Chapter 245 New Year’s greetings
Chapter 245 New Year’s greetings
New Year's Day!
The first day of the new year.
It was already noon and everyone slept in for a rare time. No one got up early in the morning.
Li Kailang naturally has no habit of getting up early.
There is still leftover New Year’s Eve dinner from yesterday at home, so we don’t even have to make breakfast, we can just eat brunch together.
Li Kailang slept until after 10 o'clock before he slowly got up and washed up.
"I'm busy today, I should go visit people, this is really troublesome, luckily they are all my acquaintances!"
In the past, Li Kailang's mother would bring him along to pay New Year's greetings, but now Li Kailang has to go alone.
Fortunately, the families he visited were all familiar to Li Kailang.
"Let's go to Mr. Hua's house first. It's almost time. We can give the brewed wine to Mr. Hua to taste!"
As mentioned before, the wine brewed by Li Kailang is almost ready to taste during the New Year holidays.
Li Kailang took out a can of wine that had been brewed a few days ago from the planting space, took some gifts, and rode his bicycle to visit Mr. Hua.
As soon as I went out, I met Yan Bugui.
"Xiao Li, go out and wish everyone a happy new year!"
"Yes, what's the matter, Uncle Third?"
"No, nothing!" Yan Bugui said.
Originally, he was thinking about wishing Li Kailang a happy new year, even though Li Kailang had posted a white couplet.
"Okay, then I'll leave first!" Li Kailang didn't care and rode away on his bike.
As soon as Li Kailang left, Bang Geng went to knock on Li Kailang's door.
"Li Kailang, open the door, I'm here to wish you a happy new year!"
"Dong dong!"
Banggeng stood in front of the door of Li Kailang's house, knocking hard and shouting excitedly.
However, the door was closed and there was no response.
"Keep hitting!" Jia Zhang encouraged.
Seeing this, Bang Geng knocked on the door even harder, shouting, "Li Kailang, open the door!
The "dong dong dong" sound was very loud, and the door was shaking.
If Li Kailang's door had not been specially made by himself and was as solid as an iron wall, it would probably have been broken by the stick.
Yan Bugui frowned slightly: "Banggeng, stop knocking. Xiao Li just left. You are late."
"Gone? Then how can I receive the red envelope?" Banggeng said puzzledly and a little distressed.
The red envelope he received yesterday was taken away by Jia Zhang before he could even warm it up.
This morning, Jia Zhang was bewitched again to ask Li Kailang for a red envelope, and promised him that he could use the red envelope from Li Kailang to buy firecrackers.
"Grandma!" Banggeng turned his head and looked at Jia Zhang.
Jia Zhang also heard what Yan Bugui said, and she felt so angry that she gnashed at him.
Jia Zhang's face was gloomy. She looked at Yan Bugui and said to Bang Geng:
"Bang Geng, go give New Year's greetings to Uncle San! Uncle San will give you red envelopes!"
Hearing this, Bang Geng's eyes lit up and he immediately knelt in front of Yan Bugui: "Uncle, Happy New Year! Red envelope!"
"Forehead"
Yan Bugui didn't expect that Banggeng would ask for a red envelope. Although he disliked Banggeng and Jia Zhangshi, it was New Year's Day, so he was too lazy to care about it.
Yan Bugui took out a dime from his pocket and was about to give it to Banggeng.
Suddenly he thought of something and stopped in mid-air.
"Bang Geng, it's New Year's Day, what auspicious words are you going to say to me?"
"What are auspicious words?" Banggeng was puzzled.
"Why, didn't your parents teach you?"
Banggeng shook his head. Before Yan Bugui asked him questions, he would kneel in front of people and directly stretch out his hand to ask for New Year's money. He never said any auspicious words.
In the past, he would just stretch out his hand to ask for it. Everyone saw that his stick was small, so they would give it to him as soon as he knelt down. But now that his stick is bigger, things are different.
Yan Bugui looked at Jia Zhangshi. How could she have taught her child so well that she didn't even teach him a few auspicious words?
What about congratulations on your prosperity and wishing you a happy past? These old-fashioned words are not taught. This family teacher
Yan Bugui couldn't help but shake his head.
Banggeng didn't care what Yan Bugui thought. The New Year's money had been hanging in the air for so long and still hadn't been given to him.
Bang Geng stood up, snatched the ten cents with lightning speed, and then immediately came to Jia Zhang.
"Grandma, look! Lucky money!"
"Oh, Bang Geng is really awesome, he got the New Year's gift!"
Jia Zhang touched Bang Geng's head and encouraged him.
"My dear grandson, let's go to someone else's house and ask for it!"
"Yeah!" Banggeng nodded heavily and went to the next house.
Before leaving, Jia Zhang glanced at Li Kailang's house and said, "When you come back, I'll ask you for more money. Don't even think about not paying me! Humph!"
Watching Jia Zhang and Bang Geng leave, Yan Bugui couldn't help but shake his head, "This Bang Geng, it seems, is really useless!"
You can tell a person’s future by looking at him when he’s three, and his old age by looking at him when he’s seven. Banggeng will be seven years old after the Chinese New Year, and it’s still the same now.
"Forget it, it's not my child, I don't care about it!"
Yan Bugui turned and looked at his three sons, Yan Jiecheng, Yan Jiekuang and Yan Jiefang.
They are all well-educated and filial, and they can't help but raise their heads proudly.
After a while, Li Kailang arrived outside Hua's house.
"Mr. Hua, I'm here to wish you a happy new year!"
As he spoke, Li Kailang held the gift in his left hand and the wine jar in his right hand.
"Coming!"
When Mr. Hua heard the noise, he went to open the door.
"Mr. Hua, Happy New Year! May everything go well for you!"
"Good, good, good, happy New Year to you too, and all the best to you!"
The two of them exchanged some polite words, and Li Kailang went in carrying his things.
Looking at Li Kailang carrying these things, Mr. Hua shook his head helplessly.
These days, Mr. Hua has become familiar with Li Kailang's personality. He is a stubborn person and will not listen to anything.
As soon as Li Kailang put down his things, he couldn't wait to say:
"Mr. Hua, come and try the wine I brewed and see if it works. Will it kill people?"
"Why are you so anxious, kid?" Old Hua said with a smile and came to Li Kailang.
Li Kailang took out a cup and poured some for Mr. Hua.
Mr. Hua first placed the cup in front of his nose, closed his eyes and took a gentle sniff. The smell of alcohol was inhaled into his ears and nose.
Mr. Hua savored the wine carefully.
Then, Mr. Hua took another sip of the wine, savored its flavor carefully, and then drank it all in one gulp to feel it again.
After a while, Mr. Hua opened his eyes and looked at Li Kailang.
"Mr. Hua, how is it?" Li Kailang asked expectantly, his eyes sparkling with stars as he waited for Mr. Hua's comments.
"You kid!" Old Hua smiled and pointed at Li Kailang.
"Your wine tastes good, it won't kill you!"
"What else!" Li Kailang asked again.
Drinking to the point of not killing people was not the answer he wanted.
This wine is produced in the planting space. In addition, Li Kailang has brewed wine more than a dozen times in the past month, so this wine is certainly not fatal.
Seeing Li Kailang so anxious, Mr. Hua shook his head.
"What's wrong? Mr. Hua, is there something wrong?"
"That's not it!" said Mr. Hua.
"No, what do you mean by shaking your head?"
"Boy, you brew good wine, you can sell it. You brew better wine than I do!"
"How did you do it, kid? The wine you brewed for the first time is better than the one I brew now!"
"Hehe!" Li Kailang couldn't help but laugh when he heard the answer he wanted.
"You kid, how did you do it? The wine you brew is better than the one I have brewed in the past few decades!" Now it was Old Hua's turn to be anxious.
But how could Li Kailang say that it was the sorghum grown in the planting space and the spiritual spring water?
Li Kailang pretended to be embarrassed and touched his head:
"I don't know! I brewed it according to your instructions or according to what is written in the wine book. Maybe this is talent!"
"Talent. Talent." Old Hua muttered to himself, repeating these two words.
Looking up at Li Kailang, only talent can surpass him.
Otherwise, Mr. Hua couldn't think of anything that could surpass him in such a short time.
It’s not that Mr. Hua didn’t use up better sorghum rice and better water, but they didn’t have this effect.
"Okay, okay, your wine is better than mine. I now have someone to succeed me. I can die in peace!" Old Hua couldn't help but sigh, feeling relieved.
"Pfft! Mr. Hua, don't say that, you are still young!" Li Kailang hurriedly comforted him, why did Mr. Hua suddenly want to die. "Did I hit Mr. Hua too hard? This is really a sin!" Li Kailang couldn't help but think in his heart.
Mr. Hua was deeply moved. His son Hua Yaoqian originally had a bright future, but he was misled by someone and became addicted to gambling.
When he was old, the family wine book was almost taken away. When Hua died, he didn't know how to face his ancestors.
But I didn't expect to meet someone with extraordinary talent now, but unfortunately he is not my apprentice.
It’s a pity that the economy is in recession right now and we can’t delay them.
Mr. Hua thought about many things and gradually let them go.
Mr. Hua put on a smile and looked at Li Kailang with satisfaction.
"Xiao Li, your wine is really good! Very good!"
"I will then feel at ease to leave my customers to you. After the New Year, when I am free, I will bring your wine to introduce them to you."
"If they like you, I will introduce you to them. Then these big customers will be yours, and I can rest assured."
Having said this, Mr. Hua felt relieved and breathed a long sigh of relief.
"How can this be? This is your customer!" Li Kailang was embarrassed.
Mr. Hua waved his hand and said, "Okay, I've made up my mind. You don't need to talk about this anymore. I can't make wine anymore. It would be a waste if I don't introduce it to you."
"Okay, it's New Year's Day, you don't need to stay here with me, an old man. Go and pay your New Year's greetings!"
As he said that, Mr. Hua pushed Li Kailang out of the yard.
"Why did this old man suddenly go crazy!" Li Kailang shook his head helplessly.
"It's just right, it's time to go to Master's house to wish him a happy new year!"
Li Kailang rode his bicycle to pay New Year's greetings to his master.
After Li Kailang left, Mr. Hua just stared at Li Kailang's wine jar, lost in thought for a moment.
After a while, Li Kailang arrived at his master's yard.
Still carrying the prepared gifts and brewed sorghum wine.
"Hahaha~~~"
Before I even entered, I heard some hearty laughs and the sounds of children playing.
Listening to this voice, it feels familiar, yet strange, but it seems like I've heard it somewhere before?
With doubts in mind, Li Kailang walked straight into the yard, which was bustling with activity.
"Oh, speak of the devil, and here comes Xiao Li!"
Lu Wenjiang saw Li Kailang coming at a glance, and hurried to greet him, and helped carry the gifts.
"Xiao Li, you're here. Everyone is waiting for you." Sister-in-law Luo Ruiyun still looks gentle.
"Xiao Li, you are finally here. We are the only one missing from our group of brothers!" Zhang Fen said.
A group of people came towards Li Kailang, including two "strangers".
"Big Brother, Second Brother! Happy New Year!" Li Kailang shouted.
"Yes, Xiao Li is here! Happy New Year!" The two nodded and responded.
"Xiao Li, we were just talking about you, asking when you would arrive. Just as we were talking about you, you came here." Lu Wenjiang said.
"Really? Then I came at the right time!" Li Kailang said with a smile.
Li Kailang seldom saw these two senior brothers. They were the master Zhang Jinwu's earliest apprentices. After completing their studies, they went to work in other factories.
The eldest brother Zeng Xiangwu went to the meat processing factory as the transport team leader, and the second brother Chang Nansheng went to the electrical appliance factory and also became the transport team leader.
When the two men left, the public-private partnership had not yet begun, and the steel rolling mill did not need so many transportation masters.
Zhang Jinwu helped find jobs for them and went to other factories. Although he was no longer working at the steel mill, he would definitely come to his master's house during the Chinese New Year to get together and keep in touch with his fellow apprentices.
It's just that they met seldom, only during the Chinese New Year, so Li Kailang and his two senior brothers were not very familiar with each other.
Several people chatted with each other for a while about their recent situation. They were all drivers and were taught by the same master. There was no contempt, calculation or belittlement.
At this time, Zhang Jinwu came out and saw that all his disciples had arrived.
"Okay, everyone is here, and it's almost lunch time, so why don't you all stay for lunch?"
"Master!"
Zhang Jinwu nodded, "It's rare for us to get together as master and disciple during the New Year, so we'll have lunch here. I'll ask your master's wife to make it quickly."
"It's New Year's Day, we can't trouble Master's wife anymore. Let her have some rest." Zeng Xiangwu said hurriedly.
"Yes, let your disciple's wife help!" Chang Nansheng agreed.
Han Xiaohui grabbed Zhang Jinwu's ear angrily and pretended to be angry:
"Old man, listen to this! My two disciples are so considerate of me, but you are the only one who doesn't care about me at all. It's New Year's Day, and you don't even let me rest!"
"Ah, hey, hey, it hurts!" Zhang Jinwu screamed twice and begged for mercy:
"It's New Year's Day, and your disciple is here, please give me some face!"
After Zhang Jinwu said this, Han Xiaohui pricked up her ears even more vigorously:
"Give you face? You don't give me face. If it weren't for the New Year, I would have beaten you up!"
"Hahahaha!!!" Everyone couldn't help but laugh, looking at Zhang Jinwu's embarrassment.
The only one who can control Zhang Jinwu is the master's wife.
"Master's wife, please stop pinching it. Master's ears are almost pinched off!" Luo Ruiyun advised.
"Hmph! If Ruiyun hadn't pleaded for me, just wait and see how I would have dealt with you!" Han Xiaohui let go of the hand that she was holding.
The only one who can control Han Xiaohui is Luo Ruiyun.
The wives of the two senior brothers couldn't help but feel envious when they saw Luo Ruiyun easily controlling Han Xiaohui.
Although they have known Master's Wife Han Xiaohui for a long time, they could not control Han Xiaohui no matter what they did.
"Okay, the sun is shining. You guys go in and chat. I'll cook for you." Han Xiaohui said.
"Master's wife, let us help you do it." The wives of the two senior brothers said hurriedly.
"Well, okay. There are so many people here today, one more person means one more helper!" Han Xiaohui nodded.
Not only the two brothers and their wives came today, but also their children.
Both of them have a son and a daughter, so there are 15 people in total.
"By the way, you four, come and wish your brother a happy new year!" Zeng Xiangwu shouted to the four people who were playing nearby.
Li Kailang is still young, and calling him "master uncle" or "uncle" seems a bit old.
"Brother, Happy New Year!" the four shouted.
The oldest is about the same age as a terrier, and the youngest is four or five years old. Each one looks so cute!
"Hey, Happy New Year!"
As Li Kailang spoke, he did not forget to take out a red envelope, which was specially prepared by Li Kailang and was only given to close people.
"Here, here are your red envelopes, one for each of you!"
"Thank you, brother. I wish you a happy new year, everything goes well, and I wish you good fortune. Here is the red envelope."
At the end, he seemed to be speaking smoothly and accidentally let the secret slip, and quickly covered his mouth.
Zeng Xiangwu and Chang Nansheng couldn't help but frown.
"Hahaha! It's okay, it's okay!" Li Kailang smiled and didn't mind at all.
"You said so many auspicious words, if I don't give you a red envelope, it would be my fault!"
As he spoke, Li Kailang took out a handful of candies from his pocket.
"Hey, brother, here are some candies, have some."
The children looked up at their father, as if waiting for him to nod, but there seemed to be something wrong with their expressions.
"Okay, okay, Xiao Li doesn't mind, so why do you mind? It's New Year's Day, don't force me to hit you!" Zhang Jinwu said unhappily.
After Zhang Jinwu spoke, what other opinions could they have? They could only nod.
"Thank you, brother!" The four children shouted happily, dividing the candies in Li Kailang's hand in an orderly manner, and couldn't wait to eat them.
"Why, you only want to thank your brother and not your master?" Zeng Xiangwu said seriously.
"That's enough! It's New Year's Day, there's no need to be so serious, just be casual." Zhang Jinwu was helpless about Zeng Xiangwu's seriousness.
"Thank you, Master!" the child shouted hurriedly.
"Well, go and play. We'll eat later!" Zhang Jinwu said with a smile, waving his hand to signal them to go and play.
Then he looked at Zeng Xiangwu and said, "You kid, you are already so old, but you are still so rigid. The child is still young, just teach him little by little."
"Yes, Master!" Zeng Xiangwu nodded in response, but did not listen.
When Zhang Jinwu accepted Zeng Xiangwu as his apprentice, it was because he valued his meticulous attitude towards work. He was also the most outstanding among the four apprentices.
Not only did he complete his driving test early, but he now also holds a small leadership position in the meat processing factory.
Li Kailang stepped forward and changed the subject: "By the way, Master, I brought some wine. Let's drink together at noon."
Lu Wenjiang echoed, "Yes, Xiao Li, you haven't told me yet, why did you come here with wine? Master's family is not short of wine!"
"I brewed this wine. It's not strong. I just brewed it a few days ago. I can take it out and taste it. It's a good opportunity for us to drink together."
At last, Li Kailang thought of what Mr. Hua said: "This wine is not poisonous, it's okay to drink it."
"Okay, since it was brewed by you, why not try it at noon!" Zhang Jinwu suggested.
Since Zhang Jinwu had spoken, Zeng Xiangwu and Chang Nansheng naturally had no reason to refuse.
(End of this chapter)