"Hey, everyone, stop for a mont. Co over here."
New Year's Eve, it's been many years, and Ye Aotian hadn't felt such a lively atmosphere for a long ti.
Li San and the others were busy putting up couplets and hanging decorations, while Ren Ling and Xiaofan were in the kitchen preparing the New Year's Eve dinner for tonight.
Ye Aotian happily ca out of his room, gathered everyone around, and then took out several red envelopes, ready to give one to each person.
"Take one, why are you just looking? Take the lucky money, and may the upcoming new year bring safety and peace to all." Seeing everyone a bit puzzled, Ye Aotian directly handed the red envelopes to everyone.
Xiaofan and Ren Ling accepted the envelopes without hesitation.
Actually, the older generation always hopes that the younger ones will be healthy and happy. Over the years, the only person who always got a red envelope was Xiaofan.
Back then, Ye Aotian was also part of the Yanhuang Soul group, but when it ca to choosing between love and Huaxia, he chose love, which didn't an he wasn't patriotic. It's just that, unlike Ren Zhongtian, he wasn't so passionate as to disregard everything else. The only thing that could make Ye Aotian forsake everything was his lover.
Now, Xiaofan had grown to be a talent comparable to the young Ren Zhongtian, and around him gathered so many outstanding Huaxia youths. Seeing such talent among the young generation made him naturally happy. Otherwise, he wouldn't strive so hard to help these younger people.
"A hundred and eight yuan? Good on." Li San, being impatient, opened his red envelope imdiately.
"Hey, you child, keep it safe. This money can't be spent until after midnight tonight."
Ye Aotian's face was full of kindness and warmth. This is a tradition in Huaxia, where the number eight implies prosperity.
Li Kuo, Lei Xiaolei, and Han Shengjun took their red envelopes, and each fell silent, even Li Kuo's eyes were a little red.
His father had just passed away, and his mother hadn't recovered. Every year on this day, his family of three spent the New Year harmoniously, and after dinner, he and his mother would subtly ask his father for red envelopes. Though his father would always say he didn't have any, at the crucial mont, he would hand over the prepared envelopes to them both, with his mother stuffing an extra one in his arms. No matter how busy they were, on this night every year, the three would reserve a table at a hotel and happily watch the fireworks outside, but... those beautiful scenes would no longer be.
Lei Xiaolei had never experienced such warmth; red envelopes? In his mory, only the captain had given him one the first year he joined Yanhuang Soul.
And Han Shengjun also thought of his family at this ti. People are emotional beings, especially after experiencing loss, they beco more important.
Infected by the others, even Li San, who was previously all smiles, pursed his lips, forced a laugh, and couldn't smile anymore.
"Alright, alright, Xiaofan, go to the ancestral hall to burn incense, and later..." Seeing everyone's unusual expressions, Ye Aotian understood the emotions of these youths. Of course, everyone had gratitude, which was not a bad thing. However, grief must be let go, and the future must continue.
"Mm..."
The annual ritual of gathering around the stove was indispensable. Just as Xiaofan was carrying a carrying pole, loaded with incense, candles, and ingots, and was about to set out, a large group of people arrived outside the door.
"Ah, Old Ye, we're here to give you an early New Year's blessing. On the first day of the lunar year, it wasn't convenient for everyone, so we ended up gathering together. This year, we really have you, the living Buddha, to thank. You saved so many people in the village. Last ti, when my fifth child was bitten by a venomous snake, it was really thanks to you. Co, co, this is a small token, please accept it."
"Village chief, you're too kind. There are so many things here, how can I consu them all?" Ye Aotian imdiately refused.
"It's nothing. This cured at was made by my wife and can be kept for a long ti, just take it out to dry occasionally. Co, co, isn't this Xiaofan? Ah, you're the most filial one, coming to accompany your grandpa every year. Here, just take this red envelope."
"Oh, there's no need, village chief... No need, no need, I'm already grown up, why would I still need a red envelope?" Xiaofan declined with a smile.
"Don't say that, Old Ye is getting older, and giving him a red envelope wouldn't be appropriate. But since he rarely charges for seeing patients or just takes ten or eight yuan for dicine, watching him go up the mountains to gather herbs, we all feel bad. You really must accept this, you must."
"Oh, thank you so much then."
Unable to refuse their kindness, Xiaofan had no choice but to accept. Every year at this ti, Ye Aotian would glare at Xiaofan for accepting others' red envelopes, but this year, he just smiled slightly without saying anything.
Those giving gifts seed to have planned to co over together today, and there were several groups that arrived around the sa ti. They all knew that Ye Aotian lived alone, so every New Year and festival, they would bring him a token of appreciation. And they knew that Xiaofan ca back every year, so they handed over their gratitude gifts to Xiaofan.
The red envelopes mostly contained twenties, thirty-fifties, even hundreds. Each year, Xiaofan would receive two to three thousand yuan in red envelopes.
"Old Mr. Ye, Old Mr. Ye..."
Here ca more people again, ensuring the yard entrance was tightly packed, and so couldn't squeeze in and had to shout from outside.
From the crowd, a person squeezed in and, before he could stand firm, 'thud' knelt down in front of Ye Aotian, kowtowing three tis in succession.
"Hey, Zhang Si, what are you doing, get up, get up, it's New Year's..." Ye Aotian hurried to help him up.
"Old Mr. Ye, my wife and child's lives were saved by you. You're a living immortal, a living Buddha. I, Zhang Si, have no way to repay your great kindness. At the ti, I was out of my mind and let you walk back alone. I truly deserve to die. There were too many matters at ho those two days, and I didn't personally thank you, so today, you must accept this small gift."
"You're being too formal, too formal. Alright, alright, I'll accept it, I'll accept it. I appreciate all of your kindness. I'm naturally a physician, and treating the sick and saving lives is my duty, so there's no need for any thanks. Today is New Year's Eve, so I'm not going to entertain everyone. I'll accept the gifts one by one, but I'll make it clear, don't co over here again next year. Disperse, disperse now."
"Hehe." Xiaofan smiled lightly. Every year, his grandpa said the sa thing, yet every year, there were always many visitors. Xiaofan realized why his grandpa never moved to the city to enjoy life. Not only was his grandmother here, but there was also a large group of people who needed his grandpa. This was probably what they called a sense of belonging.
"Dad..." Just as everyone was dispersing, a hearty voice suddenly ca from outside the yard, making Ye Aotian turn around sharply.
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