Li Jianhong, with nimble hands, expertly weaved bamboo strips, quickly finishing half a lantern, a stark contrast to Su Ciliang's clumsy efforts.
"Senior, look, it's like this," Li Jianhong couldn't bear to see Su Ciliang's pitiful state and couldn't help but offer guidance.
Su Ciliang, who usually lacked patience with girls, made an exception because this girl was a good friend of Little Sweetheart and her intentions were kind. He smiled and began to learn.
Seeing Li Jianhong actively helping her second brother, her second brother didn't refuse.
Su Xiaotian giggled behind her hand.
Good interaction was all that mattered!
Perhaps soon there would be another sister-in-law. By the time they graduated, her second brother would also have graduated from his master's program, and it would be just right for them to get married.
Su Ciliang had no idea that his younger sister had already thought so much just because he hadn't refused Li Jianhong's help in making lanterns.
If he had known, he would have surely tapped the little one's head and called her precocious.
Soon, the lanterns were finished.
Su Ciliang still hadn't learned.
Li Jianhong's image of the unattainable Su Ciliang crumbled.
So, the formidable second brother of the Su family also had things he couldn't do!
As soon as the lanterns were finished, Su Xiaotian was about to instruct her second brother to hang them when a figure in military green appeared at the doorway.
Brother is back?
Su Xiaotian blinked her big eyes in disbelief.
The figure at the door was still there, not disappearing.
Is it really brother who's back?
Qi Xiaofang smiled and said, "Xiaotian, Instructor Su is back!"
This time, Su Xiaotian was truly certain that her brother had returned home.
"Grandma, Mom, my brother is back!" Su Xiaotian shouted loudly.
The others in the house were busy with their own tasks and hadn't noticed the direction of the main door. Thus, they only reacted upon hearing Su Xiaotian's shout.
Su Wureng, carrying a large military green bag, looked at his younger sister shouting in the courtyard, a smile curving his lips.
Just in time, he finally dared to come home on New Year's Eve.
He had returned in such a hurry that he didn't even have time to send a telegram to the family.
Liang Xiu, who had been feeling down because everyone else had arrived except her eldest son, didn't expect the surprise to come so quickly.
She looked at her son standing at the doorway with teary eyes.
Su Grandma and the others were undoubtedly overjoyed.
This grandson hadn't celebrated the New Year with his family for several years. This year, they thought he would be absent again, but unexpectedly, he had returned.
"Xiao Wu, come in quickly, why are you standing at the door?" Grandpa Su busily beckoned his grandson to come in.
With Xiao Wu back, the family was finally complete.
For the New Year, it was best for the family to be complete.
Everyone couldn't help but fuss over Su Wureng, worrying about him getting injured during missions or training, and worrying if he had eaten well, showering him with words of care. Su Dan Novel Network
After greeting his elders, Su Wureng then gently pinched his younger sister's smooth cheek.
"You've grown taller again."
"Brother, don't pinch my face, I'm all grown up now," Su Xiaotian mumbled coquettishly.
"No matter how much you grow, you're still my sister."
"Brother, help me hang the lanterns," Su Xiaotian bossily instructed her brother.
"Where did these lanterns come from? They're quite nice," Su Wureng said, examining the lanterns up and down.
"Xiao Wu must be tired from his journey, I'll do it!" Su Sang stepped forward with a smile, offering to take the lanterns.
"I didn't plan to ask him for help, but he pinched my face," Su Xiaotian pouted, her petty demeanor making everyone burst into laughter.
In the end, Su Wureng and Su Sang each hung a lantern at the main entrance.
By this time, the women of the family had already set the New Year's Eve dinner on the table.
Meanwhile, Su Ciliang was in the courtyard with a string of firecrackers, preparing to set them off.
According to the customs of their hometown, firecrackers had to be set off before eating, and all the deities and ancestors had to be honored first.
"Second brother, you're setting off firecrackers without waiting for us."
Before the firecrackers were lit, Su Xiao Ba's voice was heard.
The four brothers, Six, Seven, Eight, and Nine, had all returned together.
Su Ciliang smiled and handed the lit incense stick in his hand to Su Xiao Ba, "Here you go."
Su Xiao Ba happily set off the firecrackers with Su Xiao Jiu, while Grandpa Su had already begun the solemn ritual of honoring ancestors and deities.
Grandma Su was still muttering on the side, insisting on offering an incense stick to the Dragon King. Since the family now lived far from the river, they couldn't go to the Dragon King Temple, so they could only offer an incense stick to the Dragon King.
The Su family naturally knew why the Su family specifically offered incense to the Dragon King, but Li Jianhong and the others did not.
Fortunately, they were not nosy people, and even if they heard it, they had no intention of asking.
"Mother, even if you went to the river, the Dragon King of the capital is not the same as the Dragon King of our river,"
The one who could say such a killjoy remark was undoubtedly the tactless Su Lao San.
As expected, after saying this, he received a free glare from Grandma Su.
"You're about to become a grandfather, and you can't even say a proper sentence," Grandpa Su also glared at Su Lao San and scolded him.
Su Lao San rubbed his nose.
When did he become a grandfather?
Xiao Wu was still young. Ciliang wasn't even married yet, so him becoming a grandfather was a long way off.
After all the procedures were completed, it was time to prepare for the meal.
Su Xiaotian turned on the television, intending for the family to eat while watching.
Su Xiaotian remembered that the Spring Festival Gala should have started this Lunar New Year, and for the next few decades, it would be the standard fare for the entire nation on New Year's Eve.
In her previous life, at this time, they were still living a hard life in Nanling Village. Having been reborn, since she had the opportunity, she wanted to properly experience this cultural feast.
However, the others in the family found it uninteresting.
After all, with so many people talking, wasn't it more lively than watching TV?
Although the Su family had bought a television, the elders were always reluctant to watch it, fearing they would waste electricity and damage the television.
Furthermore, they didn't get home until late every day, so the television in the Su household served mostly as a decoration.
"It's New Year's, let the TV be on, it'll be more festive," Chen Zi'an said.
"Let it be on. We'll eat our own food, and let the people on TV say their own things."
Grandma Su made the final decision with a decisive tone.
Amidst the lively sounds of firecrackers outside, the Su family's New Year's Eve dinner began.
In the main hall, three full tables were surrounded by people.
This was the year with the most people celebrating the New Year in the Su family, making it exceptionally lively.
Grandpa Su, Grandma Su, Du Tonghe and his wife, and Chi Ge sat at the head table.
In addition, the three Su brothers and Chen Zi'an sat together.
The women of the Su family and Li Jianhong and the others occupied one table. The little one, Chen Xiuyuan, insisted on sitting with his sister, so he also joined this table.
The remaining Su brothers sat at another table.