Two generations of military wives compete for time

Qiangjun asked: "Grandma, how do you let Shuijiao exercise? Do you want to lead Shuijiao to run?"

"You little brat, you're trying to argue again." Aunt Chen Mengwei said as she flipped the dumplings in the bowl.

My great uncle Chen Haoyu sat in a wheelchair, watching family members coming in and out, busy and laughing, his heart filled with joy.

Grandma Chen Yalu ignored Qiangjun's question and shouted to Grandpa Lu Kaipu, "Old Man Lu, send two plates of dumplings to the Kitchen God while they're still hot."

Grandpa Lu Kaipu put two bowls of dumplings on a plate specially used for offerings, placed them in front of the portrait of the Kitchen God, and asked the Kitchen God to enjoy them slowly.

In the north, there is a custom of eating dumplings during the Little New Year. Dumplings are shaped like ingots, which symbolizes wealth and fortune.

"Great uncle, can we set off firecrackers now?" Yongjun asked.

"Put out the offerings, kowtow three times, and then you can set off firecrackers. Be careful. Remember to set off firecrackers and fireworks under the supervision of an adult." Grandpa said with a smile. The sound of firecrackers was deafening, the fireworks were scattered, reflecting the happy smiles of the people, and thick smoke was swirling up into the sky.

Everyone in the Chen residence sat around the dining table, happily eating New Year's dumplings.

"I got the sugar dumplings." Junyan said as she picked up the sugar dumplings with chopsticks and showed them to everyone.

"I ate the copper coin dumplings." Aijun said while holding the copper coin in his hand to show everyone.

"I want to eat sugar dumplings, and I want copper coins too." Jun Ge picked at the dumplings in his bowl in disappointment. Grandma Chen Yalu took advantage of Jun Ge's inattention and secretly threw the sugar dumplings in her bowl into Jun Ge's bowl.

Grandpa Lu Kaipu threw the dumplings that looked like copper coins in his bowl into the military pigeon's bowl.

....

Han Shiyan and Li Baoguo came to Li's house carrying large and small bags. Li Baoguo's eldest nephew Shunzi opened the door and said, "Uncle and aunt are here." After saying that, he went into the bedroom without looking back.

Han Shiyan and Li Baoguo placed large and small packages of gifts on the floor of the living room. Little nephew Shuanzi and Li's mother were warming themselves around an iron stove. When Li's mother saw them come in, she picked up a pair of tongs, picked up a piece of shiny black coal and put it in the iron stove: "You're still thinking about coming back? Wouldn't it be nice to spend the New Year at your mother-in-law's house? Go back quickly." After saying that, Li's mother glanced at Li's father.

Father Li sat on the sofa, puffing out cigarettes one after another. The smell of cigarettes and the stench of the toilet filled the entire three-bedroom, two-living-room apartment. Han Shiyan was choked and couldn't breathe. She couldn't stand the coughing anymore, so she wanted to open the doors and windows to get some fresh air.

"It's so cold, and you opened the doors and windows. Are you going to freeze us to death? You don't know any manners at all. Go away," said Li's mother.

Li Baoguo helped Han Shiyan walk out the door without saying a word, and a bang of a door closing was heard behind them.

After helping Han Shiyan into the car, Li Baoguo sat in the driver's seat and started to daydream.

"Baoguo, doesn't your family celebrate the Little New Year? Why is there no sign of the New Year at all?"

"Shiyan, I'm not afraid of you laughing at me, but our family hasn't celebrated the New Year for almost 20 years. We're used to it."

It’s a long story. Since marrying Li’s father, Li’s mother has hardly had a single comfortable day. The reason is that Li’s father, a city dweller from a shantytown, looks down on Li’s mother, a rural person from a poor mountainous area.

When Li Baoguo's grandparents were still alive, Li's father could barely follow his parents' wishes and live with Li's mother and have children. After Li Baoguo's grandparents died of illness one after another.

Li's father's chauvinism began to show. When he got home, he only cared about his wife and children and didn't care about any family affairs. He spent his salary on himself. If he was not satisfied, he would ask his wife and children to leave, saying that the three brick and earth houses were left to him by his ancestors, and he had the final say in this family.

On the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month when Li Baoguo was ten years old, Li's mother's brother came to his sister to borrow money, saying that his mother was sick and had no money to buy medicine. Li's mother gave the only ten yuan she had to her brother, which was discovered by Li's father.

Li's mother said, "My mother is ill, and as a daughter, it is only natural for me to give her some money for her treatment. Besides, this money was earned by sewing buttons for the garment factory. It was not your money, so you have no right to interfere."

After hearing this, Li's father became furious and said, "You are my wife. The money you earn is my money. You are just being stubborn." He then started punching and kicking Li's mother, causing blood to flow from her head, nostrils, and mouth. Li Baoguo and his sister cried and sent their mother to a nearby clinic. Li's mother had ten stitches on her head.

After beating his wife, Li's father left home. Li's mother, sister Li, and Li Baoguo spent the cold New Year's Eve in the three-room brick-and-mud house, eating hard steamed bread and pickled vegetables every day.

In the years that followed, Li's father had an affair with a married woman and used his salary to help others raise their children. Li's mother, sister Li, and Li Baoguo, mother and son, depended on each other and struggled to survive.

Sister Li graduated from elementary school and married a poor boy at the age of 19. They made a living by doing odd jobs and had no fixed place to live. After marriage, they gave birth to two sons. Their life became increasingly difficult. Three years ago, they started selling breakfast at a stall.

After Li Baoguo joined the army, his mother devoted all her attention and energy to taking care of her two grandchildren. She was terrified when talking about the Chinese New Year, so she never mentioned it.

Unexpected events happen. Father Li, who had been away from home for nearly 20 years, did not care about his wife and children when they were alive or when they died. He returned to the three-room brick-and-mud house left by his ancestors with a clear conscience and was determined not to leave. He wanted his son, daughter, and wife to treat his illness and take care of him in his old age.

For Mr. Li, karma has always come. For nearly 20 years, Mr. Li has devoted himself to raising his mistress's son and spent all his savings to buy a wedding house for his son, marry him off, and take care of his grandchildren. Just three years ago, Mr. Li was diagnosed with liver disease, but was ruthlessly abandoned by his mistress and her son and daughter-in-law, who kicked him out of the house.

Father Li had no choice but to drag his sick body back to the three-room brick and earth house left by his ancestors. Mother Li was furious and shouted at the top of her lungs to drive Father Li away.

Father Li still said the same old thing: "These are the three brick and earth houses left by his ancestors. It's you, a country bumpkin, who should get out." Mother Li sighed helplessly. Where could she get out? She had no house and no money, and could only do odd jobs to make a living.

When Li Baoguo's sister came home and saw his father's sick appearance, she felt pity for him and said, "Mom, let him stay here. We can't let the neighbors laugh at us. We can just ignore him and let him pay for his own food, clothing and medical expenses."

"Dad, is your disease contagious? My two sons are still young, please don't harm them." said Li Baoguo's sister.

"I have alcoholic liver disease, which is not contagious," said Li's father.

In the three years since Li's father came back, his and hers have been living separately, eating, wearing and managing their finances. They do not interfere with each other, do not talk to each other, and treat each other as air. To outsiders, they are a quiet and peaceful family, but in fact, they are the most familiar strangers.