Chapter 37: Yucheng City (1/2)

This year was different from usual.

Tang Jinyu's family doesn't have to go to his grandma's house on the second day of the New Year. Grandpa Chen was very interested in that mine in Yunnan Province, he came back a few days ago and couldn’t wait to go back again by himself.

Grandma Chen didn't want him to suffer outside alone. She and her husband were a couple that had struggled together when they were young. Since the old man insisted on going, she didn’t want to stay at home for New Year by herself, so she packed up her things and went to live with him in the mountains together.

The two elders of the Chen family were not there, and Chen Wenqian didn't stay for long, he ended up following along with his parents in the south.

The other juniors of the Chen family have been notified that they wouldn’t be gathered together this year.

Chen Suling and her eldest sister Chen Qiuguo were worried, they called and asked their parents several times, and grandma Chen said to let them spend the New Year at home. Grandma Chen also told her little daughter to get along well with her son-in-law and take good care of their child.

”Don’t treat Xiao Tang badly just because our family is rich, you guys are always busy with work, and must be considerate with one another, you know?” Grandma Chen said over the phone, “Back when Xiao Tang was chasing you, he went to the construction site and saw your father. He thought your father was moving bricks there, and without saying anything, he took off his coat and carried the cement all morning. His shoulders were red when he carried the heavy sack. Your father asked him to have a rest, and he sat down and said that your father was hardworking…such a good son-in-law to have, you must be kinder to Xiao Tang!”

”What did my second brother say when he went back?”

”He said you pinched Xiao Tang's ears!”

Chen Suling didn’t hold back her smile. Mrs. Chen was still telling her daughter over the phone, telling her not to be so mean at home, “We are all adults, even if you give him any face, you can’t pinch his ears in front of Xiaoyu! How would Xiao Tang be able to stand up for himself in front of his child?”

Chen Suling groaned: ”Oh, mom, Xiaoyu is too young to understand what that means.”

Grandma Chen became even more angry: ”Nonsense, what type of thing wouldn’t Xiaoyu understand about! The last time he visited me, he told the story of the crow drinking water!”

Chen Suling quickly admitted her mistake, took her son over and asked him to shout ”Grandma Happy New Year's Day” a few times. The child's voice was soft and sweet, and she made the old lady laugh again.

Before returning to her family's house, Chen Suling was thinking about visiting Elder Tang. Tang Hongjun just had a few days off before he’s on vacation, and should not be wasted.

This is the era where the next song takes 20 minutes to play, and where photos take a long time to transmit across the Internet. During the Chinese new year, people feel that they have to visit relatives and friends to celebrate the New Year, with firecrackers to make things fun. The entire streets were decorated with red colors, as children were running around to play with firecrackers.

It's like this every year in the apartment building. The firecrackers and fireworks in grocery stores were the most popular. Almost, all the boys carried a few boxes of firecrackers in their pockets. The younger boys and girls prefer the punk firework, and they couldn’t wait to light one in the yard downstairs as soon as it gets dark, and swing the firework wand around them, and see it hiss and burn beautiful fireworks.

On the 29th day before the start of New Year, Teacher Xia prepared food for everyone on New Year’s Eve, to celebrate with Xia Ye ahead of time.

He felt a little guilty, because the City Symphony Orchestra agreed to perform a New Year's concert in Yucheng. In order to perform on that day, he would have to take a flight tomorrow morning, and would not be back until eight days after the New Year.

For a week, let alone the New Year, he can't even take annual leave to accompany his son for New Year’s.

Xia Ye didn't feel much. He didn't have any special sense of ritual for these festivals. Even during winter vacation, he only felt that he had more time to spend on his computer. Since he spent most of his time online with no interruptions, it became easier for him to be more efficient.

When Mr. Xia insisted on doing the dishes after dinner, Xia Ye knew why and he said with a smile:”Dad, you really don't need to feel that you owe me anything, aren’t you just leaving for one week? My school gave us a two-week vacation. When you come back, you can cook for me for a week, I like the roast ribs that you make. The school cafeteria also makes them, but they don’t really taste that good, they make it taste bad.”

Teacher Xia quickly agreed, and sighed again: ”Dad will take a vacation after this performance, so I didn’t have to wrong you.”

Xia Ye said while cleaning the dishes: ”No, I can go to the next door when there’s no food to eat.”

Teacher Xia was stunned and looked at his son's expression carefully. He was naturally a little surprised when he heard him say this, ”Xiaoye, you wouldn’t mind eating next door?”

Xia Ye said: ”Yes, my uncle cooks very deliciously, Xiaoyu and I ate a whole plate of the roasted soybeans he made last time.”

”Then New Year, you also…”

Xia Ye was a little confused, and looked up at him: ”Why wouldn’t I spend time with them on New Year? Yesterday my aunt also came over and said that I should go to eat next door tomorrow.”

Teacher Xia blinked and nodded with a smile, ”Yes, of course!”

Xia Ye bowed his head again and went to wash the bowl again, ”Dad, according to the weather forecast today, it’s 30 degrees over there, it’s different over there, remember to bring some short-sleeved clothes, but don’t forget to take some jacket with you, it will be cold by the time you come back.”

Teacher Xia wanted to say something but didn't know what to say. He just felt completely at ease in his heart. He knows Xia Ye better than anyone else. His son is good at everything, but it is difficult for him to get close to others, but once he has entrusted his feelings, he would care for them the most.

Xia Ye just had him, but now it's fine. Xia Ye has so many family members that he can depend on.

Teacher Xia relaxed his mind and went to the airport with his suitcase the next morning.

At noon on New Year’s Eve, Xia Ye was called by Chen Suling to have a meal. He thought that at most he would go to the next door to have a meal, but he didn’t expect to see a row of suitcases, from small to big. Each suitcase had almost the same colors, like a matching set.

Chen Suling asked him, ”Xiaoye, which one of these is better?”

Xia Ye pointed to one of them randomly and said, ”The blue one is good, auntie, is your company making suitcases?”

Chen Suling smiled and said: ”No, I cooperated with other factories and sent a few of them.” She pushed the blue suitcase and put it next to Xia Ye and praised him, “Xiaoyu also thinks the blue one is pretty. This one suits you best, here take it!”

Xia Ye declined and said, ”No, auntie, I don’t need it.”

Tang Hongjun came back from outside with the child in his arms, when he heard this sentence and said with a smile: ”Come out, let's pack up after dinner and set off.”

Xia Ye was stunned, ”Uncle, where are we going?”