12dz Chapter 477 New Year
Chapter 477 New Year
The heavy snow fell for three days, and Xiaoliang Village seemed to be isolated from the world, completely covered by thick snow.
After the snow, as the sun rose, the festive atmosphere in the village gradually intensified. Every household swept the snow and put up brand-new red couplets.
Children, dressed in new clothes, chased and played in the village, while adults were busy buying New Year's goods and preparing for the New Year.
In the afternoon, the tractor slowly drove into the village entrance. Li's mother had also returned to the village for the Spring Festival after her workplace gave her a holiday.
"Mom's back!" Li Xiaohua was the first to notice and excitedly ran out to greet her.
Li Xiangyang quickly picked up his son, took his wife's hand, and hurried to meet them.
“Mother, you’re back.” Li Xiangyang took the bundle from his mother’s hands.
Lin Zhi touched her grandson's little face, then took her daughter-in-law's hand: "I've been thinking about you all the way home. Hurry up and go home, it's cold outside."
When the family returned home, Linzhi took out the things she had brought back from her bundle: candies and snacks bought in the city, meat coupons distributed by her work unit, and new cotton-padded coats and shoes for Li Wangchen.
"Grandma, thank you!" Li Wangchen, holding his new cotton-padded coat, skipped and hopped to pour water for his grandmother.
Lin Zhi watched her grandson's retreating figure, a happy smile spreading across her face: "This child is growing so fast; he can already run and jump."
Li Xiaoyun took the meat coupon from her mother-in-law, somewhat touched: "Mom, please keep this meat coupon for yourself. We have meat at home."
Linzhi waved her hand: "I eat at the company cafeteria, so I don't need any. You keep it and buy more meat for the New Year so the children can have a good meal."
Li Xiangyang felt a surge of warmth as he watched this scene.
Since his rebirth, his greatest wish has been to give his family a better life, and now it seems that this wish is being realized step by step.
After dinner, the family sat around the kang (a heated brick bed), and Linzhi told them about the interesting things happening in the city.
……
A few days later, on New Year's Eve, the sound of firecrackers rose and fell.
Every household in the village is busy putting up New Year pictures, steaming New Year cakes, making dumplings, and preparing to stay up all night on New Year's Eve.
On the kang (heated brick bed) in Li Xiangyang's house, the whole family sat together, and the table was full of a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner: there was braised pork, steamed fish, candied yam, and stewed wild rabbit with potatoes that Li Xiangyang had specially hunted.
"Come on, let's have a drink," Li Xiangyang raised his glass, looking at his family gathered around him, "Wishing us a peaceful and healthy new year!"
"Cheers!" Everyone raised their glasses in unison.
After several rounds of drinks and several dishes, the family's laughter continued.
Li Wangchen hugged his new cotton-padded jacket, his lips smeared with sugar frosting, and he couldn't stop smiling.
Linzhi looked at her son's family, who were all happy and harmonious, and her eyes were full of satisfaction.
"Mom, don't just look at it, eat more," Li Xiangyang put a piece of meat in his mother's bowl. "This is your favorite pork belly."
Linzhi smiled and accepted her son's filial piety: "Okay, okay, I'll eat it."
It was late at night, and Li Wangchen had already fallen asleep in his grandmother's arms, his little face rosy and a sweet smile on his lips.
Li Xiangyang, Li Xiaoyun, and Li Xiaohua were still sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed), chatting idly by the lamplight.
The New Year's bells rang without us even realizing it, and the sky outside the window was lit up with colorful fireworks.
Li Xiangyang stood by the window, gazing at the fireworks blooming in the night sky, his heart filled with emotion.
Reborn, he changed too much and gained too much.
Looking at his sleeping son behind him and his family sitting together, he knew that all his efforts had been worthwhile.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, as soon as it was light, Li Wangchen couldn't wait to put on his new clothes and take his father out to pay New Year's visits.
The villagers, adults and children alike, were all dressed in new clothes, their faces beaming with joy. They greeted each other with clasped hands and auspicious words.
"Li Xiangyang, Happy New Year!" The village secretary greeted them from afar.
"Secretary Zhang, Happy New Year!" Li Xiangyang returned the greeting with a cupped hand. "May you enjoy boundless happiness and longevity!"
The village secretary chuckled and patted Li Wangchen's head: "Little guy, you've grown quite a bit taller!"
Li Wangchen replied politely, "Thank you, Grandpa Zhang, and Happy New Year!"
Along the way, the father and son received a lot of lucky money from their elders.
Li Wangchen counted the red envelopes with great joy, his eyes narrowing into slits with laughter.
Back home, Li Xiangyang carefully put away his son's New Year's money, intending to save it for his future schooling.
During the first month of the lunar calendar, everyone is busy visiting each other to exchange New Year's greetings, and Li Xiangyang's family is no exception.
They visited the homes of two uncles and then went to visit several elderly people in the village.
At each home, Li Xiangyang would present carefully prepared gifts: dried wild game, homemade pickled vegetables, and small toys for the children.
Time flies, and before we knew it, it was the Lantern Festival, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.
The village organized a lively Lantern Festival party, which included lantern riddle guessing, lion dances, and performances by villagers themselves.
Li Xiangyang and his family sat on the edge of the square, watching the performance on stage. Li Wangchen held a bowl of steaming hot glutinous rice balls in his hands, occasionally letting out a gasp of surprise.
"Dad, look at that lion!" Li Wangchen pointed to the lion dancing in the center of the arena, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
Li Xiangyang smiled and nodded: "When you're a little older, Dad will teach you lion dancing, okay?"
"Great! Great!" Li Wangchen clapped his hands excitedly.
After the Lantern Festival, the winter chill gradually fades, and the villagers begin to prepare for the spring plowing of the new year. Farm tools are being tended, seeds are being selected, and the village is filled with a busy atmosphere.
In Li Xiangyang's courtyard, Lin Zhi was packing her luggage, preparing to return to the city to work.
“Mother, take these pickled vegetables and dried meat with you,” Li Xiangyang handed his mother a bundle. “They’ll be enough for you for a while.”
Lin Zhi took the bundle, smiled, and shook her head: "There's food at the company cafeteria; you can keep it for the children and Xiao Yun."
“There’s plenty more, please take it,” Li Xiangyang insisted. “There’s also some dried wild game; please take it back for your colleagues to try.”
Looking into her son's determined eyes, Lin Zhi finally nodded in agreement: "Alright, then I'll take some back with me."
Li Xiaoyun carried Li Wangchen over and stuffed a small bundle into her mother-in-law's hands: "Mother, these are two pairs of cotton socks I made for you. It's still cold, remember to wear them."
"Good, good," Linzhi said, her eyes shining with warmth, "I feel warm inside knowing that you all care about me."
Li Xiaohua also took out a handkerchief she had embroidered and handed it to her mother: "Mother, I embroidered this in my spare time. Do you like it?"
Lin Zhi took the handkerchief, carefully examining its delicate patterns, tears welling in her eyes: "Great! My daughter's handiwork is getting better and better!"
Watching the adults pass things to each other, Li Wangchen wasn't about to be outdone. He pulled a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket, on which a crooked portrait was drawn: "Grandma, this is what I drew, it's for you!"
Linzhi knelt down, took the drawing from her grandson, and smiled so broadly that the wrinkles on her face smoothed out: "Oh my, my grandson is so wonderful! It's so lifelike! Grandma loves it!"
She carefully folded the painting, put it in her pocket, and kissed her grandson on the cheek.