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Ye Xin returned home with the buckets, washed them, and tested for leaks. The craftsmanship looked good, but she wanted to ensure they worked properly before making any judgments.
While she was drawing water from the well, Shen Zhuo returned unexpectedly. He hadn’t known Ye Xin was ordering buckets, so he was surprised to see the two new ones. “Did you have these custom-made from Master Sheng?”
Ye Xin turned to smile at him. “Yep! How did you know?”
Shen Zhuo shrugged. “He’s the only cooper in the village.” Then, suddenly thinking of something, he furrowed his brows and scrutinized her expression.
But Ye Xin was too focused on washing the buckets to notice. “How come you’re back so early? It’s only a little past three.”
Shen Zhuo relaxed and explained, “We didn’t have classes, just exams. Finished by two. Secretary Zhou from the commune came by to talk, and he said we need to return to school on the seventh for the next steps.”
Ye Xin nodded, realizing that once the grades were out, the commune would assess how well the trainees had performed and likely plan a second training session.
Shen Zhuo came over to help her draw water, asking, “Do you have any plans tomorrow? Want to make another trip to town?”
Ye Xin shook her head. “No way! It’ll be packed. I’ve already bought everything I need. If you want to go, you can go by yourself.”
He glanced at her old clothes and urged, “You should go. You’ve bought so much, but you still don’t have new clothes for the New Year!”
Ye Xin raised an eyebrow, replying playfully, “Do you have new clothes?”
Shen Zhuo hesitated. “Well… no.”
“Then that settles it! If neither of us has new clothes, it’s fair!”
Shen Zhuo frowned, “But…”
But he recalled how she had bought him many things before—hats, scarves, gloves, and the like—and spent a good bit of money doing so. He had things, but she didn’t.
In fact, after making a bag from the fabric she had bought, he still had plenty left. He had intended to make her new clothes, thinking he could learn to sew, even if he wasn’t experienced.
However, Ye Xin didn’t want them. She found the fabric too dull and old-fashioned, and it wasn’t great material; it was stiff and prone to fading, not as comfortable as her well-worn clothes.
Seeing him lost in thought again, Ye Xin said, “The money is in my hands. If I want to buy new clothes, I don’t need you to tell me! As long as the clothes are warm and not torn, that’s all that matters right now. There are more urgent things to spend on.”
Shen Zhuo fell silent, resolving to remember to take her shopping for new clothes next year. If the county’s styles didn’t please her, he’d take her to the city instead. But first, he needed to earn more money to make that happen.
After Ye Xin finished washing the buckets, she stood up. “With only a day and a half left until the New Year, let’s not fuss around anymore. You’ve been busy, so take a break! We still need to prepare for the New Year’s Eve dinner tomorrow!”
She pointed at the buckets. “I bought these specifically for bathing—they’re better than a basin. We’ll boil extra water; the first pot is mine, and the second is yours. One bucket each, and don’t mix them up!”
Shen Zhuo nodded, glancing at the shiny new buckets, thinking how thoughtful she was, always ensuring he got his share of food and supplies.
In that moment, his earlier doubts faded away.
With his training finally over and some free time, Ye Xin urged him to get to work. They had two main tasks: first, to tidy up the vegetable patch behind the house by picking up the rotten leaves and turning the soil. Although it was too early to plant anything, getting it ready now would make spring planting easier. Second, they needed to grind some wheat into flour for New Year treats.
Shen Zhuo had felt guilty before for letting her do so much work, and now that he had finished his exams, he had come back with the intention of helping.
Hearing her plans, he immediately rolled up his sleeves, ready to get to work.
The sleeves were rolled up and the work began.
Before dinner, Shen Zhuo spent over an hour tidying up the empty plot in the backyard vegetable garden, clearing the area and tilling a small patch before heading back inside to prepare for dinner.
After their meal, Ye Xin instructed him to soak some beans and glutinous rice in advance so they could make something delicious the next day.
The next morning, on the eve of the New Year, Shen Zhuo rose early and packed a bag of wheat to grind into flour. A few kilometers away, at the intersection of several production teams, there was a water-powered mill that processed grains. This was where everyone came to handle their split harvests. Fortunately, most of the rice and flour had already been milled in the days leading up to the New Year, so Shen Zhuo didn’t have to wait long before he finished grinding the flour.
When he returned home, he found Ye Xin in the main room, stirring glue for sticking decorations. The table was strewn with red couplets and “Fu” characters—everything they needed to decorate for the holiday. Shen Zhuo set down the flour and grabbed a ladder from under the eaves, preparing to hang the couplets.
He started with the main gate, which was quite high. Ye Xin brushed glue on the back of the couplets and handed them to him, reminding him, “Be careful! Take your time.”
Shen Zhuo nodded, taking the couplet and carefully pressing it onto the wall.
Ye Xin stepped back, tilting her head to ensure he placed it perfectly.
By the time they had finished putting up couplets and “Fu” characters on the main gate and each door, their humble courtyard was transformed with vibrant red, filling the air with the festive spirit of the New Year.
Ye Xin clapped her hands excitedly. “All done! Now let’s get cooking!”
The two of them washed their hands and went to the kitchen to start kneading dough, chopping vegetables, building a fire, and heating oil as they cheerfully prepared their New Year snacks. They made dumplings, sweet glutinous rice cakes, pan-fried pancakes, multigrain cakes, various fried vegetable balls, and an assortment of crispy snacks like “Kai Kou Xiao,” potato balls, and sesame balls.
Ye Xin had wisely purchased extra oil while shopping for the New Year, allowing them to indulge in a large pot of fried goodies. It was likely that no one else in the village would be as generous with their oil!
Watching the delectable treats bubbling away in the oil, gradually turning golden and crispy, the aroma wafted through the air, making Ye Xin’s mouth water.
It had been ages since she’d enjoyed fried food, and she was craving it desperately!
As Shen Zhuo efficiently fried the snacks, he asked, “Isn’t this a bit too much? There are just two of us; we can’t finish it all…”
Ye Xin interrupted him, “We can finish it! If you don’t want to eat, that’s fine—I want to eat! I’m going to indulge myself until I’m stuffed!”
Shen Zhuo disagreed, “But we can’t just eat this; we need proper meals, too.”
“I want it all! Don’t try to talk me out of it—just fry faster!”
Shen Zhuo sighed, conceding that as long as she was happy, that was all that mattered.
They busied themselves in the kitchen for most of the day, preparing several bowls of delicious food, with hardly any pots or bowls left empty. Even the small bamboo basket Ye Xin had just bought was temporarily repurposed to hold pancakes.
As Shen Zhuo continued frying, Ye Xin couldn’t help but sneak bites, her hands covered in oil.
Even though they had worked hard all day and were a bit tired, the sight of all the fried treats brought her immense joy. “This is amazing! I can really feast for the New Year!”
Shen Zhuo looked at her with a mix of helplessness and indulgence, asking, “Can we start planning the New Year’s dinner now? What dishes should we make? Should we fill the table?”
Ye Xin replied, “No need to overdo it! Fried foods can last a while, so we can make extra without worry. But for regular dishes, I want to take it meal by meal. I can’t stand leftover dishes every day; that would ruin my appetite!”
Shen Zhuo nodded in agreement, “Fresh food is definitely more appetizing.”
He felt a sense of relief—he had been worried she would want to cook too many dishes.
While the oil was still hot, Ye Xin directed him to fry the braised pork. They had saved a pound of fresh meat specifically for this, waiting to fry it for tonight’s dinner.
Once the pork was fried, they strained off the excess oil and prepared a chicken and mushroom stew, sautéed spicy pickled vegetables, tossed a refreshing dish of wood ear mushrooms as a cold salad, and finally whipped up a seaweed and egg drop soup. With four dishes and a soup, their feast was nearly complete.
Despite having just four dishes and a soup…
“Other families might not have food as good as ours!”
As the evening sky darkened, the two of them sat down to enjoy their New Year’s Eve feast.
Though it was just the two of them, their hearts were intertwined, and loneliness was nowhere to be found. The dishes were fragrant, and they ate with contentment, their bodies healthy and spirits high, devoid of any disagreements—just pure happiness all around.
Outside, the sound of firecrackers began to fill the air, mingling with the laughter of children and the chatter of adults, creating a festive atmosphere that celebrated the New Year.
After finishing their meal, Ye Xin grabbed her brand-new wooden bucket to scoop hot water for a bath. She called out to Shen Zhuo, who was clearing the table, “I’ve got the water! Just heat another pot for yourself.”
Shen Zhuo nodded, “Go ahead; I’ll add more water later.”
But then he remembered how heavy the bucket was and how small she was, so after she scooped some water, he went over and offered, “Let me help you with that.”
Ye Xin could manage on her own but appreciated his assistance. She cheerfully responded, “Just mix it with some cold water for me at the well; it’s really hot!”
Shen Zhuo prepared the water and carried it to the bathing area before heading back to fetch more for himself.
While the water was heating, he grabbed a cloth and began wiping down the kitchen, cleaning up the flour, oil stains, and water marks left from their busy day. He scrubbed the countertops and pot lids until they shone, then swept the floor and neatly stacked the firewood.
By the time Ye Xin finished her bath and stepped out, she was ready to wash her clothes by the well. Shen Zhuo brought over the kerosene lamp to help her.
As he filled the buckets, he glanced at her. With half-wet hair and a radiant face, she resembled a freshly blossomed lotus flower. Despite wearing old clothes, she looked exceptionally beautiful. Suddenly, a phrase he’d heard somewhere popped into his mind: “Even the simplest attire cannot hide unmatched beauty.”
His cheeks flushed at the thought.
Ye Xin had no idea what he was thinking. Once he had brought up two buckets of water, she busily set to washing her clothes, urging him, “Alright, you should take a bath too; it’s getting late.”
Shen Zhuo nodded, pausing to tell her, “Don’t go to bed just yet. It’s New Year’s Eve; stay up with me.”
Ye Xin considered it. Although there was still work to be done, it was a holiday, and she didn’t want to be too busy. She nodded, “Okay, you hurry. I’ll wait by the stove; it’s warm there.”
When Shen Zhuo emerged from his bath, he caught sight of her sitting by the stove through the wooden slats. His heart swelled, and he quickly set to washing his clothes. They were diligent and efficient by nature, and with the old year passing, they couldn’t let their laundry carry over into the new year.
After hanging the clothes to dry, he walked into the kitchen, only to find her head drooping as she struggled to stay awake, fighting off sleep.
He tiptoed over and squatted down beside her, watching her.
With her eyes closed, she rested her elbows on her knees and cradled her chin in her hands, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders and framing her delicate face.
The faint glow from the dying embers in the stove illuminated her features, revealing smooth, flawless skin and long lashes that cast little shadows over her cheeks.
… She was truly beautiful.
Shen Zhuo gazed at her in awe, almost forgetting to blink.
Ye Xin had grown tired from a long day, and the warmth of the stove lulled her into a comfortable drowsiness. When she sensed someone nearby, she stirred awake.
Upon opening her eyes, she saw Shen Zhuo close by. Familiarity dulled any sense of surprise; she simply rubbed her eyes and mumbled, “So sleepy.”
Shen Zhuo felt his heart soften. He had forgotten about staying up and the midnight snack, gently suggesting, “Then go back to sleep.”
Ye Xin nodded, standing up with a yawn and turning toward the room.
Shen Zhuo took the lamp and walked her back to the west room.
“See you tomorrow—oh, I mean, see you next year!” she teased playfully before stepping inside.
“Yeah, sleep well. We’ll see each other soon,” he replied softly, his gaze warm and affectionate.
After she closed the door, he slowly walked back to his own room, a slight smile gracing his usually stoic face.
Celebrating the New Year with Ye Xin for the first time filled him with joy and anticipation. This year, thanks to her diligence and cleverness, they had acquired many new things, enjoyed plenty of good food, and improved their health. Life was gradually getting better—and next year would surely be even better!