After a while of chatting, the mothers went to the kitchen to cook.
Qin Tian and Tang Heng were pulled out by their playful cousin Tang Wen. They bought a variety of firecrackers from the village store and found a place to set them off for fun.
Every year when they were children, they did a lot of this kind of thing when they gathered.
They blew up fish, tin cans, and even cow dung.
As they got older, these mischievous acts filled with happy childhood memories gradually became less interesting.
Tang Heng wasn't very interested, let alone Qin Tian.
Qin Tian was chatting with his cousin about university when suddenly there was a bang at his feet, startling them both.
He glared back impatiently, and as expected, his cousin Tang Wen was smiling like a sly fox who had achieved her goal, holding an open pack of snap pops.
These firecrackers would explode if thrown hard on the ground. They had little power but were quite effective for pranks and scaring people.
"This is for kids, aren't you being childish!"
Tang Heng showed a disgusted expression.
"This is called having a childlike heart, unlike you two old men, always chatting about senior girls and junior girls. I brought you here to play, not to chat."
Tang Wen said, then picked up another snap pop, making a move to throw it at their feet again.
"Alright, you want to play this, huh? Here, give me a pack, and let your brother teach you how to play!"
Tang Heng extended his right hand.
"Dream on, buy your own."
Tang Wen refused without hesitation, hiding the bag of firecrackers behind her.
"So stingy, who wants to play with you? Little brother, let's go, let's go back and play Doudizhu with my brother."
Tang Heng turned his head and suggested to Qin Tian.
Qin Tian smiled and was about to say something when his cousin's shout interrupted him.
"No way, what's the fun in playing cards with our own family? Brother Tian, don't listen to him, this is for you, let's blow him up together!"
Tang Wen handed over the remaining snap pops.
Qin Tian glanced at his cousin Tang Heng and took them.
"Hey, hey, hey, no way, you're going along with her madness too?"
Tang Heng stared at Qin Tian vigilantly.
"No, I'm not really in the mood to play these anymore."
Qin Tian smiled and shook his head.
"Hahaha... That's more like it, we're all college students now, this kind of thing for kids..."
"Boom boom boom!!!"
Tang Heng was choked mid-sentence by three consecutive explosions at his feet. He jumped back like a rabbit a couple of times and stared at Qin Tian, dumbfounded.
"Hahaha... Brother Tian, that was great!"
Tang Wen burst into laughter.
"Brother Heng, I think a man is a boy until death. It's still quite fun to play with these firecrackers once in a while."
Qin Tian grinned.
"You two... If you have the guts, give me a pack!"
Tang Heng scolded them with feigned anger.
"We won't, you called me childish. Look out!"
Tang Wen smiled smugly and threw two more snap pops.
"You little mosquito, you wait, I'm going to buy firecrackers."
Tang Heng shouted threats and ran towards the village store.
"Brother Heng, don't run!"
"A wise man knows when to retreat. I'll go buy weapons and equipment."
"Brother Tian, chase him!"
Tang Wen said to Qin Tian beside her.
"Got it!"
Qin Tian nodded with a smile.
Then the two of them began to chase their cousin Tang Heng, their laughter attracting the attention of many children in the village.
After Tang Heng bought some firecrackers, he began to counterattack them.
After a while of playing snap pops, the three of them went to the bridge and threw torpedoes into the river.
Before they knew it, a group of little followers had gathered behind them, all village children, watching them play with eager eyes.
"There's a pile of cow dung over there, let's go blow it up, it's fun."
A little kid with a runny nose pointed to the side of the road in the distance and said to Tang Wen, looking up.
"I'm not going, it's disgusting."
Tang Wen shook her head in disgust and refused.
She couldn't buy these firecrackers in the city. She only got to experience this kind of fun when she returned to her hometown every year. She didn't think she was childish, but blowing up cow dung was out of the question. That was something only snot-nosed brats liked to do.
"Go ahead, it's really fun."
"No, if you think it's fun, go yourself!"
"I don't have any firecrackers, can you give me a pack?"
"No, buy it with your New Year's money."
Tang Wen said lightly.
The sturdy little kid's expression froze, and he muttered, "My mom took all my New Year's money."
"Did she say she was keeping it for you? To give it back when you're older?"
Tang Wen asked with a smile.
"How did you know?"
The little kid looked at her, full of surprise.
"What a sad story."
Tang Wen looked at him with pity and took a pack of torpedoes from her bag and handed it over.
"Seeing how pathetic you are, I'll give it to you!"
"Thank you, sister!"
The little boy didn't realize what was pathetic about him at all. He happily took the torpedoes, then called two of his friends and ran towards the cow dung.
Beside them, Qin Tian and Tang Heng couldn't help but laugh at the scene.
Before long, their cousin Tang Chen called, asking them to come back for dinner.
After distributing the remaining firecrackers to the village children, they went home for dinner.
When they returned, platters of steaming dishes were already laid out on the dining table.
Tang Xiuxia placed a bowl of steamed fish on the table and said to the three of them, "Go wash your hands quickly, and then help carry the dishes."
The three nodded in agreement and went to the kitchen in the back to wash their hands.
Soon, all the abundant dishes and wine were served.
Their uncle opened two bottles of good wine he had brought back and helped pour drinks for everyone with his elder cousin.
With the drinks and beverages filled, everyone had gathered around the table.
"Come, come, our top scorer in the college entrance examination, say a few words."
Their uncle said with a smile.
Hearing this, everyone's attention immediately focused on Qin Tian.
Qin Tian didn't act coy. He smiled calmly and raised his glass, saying, "Then I wish everyone a Happy New Year again, and may Grandpa and Grandma have good health and all the best!"
"Good!!!"
Their uncle shouted enthusiastically.
"Good, good, good, let's drink, let's drink."
Grandpa smiled and repeatedly called out, raising his glass to join the toast.
Everyone also raised their glasses to drink together, and then they began to feast.
Half of the dishes on the table were various steamed dishes: steamed fish, steamed meat, steamed potatoes, steamed lotus root, steamed茼蒿...
This was also a custom in the countryside during festivals. For the younger generation who preferred stir-fried dishes and had heavier palates, it wasn't particularly delicious, but it was filled with the taste of home.
Eating, drinking, laughing, and chatting, and catching up on family matters, such reunion dinners were usually eaten slowly.
Under the onslaught of his uncle and two cousins, and by actively toasting his uncles and grandfather, Qin Tian drank quite a bit.
Before they knew it, the two bottles of white wine were finished. Fortunately, Qin Tian and his mother had also brought back a few bottles of good wine, and they opened two more bottles to continue drinking.
"Xiao Tian, it's been a year since I last saw you, and you've not only become the top scorer in the college entrance examination, but your alcohol tolerance has also greatly improved. Well done!"
Their uncle said with surprise.
"Not bad!"
Qin Tian smiled modestly.
With his current physical condition, it was indeed difficult to get drunk.