Siheyuan: Big City, Small Love

It was still Shazhu who cooked and Helai who kept the fire. Yushui rebelled and threw herself into Wu Juan's arms.

Oh, forget it, men don’t cry.

Shazhu is obviously more professional this time, and all the numbers like "bottom out" have come out.

He Lai said, "I am only responsible for making the fire. Brother Zhuzi, you can take care of it yourself."

Soon the table was piled with dishes.

There are four cold dishes: fried crispy crisps, pork skin jelly, and colorful peanuts; and four hot dishes: braised carp, stir-fried shrimps, stewed squid, and Kung Pao chicken.

There are four kinds of meat and vegetable soups: rice noodle meat, four-happiness meatballs, braised pork elbow, and twice-cooked pork. There are four kinds of soup dishes: stewed three fresh delicacies, dried shredded vegetables in milk soup, whole corn stew, and eight-treasure hot pot.

He Lai exclaimed, "Wow, the arrangement is very clear! Brother Zhuzi is awesome!"

Five people sat around, and this year there was one more child.

"Mom, can you say something?" He came to see Wu Juan without saying anything.

"Okay, then I'll say a few words."

Wu Juan first spoke to Sha Zhu and Qin Huairu.

"Zhu Zi, Huai Ru, you have your first child this year, so I wish you a happy and healthy life in the future."

After saying that, he turned to Yu Shui and He Lai.

"Yushui, Xiaolaizi, I wish you two can be happy, cheerful and healthy. Always be my good babies."

"Okay, let's eat."

Wu Juan was the first to start eating, and everyone else followed suit.

……

Finally, it was time to give out New Year's money. Wu Juan took out three red envelopes with a smile on her face and handed them to Yu Shui, He Lai and Xiao Yangzi respectively.

After He Lai took the red envelope, his eyes rolled around and he smiled and extended his hand to Sha Zhu and his wife.

"Hey, Brother Zhuzi, sister-in-law, Happy New Year! You can't be stingy this time!" He said, and winked at them mischievously.

Seeing this, Sha Zhu burst into laughter, then took out two red envelopes from his pocket and handed them to He Lai generously: "Here, Xiao Laizi, these are yours! There's also one for Yu Shui, take it!"

Sha Zhu's face was filled with a happy smile. He felt that he was now a qualified elder and could give red envelopes and blessings to the younger generations.

"Thank you, Brother Zhuzi!" He Lai took the red envelope from Sha Zhu with a smile.

Qin Huairu also came over with a smile and handed He Lai a red envelope: "Xiao Laizi, this is the New Year's red envelope given to you by your sister-in-law. I wish you academic progress and good health!"

"Thank you, sister-in-law." He Lai took it happily.

"Yushui, sister-in-law also wishes you happiness and freedom from worries every day."

Qin Huairu gave Yu Shui another one, and Yu Shui happily took it.

Immediately afterwards, He Lai also took out a small red envelope from his pocket and gently put it into Xiao Yangzi's swaddling clothes.

Yu Shui was at a loss for a moment when she saw He Lai's actions. She hesitated for a moment, and when she was thinking about what to do, she saw He Lai quietly handing her a red envelope.

Yu Shui immediately understood what He Lai meant. She took the red envelope and then, following He Lai’s example, stuffed the red envelope into Xiao Yangzi’s swaddling clothes.

Wu Juan and the other two stood aside, watching this heartwarming scene with a smile. Xiao Yangzi seemed to feel everyone's joy, waving his hands and saying "ah" and "ah", looking very cute.

At this moment, the room is filled with laughter and joy, and everyone's heart is filled with warmth and happiness. This Spring Festival has become more beautiful and unforgettable because of each other's company...

Afterwards, He Lai walked out of the yard with Yu Shui to set off firecrackers.

Same place, same scene, same people, doing the same things.

He Lai gathered the crowd. Everyone shouted.

"Happy New Year!"

After playing for a while, He Lai and Yu Shui went back because it was really cold.

As soon as I entered the door, I saw Sha Zhu and the other two were making dumplings, preparing to stay up all night to celebrate the New Year.

He Lai and Yu Shui also quickly joined in. As a southerner, He Lai was not very good at making dumplings, so he was very interested in it.

Everyone worked together, chatting and making dumplings. Sha Zhu taught He Lai how to make dumplings. Although He Lai had some bumps and bruises, he finally learned it.

The four of them got to work and the dumplings were wrapped in no time.

"Yushui, I feel your wrap is uglier than my brother's."

He Lai looked at the dumplings he made and those made by Yu Shui placed together. Is this the legendary equal parts good and bad?

Then I should be the one with eight taels, the one with ten taels per catty.

"Hmph." Yu Shui got angry again and threw herself into Wu Juan's arms.

"Okay, then I'll let you finish what he packed. That way he won't talk too much."

It is confirmed that Wu Juan is a daughter slave.

Everyone sat around the stove, holding baking baskets in their hands, chatting about interesting things they had encountered, and quietly waiting for 12 o'clock to come.

He looked at the pocket watch in his hand and counted down.

"5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Happy New Year."

He Lai bowed to Wu Juan and the others and wished them the best, which made everyone laugh.

He Lai and Yu Shui set off the firecrackers that had already been hung up in the yard.

The sound of firecrackers was heard in every household.

Everyone stood at the door listening to the sound, hoping that the coming year would be better and better.

The dumplings are out of the pot, and everyone is sitting around happily eating them.

The plump white dumplings seem to be able to blow away the frost in winter, making people feel a different kind of warmth.

Every bite of dumplings reflects people’s expectations for the future.

……

Wu Juan was already packing her luggage, preparing to return to her hometown tomorrow, and He Lai had also returned from his master's house.

He Lai felt a little bit reluctant to see his mother only having a few days' rest.

"Mom, do you feel too tired? Why don't we stay at grandpa's house for a few more days?"

He Lai still expressed his thoughts.

"How can that be? Although Mom is just a kitchen helper, you can't let others work overtime because of me."

Wu Juan also refused directly.

"But mom, you're working every day now, and we don't have much time to spend together."

He Lai threw himself into Wu Juan's arms. He Lai had already regarded Wu Juan as his own mother.

"Hey, silly child, Mom is not tired. Isn't she still at home after get off work?"

Wu Juan also felt a little guilty. After all, after her husband left, she really didn't have much time to spend with He Lai.

I could only hug He Lai and comfort him.

"How about I take a few days off and spend more time with you?" Wu Juan couldn't bear it anymore and looked at He Lai in her arms.

"Okay, I'll go talk to Brother Zhuzi. Just half a month."

He Lai immediately left Wu Juan's arms and ran to Sha Zhu's house.

"Brother Zhuzi, I'll ask for half a month's leave for my mother." He Lai said as soon as he entered the door.

"What, half a month, isn't that too long?"

"You can help me deliver a box of tea to the canteen director. It shouldn't be a problem. It's just that my mother's younger brother is getting married, and there are a lot of things to do in the countryside."

He Lai also spoke without hesitation.

"Well, alright. I'll try my best."

"If he dares to disagree, you won't cook for him!"

"Okay, okay, okay!" Sha Zhu also agreed readily.

Sha Zhu will also go to Qin Huairu's house tomorrow.

"Come on, brother, take me with you, I want to go too." Yu Shui ran out of the house and said.

"Okay, I'll take you to see the village where I lived when I was a child." He Lai thought about it and agreed.