Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family

Liu Sisi just smiled indifferently. It wouldn’t be normal if Ms. Wang didn’t do something strange unless the sun rose from the west.

Little Ying beside her was quite generous, walking to Di Wei and handing her a firework: “Cousin Weiwei, don’t cry, here! You can play with my firework.”

Having received another firework, Di Wei clenched it in her hand for a long while without moving.

“Cousin Weiwei, why aren’t you playing with it?”

Little Ying asked, tilting her head.

“I… it’s too expensive, I don’t dare to play with it.”

Di Wei said softly, touched it earnestly, and returned the firework to Di Ying: “Here! You play with it yourself!”

After saying that, she directly stuffed it into Di Ying’s arms and ran away.

The smile on Liu Sisi’s face gradually disappeared. This child didn’t have an easy life with a mother like that.

Soon, Guihua, Zhang Peng, and others came over. Even Mr. Land Officer and Madam came out. Di Yelei invited all the men like Land Officer and Zhang Peng into the house. They played finger-guessing games and drank rice wine, making a lively atmosphere!

Everyone laughed and talked while watching the fireworks and listening to the sound of firecrackers. Especially in the direction of the county, successive flashes of white light made everyone point and talk about the beautiful sky.

The festive atmosphere was overwhelming!

It didn’t take long for Liu Sisi to feel extremely sleepy. Thinking about the custom of staying up on New Year’s Eve, she had no choice but to force herself not to fall asleep.

Finally, when it was the turning point of the midnight, everyone who had been drinking and staying in the house returned to their own homes. They began to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new one.

Di Yelei hung a string of firecrackers outside the courtyard of the Di family, each one bigger than a thumb. When the time came, he used the incense to make a salute, scattered the paper money, and lit the firecrackers.

Crackle! Crackle! Crackle!

In addition to the sound of the Di family’s firecrackers, the outside firecrackers exploded even louder!

Chickens flew and dogs jumped in the courtyard! They were clearly scared by the deafening firecrackers!

Everyone laughed, covering their ears while still feeling earache, even the floor was constantly trembling!

The sound of firecrackers lasted for almost the time it took to burn a few incense sticks before it gradually subsided.

Everyone then went back to their rooms to sleep.

However, the elders and middle-aged people in the family retained the custom of staying up all night until daybreak.

Carrying her pregnancy, Liu Sisi was extremely sleepy. As soon as the turning point had passed, she went straight to bed and fell asleep almost as soon as she lay down. When she opened her eyes again, she was awakened by the sound of firecrackers.

Perhaps no one slept well last night. Di Yelei lit firecrackers every two hours until daybreak.

Liu Sisi yawned continuously, but Di Yelei, who hadn’t slept, was energetic and didn’t look tired at all.

After freshening up, Liu Sisi finally freed herself from the embrace of the Duke of Zhou and gave New Year greetings to Elderly Mr. Di, happily receiving double red envelopes, which delighted her for a long time!

Only then did she comb the hair of Ying’er, who also couldn’t stop falling asleep.

“Ying’er, be good! Today is not like any other day. If you keep sleeping, you won’t have time to play later.”

Liu Sisi deliberately coaxed her.

But Ying’er, who hadn’t rested well last night, wouldn’t wake up no matter how much Liu Sisi messed with her, still deeply asleep.

Soon, Liu Zhi’er woke up too, came out of the house with her hairpin still in her hair, and smiled shyly: “You see, I fell asleep too. Sisi, you didn’t even bother to wake me up either.”

“It’s okay, today is the New Year, it’s fine to sleep a little longer.”

After painstakingly styling YingEr’s hair into two buns and securing them with two rose-gold, hollowed-out magnolia hairpins, she places a gold-plated starburst earring on her ear, hangs the longevity lock, and ties the jade bracelet. Finally, she finishes dressing her up.

At the side, Liu Zhi’er is already adding firewood, planning to reheat yesterday’s leftover food.

“What should we cook for breakfast today?” Liu Zhi’er casually asks.

Liu Sisi thinks for a moment: “How about we follow the tradition? Let’s have red-filling sticky rice balls and red-yolk eggs for breakfast. How does that sound?”

Calling these sticky rice balls “red-filling” doesn’t mean their filling is red in color. When cooked in the snowing weather, the finished product has a reddish hue, hence the name.

“Sounds good! I haven’t checked on the chicken coop today. I wonder if the chickens laid eggs this morning after being scared last night?” Liu Zhi’er says offhandedly.

“There should be some, but definitely fewer,”

Liu Sisi replies matter-of-factly.

Since the hens were frightened enough yesterday and they were just over half a year old, the number of eggs they produced was already low. With this scare, it’s likely there will be even fewer.

However, the two of them don’t mind, and start making the sticky rice balls.

Seeing that YingEr is still unwilling to wake up, Liu Sisi lets her lie down on her lap as she starts rolling the sticky rice balls.

“I can handle these tasks on my own. You’re pregnant, so don’t worry about it. Just leave these easy tasks to me,” Liu Zhi’er urges her nervously.

Liu Sisi doesn’t mind and smiles casually, “It’s just rolling some sticky rice balls. Will it tire me out? By the way, where’s Da Mao? Has he not woken up yet?”

“Of course he hasn’t. He played so crazily last night that he can’t wake up this morning.”

Liu Zhi’er is full of happiness.

“By the way, just leave me to watch the house today. You guys can go wherever you want without worrying, I’ll take care of everything at home,” she reassures them.

Since Liu Zhi’er can handle it, Liu Sisi doesn’t hesitate. She nods slightly, “That works. I just don’t know what plans Ye Lei has for today.”

The two of them chat while working, and soon the sticky rice balls are ready.

As expected, the sticky rice balls come out bright red after boiling. Round sticky rice balls and round shelled eggs together in a bowl symbolize the wish for reunion throughout the year.

Di Yelei goes out for a stroll, and returns long after the sticky rice balls are ready.

Seeing the large bowl full of sticky rice balls and eggs, he picks up his bowl and starts eating without saying anything.

His father-in-law just had two pieces in the morning and put down his chopsticks. Liu Sisi didn’t bother urging him to eat more since there were plenty of delicacies at home lately and no one would be hungry.

Just as they’re eating, there’s a knock at the door.

It’s Di Cheng’s loud voice: “Grandfather, Third Uncle, Third Auntie! Di Cheng is here to wish you a happy and long life!”

That’s right!

The first day of the New Year has begun!

“Red envelopes, red envelopes, New Year’s greetings for the New Year’s money!” Before Di Cheng’s words have settled, several other children rush in from outside the door and come to pay their respects.

As for the New Year’s money, Liu Sisi has long prepared it. She accepts Di Cheng’s bow and hands him a red envelope.

Although many regions have dumplings on the first day of the Lunar New Year, the Di family has a tradition of eating sticky rice balls…