Scholars in the courtyard.

Chapter 2134 New Year
Driving slowly all the way, Yang Xiaotao returned to the courtyard.

After parking the car, I heard the sound of firecrackers coming from the alley, mixed with bursts of laughter.

Yang Xiaotao thought for a while, took out a bag of candy and a bag of melon seeds from the space, and walked home with them.

Outside the gate, Duanwu was playing with a group of children.

This boy is about to enter primary school, but his mind is entirely on playing.

If it weren't for the fact that his little head was smart enough to satisfy dear teacher Ran, his butt would have been beaten to a pulp long ago.

"dad!"

"father!"

As soon as Yang Xiaotao appeared in front of them, Yueyue Rongrong ran over hurriedly and took the bag from Yang Xiaotao's hand.

These two clever kids know who has the final say at home, so they can only act coquettishly to their dad when their mom isn't around and then get some benefits.

Yang Xiaotao also knows what the children are thinking. It’s the New Year, and the children should be happy too.

So Yang Xiaotao took out a handful of candy from the bag and gave three pieces to each child who came over.

The children who rushed over after hearing the news also had a share.

Yang Xiaotao didn't care about Xiaodang and Huaihua who came to join in the fun.

After sending the group of children away, Yang Xiaotao looked at the new couplets posted on the gate.

Love the collective, love the family, work hard and never complain

Build the country and the revolution with one heart and one mind
As soon as I saw the handwriting, I knew it was Yan Fugui's.

Look up again and see the banner above: Serve the People.

Well, this year Comrade Yan has changed his character and become aware of the situation. He is no longer a Fulin Siheyuan.

But this is the level at which we can say this.

After reading it, Yang Xiaotao walked into the house. He didn’t have time to come back today, so he couldn’t be absent from making dumplings in the evening.

As soon as I entered the door, I heard congratulations from the neighbors on both sides.

The news of the machinery factory's Spring Festival performance in the morning had already spread, and many people in the factory received awards.

Among them, the group that Wang Jun from Wang Dashan's family belonged to was rated as an advanced model, and each person received a reward of 30 yuan.

Although it is just a small reward, for today's families, thirty yuan is almost equivalent to one or two months' income.

What's more, the machinery factory prepared New Year's goods for everyone, including food and daily necessities.

But other people in the hospital were very envious.

"Mr. Yang."

"Xiao Tao is back."

"Brother Tao, come to my house and eat dumplings."

As soon as he entered the yard, he heard voices greeting him, and Yang Xiaotao responded one by one.

Pass through the hanging flower gate and walk into the courtyard.

Wangcai's family was wandering around in the yard. The joy of the New Year also infected them, and they were playing in the yard one by one.

"Master!"

As soon as Yang Xiaotao entered the door, he saw his grandfather playing chess with the Taoist priest.

Ran Qiuye was kneading dough and preparing to make dumplings.

Ran Qiuye breathed a sigh of relief when Yang Xiaotao came back. It was New Year's Day and she was worried that Yang Xiaotao might not be able to come back due to some reasons.

Now that Yang Xiaotao is back, the family has a backbone.

"came back."

The grandfather looked up, then continued to stare at the chessboard.

Yang Xiaotao placed the melon seeds next to the two men and took a look at the battle situation. They were both terrible chess players.

When I came to the kitchen, Ran Qiuye had already prepared the meal.

"Xiao'e came over this afternoon and said your performance was a success?"

"What success? I didn't get any reward."

Yang Xiaotao started to complain, but Ran Qiuye smiled and said, "With your status, what kind of reward do you want?"

Yang Xiaotao looked outside after hearing this, and then whispered in Ran Qiuye's ear, "You can give up other rewards, but you can't give up yours."

As she looked him up and down, Ran Qiuye blushed, "It's New Year's Day and you are so unserious."

Papapa

There was the sound of firecrackers outside, and then Duanwu was heard running in hurriedly, begging for something to the grandfather.

When Ran Qiuye saw this, she wanted to leave, but Yang Xiaotao held her back.

"This guy has asked for thirty cents today. He will definitely go out to buy some cannonballs later."

"Buy it. It was given to you by your grandfather. Go and ask him not to give it to you. Will he listen to you?"

Ran Qiuye was stunned for a moment, then said, "This brat is getting more and more rampant, he needs to be taught a lesson."

As they were talking, they saw the grandfather took out two dimes from his pocket, and the old Taoist took out two dimes. Duanwu was so excited that he collapsed on the spot and ran out with the money.

"I want to see if this guy will spend money."

Yang Xiaotao suddenly laughed and said, "If Hua understands, that would be fine."

"But if the accounts can't be settled, this kid, haha, needs to be taught a lesson."

Ran Qiuye rolled her eyes, it seems like she is waiting here.

Sure enough, not long after, Duanwu came back with a bunch of firecrackers, followed by a group of children.

Yang Xiaotao came out with a handful of melon seeds. Seeing Duanwu showing off happily, he waved to him.

The young man didn't know what his father meant yet, and was excitedly talking about how many firecrackers he had bought. Yang Xiaotao didn't interrupt him and waited until he finished speaking before asking, "How much is a string of small firecrackers?"

Duanwu was stunned, his face full of confusion.

He ran into the supply and marketing cooperative before it closed, gave all the 40 cents to the salesperson, and then ran back with the cannon in his arms.

As for how much it costs, I didn’t even ask!

Duanwu was speechless, and Yang Xiaotao asked Miaomiao to bring the cannon over, "Count how many there are!"

Duanwu felt something was wrong and hurried over to count.

When people from the surrounding courtyards saw this, they all came out to watch the fun.

"Dad, six, six hang!"

After counting the Dragon Boat Festival, I still don’t understand what’s going on.

"Miao Miao, tell me, how much is one hook?"

Miaomiao glanced at Duanwu and knew that her brother had made a wrong calculation!

But her father was watching her, so she didn't dare to say anything wrong, so she could only say honestly, "Dad, it's five cents a piece at the supply and marketing cooperative!"

Yang Xiaotao nodded, then looked at Duanwu, "Your great grandfather gave you 20 cents, and Grandpa Zhang gave you 20 cents. You bought both cannons, right!"

Duanwu knew what was going on. He stretched out his fingers and counted behind his back, and was so frightened that he dared not speak.

"You figured it out?"

Duanwu nodded. "Wrong?"

"Ok!"

"How many hooks should it be?"

"Eight, eight!"

"Not bad, I calculated it right!"

Yang Xiaotao threw the melon seed shells in his hand into the vegetable garden and turned to walk into the house.

"Your New Year's money is gone this year!"

Upon hearing this, Duanwu was stunned for a moment, then tears filled his eyes and he burst into tears.

"If you dare to cry, you won't have dinner tonight!"

The sound came from the house, and Duanwu immediately closed his mouth and dared not say a word.

The look of grievance on his face would make anyone feel sad.

"Duanwu, let's go and ask for money!"

Miaomiao glanced around the room, then pulled Duanwu and ran out.

While running, she comforted him, "I'll give you half of my New Year's money!"

The two little followers behind him also said, "Brother, we'll give you half of ours!"

After hearing what his sisters said, Duanwu felt better.

Just by doing the math, it seems like I've made a profit!

"You, why are you arguing with a child?"

The old master and the Taoist priest heard everything that happened in the courtyard clearly. When they saw Yang Xiaotao coming in, the old master couldn't help but ask questions.

Yang Xiaotao smiled and said, "If we don't let him suffer a loss now, I don't know what mistakes he will make when he grows up."

"Then let's change the time. It's Chinese New Year, a festive day. You..."

The grandfather was nagging while Ran Qiuye covered her mouth and laughed.

Yang Xiaotao had no choice but to take out the red envelopes and put fifty cents more in each one.

As far as he knew, these little guys were united.

After the meal is ready in the evening, we just wait for twelve o'clock.

People who had finished their work in the yard began to visit each other.

Yang Xiaotao and Ran Qiuye also went out. They first went to the backyard. Yu Zecheng did not come back during the New Year, and Cuiping had long been accustomed to this.

Ran Qiuye spent the New Year alone with Shitou at home, and took the opportunity to invite him to dinner at her home.

Cuiping shook her head and refused, she still had to stay at home for the New Year.

After going out, Yang Xiaotao went to Wang Dashan's house to sit, while Ran Qiuye went back home. The old people and women in the yard began to walk around, and the cries of children accompanied by the sound of firecrackers rang out from time to time, making the atmosphere of the New Year more and more intense.

After walking around the middle courtyard, Yang Xiaotao said he went to the front courtyard.

When Yan Fugui saw Yang Xiaotao coming, he hurriedly prepared melon seeds and candies, while Yan Jiekuang and his sister at home were serving tea and water.

"Xiao Tao, your machinery factory is really amazing. I heard that none of the factories in this city can catch up with ours!"

Yan Fugui was eating some melon seeds, with a look of pride on his face.

Yang Xiaotao naturally knew what he was referring to. It was nothing more than comparing the New Year goods distributed by various factories.

In this regard, machinery factories have a natural advantage.

It's because Yan Fugui's family got a lot of things because of school matters, otherwise how could he have given out melon seeds and peanuts so readily?
In the past, it was good enough that we didn’t have to ask people in the hospital for money.

Yang Xiaotao smiled and didn't say much about it, just being polite on the surface.

The three aunts nearby also joined in, and after chatting for a while, they turned the topic to Yan Jiefang.

Today, Yan Jiefang is already the deputy director of the workshop of the second factory. He earns a lot every month and has his own house.

A few years ago, he wrote a letter home saying that his wife was pregnant.

Old couple Yan Fugui were so happy. This was the first grandchild of the Yan family. If it wasn’t for the year-end and the long journey, they might have really decided to go.

Even so, the number of letters between the two sides increased.

"This was sent by Jiefang's daughter-in-law!"

The third aunt took out a square red scarf with tassels around it from the bedside. It looked like a local specialty.

"My daughter-in-law is thoughtful!"

Yan Fugui was also smiling beside them, but he didn't mention a word about the old couple's eldest son.

Just pretend that this person doesn't exist.

Yang Xiaotao sat at Yan's house for a while, then got up and went home to prepare to set off firecrackers and cook dumplings.

At home, the TV picture disappeared again, and everyone took their stools and went home.

Ran Qiuye had already prepared the hot dishes, and the grandfather was lighting a fire nearby.

During the Dragon Boat Festival in the yard, Miaomiao and his friends were in high spirits and still had a great time.

The two little ones, on the other hand, were yawning and dazed, but still wanted to play.

Soon, as the time approached midnight, sporadic firecrackers could be heard all around. Then, as if a hornet's nest had been poked, the entire city began to rattle and the sky and earth were filled with crackling sounds.

"Raise it higher!"

Yang Xiaotao held a lighter and shouted to the brother and sister who were lifting bamboo poles not far away.

The brother and sister were holding their breath, and Duanwu even lifted up the bamboo pole while Miaomiao held it down at the other end.

Wangcai ran to Duanwu and pushed him hard, while Heinu took Wangwang and Tianzun away.

Xiaowei landed on the bamboo pole, and Duanwu's shoulders suddenly felt lightened.

At the door, Master Yang and Taoist Zhang were laughing. Wang Dashan's family, Xiao Liu's family, and other people in the yard were all waiting with smiles on their faces.

Zhou Kui directly hung the firecrackers on the big locust tree, then held his daughter in his arms and asked Xiaoyu to light them with incense...

Yi Zhonghai was sitting at the door, and a string of firecrackers was set off on the ground in front of the door. In the house, Qin Huairu was smiling as she put dumplings in the pot, but she was looking at the situation outside and felt uncomfortable.

It was obvious that everyone was waiting for Yang Xiaotao to make the first move, and they were feeling uncomfortable.

The entire courtyard seemed to be still, waiting for that moment to come.

In the room, Ran Qiuye looked at the water in the pot, looked at her watch, and prepared to cook dumplings.

"Okay, it's time to make dumplings!"

As Ran Qiuye's voice rang out, Yang Xiaotao quickly lit the firecrackers, then came to the two children and helped hold the firecrackers high.

At the same time, fierce noises suddenly broke out in the yards of Wang Dashan's house, Xiao Liu's house, and so on.

Crackling
Bang bang bang bang
The firecrackers came quickly and disappeared just as quickly.

But the atmosphere in the yard reached a climax.

"Celebrate the New Year, celebrate the New Year, after the New Year comes the first day of the new year..."

"Wear new clothes, celebrate the New Year, say Happy New Year to everyone you meet..."

A group of children in the yard were singing and searching the ground for unlit firecrackers. Even in the middle of the night, they couldn't stop the joy of the New Year.