CHAPTER 94: CHAPTER 94: HAPPY NEW YEAR

As the saying goes, stay up all night on New Year’s Eve, and walk the streets throughout the first and second day.

Jiang Hu’s second wife coaxed the children to sleep and prepared to keep vigil for the New Year herself.

But Xiaomi really liked this ceremonial feeling, too. She pretended to sleep in the space she was in, calculating the time to come out right before midnight and pretend she had just woken up.

The second wife had been busy all day and was quite tired. Approaching midnight, she kept yawning, while Jiang Hu held her, the two sharing a thick quilt, sitting by the bed talking.

"Second wife, why don’t you sleep first? It’s almost midnight, I can keep watch myself."

As he spoke, he tightened his hold on his wife’s arm. It was too cold that day, and they didn’t dare to light a fire in the room.

Xiaomi opened her eyes and saw this scene—a rare moment when her parents, usually so proper and disciplined, were holding each other!

For a moment, Xiaomi thought of something...

No, no, don’t think about it, she quickly rubbed her eyes and sat up: "Mother, Father."

She dragged her voice to act coy; and sure enough, the next instant Jiang Hu immediately took his arm off the second wife.

The couple felt embarrassed at first, then the second wife quickly pulled Xiaomi over and covered her with the quilt.

"Why is Xiaomi awake? Are you hungry? Or need to use the bathroom?"

Xiaomi leaned in her mother’s arms and shook her head: "Not hungry, don’t need to use the bathroom."

She just wanted to stay up with her parents for the New Year.

It was as if the father-daughter bond was mutual; Jiang Hu laughed as he pinched Xiaomi’s nose tip: "What’s up? You didn’t specially wake up just to stay up with us, did you?"

Xiaomi thought yes, but pretended to pout annoyedly, and slapped her father’s hand away: "Bad Father!"

As for staying up, she pretended not to understand or know.

The couple teased Xiaomi for a while, and the second wife stopped yawning.

When distant crackling sounds came from the village, Jiang Hu threw on a coat, got out of bed, and went outside.

Fireworks were not cheap, but this year, no one was stingy; Jiang Hu had bought a string of fireworks to bring home.

Soon, the sound of fireworks could be heard from their courtyard, startling the older son and daughter awake, who climbed up promptly, while the second wife quickly urged them to dress.

Luckily, the siblings stood at the door and watched the last few fireworks explode.

Xiaomi made a wish in her heart.

Wishing for health and safety, happiness for the family.

Jiang Hu checked the fireworks to ensure there were no remaining sparks, then hurried back, ushering the older son and daughter to bed, while he quickly slipped under the quilt.

"It’s too cold outside." Jiang Hu shivered under the quilt, not daring to hug the children for fear of passing on the cold.

The second wife extinguished the oil lamp and cuddled Xiaomi to lie down: "I told you to dress warmly, it’s certainly cold outside in the middle of the night."

Jiang Hu laughed twice: "I wanted to light the fireworks earlier."

The second wife covered herself and Xiaomi with the quilt, then pushed Titou to Jiang Hu’s embrace, despite being just a little baby, he had a fiery warmth, cuddling him felt like embracing a small furnace.

In the dark, the second wife suddenly sighed: "I wonder how my parents are doing."

Xiaomi, who was about to sleep, suddenly felt awake, listened carefully while being held silently by her mother.

Jiang Hu paused for a moment: "Our parents have silver saved up from previous years, not to mention our eldest brother and third brother; they should be doing better than us."

Before the second wife could say anything else, Jiang Hu turned around: "Alright, second wife, it’s late, sleep soon; tomorrow there might be children coming to wish us a happy new year."

It was perceptible that Jiang Hu wasn’t thrilled to mention his parents, even less than the second wife, the daughter-in-law.

Xiaomi clicked her tongue in wonder—seems like there’s more going on between grandfather and father.

Otherwise, in an era when filial piety is paramount, how could father behave such ways?

But Xiaomi was still young, and its inappropriate for her to ask much.

Fortunately, the second wife merely sighed momentarily, understanding her husband’s dislike, she ceased to mention further.

Habitually patting Xiaomi’s back gently, they quietly drifted to sleep.

A restful night, as dawn was breaking, the big rooster started crowing, waking the sleepy Fu’an Village.

Xiaomi rubbed her eyes and sat up, only Titou remained on the bed, but her second sister was also at the bedside.

The second daughter donned new cotton clothes her mother buttoned up, pink in color, with a pretty pouch at the waist, specially made to hold snacks, all made by the second wife herself.

On seeing Xiaomi awake, the second daughter hurriedly took Xiaomi’s new clothes nearby: "Xiaomi is awake, I’ll help you dress, it’s new, freshly stitched by mom."

Children are purest, knowing their parents treat them well; never before had they worn new clothes, but their parents had already made several outfits.

Xiaomi cooperated and extended her hand: "Thank you, second sister."

Not only were there new clothes, but also new shoes, likewise equipped with a small bag, even with simply embroidered patterns.

The second wife’s sewing skills were excellent, though she never learned embroidery, occasionally decorative patterns appeared on their clothes, all self-figured from what she saw others wear in town.

The courtyard was filled with the voices of the older son, happily chatting with someone sounding familiar—it seemed like Liu Hai.

Xiaomi dressed and woke Titou with a slap, bringing his second sister to dress him too, to save waiting beside the bed.

Once the trio finished tidying, the second wife walked in: "Everyone’s up? Come have breakfast, after eating, Xiaomi, go wish Happy New Year in the village with your older siblings."

"Happy New Year, Mom!" Xiaomi cheerfully blessed her mother.

The second daughter realized: "Happy New Year, Mom."

Titou didn’t quite understand but followed his sisters: "Happy New Year, Mom!"

Listening to the children’s innocent words, feeling their genuine love and blessings, the second wife’s eyes softened as she patted each little head.

"Happy New Year to you too, let’s go eat breakfast, we’re having dumplings this morning."

With that, she held Xiaomi and Titou’s hands, calling the second daughter to head towards the kitchen together.

Sure enough, in the courtyard, the older son was with Liu Hai.

The second wife invited Liu Hai to join breakfast, but Liu Hai said he’d eaten dumplings, coming over especially to find the older son to wish Happy New Year, also reminding the older son to eat quickly.

Jiang Hu was serving water dumplings in the kitchen, which were especially made last night.

While the second wife tended the children’s breakfast, Jiang Hu took out prepared things from a room, laying out sunflower seeds, peanuts, candies, and some red envelopes.

Contents weren’t much in the red envelope, only a copper coin in each, but sufficient to delight the children.

Yet, Jiang Hu not generous enough to give every child in the village a red envelope; he initially packed just four, now quickly folded an extra envelope with red paper, inserting a copper coin inside.

The children eagerly wished to play outside, eating hastily, and once done, Jiang Hu summoned Liu Hai and his own children, distributing each a red envelope and a handful of treats.

Liu Hai was absolutely thrilled to receive the envelope: "Thank you Uncle Jiang, Aunt Jiang, Happy New Year Uncle and Aunt Jiang!"

Similarly, the older son and other children cautiously tucked the envelope into their own bags, joyfully wishing their parents a Happy New Year.

Jiang Hu waved his hand: "Alright, off you go, older son, second daughter, watch over your younger siblings."

Liu Hai didn’t wait for the older son to respond but loudly assured: "Rest assured Uncle Jiang, I’ll keep an eye on Xiaomi and Titou too!"