"Why are you back so early today?"

Li Deyou, who was listening to the radio with the villagers outside the gate, watched his two sons return.

"It was too cold, so we didn't stop much and took advantage of the sun to warm up at noon." Li Wen quickly jumped out of the back seat of the car and said.

The bumpy ride made his buttocks feel numb, and he was still wearing cotton pants in winter. If it was summer, he wouldn't dare sit down at all.

It seems that if I want to tell my mother, I need to make a cushion for the back seat of the bicycle.

"Uncle and aunt, you are all here! The sun is nice today and it is warm." After talking with their father, the two brothers Li Wen quickly greeted the folks at the door.

"The wind has been light these days, and the sun is really warm at noon. Plus listening to your radio, this life is very beautiful." Ninth Uncle Li Decai said with a smile.

Haha! Uncle and aunt, please continue to listen. We are going back first. Li Wen and Li Wu crossed the threshold with their bicycles.

"Xiao Wu, why did Awen come back so early today? Didn't he have dinner at your sister's house?" His mother, Wang Chunmei, was busy in the kitchen and she stuck her head out and asked.

"No, my sister has a lot of family members. And the way they looked at people was really unbearable, so we came back." The two brothers said honestly.

"Alas! There are too many people in your sister's family, and they are not divided into families. The Zhang family and the Li family are short, so they must have a lot of right and wrong." Wang Chunmei sighed and said.

"Last time your sister's family was full moon, your dad and I went to deliver things, and we even asked your sister specifically about the family separation."

"What your father and I are saying is, if it doesn't work, our family will lend you fifty yuan to your brother-in-law's family so that they can move out and live alone."

"But your brother-in-law's parents said with a shameless face that they would not borrow fifty yuan, but would directly pay it to your sister. Do you think this is irritating or not?" said her mother Wang Chunmei angrily.

"We still have two of your brothers in our family. Xiaomin is also eight years old. Your father and I still have to save money for your brothers. Your second uncle will have to add some people when the family is divided after the year. How can there be such a person? Just fill in

Give him a home.”

"Bah, don't be skinny!"

Mother Wang Chunmei said with her hands on her hips.

"Yes, although my sister is married to her brother-in-law, if they say so, there is no way. Unless these fifty yuan are given to my sister so that he and his brother-in-law can live alone." Li Wen also said with disgust on his face.

"That's what your father and I said at the time. Since their words were so unpleasant, we didn't show any shame and offered to let your sister live alone."

"But your brother-in-law's two younger brothers are not very capable and can't even work. Your brother-in-law was learning a trade with a carpenter in the village and was about to graduate. His parents were reluctant to let your sister and the others live alone." Wang Chunmei

sigh.

"Alas! This matter at my sister's house is really difficult to deal with. We can only wait until their family breaks out." Li Wen also rubbed his head and said.

Even if Li Wen had the ability, it would be difficult for him to adjust this kind of housework. He couldn't let his brother-in-law break up with the family. Besides, he didn't dare to say that the clan power was still very strong in this era.

"Okay, let's not talk about your sister. As long as your sister and her children live a decent life, there is nothing else we can do for the time being. You brothers can help her in the future. Our mother-in-law's family is her greatest source of confidence."

"Come, eat steamed buns. Yesterday your Aunt Hua and I exchanged two kilograms of vermicelli for the steamed buns with tofu and vermicelli made today. They were freshly cooked and are still hot."

As she spoke, her mother, Wang Chunmei, took out four two-faced vegetable buns from the dustpan and stuffed them into the hands of the two brothers.

"Wow! So hot."

Li Wen took the bun and exhaled with both hands, and quickly caught the bun with his clothes.

Li Wu on the side was not very hot, and gently took the bun and ate it.

"Your skin is still tender!" Mother Wang Chunmei said with a smile.

"Mom, the buns are steaming today. Do you have anything else to do for the Chinese New Year?" Li Wen ate the buns with a chopstick.

"It's done. I'm going to steam these two steamed buns and a few bowls today, and that's it. I'm just waiting for the Chinese New Year." Wang Chunmei said while mixing glutinous rice in a basin.

The situation at home has improved a lot this year. My mother bought a few kilograms of glutinous rice and prepared to make rice bowls. Rice is not produced in the north, so it is expensive. Rice bowls are a good thing to eat during the Chinese New Year these days.

"Okay, now you can finally take a break. You, your second aunt, and your grandma have been very busy in the past few days." Li Wen said with a smile.

"Okay, you guys go and play. Mom is busy in the kitchen." Li Wen and Li Wu finished eating their buns and wanted to come forward to help. Wang Chunmei waved her hand and said.

As the days go by, the flavor of the New Year becomes stronger and stronger. Life in the village is much better this year.

In the past few days, firecrackers have been going off from time to time in the village. Groups of little kids are wandering around the village, throwing disassembled firecrackers everywhere.

But the adults didn't care. After all, it was the New Year and they were all happy. As long as they didn't throw it into the pile of firewood.

The weather in the north is very dry in winter, and the slightest spark can catch fire.

Every year, the village committee has people on duty to prevent children in the village from running into the wheat field.

But there is a saying that goes well, it is impossible to guard against it.

A few years ago, there was a little kid in the village who set off firecrackers during the Chinese New Year and secretly threw a few into the firewood pile in the brigade's wheat field. Now he got into big trouble.

Fortunately, it sometimes snows in winter, and the wheat grass is relatively moist. At that time, thick smoke had just started to rise, and there was not much fire, so the village cadre on duty called on the villagers to put out the fire.

Fortunately it was daytime at that time. If it had happened at night and the northwest wind blew, the whole village would have been set on fire because everyone's roofs were thatched.

Since then, every year before the Chinese New Year, the village has issued numerous warnings, asking members to restrain their children, not to throw firecrackers, and not to go to the wheat field.

The club members also all know that if they find a naughty child behaving badly, they will be dragged back into a mixed-gender doubles fight.

From then on, the atmosphere in the village was completely clean, and little kids only dared to play in the village, and at most they would blow up cow dung.

Today is New Year's Eve, which is the Lunar New Year's Eve. The whole family got up early in the morning, and the little ones were especially obedient because they had new clothes to wear today.

"Wear new clothes in the New Year." The little girl Li Juan kept jumping on the kang.

"Okay, okay, the kang will collapse for you soon." Mother Wang Chunmei grabbed the little guy and put on a brand new floral cotton-padded jacket.

After a while, the little guy was picked up by his mother.

The little guy has two chirps on his head, is wearing a big flowered jacket, and his little face is red. He is just like the doll in the New Year pictures, he is very cute.

Li Wen is also wearing a brand new military coat today, which he and Zheng Kai exchanged. Zheng Kai's family is a military family, and there are several soldiers in the family.

Once Li Wen went to the county to have a gathering with friends, and he was very envious when he saw Zheng Kai wearing a military coat, so he asked if he could get one for him.

Unexpectedly, Zheng Kai said that his eldest brother had just sent a coat to his family and gave it to Li Wen in exchange. Li Wen paid for three boxes of chocolates, all of which were unpacked.

Because the clothes were relatively big and Li Wen was relatively short, he took them back and asked his mother to change them, and now they fit him perfectly.

"Awen looks really energetic in what he's wearing today. He looks like a warrior!" The second aunt's eyes lit up when she looked at Li Wen's outfit.

Li Wen is wearing a military coat today, and his lower body and feet are all newly made trousers and cotton shoes. He is really in good spirits.

Li Yong and the little guys also came over to touch Li Wenjun's coat from time to time. It was really rare to have a military coat at this time.

The people also support and admire soldiers. They love everything about soldiers, including their clothes. Children also like to wear military clothes.

"Okay, you guys, please stop moving your dirty paws. Your brother's coat is dirty. It's hard to wash in the winter." The second aunt hurriedly called to the little guys.

"Okay, have you packed everything? We're about to leave." My father and second uncle walked in from outside the door.

Today, both fathers are wearing new coats that look particularly energetic. They are both very happy because it is the Chinese New Year.

"Okay dad, second uncle." Li Wen said quickly.

Today is the day to worship ancestors at noon. My father will take all the men in the family to worship their ancestors.

(It’s not that I am discriminating against women. Please let me know in advance, don’t criticize me. Men usually go to worship ancestors and visit ancestors’ graves during the New Year, but women don’t. This is a custom in the past.)

Since the Li family's ancestral hall has been destroyed, and due to problems in recent years, the ancestral hall has not been repaired. Now everyone worships their ancestors and goes to their ancestors' graves to worship and kowtow.

This year, ancestor worship in the village was very grand, and it was presided over by the eldest and most respected old man in the village.

Li Wen's family brought a pig's head today! It was left over without being opened after it was stewed some time ago.

Li Wen, who presided over the sacrifice in the village, called him Seventh Master, and even his father also called him Seventh Grandpa.

The old man is over eighty years old this year, and his body is still relatively strong. He is the oldest and the most virtuous among the elders left in the village.

"Come, let your descendants pay tribute."

With the old man's greeting, everyone in the Li family handed over their tributes to the table that had been placed in advance.

Today, basically all the men from Lijia Village came, and there were about five to six hundred people in the crowd.

Each household also brings its own tribute, it doesn't matter how much, as long as it's sincere.

Next, the old man led everyone to kowtow to the ancestors, report the good things this year, and hope that the ancestors can bless the Li family.

After the worship, the old man and fourth master Li Juncai shared today's tribute with everyone so that everyone can share the blessing of their ancestors.

Li Wen's family brought a pig's head with them today, which made them stand out, and the old man also praised Li Wen's family.

After the worship, everyone took the shared sacrifices and went home in groups for three to five days.

"Fifth brother, prepare more wine tonight! We came early in the evening."

Li Dejun, the second son of Li Juncai's family, said hello to his father Li Deyou.

"Haha, no problem! The Xifeng wine that Awen brought back from the county has been arranged. Let's have a few cups at night." Li Deyou said with a smile.
Chapter completed!