Celebrating the New Year

Yu Lanyi’s emotions came and went quickly. His feelings of parting were already washed away by the joy of the New Year. He went with Lin Ge’er and Zheng Qingyin to buy New Year’s goods.

They got up early. This was a bit difficult for Yu Lanyi, but he still got up yawning. Lin Ge’er wore a bright red cotton coat, and Zheng Qingyin wore a purple one. When they saw Yu Lanyi, they greeted him, “Let’s go, Lanyi, we’re going to the market to buy some chicken, duck, fish, and meat first.”

Market?

Yu Lanyi, still a bit groggy, was pulled along by Lin Ge’er.

There was no snow in the sky, and the market was bustling with people. Some vendors had even decorated their stalls with red silk. At the pork stall, a roasted pig with red silk was bought by a steward from a wealthy family.

The surroundings were noisy, as if thousands of people were buzzing in his ears. Yu Lanyi followed Lin Ge’er, curiously looking at the vendors in the market.

Lin Ge’er spotted a pork stall and went up to negotiate the price.

“Big brother, how much is this pork?”

“Fifteen wen per jin.”

Lin Ge’er was always good at bargaining. This time, he bought a quarter of a pig, negotiating with the butcher with a big cleaver. Yu Lanyi watched, dumbfounded.

Butcher: “Alright, alright, we’ll do it your way.”

Lin Ge’er bought meat, vegetables, and fruits, and the three of them were already struggling to carry everything. Lin Ge’er said, “It would be great if we had a basket.”

Yu Lanyi, confused: “Huh?”

He carried the items back home with both hands and headed straight to the kitchen to put them down.

Lin Ge’er said, “I’ll cook the New Year’s Eve dinner tonight.”

Zheng Qingyin laughed, “I’ll help.”

Yu Lanyi had never cooked before. He thought for a moment and raised his hand, “I can help too.”

Lin Ge’er cheerfully said, “Great, tonight the kitchen will be our stage.”

Yu Lanyi, feeling guilty: “…” His hands were not skilled.

Besides buying food, Lin Ge’er and the others also bought nuts, seeds, and pastries, each in several varieties. Yu Lanyi saw a small stall selling fireworks and firecrackers.

Zheng Qingyin whispered, “Second sister-in-law, let’s buy from the store. The fireworks and firecrackers from these small stalls might not be as good. Someone in our village bought cheap fireworks from a stall, and they didn’t even light up. It’s better to spend a bit more for good ones.”

Yu Lanyi happily bought half of the fireworks and firecrackers from the store.

Lin Ge’er: “…” Second brother’s wife is really extravagant.

“Next, we should buy window decorations and ‘Fu’ characters.” Lin Ge’er thought that Zheng Shanci had already bought couplets for the mansion, so they didn’t need to buy those.

At the paper-cutting shop, Yu Lanyi was looking at a ‘Fu’ character.

Zheng Qingyin touched the ‘Fu’ character and said, “Second sister-in-law, I can also cut ‘Fu’ characters.”

“That’s amazing,” Yu Lanyi said.

He couldn’t.

Zheng Qingyin smiled, and with Lin Ge’er, took some ‘Fu’ characters and window decorations. He said to Lin Ge’er, “Big sister-in-law, let’s buy some red paper. We can cut some ourselves.”

“Sure, it’ll be a good way to pass the time.”

They couldn’t tell the quality of the wine, so they only bought plum wine. Plum wine isn’t intoxicating, just right for them to drink. Zheng Shancheng drinks strong liquor every year, and they didn’t know what Zheng Shanci wanted to drink, so they let them buy their own.

The three of them didn’t ask for help and returned with large bags.

When Zheng Shanci returned home and heard that Yu Lanyi went with the big sister-in-law and little brother to buy New Year’s goods, without letting the mansion’s servants follow, he was curious. Yu Lanyi had nothing to do with buying New Year’s goods.

He went to the study to handle some official business and asked Wangfu to call him when Yu Lanyi returned.

“Daren, the young master is back.”

Zheng Shanci came out of the study and saw Yu Lanyi carrying things with both hands. When he saw Zheng Shanci, his eyes lit up, and he raised his hands high.

Zheng Shanci: “…”

Zheng Shanci took the items from Yu Lanyi’s hands, which were indeed a bit heavy. Yu Lanyi felt relieved and followed Zheng Shanci, hands behind his back, saying loudly, “Put the red paper in Qingyin’s room. We’ll cut window decorations and ‘Fu’ characters in the afternoon.”

Such delicate work made Zheng Shanci a bit doubtful.

Having spent a lot of time with Zheng Shanci, Yu Lanyi knew what he was thinking. He raised his chin, “Who are you looking down on? Tonight, we’ll put the window decorations and ‘Fu’ characters I cut in our room.”

Yu Lanyi pushed Zheng Shanci to move quickly.

After picking out the red paper, Zheng Shanci was urged by Yu Lanyi to put away the candies and other items.

Because of the agreement with Zheng Shanci, Yu Lanyi listened attentively to Zheng Qingyin explaining how to cut window decorations and ‘Fu’ characters.

Zheng Shanci put the candies in the cabinet. Besides candies, there were also nuts and such, which must have been what they bought today. Zheng Shancheng was looking for Zheng Shanci and said, “Shanci, your big sister-in-law said we should buy our own wine.”

Having been in the study for a while, Zheng Shanci went out with Zheng Shancheng. Zheng Shancheng liked strong liquor. In the cold winter, drinking strong liquor warmed the body quickly.

They went to the wine shop and bought three jars of nu’er hong. Zheng Shanci only drank occasionally and wasn’t addicted.

Zheng Shancheng’s legs were still warm, and he exhaled with a smile, “In the past, during the New Year, I used to buy wine with Dad and Ah Dad. Back then, we couldn’t afford nu’er hong and could only buy yellow wine.”

“Shanci, these days are really enjoyable.” Zheng Shancheng, usually reserved, showed a bit of emotion.

The two brothers chatted and laughed as they returned.

For the New Year’s Eve dinner, Lin Ge’er had the kitchen staff leave it to them. Lin Ge’er and Zheng Qingyin worked well together, preparing several big dishes for the dinner. 

Following the local customs in Xinfeng County, Lin Ge’er planned to make a dish called steamed lamb. He first sliced the lamb leg, added wine, vinegar, sauce, and a bit of dried ginger, then sealed the bowl and steamed it slowly until tender. 

After steaming for an hour, Lin Ge’er removed the ginger slices and sprinkled green onions.

Yu Lanyi stood behind Lin Ge’er, his eyes sparkling as he watched.

Zheng Qingyin was also just assisting in front of Lin Ge’er, and as for Yu Lanyi, he could only wash vegetables. Then, whatever Lin Ge’er did, he watched, his eyes full of little stars.

Lin Ge’er plated the dishes and had Zheng Qingyin and Yu Lanyi carry them over.

In the past, during the New Year, Yu Lanyi only waited to eat. This was the first time he participated, and he found it very novel, carrying the plates over.

Zheng Shanci saw the table gradually filling up. Braised pork knuckle, steamed lamb, clear stewed duck, ginger fish slices, three-cup chicken, water chestnut beans… The soup was lotus seed soup.

The New Year’s Eve dinner was indeed the most sumptuous.

After serving the dishes, the whole family sat down together. Zheng Shanci poured wine for Zheng Shancheng and took plum wine to pour for the three Ge’er.

The five of them raised their glasses and took a sip of wine.

“Eat, try and see if it’s good.”

Yu Lanyi picked up some steamed lamb and praised, “Big sister-in-law, it’s so delicious.”

Lin Ge’er couldn’t stop smiling.

Zheng Shanci: “…”

But the big sister-in-law’s cooking was indeed excellent. Zheng Qingyin took a sip of plum wine, and his face turned red. He blushed when drinking. He usually didn’t talk much while eating, but his chopsticks moved quickly.

Yu Lanyi knew Lin Ge’er made braised prawns, so he put three in Zheng Shanci’s bowl.

Zheng Shanci chuckled, peeled the prawns, and put the meat in Yu Lanyi’s bowl.

The sound of fireworks echoed in the sky, and firecrackers crackled on the ground.

Yu Lanyi was eager to try.

After the New Year’s Eve dinner, Yu Lanyi took the fireworks over, “I’m going to set off fireworks. If you want to, take some yourself.”

Zheng Shanci looked at the large amount bought and was speechless.

Lin Ge’er took some fireworks, and Zheng Qingyin set off firecrackers at the mansion’s entrance.

Colorful fireworks soared into the sky, disappearing in an instant. Yu Lanyi arranged the fireworks in a circle, lit them one by one, and quickly ran away, laughing as he jumped into Zheng Shanci’s arms.

Bright like a shooting star.

And vividly colorful.

“Zheng Shanci, cover my ears.”

Zheng Shanci obliged, covering Yu Lanyi’s ears as he watched the fireworks.

Opening the door, outside, the crowd was bustling, men and women, young and old, all smiling. The fireworks in the sky made a whistling sound. A child lit a firecracker, covering their ears to watch. There were lion dancers, drummers, and opera singers. The river reflected the stars and fireworks.

Someone held a dragon prop, dancing to the drumbeat, a dragon playing, surging, and entangling in the crowd, with cheers echoing.

Yu Lanyi ran into the crowd, Zheng Qingyin cheered at the lion dance, and Zheng Shancheng and Lin Ge’er pointed at the dragon dance, discussing something. Zheng Shanci was about to find Yu Lanyi when someone called him.

It was a few colleagues from the county office. Zheng Shanci exchanged pleasantries for a while before going to find Yu Lanyi.

Yu Lanyi found a high platform to watch the people below.

“Zheng Shanci, it’s even more lively from here.”

Yu Lanyi smiled.

Zheng Shanci responded with a smile.

After the night passed, the group returned home, still excited. Tonight, they had to stay up for the New Year, not allowed to sleep. Zheng Shanci gave Zheng Qingyin a red envelope.

Zheng Qingyin obediently said, “Thank you, second brother.”

Yu Lanyi also gave one.

Zheng Shancheng and Lin Ge’er shared one.

Yu Lanyi blushed. Technically, he and Zheng Shanci should have given one together.

“Thank you, big brother, big sister-in-law, and second sister-in-law.”

It was all Zheng Shanci’s fault for not telling him.

During the New Year’s vigil, the whole family stayed up together. Zheng Shanci and Yu Lanyi kept nodding off, each holding a book as a cover, nodding like pecking chickens. Lin Ge’er was also struggling to stay awake.

As for staying up, only Zheng Shancheng and Zheng Qingyin were honestly keeping vigil.

…

Capital City

The Changyang Marquis Mansion was bustling with people early in the morning, and Yu Er Ye’s family also came.

Yu Er Ye handed over the gifts Yu Lanyi had asked him to bring to Yu Fulang, “Big sister-in-law, Lanyi said he’ll come back next year. These are the gifts he asked me to bring.”

Yu Fulang felt a pang of emotion, “He’s our own child, no need for gifts. Is he really becoming distant from me?”

Yu Er Ye awkwardly scratched his face.

The Changyang Marquis said, “It’s the child’s thoughtfulness, take a look.”

Yu Fulang realized his mistake and quickly took the gifts from Yu Er Ye. He opened them to find a small jade tiger, intricately carved and quite heavy.

The little tiger was adorable, and Yu Fulang couldn’t help but take it out and touch its head and tail.

There was also a letter underneath.

Yu Fulang opened it. It was mostly Yu Lanyi saying he wouldn’t be back this year and that the little jade tiger would keep Ah Dad company.

Since Yu Lanyi was born in the year of the tiger, he had this little jade tiger made to accompany Yu Fulang in his stead.

Yu Fulang’s eyes grew moist.

“That naughty child.”