As soon as Xiao Yao went out, there was already a little thaw on the road, and the ridges were soft. He had no intention of appreciating the flow of people coming from the south to the north to pay New Year's greetings, he had to hurry up and rush to Zhu Xihuan's house as soon as possible, because New Year's greetings could not be more than twelve o'clock.

It was almost ten o'clock in the morning, and Zhu Xihuan's home was still far away, and he couldn't go without an hour and a half of rapid marching.

On the eighth day of the first lunar month, it is definitely a good day for good fortune, and the greeting procession of men and women on the road can be seen at a glance.

From Xiao Yao's house to Zhu Xihuan's house, he had to pass through Xiao Yao's father's factory, and when Xiao Yao was about to reach the edge of the factory, he saw two teams of welcoming relatives and horses in front of him.

Needless to say, Xiao Yao also knew that this was a collision between the two sides. When encountering a Lord who is unwilling to give in to both sides, that is, whoever has a hard fist will go first. Xiao Yao just slowed down and glanced at it, and he didn't have the heart to meddle.

"Xiao Yao, help me beat them aside, and I'll give you two packs of cigarettes. ”

Just as Xiao Yao was about to stagger by, Xiao Yao heard someone call him for help. Xiao Yao stopped and looked at the person who called him, he didn't know.

When Xiao Yao was still in a daze, the man took two packs of cigarettes and handed them to Xiao Yao, but Xiao Yao didn't take them. When the other party saw someone coming, they also stopped for a while and waited to see how things developed.

"Who are you? How do you know my name? I still have to hurry, how can I have time to do the work of feeding the chickens and ducks. ”

Because of his father, there are many adults in this neighborhood who know Xiao Yao, and because of his own shaft and neck, there are more young people who know Xiao Yao, but he can know very few, even if he has seen it, he doesn't know who is with whom.

When the team rushing to greet relatives rushes to the road, they hold the leather hammer and wrestle with their bare hands and bare fists, and they will not make a big move. The number of relatives is exquisite, and the number of people is basically fixed. One more person will also increase the odds of winning.

At this time, someone on the other side also recognized Xiao Yao, and also came over to ask Xiao Yao to help, and took out four packs of cigarettes.

Xiyan is also a kind of color head, Xiao Yao once led people to intercept the greeting team on the road, begging for two or six. (Xiyan gives is a double number, there is no reason to give a single, and the four numbers are generally not taken, which is unlucky.) ）

But now, Xiao Yao was a little embarrassed at the cigarette handed over. The meaning of this Xiyan is out of shape, don't, it's not Xiao Yao's character, if you want more, you have to help one party, he grinned and said:

"Since you all know me, I'll be a peacemaker. I won't do it in vain, one person will take you a pack of cigarettes. I stand in the middle of the road, and you pass by on both sides, irrelevant to each other, and you are waiting for a happy event at both ends. ”

When both sides heard this, they were not satisfied. What is this called? According to what you say, we still grab a fart? Isn't it just to walk in the middle of the road, indicating that the road is getting wider and wider, and everyone grabs the road? According to your method, we still have a fart?

"Okay, I'll make another idea, don't you all fight, let the two grooms fight, whoever wins will go, okay?"

This suggestion has been tacitly approved by both sides, and the two bitter groom officials did not need to participate in the battle, but now they are directly scolded, can they not complain?

But in the current situation, no one dares to pretend. What man doesn't want to behave in front of his bride? The two groom officials, in full view of everyone, do it on the fork.

Both of them are croppers who do their duty, you let them work in the fields, they are both good hands, this is going to fight, maybe it's the same as getting married, it's still the first time in life.

Who knew that when he came to greet his relatives with joy, he met such an unreliable peacemaker halfway, and he actually made a pair of groom officials pinch each other. A pair of groom officials, like two oxen with dry horns, with intertwined limbs, holding each other against each other, it is difficult to distinguish between winning and losing for a while.

"You hug his waist. ”

"You hook his feet. ”

"Shake him off, kick him. ”

"You have a lot of strength, and you are used to picking him up. ”

The greeters on both sides became cheerleaders at this time, shouting and shouting, and they were all in a hurry. Xiao Yao looked at it, and he didn't know how long he would have to do it before he could tell the winner or loser.

He didn't like to smoke anymore, so he was attracted by the two of them directly by everyone's attention and sneaked away.

Encountering such an irresponsible peacemaker can only be said to be their sorrow. Xiao Yao doesn't know what happened next, don't ask me.

Xiao Yao hurried and hurried, and finally came to Zhu Xihuan's house before the prescribed time. He was sweating profusely, and as soon as he entered the door, he put the meal ticket on the table. (The meal ticket was a gift for New Year's greetings at that time, a pound of brown sugar and a cake.) The implication is that the days are sweet, and they are rising step by step. ）

After wishing each other a happy New Year with Zhu Xihuan's family, he panted and said:

"It's time to catch up, but if it doesn't work, I want to go back and come back tomorrow. ”

"Xiao Yao, as long as you come, no matter what time it is, my parents won't blame you. ”

Xiao Yao's arrival, Zhu Xihuan's family can only be said to be an accident, but for Zhu Xihuan's third sister, it is a surprise.

Since her second brother was killed by mistake, Xiao Yao has invited male classmates in the class many times to help her family do farm work, which makes her feel grateful to Xiao Yao from the bottom of her heart, and she still has a little expectation.

Although Zhu Xiaomei said that due to the limitations of his family, he could not continue his studies after finishing primary school, but his father was a teacher, so he naturally had more knowledge than children from other families. The child of the poor is in charge of the house at an early age, and her inner world is much more mature than that of girls of the same age.

The little sister was even happier when she saw Xiao Yao, and she rushed into Xiao Yao's arms and asked for a hug. Xiao Yao hugged his little sister, took out a ten-yuan bill, handed it to his little sister and said:

"Little sister, this is the New Year's money given to you by your brother, you have to grow up quickly. ”

"Xiao Yao, this can't be helped, how can you give so much New Year's money?"

Zhu Xihuan's father was really anxious, and the New Year's money given to the child at that time was given five cents a piece, which was the limit. Xiao Yao took out such a large denomination of banknotes and made New Year's money for his youngest daughter, how could he accept it?

Xiao Yao didn't take Uncle Zhu's words to heart, he took out another one and put it in the nest where the youngest Liu'er was asleep.

Seeing that Xiao Yao didn't give the third sister and the fourth brother New Year's money, the little sister came up and asked:

"Big brother, you let me grow up quickly, is it that when I grow up, I won't have any New Year's money?"

Child's words are unscrupulous, and children's words are intentional. Such a little girl actually saw the doorway, which made everyone laugh happily at the same time.

When Xiao Yao arrived, Zhu Xihuan's meal was ready, and Xiao Yao didn't let them add any more dishes, and directly started the banquet.

This lunch, Zhu Xiaomei was very happy. After saluting Zhu Xihuan's parents, she let go of the amount and wanted to fight with Xiao Yao. Xiao Yao didn't dare, for fear of getting her drunk and being blamed by Zhu Xihuan's parents.

But Zhu Xihuan's parents not only did not persuade them, but encouraged them. They know that their daughter can drink a little, but even if her daughter is drunk, she can get the guests who come to pay their New Year's greetings drunk, which is a sign of hospitality.

Zhu Xiaomei didn't take advantage of Xiao Yao at all, the two of them had the same wine glass, poured the same full, one cup at a time. Twenty-four cups in a row, two glasses have one or two wines, three catties of wine, and less than half of them remain.

The competitive Xiao Yao was drunk directly on the table, because he was running all the way, his stomach was already empty, and he drank too fast and too violently. Zhu Xiaomei was also drunk, just because she had never drunk so much wine, it was strange that she was not drunk.

The heroes at the two banquet tables turned into bears at this time, Zhu Xihuan carried Xiao Yao to Zhu Xiaomei's room and put it down, and carried the third sister to her parents' room to let her rest.

Xiao Yao was so drunk that he slept in the dark, and he slept until it was dark, and then he woke up in a daze. At this time, Zhu Xiaomei was already like no one.

"Xiao Yao, you didn't eat at noon, now drink some porridge to nourish your stomach, and we'll drink it again in the evening." ”

Zhu Xiaomei took a bowl of porridge brought by Zhu Xihuan and handed it to Xiao Yao, her words scared Xiao Yao so much that he didn't dare to accept the porridge.

"I don't eat, I still have to sleep, and I won't drink with you at night. ”

Xiao Yao can pretend to be a fool, but he doesn't want to admit it. Let him tell Zhu Xiaomei that he is afraid of drinking and dare not drink, that is to kill him and he can't say it.

"If you don't drink, you don't drink, but if you want to sleep and eat and sleep, you don't eat at noon and you don't eat a few bites of food. ”

Zhu Xiaomei saw Xiao Yao pretending to be uncomfortable, and urged him to eat porridge with great concern. Hearing her say this, Xiao Yao, who was already hungry, stopped pretending, quickly took the porridge, and ate it with a snort.

The porridge that is not hot or cold, Xiao Yao drank it in a few sips, and he said to Zhu Xihuan:

"Another bowl. ”

"Also, I'll bring you two more boiled eggs. ”

Zhu Xiaomei didn't wait for her younger brother to talk, so she snatched the bowl in Xiao Yao's hand and ran out. She quickly came back with porridge and eggs, and watched Xiao Yao finish eating.

"Xiao Yao, my mother said, you can't eat greasy things now, and when you are hungry at night, I will give you rice noodles in chicken soup. ”

Rice noodles, also known locally as foreign rice noodles, are particularly cumbersome to make, and they also have to catch up with the cooperation of good weather. The process of doing it requires several people to work together, Xiao Yao likes this one the most, but now he is delayed by drunkenness.

Zhu Xihuan pulled the empty bowl that Xiao Yao had eaten and left, leaving only Xiao Yao and his third sister in the room.

"Xiao Yao, I heard Xi Huan say, you like to sing very much, and you can play the harmonica, you can sing a song for me. ”

Xiao Yao is weird, the more people there are, the more daring he is, if you want him to play the harmonica to a girl alone, let him let go of his voice and sing, he is still difficult to do. What's more, he and Zhu Xiaomei are not very familiar with each other, and they can't be retracted and released freely.

Zhu Xiaomei saw that Xiao Yao couldn't let go, so she said generously:

"I like a song very much, it's called "Cuckoo Cries Blood", can I sing it to you?"

Xiao Yao listened to the title of this song very well, but it was also very unfamiliar, and he nodded expectantly.

Although Zhu Xiaomei said that she took the initiative to sing to Xiao Yao, she was also very shy if she really wanted to get up and sing.

She walked to the door, looked outside, and saw that Zhu Xihuan, her parents, and her sister had no sign of coming, so she returned to the house and closed the door with her hand.