"Our family is large, so I hope you don't mind the noise," Su Xiaotian said with a smile.
Thinking of nearly thirty family members gathered together, requiring three tables just for seating, Su Xiaotian felt it would surely be boisterous.
"Will all your family members come to celebrate the New Year together?" Qi Xiaofang asked curiously.
Even in the countryside, a large family like the Su family was rare. Su Dan Novel Network
It was like in their own family, where discussions about dividing the household were already underway. It was said that as soon as she graduated from university, her brothers would split off and live separately.
Moreover, in many other families, sons would split from their parents the year after getting married.
It was remarkable that the Su family could live together in harmony and celebrate the New Year.
"My second uncle and second aunt are on the train tonight, arriving in Beijing around the twenty-ninth. My eldest uncle and aunt will return on New Year's Eve and must go back to the farm on the morning of the first day of the lunar new year. Then, my aunt and uncle will bring my younger cousin back to Beijing for the New Year, and my second brother and the others will also return then."
"Your aunt and uncle are also coming to your home to celebrate the New Year?" Qi Xiaofang was even more surprised.
How could that be?
It was a custom that married daughters could not celebrate the New Year at their parents' home, but the Su family was different?
"Yes, as long as my aunt and uncle can make it back, they always have New Year's Eve dinner with us," Su Xiaotian said, not finding it unusual.
At this, the three girls were completely relieved. Even married daughters could stay at their parents' home for the New Year, which indicated that the Su family didn't have too many strict rules about New Year's celebrations.
Perhaps it would be acceptable for them to celebrate the New Year at the Su family's home?
Su Xiaotian counted on her fingers and then sighed.
"Among the people at home, only my fifth brother can't make it back."
Thinking that her fifth brother still couldn't come home for the New Year, Su Xiaotian felt sad.
For the past few years, only her fifth brother was unable to return home, and the family was short one person every year.
In fact, it wasn't just her; even her parents and grandparents probably weren't entirely comfortable.
She wondered when the whole family could truly reunite for the New Year.
But thinking of her fifth brother's choice, Su Xiaotian felt it might be difficult.
"Instructor Su can't come back?"
Among the Su brothers, the three girls were only familiar with Su Ciliang and Su Wureng.
Thinking that the handsome Instructor Su wouldn't be returning, they felt a bit disappointed.
"The last time fifth brother came home was during our military training, and it's already been a year and a half."
Su Xiaotian herself felt extremely regretful. Fifth brother was her own brother, and in Su Xiaotian's heart, he was naturally a bit closer.
Deep down, she naturally wished even more for Su Wureng to return and celebrate the New Year together.
"Fortunately, in less than a year, fifth brother will graduate. If he can be assigned to the Beijing Military Region then, perhaps our family can truly reunite for the New Year in the future."
Su Xiaotian said with hope.
The days when her brothers played with her when she was young seemed like yesterday, but in reality, the siblings had all grown up and were gradually reaching the age where they would leave home and go their separate ways.
"Xiaotian, it's okay. There will be a time for reunion," Li Jianhong patted Su Xiaotian's shoulder.
"Let's not talk about this anymore. I came today to ask you to go shopping with me tomorrow," Su Xiaotian said with a smile.
"Shopping? But we still have to work."
"Grandma said there shouldn't be many people tomorrow. Everyone is preparing for the New Year, and not too many people will be dining out, so she's giving you the day off," Su Xiaotian said happily.
This was not decades later; many people still preferred to cook their New Year's Eve dinner at home, seemingly for the sense of ritual.
Therefore, the fewer people who came to the restaurant to eat as the New Year approached.
It was also because of this that Grandma Su gave the three girls the day off, as there wasn't much for them to do at the restaurant anyway.
"But we don't have anything we want to buy."
The three girls exchanged glances, and finally, Li Jianhong spoke first.
The financial situation of their three families was not good, and it was precisely because of their families' poor conditions that they stayed in Beijing to work.
This money was their living expenses for the next year, so how could they spend it carelessly?
Moreover, if there was a little surplus from their living expenses next year, it could also help their families live a little better.
"I just want to look around. I don't plan to buy anything."
Su Xiaotian simply wanted to take her girlfriends to look around.
After all, she didn't have to worry about any of the New Year's goods at home.
Even her new clothes had already been prepared in several sets, so there was really nothing she needed to buy.
But shopping was about the atmosphere.
Especially shopping before the New Year, seeing the bustling crowds was also a form of ritual.
Only in the past couple of years would people still worry about the New Year. In a few more years, the atmosphere of the New Year would become less and less vibrant, and then it would truly be meaningless.
Su Xiaotian intended to go shopping with her girlfriends now.
"But this way, we'll have to work one less day."
"You'll have work to do. The day after tomorrow, we'll clean up, and after tidying up, we'll have to go home to prepare New Year's goods. You'll have to come and help then."
The three girls didn't believe Su Xiaotian's words. The Su family was large, and they were all skilled cooks; what help could they offer?
"At that time, we'll not only prepare our own New Year's goods but also prepare a portion to send to the orphanage."
Su Xiaotian told her roommates about Tan Zishi and his wife, as well as the children they had taken in.
The three girls hadn't expected that there were people in the world who were so selfless and willing to use their money to subsidize other people's children, and they couldn't help but sigh.
That evening, as the three girls lay on the kang, they decided to buy some small gifts for the children when they went out tomorrow to express their care.
"Xiaotian, we only knew you were very accomplished before, but we didn't know much about your family. Now we know that your family has done so many things."
"Actually, what our family has done is limited. It's Grandpa Tan and Grandma Li who have taken care of the children wholeheartedly, making the children feel the warmth of family," Su Xiaotian said, not taking credit.
In fact, she truly believed that donating money and goods was easy, but the difficult part was taking care of the children consistently.
"In short, you are all very kind and good people. It is our honor to be with you!" Li Jianhong said.
She was not only praising Su Xiaotian and the Su family but also secretly vowing in her heart that when she had the ability, she would help more people.
"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Tomorrow, if you see anything you like, buy one or two items for yourselves, which will also help create the New Year atmosphere."
"If you are willing, there will be plenty of opportunities to work in the future. Working on weekends, even if it's not much in a year, it's better than nothing. At the very least, you can start a small business. As long as you are willing to put in the effort, there are many opportunities to earn money in this era."
Su Xiaotian took the opportunity to remind her roommates, hoping that their future could be different from their present.