A lot of New Year's goods were brought back ho, and Nuo Xiaoxi's mother was very happy.
"Ah, such a rare joy," Nuo Xiaoxi's mother said with a smile, "Ever since she was a child, even on New Year's, she's hardly ever indulged in snacks. But now that she has t you, I can rest assured and entrust Xiaoxi to you. Lin Chuan, you must never let Xiaoxi suffer any grievances."
"Auntie, please be assured," Lin Chuan hastened to nod, saying, "I will treat Xiaoxi as my own sister, always cherishing and protecting her. I won't allow anyone to bully her. Nor will I let her suffer any grievances."
"That's good then," Nuo Xiaoxi's mother nodded.
Nuo Xiaoxi, with a blushing face, hung her head and fiddled with her hair.
Coming out of the house, Nuo Xiaoxi closely followed Lin Chuan, and together they brought a great many New Year's goods back to the Lin family. Mrs. Lin also brought back over a thousand yuan worth of New Year's goods. Seeing Nuo Xiaoxi carrying so many goods, she chuckled and said, "Xiao Xi, you child, you should have let do this kind of thing, what are you busy with?"
"Auntie, it's sothing I should be doing," Nuo Xiaoxi said with a red face, "sooner or later, it will be my responsibility."
"Yes, yes, yes," laughed Mrs. Lin, taking the New Year's goods from Nuo Xiaoxi's hands, saying, "Co in and sit down quickly. It's cold outside, I'll go pour you so hot water."
"Auntie, let do it myself," Nuo Xiaoxi hurriedly said.
"Eh, you haven't entered through my Lin family's door yet, so, for now, you are still my guest," Mrs. Lin said with a smile, "how can I let a guest pour their own water?"
"Auntie, please let do it," Nuo Xiaoxi hurried over to get a cup.
Mrs. Lin, unable to win the argunt, gave up but chuckled, "Such a sensible child already."
Nuo Xiaoxi entirely considered herself a daughter-in-law of the Lin family; she was familiar with every corner of the Lin household and knew the place of every item belonging to Lin Chuan. From the mont her mother told her, she habitually took herself as Lin Chuan's wife, helping the Lin household with cleaning and cooking...
Everything she did greatly satisfied Mrs. Lin, who genuinely regarded Nuo Xiaoxi as her daughter-in-law.
However, recently, there seed to be several pretty girls appearing around Lin Chuan. After comparisons, Mrs. Lin still felt Nuo Xiaoxi was more suited for a daughter-in-law; the only regret was the age difference between Nuo Xiaoxi and Lin Chuan. Xiaoxi was only seventeen, while Lin Chuan had already reached twenty-four. A seven-year gap, Mrs. Lin thought a five-year gap could be acceptable, but seven years had clearly surpassed her limit. Thus, she was unsure of what to do.
...
Chinese New Year's Eve is a traditional festival in China.
This day is when people nationwide eat reunion dinner. It is the most important day for the Chinese people. On this day, most families in China choose to gather together and have a lively reunion dinner.
To enhance the atmosphere, Mrs. Lin decided to invite Nuo Xiaoxi's family to join them for the reunion dinner.
Lin Chuan personally took the initiative, and at first, Nuo Xiaoxi's mother was quite reluctant, but seeing Lin Chuan's sincere invitation, she thought it would be rude to refuse the Lin family's kindness. So, she decided to make the effort to attend.
Nuo Xiaoxi's mother struggled to get up, now, walking was a luxury for her.
Bedridden for years, her body was extrely weak. Lin Chuan and Nuo Xiaoxi supported her from each side just barely managing to get her into the car. Lin Chuan drove Nuo Xiaoxi's mother to their front door and assisted her into the house in the sa way.
"For the New Year, let's celebrate together," said Mrs. Lin with a smile, "Sooner or later we are one family, let's just enjoy the reunion dinner together, for a complete and happy reunion."
"Yes," nodded Nuo Xiaoxi's mother, saying, "Sister-in-law Lin, you've really gone through a lot of trouble."
"Oh, we're one family, there's no trouble at all," Mrs. Lin said cheerfully, "Xiao Xi is now like our daughter-in-law who has yet to pass through our gate. Ha ha..."
"That would be Xiaoxi's good fortune," smiled Nuo Xiaoxi's mother nodding in agreent.
"Alright, I'll go get busy preparing the reunion dinner," Mrs. Lin stood up and instructed Lin Chuan and Nuo Xiaoxi, "You two take good care of Auntie."
"Don't worry, Mom," Lin Chuan nodded.
"You don't need to take care of ," Nuo Xiaoxi's mother hastily waved her hand, saying, "I'll just sit here, I'll be fine, you can rest assured."
Under her mother's instructions, Nuo Xiaoxi went to the kitchen to help Mrs. Lin prepare the reunion dinner. This ti, Mrs. Lin prepared ten dishes, signifying perfection. No matter what, this was always a beautiful symbol. Ten dishes can indeed be troubleso for one person, and without Xiaoxi's help, Mrs. Lin would have been busy for a long ti. But with Nuo Xiaoxi joining the cooking team, the ti was greatly reduced.
Following the family tradition, they would start enjoying the reunion dinner at three o'clock in the afternoon.
Not only the Lin family, but almost the entire Changlin Factory had this rule: after breakfast, every household would start busy with housework, cleaning the ho until it was spotless and in order, applying paste, and sticking up couplets. Lunch would be skipped and everyone stayed busy until after 2 pm, then the families began to prepare the New Year's Eve dinner. Around 3 pm, so households would start setting off firecrackers, celebrating the arrival of the festive New Year.
On Chinese New Year's Eve, it was also ti to stay up late.
Ten delicious dishes were neatly placed on the table. Four people gathered around the dining table, Nuo Xiaoxi's mother, looking at the lively scene and the steaming dishes, couldn't help but wipe away tears: "Ah, Mrs. Lin, my daughter and I have not celebrated the New Year like this for many years."
"I know." Mrs. Lin nodded, "We are both people who have suffered."
"Ever since my husband passed away, I've been taking care of Xiao Xi alone," she said in tears, "Later, after falling ill, I've been bedridden. My daughter has taken care of everything around the house. These years, every New Year's Eve, I secretly weep alone. I feel I have let my daughter down."
"Mom..." Nuo Xiaoxi hugged her mother, unable to hold back tears.
"It's all in the past." Mrs. Lin smiled, "Xiao Xi will have better days ahead; she's obedient and sensible, and I like her very much."
"That's good." She nodded, "My life's greatest wish has been to find a good future for Xiao Xi, and now that I have found it, I am satisfied."
"Let's eat, let's have dinner." Mrs. Lin quickly said.
"Yes, let's eat." Nuo Xiaoxi's mother nodded.
Crackle and pop...
Outside the door, Lin Chuan set off the Chinese New Year's Eve firecrackers, which lasted for more than two minutes. The festive atmosphere of the New Year finally kicked off with these firecrackers. Lin Chuan, excited, ran in and said, "Mom, the firecrackers have been set off, let's start dinner."
"Eat, let's eat quickly." Mrs. Lin nodded excitedly.
Next to them, a stove with burning charcoal kept the room warm.
Two families, four people, ten dishes, all harmoniously gathered, sipping tea as a substitute for wine, toasting each other.
After a satisfying al, Mrs. Lin imdiately started to clean up the dishes, while Lin Chuan and Nuo Xiaoxi helped Nuo Mother to sit by the brazier.
At this mont, Nuo Xiaoxi brought out a vibrant coat from Lin Chuan's room, laughing, "Mom, this is from Brother Lin. Since it's New Year's, this clothing is brand new. Since dad left, I haven't seen you in new clothes, and now I can finally see you wearing new ones."
"Silly child." Nuo Xiaoxi's mother choked up.
"Mom, do you like it?" Nuo Xiaoxi asked tearfully.
"I like it, I really like it a lot," she nodded.
This New Year was a moving one for her, and it was just as touching for Lin Chuan. This ti, Lin Chuan saw the hardships of the Nuo family, the struggles of Nuo Xiaoxi, and the struggles of a poor family at the lower rungs of society. This society is one where the rich feast while the poor bones freeze on the road, where the poor shiver in hunger and cold while the rich indulge in luxury. Lin Chuan clenched his teeth; he made a firm resolution in his heart to treat his mother well for the rest of her life. He absolutely would not let her suffer any injustice.
On the thirtieth day of the year, after the New Year's Eve dinner, ca the custom of bathing and changing.
This wasn't just a tradition of the Lin family but common to all households.
Nuo Xiaoxi couldn't wait to take her bath, and after a hot shower, she finally put on the Chanel pink down jacket. Instantly, her whole aura changed, as beautiful as a princess right out of a fairy tale.
The pink down jacket was decorated with a ring of white fur around the collar, a white belt at the waist tied with several bronze bells. The down jacket reached her knees while she wore slim white pants on her long and smooth legs, paired with light green leather boots.
This ensemble matched Nuo Xiaoxi's rosy complexion perfectly, and her soft long hair was adorned with two pink clips, giving her the look of a little princess.
"Mom, do I look pretty?" Nuo Xiaoxi stuffed her hands into her pockets and twirled on the spot.
"Very pretty, so beautiful," Nuo Xiaoxi's mother nodded quickly, "I never imagined my daughter could be this beautiful."
"Hehe..." Nuo Xiaoxi giggled. She winked at Lin Chuan, "Brother Lin, do I look good?"
"Yeah, not bad," Lin Chuan nodded.
Although the clothes were beautiful, they were not cheap. Nuo Xiaoxi did not dare to tell her mother the price, fearing her mother's scolding for wasting money. She knew that Lin Chuan could make money, so a little luxury on her part probably wouldn't be too problematic. Of course, when it ca to spending money, Nuo Xiaoxi always had self-control, never splurging unnecessarily. But after all, every girl loves beauty and hopes to dress up beautifully, aspiring to beco the princess from a fairy tale.
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