Chapter 164: Moving House
It was finally time to move.
Grandpa Yun looked through a small notebook, having specifically chosen a good day for the move.
It was a Saturday, and Fifth Brother Yun and his brothers had the day off and were at home.
The best time was around eight in the morning, so they woke up early that day. Shen Yunlian put a festive little red dress on Jiaojiao and tied two cute little buns in her hair.
The ribbons tied in her hair were also red.
She was like a lucky charm doll bringing good fortune.
The others also changed into new clothes and started getting busy, with smiles on everyone’s faces.
“Let’s go, we’re going to the new house.”
In the old house, after days of tidying, many things had been moved to the new house, making it look somewhat empty.
Jiaojiao picked up Turtle Xiao Er from the water basin, with two chubby, tail-wagging puppies following at her feet.
“Grandpa, do I have to hold Turtle Xiao Er the whole time?”
Turtles symbolize longevity and good fortune. The day before yesterday, Jiaojiao went tide pooling with her mom and met this little guy who came to find her.
Gui Yi had also come, but didn’t follow them home.
It just so happened that they were moving, so bringing Turtle Xiao Er along was for good luck.
“Yes, if you get tired of holding him, you can give him to your brothers.”
Jiaojiao: “I’m not tired.”
The beautiful hawksbill turtle was also well-behaved and didn’t make trouble.
As they went to the new house, the village also became lively.
Moving house didn’t require inviting everyone in the village, but those who were familiar and had a good relationship would certainly come to warm the house together.
The moment they stepped into the new house, accompanied by everyone loudly singing auspicious words, they officially moved into their new home.
Jiaojiao also placed Turtle Xiao Er in the small basin of seawater on the desk.
Yun Linhai greeted relatives and friends, while Granny Yun, Shen Yunlian, and Wang Mei were busy preparing food.
Moving into a new house required kneading dough to make tangyuan.
The tangyuan were cooked in rice wine.
Solid white tangyuan, combined with the sweet and mellow aroma of the rice wine, Jiaojiao had five ping-pong ball-sized ones in her small bowl.
One bite was sweet and glutinous.
They were made of glutinous rice.
“Jiaojiao!”
Jiaojiao, with her mouth full of food, heard a familiar voice.
She looked up in surprise and saw her two cousins, her uncle, aunt, maternal grandfather, and maternal grandmother.
Jiaojiao put down her small spoon, jumped off the stool, and then threw herself into her elder cousin’s arms.
“Maternal Grandpa, Maternal Grandma, Uncle, Aunt, Elder Cousin, Younger Cousin.”
Jiaojiao spoke sweetly, greeting them one by one.
Uncle Shen picked her up and held her high, and Jiaojiao laughed so happily.
Already dressed festively, and with her good looks, her smile seemed to add even more festive cheer to the new house.
Shen Yunlian also came out and quickly welcomed them all into the house.
After Grandmother Shen’s family arrived, Wang Mei’s family also came soon after.
However, only two people from their family came.
Wang Mei’s mother and younger brother.
Speaking of which, their family had many people, three sons and two daughters. With so many people, and with the sons getting married, living together easily led to conflicts.
Wang Mei’s parents were good to all their children, but every time Wang Mei brought something from her maternal home, she would be met with sarcastic remarks from her sister-in-law.
Fortunately, they had split the family the year before last. Once the older children separated, the two elders were unwilling to endure their daughter-in-law’s taunts and decided to live with their still unmarried youngest son.
Wang Mei had the best relationship with her younger brother.
“Mom, you guys sit down, I’ll get you some tangyuan.”
Mother Wang nagged: “You do your work, your brother and I will sit for a while and then go back. I’m worried about your dad being at home alone looking after so many pigs and sheep.”
“Since you’re here, you must sit for a while before leaving.”
As they were speaking, Jiaojiao had already brought over a bowl of tangyuan.
“Great Aunt, have some tangyuan.”
“Oh, oh, good… This, this is Jiaojiao, right? You’re so beautiful, so beautiful.”
The elder’s hair was all white, her skin was dark, and her skin was covered in visible wrinkles. However, she was actually in her early forties, not yet fifty.
Having so many children and constantly busy with household chores made her look exceptionally old.
Her youngest son, the man beside her, was about twenty years old.
“Sister, Jiaojiao is as beautiful as you said!”
The man had dark skin and a well-proportioned face. He had white teeth when he smiled and seemed to be a cheerful person.
“Little Cousin Uncle.”
“Yes, Jiaojiao, you’re so good.”
Wang Hongfei took a lollipop out of his pants pocket and handed it to Jiaojiao.
Jiaojiao happily took it: “Thank you, Cousin Uncle, I’ll get you some tangyuan.”
She hopped away and returned with a bowl of tangyuan, the lollipop already in her mouth.
“Cousin Uncle, here you go.”
Wang Mei had other things to attend to and couldn’t stay with them the whole time.
Xiao Qi Yun and Xiao Ba Yun were called over.
Along with Jiaojiao, the three little ones kept them company.
Wang Hongfei had prepared lollipops for the children when he came, and everyone got one.
However, Wang Hongfei clearly preferred talking to his pretty little niece, Jiaojiao.
“I wish I had a daughter as beautiful as you in the future.”
Mother Wang glared at her younger son upon hearing this.
“You still talk about it! I’ve introduced several people to you, and you haven’t liked any of them. If you want a daughter, you should find a wife!”
She was extremely worried about her youngest son’s marriage.
Wang Hongfei awkwardly rubbed his nose, regretting his loose tongue for bringing up such a topic.
“It’s just that, I wanted to earn more money first.”
“Money isn’t that easy to earn. How old are you? Other people your age already have children who can help with errands for the family.”
“Okay, okay, Mom, stop talking. Jiaojiao and the others are watching.”
Wang Hongfei made a pleading gesture.
He quickly found an excuse to leave and look for Chen Bei Yun.
Jiaojiao also left to find the two little fat dogs.
Most people left after eating tangyuan, leaving a few close sisters-in-law to help Shen Yunlian and Wang Mei wash the dishes.
Jiaojiao liked drinking the sweet wine soup from the tangyuan. Holding her small bowl, she went to her mom to ask for another bowl of soup and drank it with her eyes squinted in enjoyment.
With the two little fat dogs, Jiaojiao strolled around the new house and then discovered her cousin uncle and fourth brother talking together.
She moved closer to listen.
“Listen to me, I’ve seen the things you make before. Those things will definitely sell well in the north.”
“I’ve already inquired. There’s a shortage of goods in the north right now. Clothes, watches, radios, and those little things you make will definitely sell well too. If you don’t want to do business, I will.”
Chen Bei Yun frowned: “But Uncle, where will you get the money to buy inventory?”
Wang Hongfei: “I borrowed some from friends, about a thousand yuan. It’s not much, but by selling things bit by bit, it will grow more and more. I’ve also roped in two brothers. I plan to go to Hong Kong first to get a batch of goods and then head north.”
“Cousin Uncle, are you going to do business?”
Jiaojiao suddenly spoke, startling Wang Hongfei.
He squatted down and covered Jiaojiao’s small mouth, glancing around furtively. Seeing that his mother wasn’t there, he breathed a sigh of relief.
“Shh… you can’t let your Great Aunt know about this.”
