Chapter 205
"Alright, kiss kiss kiss!" Fang Zichen held Zhao Ger and their son, feeling his heart completely full.
Fireworks bloomed, one year passed, and another arrived.
Two barrels of fireworks burned for over half an hour. Each explosion was dazzling yet different. No one in the courtyard spoke; they all seemed immersed in the beautiful scene.
When everything grew quiet again, the people of the whole village remained in a daze, unable to snap out of it. They reluctantly returned to their homes, discussing it for a long while before finally going to sleep.
The next morning, the village was bustling. A large group of people arrived from Xiaorong Village. Many families in the two villages were connected by marriage. It was customary not to pay New Year visits on the first day; most people waited until the second. Therefore, their arrival at this time was quite puzzling. After some conversation, however, the reason became clear. It turned out the neighboring village had also seen the fireworks the previous night and had come to inquire about them. They found the spectacle incredibly beautiful and wanted to know where such fireworks could be purchased, hoping to buy some for themselves next year. They truly were magnificent.
Buy? Buy what? Those are things from the prefecture city; they aren't available in the town. Besides, this stuff doesn't look cheap. Otherwise, the rich gentlemen in town would have bought some long ago.
Hearing this, everyone couldn't help but feel disappointed.
The two firework barrels were still in the courtyard. When the children got up in the morning, they gathered around them, chattering about the "flowers" from last night.
Fang Zichen slept in. When he got up, the children swarmed him again, saying they wanted to see more fireworks.
Fang Zichen: "..."
Want to see fireworks?
Haven't you seen enough after a whole night?
Why not wish to fly to the sky!
In the end, he couldn't withstand the pestering. Moreover, Zhao Ger also looked over, his big eyes blatantly spelling out the six words 'I want to see it too'. Who could resist that?
After eating, Fang Zichen went to make more. He still had materials anyway, and he was free. As a modern man, before the city banned fireworks, he and his second brother would set them off every day and night during the New Year in their villa complex. They bought cartloads of firecrackers. There wasn't a type of firecracker he hadn't played with or a firework he hadn't seen; he was tired of them.
On the second day, Wu Ger came over, inviting them to dinner at his house that evening. Du Xiaodu had earned some money over the past few months by firing small jars for Zhao Ger. Wu Ger also had a stable job thanks to Fang Zichen's help. The couple, remembering this kindness, had nothing valuable to give as a gift. For the New Year, they thought of inviting them for a meal.
Before Zhao Ger gave his answer, Wu Ger felt quite uneasy. After all, the Fang family now had a business in town, and Fang Zichen was halfway into an official career. Their Du family wasn't like the village chief's family or He Daleng's family; they had little influence in the village. He was afraid they might look down on them and refuse. However, Zhao Ger did not dwell on such considerations and simply nodded in agreement. Only then did Wu Ger’s worries ease.
"Alright, I'll go back and prepare. Bring the children over tonight."
They didn't wait until evening. In the afternoon, Zhao Ger took the children over. Wu Ger's baby was several months old now, fair and chubby, always blowing bubbles. The children gathered around to play with him, finding it novel.
After a while, someone ran over from outside, saying someone had come to their house and they should go back quickly to see.
Zhao Ger and Fang Zichen returned home. There was another carriage. The driver wasn't the familiar Xiao Haozi, but a big man with a long beard. His clothes were tight, his muscles prominent; he didn't look friendly.
Fang Zichen stepped forward: "Brother, who are you looking for?"
"Is this the home of Young Master Fang Zichen?" the big man asked.
Fang Zichen glanced at the carriage: "What business do you have with him?"
The big man said: "Old Master Wu and his fulang from Yuanzhou, thinking of their grandson, hired our security escort to deliver some New Year gifts."
"Ah, so that's it! Should've said so earlier! I am Fang Zichen. Come, come, I'll open the gate. Bring them in quickly!"
Old Master Wu sent a lot: various foods and pastries, each in large quantity. Clearly, it wasn't just for Yang Mingyi alone. This way of handling the matter was thoughtful. Had he sent only a single portion, if Yang Mingyi were less considerate, he might eat it all himself. Yet if he were mindful of others, how could he possibly enjoy such a gift alone with a clear conscience
There was also meat and cloth.
The cart was full of things. The man said Old Master Wu instructed that Zhao Ger should receive and use them as he pleased.
This counted as New Year gifts.
The man was from a local security escort agency in Yuanzhou and had to hurry back. Zhao Ger served him tea and asked him to wait a moment.
A few days ago, Uncle Liu dug up a lot of fishmint. He said there was plenty and told Zhao Ger to come get some to eat. Old Master Wu had quite liked it last time. Zhao Ger went to get some. Worried the chefs in his mansion might not know how to prepare it, he washed it again, made a cold salad, packed it in a clay jar, and had Fang Zichen pack some chili sauce, pickled vegetables, and homemade cured meat as return gifts.
While loading the cart, Zhao Ger noticed there were two separate sets of gifts. Before he could ask, he heard Fang Zichen instruct the man to deliver one to the Sheng Family Medical Hall and give it to his 'little brother'.
During the New Year period, there was little work to be done. Most people spent their time paying visits and engaging in leisurely conversation. With nothing to do, Zhao Ger tinkered with the hot pot base Fang Zichen had mentioned earlier. Old Master Wu had sent some mutton. Zhao Ger noticed Fang Zichen couldn't stand the smell. Pig intestines used to stink too, and Fang Zichen couldn't handle that either, but not to the point of vomiting at the smell. Fish was also fishy, but he didn't react to that. It seemed he specifically couldn't stand the gamy smell of mutton.
Yang Mingyi couldn't stand it either. There were nine catties of mutton. Two people at home would start retching at the smell. Zhao Ger thought about giving it away. Fang Zichen said: "Although I can't stand the smell, I can eat it. I like using mutton slices for hot pot."
So, Zhao Ger decided to make the base first.
He had never eaten mutton before either. After preparing the base and slicing the mutton thinly as Fang Zichen said, and since all the children at home could eat spicy food, Zhao Ger didn't cook separately. He picked some pea shoots, small radishes, and vegetable seedlings from the Liu family's vegetable plot to blanch in the hot pot.
Zhao Ger set up a small stove on the kitchen floor, placed a wide pot on it. The pot held a red, fragrant, and spicy broth. Even before the meal started, the children were already swallowing their saliva.
It was their first time eating this way. The children were excited and curious. Hot pot appeals to all ages. Not just the adults, the children loved it very much. Outside, the bitter wind howled, but inside, with the door shut tight and everyone gathered around the bubbling pot, the atmosphere was wonderfully warm and snug.
It was a bit spicy. The sound of sniffing never stopped. Today, Zhao Ger didn't stop Xiao Feng. The child ate until his head was sweaty and his lips were red.
The sliced mutton, fish, and pork were all finished. The vegetables were also blanched and eaten clean. Seeing the children eat so well made Zhao Ger happy.
Time spent eating, drinking, and having fun always seemed to fly by. In the blink of an eye, it was the sixth day, time to return to work. Shops had to reopen. The children were still playing, but the adults were busy again.
On the eighth day, Yang Mutao returned. Without even entering his own home, he came to pick up Yang Mingyi. Zhao Ger helped him pack. Guaizai clung to Yang Mingyi's leg, looking at him with teary eyes, begging him not to leave. Yang Mingyi naturally didn't want to leave either. Living in the village was comfortable. No matter how mature and disciplined he seemed, he was still only a child at heart. Children love bustle and playing together. He used to be aloof, not because that was his nature from the start, but because his later environment shaped him. But returning was inevitable—he had a home of his own. If he did not go back today, then it would have to be tomorrow, or the day after.
Seeing his own ger seemed to have gained some weight, Yang Mutao was happy. He patted his shoulder: "You can come whenever you want in the future. It's close anyway. Go back with me today. I haven't seen you for a long time. Stay with me for a few days."
Yang Mingyi also missed Yang Mutao a little, so he nodded: "Alright."
He got on the carriage, looked back at the small, still somewhat dilapidated yet warm and cozy courtyard. Zhao Ger, Fang Zichen, Guaizai, and Xiao Feng were seeing him off at the gate. A sudden, indescribable emotion welled up in Yang Mingyi's heart—a sour, swelling ache that was difficult to put into words. He faintly felt that this seemed to be the last time. His connection with this place seemed to have reached its end. There might not be the 'future' Yang Mutao spoke of.
After a few days off, getting up early for work again made Fang Zichen feel as if a lifetime had passed.
On the road, he breathed into his palms, feeling heartache.
The weather is freezing. I'm not a bare stick anymore; I'm an icicle.
[光棍 (guānggùn): lit. bare stick; fig. bachelor, unmarried man]
Providing for a family is truly not easy!
By the end of the second lunar month, the village began to get busy.
Actually, they didn't need to start this early. The weather was still cold; corn couldn't be planted yet for fear of frost damage.
But most people didn't have oxen. The whole village had only one, belonging to the village chief's family. They had their own land to plow. Those not closely related felt awkward borrowing it. Turning the soil relied entirely on two hands and a hoe, one hole at a time. It was exhausting and time-consuming.
By turning the soil now, when the weather warmed up in the third month, seeds could be sown just in time.
The fields were livelier than the vegetable plots. Knowing the chili sauce sold well, several families had already started turning their soil to plant chili peppers. Afraid the seeds would freeze, they covered them with a thick layer of straw after sowing.
In the third month, warblers flew and grass grew. The weather warmed slightly. After a spring rain, sprouts of grass emerged in large patches by the roadside and field ridges. The mountains came alive with the sound of birds; swallows often chirped by the fields. Looking into the distance, it was a scene brimming with spring vitality.
Farmers busied themselves with spring plowing, sowing hope. Fang Zichen packed his luggage, preparing to go to Yuanzhou for the exams. Perhaps because he was a little older, Guaizai didn't cry this time. Seeing Zhao Ger organizing things, he climbed into Fang Zichen's arms, hugged his neck, lay on his chest, and whispered: "Father, Guaizai will miss you. You must come back quickly!"
"Mm!" Fang Zichen kissed his forehead. "Father will come back as soon as the exams are over. Do you want any gifts?"
Guaizai shook his head, holding him tightly. "No. I just want Father."
These words made Fang Zichen reluctant to leave. This trip would take many days. He wanted to pack up Zhao Ger and his son and take them along, but the family business couldn't be left unattended. The shop had Lin Xiaoxia and his wife and Zhou Ger watching it, so Zhao Ger didn't need to worry about that, but the roast duck business couldn't do without him.
The villagers were extremely busy during this period, but in the morning, a crowd gathered outside the courtyard again, saying they came to see him off. The aunt who gave the red eggs last time handed over two more this time.
"Fang boy, these red eggs are auspicious. Take them for the road."
In the village, red eggs symbolize good omens and auspicious events. They are mostly given when a child is born.
Fang Zichen didn't really understand, but he thanked her and accepted them.
After bidding farewell to Zhao Ger and the children, Fang Zichen shouldered his pack, climbed onto the ox cart, and swayed away on his journey.
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