Father's Land Mother's River

Chapter 193 Three generations of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law
Knowing that her son's family is coming back today, Jiang Changling steamed a pot of bean buns and rice cakes in advance.Although the standard of living has improved now, it is not necessary to save all the good things for the New Year. Traditional food should still be preserved, not to mention that sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren and grandchildren love to eat it.

The aluminum pot lid was steaming, Jiang Changling added a few sticks of firewood to the stove, supported the stove and stood up slowly, dusted off the grass clippings on her body, and picked up a broom to sweep the ground.At such an age, the waist and legs are a little stiff, and it is a bit difficult to sit and stand up, not to mention having undergone major surgery, and there are more and more minor problems, either this pain or that itching.

But fortunately, Jiang Changling has taken all this lightly.After living past seventy, she felt that she had earned it, enjoyed the blessings that no man could enjoy, and was content.

The ground was swept clean, and just as I put down the broom, I heard the sound of cars in the yard.The son family is back!Jiang Changling staggered out to meet her.

Liu Xiaonan moved things from the car to the house, most of them were New Year's goods.Qi Meng ran up the steps first, saw the house was steaming, hugged Jiang Changling and said, "Grandma, what are you cooking for?"

Jiang Changling stroked her granddaughter and said, "Grandma will steam your favorite sticky bean buns and rice cakes."

Meng Xiangxiang took the bag and walked up the steps and said, "Auntie, I told you, I will do it when we come back."

Jiang Changling said: "There are still a few days before the Chinese New Year. I will do what I can do first, so as to save you from being in a hurry when you come back. Where is my eldest grandson?"

Meng Xiangxiang said, "Qiyu and his girlfriend are behind."

Jiang Changling said happily: "Okay, I have an extra granddaughter-in-law at home during the Chinese New Year this year. Will I be more blessed as I live?"

Meng Xiangxiang entered the room with her bag in her hand, and echoed, "Of course my aunt is lucky."

Jiang Changling asked Qi Meng: "When will you bring back a grandson-in-law for grandma?"

Qi Meng supported her grandma and said, "Grandma, don't worry. When I graduate from university, I will definitely bring grandma back a grandson-in-law."

While talking, Liu Qiyu drove into the yard.Qiyu greeted his grandma from a long distance away, and moved things with his father.Hu Liwen walked up the steps by herself, and asked Jiang Changling with a smile: "Does grandma remember me? I came to grandma's house for the New Year."

"Remember, you are Liwen." Jiang Changling took Qimeng with one hand and Hu Liwen with the other and walked into the house: "I've only been gone for a few months, of course grandma remembers you, you are my granddaughter-in-law, grandma welcomes you to come to celebrate the new year .”

The usually deserted home became lively again. The wrinkles on Jiang Changling's face stretched out, her waist and legs became flexible and brisk, and she was busy taking out fruits for her granddaughter and granddaughter-in-law.The conversation box also opened up, pulling Qimeng Liwen to inquire about her health and incessantly.

During the year, Jiang Changling only looked forward to the few days of Chinese New Year and holidays, looking forward to the return of her son, daughter-in-law, grandchildren and grandchildren.Although his son and daughter-in-law would come back to visit her every month, even though he helped sell goods in Liu Erya's small shop on weekdays, and played poker with the old men and women in his free time, he still had endless happiness every day.

But at night, watching TV alone, I always feel that there is something missing around me, and I often dream of my man in my dreams.

It's not that she never thought about living with her son and daughter-in-law, but Jiang Changling always felt that nowhere was as good as her own home.After winter, under the repeated pleas of her son-in-law, she lived in her son's house.

Her son's big house is nice, spacious and bright enough, but she feels that it is not her own home.My son and daughter-in-law are very busy, and they have to talk and chat with me. In turn, I can’t do anything, and I can’t help with anything. If I live for a long time, I will drag my son and daughter-in-law down.

Reluctantly staying for a month, Jiang Changling insisted on returning to her home.It's not that the son and daughter-in-law are not filial. They are free in their own home, but they are restrained for no reason in the son's home. They are even deprived of the right to wash clothes for the son.

She hasn't washed her son's clothes for many years. She thought she had a chance when she lived in her son's house, but her son-in-law and nanny wouldn't let her do anything. She felt that she was about to become a useless person.

Unable to keep her, Liu Xiaonan had no choice but to send her mother home.When I returned to my own home, although it was deserted and lonely, my heart seemed to have fallen to the ground, very at ease.Jiang Changling believed what Liu Zhixin said to her before she was alive, as long as she can move, she should not bother her children.

However, Jiang Changling was not reconciled, and only thought about what she could do for her son.On a whim, she decided to make rice wine for her son and daughter-in-law.Since the man left, the family has not brewed rice wine for more than ten years, and the Chinese New Year always lacks a little flavor.

When Liu Zhixin was brewing rice wine, Jiang Changling had been helping her all the time, and she remembered the method of making wine.She went to the market to buy [-] catties of big yellow rice, got wine koji from other people's house, and tried to make rice wine by herself.Wash the rhubarb rice, soak it for a day and a night, put it in a large pot and boil it until it becomes thick, sprinkle with koji in proportion and stir evenly, and put it in a large vat to ferment after it cools down.

After more than a month of fermentation, the rice wine was brewed. Jiang Changling tasted it first. It tasted a bit sweet, but she thought the taste and alcohol content were not bad.After the sediment was filtered, she sealed the rice wine jar and waited for her son and daughter-in-law to come home.

When Meng Xiangxiang brought his dream, Hu Liwen, to make lunch, Jiang Changling boiled a pot of rice wine for his son.At lunch, she brought a jug of rice wine to her son, let him taste the rice wine she brewed, and let him judge.

Liu Xiaonan poured a glass, took a sip, took a sip, took another big sip, put down the glass and sighed, "I haven't had home-brewed rice wine for many years. It used to taste like my father's, but now it tastes like my mother's. Each has its own taste. It’s different, the aroma of the wine is equally strong. Qimeng, bring a cup, you children have never drank rice wine made by your grandpa, and now you all have a taste of your grandma’s craft.”

As he spoke, he felt a little sad. If his father was still alive, Liu Xiaonan suppressed his emotions and said to his mother, "Mom, why did you suddenly think of making rice wine? I figured it out on my own, or I learned it from my dad."

Jiang Changling filled his son's wine glass and said proudly: "Of course I learned from your father. I used to dare not do it because I was afraid that it would be a waste of rhubarb rice. After returning from your home, I became more courageous. , let’s try a little less first, is the taste okay?”

Liu Xiaonan encouraged her mother: "Of course the taste is very good, not inferior to my father's craftsmanship, and it also has a touch of sweetness. It's really good. I will be able to drink home-brewed rice wine again in the future."

Qimeng brought the cups, picked up the jug and poured everyone a glass.In the twelfth lunar month of winter, drink a cup of warm home-brewed rice wine, which will not hurt your stomach and warm you from the heart.Meng Xiangxiang took a sip, put down the wine glass, and said to Jiang Changling: "Auntie, your wine making skills are really good, teach me, and I will learn to make wine in the future."

Jiang Changling became humble again: "I'm just thinking about it too. If you want to learn, then my mother and I will do it together."

Listening to everyone's excitement, Hu Liwen took a sip of rice wine with the attitude of trying it out, and a scent of wine mixed with the fragrance of grain penetrated into her lungs, making her whole body warm.She sincerely admired and said: "Grandma, your self-brewed rice wine is really delicious. This is the first time I have tasted this kind of green food."

Jiang Changling said happily: "My granddaughter-in-law agreed, the rice wine made by my old lady must be really delicious."

Meng Xiangxiang asked Hu Liwen: "I don't know if your parents like to drink this kind of self-brewed rice wine."

Hu Liwen said: "My dad also came from the countryside, and he especially likes the local products from the countryside."

Meng Xiangxiang said: "When you leave, take some back home for your parents to taste, it's made with pure grain, it's good for your health."

In the afternoon, Liu Qiyu pushed his grandma's tricycle and led Hu Liwen to buy fireworks and firecrackers at Grandma Liu Erya's shop.Hu Liwen said that she hadn't set off fireworks in person for many years, so Liu Qiyu bought some more, and the tricycle was filled with fireworks and salutes.He also wanted to buy some red paper to write Spring Festival couplets and blessings.

Liu Erya told Liu Qiyu that she didn't get into the red paper this year, and her living standard has improved. Who would buy red paper to make people write Spring Festival couplets in order to save some money?

Liu Qiyu had no choice but to buy a few printed Spring Festival couplets with blessing characters.When I got home, I told my father that after this year, there was no need to prepare to write Spring Festival couplets to the villagers.

Liu Xiaonan didn't say anything after hearing this, and the agreement with Guan Deyu's third uncle was naturally terminated. This is the retrogression of the progress of the times and folk customs, and there is no joy or sorrow.

On New Year's Eve, after the sun rises, the family starts to get busy.Jiang Changling set up the offering table, Liu Xiaonan and Meng Xiangxiang prepared the ingredients for lunch, the three children put up Spring Festival couplets and hung lanterns, and cleaned the yard.Different from the New Year's Eve dinner of urban people, the lunch on New Year's Eve is the most important thing for rural people.

During Chinese New Year and festivals, or when there are guests at home, Liu Xiaonan cooks the stove himself.This year is no exception, he cooks, and Meng Xiangxiang helps him.Every time a dish was cooked, Jiang Changling and Meng Xiangxiang would take out a little and put it on the altar table.On the altar table are enshrined tablets of three generations of clan relatives, with candles, fruits, and freshly fried dishes, celebrating the New Year at the same time.

The three children didn't pay attention to these things. They put up Spring Festival couplets and hung lanterns, hid in the house watching TV and playing mobile phones, talking about love and love.

Liu Xiaonan said to Meng Xiangxiang: "These traditional customs will end in our generation."

Meng Xiangxiang said: "This is in the countryside. In the city, these old rules have long been ignored. How can we expect the current children to pass them on?"

After eating a sumptuous New Year's Eve lunch, we took a short break, played poker with Jiang Changling, and the family started making dumplings.Hu Liwen knew how to make dumplings. She followed Meng Xiangxiang to learn how to roll the dumplings. She was not skilled in shaping them, but she was not discouraged and kept learning seriously.

There were a lot of people making dumplings, and Liu Xiaonan was able to relax. Taking advantage of this time, he made a transoceanic international long-distance call to send New Year wishes to Aunt Lin, Teacher Yue.It's been another ten years since we parted, and we rarely contact each other, and we must make phone calls during the Spring Festival.

It was Yue Zifan who answered the phone, and he exchanged New Year greetings with Liu Xiaonan in high spirits.Liu Xiaonan asked about his physical condition, and he said that his body was still the same, and that as he grew older, he did not have any other symptoms.

That year, he accepted the 100 million from Liu Xiaonan, added another sum of money, bought a house in the United States, and settled down.

Liu Xiaonan guessed that Teacher Yue no longer mentioned Ye Luo's return to his roots, which might have something to do with it.

The phone was transferred to Lin Yidan.Lin Yidan still lovingly asked about Liu Xiaonan's mother and children, and told him that he was no longer a child, he was nearly fifty years old, he should not be too tired, and he should take care of his body and health.

Finally, he cautiously asked Liu Xiaonan if he wanted to talk to Yue Xuelian, who happened to be at home.

Liu Xiaonan said hello.When seeing him off at the airport ten years ago, Yue Xuelian ruthlessly pinched him on the ribs, leaving a deep scratch in his heart. He knew too well what that pinch meant.

In the past ten years, that scratch still exists, and it has not been smoothed out by the passage of time. Occasionally, there will be a pain, which touches his heartstrings and makes him hard to forget completely.

For ten years, there will only be one phone call per year. Just like at this time, Yue Xuelian happened to be at home, and the two of them passively talked on the phone.The topic only stays at the level of paying attention to the children, and does not go too deep. Maybe the content of the conversation is not important, the important thing is to be able to listen to the other party's voice.

During the ten years, Yue Xuelian also achieved a major breakthrough in her career and served as the vice principal of that middle school.Daughter Yue Yue was admitted to university in the same year as Qiyu Qimeng. For some reason, Yue Xuelian did not let Yue Xuelian study in China as she expected.

When Yue Xuelian's voice came across the ocean, Liu Xiaonan vaguely heard the voice of a little boy beside her, sometimes speaking Chinese and sometimes English.The sound was so loud that it almost affected the clarity of the call, but Yue Xuelian didn't stop it.

In the past few years, the voice of this little boy appeared in his calls with Yue Xuelian without exception.Liu Xiaonan wanted to ask but didn't. This should be Yue Xuelian's second child with the foreigner, and he wasn't interested or concerned.After talking a few gossips and greeting each other with New Year greetings, they hung up the phone.

After making the dumplings, Liu Xiaonan took Liu Qiyu to the mountain to meet God, and Meng Xiangxiang added water to the pot and turned on the fire to cook the dumplings.Hu Liwen must light the fire for Meng Xiangxiang. She thinks there is nothing difficult or dirty, just add firewood to the stove and boil the water.

It is of course a good thing to be able to take the initiative to light the fire, at least it shows that she regards this place as her own home. Meng Xiangxiang let Hu Liwen let go and only let Qimeng stay with her.

Hu Liwen turned on her mobile phone while lighting the fire, and video-videoed with her parents, telling them that she can make dumplings and roll dough, and is now lighting a fire with her sister-in-law.

Meng Xiangxiang went back to the house and asked Jiang Changling: "Auntie, do you think Liwen will be your granddaughter-in-law?"

Jiang Changling said: "That's your daughter-in-law, I don't care if it's good or not. I just care about my own daughter-in-law. I found a good wife for myself, and I'm content in this life. Whether your daughter-in-law is good or not depends It's your business."

Meng Xiangxiang smiled: "Auntie, you can tell the difference."

After Liu Xiaonan and Liu Qiyu came back, the dumplings were cooked, and a bowl was placed on the altar as usual.Liu Xiaonan lit two thick red candles on the altar, offered three sticks of incense, burned three pieces of paper money in front of the altar, knelt down and kowtowed three times.This counts as inviting God into your home.

Liu Qiyu followed his father's example and kowtowed to incense. This solemn ceremony passed down from generation to generation made his heart as clear as water.

Eat dumplings and watch the Spring Festival Gala. When the New Year's bell rings, the whole family goes outside to watch the fireworks and firecrackers.Hu Liwen was very interested and courageous, and together with Liu Qiyu, they went to ignite the gunpowder of fireworks and firecrackers, and cheerful laughter resounded through the yard.

Huge and colorful fireworks bloom in the New Year's night sky, the sound of firecrackers shakes the earth, and the strong smell of gunpowder permeates everywhere.Liu Xiaonan stood in front of the courtyard gate, looking up at the distant and bright night sky, the blooming fireworks reflected on his face, smearing multiple fleeting colors on his face.

Every year at this time, he would miss someone—the daughter he had with Wu Yanli who had never met.After the new year, that daughter is nine years old and should be in the second grade of elementary school. Does she look like her mother?
Usually he dare not think about it, and he is not allowed to think about it.Even if he met Guan Xiaoyun, Guan Xiaoyun didn't say anything, and he wouldn't take the initiative to ask anything.Although Guan Xiaoyun has a close relationship with Wu Yanli, he must know everything about that daughter.

For nine years, he has firmly sealed the thought of his father in his heart.He didn't know that daughter, whether he knew that there was a father like him, whether his daughter would recognize him in the future, how he would face that daughter in the future, and how he would explain this to Meng Xiangxiang and the children in the future. , I don't know what Meng Xiangxiang will think of him and his daughter.

He was even more worried about how Wu Yanli would handle the trivial matters and conflicts in the family when she was surrounded by her two children and a man she had partnered with.

(End of this chapter)