Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 1034 is too tragic.

Xiao Wei was stunned for a moment and said, "Really? What's different from before? Everyone's busy, right? Besides, only Gazi and Siwei are here. Changyuan and the others said they'd come after the New Year. I was thinking of waiting for them all to come so we could get together."

Xiaowei's mother said, "Gazi and Zhaodi have already gotten their marriage certificates, did you know that? Liu Liu came and then went back because his mother was hospitalized, did you know that? Have you inquired about the situation of Siwei and Xiaoqin in Beixing? You're so busy that you don't have time to think about anything else?"

People grow closer as they grow older, and then drift apart. How many true friends can one have in a lifetime? How many of those friends who grew up together are still close as adults? Or do you feel you're capable now, rich, and don't need anyone anymore? I've wanted to talk to you about this for a long time.

Xiao Wei licked his lips: "No, would I think that way? Is your son that kind of person?"

Xiaowei's mother said, "It's just that I don't feel it's true yet, otherwise I would have slapped you across the face long ago. Making a little money is nothing special. What would you be like if it weren't for Xiaohui and Xiaxia? I think in a few years you'll be about the same. By then, you probably won't even remember what our family used to be like."

Chen Hui said, "Auntie, don't talk to Xiaowei like that. We've really been quite busy this year. Which of the three of us do you think is the one who has forgotten our roots? Don't be angry, come on, pour me a drink, I'll have one with you."

Xia Maosheng said, "That's right. Look at me, I'm at work every day, and it's been a long time since I've gone out with them. I have no choice but to go."

Xiao Hong said, "Alright, alright, Grandma's making a mountain out of a molehill. Let's eat. After we eat, let's go out for a stroll today. Let's invite everyone. Anyway, it's almost the end of the year, so there's not much to do. We can just relax for a while."

Chen Hui poured Xiaowei's mother a glass of beer, clinked glasses with her, took a big gulp, and said, "Come on, these last few days of the year are when they're busy selling clothes. All their profits for the year come from this. Are you going to spend all your time hanging out with people? Besides, don't you, Miss Wang, have exams?"

Aunt Wang served food to Qin Xuemei, who was sitting silently to the side, and said, "That's right, she's always acting on a whim, talking nonsense all the time. Xuemei, eat more, eat heartily, look how thin you are."

Qin Xuemei looked at the food in her bowl with worry. She felt like she was being treated specially every time she ate, and she felt like she was barely able to get off the table after each meal.

Xiao Wei said, "Mom, Aunt, please forgive Sister Xuemei. Look, that bowl is almost full. Is Sister Xuemei going to eat it or leave it? If you can't finish it, give it to Xiao Hong. We're all family, what's there to be embarrassed about? If you keep quiet like this, I'll give you a whole bowl of it in a month."

Chen Xiao held out the bowl: "Here, share some with me. Sister Xuemei, help yourself to whatever you like. If you don't like what the old lady puts on, give it to me and Xiao Hong."

Xiaohong said, "It's not like we can't go out to play during the day, and we can't go out at night either, right? We can take a shower, sing karaoke or something, or how about we play video games? My classmate said they're so much fun, a thousand times more fun than the Famicom, and I've never even seen one before."

By 92, video games were already popular in Northeast China, including Street Fighter, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Three Kingdoms, Captain Commando, Hook, Dinosaur, Punisher, and Brontosaurus.

The most popular games were mahjong and poker, because there were suggestive scenes to watch when you cleared the levels, and you could also win money. They were incredibly popular, with a crowd surrounding each machine. Shouting "Boss, add some points!" in front of everyone was pretty cool.

The coin-operated gambling machines that later became wildly popular and even single-handedly led arcades into ruin are still not being noticed at this time.

Xia Maosheng said, "That place is chaotic, full of thugs and hooligans, a real squalor. What would we do there?"

Xiao Hong pouted: "Let's go take a look. We'll just play a few rounds. I've never seen it before."

Xiao Wei said, "If you want to go, go. What's the big deal about playing a game? If not, we can book the whole place. No, I just said it offhand, just offhand. I was wrong." Xiao Wei's mother's sword-like gaze moved away from Xiao Wei's face.

Zhang Bing, who had been busy eating bones, finally finished and put down the bones in his hand: "Where are you guys going to play? Can you take me with you? I'm like a poor little thing, all I do every day is go to school and do homework. I'm not even allowed to leave the compound. Even in prison, you can go out for fresh air."

Chen Xiao laughed and said, "That's such a pitiful thing to say. Can you sing? Come on, sing one, and if you sing well, I'll take you."

Zhang Bing wiped his hands and mouth with a napkin and said, "It's just singing, what's the big deal? Go ahead and order, what do you want to hear?"

Xia Maosheng raised his eyebrows: "Wow, that's impressive. What's popular right now?" He turned to ask Geng Hui.

Geng Hui thought for a moment and said, "A revolutionary song, I think? I see them playing everywhere on the streets."

Around 92, for some reason, those old revolutionary songs suddenly became popular again. Various compilation tapes were played everywhere, in the streets and markets. Songs from the Great Revolution era, in particular, were incredibly popular, and many young people even wore badges of them.

"Hmm, hmm," Zhang Bing cleared his throat in a mocking manner, "The golden mountain of the capital shines in all directions, and Chairman [name omitted] is that golden sun..."

"Hey, not bad, you know, it's got some flavor." After the song ended, Aunt Wang said to Xiaowei's mother in surprise.

Xiao Wei's mother pouted: "Bring the tape recorder out of the room tomorrow. Do you listen to music every day while doing your homework? No wonder you're writing so slowly every day."

Zhang Bing was stunned for a moment, then said with a look of grief and indignation, "Don't I have any personal freedom at all? Why don't you just kill me already?"

Xiao Wei's dad said, "Let him listen if he wants. What's wrong with listening to a song? Some people even send their kids to music lessons."

Uncle Wang nodded and said, "Listening to music is not a problem; music is good for brain development."

Xiaowei's mother said, "Okay, then you can listen. We'll see how I treat you if you don't get into university."

Xiaowei's dad said, "That's right, at least she should be like Xiaohong."

Zhang Bing asked, "So, from now on, the lowest admission standard for our family will be Northeastern Institute of Technology?"

Xiaowei's mother said, "Ah, this is the bare minimum. You can roughly figure it out."

Zhang Bing turned to Xiao Wei and said, "Second Brother, I advise you and Sister Xiao Hong not to have children in the future. It's too tragic."

Everyone laughed, and the two little ones, who didn't understand anything, also slapped the table and laughed foolishly.

After dinner, Xiaohong, Chen Xiao, and Geng Hui cleaned up the table and washed the dishes while discussing where to go. After a long discussion, they finally decided to go to Xita, because there were many bathhouses, karaoke bars, and arcades there.

Xita Street has a long history, initially known for its bathing and entertainment facilities, but later adding other things. This area is a Korean ethnic minority community, with Korean schools and its own language and writing system, and relatively relaxed policies.

The language and script here are the same as those on the Korean Peninsula, so there are no communication barriers. As a result, people from the peninsula naturally flock here, and the street has gradually become more and more famous.

(End of this chapter)