Chapter 131: New Year's Eve

With admiration for Li Daoyun, Li Xian returned home.

On the way back, Li Daoyun mentioned that his great-aunt's brother was likely lost near Keshan, but during the chaotic war years, people were like floating weeds, and it was uncertain if he stayed there or where he went afterward.

In the 1970s, Li Daoyun had made several trips to Keshan, but nearly thirty years had passed, and many of those he knew back then were no longer around, so there were no significant advancements.

The clues about his uncle, Yan Shuhua, seemed to have been lost from then on.

Li Xian didn't think it would be easy to find this person, but at least Li Daoyun provided his uncle's name and a hometown in Heze, Dazhou Township.

With the population census conducted twice now, most people have already been registered. With a name and hometown, there should still be hope.

Keeping this in mind, Li Xian busied himself upon returning home.

While they were at the grave, Li Pi had already brought Li Qing's family over. Wang Feng was stunned when she saw the Cherokee. The Wang family had been even poorer than the Li family before; they didn't even have a bicycle, let alone a car. Now that Li Xian had this vehicle, Wang Feng didn't even dare to greet them.

Although life with Li Qing still had its minor conflicts, there was money to spend, so there were no major issues.

In this relatively peaceful environment, Wang Feng had gained quite a bit of weight.

Seeing Wang Feng, who looked unsure of where to put her hands, Li Xian took the initiative to greet her.

It was now January 1993, and according to the normal historical trajectory, his second sister should be preparing for childbirth. Seeing that Wang Feng's belly seemed flat, Li Xian couldn't help but hint for the couple to hurry up.

Unexpectedly, Li Qing grinned and said they were already expecting.

This was a significant event, and upon hearing the news, Zou Ni and Li You were overjoyed. They immediately set aside some of the meat and wine planned for the next night's meal.

While the family was excited about the new addition, Li Xian noticed that Li Lingling seemed a bit down.

He shook his head.

Children's feelings are hard to hide, and seeing the undeniable sadness and red eyes, Li Xian quickly picked her up and comforted her.

The thought of seeing his own father and stepmother having a baby was heart-wrenching.

The cold weather outside made it a good time for bird trapping. Li Xian asked Li Pi to make a bird trap with bamboo sticks under Wu Shengli's guidance. He spent the afternoon with Li Lingling catching birds.

Despite the simple equipment, the birds were quite naive. With a handful of millet, they managed to trap eight or nine birds in one afternoon.

After Zou Ni boiled the birds, plucked the feathers, and removed the innards, they were roasted in the stove. After Li Lingling had a chance to eat the small birds, she finally brightened up.

Children are like that—they quickly forget.

However, considering Li Qing's current family situation, Li Xian planned to discuss with Li You about bringing the child back.

Wang Feng was a stepmother and was pregnant, and the impact on a six-year-old child due to the new baby was significant.

If circumstances allowed, Li Xian would have sent the child to school down the mountain. A new environment might be better.

With this in mind, he considered that although he had no money now, he still lacked a proper home after leaving the forest farm.

Looking back, it seemed like he should buy a house either in the Forestry Bureau or directly in Beilin City. Even if not lived in, it would still be a home.

Moreover, buying property now would definitely be profitable! He even thought that when New North Paper Industries was up and running and he had more money, he could buy up properties in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, leaving ten or eight houses in each city, making his child a real estate heir.

Imagining a future where if he had a less intelligent child and the teacher often contacted him, he could say, "Teacher, we have over forty properties in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. As long as the child's character is fine, don't bother me with academic issues," Li Xian felt quite satisfied.

Yes, after the New Year, he needed to work hard to make money!

On the first day of the new year, Li Xian set a goal for himself—save a few million as soon as possible.

Small goals, small goals...

With anticipation for these small goals, New Year's Eve arrived as scheduled.

On New Year's Eve morning, Wu Shengli got up early, tidied himself up, and distributed a thick stack of red envelopes.

First to Li Daoyun, then to Li Xian, Li Pi, and Li Jie, and then he specifically drove to Li Qing's house to give one to the unborn child as well.

Each red envelope contained twenty large reunification bills.

When Li Xian mentioned that he was a wealth-dispersing child, the old man was delighted. "Now that I have a son to provide for me in old age, what use is money? It's been years, and I've only wanted to enjoy the New Year like this once in a while, it's great!"

Seeing Old Wu so happy, Li Xian thought it was good that he was pleased.

According to family customs, everyone should gather for a New Year's meal at noon. However, dumplings were to be made in the evening.

At noon, the Li family of nine, plus Wu Shengli, gathered around the table for a meal.

After lunch, under Old Wu's strong request, Li Xian borrowed a mahjong set. Li Daoyun, Li You, Wu Shengli, and Li Xian played mahjong.

As the youngest, Li Xian was clearly at a disadvantage at the mahjong table. Observing Li Daoyun's Buddhist-like playstyle, Li You's slow tile arranging, and Wu Shengli's deceptive tactics, Li Xian made a clear assessment of his position.

It was just about making a point, this game of building blocks was simple.

In the afternoon, he lost all of Wu Shengli's twenty large reunification bills—two hundred yuan.

However, seeing the three old men so happy, Li Xian didn't feel too bad about losing.

In the evening, things were much more harmonious. Zou Ni, Wang Feng, and Li Jie were busy in the kitchen, while the remaining men sat cross-legged on the kang, eating sunflower seeds and peanuts, entertaining Li Lingling, and waiting to watch the Spring Festival Gala.

Li Xian didn't remember much about the 1993 Spring Festival Gala, but when familiar programs later seen on variety channels appeared, memories quickly resurfaced.

Seeing the still young Zhao Zhongxiang on stage wishing the nation a Happy New Year, Li Xian couldn't help but smile.

That deep voice always reminded him of the line, "Spring has come, everything is revived, and it's mating season for the animals in the rainforest…"

Yes, that was the feeling.

Regardless of age, everyone on the kang had no interest in song and dance programs. They waited for entertaining shows like magic tricks or humorous sketches.

Perhaps Li Xian's sense of humor was too high, or his values were different, or he had seen them before, but he didn't find sketches like Huang Hong and Wei Jianan's "Shoe Polishing," Yan Shunkai's "Zhang San," or Pan Changjiang's "Bridge" particularly funny. Even when Zhao Benshan's "Old New Year" with the line "take out the turtles and bleed them one by one" made everyone laugh, he found it particularly awkward.

Until the dumplings were ready, and the family gathered around the table eating and chatting, the song on the black-and-white TV finally caught Li Xian's attention!

"Tonight~ Snowflakes~ Are Falling…"

Under the accompaniment of the National Flower Dance Troupe, a singer who looked much younger and more graceful than Li Xian remembered, dressed in a white evening gown, slowly took the stage. Her distinctive voice emerged from the black-and-white TV without high or low tones.

Li Xian held his chopsticks and watched carefully.

A dumpling in his mouth had something hard in it. He used his tongue to press it, and the coin-sized object fell into his palm, drawing wishes from the table.

Noticing Li Xian's eyes remained fixed on the TV, an increasingly drowsy Li Daoyun raised his eyelids. Seeing the singer on the TV, he nodded, "This girl has a good fortune-bringing appearance."

Li Xian came to his senses, glanced at his old man, and raised his glass, "Grandpa, this glass is for you. Cheers."