Chapter 341: Want to beat me up, you can’t escape either

They both collapsed at the same time.

When they collapsed, the stove on the table was still burning and the small pot on the stove was still gurgling with heat.

At dawn, there was a sudden crackling sound outside the courtyard, one after another.

The sound of firecrackers broke the silence of the countryside overnight, and woke up those who had fallen into a deep sleep.

There was no need to wake Liu Zhiqiu up. Upon hearing the sound of firecrackers, he jumped up. With shut eyes, he went to the side to fetch the firecrackers that had been long prepared. He lit the fuse and threw them out.

Crackle-crackle-crackle.

The sound of explosions was so close to the ears, shocking people’s ears into humming.

“Second Brother, you are too fast. You’re not leaving any for me to play,” Liu Yusheng rubbed her eyes, helpless.

She was just a little bit slower, but the firecrackers were lit off.

The rich smell of nitrous fire in the courtyard drilled straight to the hall, choking people tight.

“Firecrackers are dangerous to light off. Little girls shouldn’t play with this. Behave. I’m done staying up for the New Year. Let’s hurry back to bed and get up early tomorrow for New Year greetings. Grandma must have prepared a thick red envelope! I can save New Year’s money again this year!” Liu Zhiqiu pushed his sister outside, his eyes brimful and immersed in the joy of receiving a thick red envelope.

All year round, his favorite day was the morning of the New Year.

He could receive a red envelope, and the lucky money inside had been getting generous year by year.

In two more years of savings, his private savings was enough for him to get married without worrying his parents.

No, he’d better put that off for a few more years. After getting married, he could no longer receive lucky money. There would only be out but no in. What a huge loss.

Xue Qinglian also followed behind them and walked towards the second courtyard in a daze.

He was getting older and couldn’t afford to stay up late. He only stayed up late for half the night and was already too sleepy.

He must ask Lucky Nannan for two more jars of special nourishing wine to give himself a good tonic and rejuvenation.

The last to leave was Liu Zhixia and Fu Yuzheng.

The two walked side by side without saying anything.

It wasn’t until they reached the second courtyard before parting that Liu Zhixia spoke, “Rest well. Sleep well before you get up.”

“Mm.” Fu Yuzheng answered softly and continued to walk into the small third courtyard.

The New Year vigil was but staying up late, lighting a couple of firecrackers when the hour arrived, and then it was considered over.

Honestly, it was very boring.

But she felt that it was very meaningful.

With her first friend in life, with her own … with the person she liked beside three or two friends in company, bathed in the atmosphere of the New Year, they stayed together with the old to welcome the new.

This was a kind of feeling that might not be found again in the future.

After holding out all night, people who were used to resting early were extremely sleepy.

However, on the first day of the New Year, people naturally had to wake up in time.

It was true that the New Year atmosphere was too intense. It was infectious and people tended to be excited.

Before lunch was ready, a group of people came out of their rooms and laughed at the green and black circles hanging under each other’s eyes.

The front yard has long been busy with work.

New Year, new weather, everyone in the family was wearing brand new cotton coats, their faces glowing red.

The two daughters-in-law were busy in the kitchen preparing dishes for the table, while the elders were sitting in the hall, waiting for the grandchildren to come over to pay their respects and give the red envelopes they had prepared for the New Year.

Liu Zhiqiu was the fastest among them. He didn’t even bother to wash himself. He first showered auspicious words to the elders in the hall, then asked for money.

“Naughty monkey, can’t you clean yourself up before coming to pay respects for the New Year? Aren’t you too unsightly?” The old lady laughed and scolded while giving him a thick red envelope.

“The first thing to do upon waking up is to wish Grandma and Grandpa good luck for the New Year.” Liu Zhiqiu answered eloquently. He turned to his grandpa and his uncle to receive their thick red envelopes, and finally stretched his hand out to his father. “Dad, I hope you’ll make a big fortune in the New year.”

While talking, he rubbed his fingers to count his silver.

Liu Erlin suddenly remembered the picture of himself pampering his mother to ask for silver; he did the same exact thing.

Now that he got a good look at it, he found it an eyesore. He suddenly didn’t want to give him a red envelope!

“Dad, the New Year is a major occasion, right? Don’t be such a miser. The good omens of a year are all in the auspicious words during New Year’s greetings. Bring them quickly. I’ll give you a few more good words, so that Mother won’t chase you for a year.”

Liu Erlin closed his eyes and asked his parents, “Father, Mother, can I beat someone on the first day of the New Year?”

“Dad, I tell you, It’s fine if you want to beat me, but you can’t escape either. Mother will be waiting at the back. Weigh it well.”

He – his son came to collect debts!

Liu Erlin took out a red envelope and gave it with gnashing teeth.

The few people who were washing outside laughed staggeringly.

“Nannan, you guys come in quickly. If you don’t come in, your Second Brother is going to coax and get all the red envelopes. Today his mouth is particularly powerful!” Liu Dalin shouted at the top of his lungs, covering his pocket tightly to keep the red envelope for his daughter.

Who knew what else would come out of this kid’s mouth later?

“Coming, Dad!”

Liu Yusheng sped up her washing, and then pulled Fu Yuzheng along with her to the hall.

Fu Yuzheng struggled and whispered, “Nannan, I’m here as a guest, so I won’t go…”

“Let’s go. How can you not? New Year is a major event. Let’s seek good luck.” Liu Yusheng grabbed her. “Just join in the lively atmosphere. Are we still short of that little money? This is to make the elders happy, let’s go.”

She argued, so Fu Yuzheng couldn’t resist any longer.

Liu Zhixia and Xue Qinglian walked slowly behind, smiling.

“You caused such a ruckus in the kitchen yesterday, and you still dare to ask for red envelopes today?”

“As Nannan said, New Year is a major event, seek good luck,” Xue Qinglian  played with words.

How could he not want it?

As long as he was not married, he could shamelessly reach out to receive.

Besides, wasn’t last night’s New Year’s Eve dinner eaten as usual? The chicken he peeled was still finally stewed, and it tasted pretty good.

Grandma Liu even used the chicken skin oil to fry.

Nothing was wasted.

In the hall, the two girls have showered auspicious words one after the other. The grandpa and grandma were so happy they gave out red envelopes.

Liu Zhiqiu stayed aside and took a special look at the red envelopes given to the two that were bigger than his!

“Grandpa, Grandma, should not you treat us equally?” Liu Zhiqiu took out his own red envelope to compare the thickness and felt particularly reluctant.

“Had you been a girl, your Grandpa and I would have treated you equally,” Grandma Liu countered and then looked at Liu Zhiqiu. Her eyes clearly said, My dear grandson, can you change into one for me to see?

Liu Zhiqiu wilted.

For more than ten years, their status as male grandsons have not improved at all.

Not to mention that he studied halfway through and went home to carry the hoe. Even his talented brother was as worth as the grass in the eyes of their grandparents.

“Grandpa, Grandma, father, second uncle, have an auspicious New Year.” Liu Zhixia was the last wave to ask for money. He stood tall in front of his grandfather and grandmother without embarrassment at all.

“Grandma Liu, Grandpa Liu, Uncle Liu, Second Uncle Liu, I also wish you all a good New Year, all the best,” Xue Qinglian, the chicken thief, met Grandma Liu’s glare, and quickly turned to escape the death penalty, “The New Year is a major event. Let’s let bygones be bygones and write them off. I’ll definitely abide by law and behave properly in the future!”