The first day of the Lunar New Year, they got up early and greeted each other with New Year wishes.
The Li family's courtyard was bustling with activity.
The liveliest, of course, were Li Weixin, Chen Jiqing, and Chen Jixiang.
The three of them, using their age as an excuse, asked everyone for New Year greetings and then held out their hands for red envelopes.
The adults, with a helpless smile, gave the three of them small red envelopes.
Li Weixin followed behind Chen Jiqing and Chen Jixiang, catching hold of the two older brothers and also reaching out for red envelopes.
One couldn't hit people on the first day of the Lunar New Year, so Li Weihao and Li Weibo could only give him red envelopes.
Yu Ziyu also gave him one: "I guess this is the only time you'll get to be this rambunctious."
Li Weixin took the red envelope, thanked her, and asked why.
Yu Ziyu shook the phone in her hand: "I've already added you to a group chat. It's full of beautiful women."
"You go make a splash in the group yourself. Once you find someone you like, I'll play matchmaker. When you're no longer single, you won't get any more red envelopes."
Last night, she had thought that she couldn't possibly ask her childhood friends one by one if they liked younger boyfriends. It was Li Weibo who suggested creating a group chat and inviting all the single childhood friends and Li Weixin.
Li Weixin happily turned and ran off. What did it matter if there were no red envelopes? He was going to find a girlfriend to alleviate his loneliness. "I'm going to get my phone."
He not only got his own phone but also Li Weihao's.
Li Weihao's phone was only for calls; he didn't even have any chat apps installed.
Li Weixin downloaded one, registered an account, and then asked his second sister-in-law to help him join the group.
When returning Li Weihao's phone, Li Weixin also taught him how to use it.
Li Weihao was unwilling. He didn't even send text messages, so why bother with chat apps? He was about to leave the group and uninstall the app.
"That's the group the second sister-in-law created. It's full of her childhood friends."
His younger brother's words made his hand freeze.
"Ahem," he coughed lightly. "You were just saying how to use it?"
Li Weixin leaned beside his elder brother and taught him how to type and send messages, and how to talk to specific people.
After teaching him, he asked in a low voice: "Brother, you don't... woo."
Li Weixin's mouth was covered by his elder brother: "Be careful of what you say! I just envy your second brother's good fortune."
Li Weixin nodded repeatedly before his brother released his mouth:
"I guessed so. Actually, the second sister-in-law's personality is also suited to being a leader, but she's held back by her family."
"You must observe carefully in the group. If the second sister-in-law finds someone suitable and they get along, she'll play matchmaker."
Li Weihao turned and left: "I just want to get to know these people better."
Li Weixin made a face behind his brother's back. I'd believe that if I were stupid!
Hmph! Wasn't it just that seeing his second brother's happiness had stirred his youthful longing?
After breakfast, many villagers came to pay their respects to Mayor Li.
Li Zhengguo patiently entertained them one by one.
The mayor's wife, tired of socializing, went to the kitchen to seek refuge.
The kitchen also served as a sanctuary for Li Weibo and Yu Ziyu. The visitors, intentionally or unintentionally, inquired about the Yu family's situation.
During the New Year, many people had visited the Yu family, but they didn't ask Yu Ziyu about brothers and sisters, or if her siblings were married, like the villagers did.
It wasn't that she looked down on farmers, but these people were too far-fetched.
What was the difference between the children of uneducated and incapable farmers wanting to marry into military families and a fantasy?
It wasn't until lunch that the hustle and bustle in the four courtyards ended.
Tian Jing curiously asked why so many people had come to pay their respects this year.
Li Zhengguo glanced at Yu Ziyu and said: "They somehow learned of Yu Jinghai's identity and have come to test whether I will continue to be promoted."
"I expect the next few days will be sleepless."
Tian Jing frowned: "Who spread the word? Xiaobo only mentioned Ziyu's hometown and education."
Li Zhengguo didn't know: "I suspect it's Chairman Ji's rival, who is worried I'll take Chairman Ji's position."
"Walls have ears. Yu Jinghai's identity cannot be kept secret forever."
"I only said I would retire when I reached retirement age."
Yu Ziyu guiltily reflected: "Their questions already exposed it. I've become too accustomed to my own identity and didn't notice such a big loophole. It's unacceptable."
"It's okay, it's okay," Tian Jing quickly comforted her. "Before, I just wanted to live a quiet, leisurely life."
"Who knew that the more I wanted leisure, the more trouble I couldn't avoid?"
"Later, I stopped caring. I've been quite public-facing lately."
"Perhaps because I don't have any rivals, and my identity is a bit special, people don't dare to offend me easily."
Li Zhengguo sighed: "It's precisely this kind of situation that I dislike, which is why I didn't want to climb higher. Who knew I'd be forced into it anyway?"
Tian Jing glanced at him: "My true backing is me. They wouldn't dare to go too far. You just be yourself."
Tian Jing's words eased the atmosphere.
Li Weixin patted his chest: "Dad, don't be afraid. Your second brother and I are also your backing."
Li Zhengguo glared at his youngest son: "By the time you can support me, I'll have retired."
Li Weixin denied: "There are still twelve years until you retire. In these twelve years, it's impossible for me not to climb up."
Li Zhengguo asked him back: "Where are you going to climb up to?"
Li Weixin raised his chin: "My goal is Captain Zeng's position."
Li Zhengguo nodded: "Not bad, a decent ambition. You go for it. For now, I'll rely on your mother."
Li Weihao and Li Weibo also joined in the teasing, saying that in the future, they would also rely on Captain Li.
...
For four consecutive days, the courtyard was continuously visited.
Not only people from the north of the county but also from the east, west, and south lines.
On the sixth day of work, Li Zhengguo handed the New Year work arrangement plan he had drafted over the past few nights to his three deputies.
Then he submitted his own leave request for half a month, after which he left with his wife and second son, who were waiting for him outside the town government.
The visitors had also specifically chosen to come to the courtyard during Mayor Li's commute to find out that the mayor had taken leave to meet his future in-laws.
Li Weihao blamed his younger brother for exposing their father's true intentions.
"Being secretive will only make those with many thoughts even more suspicious. It's better to tell them directly and scare them to death."
Li Weixin, carrying two duffel bags, called to Little Black: "Little Black, it's time for us to rejoin the team."
Little Black lay beside Li's mother and refused to move.
Li Weihao picked up two baskets filled with jars: "Little Black, let's go."
Little Black immediately jumped up and followed Li Weihao.
Li's mother smiled and said: "I'll stew some more for you in a few days and have your mother send it over, okay?"
Before Li Weihao and Li Weixin could answer, Little Black "woofed" and turned to Li's mother.
Li Weixin chided it: "You're treating Grandma and Mom like your own grandmother and mom."
"Whimper." Little Black whined at him, then led the way out of the courtyard.
Li Weixin waved to his grandmother: "Grandma, when I have a girlfriend, I'll bring her back to see you."
"Okay, okay, okay."
Li's mother's eyes crinkled into a smile, hiding the moisture within.
Only after the two grandsons had left home did she raise her hand to wipe away her tears.
"I knew it!" Li Min rushed in. "I knew you were secretly crying again, missing them. Just ask your sister-in-law to take you in to see them. Isn't she the deputy captain?"
Her gloomy mood was dispelled by her daughter's words, and Li's mother chided:
"That place isn't somewhere you can just visit. Don't talk nonsense."
"Hmph!" Li Min snorted heavily. "She can take little brother in, she can take you in too. Next time, I'll speak for you."
After saying that, before Li's mother could say anything else, she pulled Li's mother outside:
"Come on, let's go for a walk. You've been revolving around the stove for over half a month."
"Don't drag me," Li's mother struggled. "I still need to sort out extra bowls and plates and put them away."
Li Min wouldn't let go: "Let's go see Hua'er's belly. We can come back to sort them out later."
"Alright," Li's mother agreed. "Didn't she say she was going for an ultrasound? Let's accompany Hua'er to the health clinic."