran slowly were chased by the sparks and ran away in a panic.

Especially Seeing Sha Zhu, who was being mischievous, holding the pole and insisting on chasing the children.

"Hahahahaha."

After setting off the firecrackers, they started setting off the double-kickers.

Double-kicker, two sounds, *hiss*~ *bang*!

Seeing Sha Zhu and the others held the children, while the children held the incense sticks and tremblingly went to light the fuse.

The firecrackers were really loud this time, possibly because of the sufficient materials; the air was full of the smell of gunpowder.

These children who had just been chased by Seeing Sha Zhu with firecrackers were both cowardly and loved to play; they forgot Seeing Sha Zhu's mischief just now and asked him to help them light the firecrackers.

Seeing Sha Zhu and Old Lao Biaozi had drunk a bit too much; when the children lit the firecrackers, they grabbed them and wouldn't let them run, scaring the children into screaming.

Looking at the double-kicker in his hand, Li Li Xuewu felt it was meaningless; it was ultimately not as satisfying as the mortars he had fired before.

After setting off the firecrackers, everyone sat around the bonfire and chatted; it seemed the atmosphere was particularly good at this time.

Whether they were drunk or not, sitting by the bonfire, feeling the cold of winter and the heat of the flames, and watching the fireworks in the sky, it seemed very comfortable, and they were very willing to talk.

The sound of firecrackers continued one after another until the morning of the first day of the New Year.

Li Li Xuewu and the others certainly couldn't stay up all night; after chatting until the second half of the night, the children couldn't hold on anymore and fell asleep in their parents' arms.

Then it was the adults; exhausted after a day, they couldn't hold on either, so they cleaned up the fire and went home to rest.

Of course, except for the room where they were sleeping, the lights were still on in the other rooms.

Who would complain about having too much wealth? They said they weren't superstitious, but their bodies were very honest.

On the morning of the first day of the first lunar month, Li Li Xuewu hadn't woken up yet, but the sound of firecrackers outside the window was already deafening.

Those with conditions set off strings of firecrackers, and those without just kept blasting double-kickers.

This thing was too damn loud; no family could stand it if they set off one or two.

Rubbing his face, he tried hard to open his eyes; the noise of last night was already a thing of the past, and today was the beginning of a new year.

This year! Li Li Xuewu was 20!

Just as he got up to put on his clothes, he found a new set of clothes on the side of the pillow.

From underwear and underpants to the navy blue jacket on the outermost layer, it was a neat set.

"Hehe."

Li Li Xuewu knew who had prepared this; Yu Li wouldn't have had the time.

Folding the quilt and putting on the new clothes, Li Li Xuewu walked to the mirror in the cloakroom and looked; he had to say that Sister Qin's craftsmanship was really good.

"Are you up?"

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.

Qin Qin Huairu, wearing new clothes, walked to Li Li Xuewu, smoothed the wrinkles on Li Li Xuewu's clothes with her hands, and looked at the size from left to right.

"It's fine, it fits perfectly."

Li Li Xuewu asked with a smile: "How are your hands so skillful? These clothes are really comfortable to wear."

"Go away, you're just being glib!"

Squatting down to smooth the trouser legs for Li Li Xuewu, she scolded: "I see you don't like wearing the uniforms in your cabinet, and I know you like slim-fitting clothes, so I altered the pants and made the jacket slim-fitting for you."

Li Li Xuewu turned around; it really did look a bit like the cadre jacket of later generations.

"You like wearing a coat, but it's cold when you take it off, so wear this with your coat from now on."

Qin Qin Huairu smoothed Li Li Xuewu's trouser legs, stood up, and looked at Li Li Xuewu again, smiling with satisfaction.

Looking at the man in front of her, Qin Qin Huairu asked casually as if by accident: "What do you plan to do about Yu Li?"

Li Li Xuewu flipped his hair, feeling that his current hairstyle wasn't cool enough.

"You two don't get along, so how did you become sisters?"

Qin Qin Huairu stood behind Li Li Xuewu, pressed Li Li Xuewu down, and smoothed Li Li Xuewu's hair with her hands, saying: "Don't cut it so short next time, it won't look good when it grows out. I'll go buy some haircutting scissors and I'll trim it for you from now on."

Li Li Xuewu's hair had been trimmed by Master Zeng on the side of the road last month. Although they had agreed that Master Zeng would come over on Saturday every month to trim it, Li Li Xuewu had missed the time Master Zeng came before the New Year, and now it was the first month of the lunar year, so it looked a bit long after waiting a few more days.

"Yu Li's matter still needs to be handled by herself; I don't have the right to make decisions for her."

Li Li Xuewu let Qin Qin Huairu serve him as he put on his coat, turned around, and said: "Leave Yan Brother Jiecheng alone for now, and you take care of Yu Li."

"Understood."

Qin Qin Huairu glared at Li Li Xuewu, but muttered: "Men are all so heartless."

"Hehe."

Raising his eyebrows to look at Qin Qin Huairu, Li Li Xuewu pinched the tender and fleshy face of the pretty widow and asked: "How have I been heartless to you?"

"Go!"

Qin Qin Huairu didn't dare let Li Li Xuewu mess around with her here; the window was covered with a white gauze curtain, and if someone looked carefully from the outside, they could still see the silhouettes.

Li Li Xuewu walked out, saying as he walked: "Don't talk nonsense during the group greeting later, you don't need to worry about Yu Li's business."

Qin Qin Huairu came to find Li Li Xuewu not only to see if the clothes she made fit, but also to notify Li Li Xuewu to attend the courtyard's group greeting.

This was the first time for the courtyard. The first day of the New Year was the New Year, and the three masters of the courtyard organized everyone to hold a group greeting.

It meant wishing each other a Happy New Year, sharing some peanuts and melon seeds, chatting, and talking about plans for the New Year; it was also a way to unite the neighbors in the courtyard.

Putting on cotton shoes and walking out, he saw the young people in the courtyard cleaning up the snow and setting up the broken tables and chairs.

Li Li Xuewu greeted the neighbors who wished him a Happy New Year and entered the inverted-seat room.

Dumplings on the first day, noodles on the second, and box-shaped dumplings on the third; the breakfast in the inverted-seat room was dumplings.

Yu Li had led He He Yu Shui and Wen San's wife to wrap them early in the morning, and Li Li Xuewu entered the room just in time to eat.

Taking off his coat and sitting cross-legged on the kang, he tasted the dumpling filling; radish and meat, it was really delicious.

Seeing Wen San's eyes were as red as a rabbit's, Li Li Xuewu asked with a smile: "Did you start working hard last night?"

"Go to hell!"

Wen San naturally knew what Li Li Xuewu meant, glanced at his wife who was serving dumplings to the table, but was glared at by Fei Fei Shanying.

"Hehehe."

Old Lao Biaozi sat on the side watching the fun, dipping dumplings in soy sauce and vinegar, looking at Wen San with mischievous eyes.

Perhaps it was because of the "have children early" wish Li Li Xuewu and the others made last night, all the men with wives were exhausted.

Seeing Sha Zhu came later than Li Li Xuewu, washed his hands, walked into the inner room, saw everyone was already eating, and squeezed onto the kang next to Shen Shen Guodong.

"When are you going to work?"

Seeing Sha Zhu asked Li Li Xuewu while taking a rice bowl.

Li Li Xuewu tasted the dumpling filling; radish and meat, it was really delicious.

"The third day, maybe, not sure yet. Might return to the steel mill on the third day; I don't know what's going on at the branch bureau yet."

Seeing Sha Zhu waved his hand and refused Yang Erhai's offer to pour liquor: "Thanks, brother, the strength from last night hasn't worn off yet, so I won't drink in the morning."

After politely declining, he asked Li Li Xuewu again: "What about the future? Are you working at the branch bureau from now on? Are you still returning to the steel mill?"

Li Li Xuewu looked at Seeing Sha Zhu and asked with a smile: "Why ask this?"

Seeing Sha Zhu was stunned by Li Li Xuewu's question, then reacted; Li Li Xuewu was sensitive about this matter, so he smiled and waved his hand.

Li Li Xuewu smiled and said: "Part-time, that's how it is, both have their importance, it's hard to say."

Seeing Sha Zhu nodded and said: "The guesthouse is not bad. Our director held a meeting before the New Year and said that the leaders' daily meals will be at the guesthouse from now on, and they won't need us."

"Regret it?"

Li Li Xuewu looked at Seeing Sha Zhu and said: "If you still want to go, I'll help you transfer."

"Forget it."

Seeing Sha Zhu shook his head and said: "I'm more relaxed without having to be on duty. Cooking big-pot meals is much easier than small-stove cooking."

Li Li Xuewu smiled and said: "We're all in the same factory. I'll talk to Xu Ning later; if any leaders who like Sichuan cuisine come, I'll have them call you."

"Hehehe, then I won't be polite."

This time it was Li Li Xuewu's turn to wave his hand, signaling Seeing Sha Zhu to eat dumplings.

He knew Seeing Sha Zhu didn't bring this up for no reason; Seeing Sha Zhu was willing to do small-stove cooking even if it took up his off-work time, otherwise, with his temper, who could force him to do it?

Besides, he wasn't alone; he had apprentices, and the things procured and intercepted from small-stove cooking could be considered valuable in this era.

You couldn't evaluate the living standards of the people in the courtyard based on the food in the inverted-seat room.

The food in the inverted-seat room was good because a group of big men were earning money, and the expenses were all paid from the account, so the food was good.

In this era, which family had eight men earning money?

And which family had the form of production and operation group to earn money?

Last night, the liveliness of the inverted-seat room made the Third Master in the front courtyard envious.

The smell of the dumplings the inverted-seat room ate while guarding the year spread to the front courtyard, and the First Master's sacrificial offerings were also seen by the Third Master.

*Sigh*, our whole family calculated to eat a meal of dumplings, but you guys were fragrant for miles.

Last night, when Li Li Xuewu and the others were chatting around the bonfire, the Yan family was sitting around the coffee table listening to the radio.

At this time, there was no New Year's Gala; the radio was playing Hou Baolin's crosstalk "Night Travel Record."

The Third Master adjusted the radio knob with heartache, saying: "Just listen, it wastes electricity if the sound is too loud."

Who knows where the Third Master heard this money-saving trick; anyway, the radio knob in his house was always in that position all year round, saying it was easy to break if turned too much.

This year, because the eldest couple wasn't home for the New Year, the house felt a bit empty.

But no one in the family felt regretful, especially Yan Yan Jiefang, who was sitting at the table.

"Dad, did you really give my eldest brother 250 yuan? What kind of house is that? Is it gold-plated?"

"Go away! Is that how you talk to your father!"

The Third Master's wife scolded Yan Yan Jiefang, then said with dissatisfaction: "Isn't that for you?"

Yan Yan Jiefang also knew the money was for him, but he still frowned and muttered: "But that's too much. Our family's money didn't come from a strong wind either."

"What do you know!"

The Third Master wrinkled his nose at his second son and explained: "What kind of place was that east courtyard before? Can you move in without spending money to clean it up?"

Seeing Yan Yan Jiefang not speaking, the Third Master continued: "Just this is taking advantage of the opposite side. Without Li Li Xuewu, could there be this foundation?"

The Third Master's wife nodded and said: "No wonder your dad calculates so well."

"Exactly!"

The Third Master said proudly: "That Li family is preparing the house for their third son, so can Li Li Xuewu not put in the effort?"

"I've already inquired; construction will start after the New Year. We don't even need to hire an engineering team; your eldest brother is borrowing their light to build the house together."

Yan Yan Jiefang said unconvinced: "That wouldn't cost much money. If we built it ourselves, it wouldn't cost that much."

The Third Master said disdainfully: "Silly boy, you're short-sighted, aren't you? Go ask how much money was spent building those houses in the west courtyard, then look at the area of the east courtyard."

Although Yan Yan Jiefang still didn't understand, his father wasn't someone who would suffer a loss, so he felt he had taken advantage.

"I can understand my eldest brother agreeing, but how did Yu Li agree? If it were her, she would have come to make a scene long ago."

Ever since the last falling out, Yan Yan Jiefang didn't call Yu Li "eldest sister-in-law," but called her Yu Li.

Because he didn't call her that, the younger brothers and sisters below didn't call her that either, and they acted as if they didn't see Yu Li when they met.

Yu Li wasn't angry, because she didn't take the children taught by her parents-in-law seriously.

Talking and talking, Yan Yan Jiefang looked at the Third Master and asked: "Dad, won't there be any mistakes? That's 250 yuan."

The Third Master had also thought of this matter. He thought his eldest son might not have told Yu Li.

He had some mental preparation for this, because his eldest son had a cowardly personality, and that Yu Li had a 180-degree turn in her attitude toward his family after she started working and earning money.

If you said his eldest son had discussed giving the house to his second son with his wife, Yan Yan Fugui wouldn't believe it no matter what.

But he had the house-splitting document in black and white in his pocket, and the house was his eldest son's, so Yu Li would have to give it even if she didn't want to.

Thinking of this, the Third Master instructed his family: "Don't spread this matter for now, so as not to cause twists and turns."

Yan Yan Jiefang laughed proudly: "I know, aren't you afraid they'll find us to make up the difference if they exceed the cost?"

The Third Master glared and said: "What? I'm afraid Yu Li will find out and not build that room for you, or build it poorly."

"We'll just wait to eat the ready-made meal; once their house is built, we'll move in directly."

"Hehe, Dad, you're still the best! Calculating so far ahead!"

"Exactly!"

The Third Master said proudly: "Otherwise, why would I be the head of the family?"

This boasting made the Yan family's youngest son's eyes red.

Together, the eldest brother took 500 yuan from home to find a job, the second brother took 250 yuan from home to build a house, so what was left at home?

In the end, he still had to live in this broken house and support these two old... what's-their-names?

"Dad, are you going to distribute it or not? I can't wait!"

Seeing the youngest son's attitude was wrong, the Third Master's wife persuaded the Third Master: "Hurry up and give it to them to eat."

The head of the family, the Third Master, looked at the Third Master's wife and nodded: "Fine, fine, fine, distribute."

As he spoke, he brought over the basin filled with peanuts and distributed them to everyone with a rice shovel.

"One shovel each."

As he spoke of distributing peanuts, several children gathered around, holding them with both hands, but looking at the peanuts in their hands, there weren't even as many as their fingers.

"Dad, my eldest brother isn't home for the New Year this year, shouldn't you give us a little more!"

"That's right, give us my eldest brother and sister-in-law's share!"

The Third Master looked at the second son who took the lead in making trouble, glared, and said: "Isn't it being distributed now? One shovel each first, and we'll make up for it later."

After finishing his words, he glared at Yan Yan Jiefang again, and seeing the second son lower his head, he continued to distribute.

Yan Yan Jiefang saw the third son take the peanuts and start eating, and said with hanging eyes: "Hey, hey, hey, don't eat yet, lest Dad doesn't distribute them fairly."

"If I'm not fair, then there's no fair person in the world."

The Third Master looked at the second son with dissatisfaction and continued: "If you're troublesome again, there won't be a share for you later."

Yan Yan Jiekuang looked at the second brother and said: "That's right, the house is already obtained, so what's a few peanuts?"

"Hey, Third Brother, what are you saying?"

Hearing his third brother's words taste wrong, Yan Yan Jiefang wanted to make a move, but the Third Master's wife scolded anxiously: "It's New Year's, what are you doing?"

The Third Master saw all this in his eyes, frowned, and finished distributing the peanuts; the unity of the family was gone.

The Third Master kept this frown until morning, muttering in his heart whether he had chosen the right son for old-age support.

The Third Master tucked his hands into his sleeves, watching the eldest daughter-in-law busy in the inverted-seat room, feeling very uncomfortable in his heart.

"Old Yan, what are you looking at?"

Qin Laoer Master walked to the front courtyard to prepare for the group greeting, and seeing the Third Master standing at the door looking toward the inverted-seat room, he asked.

The Third Master turned his head to see it was Liu Liu Haizhong, laughed dryly twice, and said: "Nothing, just watching the fun."

"Envious, aren't you?"

Qin Laoer Master curled his lips and said: "I saw it, they are eating dumplings in the morning."

The Third Master sucked in his saliva, shook his head, and said: "What am I envious of? It's not like we didn't eat dumplings at home."

"Hehe."

Qin Laoer Master looked at Yan the stingy one, who was being stubborn, and laughed: "If you had a good relationship with your sons and daughters-in-law, wouldn't you have a share of the dumplings?"

The Third Master knew Liu Liu Haizhong was mocking him and wanted to turn back to argue, but the Second Master had already gone to talk to the First Master after finishing his words.

Li Li Xuewu's time was very tight today; he had to go home to pay New Year's greetings in the morning, and also go to his godmother's house, so there were many things to do.

After eating, he put on his clothes, first let everyone come to the front courtyard to participate in the group greeting, and he went home to pay New Year's greetings first.

Entering the front courtyard, he saw most of the children in the courtyard wearing new clothes and new shoes, weaving back and forth in the crowd, laughing and playing.

Children whose mothers had good craftsmanship and whose clothes were novel in style specifically showed off to the other children in the courtyard, and that pride was visible to anyone.

He bowed to the neighbors who wished him a Happy New Year and returned to his own home.

Everyone at home was already waiting for him. Li Li Xuewu first knelt on the ground to kowtow to the old lady and said auspicious words.

Li Li Xuewu was the first child in the family to split the family and live alone, so the old lady paid extra attention to Li Li Xuewu now.

This could be seen from the red envelope given to Li Li Xuewu.

Li Li Xuewu knelt and reached out to take the red envelope, but before he could warm it up, it was taken by his daughter.

This little demon knew what was good now; she wanted whatever she saw people playing with, and would grab it if they didn't give it to her.

After greeting the old lady, he greeted his parents, and finally wished his eldest brother Li Xuewen, third brother Xuecai, and younger sister Li Xue a Happy New Year.

Li Shun led Li Li Xuewu to kneel and kowtow in front of the family genealogy, and sacrificial offerings had already been prepared for Li Li Xuewu.

Li Li Xuewu lit three sticks of incense, was instructed by Li Shun, and then completed the ancestor worship ceremony.

It was called a ceremony, but it was actually just a simple rule; after all, there was no throne to inherit, nor was it a big family, so there weren't so many rules.

After eating the dumplings left by his mother, Li Li Xuewu held his daughter and followed his parents, and the whole family went out... uh... walked less than three steps to participate in the group greeting in the courtyard.

It was really too convenient for the Li family to participate in a courtyard meeting, because it was right at their door; in summer, Li Xuecai participated while sitting on his own window sill, without even having to get on the ground.

Now even Li Shu wasn't satisfied; it was too perfunctory.

Originally, she was wrapped tightly in a small quilt by her father, wearing a little tiger hat made by her great-grandmother, and her big eyes, the only thing exposed, were full of excitement, thinking she was going far away to play.

Didn't expect it, she only walked three steps!

Was this going out to play?

It wasn't even as far as walking to the house in the backyard!

"Ya!"

Hearing his daughter's dissatisfied cry, Li Li Xuewu knew this little demon wanted to go into the crowd to join the fun, so he walked inside while holding her.

By now, everyone in the courtyard was about to arrive, and the First Master organized everyone to grab melon seeds and peanuts from the basin; this could be considered a rare benefit of the year.

The Yan family members were all surrounding the basin, trying hard to stuff them into their pockets.

Li Li Xuewu held his daughter and stood in the crowd on the inverted-seat room side. Just as he stood still, his daughter in his arms was snatched away by Wen San.

"Hey, look at this little appearance, she's really pretty, let her be my daughter-in-law!"

As he spoke, Wen San showed a human trafficker's smile, holding Li Shu and showing her to his wife.

Fei Fei Shanying saw Wen San's posture of holding the child was wrong, and smiled as she took Li Shu from Wen San's arms to tease her.

Wen San didn't sleep well last night, which had a lot to do with Fei Fei Shanying.

She didn't feel it before marriage; she just thought he was a bachelor with no one to rely on, looked honest, and spoke and acted reliably, so she nodded and agreed to this matter.

Wen San had told her when they got married that he had no one to rely on and was living with a useless nephew collecting junk.

Fei Fei Shanying felt something was wrong on the day of the wedding; how could this junk recycling station be managed by her husband? Besides, his nephew didn't look like a useless person either.

It wasn't until Wen San insisted on bringing her here to spend the New Year that she saw the doorway here.

Good heavens, they were all wearing brand-new jackets and brand-new military coats, which gave Fei Fei Shanying a shock on New Year's Day. Who could make so many new clothes in this era?

Wen San avoided her during the day, and it wasn't easy to ask when there were many people, but after returning to the gatehouse to rest, Fei Fei Shanying started to discipline Wen San.

She tried both soft and hard tactics, anyway, Wen San couldn't get hard, so Wen San's eyes were still red now.

"Today is the first day of the first lunar month of 1966. Second Master and Third Master proposed to hold this group greeting, and I agree very much. Let's form a system and hold a group greeting every year!"

The First Master started it off amidst the yielding of the Second and Third Masters, and made an opening speech.

Because Li Li Xuewu was holding down the courtyard, and they had kicked away a Xu Xu Damao, suppressed a He He Yuzhu, deterred a Jia Jia Zhangshi, and Tian Wencheng-ed a Banggeng, there were fewer meetings in the courtyard.

This group greeting might have been thought of by the Second Master, who had been quite uncomfortable recently, and the Third Master, who couldn't help but speak.

The First Master continued: "Second Master asked me to greet everyone first, so I'll say a few words. I wish everyone in the courtyard happiness, health, and peace for every household. I wish everyone a Happy New Year!"

Following that was a round of applause from everyone, who were cracking melon seeds and still had time to clap.

After the First Master finished, he invited the Second Master to greet everyone.

Qin Laoer Master gave everyone a bit of culture and recited a spring couplet.

But the first line was okay and got applause, but the second line was interrupted by Seeing Sha Zhu's applause.

New Year is all about liveliness. Although the Second Master was angry at Seeing Sha Zhu for making trouble, he just scolded him with a smile.

The Third Master put on airs, praised the Second Master, mentioned his identity as an old scholar, elevated himself, and made a concluding speech.

"Our courtyard has always had a good atmosphere: diligent and studious, serving the masses, arduous struggle, and filial piety to parents."

The Third Master said this while scanning everyone, as if to see which family didn't have a good atmosphere.

"What I want to say is that we should pay more attention to the construction and maintenance of a good atmosphere. Some who didn't do well last year should make self-criticism speeches here!"

"Of course, for those who did well, we should also praise them, and please come out to make a speech so everyone can learn, right?"

The First Master nodded: "Third Master's proposal is good. I think everyone should maintain this excellent family style in our courtyard."

Qin Laoer Master cracked a melon seed and asked: "Then who should go first? Why don't you let your family go first?"

As he spoke, the Second Master pointed at Yu Li and said: "Start with your eldest daughter-in-law's speech."

The Third Master frowned and looked at the Second Master; this wasn't giving him eye drops.

But since it was already said, he also had the intention of pulling Yu Li out to let everyone criticize her, so that this eldest daughter-in-law would be cautious about her reputation and be more filial.

It was really that this eldest daughter-in-law couple was unreasonable this year; how could they earn money and save a small treasury? How could they make a scene about splitting the family? How could they pick on him? How could they smash his family's glass?

Even the Second Master in the backyard heard this calculation.

It wasn't until the Third Master "fell asleep" that the Second Master, who wanted to watch the fun, came to deliver the pillow.

Yu Li frowned when she heard her father-in-law's words, and her face turned even uglier when the Second Master pointed at her.

The Third Master nodded "reluctantly" and said: "Then Yu Li, you speak first."

Yu Li looked at the people in the courtyard, then stiffened her neck and said: "Since the three masters asked me to speak, I'll say a few words."

"To talk about being diligent and studious, I advocate being a model for others. I want to praise Li Li Xuewen's couple here: diligent, down-to-earth, filial to parents, and caring for the old and young."

Li Li Xuewen's participation in the courtyard meetings had been zero for years, and today was the New Year, and it was his first time encountering a group greeting in the courtyard, so he came out to participate.

But he never expected to be praised the first time he participated, but this praise was a bit inexplicable.

Li Li Xuewen also didn't know when he had been diligent and down-to-earth; wasn't he the first to run after class? Did he remember wrong?

Zhao Zhao Yafang knew why Yu Li said this, looked at the Third Master, and pursed her lips without speaking.

She saw that Yu Li had some relationship with the second younger brother, but didn't know how deep the friendship was, so she didn't say anything when she heard Yu Li say good things.

The people in this courtyard were all human spirits; who couldn't hear the meaning in Yu Li's words? Now the Third Master's face felt hot.

It turned out that the eldest daughter-in-law was mocking him for failing to educate his children, being ambitious, and being difficult to serve.

Then Yu Li continued: "Speaking of filial piety to parents, I agree with this, especially I have to learn from the Second Master."

Qin Laoer Master was stunned when he heard this, and immediately knew it was his proposal that made Yu Li angry, but before he could stop Yu Li, she had already started speaking.

"Qin Laoer Master's children are well-educated. The old saying goes that if parents are not kind, children will not be filial. Looking at the performance of the two brothers Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu, this Second Master is the most kind father in the courtyard."

"You!"

Who in the courtyard didn't know how much the two "young masters" of the Second Master's family had suffered? Whether he was kind or not was something anyone could see, so everyone started watching the Second Master's joke.

Before the Second Master could say anything after "You," Yu Li glanced at her father-in-law and said: "Especially the Second Master has never done things like charging his sons for using bicycles or flashlights, nor has he done things like taking advantage of his sons and daughters-in-law."

"Wow!"

As soon as Yu Li said this, the whole courtyard burst into laughter.

Now the Second Master didn't know whether he should laugh or be annoyed.

Watching Yu Li mock him, but now the muzzle was aimed at Yan Yan Fugui; if he stood out to criticize Yu Li now, wouldn't he be blocking the bullet for Yan Yan Fugui?

Good heavens, the human spirits in this courtyard all started to look at Yu Li with new eyes; this was the look of the same kind of people looking at the same kind of people.

They used to think the Third Master's daughter-in-law was stubborn, daring to smash her father-in-law's glass, but now it seemed this little wife wasn't a good person either.

Pressing the Third Master to hit the Second Master, and using the Second Master to hit the Third Master, good heavens, a revolving kick, a chain kick.

Li Shu, who was in Old Lao Biaozi's arms, saw everyone clapping and laughing, and followed along with a giggle, even revealing her newly grown small teeth.

Seeing that this group greeting couldn't go on, the First Master took his tea mug and returned to the middle courtyard.

He had spent the New Year with Yu Li yesterday, and the First Master didn't want to worry about Yu Li's business.

Besides, Yu Li had people standing behind her now, which everyone could see.

Seeing the First Master leave, the Second Master opened his mouth, wanting to say something.

But looking at Yu Li glaring at him, he quickly grabbed his tea mug and followed the First Master back.

Now only the Third Master was left sitting there with a wrinkled face, saying nothing.

The Third Master's wife wanted to say something, but no matter how much she said in this situation, it would be a disgrace, and she knew her daughter-in-law couldn't be provoked now that she had the inverted-seat room group standing behind her, so she went to help the Third Master up and go home.

The Third Master took the step from his old partner, grabbed the remaining peanuts and melon seeds on the table, glared at Yu Li, and walked home.

Li Li Xuewu felt that the big drama in this courtyard should reduce the number of supporting roles, otherwise it would be too noisy, and narrowed his eyes to look at the Second Master returning to the backyard and the indignant Third Master.

Li Li Xuewu took his daughter from the "human trafficker" and said to everyone: "I have to pay New Year's greetings in the morning, you guys do whatever you want."

Qin Qin Huairu hugged Banggeng and said: "I have to go back to my parents' home, see my parents, and then pick up Qin Jingru."

As she spoke, she glanced at Seeing Sha Zhu.

Seeing Sha Zhu grinned when he heard this, unable to stop laughing.

"I'm fine, I'll still cook at noon, you guys come back after paying your New Year's greetings and just in time to eat."

Old Lao Biaozi smoothed his clothes and said: "I'm going home to pay New Year's greetings, I'll be back for lunch."

Because of the family split, Old Lao Biaozi's relationship with his family wasn't close, and the messy business could fill another book.

Wen San held his son and said: "We're heading home, see you on the third day."

Shen Shen Guodong said with a smile: "I'll go pay New Year's greetings to Xiao Yan's family first, then I have to help pack the lunch boxes, I'll send food to my grandmother and come back to eat."

Everyone reported their itinerary so Seeing Sha Zhu could prepare the meal.

At this time, Yu Li pulled He Yu Shui and said: "Let's go, let's go to the temple fair, it's the first day, it must be lively."

He Yu Shui had been getting along well with Yu Li these past two days, especially since Yu Li had accompanied her when she was most sad, so she agreed with a smile when Yu Li wanted to take her out to play.

Seeing He Yu Shui agree, Yu Li turned to Li Li Xuewu and said: "Li Xuewu, lend me your bike, we'll ride it there."

Li Li Xuewu shook his daughter in his arms and said with a smile: "In the desk drawer, go get it yourself."

Looking at Li Li Xuewu's smile, Yu Li knew he supported her, so she went to the backyard to get the key with a smile.

Li Li Xuewu said to Yang Erhai: "Find a bike in the west courtyard, follow Sister-in-law Yu Li and your Sister He Yu Shui to the temple fair, you've been busy all year, go have some fun."

Yang Erhai knew Li Li Xuewu's meaning; he wasn't just going to play.

"Understood, Wu Ge."

Seeing Yang Erhai agree, He Yu Shui, who was standing by Seeing Sha Zhu, also saw Li Li Xuewu's meaning.

"Thanks, Li Xuewu."

The temple fair now wasn't the scale of the one on the small New Year, it was crowded.

Where there are people, there is a world; where there is a world, there are bad guys.

It wasn't safe for two women to go out to play, so Li Li Xuewu let Yang Erhai, who had nothing to do, follow them.

Don't look at Yang Erhai's small size; those who could mix with Li Li Xuewu until now weren't simple characters.

Not to mention his good brain, just in terms of combat power, the iron chain belt he wore around his waist all year round could handle two or three people.

In the past, these fifteen or sixteen-year-old brats of Li Li Xuewu's group dared to challenge adults over 1.8 meters tall with iron chains, and could beat them until they ran away howling.

Everyone finished their arrangements, and Li Li Xuewu held his child and said something to Liu Yin before walking out.

Li Shu saw her father didn't take her home, nor did he return to the backyard, and looking at her own home getting further and further away from the crack in the quilt, she giggled excitedly.

The godmother's house wasn't far. Along the way, Li Li Xuewu walked and stopped while holding his daughter, wishing the neighbors a Happy New Year when they met, and chatting a few words with those he could talk to.

The neighbors were most curious about Li Li Xuewu's changes, and everyone who saw Li Li Xuewu would pull him to talk for a while.

The road wasn't far, but it took a lot of time. By the time he arrived at his godmother's house, the sun was already up.

As soon as he entered the courtyard gate, Li Li Xuewu saw two naughty children rolling on the snowy ground.

Perhaps seeing Li Li Xuewu holding a child and entering from the window, godmother Wang Wang Shuhua pushed the door open and greeted him.

"Oh, my eldest granddaughter is here!"

Laughing, the godmother took Li Shu from Li Li Xuewu's arms, lifted the quilt corner, and revealed Li Shu's small face.

"Dad, Happy New Year, wish you health and everything goes as you wish."

Li Li Xuewu greeted Zheng Zheng Shusen, who followed him out, and Zheng Zheng Shusen patted Li Li Xuewu on the shoulder and responded with a smile.

Li Li Xuewu also greeted the eldest son, eldest daughter-in-law, second son, and second son-in-law of the Zheng family.

Zheng Zheng Shusen had a son and a daughter, neither of whom were by his side. The eldest son was named Zheng Zheng Xicai, lived in the west city, and worked in urban construction.

The youngest daughter was named Zheng Chen Xiaoyan, married to Tianjin, and both husband and wife were employees of the radio factory.

Li Li Xuewu went to the south when Zheng Chen Xiaoyan had her child, so Li Li Xuewu knew everyone in this courtyard.

"Li Xuewu, come in quickly."

Zheng Chen Xiaoyan let Li Li Xuewu into the room with a smile; Li Li Xuewu had saved her once in the alley back then.

Li Li Xuewu smiled, offered cigarettes to Zheng Zheng Xicai and Zheng Chen Xiaoyan's husband, and several people walked into the room laughing.

Once inside, the godmother opened Li Shu's small quilt and held Li Shu on the sofa to play.

Looking at the room full of strangers, Li Shu wasn't afraid, just curiously looking at everyone.

Except for Zheng Zheng Shusen's couple, the Zheng family's children didn't know about Li Shu. Seeing the porcelain doll Li Li Xuewu brought, they all looked at her with curiosity.

The godmother didn't tell her children about Li Shu's background; it was New Year's, and she couldn't say such things in front of the children, so she just treated her as Li Li Xuewu's child.

The two little boys who were playing wildly in the courtyard ran in and showed surprised expressions at the doll sitting on the sofa.