Su Laoda and his wife returned in the afternoon.
"Big brother, big sister-in-law, why are you only arriving now?" Liang Xiu said with a smile, "Today is New Year's Eve, you can leave the farm to others to watch for a day."
This elder brother and sister-in-law couple had been very dedicated to the farm, guarding it year-round without taking a single day off.
"It's just that two sows are due to give birth today, and we weren't at ease," Wang Xianghua said with a laugh.
The farm was getting better and better, but one still had to worry, right? It would be bad if there were losses due to insufficient attention.
Especially during the New Year, it felt unlucky.
Su Xiaotian heard Aunt Wang Xianghua's words and wanted to persuade her, but decided against it.
That was Auntie's personality; let her worry!
It was like Grandma, who was still busy now, wasn't it?
The family members were all this kind of restless type, unlike her, who had no ambitions.
Although she had established a factory and a farm, in the end, everything was handed over to others to manage. She herself just played the role of a good student every day.
Thinking of this, Su Xiaotian felt that she should take the time to visit the factory.
After Wang Xianghua finished speaking, she washed her hands and started to help.
By this time, dinner was almost ready, just waiting for the bright red couplets to be posted before preparing to eat the New Year's Eve dinner.
Su Ciliang was still busy writing couplets. He not only had to write for his own family but also for the Du and Chi families.
The houses of the three families were large with many doors, which added up to a considerable project. Su Ciliang had been writing for over an hour and still had his own family's couplets left to finish.
Chi Ge and Du Tonghe were too lazy to go home to post the couplets, so they handed over the task to the younger ones.
Su family brothers six, seven, eight, and nine were divided into pairs, each responsible for one family's couplets.
Su Xiaotian had already made a pair of bright red lanterns and was about to hang them at the main entrance.
This was not Su Xiaotian's idea, but Li Jianhong's.
Li Jianhong had casually mentioned that making lanterns as a child was fun, and Su Xiaotian instantly became interested.
Fortunately, the family had bamboo, red silk, and tassels readily available.
After two hours, a pair of bright red lanterns was finished, looking particularly festive.
Chen Xiuyuan, wearing new clothes bought by Grandma Sun, was dressed like a little god of fortune. Seeing the finished red lanterns, he clapped his little hands and cheered.
He mumbled things like how good it was to celebrate the New Year.
"Next year, make a pile of red lanterns for my place too, they look quite nice," Du Tonghe said with a chuckle.
"Let's start now, it'll be done soon," Su Xiaotian said quickly.
Just making one pair of red lanterns left her wanting more.
"It's this late, don't delay New Year's Eve dinner," Du Tonghe objected.
"It's fine, we were clumsy at first, but now we're skilled, it'll be quick."
As Su Xiaotian spoke, she really called Li Jianhong and the others to start.
This time, it was indeed much faster. A pair of lanterns was finished in just forty minutes.
When they finished making the red lanterns, Little Seven and Little Eight returned.
Seeing the red lanterns, they were overjoyed and eagerly wanted to participate.
"Seventh brother, eighth brother, go on another trip and hang this pair of red lanterns at Grandpa Chi's doorstep."
Su Xiaotian unceremoniously ordered her two brothers to work.
To her surprise, Little Seven and Little Eight happily went, cheerfully carrying the lanterns and running off.
Their home was too quiet. Coming to the Su family for New Year this year was indeed the right decision.
With so many children, it was much more lively than the two old folks being alone at home.
Last year, when the Su family wasn't around, it was just them and the Chi family's grandparents celebrating the New Year, and it was so lonely!
There were still materials left. Su Xiaotian looked at Chi Ge's listless expression and knew the old man was lonely.
Indeed, in old age, with no children or grandchildren by his side, and no comfort, his mood must be bad.
She wondered how her Yi Yuan brother was doing in Germany now, and if he missed Grandpa Chi and them.
It was almost New Year, were they also posting couplets and making lanterns?
Later, Su Xiaotian remembered that she was overthinking. How could that be possible?
They would be celebrating Christmas there, not Chinese New Year.
Never mind, she wouldn't think about that anymore. She should focus on how to make Grandpa Chi feel a little better.
Her eyes darted around, and then she smiled and acted spoiled, "Grandpa Chi, shall I make a pair for your place too? Look how well I make lanterns."
Seeing Su Xiaotian presenting her work like a treasure, Chi Ge couldn't bear to refuse her good intentions and smiled in agreement.
"You must hurry, dinner will be soon, don't delay Little Six and Little Nine's meal," Chi Ge reminded them.
Su Xiaotian smiled and said, "When Sixth brother and Ninth brother come back, let them hang this pair for you first. By the time they finish and return, the last pair of lanterns will be done."
As soon as she finished speaking, she saw two young boys run into the house.
Su Xiaotian immediately handed a pair of lanterns to the two and asked them to hang them at the Chi family's front door.
Although they didn't know why it was time to post couplets and now there was the task of hanging lanterns, hanging lanterns was quick. The two of them busied themselves and ran off.
Wang Xianghua watched the children rush in like a gust of wind and run off again, and couldn't help but laugh and scold, "These little rascals, I can't even get a word in."
"Sister-in-law, when they come back, there will be time to talk," Liang Xiu said with the same smile.
She actually felt a pang of sadness, but it was New Year's Eve, and she couldn't spoil everyone else's mood just because her son wasn't back.
Thinking of this, Liang Xiu turned her gaze to Grandma Su.
Grandma Su still had a kind smile on her face.
But Liang Xiu knew that her mother-in-law must be feeling unwell at the moment.
She would definitely be thinking of her sister-in-law. No matter how many faults Su Manxiang had, she was still the old lady's daughter, how could she not miss her?
Never mind, she would ask Xiaotian and Xiuyuan to stick close to her grandmother later.
The Su family's couplets had been posted, and they were just waiting for the last pair of red lanterns.
Su Ciliang also came over to help.
However, Su Sangong and Su Xiaosi said they wouldn't participate, as they didn't have the skill.
But in reality, Su Ciliang, as a successful painter and calligrapher, had rather poor practical skills.
With his help, the speed was undoubtedly slowed down.
Finally, Su Ciliang, who was holding them back, was sent away by Su Xiaotian.
"I promise, I'll just watch from the side and not touch anything, okay?" Su Ciliang pleaded with Su Xiaotian, looking at her eagerly.
Li Jianhong and the other girls knew that Su Ciliang was a famous painter and calligrapher at school, with an aloof demeanor that kept people at a distance.
They never expected him to be so amiable at home; it was truly surprising.
His god-like image had instantly shattered, hadn't it?
"Okay, second brother, you're not allowed to touch anything. I still need to finish quickly so we can eat New Year's Eve dinner!" Su Xiaotian said, looking disdainfully at her clumsy second brother.