PFC Chapter 541 Sending Early New Year Greetings
Chapter 541 Sending Early New Year Greetings
The family split up: Linzhi and Li Xiaoyun went to buy New Year's goods, Li Xiaohua said she wanted to see if there were any pretty hair accessories, and Li Xiangyang took his son to wander around the market.
"Dad, that sugar figurine is so pretty!" Li Wangchen pointed to a sugar figurine on a stall, his eyes shining.
The stall owner, an old man, was scooping melted syrup with a spoon and rapidly sketching various patterns on the hot plate. One moment it was a dragon, the next a phoenix, all incredibly lifelike.
"The master craftsman's skills are excellent." Li Xiangyang squatted down and watched with his son.
"You flatter me." The old man looked up, saw Li Xiangyang, and his eyes lit up. "You must be Boss Li? I've heard so much about you."
"You know me?" Li Xiangyang was somewhat surprised.
"Oh dear, now everyone in the surrounding villages knows Boss Li's name." The old man put down his spoon. "I'm from another village, I came here specifically to do business, and I've heard about your achievements."
As they were talking, they heard arguing from ahead. Li Xiangyang looked in the direction of the sound and saw a middle-aged man in tattered clothes arguing with a butcher.
"Mr. Wang, please have mercy, I really don't have that much money," the middle-aged man pleaded desperately. "My elderly mother is sick and wants some meat. Please sell it to me at a lower price."
The butcher said coldly, "It's not that I'm heartless, it's just that the cost of this meat is what it is. If you don't have money, then don't buy any meat."
"But..." The middle-aged man wanted to say something more, but was interrupted by the stall owner.
"There are no 'buts'. If you want to buy, bring enough money. If not, move aside and don't interfere with my business."
Li Xiangyang saw this and felt a pang of compassion. He walked over to the stall owner and said, "Boss, I'll take this piece of meat."
As he spoke, he took out the money and handed it to the stall owner, then handed the meat to the middle-aged man: "Brother, take this home and give it to your mother to help her recover."
The middle-aged man hesitated for a moment, then quickly waved his hand, "This...this won't do, I can't accept your things."
“It’s alright, we’re all neighbors, helping each other is only right.” Li Xiangyang insisted on putting the meat into the man’s hand, “Respecting the elders is the most important thing.”
The middle-aged man's eyes reddened, and he choked out, "Thank you, thank you, Mr. Li. I will always remember your great kindness."
Li Xiangyang waved his hand and walked away with his son.
"Dad, why did you help that uncle?" Li Wangchen asked, puzzled.
"Because that uncle is very filial; he wanted to buy meat for his sick mother," Li Xiangyang patiently explained. "Filial piety is the greatest virtue in the world, and we should help people like him."
Li Wangchen nodded as if he understood but not quite.
After strolling around, the family reunited in the center of the market. Everyone bought quite a few things: Linzhi bought some dried fruit and candy, Li Xiaoyun bought red paper and couplets, and Li Xiaohua bought a few silk flowers.
"We've bought almost everything, let's go home." Li Xiangyang glanced at the sky, "It'll be dark soon and the roads will be difficult to navigate."
By the time I got home from the market, it was completely dark.
After putting her things down, Li Xiaoyun started making dumplings, and Lin Zhi went to help.
"Xiaoyun, I think Xiaohua is really interested in that colleague," Linzhi said in a low voice.
"I noticed it too. Her face turned red when she mentioned that person just now," Li Xiaoyun said while rolling out dough. "Mom, why don't you find a chance to ask her about it?"
“I was thinking of having her bring that person back to meet us after the New Year,” Lin Zhi said, then suddenly seemed to remember something, “Oh, right, Xiao Yun, you and Xiang Yang can’t just focus on making money; you also need to think about giving Wang Chen a younger brother or sister.”
Li Xiaoyun blushed: "Mother, what are you saying...?"
By the time it was completely dark, the dumplings were all wrapped. Plates of plump, white dumplings were neatly arranged on the bamboo mat, looking incredibly appetizing.
"Let's cook a pot first and try it," Linzhi said, lifting the lid. "We'll save the rest for tomorrow morning."
Li Xiangyang carried his son into the house, and Xiaobai and Xiaohu followed, lying down by the kang (a heated brick bed).
The water boiled, the dumplings were put into the pot, and they quickly floated to the surface.
"It's ready to eat!" Li Xiaoyun used a slotted spoon to scoop the dumplings out and put them on a large plate.
Steaming hot dumplings, dipped in a garlic and vinegar sauce, are incredibly delicious, one bite at a time.
"These pork and chive dumplings are so delicious!" Li Xiangyang exclaimed, sweating profusely as he ate. "Mom, your dumplings are still the best."
"You're so glib," Lin Zhi said, giving her son a reproachful look. "But it's definitely better than it was a few years ago. The meat is good quality, and the chives are fresh too."
I was eating dumplings when I heard footsteps outside the courtyard gate.
Li Xiangyang got up to open the door and saw Wang Ergou carrying a pot of wine, followed by Ma Hongxia and their son Wang Yaozong.
"Ergou, Hongxia, come in quickly!" Li Xiangyang hurriedly made way.
"I heard Auntie and Xiaohua are back, so we've come to wish them a Happy New Year in advance." Wang Ergou grinned, handing a bottle of wine to Li Xiangyang. "This is some good wine I bought from the county; let's drink until we drop tonight!"
Holding New Year's goods in her arms, Ma Hongxia said with a smile, "Auntie, Xiaohua, Happy New Year!"
"Oh my, Hongxia's here! Please, have a seat." Linzhi quickly stood up to greet her. "Yaozong has grown taller again; he's such a good boy."
Wang Yaozong was at a mischievous age, and his eyes lit up as soon as he entered the house and saw Xiaobai.
"Little White!" He opened his arms to hug her.
Li Wangchen quickly stopped him: "Brother Yaozong, Xiaobai is still growing, please be gentle."
The two little guys quickly became friends, with Little White sandwiched in the middle, wagging its tail like a rattle.
"Come on, since we're all here, let's have a good drink." Li Xiangyang opened the bottle of wine that Wang Ergou had brought and poured one for everyone.
"Auntie, thanks to Brother Xiangyang for taking care of me this past year, I'd like to offer you a toast," Wang Ergou said earnestly, raising his glass.
“This child, what’s with all this talk about taking care of her?” Lin Zhi raised her glass as well. “You two grew up together, it’s only natural for you to help each other.”
After a few rounds of drinks, Wang Ergou became more talkative.
"Brother Xiangyang, I need to tell you something," Wang Ergou said in a low voice. "A while ago, someone came to the village asking about our factory. They asked very detailed questions."
Li Xiangyang's heart skipped a beat: "What kind of person?"
"They look like city folks, and they speak politely, but their questions are really sharp," Wang Ergou frowned. "They ask me all sorts of questions: where do the raw materials come from? How many workers are there? How much can they produce in a year? It makes me a little uncomfortable."
"and after?"
"I didn't say much after that, just told them to come directly to you." Wang Ergou looked around. "Brother Xiangyang, do you think someone might be trying to get us?"
Li Xiangyang pondered for a moment, then patted Wang Ergou on the shoulder: "We'll deal with whatever comes our way. We're running a legitimate business, what's there to be afraid of?"
Although he said that, Li Xiangyang was already on guard. It seemed that someone was indeed eyeing their business, and not just one group.