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In the morning, Ye Xin woke up not from the gentle light of day but from the raucous sounds of firecrackers celebrating the New Year.
Though startled, the thought of it being the first day of the Lunar New Year brightened her mood. She stretched, dressed quickly, checked her appearance in a small mirror, and neatly styled her hair before stepping out of her room, feeling refreshed and ready to embrace the day.
In the kitchen, Shen Zhuo had already lit a fire, the rising smoke dispelling the morning chill.
She tiptoed over to him, planning to give him a playful scare. “Happy New Year!” she exclaimed.
Shen Zhuo had noticed her the moment she opened the door and wasn’t startled at all. With a smile on his face, he replied, “Happy New Year!” Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a red envelope, handing it to her.
Ye Xin’s eyes lit up with delight as she accepted the envelope without hesitation. “Why are you giving me a red envelope? You’re not my elder!”
Shen Zhuo turned back to his cooking, casually explaining, “I’m older than you, so I can give you a red envelope. That’s how we do things here.”
She accepted his reasoning, her heart swelling with joy as she opened the envelope to find a surprising three dollars inside!
To put this into perspective, red envelopes for children typically contained just a dime, and twenty cents was already considered generous. Three dollars was practically a fortune!
Realizing he must have spent a good chunk of his money, she felt touched yet a bit amused. “But if you give me such a big red envelope, doesn’t that mean you’ll have less for yourself?”
Shen Zhuo shrugged nonchalantly, “I still have more.”
Ye Xin thought for a moment, then dashed back to her room. She retrieved two dollars and stuffed them into the envelope, handing it back to him. “In my hometown, we can exchange red envelopes among peers too. You give me one, and I give you one. Here, take it!”
Shen Zhuo was pleasantly surprised. After she went out to fetch water for washing up, he opened the envelope to find five dollars inside. His mood shifted slightly; he felt a twinge of disappointment.
While he understood she was just being thoughtful and didn’t want him to feel short on cash, he didn’t want her to feel as though his gift was just a means to get more from her. Besides, it was clear she hadn’t originally planned to give him a red envelope—it had been a last-minute decision, after all.
When she returned from washing up, he couldn’t help but mention, “I just gave you that, and now you’re giving it back to me, with even more.”
Ye Xin shot him a playful glance. “Silly! Isn’t it good to give you money?”
Her teasing look and voice somehow made Shen Zhuo’s irritation melt away, replaced by a sweet warmth in his heart. “I know you just wanted to help me out. I’ll take good care of it.”
They ate leftovers for breakfast, which, although not a large amount, was still more than usual since Ye Xin had snacked on fried foods the night before. She hadn’t eaten much of the proper dinner, especially the rich pork belly dish, which had barely been touched.
Shen Zhuo quickly stir-fried some preserved vegetables with the pork belly, creating a savory, tempting aroma, and warmed up the other dishes along with the rice. While the rice was a bit on the scarce side, it seemed wasteful to cook a whole new pot, so they decided to just boil a few dumplings to share—plenty for both of them.
As the smell of the preserved vegetable and pork belly wafted through the air, Ye Xin eagerly dug into her meal. They finished the rice quickly, but the other dishes lingered, particularly the pork belly, which was delicious but rich and easy to get tired of. She made sure to finish the preserved vegetables, which were lighter and more refreshing.
Afterward, she brought out her new tea set and some tea leaves, pouring hot water to brew a pot of tea to cleanse their palates. “We have to finish the leftovers tonight. I won’t eat them tomorrow!” she declared.
Shen Zhuo sighed in resignation. “Isn’t it because you ate so little and were too busy with everything else? Fine, I’ll finish them up tonight.”
Ye Xin happily poured herself some hot tea, feeling satisfied.
Although it was just plain Tie Guanyin tea and didn’t taste particularly special, sipping a cup after a meal was comforting. Maybe she wouldn’t need to make soup in the future; drinking tea after dinner would be simpler.
As she sipped her tea, Ye Xin, who had just declared she was full, couldn’t help but—
Ye Xin lifted the pot lid, grabbed a sesame ball, and carefully placed the lid back on, as if committing a heist, not making a single sound.
When she saw Shen Zhuo turn around after washing the dishes, she quickly popped the last bite into her mouth and lowered her head to sip her tea.
Shen Zhuo approached, poured himself a cup of tea, and took a moment to admire the elegant white porcelain tea set. “It’s really beautiful,” he remarked.
Noticing her silence, he asked, “Do you want to go to the temple fair today? There’s no reason not to enjoy it.”
Ye Xin finally swallowed her food, took a sip of tea, and raised her eyes to ask, “What’s at the temple fair?”
Shen Zhuo replied, “There’s a local opera performance. It runs from the first to the fifth day of the New Year, and you can watch it for free. You can also pray for blessings at the temple.”
Ye Xin had never seen a local opera, especially not one from this era, and she imagined it would be quite lively. But since everyone would likely be out and about on the first day of the New Year, it would be crowded. The thought of jostling through a sea of people didn’t thrill her, and she felt it might not be safe.
Learning that on the first day people typically didn’t visit relatives, but started doing so on the second day, and then went to the market on the third, Ye Xin decided right then and there to stay home on the first day and check out the opera on the second.
Shen Zhuo looked surprised. “You don’t want to go out on the first day?”
Ye Xin shook her head. “We can go tomorrow. I want to relax at home on New Year’s Day and hope the entire year will be just as easygoing. Besides, after all the firecrackers last night and this morning, I didn’t get enough sleep and need a nap—if you want to go, go by yourself.”
Shen Zhuo frowned. “What’s the point of me going if you’re not with me?”
His desire to go out faded. By nature, he wasn’t one to seek out crowds; he had thought she would enjoy the excitement, which was why he suggested it.
Feeling satisfied after her meal, Ye Xin returned to her room for a nap, not caring what he did.
Though people typically didn’t visit relatives on New Year’s Day, it was normal for neighbors to pop by for a chat and to exchange New Year greetings.
In the afternoon, Wang Xiaowei dropped by.
She arrived carrying a bamboo basket slung over her arm, with an additional cloth draped over it. When she knocked on the gate and saw Ye Xin, she paused for a moment, surprised. “Hey, you cut your hair! When did you do that?”
Ye Xin twirled around to show off her new look, a hint of pride in her voice. “I got it cut on the twenty-eighth of the twelfth month. How does it look?”
Wang Xiaowei gave her a thorough once-over, nodding in approval. “It looks great! Most people either have long hair tied in braids or short hair that requires no upkeep, but you’ve got this fresh style—neither long nor short, and it’s so eye-catching! It really suits you and makes you look even prettier.”
Ye Xin beamed with delight.
Wang Xiaowei thought she looked like a child eager for praise, which only added to her charm, especially since she was still quite young herself.
After admiring her new hairstyle, she smiled and wished her a “Happy New Year.” “I thought you weren’t home and were off at the temple fair having fun.”
Ye Xin laughed, inviting her in. “If I weren’t here, wouldn’t it be a wasted trip for you, Xiaowei?”
Wang Xiaowei chuckled, “Well, if you weren’t here, I’d just go back. It’s New Year’s Day; it’s nice to get out and about anyway.”
Ye Xin led her into the main room and added, “I didn’t sleep well last night, so I stayed in. I just woke up when you came; I’m feeling refreshed and ready to chat.”
Wang Xiaowei replied, “It’s good you didn’t go out. It’s crowded on the first day, and it’s easy to get knocked around. Last year, someone fell and got trampled, but thankfully, no one was seriously hurt. Everyone else from our village went; the newcomers were curious, and those who had been before took them along. I wanted a quiet moment, so I thought I’d come up to see you.”
Once in the main room, she set down the bamboo basket and lifted the cloth covering it, revealing sticky rice balls inside. “I promised to bring you some before the New Year; here, try one!”
Ye Xin eagerly reached in and took one, her eyes lighting up with delight. “Delicious! Xiaowei, you’re so talented!”
Wang Xiaowei laughed heartily, finding her enthusiasm infectious. “My cooking is pretty average; you’re making me sound like I’m a master chef!”
Ye Xin insisted earnestly, “No, really, it’s amazing!—Xiaowei, just wait here for a moment; we made some delicious food too.”
“I’ll go get it for you!”
With that, Ye Xin jumped up and walked out of the main room, just in time to see Shen Zhuo stepping out of the east room.
Shen Zhuo understood that Wang Xiaowei had come to see her, and feeling unfamiliar with the situation, he decided to follow Ye Xin to the kitchen. He quietly asked, “Do you want me to boil some water for tea?”
Ye Xin nodded eagerly. “Yes! The tea from this morning has gone cold. Please boil a fresh pot, and I’ll come to get it in a bit!”
Shen Zhuo settled by the stove and got the fire going to boil the water.
Meanwhile, Ye Xin grabbed a large bowl and filled it with a variety of delicious snacks, carrying it back to the main room. “Xiaowei, try these! If you like them, you can take some home with you later.”
Wang Xiaowei’s eyes widened in surprise at the sight of the fragrant, crispy treats. “How much oil must this have taken to make?”
Ye Xin laughed, “Who cares about that? This is the time to enjoy ourselves! Go ahead and eat!”
Wang Xiaowei nodded in agreement. “You’re right, then I won’t hold back!”
These snacks were all small and bite-sized—some just one bite, others needing two. They were crispy, soft, sweet, and savory, each one more delicious than the last. Even Wang Xiaowei, who wasn’t usually tempted by food, couldn’t resist and ended up eating several.
Finally pausing, she exclaimed, “These are amazing! The street vendors can’t compare! Did you make these? Or was it Shen Zhuo?”
Ye Xin beamed with pride. “We made them together! Each of us took on what we knew how to do. I did a bit more, but he did all the frying; we were busy for most of New Year’s Eve.”
Wang Xiaowei could easily picture the harmonious scene of the two of them working together in the kitchen and sighed, “That’s wonderful! You both collaborate so well; everything you make turns out great.”
Ye Xin smiled shyly and then asked curiously, “Don’t you work together like that? Is there some conflict?”
Wang Xiaowei shook her head, unable to help but chuckle. “Definitely not as harmonious as you two! But we have less to work with, so it’s not like we can create too much fuss. You’re sharp—you caught on right away.”
Not wanting to pry any further, Ye Xin pushed the bowl closer to her. “Then eat some more, Xiaowei! Don’t hold back—we made plenty!”
Wang Xiaowei smiled and shook her head. “I really shouldn’t eat too much; it’s delicious, but it’s also a bit too rich.”
After listening to the sounds coming from the kitchen, she added, “You and Shen Zhuo get along so well; it’s almost enviable!”
Ye Xin felt a bit shy. “We just respect each other. We discuss everything, so we manage to get along well.”
Wang Xiaowei replied, “Before, no one really believed in you. Even I thought you weren’t being rational. But now, seeing how well you two are doing, I can’t deny we all underestimated you. Everyone’s secretly envying you!”
Ye Xin found herself momentarily at a loss for words. Envy?
If she hadn’t taken the initiative to communicate and resolve their issues, how could they have reached this point? Not long ago, they were at a dead end.
After pondering, she asked, “Do people really think poorly of intellectual youths marrying locals?”
At this, Wang Xiaowei sighed. “At first, yes. When the intellectual youths first arrived, the gap between the countryside and the city was too wide. Those who were reluctant to come were already uncomfortable, and even the ones with aspirations to develop the countryside soon had their enthusiasm worn down by the heavy labor. They wanted to escape back to the cities. Plus, having gone to school, many felt superior and thought that local people were beneath them. But as time passed, perspectives changed.”
Ye Xin nodded in agreement. “I felt the same when I first arrived. I was frustrated by the poor conditions in the countryside. It took me a while to adapt.”
Wang Xiaowei smiled wryly. “You adjusted quickly, though. Unlike me and Wang Youwei, who took years to realize reality. Once we accepted that we might spend our lives here, we no longer felt superior to the locals. In fact, some wealthy families in the countryside look down on us intellectual youths, thinking we’re just inexperienced and lacking skills. I didn’t initially see you and Shen Zhuo as a match…”
“It’s not just because he’s a local; it’s mainly due to his family background.”
Ye Xin listened to this, momentarily unsure how to respond. It wouldn’t be appropriate to say that there was still hope of returning to the city, especially since that would take several more years. Wang Xiaowei had already been here for six or seven years; asking her to wait another six or seven seemed almost unbearable. Plus, there was the issue of age to consider.
Wang Xiaowei continued, “But no one expected you to be the first to marry a local. You just arrived, and you’re still so young. Others who have been here for several years aren’t in such a rush.”
Ye Xin could only manage an awkward smile in reply.
Wang Xiaowei added, “Still, while your situation surprised everyone at first, people are starting to see that you’re doing well. You’ve become a good example, and other intellectual youths have been influenced, perhaps even hastening their change in mindset.”
Ye Xin sensed there was more to this statement and quickly asked, “What do you mean by that?”
Wang Xiaowei explained, “Take Wang Youwei for instance; he’s been down here the longest and has already shifted his thinking. He came in ‘63 when he was twenty. After the New Year, he’ll be twenty-eight—not exactly a kid anymore, and he’s considering settling down.”
Ye Xin was taken aback. “Oh?”
Wang Xiaowei elaborated, “Do you remember last year when he asked about your house? He’s planning to build his own place and intends to settle down here. I suspect he brought it up with his family over the New Year. They’ve even sent letters urging him not to delay—no matter where you are, it’s time to think about starting a family.”
Ye Xin nodded in understanding. “At his age, his family will definitely be pushing him.” In her own era, families had begun pressuring for marriage, and the current times were even more conservative.
Wang Xiaowei added, “Exactly! If he’s going to settle down here, it makes sense for him to marry someone local. There aren’t many intellectual youths around, and finding a compatible partner among them is tough. Local teams have a wider pool, offering much more choice.” She sighed, acknowledging that she, too, would probably end up looking among the locals since she wasn’t getting any younger.
Just then, Shen Zhuo finished boiling the water. Noticing that they were deep in conversation and fearing the water would cool down, he decided to brew the tea himself without waiting for Ye Xin. He brought in the teapot and cups, quietly setting them down.
Without a word, he turned and stepped back outside.
This was how he always was around outsiders—quiet and reserved.