Walking with the Villain, Lou Xiao'e's Alternative Love

Seeing his elder sister and brother all got big red envelopes, Xu Xiaobao blinked his big eyes as if to say: "I want one too! I want one too!"

He walked to his grandparents, gently tugged at the corner of grandma's clothes with his tender little hands, with a pleading light in his eyes, and said in a baby voice: "Grandma, I also want a big, red bag like my brother and sister!"

It is said that the eldest son and grandson are the lifeblood of the old man and old woman. This is absolutely true.

Mother Xu looked at her precious grandson and smiled so hard that her teeth showed but her eyes did not. "Oh my precious grandson, I can't help you with this matter. If you want a red envelope, go and wish your uncle and aunt a happy new year. Say a few auspicious words and I guarantee you will get the red envelope."

Seeing that his grandmother didn't help, Xu Xiaobao looked at his mother, as if seeking help.

The eldest sister-in-law spread out her hands and said, "Mom doesn't have a red envelope as big as your old aunt's."

Xu Xiaobao looked at the second aunt again. Xu Daye and the eldest sister-in-law had the same actions. "The second aunt didn't have any either."

Lou Xiao'e held back her laughter and waved the red envelope in her hand, as if to say, "Come here, my dear nephew, my red envelope is jumping all over."

Seeing that his request for help was futile, Xu Xiaobao walked slowly to the cushion and knelt down with his chubby little body.

With this bow, I feel so happy that I have met a soulmate, and I am so happy to receive the red envelope. With this bow, I kneel down and kowtow with no change in my determination. Auntie, give me the red envelope quickly, give it quickly.

"Hahaha……"

That little person actually became angry.

Everyone in the room was laughing so hard that they were bent over. Even Xu Bao, who was helped up, was laughing along with his little teeth bared.

Seeing his nephew making a fool of himself, Xu Damao whispered to his wife, "Look at how embarrassed the kid is. Let's give him the red envelope."

Lou Xiao'e rolled her eyes at him, then looked at Xu Bao and said, "Xiao Bao, do you still want the red envelope from Auntie?"

"I want it." Xu Bao nodded repeatedly.

"Then do you want to continue to wish your uncle and aunt a happy new year? Our Xiaobao is a little man, and he can't give up halfway, right?"

Xu Bao seemed to understand what Lou Xiao'e said, and slowly knelt down on the mat.

Then the child lowered his head and started picking his fingers.

The eldest sister-in-law knew that her son wanted to say hello again, so she reminded him: "Son, think about what the people who came to our house to wish your grandparents a happy new year said, and then think about how your brother Hao wished you a happy new year."

Hearing this, Xu Bao's little head started to turn quickly, his eyes flickering, as if he was searching for those New Year greetings scenes in his mind.

After a moment, he suddenly raised his head, a smug smile bloomed on his little face, and he said crisply: "Uncle and aunt, Happy New Year! I wish you, I wish you good fortune as vast as the East Sea, and a long life as great as the Southern Mountains!"

After saying this, he even kowtowed, imitating his brother's behavior.

Don’t even mention how serious that little look is.

Lou Xiao'e laughed so hard that tears came out of her eyes, and quickly handed the red envelope to Xu Bao: "Oh, our Xiaobao is really great."

Xu Bao took the red envelope with his eyes shining, as if the red envelope contained not only money, but also a lot of candies.

He hurriedly thanked her: "Thank you, old aunt! I wish you become uglier and uglier." This sentence caused another burst of laughter, and the atmosphere in the room became more warm and harmonious.

The elder sister-in-law was very pleased to see her son being well-behaved. She knew that such traditional customs were not only a manifestation of a sense of ritual, but also a way for children to learn gratitude and blessings through participation, and feel the warmth of home and the power of family affection.

Next, Lou Xiao'e and Xu Damao gave the cotton-padded clothes and gifts they brought to their families.

Finally, she took out the silver jewelry that her parents asked her to pass on, a bracelet, a pair of earrings, and a ring inlaid with rubies for her mother-in-law.

The ones given to my eldest sister-in-law and second sister were a pair of bracelets and a pair of earrings.

As she handed the jewelry to several people, she said, "Although these jewelry are not expensive, my parents hope that our family can always be harmonious and happy, and our lives will become more and more prosperous."

The mother-in-law took the jewelry, her eyes slightly red, she gently stroked the delicate bracelet, as if she could feel the warmth of the former boss: "Xiao'e, when you go back, please say hello to the boss and his wife on my behalf."

The eldest sister-in-law and the second sister also held their bracelets and earrings tightly, "Xiao'e, please say hello to my and my sister-in-law too." The second sister took Lou Xiao'e's hand, her gratitude evident in words.

Xu Damao watched this scene from the side, feeling warm in his heart. He gently put his arm around Lou Xiaoe's shoulders, and their eyes met. No need to say more, everything was said without words.

"Okay, keep your gifts safe. When we have the chance to go into the city in the future, we will go and thank them in person," said Father Xu.

"Yes, there will always be a chance." Xu's mother continued.

The long-lost family affection and the warm kang put Lou Xiao'e in a good mood.

The family chatted happily for a while, and the eldest sister-in-law and the second sister started to prepare dinner.

Lou Xiao'e wanted to go with them, but her mother-in-law wouldn't let her. "You and Damao have been sitting in the carriage for half a day. Come on and sit on the kang to warm up. Your sister-in-law's cooking skills are famous in the surrounding villages. Just let your second sister help her."

"Mom, I can't help with anything else, but I can at least help put firewood into the stove. My second sister, the live-in aunt, is working hard, and I, as a daughter-in-law, can't be lazy." Lou Xiao'e insisted on going down to the field.

Seeing that Lou Xiao'e insisted, the mother-in-law went to the cupboard to find her new cotton-padded jacket and handed it to her, "Put on mom's cotton-padded jacket, don't get yours dirty."

Lou Xiao'e was not pretentious and quickly changed into her mother-in-law's flowery cotton jacket.

Not to mention, if she ties a floral scarf around her neck, she'll look like a total country girl.

The kitchen was filled with fragrance. The eldest sister-in-law was chopping vegetables skillfully, the second sister was helping her, and Lou Xiao'e was sitting in front of the stove adding firewood. The three of them were talking and laughing, and the scene was very warm.

My mother-in-law led several men to make dumplings in the house.

Soon, delicious dishes were served on the table.

Sweet and sour pork, candied sweet potato, braised prawns, fried meat with fungus, scrambled eggs with green onions, braised lion head, boiled pig's trotters, stewed chicken with mushrooms, platter of bacon and sausage, stewed pork ribs with sauerkraut and frozen tofu.

The whole family sat together and enjoyed this sumptuous reunion dinner.

Everyone ate and talked, laughing all the time.

When the wine got stronger, the father-in-law started talking about the Xu family's affairs.

"When your grandparents were alive, our family was very poor, so your mother and I left the three of you in the care of your grandparents and went into the city.

We were lucky. I got a job at the steel mill and your mother joined the Lou family.

Later, the factory allocated housing and we took Damao in.

It’s not that I don’t love you two older kids, it’s just that I can’t take care of you all.

I had planned that when Damao grew up, I would let him take over and get married, and then we would come back to take care of your grandparents.

This guy is lucky. He was favored by his boss and ended up marrying Xiao'e.

Later, your mother quit her job at the Lou family, thinking that she would return to the countryside after we had our grandson. But we waited and waited but there was no news. Your grandparents were getting worse day by day, so we came back.

Alas! For all these years, I have been such an unfilial son!

But when I had some extra money, your grandparents went there one after another.

I also arranged for the eldest and second child to get married early in the countryside. It’s your parents who are sorry for you.”

"Dad, please don't say that. You and mom send most of your salary back to us for us to spend. You haven't let us down in any way." It was rare for the eldest brother Xu Dazheng to speak such a long speech.

"Yes, Dad, my grandparents and I lived just as well as you did in the city.

Grandma said that if you and mom hadn’t gone to the city, our family’s days would have been endless.

Besides, what's wrong with the countryside? My brother and I don't think it's bad. Right, brother?"

"Da Ye is right. No matter where you are, as long as you have a good life, it's fine. The city is not necessarily better than the countryside."

The eldest sister-in-law continued what the eldest brother said, "Dad, you shouldn't say that. If you had brought Da Zheng and Daye to the city, what would my second brother-in-law and I do? I don't believe that Da Zheng would marry me after he came to the city. Don't you think so, second brother-in-law?"

Zhang Fugui quickly replied, "Sister-in-law is right. If Daye goes to the city, she definitely can't marry me. If she doesn't marry me, who knows whose son my son will be."

Xu Daye chuckled and said, "For my son's sake, I have to marry you."

"That's right, Dad," Xu Dazheng looked at his father with a smile, "You see, we brothers and sisters can be self-sufficient in the countryside and even save some money for the family.

Although the city is nice, our hearts and roots are here.

If we take good care of our home, our lives will naturally become more prosperous.”

After hearing what the children said, Mr. Xu's eyes turned red and his heart was filled with relief.

"Okay, okay, seeing you guys are so sensible, I feel relieved.

I am old and confused. I always want to push you away and forget that the roots and soul of our family are here.

From now on, we will work together to make our family's life more prosperous and make everyone in the village envy us!"

Xu Damao and Lou Xiao'e felt indescribably touched and warm in their hearts when they listened to their family's words.

"Mom and Dad, if we brothers and sisters work together, we can not only protect this land left by our ancestors, but also make our small family the pride of the village." Xu Damao's words were full of power.

Lou Xiao'e added gently, "Besides, if our family wants to live in the city, Damao and I will definitely find a way to make it happen."

After hearing this, Father Xu nodded again and again, "Good boy, your mother and I have lived for most of our lives, and the most gratifying thing is to see you so successful and so loyal. With you in our family, there is no need to worry about not having a prosperous life!"