allonlinenovel Chapter 205 Chinese New Year (12)
Chapter 205 Chinese New Year (12)
After Su Jinru finished her phone call, the children returned home and set off a few firecrackers at the front door.
The children had become very close, especially the only girl, Anxin, who had become the object of everyone's affections, and everyone gave her the best of everything.
Jiang Yuting said to Su Jinru, "You'll be staying here for the next few days. I've cleaned up the room that A-Jie used to stay in, so you two can stay there. Now I'll take you to see if there's anything else you need."
Su Jinru followed the old lady upstairs. The two-story building had three rooms, a kitchen, a dining room, and a living room on the ground floor, and six rooms on the upper floor. Yuan Wenjie's previous room was in the east-facing room, which had a bed, a desk, and a wardrobe. The room was very spacious.
The room was simply furnished, but the bedding looked new.
The room was spotless, just like Yuan Wenjie's style—simple and uncluttered.
Jiang Yuting pointed to the two rooms next to her.
"These are your eldest brother and your second brother."
"The one next to it is for a strong nation, and the other one is for a nation that has built and prospers."
"Your father and I live in the downstairs room, and Anxin and Anran's rooms are also downstairs."
Jiang Yuting then took Su Jinru to see the rooms that had been prepared for An Xin and An Ran.
Although these two rooms are not as large as the rooms upstairs, the furniture is almost the same, only smaller. The bed is only 1.2 meters wide, unlike the 1.5 meters upstairs, and the wardrobe is also small, a single-person wardrobe, but enough for one person. The table, however, is a standard 1.2 meters by 60 centimeters.
Su Jinru thought that with so many rooms in the house, and the house being kept so clean and tidy, the old lady must spend a lot of time cleaning every day.
She doesn't hire a nanny or anything like that. No wonder she's an old revolutionary, from a working-class background; diligence is her duty.
"Mom, this house is so big, you have a lot to clean up every day."
"Haha, I'm retired at home and don't have much to do, so I treat housework as exercise." The old lady laughed heartily and energetically, and seemed to be in great health.
The family was having a lively time, and soon it was midnight. The two sisters-in-law went to heat up some dishes to prepare a late-night snack, saying it was a custom.
Because we are preparing to welcome the New Year's bells.
As the New Year's bells rang, the sounds of firecrackers echoed from near and far.
Several children excitedly ran to the door and lit firecrackers.
Then came the late-night snack.
Su Jinru and her two children all go to bed early and don't have the habit of eating late-night snacks. However, when in Rome, do as the Romans do, so they ate a little something with everyone else. Back in their hometown, they usually didn't wait for the New Year's bell to ring and would go to bed very early.
Celebrating the Lunar New Year here is especially grand, with a stronger festive atmosphere and a great sense of ritual.
After having a late-night snack, everyone went to rest.
In the room, Yuan Wenjie considerately covered Su Jinru with the blanket.
"Aru, it's late today, you should get some rest, I'm going to stay up to welcome the New Year."
Su Jinru was surprised.
"Staying up all night on New Year's Eve? You still have such a custom?"
"Yes! Every year on New Year's Eve, someone in the family has to stay up all night, which is a metaphor for keeping the whole family safe and sound. This task is undoubtedly the responsibility of the man in the family. I haven't been back for the New Year for many years, which means I haven't fulfilled this responsibility for my family for many years. This year, I'm back, so it's natural for me to stay up all night."
Su Jinru had heard that some places had the custom of staying up all night on New Year's Eve, but she didn't know exactly what to do.
Yuan Wenjie said, "You don't need to do anything. Just keep the lights on and have someone stay awake at home. If you don't sleep, the evil spirit of the year won't dare to visit the family, and everyone in the family will be safe and sound in the coming year. Staying up all night is, in essence, praying for the safety of the whole family."
Su Jinru never expected that a revolutionary family like the Luo family, and a materialist like Yuan Wenjie, would believe in these traditional customs.
Perhaps it's an expression of love for family!
Su Jinru joked, "I've heard that soldiers carry a kind of energy that can ward off evil spirits. Our parents and you three brothers make up five soldiers. Even if you don't stay up all night on New Year's Eve, the evil spirit will definitely not dare to come near our house!"
Yuan Wenjie smiled and ruffled Su Jinru's hair.
"You go to sleep! I'm not sleepy anyway, I'll just stay in the study and make some plans for the New Year."
And so, Yuan Wenjie stayed up until 4:30 in the morning, only returning to sleep after the rooster crowed.
Su Jinru got up at seven o'clock. In the winter in the south, it was still dark, but in the north, it was already bright.
Sure enough, everyone in the family was already up.
My mother-in-law had already prepared breakfast: porridge and steamed buns.
After breakfast, everyone goes out to visit relatives and friends for the New Year.
The eldest and second eldest brothers are going to accompany their wives and children back to their parents' home.
They would eat lunch and dinner at their parents' house before returning home.
My sister-in-law and second sister-in-law are both from this city, so even if there is snow, it won't affect their return. Moreover, the city is well managed. The day after the snowfall, someone organized a special snow removal operation, and the main streets and roads were cleared, making passage unimpeded.
After the eldest and second eldest brothers' families left, only the Luo couple and Su Jinru's family remained.
The two children's enthusiasm for the snow had waned somewhat. After playing here for two days, they were no longer interested in the bustling city and couldn't resist their curiosity to run out into the street.
I heard that there was a study in their house, right next to their room, where they quietly read books all day.
Yuan Wenjie also spent the day with Mr. and Mrs. Luo.
We just cleaned the house together, cooked together, and chatted about this and that.
Because there was a lot of leftover food from last night, they only cooked a little fresh vegetables, which was enough for them.
Su Jinru was moved by Yuan Wenjie's patience and heartfelt care for the elderly couple.
Judging from their natural, relaxed, and comfortable way of getting along, you would never guess that they are not related by blood. It is rare for biological parents and children to get along like this after their child has grown up.
So on the first day of the Lunar New Year, Su Jinru stayed at home with Yuan Wenjie, enjoying their freedom.
Yes, it's liberating. Being at your husband's in-laws' house, or even at the in-laws' house of your adoptive parents who are not related to your husband by blood, is just as carefree as being at home. This feeling can only be expressed by the word "liberating".
Here, there is none of the invisible pressure and restraint that women usually experience when they go to their husband's family home.
All of this stems from the two elderly people's boundless tolerance and selfless love.
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, according to custom, everyone visits relatives and friends.
After having breakfast, Yuan Wenjie planned to take Su Jinru to visit Old Hong, a friend of his biological parents.
On the way, Yuan Wenjie introduced Old Hong and their family's history to Su Jinru.