si-mexico Chapter 444
Chapter 444
Since it was their first Chinese New Year in Beijing, Si Nian and Zhou Yueshen had prepared a lot of things.They were incredibly busy right now.
The children were also very happy. This was their first time celebrating the New Year together as a complete family. Last year, they went to their grandmother's house, which was a different experience.
Si Nian cooked many home-style dishes, all of which were the children's favorites back in their hometown.
The large table was fully loaded with food.
Si Nian explained the auspicious meanings behind the dishes to the children. "This is for abundance year after year, this is for great luck and prosperity, this is for rising higher every day, and this is for blooming wealth..." She went through seven or eight dishes in a row. Seeing the children's fascinated expressions, Si Nian smiled and said, "Hurry and ask your dad to get the firecrackers ready. We'll eat right after we set them off."
Second Child let out an excited howl and skipped outside to find his dad.
"Dad, Dad! Mom says it's time to set off the firecrackers and eat!"
He dragged Zhou Yueshen into the house from outside. Seeing his unhurried pace, the boy wished he could walk for him.
Second Child dug out the firecrackers they had bought in advance from the cabinet and handed them to him. "Dad, you light them."
Mom had told him that he was still too young. Unlike small matchcrackers, these firecrackers were very powerful and shouldn't be lit by children.
So, he had to let his dad do it.
Zhou Yueshen reached out, took them, and walked outside.
Si Nian and the children followed him out.
By now, the sound of firecrackers going off could be heard everywhere, crackling and popping in a lively atmosphere.
It was finally their family's turn, and Second Child was so excited he was practically jumping.
"Brother, Brother, look! Our family is setting off firecrackers."
"Sister, Sister, come here quickly."
He helped cover Yaoyao's ears.
Zhou Yueshen lit the firecrackers. Soon, a series of deafening cracks and pops erupted at the doorway.
"Aw, setting off firecrackers!" Second Child cheered out loud.
Not to mention the excited boy, even Zhou Zedong, who was standing to the side, had a faint smile on his face.
Seeing her second brother so happy, Yaoyao jumped along with him and said in her milky voice, "Setting off firecrackers!"
It wasn't even six o'clock yet, but because it got dark early in the winter, it was already dusky outside.
After setting off the firecrackers, the family went inside.
The Spring Festival Gala was already broadcasting by now. Si Nian turned on the TV, and the festive programs of the Gala filled the screen.
They listened to the program while gathering around the table for their New Year's Eve dinner.
Second Child brought out the cola, poured himself a full glass first, and then filled everyone else's glasses.
This cola was expensive, unlike the cheap sodas sold on the street that would give you an upset stomach.
The children all loved it.
"To celebrate our second New Year together as a family, and to being together and reunited every year from now on." Si Nian raised her glass, and the children immediately followed suit.
Zhou Yueshen looked at her with gentle eyes.
The family clinked glasses, and then the children buried their heads in their food.
Every time she watched the children eat, Si Nian felt her appetite grow because they ate with such relish.
It made her, who usually didn't have a big appetite, eat a little more.
After dinner, Si Nian dug red envelopes out of her pocket and handed them to the children.
"This is Little Dong's, this is Little Han's, and this is your sister's. You can only open them when you go to bed later," Si Nian smiled mysteriously.
The children held their red envelopes excitedly, looking at each other.
Zhou Zedong said shyly, "Thank you, Mom."
"Mom, Mom, you are the best mom in the world," Second Child said super loudly.
"Mom is the best," Yaoyao chimed in.
Si Nian patted their heads. The children's eyes then suddenly darted to Zhou Yueshen, who was sitting to the side.
Zhou Yueshen wasn't as particular and wouldn't create surprises like Si Nian. He simply pulled a wad of cash from his pocket, counted it, and handed them each two ten-yuan bills.
Second Child was just about to reach out and take it when Zhou Yueshen changed direction. Second Child watched helplessly as he handed the money to Si Nian instead. "Let your mom hold onto it for you. She'll give it to you when you need it."
In this era, many working-class people only made about thirty yuan a month.
Keeping twenty yuan on a child was indeed unsafe.
Si Nian coughed. "Right, it's not safe to keep so much money in your hands. Let Mom hold it for you, and tomorrow I'll take you to buy toys."
The children nodded in agreement. "Then Mom can hold it."
"Mom, I don't want toys. I want to save it to buy new clothes for my little brother," Second Child said.
Si Nian's heart warmed at his words. "Okay, Mom will save it for you."
Zhou Yueshen then pulled a red box from his pocket. Si Nian took a look and saw the four characters for "China Gold" written on it.
She raised an eyebrow.
Zhou Yueshen coughed. Even though he had given her gifts many times before, he still felt a bit nervous, afraid she wouldn't like it.
But he had already bought all the rings, perfumes, jade bracelets, and pearl necklaces that Si Nian liked.
This time, he specifically asked Chen Nan what gifts his wife usually liked.
Chen Nan said his wife didn't have any other hobbies except buying gold. She would buy it even if she didn't wear it.
Only then did Zhou Yueshen remember that Si Nian didn't seem to buy much gold.
He bought her a gold bracelet and a gold lock.
"Niannian, try it on and see if you like it." He handed it over to Si Nian.
Si Nian feigned a curious tone. "What is this? Gold?"
"Yes, a bracelet and a gold lock. If you don't like them, you can go exchange them."
Si Nian was secretly delighted. Who wouldn't like gold? She opened it and saw a solid gold lock and a patterned bracelet.
They were quite heavy.
This must have cost a lot of money.
The patterns were delicate and quite beautiful.
She slipped the gold bracelet onto her wrist. With her fair skin, wearing the gold bracelet looked even better, making her appear very elegant and wealthy.
"Help me put this on," she called out to Zhou Yueshen.
Zhou Yueshen stood up and put the necklace on her.
He even rubbed it with his hands to warm it up before putting it around her neck so it wouldn't be too cold.
Si Nian looked at herself in the mirror again and again, then turned to the children. "Does it look good?"
The children nodded. "It looks good. Mom looks good in everything."
Thinking that today was New Year's Eve, Si Nian had specially changed her clothes and put on some makeup. The lipstick she applied gave her a very healthy and radiant complexion.
She had also put on the pearl necklace and rings she normally didn't wear.
Now, with the addition of the gold bracelet and gold necklace, she felt like she was covered in jewelry from head to toe.
Finding it a bit funny, she asked Zhou Yueshen to take them off and put them away for now.
Zhou Yueshen took them off and looked at her. "Do you like them?"
Si Nian nodded. "Of course I like them. They're very beautiful. Thank you, Zhou Yueshen."
Zhou Yueshen rubbed her head. "No need to be so polite."
Si Nian took a red envelope out of her pocket and handed it to him. "I originally thought that since all your money is with me, I would give you a big red envelope. After all, our Lao Zhou has been busy running around all day today and worked so hard. But seeing that you still have money to buy a gold necklace and a gold bracelet, I'm a bit embarrassed to even take out this little red envelope."
Zhou Yueshen was slightly stunned.
When he realized what she meant, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
How interesting. This was the first time someone had thought of giving him a red envelope.