February 4, 1996, the sixteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, Sunday, the beginning of spring.
At Ma Xiaolong's house, the whole family sat around making dumplings.
Zhusha is here today, Chen Jun is on vacation, Zhang Zhiling has also finished her pre-Spring Festival training class, and even Ma Qiangsheng is back from the capital. This is the first time in several months that we are reunited like this.
Grandma was very happy. She got up early in the morning to make noodles, mix stuffings, and make dumplings for the whole family to eat together.
It's the beginning of spring, which means the beginning of a new year. How can we not eat some dumplings?
As the family's chef, Ma Qiangsheng also bought fresh white chicken, carp, beef, tofu, various vegetables, etc. early in the morning to prepare a large table of meals.
Liu Ying and grandpa, these two lazy guys, were not idle either. Those who washed the pots washed the pots, those who carried firewood, and their future grandson (son) daughter-in-law came. The whole family was so reunited, and they watched others working.
Is it appropriate? Not appropriate.
Doing whatever you can can be considered as participating.
After several months of study, Ma Xiaofeng is now able to knead dough, roll out dough, and make dumplings, and has been praised by Zhu Sha.
Ma Xiaofeng chuckled: "I'm still far behind! My goal is to master at least a hundred kinds of dishes and be a chef who can cook twelve big dishes at a time."
"Amazing." Zhu Sha was surprised. She didn't expect that Ma Xiaofeng, who was learning to do crotch stretching, would have such talent and pursuit in cooking: "Xiao Feng will definitely be a good wife and mother in the future."
"Hehehe, I think so too." Ma Xiaofeng's nose turned up.
"Pull it down!" Liu Ying suppressed: "With your temper, thank God if you don't demolish your future husband's house."
"I won't demolish the house!" Ma Xiaofeng sighed: "How tiring!"
"..." Your thinking angle is so strange.
"Xiaofeng is very good." Zhang Zhiling smiled and said: "He works hard and learns quickly. He will definitely be able to run a family in the future. Whoever marries Xiaofeng will be really lucky!"
"Hehehehe..." Ma Xiaofeng's face was a little red, but it was very useful: "I think so too."
"..." Liu Ying said helplessly: "Stop praising her. If you continue to praise her, she will go to heaven."
This scenario has happened many times at home, and the result is the same every time.
Liu Ying was helpless. When can this girl be more stable?
"ah!?"
Ma Xiaofeng shouted, startling everyone.
Liu Ying was very annoyed and was about to reprimand her when she saw her touching her pants, raising her hand, and there was blood on her hand: "My... butt is bleeding!? Wow, wow, wow~ I must have a terminal illness! It's over.
, I’m going to die! Wow woo woo~”
"..."
Grandpa went to play with the pigeons in the yard with his hands behind his back; Ma Qiangsheng also went to the yard to get some fresh air after staying in the kitchen for a long time.
Ma Xiaolong slapped Ma Xiaofeng on the head: "Stop crying, you are celebrating the beginning of spring, which is a good thing." He turned to Zhu Sha and said, "Go and teach her."
Zhu Sha smiled and nodded, pulling Ma Xiaofeng, who looked confused, upstairs.
Grandma laughed out loud: "It's the beginning of spring, but my eldest grandson can talk. Today is the beginning of spring, isn't it the beginning of spring?"
"Indeed." Zhang Zhiling smiled and said, "I didn't expect Xiaofeng to grow up too. Time flies so fast."
Liu Ying also smiled, looked at Chen Jun, and said: "Today it's Xiaofeng, and the next one will be Xiaojun."
"Morning!" Zhang Chiling said: "It will take two or three years anyway."
"Speaking of which." Liu Ying looked at Ma Xiaolong and asked, "Where did Xiao Sha come from?"
"..."
What does this make me say?
Ma Xiaolong lowered his head to make dumplings: "I don't know, just ask her."
Bad boy.
Liu Ying snickered: It's strange that you don't know.
Second floor, bathroom.
Helping Ma Xiaofeng take off her pants and wash away the blood on her legs, Zhu Sha took out a large band-aid and taught Ma Xiaofeng how to use it. By the way, she explained in detail the origin of the girl's bleeding and the precautions to be taken in the future.
"This kind of thing means that we girls have grown up and can no longer be as crazy as we were when we were children." Zhusha smiled and said: "We must also pay attention to hygiene in the future, and the recipes for these days of each month should be adjusted accordingly. If
If you still don’t understand, please call me anytime and I will help you solve it.”
"Thank you, sister." Ma Xiaofeng gradually calmed down from the panic and said: "It's better that my sister is nice to me. I wish you were my biological sister."
Zhu Sha narrowed her eyes and smiled: "If I were your biological sister, how could I be your sister-in-law?"
"Can't a biological sister be a sister-in-law?" Ma Xiaofeng had no idea.
"Yes." Zhusha nodded: "Because monsters will be born between relatives, relatives cannot get married."
"Oh." Ma Xiaofeng seemed to understand, but she remembered that monsters would arise between relatives and they could not get married.
"Sister, when are you and your brother going to get married?" Ma Xiaofeng put on her pants. Although it was a bit awkward, there was finally no blood flowing out.
"Your brother and I are not old enough. It will probably be more than eight years until he turns 22," Zhu Sha said.
"It will take so long?" Ma Xiaofeng was a little disappointed: "Grandma always said that she wanted to have a grandson as soon as possible. I thought you would have a baby soon!"
Zhusha blushed and said with a smile: "I can't help it, this is the law, just trouble grandma to wait a few more years!"
"That's the only way." Ma Xiaofeng jumped a little to see if the large band-aid was tight. She was about to jump a second time, but was held down by Zhusha: "Don't jump around these days, as it may cause bleeding."
"Can't even jump? It's so troublesome." Ma Xiaofeng frowned.
"Be patient and it will pass." Zhu Sha warned: "Don't catch a cold these days, don't eat cold things, drink more hot water, add some meat, offal, and make some brown sugar, millet, jujube porridge." After a pause.
, asked: "Does your stomach hurt?"
Ma Xiaofeng touched her belly, shook her head and said, "It doesn't hurt."
"That's good." Zhu Sha smiled and said: "You are lucky. Some girls will be in special pain these days and can only take painkillers." Gu Qi
"So powerful!?" Ma Xiaofeng was startled: "Fortunately, I don't feel any pain." She patted her heart and asked, "Sister, do you feel any pain?"
Zhu Sha smiled and said, "I don't feel any pain either."
"That sister is as lucky as me." Ma Xiaofeng was very happy.
Zhu Sha smiled and nodded: "Yes, we are equally lucky."
Afterwards, the bloody pants were soaked in a basin. Ma Xiaofeng had difficulty moving and could not touch the cold water. Zhusha helped her wash the pants and hung them on the clothesline in the bathroom.
Ma Xiaofeng was still a little embarrassed: "Thank you, sister."
"You're welcome." Zhu Sha wiped her hands and said with a smile, "Let's go down!"
"Um."
…
Downstairs, everyone looked at Ma Xiaofeng with smiles. Her face turned red and she huddled in the corner, not daring to see anyone.
Grandpa chuckled and said, "Today is a good day. It's the beginning of spring. Let's have a few more drinks later."
"I know you don't have good intentions." Grandma laughed and scolded: "I don't care how old I am. Drinking is very harmful to your health. Drink less."
"Not much, just two taels." Grandpa laughed and said, "This little wine won't go over your head."
"Okay! It's rare to have such a reunion today, so I'll drink with you too," said grandma.
"Ouch! Old lady, what you said is so right. Let's have a drink together later." Grandpa was very excited, as if it was the first time in so many years that grandma would drink with him.
"Since Mom is so happy, I'll drink with you too." Liu Ying was also happy and turned to Zhang Chiling and said, "Zhiling, you're out of business anyway, why don't we drink together?"
Zhang Chiling waved her hands repeatedly: "I don't know how to drink."
"It's okay, drink some champagne, the alcohol is not high, just like a drink." Liu Ying said.
"It's really not that high?" Zhang Chiling still hesitated.
"It's not high, it's about the same as beer." Liu Ying said, "Just one cup is enough. I'm sure you won't get drunk."
"Then...okay!" Zhang Chiling agreed. It was rare for everyone to be so happy. It would be bad if it ruined everyone's interest.
"It's okay to get drunk. Just go home and take a nap." Liu Ying said with a smile, "I've been working hard for a year, so let me relax."
This said to Zhang Chiling's heart. Although she made a lot of money in the past year, it was indeed hard work and she might as well relax herself.
Zhang Chiling nodded, smiled and said: "Okay."
"That's right."
…
At noon, the dumplings were cooked and the vegetables were fried, and the whole family sat around the dinner table.
Two old people, three middle-aged people, and four teenagers.
Looking at the table full of people, grandma's eyes were a little moist: "This is the first time in so many years that so many people are celebrating the festival together."
"It's a big holiday, you old lady, don't do this." Grandpa said this, but his eyes were actually a little red, and he picked up the wine glass: "I won't say more, both adults and children have worked hard in the past year.
Come, let’s go together, I hope the new year will be better than last year.”
Everyone picked up their glasses, white wine for men, champagne for women, and drinks for children. The atmosphere was just right and the whole family was happy.
Ten minutes later.
Zhang Chiling's face turned red, she said sorry, stood up unsteadily and left the dinner table.
Everyone was stunned. Liu Ying looked at Zhang Chiling's wine glass: "You're drunk after only half a glass?"
"Mom, please slow down." Ma Xiaolong went up to help Zhang Chiling and said to everyone: "You guys eat first! I'll help her go home and lie down for a while."
"Brother, I too..." Chen Jun also wanted to help.
"Just don't come." Ma Xiaolong smiled and said, "Eat well and stay with your sister Zhusha and Xiaofeng."
"oh."
"Okay, as long as Xiaolong is taking care of them, let's continue eating." Grandma put a piece of meat into Chen Jun and Cinnabar's bowls: "Eat both of them, Xiaolong will be back soon."
"Thank you, grandma."×2
"Grandma, what about me?" Ma Xiaofeng couldn't stand the "unequal sharing of spoils" the most.
"You're everywhere." Grandma smiled and scolded, and gave her a piece of meat: "Eat it's yours!"
"Hey, thank you, grandma." Ma Xiaofeng felt comfortable and ate meat with great pleasure.
…
At Zhang Chiling's house, Ma Xiaolong helped her sit on the edge of the bed, pulled the quilt over, helped her slowly lie down, covered her with the quilt, then poured a basin of hot water and wiped her face with a wet towel.
After wiping her face clean, she looked at Zhang Chiling's drunken state, she was as quiet as usual, neither crying nor making a fuss.
"Woooo..."
"..."
Oh my god! I just praised you! It slapped me in the face so much.
"Mom, what's wrong?" He wiped her tears with a hot towel and asked quickly: "What's wrong?"
Zhang Chiling opened her eyes, and dimly, she seemed to see her husband who had been dead for many years.