My 1979

After the wine was poured, Zhao Chunfang stared at the candle in a daze with her hands behind her back, while Zhao Di was on the phone. He Zhou saw that the two of them were not moving their chopsticks, and he unconsciously put down the chopsticks he held in his hands.

There is an incense burner on the chopping board table in the living room, with Buddhist incense burning on it. There are two incense candles on the left and right sides, and the candlelight is swaying.

This year's snow is heavy, the wind is strong, and it is colder than in previous years.

The incense stick was shaky and might be blown out by the wind blowing in from outside if you weren't careful.

You can’t close the door for New Year’s Eve dinner.

Zhao Chunfang was worried and went into the front yard to find two lampshades and put them on the candles respectively.

The candle was burning steadily, and a satisfied smile appeared on her face.

Zhaodi has hung up the phone.

He smiled and said, "Let's eat, don't be stunned."

Zhao Chunfang said, "Let's eat."

He Zhou then started to use his chopsticks, and while eating, he raised his glasses to his grandmother and old lady.

While he was eating silently, a pair of chopsticks appeared in front of him, and the pig tongue he held fell into his bowl.

"Eat it and you will make money next year." Zhao Chunfang said with a smile.

He Zhou put it in his mouth and said while chewing, "Thank you, grandma."

Their family's New Year's Eve dinner was much deserted than in previous years because of the absence of grandpa and his unpopular uncle.

When he ate, he also felt very lackluster.

After finishing a glass of wine, he didn't drink any more. After filling a bowl of rice, he ate half of it and left the remaining half to make "Cang Di".

Just as he was about to get up, he was stopped by Zhao Chunfang again.

He saw his grandma hand over a wad of money.

"Thank you, grandma." He smiled and accepted the lucky money.

With a casual pinch, he estimated that there were a thousand pieces. This was the largest amount of new year's money he had ever received from his grandma.

In the past, he would have been extremely excited.

But now, he is not short of money.

My heart was already calm.

Holding the tea cup, I went to my second grandma’s house first.

"Second grandma, I'm here to bid you farewell." He Zhou started shouting loudly before he entered the door, trying his best to dilute the depressing atmosphere in the air.

"Okay, come in." The old lady was adding firewood under the stove.

When He Zhou saw her about to get up, he quickly stopped her and said, "No need to hurry, I'll do it myself."

He grabbed a handful of melon seeds and candies from the dustpan next to him and stuffed them into his pocket.

The old lady said, "Then catch it yourself, you're welcome."

He Zhou said, "You haven't set off the firecrackers yet, have you? Where are they? I'll set them off for you."

He didn't see any firecrackers or confetti at the door.

The old lady said, "In the back room."

He Zhou was one step ahead of her, ran to the back room, found firecrackers on a pile of woven rice bags, and took them outside.

The old lady opened the cigarette and handed one to He Zhou. He Zhou lit it with a smile. He held the cigarette butt against the firecracker and said, "Stay away and cover your ears."

The old lady hurriedly ran into the house, much more neatly than before.

After He Zhou lit it, he rushed into the house amidst the crackling sounds and helped the old lady carry the dishes into the living room.

There was a table full of dishes. The old lady sat at the top and he sat at the bottom.

This has also been the practice for the past two years.

Since the death of He Weibao, the old lady is unwilling to go to anyone else's house to celebrate the New Year, including her own daughter He Manrong's house, not to mention the incompatible Zhao Chunfang's house.

Since she has a son, she cannot go anywhere else to celebrate the New Year. Only "old and destitute" people need warmth from others.

He Zhou was familiar with the art and took out a bottle of liquor from the corner of the stairs. After opening it, he slowly poured the wine for the old lady while looking at the old lady's face. As soon as the old lady gave a hint, he would stop immediately.

The old lady didn't say anything until she filled it up.

"Second grandma, your drinking capacity has increased."

"Stop smoking." After the old lady finished scolding her, she felt it was inappropriate. It was not a good sign to not spank or scold children during the Spring Festival. She smiled and said, "Smoking is bad for your health, so fill it up too."

"It's necessary." He Zhou filled himself up and estimated that he had another three ounces of wine.

An old man and a young man were chatting and laughing, changing cups and cups.

Halfway through the meal, two figures appeared at the door. The dog at the door didn't bark, so they must be acquaintances.

Then he heard my mother's voice.

"Auntie, I bid you farewell."

What surprised He Zhou was that his grandmother was following behind his mother.

His grandma and his second grandma's old sister-in-law were lifelong enemies. In his memory, there were only a handful of times when his grandma stepped into his second grandma's house.

Zhao Chunfang put her hands behind her back. After coming in, she looked at the table and the ceiling.

He Weibao's wife forced a smile and said, "Sit, sit."

He quickly brought melon seeds and candies to Zhao Chunfang.

"The food is good." Zhao Chunfang grabbed a handful of melon seeds, dropped one and put it in her mouth. Without any movement, the melon seed shells fell accurately into the trash can at the door.

He Weibao's wife said with a smile, "If you don't mind, I'll eat something if I sit down."

Zhao Chunfang was really not polite. She sat in the upper left corner of her daughter's room and got a cup for herself.

He Zhou put down the white wine in his hand and ran back to the stairwell to look for red wine. His second grandmother's house also had no shortage of these. They were all gifts from his mother. Normally, they would all be piled up there if no one drank them.

Occasionally, his second grandmother's daughter, He Manrong, would take away two or three bottles.

When he came out with a bottle of red wine, his mother and grandma's glasses were already filled with white wine.

Zhao Chunfang glanced at the red wine in He Zhou's hand and said, "That stuff is like drinking water. Who wants to drink it?"

He Zhou couldn't laugh or cry.

His grandma was a bit pretentious. She had a small drinking capacity and could sleep all day without opening her eyes after just one or two drinks. Otherwise, she would carry a small stool to someone's door and start a fight.

He was a little panicked, it was really hard to deal with being drunk.

He Weibao's wife calmly narrowed her eyes and clinked glasses with Zhao Chunfang. This was the second time in their lives that the old grandmothers and sisters clinked glasses. The first time was when she first came in.

She couldn't tell whether it was an enemy or a friend for the time being. It was hard to break up because of the Chinese New Year, so she had to deal with it first.

Zhao Chunfang rarely groaned. She looked at the bottom of the other party's cup and took a heavy sip, as if she didn't want to show weakness.

She drinks as much as the other person drinks.

He Zhou ate his own food and drank his own food, and decided not to mix in. He couldn't afford to offend either of them. Anyway, his mother was here. If the limelight was not right, he would leave at the worst.

Zhao Chunfang said, "I came to have a drink with you because I felt sorry for you."

Zhaodi frowned and smiled bitterly.

What I said is really unpleasant.

He Weibao's wife smiled and said, "Yes, last year I wanted you to come and have a drink with me."

Last year, He Laoxi was still alive.

When He Laoxi was alive, you, Zhao Chunfang, did not come. This year, He Laoxi disappeared, but you came.

Who is more afraid of being alone?

Who is more pitiable?

Zhao Chunfang was very dissatisfied. This sister-in-law still tried to humiliate her and prevent her from looking good.

It was already a great honor for her to step into this threshold.

Seeing that she was about to have a fit, Zhao Di hurriedly said, "Our He family is originally a small family. If we don't get along together, we will be laughed at by outsiders. Let's have a lively New Year together and it will look good inside and outside."