Back to 1984: Let's Work Hard Together to Raise The Kids!-Chapter 175: Schemes at the New Year’s Eve Dinner
The two little ones were oblivious and didn’t suspect anything until they entered their new home.
Xu Jian’s eyes lit up, "Dad! Is this our house?"
Xu Dahai laughed heartily, "Yes! This is our new home. Your mom is still at the market. We plan to open the shop in the front and sell clothes after the New Year. We’ll stock up more goods, and the back is where we’ll live. We’ll visit relatives in the Xu Family Village during the Spring Festival and return afterward. Remember, don’t mention our new house to the villagers; otherwise, they’ll come asking for loans, and it’ll be troublesome."
The two kids nodded vigorously and cheered as they ran upstairs to check out their rooms.
Then they went to the market to find their mom, Lin Ying.
From afar, they saw Xu Xinyi sitting obediently in the middle of the stall, holding a steamed bun.
Their hearts melted as they rushed over, calling for their mom and sister.
Lin Ying’s eyes sparkled, "Oh! You’ve both grown taller this year! Looks like you’ve eaten well at your aunt’s place!"
Xu Jian grinned widely and picked up his sister, spinning her around.
Xu Kang threw himself into Lin Ying’s arms.
Lin Ying patted his head and continued serving customers.
Seeing how busy Lin Ying was, the brothers decided to take their sister home.
Soon, Lin Ying packed up and returned home.
This was their first year in the new home, and they naturally celebrated New Year’s Eve there, making it especially grand.
As soon as Lin Ying got home, she found Xu Dahai and their eldest son preparing the New Year’s Eve dinner in the kitchen, while their youngest son played with their daughter in the backyard.
The backyard wall was over three meters high, with the gate tightly closed, and the ground paved with bricks, so the kids could run and jump without fear of getting hurt.
Lin Ying took a glance, her mouth involuntarily curving into a smile, as she rolled up her sleeves and entered the kitchen to help.
The villagers of Xu Family Village were also busy preparing their New Year’s Eve dinners.
Zhang Guizhi looked at the few dishes Wang Fengying brought over, her face fallen, "Sister-in-law, you said we should celebrate together this year to make Mom and Dad happy. But there’s no meat at all. Who would eat such things on New Year’s? You can’t be counting on me to supply, are you?
My situation with Dachuan isn’t as good as yours. It’s not appropriate to come over for freebies on New Year’s, right?"
Wang Fengying didn’t expect Zhang Guizhi to be so sharp-tongued, leaving no room for courtesy. She was both embarrassed and wronged, her face turning red, "Sister-in-law, I don’t raise chickens or ducks. I just grew some vegetables, thinking you had plenty of chickens and ducks. If you’re not willing to kill them, you could’ve let me know earlier so I could prepare. It’s almost dark now, and there’s nowhere to buy them."
Although Xu Dashan felt a bit ashamed, he still tried to make up for his wife, "We’re saving up to buy a house in the city and let Ah Jie study in the city. We really don’t have much money on hand..."
Zhang Guizhi sneered, "No matter how tight, you shouldn’t skimp on the meager meat for our parents! Brother, you’re not handling this right."
"Yes, yes... It’s truly our fault this time. We’ll change next time." Xu Dashan’s apologetic attitude was so sincere that Zhang Guizhi couldn’t continue to criticize.
Wang Ximei looked at those vegetables without the slightest smile on her face, sitting there sulking.
Xu Dashan was awkward for a moment and quickly changed the topic, "Mom, why don’t I go to the village to buy a chicken?"
"On New Year’s Eve, every family either has sold their chickens and ducks or kept them for their own use. Where can you buy them now?" Wang Ximei said, her tone full of grievance and disappointment.
Xu Dashan was taken aback, gritting his teeth, "I remember the second brother’s family seems to have a lot; I’ll go ask him."
With that, Xu Dashan went straight out of the yard, ignoring Wang Fengying’s signals, which almost infuriated her.
The plan was to save on the New Year’s Eve dinner by eating here, but now they had to pay for a chicken. If I’d known, we might as well have stayed home and eaten!
Xu Dashan soon arrived at Xu Dahai’s house, only to find the place in total darkness, with the main gate tightly shut. He shouted several times outside, but nobody came to open the door.
Helpless, he asked the neighbors, "Do you know where Dahai’s family went?"
The neighbors all shook their heads.
But a woman who loved to gossip came out with her rice bowl and said loudly, "Dahai and his wife slaughtered a bunch of chickens and ducks the other day. They said it was for Dahai’s sister-in-law to take back to the city. I reckon they’re celebrating in the city this year."
Xu Dashan’s face darkened, "You mean Dahai killed all the chickens and ducks and gave them to his sister-in-law?"
The woman nodded, "That’s what he said."
Xu Dashan returned to the old house with a black face, holding a rooster weighing four or five pounds.
Wang Ximei’s expression finally eased a bit when she saw the chicken, "How much did it cost?"
Everyone looked at Xu Dashan.
Xu Dashan didn’t hide it and said, "Three yuan."
"Hiss!" Wang Fengying gasped, gnashing her teeth, "Is the second brother crazy? Selling you a chicken for three yuan! Are you out of your mind?"
Wang Ximei was also infuriated, "I’ll go confront the second brother! I want to see just how heartless that ingrate is!"
Xu Dashan grabbed Wang Ximei, "Mom, no need to go. The second brother isn’t home; his whole family went to the city for the New Year. I bought the chicken from Uncle Ma. He wasn’t willing to sell it at first, but I raised the price to three yuan, and he reluctantly agreed.
We can’t have a New Year’s Eve dinner without any meat, so let’s just leave it at that!"
Wang Ximei paused and questioned, "No, if the second brother’s family went to the city, didn’t they leave any chickens or ducks at home? Couldn’t you catch one yourself?"
Seeing his mother’s gaze as if he were a fool, Xu Dashan became even more speechless, "They slaughtered all the chickens and ducks and gave them to his sister-in-law to take to the city. There was nothing left at home, everything quiet, and the gate locked. How could I get in, and what could I catch?"
Wang Ximei angrily slapped her thigh and cursed, "Ungrateful wretches, unfilial children! How dare that scoundrel not just die already! Oh! My head is spinning!"
Xu Dashan said nothing, tossed the chicken onto the ground, "Who wants to clean it?"
Wang Fengying, full of anger, sat motionless, and Zhang Guizhi didn’t want to do it either, but since the big family paid for the chicken, she couldn’t just sit back and enjoy, so she had to get up with an awkward smile and start working.
The New Year’s Eve dinner at the old house left everyone feeling unsatisfied.
Meanwhile, Xu Dahai’s family enjoyed their New Year’s Eve feast in a brand-new, spacious, and bright house with seafood, chicken, duck, and pork all on the table.
Everyone was happy together, truly joyous and harmonious.
It wasn’t until the first day of the new year, after lunch, that they returned to the village house.
As soon as they opened the door, the woman next door came over and recounted Xu Dashan’s visit last night.
The couple exchanged a glance, thanked the woman, but weren’t curious to follow up.
The woman, seeing the couple uninterested, pursed her lips, somewhat disappointed.
Xu Dahai went to visit some familiar friends in the village and by the way, inquired about Xu Dashan’s family’s situation.
