Listening to the old man’s narration, the elders present unconsciously showed sadness.
Thinking of the relatives and friends who died because of the war.
Zhang Yu and others admired the old man from the bottom of their hearts.
The younger ones, Nuannuan and Huzi, were listening to it as a story.
As the old man told them, Huzi and the others couldn't help but clenched their fists, wishing they could beat up the bad guys who had bullied them.
When the old man saw that everyone was listening to his story, he felt that it was a little off topic tonight.
"Okay, okay, let's not talk about it anymore. I have been talking about these things for so many years. I guess Zhang Yu and the others have calluses on their ears."
"Come on, come on, Xiao Yuan, let's raise a glass and have a drink together."
People at the table picked up the quilt in front of them and clinked glasses together.
Happy time is always short, and the lively New Year’s Eve dinner has come to an end.
The old man was old and too drunk. Zhang Yu and his eldest brother helped the old man back to the house.
Father Zhang pulled Lao Yuan to sit in front of the coffee table. Zhang Yu came out of the room and made a pot of hot tea for the two fathers.
The sister-in-law helped Zhang Ma clean up. Lao Wang asked Nuannuan to play with Huzi and the others, and then rolled up his sleeves to help Zhang Ma.
Zhang Ma quickly stopped Lao Wang.
"Hey! Brother and sister, please don't do anything. There is no way for guests to do anything. You and Lao Yuan sit down and drink tea. This little thing will be sorted out in a while."
"That's not okay, sister, I did this for Mengyi."
"Mengyi is holding the child but can't help. It's unreasonable for me not to help."
Lao Wang seemed determined to help, but Zhang Ma was also in a dilemma.
Zhang Yu opened his mouth to save the situation at the right time.
"Mom, please hold Tiantian for me, and I'll help my mother clean it up!"
Lao Wang glanced at Zhang Ma and could only accept Zhang Yu's suggestion.
Reaching out to take Tiantian, Zhang Yu rolled up his sleeves and quickly helped Zhang's sister-in-law sort out the leftovers and clean up.
Zhang Yu specially found a basin and stewed the leftovers together, waiting to use these stews and noodles to eat them tomorrow morning.
After cleaning, the two parents sat together and chatted for a while.
Seeing that the children were getting sleepy, Zhang's mother sent Zhang Yu and the others and took the children home to sleep.
Lao Yuan and Lao Wang were left behind by Zhang’s parents.
Zhang Yu's house is next to his eldest brother's house, not far from his parents' house, just a row of houses apart.
After saying goodbye to his eldest brother and his family, Zhang Yu took out the key and unlocked the door, pushed the door open and entered the yard.
This is the first time Zhang Yu has come back to live in this house. In the past two years, he went home to celebrate the New Year and lived with his parents.
This is the first time this year that I have returned to my own home.
He opened the curtain, pushed open the door and entered the house.
Look at the spotless furniture and clean and tidy floors.
Zhang Yu thought that Zhang’s mother must have cleaned the house after he sent the message home.
Pushing open the doors of two adjacent bedrooms, there is a large bed in one bedroom and two small beds in the other bedroom.
There is also a bunk bed, which is prepared for Nuannuan Xinxin.
There were neatly folded quilts on the bed, and Zhang Yu went in to test the temperature.
He immediately noticed that the room was heated. Zhang Yu stretched out his hand to try the two small beds and felt the warm heat.
Zhang Yu tried the second floor again, and the temperature was still lukewarm, just a little worse than the temperature on the first floor. However, sleeping at this temperature is no problem.
"Okay, three little cuties, are you satisfied with the crib that your grandparents have prepared for you?"
Nuannuan Xinxin and Goudan consciously claimed their own little bed, feeling the warmth coming from under their buttocks.
"Dad, Xinxin likes this little bed very much."
"Nuan Nuan also likes it."
"Goudan likes it too."
Seeing that all three children liked it, Zhang Yu nodded with satisfaction.
But I didn’t forget to remind the children.
"As long as you like it, I will thank my grandparents tomorrow."
"I know, Dad."
The three children agreed abruptly.
"Okay, you three go to bed quickly. When you get up tomorrow morning, you will have to pay New Year's greetings to your grandparents."
Help the children tidy up their bedding and watch them get into bed.
Zhang Yu leaned down again and glanced at the hot kang. There were still a few sparks.
Afraid that the fire would go out late at night and the child would be frozen again, Zhang Yu filled in a few more thick firewood.
After kissing each child, Zhang Yu closed the door and left the bedroom.
Zhang Yu and Mengyi carried Tiantian Erniu back to their bedroom,
At this moment, Tiantian and Erniu were already fast asleep.
Zhang Yu quickly made the bed and placed the two children in the middle.
Zhang Yu and Mengyi protected their children, one on the left and the other on the right.
"Daughter-in-law, you should go to bed early. You will have to take care of the children tomorrow."
Mengyi knew that whenever he returned home for the New Year, Zhang Yu would get up early in the morning to pay New Year greetings to some elders in the village.
"Well, what time will we go to pay New Year greetings tomorrow?"
Zhang Yu looked at the beams on the roof and thought for a moment.
"I don't know, it's probably quite early, around six or seven o'clock. Brother will call us then."
"After we go to my parents' house, we'll have breakfast and then go to the village to pay New Year greetings."
"However, you also know that the situation is not very good this year. Whether you will go or not is another matter."
In fact, I can’t decide whether to go to Zhang Yu or not.
Because no matter how well he does in the city, when he returns to his home, Zhang Yu will be the youngest in the family.
When making decisions, you have to listen to the old man in the family.
In addition, Zhang Yu has an elder brother who works in the village all year round and is very familiar with the villagers and neighbors.
So, waiting for tomorrow, Zhang Yu will just wait and listen to the instructions. Zhang Yu will do whatever the big arrangements are.
"Okay, let's not talk about this anymore, let's go to bed quickly."
"I don't know if these little ancestors will be able to get up tomorrow."
Mengyi nodded, tightened the quilt for Tiantian and Erniu, closed her eyes and slowly fell asleep.
Zhang Yu opened his eyes again and thought about something.
Seeing Mengyi sleeping soundly, Zhang Yu thought of the children next door again.
I got up and went over to take a look, tested the temperature on the bed, and tightened the quilts for the children.
Then I lay down on the bed with peace of mind, closed my eyes and fell asleep.
……
The next day.
A little after five o'clock, Zhang Yu opened his eyes and looked around blankly.
I fumbled with my clothes and put them on, and took a look at my wife and children who were still sleeping.
I got up a little and went to the next door first.
I tested the temperature in the room, leaned down and opened the lid, took a look at the fire pit, and found that the sparks were gone and all were gone.
Zhang Yu stretched out his hand to test the temperature on the bed, and it felt okay.
Come to the living room and pick up the thermos on the table.
I pulled out the cork and tested the temperature with my skin. It was OK, so I got myself a glass of warm water.
I took a sip, held the cup in front of the window, and looked at the vast white field outside the house.
I drank the water in the cup in one gulp, put on my gloves and scarf, fastened my hat, opened the door and walked out.
Seeing a shovel at the foot of the corridor wall, Zhang Yu walked over through the deep snow, picked up the shovel and began to clean the snow in the yard.
Not to mention, snow removal is quite strenuous, and it is much more tiring than getting up early to exercise.
After a while, some ice crystals came out from the collar of the scarf.
Zhang Yu felt that his cotton hat was soaked with sweat.