Chapter 350: Kid, listen to your sister

The next day, the wind and snow temporarily stopped.

It had been snowing all night, and the snow in front of the door could drown your shoes when you stepped on it

The Liu Dalin and Liu Erlin couples still proceeded according to the previous plan. They headed to their in-laws’ homes to pay their respects.

Seriously, the distance to Chen Xiulan’s maternal home wasn’t too far nor too close. The snow was thicker, and it wasn’t conducive for a trip. However, if they didn’t go home, there would probably be gossip about Chen Xiulan, and Liu Dalin was unwilling to let his wife suffer that aggravation.

Once Liu Dalin and Liu Erlin left with their wives, the house was a lot less lively.

Fortunately, on the second day of the lunar new year, every family in the village began to visit each other. The Lius’ courtyard was full of people, filling the emptiness and causing less loneliness to the family.

In the afternoon, several young people began to feel bored and moldy.

“Sister Nannan! Sister Nannan!” A shout came from the gate of the yard. A young boy with clear eyes barged in and went straight to Liu Yusheng in the hall.

“Xiao Shuanzi? You’re back from outside?” The moment Grandma Liu caught sight of him, she burst into laughter.

Nannan’s little tail, Xiao Shuanzi, would always visit Nannan as long as he was at home.

“Grandpa Liu, Grandma Liu, happy New Year. I came to play with Sister Nannan,” Xiao Shuanzi grinned.

The four-year-old kid then has now also grown up. He was studying in the county academy, and was very smart. The teachers at the school valued him very much. 

“Your sister, Nannan, is bored. You youngsters have fun.”

Liu Zhiqiu teased, “This kid, since childhood, his eyes have only been on Nannan. Even when her two brothers are standing here, he ignores us.”

“Brother Zhiqiu, you wronged me. I really came to see Sister Nannan, but also to find you guys to go out together to play.”

“Where are we going to play?”

“Brother Dabao asked me to send word to go to the town and listen to the opera. He has the carts ready. While the snow has stopped, it’s only about an hour to town. Shall we go?”

“Go to the town now? It’s getting late. It’s going to be dark when we get back from the show, right?” Liu Yusheng frowned slightly.

On such a cold day, she was lazy and didn’t want to go out.

“The weather is cold, so the opera singers won’t sing for long.” Xiao Shuanzi said, “Otherwise, won’t you be bored nesting at home the whole day? There are a lot of villagers going. Several ox carts have been taken with one more left for you. They’re just waiting for you to arrive and set off.”

Liu Yusheng glanced at his elder brothers, and then looked at Fu Yuzheng, who was hanging her head over the fire, and nodded, “Then let’s go. We’ll just make it back in time for dinner.”

“Let’s go!” With his task accomplished, and he had chances to play with his Sister Nannan all afternoon, Xiao Shuanzi looked particularly happy.

Liu Zhixia got up and flicked his forehead. “You’re so old, yet still clinging to your sister all day long.”

“I am Sister Nannan’s little tail. I still remember my oath when I was a child. Brother Zhixia, you can not sow discord.”

After saying this, the boy immediately leapt out in case he was attacked again.

Xue Qinglian didn’t plan to go. He might as well study poison instead of watching a singing performance. Before heading out, however, he heard Liu Yusheng instructing Wei Hong and Wei Lan to take care of her grandma at home, so he changed his mind and followed a few others.

He shuddered upon stepping a foot out the door. He was really toiling.

How comfortable was it to be alone in the past?  What happened? And now he has made himself into a worrywart?

“Xue Qinglian, hurry up. Don’t dawdle. My grandfather can walk faster than you.” In the front, the young girl turned back and urged.

Xue Qinglian sighed and resigned himself to fate.

What could be done? If he declined to go, he would be worrying non-stop.

The streets were crowded during the New Year, and there would be snakes and vipers creeping around among the dragons. Zhixia and Zhiqiu were two weak people who couldn’t even truss up a chicken. What could they do when they really encountered something?

He was now Qian Wanjin the second.

He would be worried about the person in front him at all times.

The ox carts were parked at the entrance of the village under the ancient acacia tree.

Several ox carts were already packed.

There was still one empty, which should be for them.

“Zhixia, Zhiqiu, Nannan, hop on. We’re just waiting for you!” The empty ox cart driver turned his head and smiled at the several people. Dark and sturdy, simple and honest; it was Dabao. When they played together as children, this boy wasn’t a jokester, but he has also grown into a tall and strong youth now.

The young gentlemen and girls in the other carts were all of the same age, so when they saw them coming, they greeted them one after another. With everyone there, they immediately set off for the town.

There were a lot of people, so one said a word and the other supplemented, making the trip extremely lively.

Liu Yusheng and Fu Yuzheng sat on the side of the cart, both wrapped up tightly. Their heads and faces were also wrapped with large scarves to block the wind. As they were crowded with people, they did not feel cold on the snowy road.

Fu Yuzheng’s eyes that were exposed, carried a curved curvature, as if she was smiling.

“Are you very happy?” On the other side of her seat was Liu Zhixia, and his tall figure just blocked most of the wind in front of her.

“Yes.” Fu Yuzheng responded, “It’s the first time I’m going out to play in this look.”

If she were in the capital, she wouldn’t dare to dress up like this. Not to mention being laughed at, she’d mar the King’s dignity.

However, in Xinghua Village, everyone was dressed the same. It was a novel experience for her to do as the natives do.

Moreover, she didn’t have to be concerned about her image outside, nor did she have to maintain etiquette at all times. It was extra comfortable.

Liu Yusheng turned her head away. She shouldn’t disturb her elder brother from flirting. Upon turning her head, she caught a glimpse of Xue Qinglian sitting in the cart seat with his body all but crooked. Coupled with the ox cart’s swaying and bobbing, he actually seemed asleep at a closer look.

How fearless of him; he wasn’t afraid of falling midway through.

“Xiao Shuanzi, help him a little, so that he does not fall down.”

“En.” Xiao Shuanzi was particularly obedient and immediately dragged Xue Qinglian a little. The man’s hand blocked him, however.

“Don’t worry, I can’t fall.”

“You are awake?”

“I call this closing my eyes to recuperate.” Once they got to town, he’d have to stay focused. 

Xiao Shuanzi’s mouth twitched slightly. He looked at Liu Yusheng and then at Xue Qinglian. “Sister Nannan, why are your friends so weird?”

He looked sound asleep this whole time and was also languid, but his vigilance was quite strong.

In addition, there was also Qian Wanjin. How could he describe that man? He wore a pile of gold thread on him every day and never changed to other fashion.

Liu Yusheng smiled. “Experts always have some quirks. Ignore them. Don’t provoke this man because he even breathes poison when he speaks.”

“…”

Xue Qinglian lazily opened his eyes a slit. “Kid, listen to your sister. I not only breathe poison when I speak, I can also shoot poison needles when I look at people.”

“Pfft, hahaha!”

A carload of people all could not help but laugh.

An hour passed amidst the jests and laughter. They arrived just in time at the town entrance. They tied ox carts there, looked for someone to watch over them, and a group of twenty people marched mightily towards the town.

On the second day of the New Year, most of the stores on the street have reopened.

People walked to and fro on the street, so the bustle was extremely noisy.

Young people were fond of action, and the snowy day could not freeze their enthusiasm. They came out to walk the streets and invited their friends out.

Liu Yusheng’s party was more purposeful, and they headed straight to the town’s theater.