Even though he knew that everyone liked watching TV, Li Donglai still underestimated everyone's enthusiasm.
All the residents in the compound gathered in the middle courtyard, and some people from outside even sneaked in.
The courtyard was full of people, and those who had no room to stand climbed onto the big locust tree. Even the window sill of Xu Damao's home was squatting with a few spirited young men.
Only the entrance of Jia's house was empty, which was very conspicuous in the crowded yard, and there were a few benches in the open space.
If anyone who is curious approaches, they will be stopped by Jia Zhang.
"Young man, your legs are numb from standing. Do you want to sit down for a while? It's not expensive. It only costs 50 cents and you can have a good rest."
Damn, I spent 50 cents on five or six kilograms of stick noodles!
Who would be willing to give it up?
....
There is no Spring Festival Gala this year, and the TV program stops at eleven o'clock in the evening.
Seeing a picture of a gridd earth appearing on the TV, people talked and laughed and reluctantly left.
"It's really exciting. Do you think it's possible for a mountain eagle to see through a killer?"
"Ahem, don't hurt me by talking nonsense!"
"Ah, yes, yes, *** is a great hero, and bandits like the Mountain Eagle are no match for him."
....
Calling Shazhu to help move the TV back into the house, Ding Qiunan had already made the bed for Zhang Qingcui, and the sheets and quilts were all new.
Zhang Qingcui originally planned to go home after the New Year's Eve dinner, but Ding Qiunan thought that it would be unsafe for a girl to leave so late, and that she would be alone when she returned home, so she invited Zhang Qingcui to stay at Li's house.
Anyway, there happened to be an empty room in the house.
Zhang Qingcui seemed to have had this intention for a long time and stayed without too many excuses.
Seeing Li Donglai come in, she came out of the back room and said with wide eyes: "Dr. Li, thank you so much. Today is the most interesting New Year's Eve I have ever had since I was a child."
Li Donglai took the enamel jar from Ding Qiunan's hand, took a sip of hot tea to get rid of the coldness in his body, and said with a smile: "Why, didn't your family celebrate New Year's Eve in the past?"
He knew that Zhang Qingcui's family members were out of town, and this had happened in recent years.
Zhang Qingcui pulled the corner of her clothes with her small hands and lowered her head with a depressed expression: "My parents are both scientific researchers, and what they discuss most at home are those chemical symbols.
Moreover, they don’t even know how to cook, so they entrust the chefs in the workplace canteen to cook the New Year’s Eve dinner.
Also, when they were at home, they stipulated that we must go to bed before nine o'clock in the evening, even New Year's Eve is no exception."
"..."
Li Donglai was speechless for a moment, but this could explain why Zhang Qingcui joined the project team before she graduated in her senior year.
"Okay, let's not talk about this anymore. I have to go to bed quickly, otherwise I will always feel a little uneasy."
Zhang Qingcui made a face at Li Donglai, turned around and ran into the back room.
Li Donglai scratched his head, why is this girl more childish than Li Xiaomei?
....
The night in the capital was silent.
Li Donglai put the New Year's money he had prepared into a red paper bag, and then lay on the bed with Ding Qiunan.
The two chatted quietly for a while and were getting ready to fall asleep.
Li Xiaomei's urgent knock on the door sounded outside.
"Guoguo, Guoguo, it's almost twelve o'clock, get up and let off the cannons, let off the cannons!"
Li Donglai was so sleepy that he couldn't keep his eyes open. He yawned and said, "I'm too sleepy. Can't we just start the cannon tomorrow morning?"
"That's not good. Xiaopang and the others said that the first person to set off firecrackers after twelve o'clock in the evening will have good luck throughout the next year."
Li Donglai has also heard of this saying. In fact, in his previous life, when he was a child, he would often hear the sound of firecrackers coming from the streets after twelve o'clock.
Unfortunately, later on, the sound of firecrackers disappeared, along with the strong flavor of the New Year.
When we come to this era, we naturally have to experience it again.
Besides, there was Ding Qiunan who was constantly urging me.
Put on your cotton-padded jacket, put on your protective shoes, pick up the watch on the bedside table and take a look.
Eleven fifty-five.
Well, it seemed that we had to hurry up. When he opened the door, Li Donglai found that not only Li Xiaomei, but also Zhang Qingcui was up.
When she saw Li Donglai, she said sheepishly: "Dr. Li, I have never set off firecrackers before, and I want to join in the fun..."
Hey, he really looks like a child.
"Okay, but you have to cover your ears later." While Li Donglai was talking, he took out a five-thousand-ring firecracker from the cabinet.
These firecrackers are different from those sold in supply and marketing cooperatives.
The firecrackers sold in supply and marketing cooperatives can only have a thousand rings at most, and they are only small ones.
And among the five thousand firecrackers, there are seven or eight larger firecrackers, commonly known as thundercrackers.
"Little sister, go get a long bamboo pole. Qing Cui, please go to the kitchen and get a box of matches."
Li Donglai carried firecrackers out of the house, and with the dim light, he saw people standing in front of every house.
Liu Haizhong, Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu had already set up a bamboo pole with a string of firecrackers hanging on it.
Liu Guangtian looked at the firecrackers pitifully: "Dad, my eldest brother is not at home this year, please let me light a firecracker."
Before he finished speaking, he received a slap on the head.
Liu Guangfu next to him snickered, Liu Guangqi became the home-based son-in-law, and Liu Hai was feeling uncomfortable.
Li Donglai said hello to Liu Haizhong: "Good morning, Second Uncle!"
"Morning! Morning...are you going to set off the firecrackers yourself?" Liu Haizhong's expression immediately turned gloomy, and he bowed his body to greet Li Donglai.
Li Donglai smiled and said: "Looking at what you said, can you do this kind of thing for me?"
Liu Haizhong smiled awkwardly: "Yes, I was confused."
Li Donglai looked to the other side and found that Yi Zhonghai, who rarely appeared in the courtyard recently, had also come out. He was also carrying a small whip in his hand.
"Master Yi, happy New Year."
Yi Zhonghai didn't expect Li Donglai to say hello to him. He was stunned for a moment and said with a smile: "Okay, okay..."
As the time approached twelve o'clock, Li Donglai asked Zhang Qingcui to hold the bamboo pole, and he hung the firecrackers on the bamboo pole.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! The long firecrackers immediately attracted many children who were holding flashlights and preparing to pick up the firecrackers.
"Wow, this is my first time seeing such a big cannon."
"Look, there is a bigger one among the firecrackers. What is that?"
"You didn't know that, that's the Firecracker Commander, he's so awesome!"
....
Several children who usually played well with Li Xiaomei had already gathered around her.
"Little sister, little sister, can you let us pick up your cannon later?"
"Of course. After you pick up mine, I'll pick up yours." The little girl's eyes flashed cunningly, and she nodded her head.
Li Donglai now understands that those who dare to pick up cannons have their own territory and cannot pick them up randomly.
"Doctor Li, the time has come." At this time, Zhang Qingcui, who had been staring at her watch, urged.
"Okay, everyone, get out of the way."
Li Donglai struck a match and lit the firecracker. With a burst of sparks, the firecracker exploded in mid-air, making a deafening sound.
Liu Haizhong was not slow either, but he was just a little late and lit the firecrackers.
Yi Zhonghai had been staring at Li Donglai's long firecrackers, feeling regretful in his heart. If Qin Huairu hadn't borrowed fifty yuan, he would have bought a long firecracker instead of using a small whip to make up the money.
I was in a daze for a while, and it took me a few seconds to react and light the firecrackers.
Damn Li Donglai, he messed up my mind and prevented me from getting the first place.
Yi Zhonghai felt a pain in his heart.
....
The sound of firecrackers rang out in the streets and alleys of the capital, and people ushered in the New Year amidst the deafening sound of firecrackers.
Li Donglai was so noisy by the firecrackers that he fell asleep most of the night. He didn't want to get up at all in the morning, but he was pulled up by Ding Qiunan.
"Brother Donglai, our old rule here is that you are not allowed to sleep in on New Year's Day, otherwise you will be a lazy man this year..."
Yes, let’s just be a hard-working person.
After getting dressed, Ding Qiunan and she went out of the back room. Li Xiaomei, who had woken up early, bowed to the two of them.
"I wish my brother and sister-in-law a Happy New Year, and I wish the baby in my sister-in-law's belly will grow up healthily!"
After saying that, she stretched out her hand with a hopeful look on her face: "Bring it to you for the New Year."
"I wish my little sister success in her studies." Li Donglai took out a red envelope from his pocket and handed it to Li Xiaomei.
Li Xiaomei opened the red envelope and saw 1 cent inside. She was so happy that she couldn't help but say, "Brother, I went to play with the children."
After saying that, he jumped out.
Ding Qiunan shouted to her from behind: "Remember to come back and eat dumplings later."
"knew."
Inside the house, Zhang Qingcui looked at this scene with envy. During the Chinese New Year, the happiest thing for her was receiving the red envelope from her father.
There wasn't much money there, only five cents and ten cents, but Nanshi's money was hers alone.
She would take the money and go to the supply and marketing cooperative with the children to buy red headbands, and then compete to see who was more beautiful wearing the red headbands.
But now that she has grown up, she can only keep this small extravagant hope in her heart.
Zhang Qingcui gathered her thoughts and was about to help cook when a red envelope suddenly appeared in front of her.
Looking up, he saw Li Donglai looking at him with a smile.
"Happy New Year."
"I...I..." Zhang Qingcui felt her eyes were a little sore. She suppressed her emotions and waved her hand: "Dr. Li, I am a big girl now. I can't have this."
"Well, you're not a girl if you're not married, and there's not much money here, so it's just a celebration." Li Donglai said with a smile, "I wish Zhang Qingcui can make great achievements in scientific research in the new year.
A new breakthrough.”
Zhang Qingcui wiped the corners of her eyes and said, "If you say that, I won't accept it."
She took the red envelope, rubbed it in her hand for a long time, and then carefully put it into her cotton-padded jacket pocket.
"Li, Doctor Li, thank you...I'll go help Sister Ding cook."
...
Dumplings are eaten on the first day of the Lunar New Year. The whole family gathers around the square table with a bowl of dumplings in front of them.
Ding Qiunan smiled and said: "When I was making dumplings yesterday, I stuffed a coin into the dumplings. Whoever eats it will have good luck and lots of money in the coming year!"
Li Xiaomei raised her hands and said: "I, I must be the one who gets the coins, but I don't want to get rich, I want my brother and sister-in-law to get rich."
Ding Qiunan looked at her dotingly: "It's not in vain that my sister-in-law loves you."
Zhang Qingcui also smiled and said: "If I get the coins, I don't want to get rich, as long as I can successfully win the project next year."
While they were talking, Li Donglai had already picked up the dumplings with chopsticks and put them in his mouth.
Just kidding, no one wants to grab coins from me, he wants to make a fortune and build a medical laboratory.
When other people saw this, they didn't care to speak, buried their heads in the dumplings, and ate happily.
Everyone hopes to get coins.
But after a long time, all the dumplings in everyone's bowls were gone, and there was still no sign of coins.
Zhang Qingcui asked doubtfully: "Who accidentally swallowed the coin, right?"
Ding Qiunan shook his head: "The coin is so big, you will definitely know after eating it."
"But why don't you see any coins?"
"Don't worry, it's just in the remaining dumplings."
While the two were discussing, there was a rapid knock on the door outside.
Li Donglai put down his chopsticks and frowned. Most people would not knock on other people's doors on New Year's Day.
Of course, children from relatives might come to ask for lucky money, but he and Ding Qiunan had no relatives at all in the courtyard.
"I'll go take a look, then you continue to eat. We must find the coins."
Li Donglai put down his chopsticks and walked over to open the door.
I saw Banggan and Xiaodang standing outside the door with chopsticks and bowls.
When they saw Li Donglai coming out, they immediately knelt down on the ground, knocked the bowl with chopsticks, and sang: "We wish you a happy New Year, Uncle Donglai, Uncle Donglai, the New Year is here, Aunt Qiu Nan, Aunt Qiu Nan,
Give me a little to celebrate the New Year. One yuan is less, two yuan is less, three yuan or four yuan is just right. If you don’t give it, I don’t want it, and you won’t be able to hold the baby!”
After Li Donglai heard this, he felt his head was buzzing.
Isn't this just disgusting for someone who is celebrating the Chinese New Year and blocking other people's doors early in the morning to sing these songs?
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Jia Zhang hiding behind the big locust tree, and Li Donglai immediately understood that it must be the old godly woman's idea.
It seems she still hasn't learned her lesson!
"You bastard, who taught you this?"
Li Donglai looked fierce and grabbed the stick with one hand and the stem of the stick with the other.
Banggeng reacted quickly and saw that the situation was not good, so he still got off the edge and ran back.
"Grandma, save me, grandma, save me..."
After running seven to eight feet, Li Donglai quickly caught up with him and grabbed him by the collar.
"Little brat, who taught you this?"
BangGeng stiffened his neck and looked unconvinced: "No one taught me. You are my cousin, and you are celebrating the New Year, so shouldn't you give me lucky money?"
"Oh, I'm your uncle? Who told you?"
"My mom, she said that you had a great relationship before and played together all day long."
Li Donglai was laughed out of anger. In order to get the new year's money, Jia Zhang could make up any lie.
After arriving at the Siheyuan, Qin Huairu did call Li Donglai his cousin for a while in order to avoid being discovered that the two had a relationship in the past.
But cousins in the village are not relatives at all. Just like Li Donglai in Qinjiagou, young people of similar age in the village can be considered cousins.
Jia and Zhang came from the countryside, so they should understand this truth. Now they are instigating Bang Gang to ask for New Year's money. It is really a wishful thinking.
At this time, the noise between the two also alarmed people in the courtyard.
The first ones to come out were neighbors Xu Damao and Qin Jingru.
