Chapter 347 New Year’s Day
Hearing this, He Yushui pinched He Jianguo's little face with her greasy hands, and then said impatiently,
"I think about setting off firecrackers every day.
We haven't even finished our meal yet, why don't you go play in the yard for a while?"

He Jianguo felt his face was greasy, and he patted He Yushui's hand unhappily.
"Sister, you are so annoying."

After saying that, he slid down from the bench, ran to the washbasin, wiped his face with a towel, and then ran to the yard.

After dinner, He Yuzhu just walked out of the house and saw He Jianguo and Bang Geng setting off firecrackers with Yi Zhonghai in the yard.

Seeing that they were having fun, He Yuzhu did not go over and just watched from the door of his house.

After a while, Xu Damao and his sister came running over from the backyard.

"Zhu Zi, let's take Zhao Di and Yu Shui to buy firecrackers and lanterns first, then come back and play mahjong.

I have to stay up all night to celebrate the New Year. I can't get through it if I don't find something to do."

Staying up all night not only means that the elderly cherish time, but also means that the young people pray for their parents. Therefore, almost no one goes to bed early on New Year's Eve like usual.

However, apart from sleeping and making babies, most ordinary people basically have no entertainment activities.

Hearing Xu Damao talking about playing mahjong, He Yuzhu smiled and nodded.

"Okay, let's call Yan Jiecheng and Liu Guangqi over to play mahjong later. But we're just trying to kill time, so let's play smaller games then."

I heard He Yuzhu say to play younger.
Xu Damao couldn't help but think of the time when he saw He Daqing and his friends playing mahjong a few years ago, and he immediately laughed.
"Okay, since you don't know how to play mahjong, let's play a little smaller.
So that you don’t lose too much and have to default on your debts.”

To be honest, as a Sichuanese, it is a bit embarrassing not to know how to play mahjong in this era.

But who knows, the later Mahjong was gradually developed after the 80s, and it is completely different from the present Mahjong in the 50s.
Including wind cards and listening cards, mahjong in this era has 144 cards, and the gameplay is much more complicated than that of later generations.

In addition, after the founding of the People's Republic of China, there were few people playing mahjong and little time.

He Yuzhu had no chance to learn at all.

So, even though Xu Damao was making fun of himself, He Yuzhu didn't bother with him.
At this moment, Xu Zhaodi had already entered the room and called out He Yushui and Li Qingshan.

Seeing that everyone was there, He Yuzhu greeted Yi Zhonghai and then took He Jianguo out to the supply and marketing cooperative.

Accompanied by the crackling sound of firecrackers and the laughter of children chasing around with lanterns,
The adults in the courtyard played mahjong until midnight.

After playing mahjong, I returned home.

He Yuzhu chopped up mushrooms, black fungus, day lily, carrots, cabbage and other vegetables and mixed them into stuffing, while He Daqing and his wife kneaded the dough and rolled out the dumpling wrappers.

The family started making vegetarian dumplings for welcoming the gods.
After welcoming the gods, eating dumplings, and wishing each other a happy new year, the time came to two or three o'clock in the middle of the night.

He Yuzhu was just about to go back to the front yard to sleep when he saw Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong walk in,

"Old He, are you going to organize everyone to go to Lama Temple to burn incense this year?"

Hearing Yi Zhonghai's question, He Daqing yawned and shook his head.
"I think we shouldn't bother with that this year. Last year we queued up for a whole night at Lama Temple, but when it was our turn to burn incense, it was already the next morning.

I just want to sleep at home this year, because I have to go to my friends to wish them a happy new year early tomorrow morning.
I really don't want to bother.

Of course, if you two are interested, you can organize it yourself. Anyway, I don't want to go this year. "Seeing that He Daqing didn't plan to run to the Lama Temple in the middle of the night to wait like last year, Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong thought about it and gave up the idea.
Then I went home and yawned and went to sleep.

Early the next morning, He Yuzhu climbed up from the kang with a swollen head. After having breakfast, he followed He Daqing out, carrying gifts.

As soon as the father and son walked out of the courtyard gate carrying the gifts, He Daqing began to instruct,

"I know you have a lot of social engagements.

But don't waste time outside today. Come back quickly if you have nothing to do.

Your uncle Lou and his family are coming to pay New Year's greetings to the old lady today, so don't let them wait for you while they eat."

After hearing He Daqing's instructions, He Yuzhu thought about his schedule for today, then shook his head.
"What are you waiting for me for?
Today I have to go to Sister Zao and Sister Hongying's home first, then go to the military compound to wish Lao Li a happy new year, and finally visit several captains of our militia team.

After running around and chatting with them for a while, I thought it would be hard for me to make it back in time for dinner.
If it were you, you wouldn't have to wait for me. Just eat first and leave some for me."

When you are in the arena, you have no choice. After listening to He Yuzhu talking about his plans for today, He Daqing somewhat understood, but he still said,
"I think you should come back as soon as possible.

Today, it's not just your uncle Lou and his family coming to pay New Year's greetings to the old lady.
You are the protagonist today, how can you not show up? "

He Yuzhu of course understood what his father said, and he didn't intend to object anyway, so he spoke,
"Dad, just discuss it with Uncle Lou and Aunt Tan. I don't have any objections.
But you'd better keep a low profile. I'll file a marriage report in February or March. If the higher authorities approve it, we'll get married. If not, both families will have a way out."

Seeing that He Yuzhu was not too concerned about his lifelong affairs,

He Daqing looked at him with some doubt.
"Zhu Zi, ever since the State Council promulgated the New Marriage Law in 50, haven't you young people been saying that you are against arranged marriages?

Why do I think you don’t seem to have this idea? "

Hearing this, He Yuzhu smiled and shook his head, thinking that in the future, he was still single in his 30s and didn't believe in love.
It doesn't matter who you marry.

Besides, even if girls nowadays are relatively simple-minded, they are not so stupid that they can't even weigh the pros and cons.

Women are born actors. Given my current situation, even if I meet other girls outside, I can't tell whether they are attracted by my conditions.

If I marry Lou Xiao'e, at least I will know which people and things to guard against.

If I marry someone else, no one knows what will happen in the future, and there is no way to prevent it.

Of course, He Yuzhu couldn't tell He Daqing what was in his mind.

So I just casually said,
"Dad, whether it's an arranged marriage or a free love relationship, it's nothing more than finding a partner to marry and live with. It doesn't matter who you marry.

It's not like I haven't seen Lou Xiao'e before. She's not a bad person. I don't hate her. You and the old lady are also satisfied.

Then why am I still struggling?

No matter how much you try, you won't necessarily be better than her."

(End of this chapter)