Chapter 124 New Year’s Eve, condolences from the Ministry of Armed Forces!
"Bang! Bang!"
A burst of crackling sounds came, and someone in the village started to set off firecrackers.
Hearing the noise, Chen Jun and Chen Yingying pushed open the door and came into the courtyard, smelling the faint smell of gunpowder floating in the air.
A smile appeared on Chen Jun's lips.
As the old saying goes, the sound of firecrackers New Year's Eve, and setting off firecrackers on New Year's Eve is also to pray for peace and success in the new year.
This voice sounds exciting.
Hearing that someone else was setting off cannons, Chen Jun quickly turned around and came to the house, and also took a few two-gun cannons.
He signaled his sister to cover her ears and ran to the corner.
He squatted in the courtyard and lit several two-gun cannons one after another.
In a burst of crackling sounds.
The lively atmosphere of New Year’s Eve seems to be getting stronger and stronger.
He had just finished firing off the cannons, and before he could enter the house, his mother, Li Xiufen, and his father, Chen Baishui, came back from the market on electric donkeys.
In his hands he carried a few native chickens and ducks, as well as boxes of glutinous rice cakes, rice dumplings and other gifts for visiting relatives and friends.
I saw Chen Jun holding a lighter in his hand, and there were still marks of gunpowder on the ground in the yard.
Li Xiufen smiled and said: "On the way back, your dad and I saw other people's houses starting to light firecrackers. Your dad also said that our family should also set off firecrackers first to feel happy, and then go to your third uncle's house to pay New Year greetings."< br>
“I didn’t expect you both to let it go at home.”
“Come Xiaojun, take the rice dumplings and go to your third uncle’s house first, and then I’ll go to you with your third uncle’s family later. Let’s have a meeting at my uncle’s house.”
“Xiao Peng is studying abroad. There are only two people in your third uncle’s house, the third uncle and the third aunt. The third uncle is usually very kind to you, so I want to go over and pay a good New Year greeting, you know? "
"I know, Mom." Chen Jun took the gift with a smile.
After their parents locked the door, the family of four walked towards the west end of the village.
Chen Jun's house is located at the entrance of the village, and the third uncle's homestead is slightly further in, in the middle of the village.
As for the uncle’s house, it is further to the west.
Along the way, every household in Xiaozhou Village was busy. Some were setting off firecrackers, while others were busy posting Spring Festival couplets.
Seeing Chen Jun and his family going out in a lively manner, the folks in the village greeted them one after another.
"Hey!! When did Xiaojun come back? I haven't seen you go out. Come and sit at my house when you have time."
"Okay, Aunt Six, I'll go when you have free time in the past two days."
"Haha, Xiaojun is back. This kid hasn't grown taller for half a year. He's already taller than your dad."
Chen Jun has been sensible since he was a child and belongs to the type of "other people's children". Now he is taller than your father. If you go to a military school, your parents can be invited to watch the opening ceremony.
In the village, everyone is a celebrity.
Chen Baishui walked in front with his head raised and a proud smile on his face. His son had grown up and still had potential.
This father’s face is quite bright.
When we walked outside the third uncle’s house.
The third uncle and the third aunt had not finished their work. From a distance, they saw the two of them standing in the yard cutting window grilles, and the Spring Festival couplets and other things were already posted on the door.
Seeing this, Chen Jun quickly walked a few steps into the yard and shouted first: "Third uncle, aunt, you haven't finished putting up the window grilles yet."
"Here, give me the cut piece and I'll put it on."
Hearing his nephew's voice, Chen Futong turned around and saw his second brother and his family coming over.
He laughed and waved his hands. :"No need, just stick up a few windows."
"It's like this every year, just what you mean."
"Come, come, brother, sister-in-law, Yingying, Xiaojun, let’s go sit in the room, and Chunhong will make some tea.”
As Chen Futong said this, he put down what he was doing and started to greet a few people to go into the house. At the same time, he told his third aunt to boil water and make tea.
When he saw that Chen Jun was still holding a gift in his hand, Chen Futong immediately lowered his face and blamed him: "Look at you, you are just coming as a family. Why are you bringing anything with you? What are you spending the money on?"
“It’s a good time to celebrate the New Year, uncle, bring something with you to make it feel like the New Year.” Chen Jun walked into the room with a smile and put the gifts in his hands behind the door.
Chen Futong is such a shrewd person. He just glanced at the second brother with two boxes of gifts in his hand, and immediately knew that he wanted to go to the eldest brother's house together.
He simply did not force Chen Jun and his family to sit in the room. He took out two big red envelopes from his cotton-padded coat pocket, stuffed one into Yingying, and handed the other to Chen Jun.
Seeing that neither of them wanted it, Chen Yingying turned around and ran away.
Chen Futong said with a fierce face: "Take it, this is given to you by your third uncle, Xiaojun also holds it, why are you being polite to me."
"You are all still children, come over to my house to pay New Year's greetings We are all interested in this."
"Chunhong, stop cleaning up and go, follow Xiaojun and the others to our brother's house in Xitou for a meeting."
My third uncle greeted me. The couple didn't say anything, and the whole family walked toward the west end of the village together.
On the way, Chen Jun pinched the red envelope that was forced into his hand. It was about two or three thousand thick.
He felt a surge of emotion in his heart. The third uncle really had nothing to say to their family.
On the way to her uncle's house, Chen Yingying secretly handed her red envelope to Chen Jun, and she avoided her parents and whispered, "Brother, I'll keep my New Year's money for you."
"If you give me some change, just give me some. If your parents take it away, I won't have any."
"I told you to give it to you, and my parents will definitely not say anything."
"This girl." Chen Jun smiled, pulled his sister and walked behind the family towards the uncle's house.
Uncle Chen Kaijiang’s family is different from other families in the village. You can say that their family is not good in character, has a bad reputation in the village, and does not know how to get along with neighbors.
But no matter how you say it, he is the dean of a key high school in Rongan. He is a well-rounded person when working outside, and he is a good dancer.
Their family's meanness and impatience are usually directed at people close to them or in their own village, and do not bring them any direct benefits.
The reputation outside may not be so bad. After all, there are many people out there who are trying to put on airs, but there are no people around.
No, Chen Jun and the others haven't reached the west end of the village yet.
I saw two or three electric vehicles and two cars parked in front of my uncle Chen Kaijiang’s house.
You know, this is 2013, and there are really not many families who can afford a car. Of course, if you have to use big cities as an example, it is a different matter. Compared with the new In the future when energy vehicles are popularized, owning a car is enough to give you dignity these days.
At this time, from far away, Chen Jun could hear the bustling sounds coming from his uncle's house.
It looks like there are quite a few guests.
Chen Jun followed his father and third uncle into his uncle's yard.
I met my cousin Chen Qian head-on. She happened to be out to take out the trash, and she saw another group of people coming to the house.
He looked startled at first. After he saw who was coming, he quickly put down the trash can in his hand and ran over in a few steps.
"Second uncle, third uncle, aunt, Xiaojun, Yingying, are you here?"
"Quick, sit down in the room."
"My dad is greeting the guests. Second uncle and third uncle, you go to the house first, and I'll wash some cups."
Chen Qian said, touched Yingying's head, and said to Chen Jun blinked and ran to work.
Chen Jun has nothing to say to this cousin.
This cousin may be the only one in their family who has not been affected at all, but the cousin is not so good. He is arrogant and relies on his background in a prestigious university to look down on this and that.
As for the uncle, Chen Jun can only say that all the books he read over the years have been read into the dog's belly.
Maybe the noise in the courtyard was heard by people in the house. A group of them hadn't reached the main room yet.
Cousin Chen Feng came out of the house. When he saw the person coming, he was stunned, but he was not enthusiastic and just nodded.
"Second uncle, third uncle, please sit in the room, I'll go out to buy something."
As for Chen Jun and Yingying, he seemed not to see them and walked straight over.
Chen Jun didn't care about this and just ignored him.
Anyway, the two of them won't have much interaction in the future, and they will just treat each other as strangers.
Entering the house, seven or eight guests who were visiting the uncle's house were sitting and chatting, eating melon seeds and smoking.
It’s really lively.
Maybe those guests suddenly saw so many people coming to Chen Kaijiang's house and felt it was inconvenient to stay any longer. In addition, it was getting dark outside, so several people got up and left.
The guests have all left.
When Chen Kaijiang came back after seeing the people off, he glanced at a few people, pointed at a few chairs in the room and said, "Sit down, Futong, Baishui, you can sit down too."
After saying that, he No more squeaking, he held the water cup and drank slowly. The atmosphere was a bit cold.
Chen Baishui didn't say anything, put down the things in his hands, and sat on the chair.
The third uncle is the kind of person who is very wealthy and carefree wherever he goes. He doesn't care about so much. Not only does he sit down by himself, he also pulls Chen Jun and Yingying to sit in front of him. After a while, Chen Qian cleaned the cups, poured some tea leaves, soaked them in water, and placed them in front of them.
As if sensing something was wrong in the atmosphere in the room, Chen Qian looked at where her father was sitting, showing no intention of speaking.
The third uncle talked to Yingying in a low voice, while Chen Jun sat on the stool and turned his head to look outside the room.
With this big family gathered here, the atmosphere is actually not as good as when the guests were here just now.
Chen Qian sighed secretly, raised her hands to tuck her hair, and pushed the water glass towards Chen Jun with a smile.
"Xiaojun drinks tea, are you still used to studying in the military academy?"
"Well, it's okay. I can adapt." Chen Jun nodded and said politely.
Maybe Chen Baishui also felt that sitting like this was not a problem. He moved his body and was about to speak.
At this time, another sound suddenly came from the yard.
"Old Chen, is Old Chen at home?"
"Hey, here we come." Without even giving Chen Baishui a chance to speak, Chen Kaijiang stood up and strode out.
Seeing the person coming, he smiled heartily and said: "Haha, I can tell it's you, Lao Li, by the voice."
"Come on, come on, please come in."
Chen Kaijiang greeted the guests enthusiastically He brought him into the house and patted his third uncle on the shoulder.
He said with a smile: "Futong, let me introduce you. This is Lao Li, the director of the admissions office of our county's No. 1 High School."
"Old Li, this is Futong. I The third son of my family is doing some business in the city.”
"Chen Qian, go take out the bottle of Wuliang wine from my room and clean the drinking glasses."
"Let's sit here."
Chen Kaijiang said, He greeted the new arrival, Lao Li, and his third uncle to sit on the other side.
A guest suddenly came, and Chen Jun and his family were left alone here.
Of course, I didn’t realize the other party’s enthusiasm at first.
Chen Jun never said a word or expressed anything.
Just watching with cold eyes, he knew very well the character of his uncle's family.
He thought it would be like this before coming, but he came anyway.
He just wanted to show his father how neglected they were here, and to end this dispensable relationship as soon as possible.
If it weren’t for this, according to Chen Jun’s own temper, he would have left the two boxes of things he had brought over.
When the third uncle, Chen Futong, saw this situation, he hesitated a few times and prepared to wait for his eldest brother to finish chatting with the guest before reminding him.
After all, even if my brothers have some minor conflicts, they can't deal with them like this, not to mention, in front of their children.
However, Chen Kaijiang, who had said nothing just now, was talking like a firecracker, and he was extremely enthusiastic.
I had a lively chat with the admissions director of the first grade high school, and I laughed from time to time.
There were only four male elders in the room, but Chen Baishui was left sitting here with no one paying attention.
At this time, no matter how traditional his thoughts were, he couldn't sit still.
My mother, Li Xiufen, looked equally ugly.
Sister Chen Yingying shook Chen Baishui's arm and whispered: "Dad, let's go home, I'm hungry."
"Let's go home, okay."
Faced with this situation, Chen Jun sighed and remained still.
Of course he knew that his father felt bad, but he had to suffer even if he didn't feel good. If he didn't want to be looked down upon by others in the future, then don't come.
Just when the atmosphere in the room was getting awkward, Chen Feng came back. He saw that all the guests in the room had left, leaving only his second uncle and his family sitting here.
He didn't say anything, and went straight over to put two packs of cigarettes on the drinking table.
Seeing the conversation getting more and more heated, they felt uncomfortable sitting here.
Chen Jun felt that it was almost done, and he was ready to drag his father away. He would also celebrate the New Year and give away the things that should be given.
There is really no need to stay in this place any longer.
But before he could get up.
There was another rush of footsteps outside the hall.
Chen Jun looked sideways, guessing that there might be another guest coming.
Chen Feng, not far away, also heard the noise.
He stood up and walked to the door of the house. When he saw the person coming, a smile immediately appeared on his face.
"Kaihe? Why are you here? Come on, come and sit. I went to your house yesterday. Your mother said that you are busy these two days."
The way Chen Feng talks, this is called The man who opened the river also walked into the house at the same time.
Chen Jun noticed the visitor and was startled.
He also knew this man whom his cousin called Kaihe, and they were both from the same village.
The key is not this, but that the man who came over was wearing a military uniform.
Chen Jun’s impression was that his surname was Zhao and his name was Zhao Kaihe.
Among the children in their village, Zhao Kaihe is older but younger.
In terms of seniority, I still call him uncle.
But he was doing quite well among his peers. Chen Jun heard that he was in the county's armed forces department and was following the leaders.
After just glancing at it, Chen Jun stopped looking and said nothing.
No matter who it is now, he is not in the mood to go over and talk to him at this time, and is about to take his family back home.
But when Zhao Kaihe entered the room, he glanced anxiously first and ignored Chen Feng. Instead, he went straight to Chen Jun, took his arm and walked out.
While pulling back, he shouted: "Oh, Chen Jun, you are really easy for me to find. Go home quickly, Grandpa Chen, you all go back quickly."
"Armed Forces Department The leaders came to our house to express condolences. There is no one in your house. My legs are almost thin. I have to run from east to west. Let’s go quickly.”
"The leader is still waiting at the door."
Zhao Kaihe's words were no less than thunder on the ground, and everyone in the room was stunned.
The leaders of the Ministry of Armed Forces came to express condolences?
Is it still New Year’s Eve?
Not only Chen Jun was surprised by this sudden news, but Chen Baishui, Li Xiufen, and the third uncle in the distance were all stunned.
The leaders of the Armed Forces Department, that's the leadership team of the county. Even if they express condolences, they would not take advantage of this time in the afternoon of New Year's Eve.
This is a condolence, how is it different from a New Year greeting.
Even Chen Kaijiang and the director of the admissions office were stunned.
On the contrary, Chen Jun was the first to react. He had been preparing to leave, so he didn't have to find an excuse now.
He stood up before anyone else could react, grabbed Yingying and walked out.
Before walking to the door of the house, Chen Jun did not forget to pick up the two boxes of glutinous rice cakes and rice dumplings that his father had brought over.
Unexpectedly, he was just making a movement. Before he could bend down, Zhao Kaihe directly picked up two boxes of things without even thinking about it, grabbed Chen Jun and ran out.
It can be seen that he is really anxious.
Chen Baishui, who was behind him, calmed down and saw his son's movements. He also knew what he meant. He sighed, shook his head, pulled his wife and strode out.
Third uncle Chen Futong also smiled and stood up.
Originally, he didn't agree with the second brother's family coming here again. They were all a kind family, so why should they suffer such injustice.
What the nephew did was basically severing the relationship between the two families.
After all, there is no reason to give a gift and then take it away when you leave.
It’s okay if it’s broken.
When Chen Jun walked out of the door, the sixth aunt he met on the way here also hurried over.
When she saw them, she shouted: "Hey, Xiaojun, go home quickly."
"There were five or six soldiers' cars like the ones that came last time in front of your house, and a group of people came in front of your house. We’re waiting.”
“My neighbors are all here to help. Please run quickly. Is this Chinese New Year guy looking for something urgent?”
“ Aunt Six, please, I'll go back right away." Chen Jun nodded quickly.
I greeted my parents behind me and ran quickly towards home.
(End of this chapter)