At 5:10, Xue Xiang opened his eyes on time, and then he sat up, pulled the corner of Su Meiren's quilt away, and then turned over and got out of bed.
After getting dressed and washing, he cleaned up the mess left in the hall last night. After cleaning up, he went to the kitchen to boil the water, resumed holding the broom, and started sweeping the courtyard.
Xue Laosan was quick with his hands and feet, and he cleared away the snow and firecrackers and confetti in the courtyard in just a moment.
Then he went into the kitchen, and when the water was just about to boil, he put the forty or fifty shrimp-filled dumplings he had made yesterday into the pot.
After closing the lid of the pot and looking up his watch, it was almost six o'clock. He went back to the room and woke up Su Meiren who was still lying in bed.[
However, Su Meiren was too late yesterday, and now she was extremely sleepy, groaning and refusing to get up. In the end, she actually reached out to pull Xue Xiang, and let out a seductive moan like words from her mouth.
The voice seemed to be asking Xue Xianglai to sleep with him
It's also to blame that Xue Anyuan, the father-in-law, was not at home, leaving her new daughter-in-law to be the tiger in the mountains and dominate by herself.
Having nothing to do with his pretty wife, Xue Xiang had no choice but to move to the other three rooms and reluctantly woke up Xiao Wan. Xiao Yi and the little guy each slept with snot bubbling in their noses, and they couldn't move no matter how loudly they screamed.
It's really not the same as it was a few years ago. In previous years, on the first day of the new year, Xiaoyi and the little guy would wake up in the middle of the night, each carrying their satchels, and would be so excited that they could wander around the main room for a long time, waiting quietly for dawn, which was great.
Go to pay New Year's greetings and earn New Year's money.
But in the past two years, they were really tired of celebrating the New Year. Without Xue Xiang to take them, they would not go anywhere and would rather stay in bed at home.
After shouting for a long time, no one listened. Xue Xiang estimated the time and found that the dumplings were almost cooked, so he folded them into the hall again. He divided the cooked and floating dumplings into five bowls and mixed the sauce.
After pouring water, he put it on a wooden tray and walked towards the hall.
The smell of delicious food was indeed much more powerful than Xue Laosan's shout. He walked from room to room without even shouting. They all opened their eyes and sat up.
When you get up early in the winter, someone brings you a meal by the bedside, and you eat surrounded by the quilt. It's really enjoyable.
After eating breakfast in a few mouthfuls, Xue Xiang started to light the charcoal fire again. People in the Republic spend the New Year in a prosperous way.
Who would have thought that as soon as he got the fire going, a few big slackers who had been washed gathered around, some turned on the TV, and some took the fruit plate.
What stunned Xue Xiang the most was that the four of them quickly formed a card game and started playing yesterday's upgrade again.
It’s nothing more than a third grader. Su Meiren, a housewife and people’s teacher, acted like a normal person. Xue Xiang was shocked when he saw it, and he sighed secretly. This really fulfilled the old saying: Not a family. No.
Enter a house.
The four of them were having a lively time, and Xue Xiang didn't bother to scold and disturb them. After all, he was a soft and gentle man at heart.
In his opinion, the Spring Festival is a day for families to celebrate togetherness. He has to work hard, and as long as he can make these relatives and loved ones happy, he can avoid the customary rituals if possible.
Besides, with the current status of the Xue family, there is no need to pay New Year greetings to anyone except for a few fixed families.
Looking up at his watch, it was already half past six. Xue Xiang knew it was time to open the door and welcome the first wave of New Year greetings.
Sure enough, as soon as he opened the door, noisy New Year greetings came from outside. Apparently this group of people had been waiting at the door for a long time.
This wave was led by Fatty Zhang, Ma Liang and others. There were seven or eight old friends that Xue Xiang had made in the official circles of the capital, and each of them was empty-handed.
Xue Xiang originally thought that if these people entered the hall, the card game in the hall would be over anyway, but who would have thought that the gang of gamblers had mastered the secrets of the battle formation and actually moved their positions. When Xue Xiang welcomed everyone into the hall,
There was no one in the hall for a long time.[
He had no choice but to entertain them himself, but before these people could sit down, the second wave of New Year greetings came over again.
It must be said that the current status of the Xue family is indeed high-ranking. Usually, ordinary officials cannot enter such a high-ranking family. However, the situation of the Xue family is special. Xue Anyuan is the head of the family, but Xue Xiang is in charge of the overall situation of the Xue family.
Therefore, the visitors usually correspond to Xue Laosan's current level, so they are "a mixed bag of water and land". Anyone who can get the relationship dares to come to the door.
In this way, there are still few heads.
No, before Xue Xiang even had time to shake hands and say hello to the visitors one by one, someone else arrived.
Just like that, one wave after another, for three whole hours, the front door of Xue's house was like a movie theater ticket office, with people coming and going without stopping for a moment.
Fortunately, these visitors are also very discerning, and they often put down their things and leave after saying New Year greetings, so as to make room for those who come later. Otherwise, the Xue family mansion will be overcrowded.
Fortunately, the East China Sea eventually dries up, and Mount Tai also gets bald. After 10:15, no one came for a full ten minutes.
Xue Xiang thought in his mind that everything that was supposed to come had almost arrived. He looked up his watch and looked at the time. It was almost half past ten, and he knew it was time to go out.
After all, there were a lot of houses to visit today, and according to his calculations, it was best to visit them all in the morning.
The plan was settled, and Xue Xiang was about to leave. He was originally worried that if he went to pay New Year's greetings to a few big shots, little annoying people would pester him to go.
Unexpectedly, when he went to the little guy's room and said hello that he was going out, the four people in the room were playing so enthusiastically that they could hardly spare the energy to take care of him, so Meiren asked him to lock the door when he went out.
Obviously, these people are not interested in this frivolous New Year greeting activity.
Xue Xiang smiled bitterly, turned out, went to the storage room, picked up a few simple but thoughtful gifts prepared last night, and drove out.
The first home is naturally the old chief's house. It would be considered rude to go there at this hour. However, given the current situation of the Xue family, the old chief must also understand.
It snowed last night, and it’s the first day of the Lunar New Year. The city is covered in snow, and red lanterns, Spring Festival couplets, and New Year pictures can be seen everywhere. Looking at it, the whole city seems to have become a world of red and white.
Xue Xiang drove the car very fast while admiring the hustle and bustle along the street. In just over 20 minutes, he could see the plum garden that was more than 40 miles away from Yutang Mountain in the distance.
Speaking of which, due to work needs, the old leader had already settled down in Zhonghai and stayed there all the time. He would still move back to Meiyuan during the Spring Festival every year.
This time, Xue Xiang was still driving the same jeep he usually drove. It turned out that if he wanted to enter the Plum Garden, he would have to make some animal noises.
Fortunately, he had a special pass issued by Xue Anyuan, a member of the political bureau. As the car approached the gate of Meiyuan, he took out the red pass and posted it in front of the glass. He passed the guard post all the way, and the traffic was indeed smooth.
After not seeing Plum Garden for many years, Xue Laosan was filled with emotions when he stepped here again.
As far as the eye can see, the wheat fields are covered with snow and are as white as cotton. After crossing a lush pine forest, they turn onto the bamboo forest path. Before walking more than ten steps, the bamboo forest path forks, almost stagnant. Xue Laosan raised his head and stepped across.
Take the one on the left.[
In fact, the right path is closer to the three large tile-roofed houses of the old chief. The reason why Xue Laosan chose the left path is because he is familiar with this path, and when he first came to Meiyuan, he also took the left path.
Go the wrong way.
For a guy who is seriously ill, all kinds of first times always have inexplicable special meaning.
In addition, the more important reason is that the left road is closer to the wheat field, and more importantly, there is the most ingenious winding corridor in the plum garden next to the wheat field.
Every time he comes to Meiyuan, what Xue Xiang wants to see most is not the old chief, but this gurgling stream. Who knows, this stream runs as happily as a pony all year round. It is really pleasant.
Sure enough, just after turning around the bamboo forest, the creek revealed its true appearance. Before getting closer, the gurgling sound of the rushing water hitting the carefully designed bulges on both sides could be heard.
Hearing this pleasant sound, the tension in Xue Xiang's heart was relieved a lot, and he walked a little faster towards the stream.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he reached the shore, he heard someone shouting "Uncle, Happy New Year!"
Xue Laosan raised his eyes and saw four or five half-year-old children who were very neatly dressed and happy.
He hurriedly took out a stack of red envelopes that he had prepared early on from his pocket, and responded to the New Year's greetings with a smile.
Unexpectedly, as soon as the children saw him taking out the red envelope, they started to say goodbye, and one even took a few steps back.
This humility was obviously due to special instructions from the family, just like the little guys.
"Hey, uncle, I met you. Six years ago, in this same place, you gave us a red envelope. This is the first time I have received a red envelope in my life, so I remember it very clearly. Thank you, uncle!"
The person who spoke was the tall girl who was leading the conversation. She looked to be about the same age as Xiao Yi. After speaking, she bowed politely to Xue Xiang.
Xue Xiang thought about it carefully, and he really remembered these children. On the first day of the first lunar month six years ago, at the same bamboo forest, these same group of snot-nosed children rushed over to him to pay him New Year greetings, asking for New Year's money.
Six years later, Xue Xiang felt a little warm in his heart when he met them again at the same time and place.
"Come on, come on, take it all. The first red envelope you receive is from your uncle, so let your uncle give you the last red envelope. Let's start well and end well, okay? Don't worry, I will keep it a secret for you!"
While talking, Xue Xiang stretched out the red envelope again.
Sure enough, the eyes of all the dolls lit up. The tall girl tilted her head and thought for a while, then smiled sweetly, "Thank you, uncle. No, thank you brother Xue Xiang. I heard my father said about you. My name is Nanni'er."
, don’t forget it!”
This Nanny is the granddaughter of the old chief and the only daughter of a southern comrade. She had deliberately called her uncle before, just to pretend that she didn't know Xue Xiang, so as not to listen to Xue Xiang's nagging about how you knew me. Naturally, she changed her tune now.
I am satisfied with Xue Xiang, a kind and understanding guy.
But she said that Nan Ni'er, the leading eldest sister, accepted the red envelope, and there was no reason why the "hairy" children below would not want it.
Come on, what kid doesn't want a red envelope? It's just because of family control, so he can't help but say no.