Chapter 76

While Liu Tong was staring at Liu Piao, Xu Ran had begun talking to the whole family of Liu Tong’s eldest uncle. These people didn’t let them go unless they paid the tolls. Naturally, Xu Ran was unwilling to do so. This road was not the property of the uncle’s family, so why did they have to pay the tolls?

Xu Ran didn’t go easy on them and said, “Eldest uncle, eldest uncle’s spouse, let’s do it this way! I’ll pay you the tolls, but you need to return the land of Tongtong’s dad and daddy to Tongtong first. We must deal with problems in order, right? ”

Hearing that Xu Ran was willing to pay the tolls, the whole family of Liu Tong’s eldest uncle were quite happy, but when they heard the words that followed, they became incensed.

“You bastard, what are you talking about? The land is Liu Tong’s? What nonsense! Let me tell you something. I raised Liu Tong for so many years, so the land is mine. Anyway, you have to pay the tolls today. As for the land, don’t think about it!”

This tone made Xu Ran flare up, “What? You want to use force in broad daylight, right? I can tell you that if you folks want to resort to force, just have a try. Not to mention that today is New Year’s Eve, even if it is the first day of the New Year, I’ll go to the Yamen and sue you folks. You make way or not? If not, I’ll go to your village head and let him judge.”

The family of Liu Tong’s eldest uncle just wanted to blackmail them. No matter what, this was unreasonable. Previously, Xu Ran also came to Liu Village to collect chestnuts, and many villagers had made enough money for celebrating the New Year. Therefore, few would probably be willing to speak for the uncle’s family this time.

The family of Liu Tong’s eldest uncle knew the situation, but they just felt that Xu Ran was easy to bully when seeing his look. Unexpectedly, this man was not a fool but quite a smart person, who was eloquent and good at getting helpers. Instantly, they didn’t dare to say anything anymore.

Holding the hands of his two kids, Xu Ran rolled his eyes at the family of Liu Tong’s eldest uncle before leaving.

Liu Tong’s family were gone, but his eldest uncle’s family were unwilling to accept this result. Except for the two pieces of meat they had just eaten, they got nothing.

The spouse of Liu Tong’s eldest uncle was just wondering how he could get some money from Liu Tong’s family, but he saw Liu Piao staring at Xu Ran’s back that was disappearing when he looked back.

Then the spouse of Liu Tong’s eldest uncle had a scheme — he wanted to take advantage of Liu Piao.

“Piao, tell me the truth. Is it that you’ve fallen in love with Xu Ran? If so, I’ll ask a matchmaker to introduce you to him after the New Year holiday.”

His daddy’s question was so direct that Liu Piao was a little ashamed, but he still nodded and said, “Yes, daddy. If I can truly marry him, surely I will be able to bring money back to improve our family’s living condition in the future.”

“Good boy, don’t worry! I’m with you. Liu Tong is nothing. Xu Ran was sure to be yours. Just wait. As long as I get an opportunity, I’ll ask Xu Ran to marry you and divorce Liu Tong. By then, Xu Ran’s family property will be ours.”

Liu Piao nodded happily with her hands held together, dreaming of the days after marrying Xu Ran.

…

However, Xu Ran, who was still upset, was totally unaware that he was being calculated again.

He had so many unreasonable relatives! Xu Ran was afraid that some people of the Xu Family would also come to trouble them so that they would not be able to spend the New Year holiday peacefully. Therefore, when they were back home, he closed the door quite early and taught Tangtang and Guoguo to recite poems at home.

‘The sound of firecrackers has sent away the old year, and people feel the breath of spring while drinking the mellow Tusu wine; the rising sun shines on thousands of households, and the peach wood talismans on the doors of each house have been replaced with new ones.’

In his previous life, Xu Ran’s Chinese level was not high and he just recited a few poems, so he tried hard to remember and finally got the verse for the occasion.

While stroking the heads of Tangtang and Guoguo, he said, “Learn this poem by heart tonight and recite it in front of me tomorrow morning. Then, I’ll give you red envelopes.”

Tangtang and Guoguo knew what red envelopes were, but they had never had them. Previously in the Xu Family, Elder Daddy Xu only gave red envelopes to Xu Hui and Xu Qiang, but never to them. All kids longed for this gift, so what Xu Ran said inadvertently made them very happy.

People would stay up on lunar December 30th. Since their kids were too young, Xu Ran told them a few stories and then coaxed them to sleep, but he sat at the fire chatting with Liu Tong while waiting for the coming of the New Year.

…

The specific time was known, but it might be the midnight, when Xu Ran suddenly held Liu Tong in his arms and said in his ear, “Happy New Year, Tongtong. I’ll love you all my life.”

Liu Tong was stunned for a moment, then chuckled, and replied, “Ran, Happy New Year. I love you, too.”

Then they kissed passionately for a while before going to bed.

The following day, they woke up in the explosive sound of firecrackers, but they didn’t know who made it. And their two kids were also awake and got out of bed happily. Dressed in the new clothes prepared by Liu Tong, they came to knock on the room door of their parents.

The couple who wished to enjoy themselves in bed for a little more while had no choice but to get up.

As soon as Tangtang and Guoguo saw Xu Ran, they began to chant, “The sound of firecrackers has sent away the old year, and people feel the breath of spring while drinking the mellow Tusu wine; the rising sun shines on thousands of households, and the peach wood talismans on the doors of each house have been replaced with new ones. Dad, Happy New Year. Give us red envelopes!”

Xu Ran caressed the heads of their two kids and said, “Good, but remember to say, ‘May you be rich! Give me a red envelope!\\\'”

Although he said so, he still took out red envelopes and gave them to the two kids.

After getting Xu Ran’s red envelopes, the two kids went to Liu Tong for the same purpose, and they said ‘May you be rich! Give me a red envelope!’ this time.

Liu Tong also gave a red envelope to each of them, and the amount was not little. Mainly affected by Xu Ran, now Liu Tong had also developed the habit of giving pocket money to their kids, but he asked them to save the money.

After washing his face, Liu Tong went into the kitchen. On the morning of the first day of the lunar New Year, people should eat round-shaped food. Ordinary families usually ate glutinous rice balls. Only those families with better living conditions would eat eggs, but since they didn’t have glutinous rice balls at home, they had to eat eggs.

The eggs were also bought in the town before the New Year. While busying himself with the kitchen chores, Liu Tong asked Tangtang and Guoguo who were playing outside, “How many eggs do you want?”

“Three. I want three.” As soon as he heard it was food, Guoguo threw away the things in his hands and ran toward the kitchen. Tangtang was unwilling to fall behind and yelled, “Daddy, I also want three.”

Liu Tong said with a gentle smile, “All right, three. You go and take the melon seeds and candies at home to the yard. Other children are coming soon.”

“Fine,” the two children replied at the same time.

Visiting relatives on the first day of the lunar New Year was unpopular, so people could only visit the families that they were familiar with, stay in these places for a while, and share things like melon seeds and candies with each other.

Since this was the New Year, even the stingiest family would take out some melon seeds to entertain those dropping by.

Quite a few people called at Xu Ran’s home this day, and they were all Tangtang and Guoguo’s little friends, who had learned from somewhere that their family’s candies were the most delicious.

Liu Tong gave melon seeds and candies to all the children coming here and then asked them to go and play.

And he just went to entertain the adult visitors.

There was nothing lively to watch during the New Year holiday here, even without real monkey shows. Xu Ran didn’t want to chat with these Ge’ers, so he went to hang around with these children.

In his previous life, he could always hear the song “May You Be Rich” during the New Year holiday. At that time, he felt that he was tired of it, but now he felt that he missed it when he couldn’t hear it.

Then he hummed the song unconsciously as he thought about it.

Yueya’er, who had come to him, looked at him and asked, “What are you singing, uncle? It is so nice.”

Seeing the look of admiration on Yueya’er’s face, he suddenly thought that it was easy to have a lively New Year holiday because these children could make this wish come true. Yes, he still remembered the scene that happened on the eighth day of this lunar December.

Xu Ran bent down and said to Yueya’er, “Yueya’er, I am singing a song. Let me teach you, shall I?”

“Good! Good! Teach me now, Uncle Xu Ran.”

Tangtang and Guoguo felt that their dad’s love had been taken, so they, who were unwilling to lag behind, ran over and pulled Xu Ran’s clothes, saying, “Dad, we also want to learn it.”

Xu Ran stroked their heads one by one and said, “No problem. I’ll teach you all. Don’t worry!”

First, he told these kids to stand in line, and then he, who stood at the front, cleared his throat and said, “Then I’ll teach you the song. When I finish singing one sentence, you repeat it.”

Every street and Lane

When people meet each other

The first thing they say

Is: May you be rich

May you be rich, may you be rich…

…

After Xu Ran taught them several times, a few bright kids could even sing it, and those who couldn’t could hum a few words with them.

He told them that they should be patient and they would be able to sing it after a few times of practice.

During the day, the song “May You Be Rich” sounded at every corner of the village. Everyone was all smiles.

…