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Chapter 695: Chapter 685 just wants the house to be lively for the New Year
On the morning of New Year’s Eve, after breakfast, Old Li specifically called his second son into the room.
"Hongjun, with your mom and your younger brother not at home, do you think it would work to invite your elder brother’s family over for a New Year’s dinner?" Old Li knew he couldn’t make decisions for the family on his own, so he had called his son to discuss it.
Li Hongjun frowned. If his elder brother’s family came, there would be more people to feed, and that would mean his wife would have to work harder.
Seeing his son’s frown, Old Li thought he disagreed and quickly said, "Our home has been too quiet for over a year, with no liveliness. Now that you’ve come back, it would be good to have your elder brother and his family over to liven things up. They have several boys, and it could bring some energy to our home." After hesitating for a while, he added, "They’re just coming over for a meal; they won’t eat much."
He was worried that his second son would begrudge the extra food his elder brother’s family might eat.
Li Hongjun looked coldly at Old Li, "Dad, my elder brother’s kids have been coming over often these days, eating the same as Pangpang and Manman, and I’ve never said a word. Do you think I care about that little bit of food? You really think too highly of your son." He felt frustrated, misunderstood by his own father like this, having spent and worked hard these past days. Why would his dad have such thoughts?
"I didn’t mean anything else, just wanted the house to be more lively," Old Li said, his face reddening, yet he couldn’t bring himself to apologize to his son.
"I also want the house to be lively, but with more people, my wife alone won’t be able to handle the kitchen work. Let’s ask your elder sister-in-law to help with the cooking," Li Hongjun said. He didn’t care about the extra food; what he cared about was his wife.
"Okay, I’ll go talk to your elder brother later," Old Li said, his face breaking into a smile having heard his son agree. As for the son’s mention of having the eldest daughter-in-law work, that was a trivial matter, they could discuss it among themselves.
After coming out, Li Hongjun went to the kitchen to talk with his wife.
Shen Yunfang didn’t have much to say, probably having expected it; even if Old Li didn’t invite them, she guessed that Wang Dan would still bring the kids over.
"Fine, I’ve prepared almost everything. If they come, I’ll just fry a few more dishes," she said.
"Thanks, wife. I’ll help you out," Li Hongjun said, and seeing no one around, he kissed her on the cheek. Since returning home, they had been sleeping with their children on the same bed, not daring to be intimate, so Li Hongjun took every chance he got to tease his wife.
"Go on, get out of here, wouldn’t it be embarrassing if someone saw?" Shen Yunfang shooed him away with a smile.
"No one will see. Dad’s gone to your brother’s place, and the kids have gone to run wild with Goudan, it’s just the two of us at home," Li Hongjun said, getting clingy. "Besides, we’re husband and wife, what’s there to be embarrassed about being affectionate?"
"Oh, stay away from me, don’t you see my hands are dirty? Don’t rub it all over yourself," said Shen Yunfang as he approached for real, raising her hands high—she had been cleaning a chicken just then.
Today was New Year’s Eve, and they had to prepare a feast at noon. Chicken, duck, and fish were definitely necessary. They had bought all these things at the market, brought them home to thaw yesterday, and were now cleaning them up in the morning.
"I’m not worried; my wife is sweet everywhere," Li Hongjun said, sweet-talking.
He had just wrapped his arms around his busy wife when he heard Manman’s shouting outside.
"Mom, Mom, I’m back, brother is bullying me! Have Dad avenge me."
Well, the household’s little tyrant was back, and Li Hongjun retracted the hands he had just extended.
Old Li had gone next door to spread the word, resulting in a flock of children coming over, but Wang Dan and her husband hadn’t. Old Li explained that Wang Dan wanted to clean the house up first before coming over—after all, it was New Year’s; even if they were coming here to eat, they couldn’t just abandon their own home.
Li Hongjun frowned upon hearing this, knowing full well in his heart that his elder sister-in-law was shirking her duties.
Shen Yunfang didn’t really care, as the work wasn’t a big deal and, besides, there wasn’t much to do with just the few people around.
"Why the frown? Without your sister-in-law here, you’re the one who helps out with odds and ends. It’s the Lunar New Year; you can’t think of slacking off."
Li Hongjun, without a word, took over the work from his wife and sat down on a little stool to start plucking chicken feathers.
It was after ten o’clock when Wang Dan finally arrived, fashionably late. 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓅𝓊𝓫.𝒸ℴ𝓶
As soon as she entered she called out, "Oh Yunfang, I’m late! Is there anything else that needs doing? Just tell me, and I’ll do it while you take a break."
Upon hearing this, Shen Yunfang couldn’t hide her delight. She readily made way, "That’s perfect, sister. I’ve been standing all morning. Even Li Hongjun came to help me out for a bit just now. Dad said you were tidying up your house; I didn’t want to bother you. Now that you’re here, you can take over. I’m going to tidy up the house myself."
Wang Dan, donning the apron, was a bit dazed—she was actually expected to work.
Shen Yunfang didn’t care. After giving her instructions, she went back to her room to lie down; standing all morning had indeed been tiring.
"Yunfang, I’ve cleaned all the vegetables. What else is there to do?" Wang Dan, apron and all, had washed the cabbages and peeled the potatoes and was eagerly calling out to the house.
Lying on the bed, Shen Yunfang lazily said, "Big sister, slice the cabbages; we’re going to stir-fry them later. Take two potatoes and chop them into small pieces, the rest into shreds, nice and thin. They’re for the cold dish later."
Back and forth it went, until after eleven o’clock, Shen Yunfang finally came out of the room to take charge of the main cooking duties.
Everyone knew Wang Dan’s cooking skills, and Shen Yunfang didn’t count on her to be in charge of cooking for the sumptuous New Year’s Eve dinner.
By two-thirty in the afternoon, the New Year’s Eve meal was ready.
A full table, twelve dishes in total. Due to winter, there were predominantly meat dishes and very few vegetables.
Old man Li sat in the middle, with Li Hongxing’s family of five on the right, and Li Hongjun’s family of four on the left—ten people forming a circle around the table.
Li Hongjun brought out his home-brewed aged white liquor, filling up the cups for old man Li and Li Hongxing.
"Grandpa, you should have a bite first." Goudan was by his side, eyeing the table hungrily.
His uncle had already said that on New Year’s Eve, they must wait for grandpa to take the first bite before they could start eating. Their own family didn’t have such a silly rule, but with people under the eaves, they had to bow their heads.
Old man Li was still holding his little cup of liquor, seeing the eager faces of the children below, he frowned and said, "Go ahead, eat, our family doesn’t have so many rules."
For old man Li, between delicious food and alcohol, he still preferred a drink. Even without lavish dishes, giving him a bowl of pickled vegetables, he would happily drink a couple of shots.
Goudan looked at his uncle; he might defy his parents or grandparents, but his uncle was a formidable figure, one he didn’t dare disobey.
Li Hongjun expressionlessly picked up some food with his chopsticks and put it in his father’s bowl, "Eat." He then picked another bite for his wife’s bowl.
Upon hearing their uncle’s permission, the children pounced on the meat dishes on the table like tigers down a hill.
