Chapter 204
When inviting people for a meal, one must prepare more dishes. It was better to have leftovers than to barely have enough. Chicken, duck, fish, and pork were all laid out. The tables and stools at home weren't enough, so they borrowed some from the Liu family. Amidst all the busyness, when the guests arrived and sat down, they couldn't help but be astonished.
Goodness gracious! Six meat dishes. Even during New Year celebrations in the village, people don't eat this lavishly!
In the village, when people had meat for a meal, they would usually choose just one kind. If a chicken was cooked, they wouldn’t also cook a duck. If pork was on the table, then neither chicken nor duck would be prepared. Having meat was more like a small taste, not an everyday feast. Everyone lived carefully and frugally, making every coin count. No one would dare to eat in su00ch a lavish way.
For Zhao Ger to entertain his guests like this, besides showing his regard, it also showed that the family's circumstances had improved.
The whole village knew their family had earned silver from their business. Regardless of how much, the village chief's family and He Daleng's family were sincere people. Even if only two dishes were served, they wouldn't say anything, but they might feel somewhat uncomfortable inside. Zhao Ger was also worried that if word got out, people might think that since they'd earned silver, serving only two dishes to guests would be considered miserly.
As it was the special occasion of the New Year, and the family already had these ingredients at home—not to mention, just the other day, they were invited to share the meal and were even sent home with meat from the village chief and He Daleng—it was only right to prepare more dishes.
Everyone ate and drank. Between mouthfuls of rice, they inevitably chatted a bit, saying the food was delicious, the fish was fresh, how many fish so-and-so's family caught yesterday, how many were made into cured fish, how many were pickled—all trivial matters of daily life.
The kitchen was small and couldn't fit two tables, so they ate in the main hall. The main door was wide open, and a chilly wind whistled in, yet no one felt cold. The meal lasted until the afternoon.
Aunt Liu, Wang Damei, and Uncle Liu (ger) stayed behind to help clean and wash the dishes. After finishing, Aunt Liu went home to fetch some zongzi. She also advised Zhao Ger to prepare another chicken. Instead of cutting it into pieces, he should boil it whole in the pot. Once fully cooked, it was to be taken out and presented as an offering to the ancestors.
After Aunt Liu left, Zhao Ger was about to go to the backyard to catch a chicken—these were the ones Yang Zhutao had sent over earlier. Two were killed in the morning, and several were still left. Fang Zichen pulled him back, not letting him go.
Offer to what ancestors?
His ancestors weren't here, and Zhao Ger's ancestors were far away in the capital! Even if they became ghosts, they probably couldn't be bothered to travel this far for a meal.
Zhao Ger didn't listen. He believed that since every family made offerings during the New Year, failing to do so would mean the ancestors wouldn't watch over and protect them.
Seeing that Zhao Ger seemed uneasy if he didn't do it, Fang Zichen let him be. Since there was no ancestral tablet or altar, Zhao Ger placed the chicken at the doorway. When lighting incense, Zhao Ger called the children back and also called Fang Zichen out. Together, they kowtowed three times.
Towards evening, Lin Xiaoxia and Li Yanmei finished dinner and got up to leave. Jiaojiao had played with Guaizai, Yang Mingyi, and Xiao Feng the whole afternoon and simply refused to go. Zhao Ger gave her several boxes of scratch firecrackers, and only then did Jiaojiao leave, looking back every few steps.
On New Year’s Eve, it was the village tradition to stay up late through the night, seeing out the old year and welcoming in the new. After dinner, the children played with sparklers and magic bullets in the yard again. The Liu family came over to stay up together. With two families, it was naturally livelier. Around haishi
(9-11 PM), Zhao Ger and Zhou Ger went to mix flour and make tangyuan (glutinous rice balls).
They were cooked in brown sugar syrup. For the children's convenience, the tangyuan were rolled very small, but they were still flavorful. Yang Mingyi ate three bowls again. Guaizai watched and exclaimed "wow," repeatedly praising him for being amazing.
Fang Zichen rubbed his face, feeling in his heart that this little ger was really something. If Jiaojiao was number one in eating, Yang Mingyi could be number two. He himself felt somewhat outmatched. However, he didn't foolishly ask again like last time why he ate so much. Seeing that Yang Mingyi seemed somewhat embarrassed by Guaizai's praise, Fang Zichen spoke up: "You're at an age where you're growing, eating a lot is normal. Thinking back to when I was your age, I could eat three big bowls of these tangyuan in one go. Ten steamed buns wouldn't faze me."
This was clearly an exaggeration. Zhao Ger laughed: "Then you really were a big rice bucket."
"What's wrong with being a big rice bucket?" Fang Zichen, having his boasting exposed, was somewhat displeased. He put his hands on his hips: "Even if I'm a rice bucket, isn't there still someone who loves me desperately, crying and making a fuss if they don't see me for two days, throwing a tantrum if they don't get a couple of kisses at night."
Such private matters should be kept discreet, not spoken about openly like this. Zhao Ger flushed red with embarrassment and wanted to hit him again: "What nonsense are you saying? The children are still here!"
"So what if they're here? At their young age, even if I drove the car, hitting speeds of three hundred, they probably wouldn't understand... Ouch, don't pinch, it hurts~"
Aunt Liu shook her head and chuckled softly: Ah, to be young again!
Once full, the children grew sleepy. Fang Zichen brought out two large buckets of fireworks.
These things had been made a long time ago and stored in the main hall along with firecrackers. They were very heavy and large. Fang Zichen had said these couldn't be played with. Though curious, they had never touched them. Now seeing him bring them out, they all gathered around curiously.
Guaizai blinked his big eyes: "Father, father, what is this?"
"You'll know in a moment," Fang Zichen said.
Without a clock, they could only estimate the time. As midnight drew near, Fang Zichen set up the fireworks and lit the fuse right when the moment arrived.
He ran back to Zhao Ger's side, took his hand, leaned close to his ear, his voice clear and bright: "Look at the sky. I made these especially for you."
Zhao Ger's fingers trembled slightly, a rush of emotion swelling in his chest as if about to overflow. His voice was hoarse: "What is it? You..."
A deafening BANG tore through the sky, so powerful it seemed to shake the ground.
A ball of fire the size of a fist, trailing a stream of light, shot out from the tube and soared into the night sky. Its scale was far greater than any firecracker they had seen before. Children and adults alike instinctively lifted their heads, their eyes following the blazing trail upward.
The flame rose into the air, paused for just a moment, then with another 'BANG,' exploded.
The night sky burst into bloom with a radiant, multicolored firework that spread over ten meters wide. Its glowing petals shone brilliantly, shooting outward like streaking meteors before drifting down in a shower of shimmering, colorful sparks.
In that instant, the entire night sky, the entire Xiaohe Village, was illuminated, bright as day. No one in the yard spoke. All looked up, eyes wide, filled with astonishment and shock.
Everyone in Xiaohe Village had run out into their yards upon hearing the deafening sound. After enduring a full four days of this noise, they had become immune, thinking it was just those small fireworks the children played with last time. But when the firework exploded, everyone was speechless—it was stunning, truly stunning. They had never seen such a grand, spectacular sight in their lives.
The magic sticks the children played with before exploded into small, single-colored sparks, and even those had elicited constant exclamations of wonder. Now seeing this, everyone was awestruck.
"Husband..." Zhao Ger felt his heart pounding violently in his chest, one beat after another, incessantly, making his eardrums seem to buzz. Something inside seemed about to burst out. He couldn't hear any of the outside commotion. His eyes also grew sore.
In his childhood in the capital, though memories were somewhat fuzzy, he still knew that even in the capital, such fireworks did not exist.
Truly unheard of, unseen before.
"There's more," Fang Zichen whispered as the second firework was about to launch. He leaned down, kissed Zhao Ger's lips softly, then rested his cheek against his. "Just as that first firework lit up the sky, I made a wish to the heavens: I hope you're with me every tomorrow. You're someone I never want to live without. This year, next year, every year—I want to spend them all with you. The children, you, and me, together as a family, safe and healthy. If you keep walking toward me, I'll meet you with everything I have. If it makes you happy, if it brings you joy, I'll do it without a second thought—rules don't matter, fear doesn't matter."
His words were steady, each one spoken with quiet strength.
Zhao Ger tightly held his hand. The fireworks hadn't finished; it was still dark all around, yet he felt he could still see Fang Zichen's handsome, beautiful, blood-stirring face. Fang Zichen's eyes held an arrogance and integrity that couldn't be hidden—not contempt, but from sitting for too long at a height that ordinary people strive a lifetime yet cannot reach, he carried an air that others couldn't imitate even if they tried.
He was mysterious, noble, someone anyone would want to possess.
Such a person, leading him step by step closer, then suddenly making him sink deeply.
Zhao Ger's mind seemed to go blank, his thoughts scattering as if starved of air. His hands trembled without control, and his chest felt tight, overflowing with words left unspoken. He had so much he wanted to say, yearned to pour out the love that filled every corner of his heart clearly and without shame. But facing Fang Zichen's eyes, he couldn't open his mouth. Too many emotions gathered in his gaze.
With a 'WHOOSH,' another fiery ball shot out from the paper tube.
That love, along with it, burst forth.
"Some words are only suitable to be said once in a lifetime. But these three words, 'I love you,' I want to say to you every day. I want to clearly express my feelings for you. Every day, every moment. Don't think I'm being corny."
Zhao Ger’s voice came out low and thick with feeling: "Husband..."
Fang Zichen's voice was low, his expression serious and sincere: "Zhao Ger."
He said: "Stay with me always! As long as you ask, I will yield to you. Unchanging for a lifetime."
Zhao Ger felt these words pierce his heart. He hugged Fang Zichen's waist, his throat choked up. Fang Zichen saw his reddened eyes, as if moved beyond words.
Good, TV dramas really don't lie. What should come next is a passionate, lost-in-the-moment kiss.
Fang Zichen was just about to lower his head to kiss him when his pants were gently tugged.
"Father," Guaizai had come over at some point, looking up and reaching out, asking to be held.
Fang Zichen poked his forehead with a finger: "...Wait a moment."
Guaizai, seeing the two of them hugging, pouted and insistently squeezed between them. Zhao Ger pulled him: "Come back a bit later."
"Yo! What's this all about!" Guaizai was unhappy, bending down like a cat to squeeze in further.
Fang Zichen: "..."
Such a good atmosphere, this child...
Two copper coins, whoever wants him can take him, sold for two hours.
Guaizai, like a mouse digging a hole, stuck his head between Fang Zichen and Zhao Ger's legs, his little butt wriggling outside, still trying to burrow in: "Guaizai wants too, Guaizai wants too~"
In the end, Fang Zichen took pity on him. He kissed Zhao Ger, then bent down to pick Guaizai up.
Guaizai poked his own cheek: "Father, Guaizai wants kisses too. Guaizai's face is tender, smells good, better to kiss than daddy's. Father, kiss Guaizai too, okay?"
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