The next day came to the New Year, although the year was thrilling, and I didn't dare to set off fireworks outside for fear of provoking people's eyes. In the Xia family's Zhuangzi, it was still packed up with joy. Men, women and children also changed into new clothes, and the second brother hunted a lot of game, and gave some to the mother-in-law of Lao Xia, sister-in-law and several younger siblings as New Year's gifts. This is a matter of charcoal in the snow, and several daughters-in-law are very dignified when they go back to their parents' homes.

Brother Xia and Fourth Brother Xia both came over a few days in advance, and the eldest sister-in-law and fourth sister-in-law were busy helping Xiao Xia's mother-in-law pack up her things for the holiday.

In the evening, Mrs. Xia took her son, grandson and daughter-in-law to incense the ancestral tablet and placed tributes. Only then did he sit on the top and received the gift of Xiao Xia Pozi and Xia Xiucai. Xia Xiucai and Xiao Xia's mother-in-law sat next to her again, and Brother Xia brought several brothers, daughters-in-law, sisters, and even the second brother recognized his sister-in-law Zhong Min to kowtow to his grandmother, father, and mother.

He also called his great-grandsons and great-granddaughters to come and kowtow. Ruhai knelt down with his younger brothers and sisters, but these children were big and small, and they were not as neat as their parents could say auspicious words, and they didn't have a lot of excitement when they listened.

Mrs. Xia looked at the grandchildren, granddaughters-in-law, granddaughters, great-grandchildren and great-granddaughters below with a smile, and most of the unhappiness in the past six months has gone. Holding on to the chair, he said: "No matter how chaotic the emperor and the official family are, as long as our own children and grandchildren are fine, there is nothing to be afraid of as an old woman." ”

He turned his head to Mrs. Xiao Xia and said, "Over the years, you have managed your family well. ”

Mrs. Xiao Xia was also a little flattered when she heard her mother-in-law's rare praise, and hurriedly got up and said, "If it weren't for my mother's constant guidance, how could the family have been so smooth all these years." ”

Brother Xia also said: "There is also a time when this war is over, and we just have to guard our grandmother, and it is only a matter of one or two years." ”

Mrs. Xia glanced at Sister-in-law Xia and said with a smile: "That's it, no matter how chaotic the world is, as long as our family is united, we won't be bullied." ”

At this time, a few small grandsons, granddaughters immediately squeezed over, chirping and leaning on the old Xia mother-in-law, who gave them the small snacks that had been prepared a long time ago. Yan'er and Qin'er came and led them all to the yard to play.

When the fifth sister-in-law saw it, she also came over and said, "Grandmother, the old birthday star will also reward your granddaughter-in-law with two pieces of candy to dip your blessings and satisfy your hunger." It's been a hard year, and your grandson has hidden all the sugar in the house. ”

Lao Xia's mother-in-law listened and pointed to Xiao Xia's mother-in-law: "Look at it, your daughter-in-law here has touched honey in her mouth, and she came over to beg for candy to eat." In the end, he gave the fifth sister-in-law a snack.

After eating, the fifth sister-in-law rubbed her stomach and turned her head to the fifth brother and said, "Oh, Xianggong." Don't hurry up and give your grandmother good news. ”

The fifth brother blushed and said, "Lan'er has it again, and I have already asked the doctor to see it." ”

The fifth sister-in-law salivated and said, "This is all a blessing from the ancestors." You see, you have this snack. ”

When the sixth sister-in-law heard this, she also puffed up her stomach and said, "Grandmother is eccentric, I also have to take a bite." "I didn't wait for Mrs. Xia to give it, but I reached out and grabbed one from the box and ate it.

The third sister-in-law next to her said: "The sixth brother and daughter-in-law ate my grandmother's cake, and when I went back to give birth, I gave our Xia family a big fat boy." ”

For a while, everyone laughed, and the sixth sister-in-law was the new daughter-in-law with thin skin, and her face was as red as the bride's hijab.

After a while, the meal was put on the table, and although it was not as rich as in previous years, it was better than the previous days. The children didn't know the troubles of the adults, and they were very happy to see such delicious food that they couldn't usually see, arguing, making noise, and grabbing it. Seeing that this year's Chinese New Year's Eve dinner was almost finished, Xiao Xia Pozi suddenly found that Xiao Yu was gone, and when she was giving the fifth brother a look, a weak gossamer cat meow came from the table.

Boys, you poke me, and I pull him to calm down. So, the kitten's cry became clearer and clearer, and at first it was timid. After two screams, he became cheerful, as if he had caught the bones of some child that had been thrown on the ground, and rolled with joy. In the blink of an eye, his voice became sharp again, with a low threat.

The children listened intently as they looked around for the kitten's whereabouts.

Suddenly, a crisp dog bark sounded. The kitten's cry was immediately choked back in fright, and it barked twice aggrievedly like a crying baby. The barking of the dog came slowly, approaching with a threat, and retreated little by little with the sound of the kitten's weak barking. It seemed to have retreated to a desperate place, and the timid cat's meow suddenly became terrible. Then the barking of the dog also began to rapid, and it sounded like a loud sound. Every bark was mixed with a threatening purr from the throat. When everyone heard this, they couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat for the kitten.

At this time, the cat's barking also became sharp, entangled with the barking of the dog. Although they couldn't see it, the cat and the dog were right in front of them, hugging each other and fighting for a bone. After fighting for a while, the cat's voice gradually weakened, with a little flattery and a little retreat. The dog's voice became louder and louder, crisp, and a little triumphant.

Just when everyone felt sorry for the kitten and breathed a sigh of relief, the kitten's barking suddenly became fierce again, but the puppy whimpered a few times. Immediately after that, the barking of cats and dogs intertwined in one place. Everyone was staring around the dinner table and listening attentively, when the middle table suddenly jumped up, and as the battle between cats and dogs became more and more motivated, the dining table became more and more powerful.

Everyone was startled and looked down one after another. I saw Xiaoyu nesting under the table alone to learn the cat and dog to fight, and at this time she ran over and screamed lively.

Only laughed so much that the old Xia Pozi couldn't straighten her waist, and shouted repeatedly: "Catch this monkey quickly, it's amazing." "Those little ones like it very much, and they rush over and hug the little aunt and make trouble to learn. Xiaoyu came out from under the table just now, and in a blink of an eye, he was thrown to the ground by these little dots, which made everyone laugh.

The Xia family entered the new year with a smile.

After the New Year, the eldest brother and the fourth brother packed up their things and took Xia Sister-in-law and Xia Fourth Sister-in-law back to Zhaowang Village first, and the children were having fun and had to stay in Zhuangzi. When he arrived at the door of the house, the fourth brother jumped out of the carriage to open the door, and saw that the lock hanging on the black-painted gate had been smashed.

The fourth brother hurriedly turned around and called the eldest brother and Ruhai to get out of the car to check together. The eldest brother glanced at it, grabbed the fourth brother who wanted to go in, shook his head and said, "Let's go back to Zhuangzi first." ”

So the two brothers hurriedly drove the carriage back to Zhuangzi and discussed with the second brother Xia. Second Brother Xia left the third brother and seventh brother in Zhuangzi, and brought weapons with Brother Xia, Fourth Brother Xia, and Brother Xia and Ruhai and Rushan drove the carriage back to Xia's house.

When they arrived at the door, the seventh brother, the eighth brother, Ruhai and Rushan guarded both sides of the door, and the second brother Xia slowly poked the door open with the handle of the knife. I saw that the courtyard was empty, so I jumped in, and checked that there were no Tibetans behind the door, so I called my brother, younger brother, and nephews into the courtyard. The fourth brother was instructed to close the gate, the eldest brother took Ruhai and Rushan, and the fourth brother took the seventh brother and the eighth brother. One left and one right, they searched the rooms one by one. Along the way, I saw that the room was turned into a mess, the things in the bedroom were dragged out, and some clothes and quilts were thrown on the ground.

The suitcases in the sister-in-law and the fourth sister-in-law's room were all smashed, and the small box containing jewelry on the dresser was also smashed, and none of the soft and looted insides were left. Even Qin'er and several small silver jewelry in Yan'er's room were looted. The straw mats that lay on the bed were all picked off, cut with a knife, and carefully examined. Sister-in-law Xia's private money hidden under the bed was also turned over.

The more they walked inside, the hearts of the brothers sank little by little, it was obvious that someone was looking at the Xia family and came to rob them while they were away. I think it's because I know the time calmly, so I looked for it so carefully. I didn't look like this for the sake of floating money.

The fourth brother and the eldest brother checked their own room, and then went to the main house to meet the second brother and entered the main house, because the old Xia Pozi and Xia Xiucai they moved to Zhuangzi, but there was no big loss. Rao is like this, the big black wooden box of Lao Xia Pozi is not crooked, maybe the box is too heavy, and half of it is thrown there.

When I crept into the kitchen, I saw a man tiptoeing through the cupboards. Second Brother Xia waved his hand and asked the eldest brother and fourth brother to wait outside, then quietly came behind the man, kicked the man to the wall, and before the other party could react, he stepped forward and twisted the man's arm and pressed him to the ground.

The man didn't resist, but just pulled his throat and screamed, "A good man spares his life, a good man spares his life." ”

Second Brother Xia shouted strangely when he heard him, not like praying for mercy, but like ventilating the news. He pulled a rope and tied him up, turned his head and rushed --- the room of Xiao Xia upstairs in the direction he shouted. Sure enough, I saw two people rolling in a ball, trying to jump out of the window.

Second Brother Xia rushed over and tore the two of them to the ground, and the older ones didn't move when they threw themselves on the ground. The young and thin man on the side turned over and stood up to pull out the hairpin on his head, but the second brother grabbed his hand, only slightly forced, and the man couldn't exert any strength in his hand. The hairpin took off his hand and fell to the ground. The second brother pushed him backwards against the wall, but he didn't expect him to be thin and small, but he refused to give in. One hand was on the second brother's shoulder, and the other hand was scratched indiscriminately.

As soon as Second Brother Xia staggered, he took the time to kick at the Second Brother's waist. The second brother flashed this kick, grabbed the man's neck collar, raised his fist and smashed it on the man's head, and was about to hit the man's eyes, so he turned around and punched the wall. The second brother glared at him, threw the person to the ground, frowned and asked, "Who are you?

At this time, Ruhai kicked, kicked, and ran upstairs, panting and said, "Second uncle, second uncle, don't do it." ”