Chapter 121: New Year’s Eve

“Old Xiao, how can you be so clumsy? You can’t even put up a couplet properly. Honestly.” Xu Qiaoling, apron wrapped around her waist, one hand on her hip, the other directing Mr. Xiao as he tried to hang the couplet.

“Crooked, crooked! Move it a little to the left. Oh no, that’s to the right! Left, left. You’re hopeless—can’t even tell left from right.”

Flustered, Mr. Xiao fumbled with the couplet, sweat beading on his forehead from Xu Qiaoling’s sharp remarks. He was at a loss on how to affix it correctly.

“Mom, stop picking on Dad. Look what you’ve done to him.” Xiao Lin chuckled from the sofa, watching his dad being scolded by his mom. Usually, Xiao Lin would put up the Spring Festival couplets, but this year, with his hand still injured, it fell to his father. Unfortunately, Mr. Xiao hadn’t done it in years, so he was naturally awkward.

“Dad, you should actually hang the ‘Fu’ character upside down. That’s the trend this year.” Xiao Lin offered a helpful tip.

“Why upside down?” Mr. Xiao asked, puzzled.

“Dummy, hanging ‘Fu’ upside down means ‘luck has arrived.’ Even your son knows that, I don’t know what I ever saw in you—clumsy as a pig.” Xu Qiaoling snapped, exasperated.

Mr. Xiao scratched his ear helplessly, chuckled awkwardly, and turned the ‘Fu’ character upside down before sticking it to the door.

When the last couplet was finally in place, Mr. Xiao exhaled deeply, as if emerging from battle.

“Not bad, but nowhere near as good as your son’s work. Here, Old Xiao, take this apron—we’re starting the big cleaning now.” Xu Qiaoling handed him another apron as she spoke.

“Ah, Qiaoling, isn’t it done once the couplets are up? I had plans to play cards with Old Zhang and the others.” Mr. Xiao looked disappointed.

“What cards? Get the house cleaned up quickly. Tonight, my parents, my brother, and sister are all coming for New Year’s Eve dinner. If the house’s a mess, they’ll laugh at us. No more excuses—get to work.” Xu Qiaoling plopped a newspaper hat onto Mr. Xiao’s head to keep dust from falling on him.

Sighing, Mr. Xiao resigned himself to helping with the cleaning.

Today was New Year’s Eve, a day of great importance to the Chinese. It was a day to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new, to eat reunion dinners, hang couplets, and thoroughly clean the house inside and out. Tonight, Xiao Lin’s grandfather, grandmother, uncle, and aunt would come over for the reunion dinner. They would bring along their entire families. Because the parents had divorced a few years back, Xiao Lin used to spend New Year’s Eve with his mother at his uncle’s or aunt’s house. But this year was different—the parents had remarried, and the grandparents were delighted. They decided to have dinner at Xiao Lin’s home. From early morning, Xu Qiaoling had been busy cleaning, shopping for groceries, and making dumplings.

Watching his parents bustling about, Xiao Lin felt useless at home and bored. Finally, he decided to take a walk.

Stepping out of the neighborhood, he saw the festive spirit everywhere—couplets hung on every door, red lanterns swaying in the breeze. Not far off, several children were setting off firecrackers. The familiar crackling sounds and innocent laughter brought back memories of his childhood.

As a child, Xiao Lin celebrated the New Year in Snow Village. The rural festivities were far more vibrant than the city’s. Villagers treated the holiday as a momentous event, starting preparations early and following many traditions. The activities were lively: hanging couplets, steaming buns, slaughtering pigs, cleaning the house, buying firecrackers, making new clothes, cutting paper-cuts, steaming rice cakes, and more. He fondly remembered the rice cakes his grandmother used to steam—such a taste he would never forget. But after his grandfather passed, she never steamed rice cakes again.

Watching the adults slaughter a pig was fascinating as a child; in the countryside, being able to do so was a mark of great skill, a task not everyone could handle. Xiao Lin’s grandfather was skilled at pig slaughtering, and the young Xiao Lin looked up to him, even dreaming of becoming as capable as his grandfather one day. Looking back, those were simple dreams.

New Year was a joyous occasion for Xiao Lin, not only because of the red envelopes but also because he and his friends would set off firecrackers, filling their pockets with them and lighting them all over the village, frightening cats and dogs into hiding. They would also skate on the frozen river, thick and strong enough to hold adults, let alone children.

But as he grew older, some moments could never be reclaimed, and some games existed only in memory. Now, New Year no longer brought the joy it once did. As one woman once said, she hated New Year because it only reminded her she had grown a year older without any real gain. Watching the children happily setting off firecrackers, their laughter ringing out, Xiao Lin felt a wave of bittersweet nostalgia.

Meanwhile, Wang Yuqing and Xu Qing were at the mall, picking out new clothes. Shangguan Xue’er had already returned to Mingzhu City. Xu Qing tried on one dress after another, while Wang Yuqing followed along, slightly helpless. Though she loved shopping, she only tried on clothes that suited her, unlike Xu Qing, who insisted on trying every beautiful piece regardless of fit.

“Xu Qing, have you finished picking? I need to go home and help my mom make dumplings.”

“Oh, Yuqing, look at all these gorgeous clothes! Making dumplings at home sounds so dull, and I’d get covered in flour anyway,” Xu Qing replied nonchalantly.

“Then you take your time. I’m not sticking around. Our house is packed with people—so lively! Way more fun than shopping with you,” Wang Yuqing pouted, turning to leave. But Xu Qing followed close behind.

...

After wandering around for a while, Xiao Lin grew tired and headed home. His grandmother, uncle, and aunt had already arrived. His grandfather, uncle, and uncle-in-law were playing cards with Mr. Xiao, while Xu Qiaoling, his grandmother, aunt-in-law, and aunt were busy in the kitchen making dumplings and preparing the reunion dinner.

“Brother Xiao!” a little girl, as cute as a doll, ran up to Xiao Lin, reaching out for a hug.

This was Xiao Lin’s aunt’s five-year-old daughter, nicknamed Niuniu.

“Niuniu, I can’t hug you this year,” Xiao Lin said, shaking his bandaged hand gently.

Niuniu, undeterred, pouted and nearly burst into tears when Xiao Lin refused to pick her up. Alarmed, Xiao Lin quickly promised her a gift, which brought the smile back to the little girl’s face.

“Xiao Lin, where’ve you been? Come on, let’s play a match. Today, I’m going to crush you,” a young man teased.

“Cousin, you know I can’t hold a mouse with this hand. How am I supposed to compete with you?” Xiao Lin shot him a disdainful look.

This was his uncle’s son, a university student in Mingzhu City who loved gaming, especially shooting games. Every year they played against each other, but Xiao Lin had never lost. His cousin would always boast about beating him badly, but it was always Xiao Lin who dominated.

“Heh, right, I forgot. Well, come watch me play—I’ve learned some new moves this year,” the cousin said, scratching his head sheepishly.

...

At seven in the evening, a lavish feast was spread across the dining table in Xiao Lin’s living room—lamb, fish, beef, seafood, and more. Each person had a large bowl of thin-skinned dumplings by their side. The eldest, Grandpa, sat at the head of the table. The reunion dinner came but once a year, when the house was at its liveliest.

Greedy little Niuniu was already gnawing happily on a huge chicken drumstick.

“Everyone, raise your glasses,” Grandpa said, his face flushed with warmth.

“Grandpa, I wish you good health and a long life,” said the cousin.

“Dad, take good care of yourself,” added Xiao Lin’s uncle.

“Grandpa, I wish you blessings as boundless as the Eastern Sea and longevity like the pine trees of the Southern Mountain,” someone else toasted.

“Old man, stay healthy!” another voice chimed in.

One by one, warm blessings and heartfelt wishes were exchanged. Everyone downed their first drink, though Xiao Lin sipped on juice as he was still on antibiotics and couldn’t drink alcohol.

They chatted and enjoyed the sumptuous meal. Tonight, as countless lights twinkled across the nation and families celebrated together, harmony at home meant all was well.

Meanwhile, Grandma Xiao was in Snow Village, celebrating New Year’s Eve her own way. Because Mr. Xiao had only one son, and no relatives from his hometown lived in Donghai City aside from friends, the people around the table were all from Xu Qiaoling’s side of the family.

“Dad, I wish you success in your career and good health,” Wang Yuqing said to her father, sending her blessings. Compared to Xiao Lin’s quiet gathering, Wang Yuqing’s family reunion was livelier, with more relatives in Donghai City gathering every year.

At eight o’clock, the Spring Festival Gala began. The wonderful performances on TV always drew applause, and watching the gala on New Year’s Eve had become an indispensable tradition.

Outside, fireworks lit up the sky in a dazzling display of color. Explosions of light illuminated the night, their brilliance announcing the arrival of the new year. Like shooting stars, the fireworks streaked across the heavens, magnificent but fleeting. Unconsciously, Wang Yuqing moved to the window, gazing at the brilliant spectacle. The warmth it brought was fleeting—like the beautiful moments she once shared with Xiao Lin, radiant but tinged with sorrow, like fireworks blooming in the night.