The whole family was about to reunite, but their youngest daughter was no longer around to see it.
Mentioning their youngest daughter who had passed away early, Grandpa Su’s smile faded.
Their daughter had passed away during the New Year, and her death anniversary was approaching again.
He wondered if anyone would remember to burn some paper money for her.
Grandpa Su sighed and said, "Let's burn some paper money!"
Their daughter had been doted on by the elderly couple since childhood. Among all the children, they had poured the most effort into her.
Yet, unexpectedly, the child they favored had gone astray and lost her life at such a young age.
Their daughter had paid the price for the wrong path she had taken.
All their parents could do was burn some paper money for her, hoping her days in the afterlife would be better.
Hearing Grandpa Su’s words, Grandma Su almost shed tears.
If she hadn't taken the wrong path, wouldn't Manxiang be living a better life now?
But the paths in this world were all chosen by oneself; no matter where one ended up, it was their own choice.
There was no one else to blame!
The next morning, after a simple breakfast, Grandpa Su took his sons to start the big clean-up.
The year was drawing to a close, and all the places that needed cleaning had to be thoroughly scrubbed.
The younger Su brothers were also busy helping.
Wang Xianghua had specifically taken leave that day and did not go to the chicken farm, busying herself with washing and scrubbing.
Qi Liangying cooperated by her side, and the two sisters-in-law worked with great enthusiasm, chatting and laughing.
The house had not been this lively for some time. Now, finally, the warmth of family was filling the air.
Grandma Su did not busy herself with washing but took Liang Xiu to the kitchen to fry meatballs.
The production team had distributed meat a few days ago, and this year’s share was quite substantial, with each person receiving seven catties and two taels.
The Su family was not like in previous years. With fewer people, the meat distributed was not much.
With only three people in the household, looking at the small amount of meat, Oldest Brother Su and Second Brother Su calculated that it wouldn't be enough.
After discussing it, the two brothers generously spent money to buy an additional thirty catties.
Coincidentally, like father, like son, when Oldest Third Brother Su and the others were waiting for Da Yang to deliver in the county town, they happened to see meat being sold. Thinking that their family wouldn't receive much meat this year, they waved their hands and bought twenty catties.
When Li Zhuzi came over yesterday, one of the gifts he brought was a whole piece of meat, weighing a full five catties.
Therefore, the Su family’s New Year was very prosperous.
With so much meat, Grandma Su said it was almost half a pig and complained that they couldn't possibly eat it all.
Su Xiao Tian suggested frying meatballs, crispy pork, stuffed fritters, making braised pork, and stewed meat.
In short, they would prepare it in various ways.
In Su Xiao Tian’s words, this year, no matter what, they had to prepare ten dishes to achieve perfection.
Even if the family's conditions were not good, Grandpa Su and Grandma Su, having seen much of the world, naturally would not be stingy and agreed to aim for perfection.
“Even if we prepare ten dishes, it’s all pork, isn’t it? Why don’t we go up the mountain, little sister?”
Su Xiao Liu felt that eating only pork was uninteresting.
The wild sheep, pheasants, and deer in the mountains tasted truly wonderful.
More importantly, going up the mountain was genuinely fun, much better than staying at home doing chores.
Su Xiao Tian also had nothing to do at home. With so many people, there was no place for her to help.
As soon as she reached out, she was pushed back with various excuses and told to sit on the heated brick bed.
Hearing Su Xiao Liu’s words, the already mischievous girl was immediately tempted.
Since they were going up the mountain, they couldn't go alone, so the two immediately sought partners.
All the Su children were accustomed to roaming the mountains and had been cooped up for too long in the capital.
They immediately agreed, expressing their desire to go up the mountain to play right away.
They referred to hunting in the mountains as "going up the mountain to play."
For others, hunting might be difficult.
But for Su Xiao Tian and her siblings, hunting in the mountains was almost like playing.
Grandpa Su and Grandma Su initially didn't want to agree, but they couldn't resist Su Xiao Tian's cooing and persistent pleas, and finally relented.
“You rascals, you want to go up the mountain to play and drag your sister along. If you don’t take good care of your sister, I’ll skin you alive!”
Grandma Su couldn't help but scold her grandsons, telling them to take good care of their sister, but the boys had already grabbed their sister and run off.
“Mother, it’s alright. These children are used to going up the mountain since they were young.”
Oldest Brother Su was unconcerned, thinking his mother was becoming too sentimental after living in the city for a while.
“A little girl should be more demure as she grows up. What kind of behavior can she learn by following a bunch of rascals?”
Grandma Su said with displeasure.
“Forget it, they’ve come back for a visit after all, let her go.” Grandpa Su did not object.
“You all just spoil her!” Grandma Su pointedly accused Grandpa Su and Oldest Brother Su.
The two men instinctively touched their noses.
In this family, who was the one who spoiled Xiao Tian the most?
Even if Xiao Tian was truly spoiled, they were merely accomplices!
As they were talking, they suddenly heard the sound of a car.
“Why does it sound like a car is coming?” Grandma Su asked curiously.
“I hear it too, a car. It seems to be coming towards our house,” Liang Xiu also wondered.
Why would a car be coming at this time?
Oldest Brother Su said, “I’ll go out and see.”
Saying that, he eagerly rushed out the door.
Then, they heard the sound of the car engine turning off, followed by Oldest Brother Su’s exclamation.
“Dad, Mom, Eldest Sister and brother-in-law are here, and Xiao Yuan is here too.”
Hearing Oldest Brother Su’s voice, Grandma Su and the others were about to go out to greet them when they saw Su Man Xiu and her husband, along with the little fellow Chen Xiu Yuan, entering with bags and packages in hand.
Grandma Su’s eyes welled up, and she almost cried.
She had thought her daughter would stay in the county town when she came, but who knew this stubborn girl would return to her maternal home during the New Year again.
Her son-in-law was also quite something, why didn’t he manage her?
However, looking at little Chen Xiu Yuan, Grandma Su’s heart melted, and she couldn’t bring herself to scold her daughter and son-in-law.
“My darling grandson is here! Come let Grandma have a look! Oh my, you’ve grown taller, and you’ve gotten thinner!”
Chen Xiu Yuan extended his chubby little hands and giggled as he touched Grandma Su’s face.
“Mom, don’t hold him so tightly. This kid is quite heavy,” Chen Zi An said with a smile.
Grandma Su indeed felt Chen Xiu Yuan’s weight, so she followed Chen Zi An’s suggestion and put Chen Xiu Yuan down.
The little fellow immediately began to frolic and run around the yard.
Speaking of Chen Xiu Yuan, when this child was young, his name was Chen Yuan Bai. However, for some reason, the child was always sick back then.
Later, Grandma Su privately consulted a fortune teller, who said the child’s name was unsuitable and suggested changing it.
Although Chen Xiu Yuan felt that the child’s illness might not be related to his name, his mother-in-law and wife believed it, so he really changed his son’s name to Chen Xiu Yuan.
It was strange, but ever since changing his name to Chen Xiu Yuan, the boy had become sturdier day by day.
Look at him now, he was already a lively monkey who could run around the yard.