diymy Chapter 110: Becoming a Family
Chapter 110: Becoming a Family
Chapter 110 We Became Family
On the morning of the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, the fog was thicker than the day before.
Jiang Yu stood by the kitchen window, watching the osmanthus tree in the yard appear and disappear in the morning mist, the white frost on the branches thicker than yesterday.
In the distance, East Lake was completely shrouded in mist, with only the occasional sound of a ship's horn, as if it came from another world.
Downstairs, you could hear Zhou Huiwen and Liu Xiaoli talking in hushed tones, along with the sound of running water from a tap.
"Huiwen, do we need to scale this fish?"
"Of course you have to scrape it. Look, scrape from the tail to the head, so the scales won't fly around."
"Oh dear, the fish is still moving—"
"It's fresh. Let me do it, you slice the ginger for me."
Jiang Yu, holding a coffee cup, leaned against the kitchen door frame and watched this scene.
Wearing her old floral apron, which she had used for many years, Zhou Huiwen was deftly preparing a lively grass carp.
Liu Xiaoli stood beside her, holding a kitchen knife, carefully slicing ginger into slices, scrutinizing each slice to ensure it was evenly cut.
These two women, who became best friends at a senior citizens' university in their previous lives, became inseparable partners ten years earlier in this life because of his relationship with Liu Yifei.
In the past few days, the two have been inseparable, going to the market together, studying recipes for the New Year's Eve dinner together, and watching prime-time TV dramas together at night. They would complain about the melodramatic parts together and shed tears together when they saw the touching parts.
Jiang Yu sometimes felt that the progress was too fast.
On second thought, I realized it wasn't so bad.
A healthy family relationship is one where parents have their own social circles and lives and don't have to revolve around their children all the time.
Footsteps echoed down the stairs as Liu Yifei descended, wearing fluffy bunny slippers.
Today she wore a light blue loungewear set, with a pair of long bunny ears on her hat that swayed with her movements. Her hair was loosely tied into a bun, with a few wisps falling around her neck, making her look soft and cute.
"Good morning." She rubbed her eyes and walked to Jiang Yu's side, naturally taking the coffee cup from his hand. She brought it to her lips and took a small sip, then her whole face scrunched up. "Ugh—it's so bitter—"
"No sugar added." Jiang Yu smiled and took back the cup. "I heated up some milk for you; it's keeping it warm on the stove."
"You understand me best." She tiptoed and kissed him on the cheek, her lips soft and slightly cool, then slipped into the kitchen like a little rabbit to fetch a glass of warm milk.
Zhou Huiwen turned her head and saw this scene, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons as she smiled: "Qianqian, did you sleep well? Are you getting used to it?"
'
"It's really good." Liu Yifei held the milk cup and sipped it slowly, leaving a faint white mark around the rim. "The mattress at Auntie's house is just the right firmness, and the blanket is so warm. I slept soundly until dawn."
"That's good." Zhou Huiwen nodded in satisfaction. "We're going out to buy New Year's goods today. What would you like to eat? Auntie will make it for you."
Liu Yifei's eyes immediately lit up: "I want to eat lotus root sandwiches and pearl dumplings! I saw others buying them in Hanzheng Street yesterday, and I've been craving them ever since."
"No problem, I'll make it at noon." Zhou Huiwen readily agreed, then looked at Jiang Yu, "Xiao Yu, go and call your dad down for lunch. Don't keep him fiddling with those blueprints in the study; breakfast's getting cold."
"it is good."
In the study, Jiang Jianguo was facing the heavy CRT monitor, on which were the design drawings of the Optics Valley commercial complex.
Hearing the door open, he didn't even look up: "Xiaoyu, you've come at the right time. Look at the location of this escalator. The designer said it's here for the smoothest flow of people, but I think it will affect the display area of the luxury store on the first floor—"
Jiang Yu walked over and stood behind his father, watching the screen.
Although the CAD drawings from 2009 were detailed, they still seemed somewhat rudimentary compared to the BIM 3D modeling he was used to in his previous life.
The escalator is indeed located in the main passageway, just as Jiang Jianguo said, directly opposite the planned luxury store area on the first floor.
"We can make it a curved escalator," Jiang Yu pointed to the screen. "This way, we can ensure foot traffic without it rushing directly into the shops. In addition, we can put brand display walls on both sides of the escalator, turning a disadvantage into an advantage."
Jiang Jianguo's eyes lit up: "A curved escalator—how much will that increase the cost?"
"Not by much. But the visual appeal and shopping experience will be greatly enhanced." Jiang Yu paused, "Dad, this project is our family's first large-scale commercial complex. If we're going to do it, we need to do it high-quality. We can't just think about short-term gains."
Jiang Jianguo pondered for a moment, then slapped his thigh hard: "You're right! If we're going to do something, we should do it the best. We can't let people laugh at our small family for lacking ambition."
He immediately jotted it down in his notebook: "Curved escalator — brand display wall — I'll communicate with the designer this afternoon."
"Dad, don't worry too much. Just let the team handle it." Jiang Yu looked at the dark circles under his father's eyes and knew that he must not have slept well these past few days.
"I know." Jiang Jianguo stood up and stretched his stiff neck. "This is a crucial step in our company's transformation, and I want to oversee it personally."
"Dad, you've done a great job," Jiang Yu said sincerely. "So many people were eyeing that piece of land in Optics Valley. The fact that you were able to secure it is a skill in itself. There are many people in Wuhan who can develop commercial real estate, but very few can snatch this piece of meat from a state-owned enterprise."
Jiang Jianguo smiled, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes smoothing out, and patted his son's shoulder: "Alright, stop flattering your dad."
"Come on, let's go eat. Don't keep your mom waiting."
Breakfast was already laid out in the restaurant.
In front of Liu Yifei was a bowl of sweet fermented rice balls. The small, white, glutinous rice balls floated in the amber-colored sweet fermented rice soup, sprinkled with golden osmanthus honey and bright red goji berries.
"Xixi, try this." Zhou Huiwen pushed the bowl in front of her. "I added osmanthus honey. You young girls like sweet things. It's warming and good for your complexion."
"Thank you, Auntie." Liu Yifei's eyes curved into crescents as she scooped up a glutinous rice ball with a white porcelain spoon, carefully blew on it to cool it down, and then put it in her mouth. "Mmm—delicious! The fermented rice is so fragrant, and the rice ball is so chewy."
"I'm glad you like it." Zhou Huiwen watched her eat with satisfaction, then turned and put the biggest fried dough stick on Jiang Yu's plate. "You should eat more too, you're so thin. You must not have been eating properly while you were out."
Jiang Yu looked at the mountain of food piled up in his bowl and said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, "Mom, I can't eat this much."
"Eat slowly if you can't finish it." Zhou Huiwen said firmly, "We're going to shop at the Lunar New Year market all day, so I won't have the energy if I don't eat more."
Liu Xiaoli smiled and said, "Huiwen, just keep spoiling her."
"If I don't spoil my own child, who will?" Zhou Huiwen said matter-of-factly. "Besides, Qianqian is practically my daughter now, so I have to spoil her even more."
Liu Yifei was drinking soup when she heard this. Her ears turned slightly red, and she lowered her head to eat the dumplings in small bites, but the corners of her mouth quietly curled up.
Breakfast was eaten in a warm atmosphere.
After dinner, the two families prepared to go out to buy New Year's goods.
Jiang Jianguo drove his black Land Rover Discovery 3 out of the garage. Zhou Huiwen sat in the passenger seat, while Jiang Yu, Liu Yifei, and Liu Xiaoli squeezed into the back.
The car drove out of the villa area and merged into the streets of Wuhan on the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month.
The trees lining the streets are adorned with red lanterns, and new "Fu" characters and Spring Festival couplets are pasted on the doors of shops. Some shops have already started playing festive New Year songs.
"Where to go first?" Jiang Jianguo asked, gripping the steering wheel.
"Let's go to Hanzheng Street," Zhou Huiwen said without hesitation. "They have the most complete selection of New Year's goods there, and many of them are time-honored brands."
Sissi hasn't been there, has she?
Liu Yifei shook her head: "I've never been there. I've always been in a rush when I come back for Chinese New Year, so I don't have time to explore."
"Let's have a good time today," Zhou Huiwen said with a smile. "Hanzheng Street is a landmark of Wuhan. Although it's not as popular as it was in the 1990s, it's still the place with the strongest festive atmosphere during the Lunar New Year."
The car couldn't go any further when it got near Hanzheng Street, as the roadside was already full of parked cars.
Jiang Jianguo finally found a parking space, parked the car, and the group walked into the main street of Hanzheng Street.
As soon as I got off the bus, a wave of lively noise hit me, as if I had been suddenly thrown into a boiling ocean.
The streets were lined with shops, a sea of red couplets, lanterns of all shapes and sizes, dried fruit and nuts stalls overflowing with melon seeds, peanuts, and pistachios, and rows of glistening cured meat hanging from the stalls selling preserved meats and sausages.
The sounds of hawking, haggling, children's laughter, and tricycle bells mingled together.
The air was filled with a complex aroma: the smoky scent of roasted melon seeds, the smoky aroma of cured meat, the sweet aroma of sugar-roasted chestnuts, and the oily fragrance of freshly fried food.
"How exciting!" Liu Yifei's eyes lit up. Although she was wearing a mask and hat, her excitement was evident.
As an artist, she hadn't strolled around the streets so carefree in a long time; this ordinary liveliness felt fresh and exciting to her.
Zhou Huiwen and Liu Xiaoli walked hand in hand in front of her, like a pair of real sisters.
The two stopped in front of a dried goods stall. Zhou Huiwen picked up a red date and examined it against the light: "This date is good, thick flesh, small pit, and the color is just right. I'll buy some to make eight-treasure rice."
"How much do you want?" Liu Xiaoli asked.
"Let's buy five catties," Zhou Huiwen calculated. "We can split it between our two families, and we can also make some jujube paste-filled steamed buns; Qianqian loves sweets."
"Oh dear, you don't need to buy so much—"
"No need for anything, just listen to me." Zhou Huiwen had already started having the shopkeeper weigh the dates. "Boss, how much are these dates?"
Jiang Yu and Jiang Jianguo followed behind and soon became porters.
Jiang Jianguo was carrying five jin of red dates, three jin of longan, and two jin of goji berries, while Jiang Yu was carrying two large bags of melon seeds and peanuts, as well as sugar-roasted chestnuts that Liu Yifei insisted on buying; she said they smelled so good that she couldn't resist.
Zhou Huiwen stopped in front of the couplet stall.
The stall owner was an elderly gentleman with gray hair, wearing reading glasses, with red paper spread out in front of him, and he was writing calligraphy on the spot.
A crowd had gathered around his stall, all watching him write quietly.
"Sir, could you write two for us?" Zhou Huiwen said, stepping forward after the people in front of her had finished buying. "One for the front door and one for the inside."
The old man looked up and adjusted his reading glasses: "What should I write?"
Zhou Huiwen thought for a moment and wrote: "On the front door, it says: 'Welcoming the New Year, the land is beautiful and splendid; bidding farewell to the old year, things are prosperous and glorious.' Inside the house, it says: 'Harmony in the family brings prosperity in all things; diligence brings an early spring.'"
""
"Good, a good meaning." The old gentleman nodded and picked up his brush to dip it in ink.
He licked the brush on the inkstone, his wrist hovering in the air, and when he put pen to paper, he was as steady as Mount Tai.
Red paper with black characters, each powerful regular script character leaps onto the paper, the ink slowly spreading on the red paper, carrying the elegance of a scholarly family.
Liu Yifei leaned closer to Jiang Yu and whispered, "Your mother is really cultured; she can even compose couplets herself."
"She's a professor in the Chinese Department at Central China Normal University, so this is basic skill," Jiang Yu laughed. "In the past, she would write the couplets for our family every year. Later, when I went to university, she found it troublesome and started buying ready-made ones. I don't know why, but this year she wants them handwritten again."
"Maybe it's because—" Liu Yifei said softly, looking at Zhou Huiwen's profile as she intently watched the old man write, "this year is different, isn't it?"
Because of the addition of new family members, we want to welcome this different year in the most traditional and solemn way.
Jiang Yu understood and turned to look at her.
Her eyes sparkled, and her long, thick eyelashes above her mask cast soft shadows in the thin winter sunlight.
He reached out and gently took her hand.
The couplets are written, but the ink is not yet dry; they need to be left to air dry.
While they were at it, the group went to buy lanterns, paper-cut window decorations, and the character "福" (fortune).
Zhou Huiwen chose a pair of exquisitely crafted large red lanterns, as well as various shapes of window decorations; the fish shape symbolizes abundance year after year, the character "福" (fortune) symbolizes good fortune coming to the door, and there was also a pair of cute rabbit window decorations.
"Next year is the Year of the Ox, but I think these rabbit paper-cuts are quite cute." Zhou Huiwen held up the rabbit paper-cut window decoration and examined it.
Moreover, Sisi was born in the Year of the Rabbit, so buying something with a rabbit pattern would be auspicious.
Liu Yifei took the pair of rabbit-shaped paper-cut window decorations, her eyes sparkling as if she had received some precious treasure.
She carefully put the paper-cut window decorations into her handbag, placing them on top of the bag so they wouldn't get crushed.
We had lunch at a time-honored restaurant near Hanzheng Street.
The restaurant was bustling with noise, and we finally managed to get a table that had just been cleaned up.
We ordered several signature dishes: steamed Wuchang fish, braised fish, lotus root and pork rib soup, and a large plate of hot dry noodles.
"This hot dry noodles are the most authentic in all of Wuhan," Jiang Jianguo told Liu Xiaoli, his tone filled with the pride of a native. "The sesame paste is homemade, the recipe has been passed down for three generations. The noodles are also custom-made, and they're chewier than other places."
Liu Xiaoli took a bite, savored it carefully, and then nodded: "It's really delicious. The sesame sauce is fragrant but not greasy, and the noodles are chewy. It's much better than those so-called Wuhan snack shops in Beijing."
"Of course," Zhou Huiwen said proudly. "The snacks from Wuhan change their flavor once they leave Wuhan. The local environment and climate..."
Ingredients and cooking skills are both essential. "Sisi, eat more, you're so thin!"
A small mountain of food quickly piled up in front of Liu Yifei. Zhou Huiwen put a piece of fish maw on her plate, Jiang Jianguo served her a bowl of soup, and Liu Xiaoli put a lotus root sandwich on her plate.
She ate with gusto, her cheeks bulging like a little hamster hoarding food.
Jiang Yu was worried that she would overeat, so he leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Don't force yourself if you can't eat."
"I can eat it," she mumbled. "It was picked up by my aunt and uncle, so I have to finish it."
Hearing this, Zhou Huiwen was even happier and served her another half bowl of soup: "Drink some soup to help you digest. Eat slowly, no rush."
We continued shopping after dinner.
In the afternoon, I mainly buy ingredients: fresh fish, meat, vegetables, and various seasonings.
Zhou Huiwen and Liu Xiaoli moved through the market with ease, like two experienced generals, haggling and picking and choosing, quick and sharp-eyed.
Soon, Jiang Jianguo and Jiang Yu were carrying large and small bags.
"Dad, did we buy too many?" Jiang Yu looked at the two live chickens still flapping in his hands, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
The chicken, its feet bound by straw rope, struggled unwillingly, its feathers flying everywhere.
"Not much." Jiang Jianguo carried two large, still wriggling grass carp in one hand and five pounds of pork ribs in the other. "The New Year should be celebrated like the New Year. If your mother is happy, let her buy it. It only happens once a year."
"But this is also—" Jiang Yu looked at the ingredients in his father's hand and began to calculate in his mind how many refrigerators would be needed to store them.
"No buts, hurry up and catch up." Jiang Jianguo had already started walking forward. "Your mom has her eye on that company's sausages again."
As evening fell, the group finally returned home laden with their spoils.
The Land Rover's trunk was packed full, and the back seats were also piled with a lot of stuff.
On the way back, Zhou Huiwen was still energetically taking stock: "We have the Spring Festival couplets, the lanterns, the paper-cut window decorations, the fish, meat, chicken, and vegetables—what's missing?"
"Firecrackers," said Jiang Jianguo, who was driving.
"Right! Firecrackers!" Zhou Huiwen slapped her thigh. "How can we celebrate the New Year without firecrackers? Xiaoyu, turn right at the next intersection and go to that firecracker specialty store. I remember it's on Luoshi South Road."
In 2009, the ban on fireworks in Wuhan's urban area was not as strict as it would later become.
The firecracker specialty store was packed with people, with firecrackers and fireworks of all sizes piled up like small mountains.
Zhou Huiwen chose a string of 10,000 large red beads, which has a loud sound and a good meaning.
We selected several more boxes of fireworks, including those that spray sparks, those that spin, and those that shoot into the sky and explode.
"The New Year should be celebrated in a lively and festive manner." She looked at the fireworks with a touch of nostalgia in her eyes. "When I was a child in my hometown of Huangshi, my grandfather would buy the biggest firecrackers every year and set them off promptly at midnight on New Year's Eve. The sound could be heard throughout the whole village. After setting off the firecrackers, the whole family would gather together to eat dumplings. That's what the New Year is all about."
Liu Yifei looked at the fireworks, her eyes shining: "Auntie, can I set them off?"
"Sure," Zhou Huiwen laughed. "Let Xiaoyu teach you. He was quite mischievous when he was little. He dared to set off firecrackers when he was seven or eight, which scared his dad half to death."
"Mom, please don't bring up my embarrassing past," Jiang Yu said helplessly.
"What dark history? That's just cuteness," Zhou Huiwen said confidently. "It's normal for boys to be a little mischievous. Unlike now, they're all cooped up in their rooms playing computer games."
By the time we finished buying the firecrackers, it was already getting dark.
As the car drove back to the Donghu Villa District, warm lights were on in every household.
Some houses already have lanterns hanging at their doors, their red light spreading out in the deepening twilight like blooming flowers.
When they got home, everyone collapsed onto the sofa, exhausted.
"Now this is what Chinese New Year should feel like." Zhou Huiwen leaned back on the sofa, sighed contentedly, and rubbed her sore calves.
Liu Xiaoli nodded and accepted the hot tea that Jiang Jianguo handed her: "Yes, in the past, it was just me and Qianqian celebrating the New Year, and no matter how much we prepared, it always felt lonely. This year it's so lively, this feels like home."
Liu Yifei was so tired that she was almost asleep leaning on Jiang Yu's shoulder. Hearing her mother's words, she mumbled sleepily, "Mom, can we do this every year from now on?"
"Okay, okay." Liu Xiaoli looked at her daughter with gentle eyes, "Let's do it this way every year from now on."
The 28th day of the twelfth lunar month passed by in a busy, fulfilling, and warm manner.
He recalled his past life, which was also the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month. He was alone in his Los Angeles apartment, facing a wall covered with business plans, with a desolate night view outside the window.
At that time, he thought success was all about numbers and an ever-expanding business empire.
Now he knows that there is another kind of success.
It's the aroma of food wafting from the kitchen, the satisfied smiles of your parents, the warm breath of your loved one leaning on your shoulder—it's this kind of mundane yet real warmth called "home."
The 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, the day before Lunar New Year's Eve.
Jiang Yu was awakened by the rich aroma wafting from the kitchen downstairs.
It's a complex aroma, the freshness of stewed chicken soup, the fragrance of braised pork, and the crispy aroma of fried food, all mixed together—it's the taste of Chinese New Year.
When he came downstairs, Zhou Huiwen and Liu Xiaoli were already busy in the kitchen.
On the stove, two clay pots were bubbling away, one stewing an old hen, and the other braising beef, eggs, and dried tofu.
In the oil pan next to them, golden-brown lotus root sandwiches were sizzling and turning, making an enticing sizzling sound.
"Awake?" Zhou Huiwen turned to look at him, still deftly wrapping egg dumplings. "Go wake Qianqian up. Today we're making fried meatballs, fried fish pieces, and fried spring rolls. Didn't she say she wanted to learn?"
"it is good."
Liu Yifei has woken up and is washing up.
When Jiang Yu knocked on the door and went in, she was applying toner to her face in front of the mirror, her cheeks still flushed with a faint pink from just waking up.
"Good morning." She looked at him in the mirror, her eyes crinkling. "It smells so good downstairs, it woke me up."
"My mom and aunt are preparing food for the New Year." Jiang Yu walked over, hugged her from behind, gently rested his chin on her shoulder, and smelled the faint scent of shampoo in her hair. "My mom wants you to go down and learn how to fry meatballs. She said she wants to pass on the family recipe to you."
"Really?" Liu Yifei's eyes lit up. She quickly applied face cream. "I'm coming right now! Let me tie my hair first!"
In the kitchen, Zhou Huiwen had already started preparing the minced meat.
Mince the pork belly into a paste, with alternating layers of fat and lean meat. Add minced scallions and ginger, two eggs, a suitable amount of starch, salt, pepper, and a small spoonful of cooking wine to remove any fishy smell.
Then she started stirring in one direction, her arms turning rhythmically, the minced meat making popping sounds in the bowl.
"Xixi, watch carefully." Zhou Huiwen explained while stirring, "The meat filling needs to be stirred until it's sticky and can be pulled into strands. That way, the fried balls will be chewy and won't fall apart."
Liu Yifei stood beside her, watching intently, like a studious student.
After the meat filling was prepared, Zhou Huiwen washed her hands and began to teach her how to roll the dumplings: "Wet your palms a little so they don't stick."
Take a small ball of minced meat, about this size.
She gestured the size of a quail egg, "Place it in your palm and gently roll it into a ball. Be careful with the pressure; don't use too much force, or the ball will be too firm and hard when it's fried; don't use too little force either, or it will fall apart."
Liu Yifei nodded, took a deep breath, and, imitating Zhou Huiwen, wet her palms and took a ball of minced meat.
She massaged it carefully, her brows slightly furrowed, her expression as focused as if she were completing a work of art.
The first dumpling was rolled out, but it was crooked and twisted, like an irregular potato.
She tried a second one, which was a little better, but still not round.
The third, the fourth—gradually, she got the hang of it, and the balls she rolled became rounder and rounder. By the tenth one, she was able to roll out small, smooth, and cute balls of uniform size.
"Sisi is so smart, she learns so quickly." Zhou Huiwen looked at the plate of dumplings she had made and nodded in satisfaction.
Liu Xiaoli, who was processing fish nearby, looked up when she heard this, her eyes full of pride: "She learns everything quickly, but she's just lazy and doesn't like to do things herself."
"Mom..." Liu Yifei protested, her voice trailing off, her face slightly flushed.
"Did I say something wrong?" Liu Xiaoli laughed. "I asked you to learn to cook at home, but you said it was fine as long as your mother cooked for you."
Now he's quite diligent.
"That's different—" Liu Yifei muttered softly, "This is to help out at Auntie's house."
Zhou Huiwen smiled and patted her head: "Good girl. Come on, let's start frying."
Making fried meatballs is a skill.
The oil temperature should be controlled at 60% heat. If it's too low, the dumplings will absorb too much oil; if it's too high, the outside will burn while the inside is still raw.
Zhou Huiwen tested the temperature of the pot with her hand and nodded: "It's ready."
She picked up a glutinous rice ball and gently slid it into the oil along the edge of the pan.
The dumplings sank to the bottom, then floated to the surface, tumbling in the oil until they quickly turned golden brown.
The first batch was fried by Zhou Huiwen. The meatballs were all golden and crispy. They were sizzling and fragrant when they were taken out and placed on a plate lined with absorbent paper.
It was Liu Yifei's turn to try the second batch.
She stood nervously in front of the pot, holding a strainer in her hand, staring intently at the oil, fine beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
"Don't be nervous." Jiang Yu appeared beside her at some point and said softly, "The oil won't splatter. I'll keep an eye on it for you."
"I know, I'm just afraid—" Liu Yifei said softly, her eyes fixed on the noodles.
As soon as the first dumpling hit the pan, tiny bubbles appeared on the surface of the oil.
The second, the third — the dumplings rolled in the oil, gradually expanding and turning into an enticing golden color.
Liu Yifei gently pushed the spoon with a strainer, her movements a little clumsy but very earnest.
"It worked!" She turned to look at Jiang Yu happily, her eyes sparkling as if they were filled with stars.
"Great job." Jiang Yu reached out and gently wiped the sweat from her forehead with his thumb. "Chef Liu."
"I'm not a chef yet," she laughed, but her eyes were full of pride. "But I'll try my best to learn, and I can cook for you someday."
Next came fried lotus root sandwiches, fried fish chunks, and fried spring rolls—the kitchen was filled with the aroma of various fried foods mixed with the fresh fragrance of stewed soup and the rich flavor of braised dishes, a unique and abundant taste of the Chinese New Year.
I had a simple lunch, with freshly fried meatballs and lotus root sandwiches, along with porridge and side dishes.
Zhou Huiwen said that the New Year's Eve dinner is the main event, and that one should save room for lunch.
After dinner, Zhou Huiwen and Liu Xiaoli continued preparing the dishes for the New Year's Eve dinner, while Jiang Yu and Jiang Jianguo were responsible for putting up the Spring Festival couplets.
Hang lanterns.
The red paper with black characters for the Spring Festival couplets looked particularly vibrant under the winter sun.
The courtyard gate is decorated with the inscription "Welcoming the New Year with a beautiful landscape, bidding farewell to the old year with a glorious future," and the main gate is decorated with the inscription "Harmony in the family brings prosperity in all things, diligence brings an early spring."
Jiang Yu stood on the ladder, with Jiang Jianguo holding it from below, while Liu Yifei stood a few steps away directing: "A little higher on the left—yes, a little higher—good! Now it's straight!"
After pasting up the Spring Festival couplets, hang up the lanterns.
Bright red lanterns hung under the porch, filled with energy-saving lamps that emitted a warm red glow when powered on.
The paper-cut window decorations were put up, with rabbit patterns on the windows of Liu Yifei's guest room, and the character "福" (fortune) was pasted upside down on the front door, meaning "fortune has arrived."
Soon, the entire house was transformed and filled with the festive atmosphere of the Chinese New Year.
Bright red couplets, vibrant red lanterns, paper-cut window decorations with auspicious patterns, and firecrackers and fireworks piled up at the door—the flavor of the New Year is thus embodied.
As evening approached, Liu Yifei and Liu Xiaoli were heading back to their uncle's house.
According to Hubei custom, married daughters should spend the Spring Festival at their parents' home. Although Liu Yifei is not yet married, Liu Xiaoli has been taking her daughter back to her younger brother's home for the Spring Festival every year since her divorce, which has become a habit.
"Auntie, Uncle, we'll come back to wish you a Happy New Year again tomorrow." Liu Yifei stood at the door, somewhat reluctant to leave.
These past few days at Jiang Yu's home, she felt the warmth of a complete family, and now that she has to leave, she feels empty inside.
"Okay, come early tomorrow." Zhou Huiwen took her hand and patted it gently. "Be careful on the road. Xiaoyu, see them off."
"Um."
Jiang Yu drove them there.
Liu Yifei's uncle's house is also near East Lake, less than a ten-minute drive away.
On the way, Liu Yifei kept looking at the street scenes rushing past the window without saying a word.
The festive atmosphere on the streets is already strong. Almost every household has its lights on and Spring Festival couplets pasted up. Some children are already setting off small fireworks, with scattered sparks flickering in the twilight.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Yu turned to look at her while waiting at a red light.
"It's nothing." Liu Yifei turned back and smiled at him, a hint of melancholy in her smile. "It's just that—time flies so fast. The New Year is almost here, and we'll be parting again soon."
"Reluctant to part with it?"
"Mmm." She nodded honestly, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes. "It felt so good at your house. Like a real home. Your parents are so loving, so caring towards you, and so good to me—that feeling is so warm and precious."
Jiang Yu looked at her.
The car was dimly lit, but her eyes were bright, filled with tender emotions.
He reached out and took her hand: "From now on, this is your home too."
"Mmm." She gripped his hand back and nodded vigorously.
Liu Yifei blushed, but instead of avoiding his gaze, she gripped his hand even tighter.
After dropping her off at her uncle's building, Liu Xiaoli went upstairs first, giving the two some time to say goodbye.
The car quieted down, and the faint sound of firecrackers could be heard in the distance.
Liu Yifei looked at Jiang Yu and suddenly said, "Jiang Yu, thank you."
"What are you thanking me for this time?" Jiang Yu laughed. "You've thanked me several times today."
"Thank you for letting me know that home can be so warm," she said softly, her voice exceptionally clear in the quiet carriage. "After my mom and dad divorced, I rarely felt this kind of complete family atmosphere. Although my mom loves me very much, and my uncle's family is very good to us, I always feel like something is missing."
She paused, then continued, "I felt it in your home. The unspoken understanding between your parents, their love for you, and the natural way they accepted me—that feeling is something I haven't experienced in a long time. So, thank you."
Jiang Yu unbuckled his seatbelt and reached out to pull her into his arms.
Her body was soft and warm, with a faint fragrance.
He lowered his head, his chin resting on the top of her head: "You're welcome. We'll have our own home in the future, and we'll have this kind of warmth, and even more."
"Mmm." She leaned against him, closed her eyes, and said, "I believe you."
The two hugged quietly for a while, until Liu Xiaoli leaned out of the upstairs window and called out, "Qianqian, it's time to come up! Your aunt made some soup, drink it while it's hot!"
Liu Yifei released him and gave him a quick, fleeting kiss on the lips: "See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow.
"
Watching her run into the stairwell until she disappeared behind the door, Jiang Yu started the car and drove away.
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