Zheng's mother first rubbed her teeth with Zheng Zhendong for a while, and then asked Zheng Zhenguo.
"Boss, you are here, and I just want to ask your thoughts, so our family will allocate these two houses."
"I see that your three brothers are getting older. You won't be able to live together after you get married."
"The third child wants to buy another house, or exchange it with the Li family in the central courtyard. What do you think?"
After hearing this, Zheng Zhenguo stood up, went to his luggage, took out an envelope and handed it to Zheng's mother.
"Mom, this is my allowance for the past few years. You can use it as you see fit. Since the third child wants to buy a house, let's buy it!"
Zheng's mother opened the envelope, took out the money and counted it. It was quite a lot, four million in a thick pile.
Then he collected three million and returned the rest to Zheng Zhenguo.
"I'll just take three million, and you can pack up the rest. A man can't be without money. These three million will be used to buy a house for you. Your name will be written on the house deed."
Zheng Zhenguo heard what Zheng's mother said and quickly refused.
"No, Mom, it's not the same name for everyone. Why are they so clearly identified by the same family?"
Zheng's mother couldn't refuse and said, "Okay, let me do this. My brothers will settle the score. I'll tell you in advance and don't complain later. That's it!"
…
Unknowingly, the mother and son were chatting until the water in the steel pot boiled, and then they dropped a curtain of dumplings into the pot.
After the dumplings were cooked, Zheng Zhendong went out to find his sister, and then the four of them started eating.
…
Early the next morning, Zheng's mother took Zheng Zhenguo with her things and went to Qin Huairu's house in Qinjiatun, Changping.
After coming back, Zheng Zhenguo talked about Qin Huairu and had a good impression of her. Both parties were very satisfied, so the marriage was settled.
…
A few days later, the steel rolling mill began its annual holiday, and the yard immediately became lively.
The three siblings were busy cleaning up the house these days. During this period, Zheng Zhendong went to Houhai to catch some big fish for the Chinese New Year.
In the blink of an eye, it was New Year's Eve. The family got up early on this day, and the few people who had eaten breakfast split up.
Zheng's mother took her younger sister to make New Year's dumplings, while her eldest brother Zheng Zhenguo handled the ingredients for today's New Year. Zheng Zhendong also went out to the front yard.
At this time, the third uncle, Yan Bugui, set up a table at the door of his house, with pens, inks, paper and inkstones on it, and prepared to write Spring Festival couplets for the neighbors in the courtyard.
Zheng Zhendong walked to the door of Yan's house and spoke to Yan Bugui first.
"Happy New Year, Mr. Third! I wish you all the best in the new year and all your wishes come true!"
Yan Bugui hurriedly replied with a smile on his face.
"Happy New Year to you, Dongzi. I wish you success in your studies and even better grades in the coming year!"
The two of them exchanged pleasantries together, and finally Zheng Zhendong said.
"Third uncle, you wrote a Spring Festival couplet for Shang Shou. My family hasn't posted it yet. I'm sorry to bother you!"
After speaking, he took out 5,000 yuan from his pocket, handed it to Yan Bugui and said.
"This is the writing fee for you. Please write better for me!"
Yan Bugui's eyes were full of longing, but he quickly refused.
"Look at you, my son. My family has taken advantage of you. It's either fish or game. I can't accept your pen from anyone else!"
Zheng Zhendong quickly threw the money to Yan Bugui and said.
"As long as you write well, it will be fine. Besides, those things are not for your family. Everyone has them. Please put them away quickly!"
Yan Bugui then put the money in his pocket and wrote a Spring Festival couplet to Zheng Zhendong, which read:
The first couplet: Good luck every year, the second couplet: Everything goes well and every step of the way. The horizontal line: Five blessings come to your door.
Zheng Zhendong quickly thanked Yan Bugui, then walked to the door of his house and shouted to Zheng Xinyi who was playing outside.
"Little sister, go home and get some paste. Let's put up Spring Festival couplets."
After a while, Zheng Xinyi brought the paste, and then the brother and sister pasted the Spring Festival couplets together, and then they went home to help with the work.
…
After working hard until noon, the family of four ate something and then continued working on the New Year's Eve dinner.
By around 5:30 in the afternoon, I finally had the New Year’s items and food ready.
Fried goods include fried fish, fried meat, fried noodles, fried meatballs, fried peanuts, fried bean flour balls, etc.
Hot dishes include stewed pheasant, stewed rabbit, stewed pork ribs, stir-fried pork with chili, shredded potatoes in vinegar, braised pork, and Northeastern stew.
There are also several cold dishes, and finally there are two kinds of dumplings: pork, cabbage, carrot and mutton.
After the New Year's Eve dinner, Zheng's mother took out Zheng's father's memorial tablet and placed the tributes on it. She asked her three children to kneel down and kowtow to Father Zheng, and then recited a few words.
After Zheng's mother removed the tributes and put away the memorial tablet, they started to have New Year's Eve dinner.
The eldest brother Zheng Zhenguo took out a bottle of Moutai and asked Zheng Zhendong.
"Third brother, do you want to have a drink with me?"
"Okay, give me the bottle and I'll pour it for you, brother!" Zheng Zhendong said.
At this time Zheng's mother also said: "Lao San, please pour me a little less. It's the Chinese New Year today, so I'll drink some wine to cheer up the atmosphere!"
After pouring the wine and looking at Zheng Xinyi who was eager to try, Zheng Zhendong said quickly.
"Little sister, don't look at it. This is not for you to drink. Next time in the summer, third brother will squeeze watermelon juice for you, okay?"
After speaking, he raised the wine glass in his hand and said to his elder brother.
"Brother, let us brothers toast to our mother first!"
"I want it too!" Zheng Xinyi said joining in the fun.
The three brothers and sisters stood up and congratulated Mother Zheng.
"Mom! I wish you a happy New Year, all the best, and all your wishes come true!"
"good!"
"good!"
"Okay, Mom is happy. I don't know how happy I am to see that you can spend the New Year with me at home. Hurry up and sit down to eat, children!"
Mother Zheng looked at the three children in front of her, and her heart blossomed with joy.
The three siblings sat down, and the Zheng family's New Year's Eve dinner officially began.
Zheng Zhenguo picked up his wine glass and said to Zheng Zhendong.
"Third brother, I'm not at home on weekdays, so you should take more care of our mother and little sister. Big brother, I respect you!"
Zheng Zhendong hurriedly declined and said: "Brother, look at you, how can an elder brother respect his younger brother first? This is not okay, it messes up the ethics!"
After speaking, he raised the wine glass in his hand and said to his eldest brother Zheng Zhenguo.
"Brother, you have been serving as a soldier in the army for more than two years. It is also the first time for us brothers to drink alcohol. Let me give you a toast first. I wish you will rise higher and become a general as soon as possible!"
After speaking, he clinked the wine glasses with Zheng Zhenguo, and then drank the wine in the glass in one gulp.
As a result, I overestimated my drinking capacity and got drunk after drinking.
At this time, Zheng's mother, seeing that Zheng Zhendong drank so much, her face turned red, and asked distressedly.
"Third brother, are you okay? Tell me why you are so honest!"
"This cup is more than two taels, and you drank it all in one gulp. How old are you, and you dare to drink like this? You will die!"
After saying this, Zheng Zhendong turned around and complained to Zheng Zhenguo that he should not have suggested that the third child accompany him to drink.