The next day, Chinese New Year's Eve, the last day of the Year of the Rooster and the day before of the Year of the Dog. The family woke up early.

According to custom, today is the time to remove the old and welcome the new.

Song Mingsu and Qiao Shu posted a couplet outside the door, the couplet was written by the uncle himself, the iron painting silver hook, strong and powerful, and the content of the couplet is brilliant, implying that the New Year is auspicious. Every year's couplet is conceived and written by the uncle himself, and he never goes outside to buy.

After pasting the couplet, it's time to set off firecrackers. There was a crackling sound, Qiao Shu covered his ears, leaned on Song Mingsu's arms, and smiled. The ground was full of red cannon paper, red and festive.

Firecrackers from every household have been sounding one after another, and this kind of New Year's flavor may only be found in rural areas.

The whole family was busy in the kitchen, and Qiao Shu and Song Mingsu also went to help make dumplings. Qiao Shubao's dumplings are very full, there should be wrinkles and exhibitions, she handles it very well, this is what Jiang Xirong taught her. Since then, only Qiao Shu's dumplings are the most delicious at home, there is no doubt about it.

Looking at Song Mingsu's buns again, they are round and flat, some are like rice balls, some are like buns, and some of them are leaking out of the dumpling wrappers together.

Qiao Shu was crying and laughing beside her, she seemed to see herself back then, and she was also so clumsy, and was ruthlessly "ridiculed" by Jiang Xirong.

She walked to Song Mingsu's side and used her relatively petite hands to hold the hands that were heavy for her. He took a piece of dumpling wrapper and put it on the palm of his hand, scooped up some meat filling, folded the dumpling wrapper in half, and slowly pinched the folds and sealed. A perfect dumpling finish.

"Look, that's it." Qiao Shu was very proud, and he didn't expect that he would one day become a dumpling teacher.

Song Mingsu made dumplings but was nervous and excited, looking at Qiao Shu in front of him, he was even more at a loss, and handed over all his hands to her, and he didn't listen to his own call.

His hands were full of gray face, but he forgot about the dumplings in his hands, which surprised and delighted him, and when he touched his forehead, there were a few more white marks on his face.

Qiao Shu sneered and pointed at Song Mingsu's forehead, but he couldn't speak, just smiled.

Song Mingsu didn't know what Qiao Shu was laughing at, and looked at the people around him who were also holding back their laughter. "Is there anything on my face?"

Qiao Shu wiped his hands clean and took out his mobile phone to Song Mingsu as a mirror.

At first, he was a little surprised, he actually became like this, which was indeed a little ridiculous. Later, he put some flour on his hands and wiped it off Qiao Shu's face.

Qiao Shu was stunned at the time, and when she came to her senses, she wanted to take revenge.

The two were playing in the kitchen, and the elders were also happy to watch the play next to them.

On the other side, in the bedroom of grandfather Wang Zonglin.

"Chinese New Year's Eve dinner in the evening, you and Yu Kang go back to your own house to eat." Wang Zonglin sat on the chair next to the bed, his brows furrowed.

Standing in front of him was Wang Mufu, she was unwilling to go back, first, lonely, only her and her son, and second, unwilling. "Why? Am I not part of this family? The whole family is together for the New Year, why should I go? ”

"Over the years, I have remembered all the rebellious things you have done. Now let you step into the door of the Wang family, it is to look at you pitiful. Xiao Shu finally came back, she doesn't like you, it's better for you to avoid it. He had a sad face and mixed feelings, and he wanted both his daughter and grandson, but he couldn't.

She pretended to be pitiful, crouched in front of her father, rested her head on his knees, and feigned to cry. "Dad, the New Year is for reunion. I'm alone with Xiaokang, what's it called the New Year! I'm not used to the New Year without you. ”

Wang Zonglin stood up from the chair with a cane, and Wang Mufu fell straight to the ground. He turned a blind eye. "Okay, hurry up and take your son away, don't let Xiao Shu see you again." He staggered out of the bedroom, leaving Wang Mufu there alone, gloomy and sad.

She hates, hates that she doesn't have a good life like Wang Mushi, hates that her husband is not tolerated by her family like Qiao Shibin, and hates that her children don't have the scenery around the world like Qiao Shu.

When night falls, beautiful fireworks appear in the sky one after another, which are so brilliant that they bloom in the dark night and light up the world.

Hot meals, fragrant, hot dumplings, fragrant, are brought to the table.

The table is round, facing the gate from the right to the right, in the order of the eldest and youngest, with grandpa and grandfather sitting in the main seat, and grandmother and grandmother in order, pushing down in turn.

Wang Muci came out with the last dish and found that there seemed to be two people missing. "What about the little sister and the well-off?"

Wang Zonglin said indifferently: "I went home." ”

"How did you go home?" Wang Muci was still a little puzzled, but when he saw Qiao Shu beside his father, he also understood. My father didn't answer, and she didn't ask any more.

The rest of the people also suddenly realized that the old man had hurt his granddaughter so much that he drove away his daughter, and his heart was treasured.

Everyone was seated, Qiao Yongzheng and Wang Zonglin moved their chopsticks at the same time, and the rest of the people followed closely behind, full of delicious food, and couldn't wait. The Spring Festival Gala was performed on TV as usual, and people in front of the TV were drinking and talking.

"Xiao Shu, while your aunt is not here now, tell us the truth, is something wrong with you?" Wang Zonglin's words broke everyone's joy and silence.

Qiao Shu's hand that was originally going to pick up vegetables stopped in mid-air, and the smile on his face froze. Fortunately, Song Mingsu reminded her beside her, and she hurriedly withdrew her hand and put down her chopsticks. Forced smiled: "No, what can happen to me." ”

"If not, you won't jump to Xiao Song's company. You are not the kind of person who sees money, and you will not change jobs at will. Qiao Yongzheng took the opportunity to answer, he seemed to be talking to Wang Zonglin, he had to ask why today.

Qiao Shu bowed his head and was silent. She grabbed Song Mingsu's hand tightly.

Qiao Shibin said: "Dad, you are too worried, Xiao Shu has nothing to do, and she and Xiao Song work together to take care of each other." Nothing bad. ”

Wang Zonglin slapped the table and said, "Do you want me to call Lin Yi?!" ”

He and Lin Yi also met in their early years, and Lin Yi respected this old man very much, this is indeed fate, generation after generation.

Qiao Shu knew that even if he called to ask Lin Yi, he would not tell the truth, so he did not answer Wang Zonglin's words.

He really called Lin Yi immediately.

Lin Yi was very happy to receive the call. "Uncle Wang, Happy New Year!"

But Wang Zonglin was not so friendly. "Lin Yi, tell me the truth, what happened to Xiao Shu this year."

Lin Yi was stunned, and the expression on his face froze. "What can happen to her, she won't be able to accompany you for the New Year."

"I'm his grandfather! I can't see if there's anything wrong with my own granddaughter! "The elderly Wang Zonglin is not weak at all on the phone.

"Don't worry. Qiao Shu just had a bad cold a long time ago, and it didn't take long for him to get better, and his face may not be so good. Lin Yi casually found a reason. He was also very strange, how could Qiao Shu be noticed that something was wrong, wasn't it good before leaving? It shouldn't come back suddenly. Is it a blood connection?

Wang Zonglin eased up a little. "Then you didn't say it earlier."

It seems that it has been successfully flickered. "It's not a big deal, I didn't think about it for a while."

"Okay, Happy New Year, come and play when you have time." The phone hung up.

Wang Zonglin has bad ears, and the calls are hands-free, Qiao Shu naturally heard it clearly, Lin Yi said that Wang Zonglin couldn't talk nonsense, but she did catch a cold a long time ago and was hospitalized, which is indeed the case.

Qiao Shu coughed deliberately.

"Why don't you tell us about a cold as much?" Wang Zonglin blamed.

He seemed to believe Lin Yi's words on his lips, but in his heart he had a different plan.

Qiao Shu looked at Wang Zonglin with wide eyes, is a cold a big deal? Maybe it's a big deal for the elderly. "I ...... I'm afraid you're worried. As he spoke, he stuffed the dish in his mouth.

"Mu Ci, you will change the thick quilt for Xiao Shu in a while, and open the electric blanket for her in advance, it will be cold in the middle of the night in the countryside. It must have been cold enough last night. Wang Zonglin asked.

Wang Muci nodded in response.

Qiao Shu could only eat with his head down, saving himself from revealing the stuffing.

Tonight is the time to keep the New Year. Qiao Shu entered the bedroom alone and made a video call to Lin Yi.

"Teacher Lin, I have a New Year's greeting to you and Teacher Jiang!" Qiao Shu sat on the bed and grinned.

"Good! I'll prepare what you like to eat with you, Teacher Jiang, and wait for you to come back on the second day of the Lunar New Year! Lin Yi was also smiling, and suddenly frowned. What happened just now? Why did your grandfather suddenly call me and ask me about you? ”

Qiao Shu still had a faint smile on his face. "It was Yu Kang who told me about my resignation, and Mingsu made up an excuse for me in his company, and my grandfather always felt that something was wrong."

Lin Yi shook his head. "When your grandfather was young, he was a man of the year in Jianghong City, what scene, who has never seen it, not to mention that you are his own granddaughter, he must have noticed something. Be careful yourself, don't show your stuff. ”

Qiao Shu thought for a moment and bowed his head.

Wang Zonglin didn't watch the Spring Festival Gala with everyone in the living room, saying that he was tired and went to the bedroom to rest for a while. He called Ai Pingcai.

"Hey, I'm Wang Zonglin." Although Wang Zonglin is old, the momentum in his voice is the same as back then.

Ai Ping was flattered when he received his call, but he still didn't believe it, he knew Wang Zonglin's name and had been in seclusion for many years. "You? Wang Zonglin? ”

Wang Zonglin sneered. "I seem to be pretending to be Wang Zonglin to deceive you as the editor-in-chief of the magazine, and I can't get any benefits, right?"

"Are you really Wang Zonglin? Old man Wang? Ai Ping was a little respectful, but he was still skeptical.

"Yes, Wang Zonglin himself." Wang Zonglin was a little impatient. "You tell me, why is Qiao Shu suddenly not in Feiyue?"

Although Ai Pingcai couldn't believe that Wang Zonglin would take the initiative to contact him, his style was the same as that of the rumor. "Do you know Qiao Shu?"

"My granddaughter."

Ai Ping suddenly felt that the sky had fallen, and only then did he understand that this Qiao Shu was not small, and understood the reason why Song Mingsu was willing to pay 150,000. "The villain has eyes and doesn't know Tarzan. I don't know if it's a relative, there are many offenses and many offenses. ”

"You haven't answered my question yet." Wang Zonglin's tone was very cold.

"Qiao Shu, no, Miss Qiao works hard, but she is not in good health, after fainting last time, it is said that she can't live and exercise normally, and she can't paint, I can't raise an idler, I don't know her specific situation, you should know this, right?" Ai Ping replied in a tentative tone.

Wang Zonglin clutched his heart, how could something happen to Qiao Shu, he remembered how many tribulations Qiao Shu had gone through before he returned to normal.

She couldn't walk independently at the age of 5, Wang Zonglin was angry, and said, "Next time you come to my house, if you still can't walk, don't enter this door", a miracle happened, she went back less than a week, and took her first step. But God is still so unfair!

"So you fired her!"

"No, no, no, it was Mr. Song of Shuming Software Company who poached it, and he is willing to compensate our magazine with 150,000 yuan."

"Song Mingsu?"

"Yes, yes, yes." Ai Pingcai echoed.

Wang Zonglin hung up the phone and went straight to Qiao Shu's room, without knocking on the door, and immediately closed the door when he entered.

Qiao Shu just hung up Lin Yi's video, and when he saw Wang Zonglin coming in, he put down his mobile phone and immediately helped his grandfather to sit on the edge of the bed.

"Has the body recovered?" Wang Zonglin took Qiao Shu's hand and said. Looking at Qiao Shu's every move now, it is not like what Ai Ping said, but he has obviously experienced many unacceptable things.

Qiao Shu let out an "ah" before remembering the lie Lin Yi had just said, and said with a smile. "Okay, grandpa, look, aren't I standing in front of you now?"

The worried expression on Wang Zonglin's face was self-evident, and there were even a few tears in the corners of his eyes. "Don't pretend, grandpa knows."

Qiao Shu was stunned, how did he know? Got it? Seeing that Wang Zonglin wanted to cry again, Qiao Shu held his hand tightly, frowned slightly, and squatted in front of him. "Grandpa, why are you crying? What did I pack? What do you know? ”

"Ai Ping told me everything about you." Wang Zonglin patted Qiao Shu's hand, and the wrinkles seemed to be crowded together, full of pain.

It was too late to realize that Qiao Shu had forgotten about this stubble, Lin Yi was right, although Wang Zonglin was old, his reputation was still there, how could it be impossible to find out. "Grandpa, grandpa, don't worry, listen to me."

"Ai Ping doesn't know anything, it's all a play played by me and Song Mingsu, otherwise Ai Ping won't let go if he only gives 150,000. Mingsu has always been very good to me, he said that he needs me in his career and I have to help him. ”

Wang Zonglin shook his head again and again. "At this time, you still have to lie to me. My grandfather is old, and his ears are dizzy, but his heart is more reflective. I know you're sensible, and I'm afraid we'll be worried, but you shouldn't hide it from us about such a big thing. ”

Can't really fool it? Qiao Shu was very flustered, but she didn't dare to show it. She smiled faintly. "Grandpa, believe me or not, I'm standing in front of you alive now, nothing happens." With that, she stood up, raised her hand, and kicked her legs to prove that she was okay.

Then, Qiao Shu sat next to Wang Zonglin. I clearly saw the wrinkles on his face one after another, and his heart was so sour, I don't know which ones were born because of her, and once they grow, they will be for a lifetime. "This matter, let it pass, no matter what, I am good now, don't tell others those words of Ai Pingcai, and don't continue to pursue it, it will only increase your troubles. All right? ”

Wang Zonglin could only nod, Qiao Shu didn't want to say, it was useless for him to break the casserole and ask in the end, maybe he should trust Qiao Shu. Although he was uneasy in his heart, he was an eighty or ninety-year-old man, and he couldn't care about the hearts of young people in their twenties.

In the early morning of the next day, through the window, Qiao Shu and his party had to rush back to the city, they should have stayed for another day, but Qiao Shu promised Song Mingsu to accompany him home, so he had to go.

"Xiao Shu, pay attention to your body." Before leaving, Wang Zonglin admonished.

Thinking of last night's incident, Qiao Shu was still a little flustered in his heart, and deeply realized what it means to be ginger or old spicy. She smiled and nodded. "Grandpa, I know! The same goes for you! ”

The others also told them a thousand times, after all, they rarely came back, maybe only once a year. Only Qiao Yongzheng was still lying in the rocking chair, turning on the radio, and humming his favorite tune in his mouth.

"Grandpa, I'm leaving. Take good care of yourself. Qiao Shu stood by the door and said a little loudly.

Qiao Yongzheng still smiled and nodded, but did not speak.

When they are gone, they can come back, but every time they are afraid of things and people.