Standing in front of the carriage was Zhao, she was beaming, as if there was no barrier between her and the upper room, seeing that Li was stunned, she hurriedly stepped forward and grabbed Li's arm affectionately, and a string of concerned words rolled out of her mouth: "Oh, it's a cold day, it's not easy to go to a relative, hurry up to the house, the ginger soup has been boiled." ”

As he spoke, he was about to carry the Li family towards the upper room, the Li family was not good at words, and suddenly met the enthusiastic Zhao family, and he was at a loss for a while, so he had to agree indiscriminately: "Don't bother the second brother and sister." ”

At this time, Chen Xuejiao and Chen Xueru had already jumped out of the carriage. Chen Xuejiao stepped forward quietly, squeezed Zhao to the side, and grabbed Li's arm with Chen Xueru left and right.

"The second aunt is back." Chen Xuejiao smiled at Zhao with a smile.

"I originally planned to come back a year ago, how can there be a lot of things in the shop, hurry up and hurry to come today, this year I didn't have time to have a Chinese New Year's Eve dinner with everyone, I always can't get over this heart" Zhao's eyes glanced at the upper room, and as he spoke, he was a little crying, and hurriedly wiped his eyes with a kerchief.

Chen Xuejiao's family couldn't help but look at each other, they didn't know which one Zhao was singing, but this acting skill could be regarded as home.

Chen Zichang's shop was not well managed, and he was cheated by merchants for being greedy and cheap, and it had already been spread all over Baitu Town. They don't come back for the New Year, which has a lot to do with this matter, and Zhao said this a bit like hiding his ears and stealing the bell.

Chen Xuejiao was wondering why the Zhao family was whitewashing like this, when she saw Mrs. Chen walking out of the pot house with a bowl of meat in her hand.

Chen Xuejiao understood. It turned out that the Zhao family was making a show for Mrs. Chen.

Mrs. Chen had a smile on her face, and when she saw Chen Xuejiao's family standing at the door, she didn't roll her eyes. On the contrary, he has a gentle face. It's not that Mrs. Chen suddenly changed her temperament, but that the second family came back to bring great joy to Mrs. Chen, and the joy was so much that even the big house family was much more pleasing to her eyes.

However, when Mrs. Chen passed by Zhao's family, the smile on her face was closed, and she glared at Zhao fiercely, which made Zhao shiver all over.

"Sister-in-law. You are blessed, look at your two daughters, you are getting more and more beautiful. Especially Xue Jiao, she looks like a big girl. Zhao looked at Chen Xuejiao and Chen Xueru, two sisters, who stood slim beside Li, although they didn't apply powder. But the eyebrows are picturesque. It is like two carmine plums blooming proudly in the ice and snow, indescribably delicate and beautiful.

Zhao thought of Xue Yao's fat body like a pig, Xue Miao died unrepentantly and thought of the merchant, and her heart was stinging as if she was on fire, but she forcibly endured jealousy and praised the two daughters of the big house.

Before Li could talk, he saw Mrs. Chen, who had already walked under the eaves of the upper house, turned her head and shouted at Zhao: "Second daughter-in-law, you go to cut a piece of meat under the eaves." ”

"Here we go!" Zhao smiled apologetically at Li. Waving his handkerchief, he ran tightly under the eaves.

Chen Xuejiao looked towards the upper room, under the bright light. There were faint figures, and the laughter of Old Man Chen sounded from time to time.

No wonder I turned on the lights at this time when I went to the room, it turned out that the second room family and Chen Zigui came back.

In the past, the lights were not lit until dark in the upper room, and each time it was only half an hour, basically smearing eating, washing, and undressing, according to Mrs. Chen's words, it was to save lamp oil.

However, when the second family came back, it didn't seem to have anything to do with the big house.

However, Chen Xuejiao's eyes rolled and she quietly bit her ear at Li: "It's a good thing that the second uncle's family is back, the old lady is happy, maybe she won't be scolding." ”

Since the news that the second family did not come back for the New Year reached the Chen family, Mrs. Chen scolded and chattered in the yard every day, seeing what was not pleasing to the eye, pointing at what she was scolding, and there was no time for peace in the yard.

For this, Chen Xuejiao's family is helpless, who made her an elder, if you take care of her, she didn't scold you, and she will end up with a reputation of unfilial piety. Chen Xiucai is a scholar after all, if he is labeled as not honoring his stepmother, how can he walk in ten miles and eight towns.

"That's right." Li nodded with a smile.

Chen Xuejiao and Chen Xueru hugged Li and Chen Xiucai into the house, and Chen Qi'an took Chen Qiping and stones to carry the things on the carriage in the courtyard.

This year, Chen Xuejiao's family gave the Li family a richer gift than in any previous year, and there are exchanges, and the Li family's return gift to Chen Xuejiao's family is naturally not thin.

There are dried fungus, lion's mane mushroom, hickory and other earthen houses produced on the mountain, and there are a pair of old hens, two ducks, half-cavity sheep raised by their own livestock, in addition, there are peach gum cakes, dried sweet potatoes, maltose and other snacks made by the Li family, Li Danian also gave Chen Qiping a pair of live hares.

Chen Qiping happily walked around holding the rabbits, muttering that he wanted to make a cage for the rabbits, and he was worried about what to raise them on such a cold day.

"There are cabbages and turnips in the cellar, and let the stones bring them to eat." Chen Xuejiao smiled and gave Chen Qiping an idea, seeing that the two rabbits were particularly cute, she nodded Chen Qiping's head, "Since you have raised it, you must raise it well, otherwise we will eat rabbit meat." ”

"Don't eat them." Chen Qiping hurriedly took the rabbit into his arms, called a stack of stones, and wanted to go to the cellar to dig cabbage, he was not afraid of the cold for the rabbit, and he wanted to go in person in small boots.

"Beware of frostbitten feet, put on socks." Li looked at his youngest son with a doting expression.

When they went to visit their relatives, the brazier in the house was not extinguished, and they were worried that the cold in the house would not be able to stand it when they returned.

The house was warm, and after sitting in the carriage for a long time, although there was a quilt in the carriage and thick clothes on the body, after all, it was a mountain road, the wind and snow were urgent, and Chen Xuejiao's hands and feet were still cold.

Xue Jiao, who has never been afraid of the cold, is like this, not to mention the snow that is afraid of the cold.

Chen Xuejiao took off her sweater outside, took out frostbite cream from the drawer and handed it to Xueru: "Sister, apply some on your hands, it's easy to take care of your hands, don't get frostbitten again this time." ”

Chen Xuejiao rubbed her hands and looked at her sister gratefully.

Li Shi took out the brazier, put a few pieces of charcoal again, and took the lily incense that Chen Xuejiao bought in Xuzhou Mansion and put it inside, and picked up the cage and covered it. Then he walked out of the house to sort out the return gift from the Li family.

The room soon filled the room with a sweet aroma.

Chen Xuejiao boiled a pot of boiling water on the gas stove, taking advantage of the gap when the water was not boiling. Then he sat down and stepped on, picked up the ink book given by Zhao Yiming and looked at it. Chen Xueru sat on the side to take the soles of the shoes, the soles were pulped layer after layer, and the stitches were thick and dense, and at first glance they were shoes made for Han Xingjian.

Chen Xuejiao saw the highlights and was fascinated, but she didn't hear the water on the stove clattering.

"The water is boiling." I don't know when. Li entered the house from outside, holding a teapot in his hand, and said to Chen Xuejiao with a smile. "The ink engraving is so good-looking, if you like it, I will ask your father to take you to listen to the book one day, and what the storyteller said is not as wonderful as the ink engraving book?"

Chen Xuejiao put down the ink and engraved the words. He said crisply, "Wait until we move to town." I can go to the teahouse and listen to the book. ”

Li is not an old-fashioned person, although women are allowed to go out and do business in the Baitu Town, but there are no people who are willing to let their daughters listen to books.

Chen Xuejiao helped Li bring a few bowls, put the tea leaves, and brewed tea.

After making tea, Chen Xuejiao took out all kinds of fruits, tangerines, pears, melon seeds, and peanuts from the cabinet and saved a plate and placed them on the table: "Sister, my eyes hurt after taking the soles of my shoes for a long time." You drink tea first and eat the fruit. ”

Chen Xuejiao likes to eat pears in winter and sit in a warm room. It's hot, and a bite of frozen pears is down, not to mention how comfortable it is.

"Mother, I heard my aunt tell you today that I am a strong brother, saying that he fell in love with a dragonfly, is it true or false?" Chen Xuejiao took a bite of the frozen pear, and then asked.

In fact, Chen Xuejiao shouldn't have asked this, but she couldn't help it, and there was no one else in the house, only Li and Chen Xueru, so Chen Xuejiao didn't have any scruples and asked casually.

"Just your ears." Li sat on the step, pretended to glare at Chen Xuejiao, and said angrily, "People are big ghosts, is this something that your children's family should care about." ”

Chen Xuejiao knew that Li was just saying this, so she hugged Li's arm and coquettishly: "Mother, you tell me quickly, I am only like this in front of you, and I will never ask nonsense outside." ”

Li thought in his heart, his second daughter is still young, and when it comes to getting married, marrying and other things to give a child, he doesn't know how to blush at all, and after thinking for a while, he said: "I heard that your eldest concubine's tone is like this, but your eldest brother hasn't let go yet, and I don't know if there is such a thing." ”

"My big brother didn't let go? It's my eldest concubine who didn't ask him, right? Chen Xuejiao pointed out sharply.

This kind of thing, how can Da Zhuang say it, his parents don't ask, Da Zhuang will never directly say "I have a crush on the yellow dragonfly", if this is really said, it will have a great impact on the reputation of the dragonfly.

I'm afraid that the eldest concubine won't take the initiative to ask Da Zhuang, but I'm afraid that she is pretending to be confused this time, Chen Xuejiao heard Qiao's words and revealed that she liked the big girl of the Xu family in the town.

"Alas, this thing is sad enough, although your eldest brother and your cousin-in-law didn't know each other before, they can see that they are both satisfied, and the days after marriage will be sweet. Your eldest concubine now takes a fancy to the girl of the Xu family, that girl is capable and virtuous, and she is a good hand at living, but I don't know if your eldest brother likes it or not. Li sighed, Da Zhuang is her nephew, and her concern is completely out of sincerity, "If two people like this day, it's good, if they don't like it, it's a bad day." ”

"Virtuous and capable, good looking, dragonfly is not worse than the Xu family's girl." Chen Xuejiao knew the girl of the Xu family in the town, and the Xu family opened a cotton shop on Dahuaishu Street.

"That is to say, the Xu family has all four corners." Li said cryptically.

The so-called four corners are complete, which means that Qiao's dislikes the yellow dragonfly and has no mother. Chen Xuejiao's heart was silent, the four corners are indeed one of the factors considered when saying kiss, it is not her fault that Huang Dragonfly does not have a mother, and it is even a matter worthy of sympathy, but it is a small obstacle when saying kiss.

Generally, people with all four corners want to find a family with all four corners to marry, and Qiao's is no exception.

"I just don't know if Dragonfly likes Big Brother or not." Chen Xueru, who had not spoken, suddenly opened her mouth.

Yes, Fang just kept talking about Da Zhuang, but ignored the dragonfly.

If Huang Dragonfly is also interested in Da Zhuang, presumably even if the Qiao family is unwilling, he will finally agree, because the Li family is not such a mean person.

"Xue Ru said yes." Li started his heart with his two daughters, "At that time, I promised the Han family this family business, and one of the most important points is that Xueru and Xingjian have known each other since they were young, and their temperament is compatible. If the two of them don't have any intentions at all, let alone the Han family, even the family with a lot of money, I won't agree. ”

"If Xue is like this, Xue Jiao will say that it will be the same in the future"

"Oh, sister-in-law, it's still warm in your house, and my house is like an ice hole." A loud voice interrupted Lee's words.

Uninvited, the entire Chen family compound belongs to the Zhang family.

"What's the matter with the fourth brother and sister?" Li sat on the soft couch and did not get up.

Chen Xuejiao and Chen Xueru naturally followed the Li family, did not get up, did not give up their seats, and did not know how to serve tea.

"You will be blessed, this house is full of fragrance." Zhang's didn't care whether anyone greeted her or not, she sat on the chair and picked up the melon seeds on the table and swallowed them.

"Fourth aunt, what the hell is going on? You eat melon seeds, and you sweep the skin all over the ground? Chen Xuejiao unceremoniously moved the melon seed plate.

It's not that she feels sorry for these foods, but that the Zhang family is used to eating them, and will come to their house again and again, and eventually it will develop like a fly, and they can't get rid of it.

Zhang rubbed his hands awkwardly: "Dad asked me to invite you to the room for dinner." ”

Chen Xuejiao's family didn't want to go to the upper room to eat, besides, the food at Li's house at noon was very rich, and they were not hungry at all.

"There are so many people in your room, we won't go." Li glanced at Chen Xuejiao, and then opened his mouth to reject Zhang.

"Okay, if you don't go, I'll tell my father later, then I'll go first." Zhang's mouth said, but he didn't stand up, he leaned back in the chair, and suddenly winked at Li mysteriously, "Sister-in-law, you didn't see a big scene when you went to your relatives today, as soon as the second sister-in-law came home, she was spit on by the old lady, scolding her for being a dead star, and bullying the second brother and not letting her come back."

Li Shi was not interested in this, smiled indifferently, and replied casually: "The old lady has that temper!" ”

Zhang's face showed disappointment, and he said with a wry smile: "Xue Miao's girl didn't come back, saying that she was accompanying Xue Yao in Ding Mansion, you didn't see it, the old man got angry when he heard the second sister-in-law mention Xue Miao, that dead girl didn't come, and she was used to pinching the tip to be strong." ”

Li, Chen Xueru, and Chen Xuejiao were not interested in the matter of going to the room at all, and Li and Xueru were soft-natured, so they had to endure the impatience to listen to what Zhang's said.

Chen Xuejiao was impatient early, looking at Zhang's posture, she was going to talk about setting up a meal.

"Fourth aunt, if you don't go back if you pass a word, you're not afraid of being scolded by your grandmother." Chen Xuejiao couldn't bear it anymore, so she took out Mrs. Chen.

Sure enough, as soon as Zhang heard Mrs. Chen, it was like a cat seeing a mouse, and he hurriedly raised his butt and stood up. (To be continued......)