Today, there’s no wind, the sun is warm, it’s New Year’s Eve again, and no one is talking about howork.
There are not many days in a year, or even in a lifeti, when one can play so carefree.
Aunt Gu and Hua Fengi are sitting at the door, eating pumpkin seeds, chit-chatting, listening to the laughter of their daughters, and gradually hanging smiles on their faces.
Mr. Qian drinks tea at the door, Uncle Tang eats soybean flowers, Butcher Zhang brushes through short videos...
Suddenly, from the kitchen to the east, Bi Yue hurriedly walks over holding a pot, drawing everyone’s attention instantly.
Compared to regular residents like Butcher Zhang and Mr. Qian, Bi Yue is considered sowhat special, not quite part of the sa circle.
Ever since Bi Yue’s father went to prison and assets were seized one after another, Bi Yue’s living standards plumted, and her forr arrogance gradually faded.
The day before yesterday, when Butcher Zhang gave her two pounds of dog at, she unexpectedly smiled in return, completely losing her forr defiance and disdain.
Bi Yue hurriedly ran to Aunt Gu’s door. She gazed at Aunt Gu, still harboring so disdain deep down, but she hid it well, knowing how to adapt to the tis.
Recently, through past connections, Bi Yue t a ’socialite’ who turned her declining family fortune around by marrying into wealth.
Listening to the socialite sister’s experiences, Bi Yue was thrilled, thinking that although her own family had fallen, if she could marry into wealth, wouldn’t she be able to live a good life again?
The socialite sister emphasized that to marry into wealth, cooking skills are essential, as those from wealthy families prefer virtuous wives.
Swayed by these words, Bi Yue bought the socialite sister’s courses, but being financially strained, she couldn’t afford cooking lessons and thus decided to teach herself.
Then she targeted Aunt Gu, thinking since she’s a chef at Evergreen Liquid, her skills must be exceptional. If she could learn a bit for free, wouldn’t it be better than an ordinary chef?
Forcing a smile, Bi Yue enthusiastically asked for advice: "Sister Gu, it’s New Year’s, right? I bought a snakehead fish and made a dish, but sothing feels off. Can you take a look?"
Saying this, she lifted the pot lid, releasing a strong foul sll. Aunt Gu’s eyelids twitched, and with great courage, she took a side glance.
Inside the pot was a black semi-solid mass, vaguely identifiable as the shape of a snakehead fish, with its pair of eyes staring directly at her.
Aunt Gu: "No, this is..."
Mr. Qian, who was watching the scene, sighed deeply: "What a waste!"
Hua Fengi shook her head in agreent.
Hearing the feedback from everyone, Bi Yue forced another smile and, bending down, asked: "Sister Gu, looking at my dish, is it the pot’s fault or the snakehead fish?"
Mr. Qian sighed: "You didn’t even consider ntioning yourself!"
Bi Yue’s face darkened. She was a study-abroad student, a much-coveted returnee. If she chose the civil service exam, it could equate to a master’s degree!
Of course, she couldn’t pass the exam.
Cooking is a skill even rural won have. Why can’t she do it?
Unwilling to accept this, Bi Yue asked again: "Is it my pot’s fault or the snakehead fish’s?"
Tongtong ran over: "Of course, it’s you, sis!"
Silenced, Bi Yue couldn’t accept it for a mont.
Uncle Tang, known as the diator by the river dam, was busy running around when Dongdong got stung by a wasp.
Now, he called out: "Yueyue, why don’t you and your mom have New Year’s lunch at my place? It’s pitiful how you two are living."
Bi Yue refused.
Aunt Zhang sighed: "Yueyue has been through hardships!"
Uncle Tang: "Yes, I rember when your father hadn’t retired yet, cars ca in waves to deliver gifts during New Year. Oh, those scenes!"
Though Bi Yue actually looked down on these ignorant rural residents, hearing this, she couldn’t help but reminisce about those days, feeling a strange sorrow.
Feeling low, Bi Yue forced herself to take a deep breath, thinking of the socialite path, and said: "What goes around cos around, in the future..."
Tongtong ran over: "Yeah, you used to live so well, what goes around cos around, so of course it’ll only get worse!"
Saying this, Tongtong ran off.
This was infuriating, to the point that Bi Yue felt like losing her mind on the spot!
...
10:30 a.m.
At the entrance of the security booth in Sunshine Deer Court.
Wearing a security jacket, Zhang Chi picked up his phone to call his grandparents. It rang several tis before the call was finally answered.
Zhang Chi spoke with rare sincerity: "Grandpa, where are you, where are you? I’ve reserved a dining table!"
His gambling father was hiding from debts, his ruthless mother had run away, and the only family he cared about were his grandparents.
"What, can’t co anymore?" Zhang Chi’s voice suddenly rose, "Why can’t you suddenly co, where’s the car, isn’t there a car?"
"Oh, Uncle’s family has issues? Asked you to help, and you can’t leave?"
Zhang Chi’s tone lifted again: "Then what about Grandma?"
Zhang Chi’s expression dimd: "Busy, busy, being busy is good, right..."
He hung up the phone, and the security booth fell silent, he sat dazed for a while.
Zhang Chi turned to look towards the south road, the street was empty, at this ti, people had already returned ho for the New Year.
He turned to look towards the north, there were rows of stone-clad residential buildings, his gaze passed through the windows, and he saw scenes of family reunions.
Finally, his gaze fell on the security booth, where he had personally pasted the couplet: [Year after year, no worries, eternal happiness in Chang’an]
Unfortunately, he was not at all happy.
Zhang Chi opened the group chat and found Lu Qiqi scolding Yan Tianpeng, saying he had the nerve to invite her out for New Year’s Eve, she directly told Yan Tianpeng to get lost, she cursed him harshly, then asked: "Yanan, Wenwen, rember to co out for New Year’s Eve tonight!"
Yu Wen: "Sure, in the evening I’ll wear my costu, you’ll be amazed."
Jiang Yanan: "Won’t leave until we see each other."
The group chat seed harmonious.
Zhang Chi reached his breaking point: "What’s there to celebrate about New Year’s Eve, nothing changes just because one second is 2014 and the next is 2015... utterly foolish!"
After he said this, he found that previously Lu Qiqi would argue with him, but now she ignored him.
The group fell into rare silence.
It was Zhang Chi’s turn to be awkward.
Suddenly, it seed the vast world had no place for him.
Zhang Chi put down his phone, looking at the road outside, feeling complicated.
New Year’s Eve, today is New Year’s Eve, countless hos are lit up, only he is alone.
Amid his lancholy, at the end of the empty road, a figure appeared, Yan Tianpeng pedaled a bicycle vigorously, reaching the entrance of the residential area.
In Zhang Chi’s incredulous gaze, Yan Tianpeng patted his shoulder, his voice full of energy: "Bro, I guessed you’d still be on duty, co, let’s celebrate New Year’s at my place for lunch!"
Zhang Chi looked at his boldness, feeling warmth in his heart, unexpectedly feeling the camaraderie, he couldn’t help but ask: "Really?"
Yan Tianpeng laughed: "Just kidding, of course not!"
"Damn it!" Zhang Chi felt deeply insulted, he was already so downtrodden, why further humiliate him!
At the brink of his outburst.
Yan Tianpeng said seriously: "Not going to my place, it’s a restaurant, my dad booked a restaurant."
...
Before lunch on New Year’s Eve, Xue Yuantong set off fireworks again.
She thought of Jiang Ning not being by the river dam, so she specially recorded a video of the fireworks for Jiang Ning far away in Linzhou, and sent him a voice ssage: "
"With the sound of firecrackers, another year passes, hehe, I’m a year older again!"
Jiang Ning heard her childish voice and replied: "Still a kid."
Xue Yuantong argued in a voice ssage: "Hmph, I’m not a kid!"
Jiang Ning: "I’m already three hundred years old, you are indeed a kid."
Xue Yuantong: "Three hundred years is nothing, I will live to be a thousand."
Jiang Ning: "Impressive, then you live to be a thousand, I’ll live to be a thousand and one."
Xue Yuantong was first confused: "Why, why live longer than ?"
Then she understood, feeling a touch of emotion: "Jiang Ning, you’re worried about dying first and leaving alone in the world sad, right? That’s why you want to live a year longer than ?"
Jiang Ning dismissed: "See how silly you are, because I’m a year older than you."
Xue Yuantong was embarrassed and annoyed: "Who wants to die together with you!"
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