At first it was intermittent, but later on, more people came and the sound of firecrackers became continuous.

Behind it, there was a deafening sound.

When it reaches this courtyard, you can hear it clearly.

"Most people in our village are living a better life this year, and you can tell from the sound of the firecrackers."

Sun's frontier was fortified with firewood and border roads.

"In previous years, there weren't so many firecrackers on New Year's Eve," the woman continued.

Yang Ruoqing smiled knowingly.

When a family doesn't have enough to eat and is exhausted during the Chinese New Year, weighing several kilograms of meat to make a scene, it's natural to save as much as possible on firecrackers.

"I was washing vegetables in the pond at the entrance of the village this morning. Many of your aunts and ladies still told me about it."

Sun continued.

"Everyone said that it's all thanks to you, Qing'er, that life has been good this year."

"The transportation team and the herb collection team made everyone's dry pockets bulge, haha..."

Yang Ruoqing was handling the dishes in an orderly manner, while listening to Sun's words, the corners of her mouth raised slightly.

"If someone says these things to my mother later, I will tell them."

"Follow me and I'll make sure their pockets get better and better every year!"

She said enthusiastically.

Mrs. Sun stopped what she was doing and looked at Yang Ruoqing with pride.

"My daughter is really capable. If it weren't for you, our family would have collapsed a long time ago." The woman said.

Qing'er's father is paralyzed and can't stand up, Da'an can't go to school, can't build a house, can't afford a field...

Yang Ruoqing saw that Mrs. Sun was reminiscing about hardships and sweetness like Mrs. Xianglin, so she quickly stopped her.

"Mom, let's not talk about this anymore. Are these chicken nuggets salty after you taste them?"

Yang Ruoqing took out a piece of chicken nuggets that were simmering in the earthen pot, blew on it, and put it to Sun's mouth.

Mrs. Sun took a bite and said, "Well, it's not salty, not bland, just right."

"Is it dead?" Yang Ruoqing asked again.

Mrs. Sun nodded: "It's dead."

"Okay, let's simmer it first." Yang Ruoqing said.

When it got dark, Yang Huazhong came back with Da'an and Xiaoan.

The father and son walked and joked all the way. Xiao An's eyes were bright and he looked extremely excited.

"Ah, are you back?"

Mrs. Sun was taking Yang Ruoqing to arrange dishes and chopsticks in the main room.

Yang Huazhong smiled and said: "Yes, burning incense and so on went smoothly."

Mrs. Sun nodded repeatedly: "That's good, that's good. Everything will go smoothly in the coming year."

Yang Ruoqing came over and took Xiao An from Yang Huazhong's arms.

"Dad, the food is ready. Can we prepare the New Year's Eve dinner soon?" she asked.

Yang Huazhong said: "Let's do it!"

"Okay! I'll take my two brothers to wash their hands."

By the time Yang Ruoqing returned to the main room with her hands clean, Yang Huazhong and Sun had already put the food on the table.

Ten dishes.

Meatballs and patties are served in double bowls.

A plate of golden candied dates symbolizes sweetness in the coming year.

A bowl of brown sugar, lard and glutinous rice dumplings symbolizes reunion.

A bowl of braised chicken with mushrooms, don’t mention the rich aroma!

Big fat pork and pig blood braised tofu puffs, this is Yang Huazhong's favorite.

A whole braised fish, with red chili shreds, green green onion shreds and yellow ginger shreds dotted on the back of the fish, just like a painting.

Even if it’s New Year’s Eve dinner, for Yang Ruoqing, who is greedy for spicy food, how can she miss out on spicy dishes?

Finally, she also made a spicy stir-fried tenderloin.

There are some cabbage stalks and lettuce inside, which is full of flavor and spicy.

A full set of ten dishes, all perfect.

Beside it, there were ten pairs of bowls, chopsticks, wine cups, and soup spoons.

Xiao An raised his head and stretched out his white and chubby hands to count the bowls and chopsticks on the table.

She asked Yang Ruoqing next to her in a coquettish voice: "Sister, there are only seven people in our family, why are there ten sets of bowls and chopsticks? Did you take too many?"

Yang Ruoqing leaned over and hugged him, and patiently explained: "I didn't take more, because this Chinese New Year is perfect."

"oh……"

Xiao An seemed to understand but not understand.

Over there, people are starting to take their seats.

Yang Huazhong is the head of the family, so he should sit in the first place.

But this year, it's different.

Old Yangtou warned each room beforehand again and again.

This place of honor must be freed up for great-grandmother to sit on.

So, when he took his seat, Yang Huazhong vacated the chair at the front and sat down at the bottom.

The others sat down one after another.

After Mrs. Sun sat down, she looked around and found that Xiaohua Xiaoduo was not there.

"Qing'er, where is Xiaohua Xiaoduo?" asked Sun.

Yang Ruoqing just went to take care of Xiao An and didn't pay much attention to the other children in the family.

Hearing this, he looked around and saw that the two little sisters were not in the main room.

"I'm afraid it's in the backyard, I'll go take a look."

She immediately came to the backyard.

Sure enough, Xiaohua Xiaoduo was standing in the yard in the night.

"It's time to eat, why are you two here?" Yang Ruoqing asked, coming closer.

Xiao Duo lowered his head, and Xiao Hua murmured: "Sister Qing'er, you eat first, we will eat later."

"What nonsense are you talking about? This Chinese New Year, of course we want to have New Year's Eve dinner together!"

Yang Ruoqing smiled, stretched out her hand, and held the two of them one by one.

Xiaohua whispered: "We two are maids, eating New Year's Eve dinner with the master will break the rules..."

Yang Ruoqing was startled for a moment, and her expression became a little serious.

"What a silly girl. When I brought you back, I really wanted you to grow up and help my mother share the housework."

"After all, I can't be home most of the year."

"But our family has never considered you two as human beings."

"Xiao An calls you sister, and my mother treats you as daughters."

"When we enter a house, we are a family. Don't think so foolishly. Come on, come and eat!"

Hearing Yang Ruoqing's words, Xiaohua Xiaoduo looked at each other.

The eyes of the two little girls were red.

"This is the Chinese New Year, so don't shed tears. Come on, they are still waiting!"

Yang Ruoqing took Xiaohua Xiaoduo with one hand and the other to the front room.

The main room was brightly lit and a charcoal brazier was burning, making it very warm.

Mrs. Sun was very happy when she saw Yang Ruoqing coming with Xiaohua Xiaoduo.

"Come, come and sit here with me."

Xiaoduo sat next to Sun.

Xiaohua sat with Yang Ruoqing.

Da An and Xiao An sit together.

Yang Huazhong took a bunch of firecrackers and ran to the yard at the door to set them off.

After the crackling sound, the New Year's Eve dinner officially began...

The wine is rice wine and has been warmed in advance.

Everyone first toasts to the position at the top of the table that represents great-grandmother.

Next, they toasted to each other, and during the toasts they also said auspicious words appropriate to the occasion.

Finally, Yang Huazhong stood up and raised the wine bowl in front of Sun.

"My dear, you have worked hard running this house all year round. Let's have a drink from the wine bowl..." the man said.
Chapter completed!