Life is more than just living

Chapter 348

Since he only had a holiday on New Year's Eve, Chen Xu was particularly busy at night these two days: decorating his home, studying recipes, and preparing New Year's food. There was also all kinds of cleaning. She bought several new sets of bedding, washed them thoroughly, and replaced them with new ones for each room. I also have to help Lin Zhiyuan tidy up the house and wash the curtains, sheets and quilts. When grandma called, she was busy washing the sheets. Grandma asked tentatively: "Xu, when are you going to have a holiday? Are you coming back for the New Year?" Chen Xu was stunned for a moment and forgot about this. So she put down the sheets in her hands and said to her grandma: "Grandma, I told you, I have a godfather and a godmother who want to come to me to celebrate the New Year, so I can't go back during the New Year, but I have time in the first month. I will go back to see you. If you are missing anything, call me and I will send someone to take you there." Grandma said "Oh" a little disappointed, and then she cheered up and said, "Okay, your godfather will do it. Mom is your noble person, entertain others well!"

Chen Zhigang heard his stepmother's phone call next to him. He put down the remote control in his hand and asked, "What do you mean? Isn't she coming back for the New Year?" Grandma Chen sighed, said nothing, and walked to the kitchen silently. She knew in her heart that if Chen Zhigang was not at home, Chen Xu would come back more frequently, and maybe he could come back for a visit during the New Year. But what can be done? This time Chen Zhigang came back. Although he was not as arrogant as before, he was still not easy to mess with. Alas, I am already old, just live one day at a time! Fortunately, Chen Xu has a conscience and often comes back to deliver food. Otherwise, his few dollars would not be able to feed two people. Chen Zhigang does not receive living expenses at all. What kind of evil is this? He has to pay for raising a child. To support him in his old age?

The Liu family of three arrived the night before New Year's Eve, when Chen Xu was cooking meat. The arrival of the three people made not only Chen Xu but also Lin Zhiyuan very happy.

Looking at the three people carrying large and small bags of things, Chen Xu said: "Oh, Dad, Mom, I have told you that we are not short of anything at home, why do you bring so many things all the way?" Liu Weiguo said with a smile: "This We are planning to stay longer this time. These things were given by our work unit and I am afraid they will break if we keep them at home. Let’s bring them here and let’s eat them together!” Because there were so many things, Liu Weiguo and Liu Jingsheng each drove a car. Han Hui bought several new sets of clothes for Chen Xu, saying that her precious daughter must wear new clothes during the Chinese New Year.

On New Year's Eve, Chen Xu's room was bustling. With his parents and two brothers here, Chen Xu felt more satisfied than ever. Firecrackers and fireworks outside were popping up one after another. Several people had to speak louder to be heard. After the New Year's Eve dinner, Chen Xu stood by the window and looked at the fireworks outside. She couldn't help but think of Han Yidao and Wu Sixian, and the Spring Festival three years ago. She was also very happy at that time. She silently recited in front of the bed: Han Yidao, you must Be happy; grandma, I wish you health and longevity!

The new year is Lin Zhiyuan's birth year, and Chen Xu carefully prepared red underwear and a red belt for him. Lin Zhiyuan's hands were shaking when he took it, and Chen Xu thought it was his dazzling illusion. Lin Zhiyuan said he would go back to the house and change into something. He ran into the room prepared by Chen Xu and raised his head with all his strength to prevent tears from falling. A scene from 12 years ago suddenly appeared in front of him: his mother took out a set of bright red underwear and a red belt and handed it to him and said: "Zhiyuan, put it on! It's good to wear red in the year of your life. It's good luck!" Lin Zhiyuan disagreed, "Mom, you are still a teacher! Why are you so superstitious! How do I look like a grown man wearing red!" His mother was still persuading in a gentle voice: "Zhiyuan, just wear it tonight! Although this is an old tradition, isn't it a traditional custom for us to celebrate the New Year? Next year, your animal year will be your year. As the old saying goes, your animal year is trivial, so let's wear red to avoid misfortunes and avoid disasters!" As he was talking, Lin Zhiyuan The phone rang with text message alerts one after another. At that time, people were still used to texting New Year greetings, so Lin Zhiyuan picked up the phone to read the text messages and reply to them one by one. My mother went to prepare the New Year's Eve dinner, and she didn't forget to prepare some clothes and don't forget to put them on. Lin Zhiyuan didn't take this matter seriously. He still had no clothes on that night. And that year, Lin Zhiyuan lost his mother and everything.

Lin Zhiyuan hugged the clothes tightly, and his whole body was shaking. If I had put on red clothes that day, everything would not have happened. Lin Zhiyuan was never willing to say what if, but this time he broke through.

Seeing no movement for a long time, Chen Xu knocked on the door outside and said, "Brother, have you changed? Once done, let's make dumplings together." Lin Zhiyuan hurriedly responded: "It'll be ready soon, right here!"

This year, Chen Xu received the most red envelopes. Her parents and two brothers all gave her big red envelopes. Chen Xu looked at a pile of red envelopes and said with a smile, I want to give them out like this! At two or three o'clock in the morning, a few people were still having fun. Five people were sitting around the coffee table playing poker. Chen Xu was very happy regardless of winning or losing. This peaceful atmosphere was not something that anyone could bear to destroy.

When it was almost dawn, several people felt a little tired. Chen Xu quickly stood up and asked everyone to rest. She said to Lin Zhiyuan: "Brother, you can live here too. I have tidied up the room." Lin Zhiyuan looked at Looking at Chen Xu, he reached out and touched her head, "Okay! I'll listen to you." He knew that Chen Xu was afraid that he would be disappointed if he went back to a deserted place.

Because it was originally Lin Zhiyuan's house, he was familiar with it. Seeing Chen Xu replace him with new curtains and bedding, he smiled happily. Lin Zhiyuan fell asleep with a smile on his face amid the sporadic sound of firecrackers outside. For the first time in more than ten years, he slept with a smile on New Year's Eve.

On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, the whole family got up a little late. Even Liu Weiguo, who always had a very regular schedule, got up a little late. When he was making dumplings in the morning, he yawned and said, "Oh, it seems I have to go to bed early and get up early." !" Chen Xu said with a smile: "Dad, if you wake up one day later in the year, treat it as a day off for yourself." Liu Weiguo smiled, "My girl is right, it's the Spring Festival, it's a day off!"

After eating dumplings in the morning, Lin Zhiyuan returned to his house because Gao Shan and Guo Jian were coming over to pay New Year's greetings. He called Chen Xu and said that everyone would meet together to avoid the trouble of having to exchange greetings when they meet again in the first month.

When the New Year greeters went back, Lin Zhiyuan took Chen Xu back to the house full of family warmth without saying a word. Chen Xu discovered that this time, Liu Jingsheng and Lin Zhiyuan were no longer tit-for-tat, but could live in harmony, and sometimes even sat together and chatted.

Because everyone persuaded Liu Weiguo on New Year's Day, he didn't rush back to work this time and took leave until the end of the holiday. He even had some unfinished business. He said with emotion: "It's really easy to become addicted to enjoying family life!"

However, not long after Liu Weiguo returned, he told Chen Xu that he still felt that he should do more useful things in his lifetime. It was too early to provide for old age. He decided to apply for transfer to work in the relevant working committee, and his wife and children also supported it. his approach. But Han Hui transferred the beauty salon. During a video chat with Chen Xu, Han Hui said: "Although your father has always warned me not to seek personal gain in his name, I also strictly demand myself. But in fact, my beauty salon The best period for the hospital's business was when your father came back to serve as the deputy mayor. Recently, your father has just been on the second line and has achieved immediate results, and the turnover has dropped off a cliff. Now your brother can also support himself, and your father and I can't spend too much money. , I already have enough for now, and I don’t want to bother with socializing anymore. Let’s live a free life in the future. Since your father still wants to continue working, then I will be a good wife and mother at home!”

Chen Xu felt that it was really difficult to have the best of both worlds. If she went to her parents' place, there would be her parents and little brother, as well as Han Yidao and her grandmother, but she couldn't bear to leave Lin Zhiyuan alone here, let alone herself. I also have friends here. Lin Zhiyuan looks glamorous on the outside, but Chen Xu understands the loneliness inside. She really can't bear to leave him alone. Chen Xu is also very strange sometimes. Others say that there is no real friendship between men and women, but he and Liu Jingsheng have been friends for a while, and then they became brother and sister, and then they had Lin Zhiyuan, the eldest brother. Although to outsiders, Brothers and sisters like this are criticized by others, but Chen Xu likes the feeling of having relatives very much. She is not afraid of rumors and just wants to enjoy the current life.