Abstinence Pei, don't be too sweet when chasing your wife

Time flies, New Year's Eve is approaching, and a faint aroma of paste wafts through the Pei family's living room.

Mother Pei stood on a small stool, holding a pair of "Fu" characters and pasted them on the door frame.

Pei Luochuan was holding onto a stool nearby, muttering, "Mom, please move a little to the left. Don't stick it crooked. Dad's laughing at you again!"

"You talk too much!"

Mother Pei turned around and glared at him, but still moved the word "Fu" in her hand to the left.

"It can't be crooked this time. The stars are coming, so we have to stick them straight. We can't let the children laugh at us for not being particular."

As she spoke, her tone was filled with unconcealable anticipation.

His fingertips gently brushed across the gold edge of the word "Fu", as if he was thinking about how to make this year more lively.

The coffee table in the living room was already piled high with New Year's goods—Sunflower seeds and peanuts roasted by Grandma Pei, bacon and sausages ordered from a time-honored shop in the county town, and chocolates specially brought back from abroad by Dad Pei...

"Mom, did you buy too much bacon? In previous years, we only ate a little at home. Why did you buy so much this year?" Pei Luochuan pointed at the sausages on the balcony and couldn't help asking.

“Not much, not much!”

Mother Pei got down from the stool and said, "Xingxing likes to eat bacon, so we need to prepare more.

I also specifically told the boss that I wanted half fat and half lean meat so that I wouldn’t get tired of eating it when steamed.

Oh, and I also bought some soft tofu that Xingxing loves to eat."

As she spoke, she walked towards the kitchen, as if she was afraid of missing something.

"There's also osmanthus cake in the refrigerator. I'll steam it for her whenever Xingxing comes."

Grandma Pei was sitting on a rattan chair, holding a needle and thread in her hand, embroidering a handkerchief for Gu Fanxing. A small daisy was embroidered on the light blue fabric. She had been sewing it stitch by stitch while wearing reading glasses these days.

The old man looked up at the bacon on the balcony and added with a smile, "Last time Xingxing came to our house, she said she liked the pumpkin seeds I fried, so I fried two pounds more and put them in her favorite blue and white porcelain jar. I'll let her take them away when she comes."

Dad Pei walked out of the study with a calendar in his hand. He turned to the page of the first day of the first lunar month and circled it with a red pen.

"Luonan told me yesterday that the work at the Xingxing Ruins will be on holiday on the 26th of the twelfth lunar month. They will leave on the morning of the 27th and will be home by noon.

I've asked the driver to wash the car and prepare some hot drinks. It's cold on the road, and I don't want Xingxing to get cold."

As he spoke, he turned to the page about the 30th day of the twelfth lunar month.

"I've also prepared the menu for the New Year's Eve dinner. Take a look and see if I've missed anything Xingxing likes to eat."

Mother Pei took the calendar and looked at the densely packed names of dishes on it - steamed sea bass, emerald shrimp, tofu soup, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and the southern dish "steamed cured meat" that she had specially learned, and she couldn't help laughing.

"You're so thoughtful that you even remembered that Xingxing doesn't eat onions, ginger, and garlic, so you don't put them in the New Year's Eve dinner.

Oh, and I have to prepare a red envelope for Xingxing. I want a red envelope with her favorite flowers printed on it."

As she was speaking, Pei Ma's cell phone rang. It was Pei Luonan calling.

She quickly picked up the phone, her tone softening instantly: "Luonan? Is there good news? Xingxing agreed to come for the New Year?"

Pei Luonan's laughter came from the other end of the phone: "Mom, don't worry, Xingxing has already agreed. She said that she will go home with me after the work at the ruins is over.

She also asked if you would like to bring some local specialties from the ruins, such as the exquisite handmade porcelain ornaments there.

"no, I'm fine!"

Pei Ma said quickly.

“Tell her not to bring anything with her, as it will be heavy on the way, and it will be fine once she comes back.

By the way, did Xingxing tell me what she wanted to eat? Mom prepared it in advance, so that when she comes, she won’t have her favorite food and feel that we don’t value her.

"She didn't say anything, she just said she would follow your arrangements." Pei Luonan's voice was full of tenderness, "But she is a little worried that she won't be able to make dumplings and will cause trouble for you."

"What's the problem?" Pei's mother said with a smile, "If she doesn't know how to make dumplings, Mom will teach her. It's more fun when our family makes dumplings together.

By the way, I have cleaned up the guest room next to yours and replaced the bedding with new ones in the light beige color she likes. I also put two pots of daisies in there, just like the ones in her tent, to make her feel more comfortable."

After hanging up the phone, Mother Pei immediately pulled Pei Luochuan towards the guest room: "Come with me and see if there is anything else to add to this room.

Xingxing likes cleanliness, so we need to clean the windows again and replace the curtains with new ones made of cotton and linen, her favorite material, which is light-transmitting but not glaring.

In the guest room, sunlight streamed in through the window and fell on the newly changed bedding, making it as warm as spring.

On the bedside table, there is a book about archaeology. Pei's mother bought it from the bookstore specially, thinking that Xingxing could read it when he was free.

"Mom, you're so thoughtful, aren't you? You even chose the cup she likes." Pei Luochuan couldn't help but tease, "Last time I said I wanted a new cup, and you said, 'We have too many cups at home, so I'll just make do with this one.' That's a huge difference!"

"Can you be the same as Xingxing?" Mother Pei glared at him and couldn't help laughing, "This is Xingxing's first time to celebrate the New Year at our house, we have to make her feel as comfortable as if she were at home.

Oh, right, clean up your room quickly, or Xingxing will come and see your mess and laugh at you for being unruly."

Pei's father followed in, holding an exquisite box in his hand.

"This is the gift I prepared for Xingxing. It's a Hetian jade peace locket with good meaning. I want her to wear it to keep safe.

She's always at the ruins, so it's inevitable that she'll get bumped and bruised. With this, we can rest assured."

The family gathered around the guest room, discussing with each other, as if they wanted to give all the good things to Gu Fanxing.

Pei Luochuan looked at his mother's busy back and said to his father Pei with a smile: "Dad, look at my mother, her mind is full of Sister Xingxing now, and she almost forgot about me, her own son."

Dad Pei smiled and shook his head, but his eyes were full of relief.

"Your mother is happy. Luo Nan finally has someone he likes, and she finally has a daughter-in-law."

In the evening, Pei's mother called Pei Luonan again and reminded him: "Drive slowly on the road, safety first.

If Xingxing feels cold, let her wear more clothes and there are hand warmers in the car.

Also, if she wants to eat something, there are red bean paste buns and soy milk in the car, all of which are her favorite flavors..."

On the other end of the phone, Pei Luonan occasionally responded. Gu Fanxing was sitting next to him. When she heard Pei's mother's instructions, her cheeks flushed slightly.

Pei Luonan smiled and handed her the phone, saying softly, "Talk to Mom, she's waiting for you."

Gu Fanxing took the phone and said softly, "Auntie, thank you for your concern. Please don't be too tired."

When Pei's mother heard Gu Fanxing's voice on the other end of the phone, she smiled instantly and said in a gentler tone: "I'm not tired, I'm not tired. As long as you can come, I can't be more happy."

After hanging up the phone, Gu Fanxing looked at Pei Luonan, her eyes full of anticipation, but also a little nervous: "This is my first time to your house for the New Year. Will I behave badly? What if Auntie and Grandma don't like me?"

Pei Luonan held her hand, and warmth came from his fingertips.

"No, my mom and grandma have long considered you one of their family. Look, they've prepared so much for you, just waiting for you to go. Besides, you don't have to be afraid, I'm here with you. I'll always be with you."

As the night deepened, the lights in the Pei family's living room were still on.

Mother Pei was preparing ingredients in the kitchen, Grandma Pei was sewing handkerchiefs, Father Pei was pasting Spring Festival couplets, and Pei Luochuan was helping to hang lanterns. The whole family was busy under the lights, but the atmosphere was full of warmth.

They knew that this year's Spring Festival would be extra lively because of Gu Fanxing's arrival; and this liveliness was not only the joy of the New Year, but also a family's most sincere expectation for the "new member".

The bacon on the balcony is still emitting fragrance, the bedding in the guest room still smells of sunshine, and the blue and white porcelain jar on the coffee table is filled with pumpkin seeds. Everything is quietly waiting.

Waiting for Gu Fanxing's arrival on the New Year's Eve of the twelfth lunar month, waiting for this family to welcome a new member and a new year full of laughter and joy.