EBE Chapter 376 The New Year's Eve Dinner of Two Families
Chapter 376 The New Year's Eve Dinner of Two Families
Huang Ling took the cashmere sweater, her fingers gently stroking the soft fabric, a look of surprise flashing in her eyes.
She glanced at Pengfei in front of her again, and her brows furrowed instantly.
This wool sweater costs over 400 yuan at the People's Department Store. Where did this kid get so much money?
Was it to save money that they painstakingly extracted it from their mouths, bit by bit?
Thinking of this, she looked at Pengfei's thin face with heartache, her tone tinged with anger. "Pengfei, are you skipping meals at school?"
Pengfei watched as his aunt's face changed very quickly. He had been very happy with her, but now she was all smiles. His expectant face instantly turned tense, and he hurriedly tried to explain.
“Auntie, the money to buy the sweater was earned from my part-time job selling plastic bags. I really didn’t starve myself.”
Zhuang Chaoying stepped forward and patted Pengfei on the shoulder. "Pengfei, your aunt is angry because she's worried about you. She's afraid you'll exhaust yourself buying us so many things. We really like these gifts, but you're still in school, so don't neglect yourself. Make sure you eat well, and save your money for yourself instead of spending it recklessly."
Pengfei nodded understandingly.
"Uncle, I understand."
Huang Ling pulled Pengfei to a chair, holding his arm tightly, her brow still furrowed. "Pengfei, selling plastic bags without a business license, won't we get arrested...?"
Looking at his aunt's concerned eyes, Pengfei felt a warmth in his heart, as if he were seeing his own mother far away in Guizhou Province, and a bright smile appeared on his face.
"Auntie, you can rest assured. I'm very clever. As soon as I see someone coming, I'll run away. I definitely won't get caught."
Huang Ling ran her fingertips along the texture of the cashmere sweater, then looked up. "Did you buy some for your parents?"
Pengfei shook his head slightly, quickly calculating his income and expenses over the past two and a half months. He had earned a total of 1,580 yuan selling plastic bags. The school subsidy was enough for his daily meals.
He sent 500 yuan to his parents, spent 500 yuan picking out gifts for his uncle, aunt, and Xiaoting, and had more than 500 yuan left.
In addition to the two hundred yuan his aunt gave him when school started, he now has more than seven hundred yuan in savings.
Pengfei still remembers very clearly the time he, Xiaoting, and Dongzhe secretly ran away to Shanghai when they were children.
At that time, my uncle and aunt hurriedly dragged them back. My aunt was so angry that she picked up a broom and started hitting them, and my uncle also started cursing.
Even though he was scolded and beaten, Pengfei felt no resentment. The beating made him realize that his aunt did not treat him as an outsider.
"I didn't buy them any gifts; I just sent money back home so my mom wouldn't nag me about wasting money."
Huang Ling reached out and patted Pengfei's head. "Your mother doesn't want you to spend money on them. Pengfei, your aunt appreciates your kindness. Since you don't have a formal job yet, don't buy such expensive things for your aunt and uncle in the future."
Pengfei shook his head firmly again, his gaze sincere. "Auntie, Uncle, in my heart, you are just as important as my parents. When I make a lot of money in the future, I will buy you even more expensive and nice things!"
. . . . . . .
After Pengfei left, only Zhuang Chaoying and Huang Ling remained in the room.
Zhuang Chaoying looked at the brand-new briefcase on the table, her eyes welling up with tears. This sentimental person just couldn't bear it; her tears seemed worthless.
Who says sincerity can't be reciprocated? Over the years, he and Ah Ling have loved Pengfei unconditionally, and the boy has truly kept that in his heart.
In Zhuang Chaoying's view, true relatives are not like Grandma Zhuang, who only say nice but insincere words.
Instead, they treated Pengfei, Xiaoting, and Tunan with the same care and strict discipline they showed.
Huang Ling couldn't wait to put on the wool sweater, stand in front of the wardrobe, and look herself up and down in the mirror.
The cashmere sweater is in this year's most popular chrysanthemum red color; it's not only stylish but also fits perfectly.
"Chaoying, Pengfei is so thoughtful. It's just too expensive. I feel a little sorry for him spending so much money, but more importantly, it's his intention. As long as the child cares about us, I'm happy."
As Huang Ling spoke, she gently stroked the cashmere sweater.
“Pengfei is nothing like his maternal grandparents; he is so sensible that it breaks your heart.”
Zhuang Chaoying lay on her side on the bed, looking at A-Ling, and responded with a smile. "Don't say that in front of Hua Lin. She least wants to become like her parents. Pengfei is like Hua Lin at heart. Besides, Pengfei is so sensible, you should know who taught him."
Huang Ling carefully took off the cashmere sweater, folded it neatly, and put it in the closet. "You're getting all worked up over me. It's all thanks to you, okay? This is the first cashmere sweater Pengfei ever bought for me. I have to keep it to wear for the New Year."
He patted the bedside and said softly, "Come on, Ah Ling, it's getting late, let's go to sleep."
. . . . . . . . . .
On New Year's Eve, the two families sat together to prepare the New Year's Eve dinner.
It was cold outside, but warm and cozy inside, with steam rising from the iron stove.
During this extraordinary time of hepatitis A outbreak, the two families relied on each other and supported each other, giving this year a special meaning.
Several children gathered around, making glutinous rice balls.
Zhuang Xiaoting's eyes drifted to Dong Zhe's side, and the corners of her mouth turned up. Lin Dong Zhe was also responding with his eyes.
Fortunately, the adults were engrossed in watching TV and working, not paying attention to them. Pengfei quickly kicked him, then leaned closer and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Lin Dongzhe, that's enough. If your uncle and aunt find out about you and Xiaoting, hmph, they'll be tortured."
Tu Nan placed the minced meat on the table and watched the two of them whispering to each other. "What are you two talking about?"
Lin Dongzhe smiled. "Pengfei told me that a new batch of Hong Kong horror movies arrived at the video arcade, and he wanted me to go with him because he's scared."
Upon hearing the word "video arcade," Huang Ling knew all sorts of people lived there, and it wasn't safe at this time. "Pengfei, Dongzhe, no one will care if you stay home and watch TV. But infectious diseases are rampant right now, so it's best not to go out."
"I know, Auntie. I was just joking with Dongzhe. I don't plan to go."
The news on TV was broadcast on time.
Along both sides of the road, numerous scenes of people scrubbing toilets have been observed, with some even pouring the used toilet water directly onto the roadside, severely violating fecal hygiene management requirements. This behavior directly contaminates the habitat of blood clams, making them a major culprit in the spread of hepatitis A. To date, 300,000 people in Shanghai have been infected with hepatitis A. Fecal management is an urgent issue that must be addressed immediately.
Song Ying kneaded the dough in her hand into glutinous rice ball wrappers and sighed, "It seems that no one will come to visit for the New Year this year. We don't need to visit other people's homes either. I guess my sister and Lao Wu won't dare to come either."
Huang Ling added the seasoned meat filling to the glutinous rice flour, kneaded it into a ball, and said in a relaxed tone, "It's quite peaceful this way. Our two families can close the door, eat and drink, and the eight of us can live a lively life. It's quite nice."
The female host's voice came through the television again.
Crowded living conditions and poor ventilation create favorable conditions for the rapid spread of hepatitis A. Relevant departments should vacate large warehouses and use them as temporary isolation facilities for patients…
Song Ying stared at the TV screen, utterly astonished. "Shanghai is so crowded!"
Lin Gong casually popped a peeled sunflower seed into Song Ying's mouth. "College students want to stay in Shanghai, educated youth want to return to the city, and their children also want to go back to Shanghai. How can Shanghai not be crowded?"
Seeing that they had almost finished making the glutinous rice balls, Zhuang Chaoying stood up and looked at her watch. "I'll go boil some water. It's already past seven o'clock, and the Spring Festival Gala will start soon."
. . . . .