1990s: Spring Water Family

Chapter 175 In a half-dreaming, half-awake state, she pushed him off the bed.
"Since the whole family is here today, I'd like to take this opportunity to announce something to everyone. Your grandmother and I have saved up for most of our lives, but we don't have much savings. The only thing we have is this old house. Don't think I'm being biased. I've already written my will. The old house will be left to Xiaobin. As long as it's not demolished, no one is allowed to touch it."

“This old courtyard house is the root of the Gu family. The roots are there, and that’s where the people are.”

“You must also remember that you should never forget your roots. No matter where you go in the future, whether you study abroad or develop your career in China, you must always remember that you are Chinese and always maintain a patriotic heart. If I ever hear anyone mocking their compatriots or looking down on the place where they were born and raised, I will pretend that I never had this child, and you will not need to come back.”

In the living room, Grandpa, with a dark face, was scolding my third cousin.

No one in the family dared to utter a sound, except for the eldest cousin, whose expression was strange, hinting at a hint of resentment.

The old man favored sons over daughters. Not only did he not leave any inheritance to the three sisters, but he also forgot about his great-grandson.

She gave birth to a son, so the old house should also have a share for her son.

"Grandpa, don't worry, I will take good care of the old house and ensure that the Gu family's children and grandchildren will continue to live on it."

Gu Bin entered the room, sat down next to his grandfather, and very dutifully patted his back to help him catch his breath: "Your heart isn't good, so don't get angry. It's the New Year, and our family should all be happy."

"Let's open a bottle of Moutai later and have some good drinks. Your granddaughter-in-law's drinking capacity is something your uncles and aunts haven't seen yet. We can't let these southerners look down on us. Even if Shandong isn't as developed as Guangdong, we can't lose in terms of drinking prowess. Tonight, we have to get your uncles and brother-in-law drunk. If we can't outdrink them, I'll admit defeat and willingly give them the old house."

"hehe."

Grandpa was a wise old man; how could he not know what he was up to?

He had witnessed Lin Xiyu's drinking capacity firsthand. Not only could she outdrink his uncle and cousin-in-law, but even if the whole family joined in, they could easily be knocked out.

"You said it yourself."

The eldest cousin, unaware of the inside story, was the first to lose her composure and asked, "If we lose the drinking contest, are we really going to have the old house?"

"One word and nine tripods."

Gu Bin said with certainty: "My father-in-law and grandmother are my witnesses. If my wife loses, she can bring out the will and destroy it on the spot."

"it is good."

The older cousin was extremely excited: "Xiao Bin is so straightforward! Dad, brother-in-law, it's up to you two. You can't deliberately give in to your sister-in-law just because she's a woman."

"Cough cough."

The eldest uncle felt like he was being roasted on a fire by his daughter.

Although he had some complaints about the old man's preference for sons over daughters, wasn't it a bit too undignified for an elder to compete in drinking with his nephew's wife? If he won, that would be fine, but if he really lost, wouldn't he lose all face and dignity?

"Should I also have a drinking contest?"

The second brother-in-law pointed to his nose, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

He was just a bystander watching the drama unfold, so why was he innocently dragged into this mess?

I'd heard so much about how tough Shandong people are at drinking parties; only a fool would try to outdrink them.

Is this woman crazy? Her husband didn't come, so she's pushing him into a fire pit.

"Yang Li, drink up."

My second cousin rarely spoke up, but she did so in support of her older sister.

"Brother-in-law, I support you in spirit."

The three older cousins ​​were of one mind and were all very dissatisfied with their grandfather's actions, so they took the opportunity to make trouble.

"alright."

The second brother-in-law was forced into the situation, and under the expectant gazes of the three sisters, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and agree.

As it turns out, putting something on a fire will result in it being roasted, and forcing it into a situation will only turn it into a roast duck.

Before the annual Spring Festival Gala began, the two grown men unfortunately got drunk.

Lin Xiyu proved once again that women who dare to admit they can drink at the dinner table are not ordinary drinkers.

If you can't hold your own, you'll only have to give up!

"Hahaha."

The grandfather was increasingly pleased with his granddaughter-in-law, and he couldn't stop smiling.

-

As the clock struck midnight, every household set off firecrackers.

Fireworks shot into the sky, their vibrant colors illuminating the entire night.

Gu Bin also accompanied Lin Xiyu to set off fireworks in the courtyard. Each of them held a sparkler and chased each other, laughing and having a great time.

"Wow, another year has passed so quickly."

Grandma opened the window and watched the children set off fireworks, her face filled with regret: "In the blink of an eye, the children have all grown up, and we've gotten old too."

"What are you talking about, getting old?"

Grandpa, after having a few drinks, was quite pleased with himself: "I don't feel old at all. You're so much younger than me, why are you saying you're old? You're still very young."

"Just behave yourself and stop throwing such a tantrum."

Grandma smiled and scolded, "Instead of getting angry with the child, you should take care of yourself and stay with me for a few more years."

"Okay, I won't get angry anymore."

Grandpa agreed readily: "I'll stay with you for as long as you want. Even if the King of Hell comes and tells me to leave, I won't go."

"You said it yourself."

Grandma smiled and said, "No going back on your word."

"No regrets."

Grandpa burped, the alcohol taking effect, and started to doze off.

"It's getting late, let's go to sleep."

Grandma smiled and urged him, "You have to get up early tomorrow, people will be coming to wish you a Happy New Year first thing in the morning."

"sleep."

Grandpa obediently leaned back and fell onto the bed, and soon started snoring.

"They don't even cover themselves with a blanket when they sleep, aren't they afraid of catching a cold?"

Grandma smiled helplessly, covered him with the blanket, closed the window, and lay down to rest.

Grandma and Grandpa are both asleep.

Lin Xiyu glanced at the lights in the room and said in a low voice, "I should go back too. I have to visit Grandma Hu's house for the New Year tomorrow."

"It's so late, don't leave."

Gu Bin threw away the fireworks and pulled the person into his arms: "Just sleep at home, I'll go with you tomorrow."

"Living here is not an option."

Lin Xiyu blushed and her heart pounded: "My mom must be worried when she sees I haven't gone back."

"She knows you're in my house."

Gu Bin didn't seem to care: "What's there to be anxious about? Do you think I would lose her daughter?"

“I didn’t tell her clearly when I left. She didn’t know I would be staying overnight, so she must have been worried.”

Lin Xiyu didn't want to be swayed by him, so she suppressed her inner turmoil and made up her own reasons.

"Just call your grandma's house and tell her."

Gu Bin pretended not to understand her meaning and gave her advice.

"Why are you making a phone call in the middle of the night? Grandma's asleep by now."

Lin Xiyu tried to struggle a few times, trying to break free from his grasp.

"I don't want you to leave."

Gu Bin acted spoiled, clinging to her and refusing to let go.

Lin Xiyu smiled helplessly and coaxed him in return, "We've only been apart for a few hours. We'll see each other again when we go to Grandma Hu's house."

I don't want to be apart from you for even a few hours.

Gu Bin acted like a child who hadn't grown up, nuzzling her cheek and acting coquettishly.

"How about neither of us sleep?"

Lin Xiyu tried to communicate with him: "Let's go to the moat and find a place to sit for the night?"

"Hiss, it's so cold."

Gu Bin shivered, feeling cold just thinking about it.

"hehe."

Lin Xiyu almost burst out laughing: "Stop being so dramatic, hurry up and take me home, or I'll go home alone."

“If I take you back, I’ll have to come back again. It’s too much trouble to go back and forth like that.”

Gu Bin tried to back out again: "How about I stay at your place? Your bed is a bit small, but I don't mind if it's cramped."

"Pah, dream on."

Lin Xiyu blushed and said, "You sleep on the sofa even when you're staying at my house. Who gave you permission to get on the bed?"

"Sleeping on the sofa is fine too."

Gu Bin readily agreed: "As long as I don't have to travel back and forth, I don't mind."

"You really want to sleep on the sofa?" "You're the one who bullied me and wouldn't let me get on the bed."

"Am I the one bullying you again?"

Lin Xiyu laughed in exasperation: "I'm speechless at your ability to distort the truth."

"It's settled then, I'll stay at your place tonight."

"Who said that?"

"Don't you feel sorry for me?"

Gu Bin nuzzled her cheek and acted coquettishly, his eyes filled with a resentful look, just like a wronged little wife.

"Fine, stay if you want."

Lin Xiyu softened and gave up her plan to argue with him.

-

It turns out that one shouldn't be too soft-hearted.

When she got home, she regretted it. Someone was being unreasonable again. While the family was asleep, he used the excuse that the sofa was too hard to squeeze into her bed.

When Xu Yi got up to urinate in the middle of the night, it scared her so much that her heart almost stopped, and she instinctively pushed him away with all her might.

"Fuck!"

Gu Bin was pushed off the bed while he was half asleep and half awake.

"Gudong."

A muffled thud startled Chen Xiulan awake.

"What's the matter?"

She reached out and saw that Xu Yi was gone, mistakenly assuming that her son had fallen off the bed.

"You're so big now, and you still can't sleep still."

Her son had been mischievous since he was little and had rolled off the bed many times, but she didn't pay much attention. She muttered something, turned over, and continued to sleep.

"not me"

Xu Yi returned from the restroom and was about to explain when the door to the next room opened, and someone pulled him inside.

"Huh? Brother Bin, what are you doing in my sister's room?"

Xu Yi's poor little heart was quite frightened.

"Shhh."

Gu Bin earnestly coaxed the child: "Just like you, I went to the toilet and came back, but I went into the wrong door."

"I didn't go to the wrong place; you're the one who pulled me in."

Xu Yi is clever and not easily fooled.

"Do you want to eat candied haws?"

Gu Bin started his coaxing mode.

"think."

Xu Yi's eyes lit up.

"Brother Bin will buy it for you tomorrow."

Gu Bin continued slyly, "As long as no one else knows about tonight's events, you can eat as many as you want."

"Is it only candied hawthorns?"

Xu Yi understood the situation and started bargaining: "I also want to eat roasted lamb skewers, roasted sweet potatoes, popcorn, sugar figurines, and cotton candy."

"Row."

Gu Bin readily agreed: "I'll take you to the temple fair tomorrow and let you eat your fill."

"make a deal."

Xu Yi grinned, showing his little tiger teeth, and gave him a high five in a very ceremonial manner.

"So nice."

Having achieved his goal, Gu Bin affectionately patted his little head and said, "Go back to sleep now. Get up early tomorrow and don't sleep in."

"okay."

Xu Yi shuffled back in his slippers, but before leaving, he abruptly turned back and said, "Don't worry, Brother Bin, I won't tell my mom that you fell off the bed."

"Cough cough."

Gu Bin almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

"You should go too, go back to your sofa."

Lin Xiyu blushed with embarrassment and pushed him forcefully out of the house.

Xu Yi chuckled, covering his mouth and chuckling to himself.

"If you laugh again, I won't be going to the temple fair tomorrow."

Gu Bin narrowed his eyes and threatened the child.

Xu Yi stopped laughing, decisively admitted defeat, and slipped back to his bedroom.

-

At five o'clock in the morning, the corridors became lively as neighbors got up one after another and began to exchange New Year's greetings.

Grandma was always kind and got along well with the neighbors. Chen Xiulan benefited from her mother's kindness and people also came to visit her home for the New Year.

Gu Bin, who was sleeping in the living room, was forced to get up early to help his mother-in-law entertain the guests.

With such a son-in-law to uphold her reputation, Chen Xiulan was beaming with joy and couldn't stop smiling.

From five o'clock to seven o'clock, people came to offer New Year's greetings in waves until it was broad daylight and the number of people gradually decreased.

"Xiao Bin, thank you for your hard work."

Chen Xiulan prepared breakfast and warmly welcomed her son-in-law: "That's the custom in old Jinan. People pay New Year's visits before dawn, and everyone gets up earlier than the last."

"fine."

Gu Bin diligently helped set the table: "It's the same at my maternal grandfather's house. People come to pay their respects early in the morning. I'm used to it."

"Your grandfather was the best at teaching you."

Chen Xiulan praised with a smile: "Unlike my two kids, they pretend not to hear when guests come and just sleep in."

Gu Bin was very considerate: "They went to bed late last night, let them sleep a little longer."

"Xiao Yi has been spoiled by me."

Chen Xiulan was a little puzzled: "I don't know what's wrong with Xiyu, she didn't get up either."

"Cough cough."

Gu Bin coughed twice, a rare occurrence for him, as if he felt guilty.

I didn't dare say it outright, but it was him who kept me up all night, preventing either of us from getting a good night's sleep.

-

No. 2 Yongquan Hutong.

At 8 a.m., Xu Yi finally got out of bed, albeit reluctantly.

After finishing breakfast, Lin Xiyu took him and Gu Bin to Grandma Hu's house to pay their respects for the New Year.

Grandma Hu was very happy to see them. She grabbed a handful of candy for Xu Yi and took out her treasured window decoration pattern to give to Lin Xiyu.

The paper-cut window decorations were just made before the Lunar New Year, inspired by the spring water culture of Jinan.

The gushing of Baotu Spring and the lotus pond of Daming Lake, with the ripples of the spring water seemingly flowing, leap off the page, vivid and lifelike, leaving viewers in awe.

"Paper cutting is not only a craft, but also a way of storytelling."

Grandma Hu said with deep feeling: "The charm of Jinan paper-cutting lies in its unique history and culture. Spring water is integrated into history, and a pair of scissors can cut out a thousand-year-old story."

"Grandma Hu, you're absolutely right."

Lin Xiyu praised enthusiastically: "This sentence could be included in a textbook."

"Heh, that's not what I said."

Grandma Hu smiled and waved her hand: "It was a writer who came to the Children's Palace to see our paper-cutting that said it. He's a cultured person, and he speaks in a very literary way. I couldn't understand any of those four-character phrases he used."

"writer?"

Lin Xiyu was delighted to hear this: "Is someone coming to interview you? Are you going to write a book about your paper-cutting skills?"

"It seems so."

Grandma Hu thought for a moment and then said, "He said he wanted to record the craft of paper-cutting in written form so that people wouldn't forget it."

“This is really great”

Lin Xiyu was genuinely happy for Grandma Hu.

"I should thank you all."