Unbeknownst to Jiujiu, the two children had been very attached to Xiang Bei.
They had placed all the love they had for their father on Xiang Bei.
To them, Xiang Bei played the role of a father.
People did not like to move around in winter, so the rest of the time was basically the same.
Jiujiu went to the market every three days to buy the food she needed for the next three days. Other than going to the embroidery shop once a month to sell embroidery, she spent the rest of her time at home.
In the blink of an eye, it was the twelfth lunar month.
Once it was the twelfth lunar month, the surroundings were filled with the atmosphere of the new year.
Every family began to prepare for the new year.
It was the first new year since Jiujiu came to the county, and it was also the first new year for Jiujiu and the two children. Naturally, they had to prepare well.
Xiang Bei's parents had passed away long ago, and the remaining relatives had long severed contact with him. He was alone, so he naturally spent the new year with Jiujiu and the two children.
Because it was the first time she spent the new year with the two children, Jiujiu prepared a lot of things.
Moreover, because he was rich, he would buy whatever food he liked.
On the day of the Laba festival, Jiujiu cooked a big pot of fragrant, soft, and sticky Laba congee.
Not only did the two children like to drink it, but even Xiang Bei drank three big bowls.
Xiang Bei had been staying at Jiujiu's house all this time.
Every day, he could eat three meals to fill his stomach. His originally dry and flat cheeks gradually became plump. His cheeks, which were originally a little deformed because he was too thin, became more delicate because of his plump cheeks.
And because he was happier during this period of time, he did not have to worry about his future life. His eyes also had some childishness that only children had.
Looking at Xiang Bei's appearance, Jiujiu could not help but reveal a gratified smile.
Jiujiu liked to eat and was good at cooking.
Jiujiu had been craving chicken feet and duck necks before, so she bought a lot of chicken feet and duck necks during the New Year. She made a pot of brine and braised a large pot of chicken feet and duck necks. She also braised several big pig trotters.
The two children were still young. Jiujiu was afraid that the small bones of the chicken feet and duck neck would get stuck in their throats, so she didn't dare to feed them. However, she didn't have to worry about the pig trotters. Jiujiu cut some pig trotters for the two children to eat.
The two children ate until their mouths were full of grease. Xiang Bei also abandoned his previous restraint and happily gnawed on the pig trotters.
Looking at the three of them eating happily in the house, Jiujiu sat by the window and took a sip of the peach blossom wine she had brewed before. Looking at the drifting snowflakes outside the window and the tender red plum blossoms under the window, the corners of her mouth curled up, revealing a faint smile.
After the Laba festival was the New Year.
The next few days were basically spent preparing for the New Year.
Jiujiu did not have many relatives here. The only person she was familiar with was the owner of the embroidery shop.
Jiujiu's embroidery work was good, and the theme was very novel. The owner of the embroidery shop made a lot of money by relying on Jiujiu's embroidery work. Therefore, on the eve of the New Year, the owner of the embroidery shop specially brought his wife to Jiujiu to give a New Year's greeting. He even specially gave Jiujiu's two children red packets.
After Jiujiu asked Li Shoujie and Li Shu to thank their uncle, she asked the owner of the embroidery shop to talk for a while before sending him away.
Not long after the owner of the embroidery shop left, Xiang Bei, who had gone home through the small door to avoid arousing suspicion, came over.
Xiang Bei's house was cold to begin with, and he was used to the warmth of Jiujiu's house. Xiang Bei's cheeks were red from the cold after the owner of the embroidery shop stayed for a while.
Jiujiu quickly let Xiang Bei into the house. She asked Xiang Bei to sit by the stove while she took the red packets that she had prepared for Xiang Bei. She muttered, "I already said that I'm acquainted with the owner of the embroidery shop. It's fine, but you still wanted to go back. Look at you now. You must be freezing."
In response to Jiujiu's muttering, Xiang Bei smiled and did not mind.
Xiang Bei reached into his pocket and took out two small red packets. He handed one to Li Shoujie and Li Shu and said with a smile, "Happy New Year."
When Jiujiu returned, she saw Li Shoujie and Li Shu each holding a red packet and smiling as they wished Xiang Bei a happy New Year.
Jiujiu sighed and turned around to stuff another two taels of silver into Xiang Bei's red packet.
When he saw the red packet from Jiujiu, Xiang Bei's expression was a little surprised. Then, he rejected it.
"Elder Sister, I'm already very grateful that you're willing to help me. How can I let Elder Sister spend so much money?"
"Since you've already called me Elder Sister, how can I not give Little Brother a red packet? I have a lot of money. Just accept it."
Xiang Bei tried to decline for a while, but in the end, he could not refuse. He could only accept Jiujiu's red packet.
On New Year's Eve, they had to stay up late.
The two children played outside excitedly for a long time during the day. Even though they tried their best to persevere, they could not resist the continuous attacks of sleepiness. After a while, they fell asleep.
Jiujiu put the two children on the bed, turned around, and returned to the living room to stay up late with Xiang Bei.
Jiujiu ate the snacks and snacks that she had prepared. She cracked melon seeds and ate peanuts while chatting with Xiang Bei to welcome the arrival of the new year.
Jiujiu smiled and asked Xiang Bei, "I haven't asked you yet. Do you have any other relatives in your family now?"
Jiujiu's question made Xiang Bei's eyes darken instantly.
Xiang Bei smiled awkwardly and said, "I don't have any other relatives in my family."
Jiujiu was extremely surprised. "No more?"
Xiang Bei smiled bitterly. "After my parents passed away one after another, my previous relatives and friends gradually stopped contacting me."
Xiang Bei spoke very implicitly, but Jiujiu could hear the bitterness in his words.
Those who could own a house here did not come from a particularly poor family. It could even be said that their family was well-off. As for Xiang Bei, he was definitely nurtured by his parents to become the top scorer.
His parents must have been capable people when they were alive. Their family was wealthy, so his relatives and friends fought to be friends with him.
However, after his parents passed away one after another, he lost his source of income. When his relatives and friends saw that Xiang Bei was the only one left in the family who did not earn money and still had to spend money, they were afraid that Xiang Bei would pester them. Naturally, they stopped contacting his family one after another.
It was human nature to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages.
However, when it really happened to him, it was inevitable that he would feel a little disappointed.
Jiujiu looked at Xiang Bei's bitter face. She pushed the wine pot in her hand toward him and said with a smile, "Everyone is here for profit. It's okay that such relatives and friends are gone. In the future, the two children and I will be your relatives."
Xiang Bei's hand trembled as he poured the wine. His eyes welled up with tears again.
His relatives and friends avoided him like he was a snake or a scorpion. On the contrary, Jiujiu, who he did not know, treated him so well.
For a moment, Xiang Bei did not know what to say.
After the New Year, it was spring.
The warm spring breeze blew, and the bare courtyard, which was originally covered in snow, was now covered with green tender leaves.
Jiujiu did not have to worry that the children would catch a cold, so she did not continue to hold the children and let them play in the courtyard.
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