1979: My fiancée is a goddess

Chapter 94 Relatives come to visit
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the God of Wealth arrives.

"Hiss~ It hurts!"

Cheng Kaiyan was not awakened by the first ray of sunshine in the morning, but by a rocket headbutt.

Before he could open his eyes, a pair of small hands covered with water droplets covered Cheng Kaiyan's eyes. The cold water flowed down their fingers to his face. The touch of the water droplets sliding on his face was clearly visible, like ants crawling on his face.

Then a strange voice was heard, as if someone was pinching his nose and speaking with his throat clamped.

"Guess who I am!"

"Still being naughty, huh? You wait, you little bitch!"

Cheng Kaiyan sneered, threw back the quilt, and pounced towards the person beside the bed.

"what!"

The little girl was so scared when she saw this that she screamed and tried to run away, but she was stopped and then her vision went black. She fell on the bed, covered under the quilt, unable to move.

"Are you still a naughty boy? Are you still pretending? Are you still trying to headbutt me with a rocket?"

Cheng Kaiyan held her little head with one hand and lectured her.

"I won't dare to do that again! Please let me go, brother~"

The voice of the little girl Zhan Xinyu begging for mercy was heard from under the quilt. The last word "brother" sounded soft and pitiful, which was really pitiful.

But Cheng Kaiyan was ruthless and slapped her on the back.

……

Outside the door, in the main room.

Xu Yuxiu and Jiang Ting had just gotten up.

Yesterday was New Year's Eve. The three of them watched TV while staying up until midnight. They set off a string of firecrackers before going to rest.

Because it was too late, Jiang Ting and Xu Yuxiu spent the whole night together.

When the two heard the noise, they couldn't help but smile at each other.

"This girl asked her to wake people up to wish them a happy new year, and she had to make a scene. Is that okay now?"

Xu Yuxiu shook her head helplessly.

"The relationship between these two children is really good, even though there is a five or six year age gap between them. Xiaoli and her sister don't have such a good relationship," Jiang Ting said as if recalling the past.

"Of course not. Kaiyan has raised this little girl since she was a child. She is like her own sister."

Xu Yuxiu didn't care what happened in the room and took Jiang Ting to get a clean towel and toothbrush for washing.

I'll heat up the leftovers from last night's New Year's Eve dinner later. It's not easy to cook from the first to the fifth day of the New Year, so just heat up a few steamed buns.

After a while, Cheng Kaiyan and Zhan Xinyu came out of the room and walked to the corridor at the door. Cheng Kaiyan stretched his waist to warm up, followed by a set of aerobics.

The little girl on the side blinked her eyes. After a lesson, she became much more obedient and asked curiously: "Brother, what are you doing?"

"The radio gymnastics for primary and secondary school students is the same as what you do in school."

Radio gymnastics was first proposed by returned overseas Chinese Yang Lie in 1950 to compile a set of nationwide radio gymnastics.

Nowadays, radio gymnastics has undergone many updates and upgrades to adapt to the development of the times and people's needs.

During this period, radio gymnastics became a part of daily collective activities in schools, factories, government agencies and other units.

In order to promote radio gymnastics, education, health, trade unions, youth and women's organizations discussed together and organized a "Radio Gymnastics Promotion Committee".

A large number of "radio gymnastics backbone training classes", "radio gymnastics teaching stations" and "radio gymnastics promotion groups" suddenly emerged from all over the place.

At the same time, it also inadvertently promoted Qigong, which was very popular at that time and would not completely disappear until the 1990s.

"That's not what we learn. You must have learned Qigong from somewhere."

Zhan Xinyu said.

Cheng Kaiyan ignored her and continued doing her aerobics.

After a while, I was sweating all over. The girl next to me handed me a towel and said, "Wipe it off."

"Thank you, Xiaoyu."

"You're welcome... ahem."

Zhan Xinyu coughed lightly as if she was making some preparations.

Then she raised her fair and tender little face to look at Cheng Kaiyan, and then called out in a delicate voice: "Brother, Happy New Year, Congratulations on your prosperity, and I wish you peace and everything goes well."

Then he stretched out his hand, opened his clean palm, and his eyes were full of anticipation.

But Cheng Kaiyan didn't move, "Oh, thank you."

Hearing this, the little girl got anxious and said angrily, "Please give me New Year's money."

"I'm sorry, Xinyu, I'm also a child, so I don't have any New Year's money for you."

"But you're already at work! And you're still a child? I...I'm the first one to wish you a happy new year!"

She was almost crying. She got up early in the morning and hurried to Cheng Kaiyan's room to wish him a happy new year. This was not what she expected. You know, her brother Yan made a lot of money this year and bought him a TV.

She also wanted to take advantage of the New Year's money to make some money from Cheng Kaiyan!

This little girl is really not easy to be amused.

Cheng Kaiyan shook his head, took out a red envelope from his pocket and waved it in front of the little girl's red eyes, "Okay, okay, I've prepared it for you a long time ago!"

It was snatched away in a flash.

"That's it?"

Zhan Xinyu quickly opened the red envelope and found only a banknote inside, which made her a little disappointed.

When I took it out and looked at it, I found a picture of a lesbian driving a tractor printed on the front, and inside was a one-dollar bill.

"Wow! It's only one dollar!!"

Zhan Xinyu jumped up in surprise, holding a brand new banknote in her hand. She burst into laughter and hugged Cheng Kaiyan excitedly, saying affectionately, "Brother, you are so good to me!"

"Don't bear grudges anymore?"

"I don't remember. My brother deserved to slap me a few times."

"So nice."

"Hehe~"

Cheng Kaiyan was amazed. No wonder everyone said that the market economy was good. Money can do anything.

Say goodbye to the little girl who is smiling foolishly alone. She has to go home to eat and go out to pay New Year's greetings.

He got up and went to the kitchen to fetch water for washing. The water tank was not frozen today. He scooped up the cold water, rubbed his face, and looked at his reflection in the water, feeling sorry for himself.

Xu Yuxiu was lighting a fire in the house, and Cheng Kaiyan shouted happily, "Mom! Happy New Year! I wish you good health and ever-younger youth!"

"Thank you, son. Mom also wishes you..."

"Auntie! Happy New Year! I wish you success, greater academic achievements, and more beauty."

Jiang Ting responded with a smile, and then took out a big unity from her purse and gave it to Cheng Kaiyan, "Here, ten yuan, the New Year's money we agreed on will be ten times more."

Cheng Kaiyan looked at Jiang Ting in surprise. She didn't expect that she would really remember it.

When Xu Yuxiu, who was standing by, saw this, she took out a Great Unity banknote from her pocket and handed it over.

……

What is the New Year like these days?

There are only three days off, from the first to the third day of the Chinese New Year.

Of course, places like schools will open even later, and will not resume work until after the eighth day of the Lunar New Year, or even after the Lantern Festival.

Don’t complain about the lack of holidays. Ten years ago, people were not allowed to celebrate the New Year.

In 67, GWY proposed the policy of "no holidays during the Spring Festival". During the Spring Festival, communes and factories across the country organized various activities and started various study classes to celebrate a "revolutionary Spring Festival."

A three-day holiday is already pretty good, so the yard is much quieter today. Many people went to pay New Year's greetings early in the morning, carrying various gifts.

Old Beijingers naturally bring gifts when visiting relatives and friends during festivals.

In the old days, the eight Beijing items given as gifts during the Chinese New Year were divided into eight pieces of pastry, eight pieces of wine, and eight pieces of milk. Now, Daoxiangcun also has eight pieces of large, small, and small.

When visiting relatives and friends nowadays, you can't be without a box of snacks. You will look respectable no matter whose home you visit with a box of snacks.

Generally, those who are closer to the city go first, and those who have closer relationships go first.

Those who live far away or have an average relationship can go on the second or third day of the Chinese New Year.

I have to go to work on the fourth day of the New Year, so I can't leave.

Cheng Kaiyan also has relatives, a few of them in Harbin, but they don’t keep in touch very often. They might only send a letter once every few years.

It’s too far. I won’t go there.

My mother Xu Yuxiu has a relative here, her cousin named Xu Yurui. She lives not too far away, in a town under Fangshan County in the suburbs of Beijing. It takes more than two hours to go back and forth by car.

It’s just that this aunt is in poor health and the distance is far, so she only comes to visit during the Chinese New Year or when something big happens.

This aunt has a daughter named Nie Qiaomei, who is five or six years older than Cheng Kaiyan and is now married.

Cheng Kaiyan got married after joining the army, so he was not very clear about the details, but this cousin was very good to him. When he was a child, his mother had no time to take care of him, so she threw him to the countryside, and this cousin took him out to play.

The impression I have of her is that of a woman with a thin face, a slim figure and a pretty appearance. The most impressive thing about her is her pair of peach blossom eyes, which seemed to be able to speak and were watery.

I guess he will come to celebrate the New Year in two days.

"Gulu."

He lay in the recliner, covered with a small quilt, and drank a sip of tea leisurely. After coming back these days, Cheng Kaiyan basically had nothing to do. He just ate, drank, and watched TV, and was very leisurely.

Fangcao was just released one day ago, why are you in such a hurry to write a new book?
It will take at least ten days or half a month for this novel to really take off. We can't be impatient, especially since it's the Chinese New Year now.

Another thing is the monkey stamp, which was released on the 15th, New Year’s Eve.

Yesterday afternoon, when Cheng Kaiyan passed by Xinhua Bookstore, he took a look at the door of the post office and saw a long queue. Fortunately, he used his connections to order several sets.

After finishing the New Year's Eve dinner yesterday afternoon, I was going to go to the home of Master Huang Yongyu to pick it up. But Uncle Zhan thought it was not a good idea to go to the home to pick up things on New Year's Eve, so he postponed it.

With thoughts flying in his mind, Cheng Kaiyan looked at the fireworks that popped up from time to time in the sky. He missed Liu Xiaoli who was far away in Jiangcheng. His heart was beating fast. "I wonder how they are spending the New Year in the dormitory?"

……

"I wonder how Kaiyan is doing in the capital?"

Jiangcheng, dormitory of the Song and Dance Theater.

Liu Xiaoli was sitting on the bed playing cards with a few people in the dormitory. She heard the occasional sound of firecrackers coming from outside the house and thought to herself.

"Hurry up and play your cards! Sister Xiaoli!"

"Oh oh... Got it, right two!"

"I have four against me, and you're going to put two against me?"
-
Half an hour passed.

"Kaiyan, send your Aunt Jiang back."

Xu Yuxiu came over and patted Cheng Kaiyan on the head, and instructed, "A Ting didn't sleep well last night. Go back and have a good sleep today, and come back for dinner in the evening."

"Fortunately, Sister Yuxiu won't come tonight. I guess someone will come to visit today, so I won't stay long."

Jiang Ting declined politely. She had already bothered him last night, and it would be too rude to come again tonight. Besides, someone from the Ning family would also come to pay New Year's greetings.

Thinking of this, Jiang Ting glanced at Cheng Kaiyan who was leaning on a recliner drinking tea.

Next, the blind date will be put on the agenda, but I don’t know if these two people can hit it off.

If it works, this kid will have a secure life of wealth and glory for half his life.

The only thing to worry about is that my niece Jia Jia is the most arrogant. She looks down on this playboy and that cadre too.

It's not impossible. After all, in a short time, when the grass starts to ferment, Kaiyan will become a well-known writer.

The two of them set off, and after Cheng Kaiyan sent her aunt back, she turned around and came back.

After having lunch at home at noon, Xu Yuxiu saw that there were only two people at home and the TV had been on all the time in the past few days, so she ordered Cheng Kaiyan not to turn on the TV for the next few days.

One of them was sitting at the desk reading a book, while the other was lying on the bed taking a nap.

The atmosphere in the room was very quiet.

I don’t know how long it took, but a young woman in her twenties with a haggard figure and pale face entered the yard.

"aunt!"

Cheng Kaiyan was woken up, "Mom, who is it?"

"It looks like you, Sister Qiaoqiao. Okay, stop sleeping and get up quickly."

Xu Yuxiu stood up and looked out the window, turned back to explain, and then went out.

……

In the hall.

"Kai Yanhao disappeared. When did she come back? She didn't even write me a letter on weekdays."

Nie Qiaomei asked with a smile. She was sitting on a chair, wearing a black cotton jacket with gray patches on the cuffs and armpits.

Sitting on the left hand side was a little girl of about one or two years old with pigtails on her head. She was quiet, not crying or making a fuss, and looked very well-behaved. Her big black eyes looked around curiously.

"I just came back a short time ago. I came back before the New Year. Sister Qiaoqiao came to drink tea and warm herself up."

Cheng Kaiyan held the wooden handle of the kettle in her hand and poured the jasmine tea that she had just bought from Zhang Yiyuan's house a few days ago into the cup.

"Guru Guru~"

As hot water was poured in, the tea leaves swirled in the cup, and Cheng Kaiyan carefully handed it over.

"Thank you for your kindness."

Nie Qiaomie thanked him quietly and stood up to take the hot tea with both hands.

During the process, Cheng Kaiyan's fingers touched hers, and the touch felt rough and cold, which was completely different from Cheng Kaiyan's childhood impression.

In his memory, Sister Qiaoqiao's delicate fingers were always kneading his face. At that time, she was fifteen or sixteen years old, and her skin was fair, rosy, smooth and soft.

But now, at the age of twenty-six or twenty-seven, things are very different from then.

"Kaiyan doesn't have to go to the army this year, right?"

Nie Qiaomei lowered her head and took a sip. Perhaps the hot water warmed her body, her complexion looked better, and she asked with a smile.

"No need to go. I've just retired from the army in the south and now I'm working as an assistant professor at Beijing Normal University through someone's connections."

Cheng Kaiyan also sat down and explained.

"Assistant teacher?"

Nie Qiaomei was stunned for a moment, then said happily, "This is a good thing. Kaiyan's family background is also a source of learning. My uncle is a professor at Peking University, and my aunt is also a college graduate."

"Qiaoqiao, stop praising him. He must be so proud of himself now, and he is still a temporary worker." Xu Yuxiu smiled.

"Kai Yan has been promising since he was young. Even though he looked sickly when he was young, I remember one time when a fool blocked the road, Kai Yan, who was only ten years old, dared to hold a stick and said he wanted to protect me."

A look of reminiscence appeared on Nie Qiaomie's face, and a memory came to mind.

"Let's not talk about this kid. How has your mother been these years? I haven't seen her for several years." Xu Yuxiu asked.

"My mother is still the same. She has always been in poor health. She fell ill just after the beginning of the new year. Doctor Ma from the county gave her an injection, but it didn't help. So he sent her to the factory hospital. Now she is lying in bed."

Nie Qiaomie pursed her lips, waved her hand and said in a nonchalant manner.

"Are you sick? Why haven't you written to me yet?"

Xu Yuxiu was shocked. Among the several sisters in her Xu family, only Xu Yuxiu and Xu Yuran were left, so naturally they should be closer.

"Aunt, it's not a serious illness, there's no need to rush. Besides, I'm here to take care of you."

"You? How can you take care of me when you work in a textile factory?"

Xu Yuxiu didn't believe it. Xu Yuran used to work in Beijing like her, and later was transferred to a textile factory in Fangshan to work and start a family.

It was not until his daughter Nie Qiaomei became an adult that he took over her job as a worker in a textile factory.

She knew the workload of the textile factory. The textile industry now accounts for a large proportion of the domestic light industry, and the work is often arduous. Because the degree of automation is not high, many processes require manual operation.

Workers need to work in a noisy environment and stand for long periods of time. After a day's work, some people suffer from back pain, especially swollen eyes.

"…We still have the sea. He can help take care of things."

Nie Qiaomei smoothed the hair by her ears and spoke softly.

However, Cheng Kaiyan noticed a hint of unnaturalness on Sister Qiaoqiao's face. He naturally would not be so stupid as to ask her directly. He would find out what the matter was when he went to Fangshan.

Thinking of this, Cheng Kaiyan didn't ask any more questions and squatted beside the little girl. Her chubby, fair and tender face was so cute.

He pulled out a few White Rabbits from his pocket and teased his chubby little face: "Dee dee dee... What's your name?"

"My name is Tang Xiaobao, who are you?"

The child asked in a baby voice, his big black eyes staring at the candy in his hand, a trace of crystal saliva unconsciously flowing from the corner of his mouth.

"I'm your uncle... Can I give you some candy?"

……

"It's getting late, aunt, I'm going to go back first. My family is still busy with the New Year celebrations, and it just so happens that I still have a car now."

At four o'clock in the afternoon, Nie Qiaomie looked at the clock on the wall and decided to hurry back no matter how much people persuaded her.

"You're going back so early? Stay overnight?"

"No, auntie. I have too many things to do at home. I can still go back now. Xiaobao, say goodbye to your uncle."

Nie Qiaomei quickly declined and then waved to the little girl.

"Goodbye uncle."

The little girl shouted in a muffled voice with a candy in her mouth, and then her short legs slammed into Nie Qiaomie's arms.

"Uncle is giving you New Year's money, Xiaobao, take it."

Cheng Kaiyan took out a red envelope from her pocket and put it in the child's pocket. This little kid is so cute.

I sent them to the station outside, and helped them get on the bus, watching the figures of mother and daughter gradually disappear into the distance.

"Kaiyan, go buy some supplements in a couple of days, and we'll go see your aunt."

Xu Yuxiu said with some concern.

"Okay, let's go check it out. I think Sister Qiaoqiao seems to be worried about something."

"Yeah, every family has difficulties now. It's only because you've made it, otherwise our family wouldn't be much better off."

……

Half past six in the evening.

As it got dark, the bus stopped next to a small village in Fangshan County.

Nie Qiaomei held her daughter in her arms as she walked along the muddy path, heading towards a village not far away.

We walked to a small bungalow located by the pond and saw several people sitting at the door.

"Hey! Nie Qiaomei, you really are willing to come back? No one is cooking dinner tonight, where have you been? It's New Year's Day!"

A young woman with an overbite at the door stood there with her hands on her hips, shouting towards us in a sarcastic tone.

There was also a fat middle-aged woman next to him who looked at him with a unhappy expression.

"What else can she do? She can go to the county to visit her mother lying in bed. She has squandered all her family fortune. How can she make ends meet?"

Nie Qiaomie heard these words from afar, and with clenched teeth she looked at the man squatting at the door smoking silently. Unfortunately, her eyes could not speak, and the man also remained silent.

"Mom, Xiaobao is so hungry."

The soft voice of her daughter in her arms reached her ears. Nie Qiaomie took a deep breath, suppressed the resentment in her heart, and quietly went into the house to cook.

(End of this chapter)