Siheyuan: There are three little cats at home

Chapter 250 Grandparents celebrate New Year in the city
On New Year's Eve, although there was heavy snow in the sky, the courtyard was full of excitement.

Every household got up early and got busy.

Yan Bugui was in the front yard early in the morning, waiting for everyone in the yard to ask him to write Spring Festival couplets.

But I never thought that no one in the middle courtyard or backyard would look for him this year.

Now there is He Yushui, a junior college student in the middle school. Although the delicate calligraphy is not as vigorous as Yan Bugui's, it is pleasing to the eye, and he is not inferior to his third master in the slightest.

As for the backyard, with Xu Qing there, it is natural that Yan Bugui would not be around.

No, early in the morning, Yan Bugui guarded the door of his own small study room. On the desk inside, pens, inks, papers and inkstones were all neatly arranged.

In the twelfth lunar month, Yan Bugui didn't go out to set up a stall on the street, so Yan Bugui wanted to take advantage of this to earn some money in the courtyard so that he could make money back for himself.

The eldest got married, and even though his family was not as rich as the second uncle's, it made Yan Pugui feel distressed for a long time.

As a result, after waiting all morning, Yan Bugui didn't expect anyone.

Yan Bugui wanted to earn some money for his pen in the compound, but now he has no hope.So he had no choice but to write Spring Festival couplets and blessing characters for his front yard, and then asked Yan Jiefang and Yan Jiekuang to quickly post them with paste.

When he was bored, he took the writing brush by himself and ran to write Spring Festival couplets for the main gate of the compound.

The snow has been falling all morning and has not stopped. It is just a little bit lighter and not as heavy as it was in the early morning.

Yan Jiecheng, who just got married, put his hands in the sleeves of his padded jacket, leaned against his own door, and said to Yu Li:

"Did you see that no one asked my dad to write a note in the yard today? He is extremely bored now."

Yu Li turned her head and gave Yan Jiecheng a blank look: "What's the matter, if your father earns money today, can he still share it with you?"

Yan Jiecheng was choked by his daughter-in-law, his eyes widened immediately, he looked at Yu Li, stretched out his hand from the sleeve of his cotton-padded jacket, and lowered the curtain on the door with his hand.

Yan Jiecheng felt that the people in the courtyard outside couldn't see the inside of the room at this moment, so he patted Yu Li's back with his right hand hard, then hugged Yu Li and went into the inner room.

The young couple who have just been married for a long time, the firewood is burning, the sweetness is like glue, and the heart is burning together, so they have to hurry up and love each other.

At present, Yan Jiecheng has not separated from the third uncle. Naturally, he and Yu Li don't need to take care of the New Year matters, and they don't want to take care of them, let alone take action.

I just sat and waited to go to my parents' house at night to have a New Year's Eve dinner.

The only thing Yan Jiecheng did during the Chinese New Year was to take Yu Li to a department store that had just opened and bought some New Year goods for the family.

And the money was given by the third mother.

However, after Yan Jiecheng and the young couple bought new year's goods, they didn't take them directly to their parents' house at the first time. Instead, they secretly withheld some of them and let Yu Li carry them into her own room. The rest were handed over to the third mother. .

Now Yan Xiecheng handed over all the money he earned from work to Yu Li.

Even if he didn't hand it in, according to the calculation Yan Jiecheng learned from his father, he would not take the money out of himself.

Yan Pugui was very annoyed by this, and wanted to reprimand her, but since Yu Li, the daughter-in-law, had just passed through the door not long ago, she couldn't speak up, so she could only complain inwardly.

At this time, after Yan Bugui finished writing the Spring Festival couplets on the main gate of the compound, holding a brush, an ink bottle, and a cigarette in his mouth, he took two steps back, stood in the alley, and quietly admired it alone.

In the middle courtyard, the Jia family is still the grand master's house, and He Yuyu has to help with all the Spring Festival couplets.

Jia Zhang took the Spring Festival couplets that he wrote without spending a penny or a cigarette, and exaggerated about the rain.

It's a bit embarrassing for the rain.

There is no way, Jiazhang used He Yushui today, so naturally all kinds of nice words kept popping out of his mouth.

In addition to this New Year's Eve, Mrs. Jia Zhang seemed very happy.

Of course, another important reason is that Qin Huairu just borrowed ten yuan from Sha Zhu last week.

Therefore, Jiazhang took the Spring Festival couplets, and while pulling the stick back to her home, she also said something nice to Shazhu.

However, Shazhu was busy helping his sister Yuyu and had no time to pay attention to Jia Zhang. He opened his mouth and responded twice, then hurriedly handed over the Spring Festival couplets Yuyu had written for his uncle.

Yi Zhonghai and Yi Ma have taken great care of Sha Zhu and Yu Yu during their years in the courtyard.

The reason is, firstly, Shazhu's parents are not there, and the uncle, as the uncle in charge of the middle courtyard, has to do nothing.

Secondly, Yi Zhonghai and Da Ma treated Shazhu and Yushui well because they had the idea of ​​letting Shazhu help them take care of themselves.

Otherwise, how could Auntie have been obsessed with Silly Zhu who couldn't find a wife these past few years.

But because of this, Shazhu is closer to the first uncle and the first mother than the family of the second uncle and the family of the third uncle in the courtyard.

At this time in the backyard, Xu Qing was also busy writing Spring Festival couplets for Xu Damao, the second uncle's family, and the old lady.

The little girl was in the kitchen with her third brother Xu Fengming, helping grandma clean up the big rooster.

Xu Aiguo stood in front of the table in the front room, took away the Spring Festival couplets with the word "Fu" written by his eldest brother Xu Qing, and put them aside.

The old man was holding a dry tobacco stick in his mouth, puffing on the cigarette, and looking down at the Spring Festival couplets written by his eldest grandson Xu Qing.

Seeing that Xu Qing's handwriting is better than those of the commune, I feel indescribably proud.

Liu Haizhong, the second uncle who came to Xu Qing to write Spring Festival couplets, saw Grandpa Xu Qing and hurriedly reached out from his body and handed the big bag prepared in advance to the old man.

Today, Xu Qing's house is quite lively. This year, his grandparents will spend the New Year with them in the city, and Xu Qing can't tell how happy he is.

The second father, Xu Guangjin, had breakfast early the day before yesterday and drove the tractor back to the countryside. Xu Qing couldn't hold him back, so he had to fill two more net bags from the New Year goods he bought a few days ago and bring them back to his second father. .

At this moment, the Spring Festival couplets written by Xu Qing to the second uncle Liu Haizhong's family are extremely beautiful.

Not to mention the elegant and beautiful handwriting, the writing is extremely serious.

Grandpa was watching in front of him. Xu Qing wrote very carefully.

Ten minutes later, Xu Qing finished writing Spring Festival couplets for Liu Haizhong and was just about to take a break.

Xu Damao came in from outside the house smoking a cigarette, took out a cigarette, first gave one to the old man, and then handed it to Xu Qing:
"Qingzi, have the Spring Festival couplets and blessings in my family finished?"

Last night Xu Damao took the wine and ran to Xu Qing's room, and had a drink with Xu Qing and the old man.

The matter of his family's Spring Festival couplets was actually a step ahead of Liu Haizhong, and he had agreed with Xu Qing.

Xu Qing took the cigarette from Xu Damao, smiled and said, "Brother Damao, I'll write it for you."

Taking a deep breath, Xu Qing grabbed the brush that he had just put down, dipped the ink bottle full of ink, and hurriedly helped Xu Damao start writing.

After being busy again, Xu Qing handed over the written Spring Festival couplets to Xu Damao, and then in one go, he wrote all the Spring Festival couplets of his family and the old lady.

After finishing writing, Xu Qing and his second brother Xu Aiguo stood at the door of the house with Spring Festival couplets and the paste prepared by grandma, and put them up.

On the old lady's side, Xu Qing also looked at it and posted it.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, Xu Qing had nothing else to do and was going to the kitchen to cook the New Year's Eve dinner with the little girl and grandma.

But grandma pushed him out directly.

"As the eldest brother, go chat with your grandfather in the front room. Xiaoya and I can handle the kitchen."

After grandma finished speaking, she stretched out her hand and called Xu Fengming into the kitchen, and asked him to sit in front of the stove to light the fire.

Xu Fengming was a little puzzled. He sat on the bench in front of the stove and turned to his grandma and asked:
"Grandma, why don't you let my eldest brother into the kitchen?"

Standing in front of the chopping board, the old man holding a kitchen knife and chopping meat, said while busy:

"Your elder brother is the pillar of the family. He is thirty today. If someone in your yard looks for him, should he cook in the kitchen or go out to socialize?"

Xu Fengming groaned, looked down at the red coals burning in the stove, and stopped talking.

When it was getting dark, Sha Zhu ran to the backyard, took a bowl of his specialty dishes, and wandered around Xu Qing's house.

In the past two or three years, the two brothers Shazhu and Yuyu spent New Year's Eve together with the four brothers and sisters Xu Qing.

After all, it's because the parents are not around, so they get together, not only for fun, but also for celebration.

Only this year, Xu Qing's grandparents went to the city to celebrate the New Year.

It is inconvenient for Shazhu and Yushui to be with Xu Qing.

So this year, when he and Yu Yu went to the uncle's house, they had to bring Xu Qing a bowl of meat and vegetables.

After Xu Qing accepted the bowl of meat and vegetables, grandma scooped up a bowl of meatballs without returning the empty bowl, and then handed the bowl back to Silly Zhu.

During the Chinese New Year, how can you go out with an empty bowl?

Silly Zhu took a look and saw a bowl full of meatballs, he grinned happily, not knowing what to say.

He never thought about asking Xu Qing to return his things.

But since the bowl is full, it’s hard not to accept it.

For those who celebrate the New Year, everything goes smoothly and smoothly.

Silly Zhu took the bowl, turned around and wanted to go to the old lady. He invited the old lady to come to the middle courtyard to celebrate the New Year with him and his family.

However, the old man sitting on the kang saw Si Zhu. Although he looked older, he had a good heart. He raised his hand and stayed in the room, letting him drink a few cups before leaving.

Xu Qing smiled and said, "Brother Silly Zhu, it's Chinese New Year today, how can I get you out of my house if you don't drink."

While talking, Xu Qing filled the empty wine cup with wine. Silly Zhu scratched his head, put down the bowl, sat on the edge of the Kang, drank with Xu Qing and the old man for a while, and then took the bowl of meatballs. into the old lady's house.

It was past seven o'clock in the evening.

Xu Qing and his younger siblings brought all the cooked meals in the kitchen to the kang in the front room.

Grandma has cooked a lot of delicious dishes today, although they are all home-cooked dishes, but Xu Qingguang can't help but whet his appetite when he smells the aroma.

Xu Fengming swallowed even more greedily.

Today is the Chinese New Year, and I can finally open my belly and eat to my heart's content.

In particular, these meals were made by grandma herself. Xu Fengming hasn't eaten them for a long time, so I thought about it earlier.

However, the grandfather sitting on the kang didn't move his chopsticks, so Xu Fengming didn't dare to eat his chopsticks first, no matter how greedy he was.

Grandma saw that the former little guy had grown into a half-grown man in a few years, and said with a smile:
"Eat what you want, don't be afraid of your grandpa, grandma will support you."

Xu Fengming chuckled, looked up at his grandfather sitting on the kang, rolled his eyes, did not move his chopsticks, but picked up the wine bottle and poured wine into the wine cup in front of his grandfather.

The old man saw that Xu Fengming was so sensible today, so he lit the cigarette stick in his hand and said:

"Give it to your grandma, and your eldest brother and your second brother also pour it."

Xu Fengming heard his grandfather's words, and hurriedly continued to pour the wine.

The old man is in a good mood today. On the one hand, he met his future grandson-in-law two days ago.

On the other hand, this Chinese New Year, the violent temper naturally restrained.

Seeing that Xu Fengming had finished pouring the wine, the old man put down the cigarette stick, with a long-lost smile on his face and said:

"Fill your own wine glass as well."

After the old man finished speaking, he turned to look at the little girl beside him and said, "Would you like to have a drink today?"

The little girl blinked, looked at grandpa, then at grandma, and finally her eyes fell on brother Xu Qing.

The old man coughed immediately, "Xiaoya, grandpa is in charge, you can make an exception and have a drink today."

The old man has rarely been so happy in these years. Taking advantage of the New Year, he no longer adheres to those old ideas and customs.

If not, according to the old theory, the first time a girl drinks alcohol must be when she gets engaged.

But now, the old society has come to an end, and a new era has arrived. In the past two years, the whole country has broken down those old and outdated customs.

The countryside is no exception.

At this moment, Xu Qing picked up the wine glass and toasted to his grandparents with his younger brothers and sisters.

The two old men looked at their grandchildren who were about to become adults in front of them. Their eyes were full of doting, and they felt very happy in their hearts.

A few years ago, they were still worried, afraid that Xu Qing, the eldest brother, was busy with work, and it would not be enough for the three of them alone.

Now it seems that the eldest grandson not only took good care of his younger siblings, but also his own affairs.

While the two old people were relieved, they felt distressed for Xu Qing.

At twelve o'clock in the evening, Xu Qing took his younger siblings and set off firecrackers in the courtyard outside the house, then returned to the house to pay New Year greetings to his grandparents.

The two old people sitting on the kang were busy paying for the new year's money.

After Xu Qing kowtowed, he didn't take the lucky money from his grandfather.

"Grandpa, I'll forget it, you give Aiguo and Fengming, and Xiaoya is fine."

The old man waved his hand and said, "When you get married and have children, I won't give it to you if you want it. If the time comes, I'll give it to my great-grandson."

Grandma stood aside and said with a kind face: "Xiao Qing, take it."

Xu Qing had no choice but to reach out and take the new year's money from his grandfather.

Xu Aiguo, Xu Fengming and the little girl held the lucky money in their hands, feeling so beautiful in their hearts.

Following elder brother Xu Qing, they said in unison: "Thank you grandpa, thank you grandma!"

On New Year's Eve, stay up late.

Grandma went down to the kitchen, brought the dumpling fillings that had been prepared to the front room, put them on the kang, and took Xu Qing, brother and sister, to make dumplings.

In the courtyard outside the house, the lights are bright.

In the big courtyard today, every household rummaged out red lanterns from the house and hung them in the courtyard.

The entire compound was silent in the strong atmosphere of the New Year, full of laughter and laughter.

On the morning of the first day of the first lunar month, Xu Qing and the little girl helped grandma cook dumplings in the kitchen.

Xu Aiguo sat in front of the stove, and the fire was very hot.

On the kang in the front room, the old man was holding a tobacco stick in his mouth. With the help of Xu Fengming, he filled the tobacco pot with tobacco leaves, lit it with a match, leaned against the bedding, and took a puff.

Suddenly decided: temporarily live in the city, watch the eldest grandson Xu Qing get married, and then return to the countryside.

(End of this chapter)