Chapter 119.1

This year could be considered a “warm” winter, and the children could also come out to play at night.

Xiao Yu, Dundun, Yaya, Xiao Houzi, Dashu, Guangguang, and Xiao Shitou all gathered at the Banyan tree to set off fireworks.

After Xiao Roubao and Xiao Tangyuan had eaten their fill, they were sound asleep.

Su Xiaoxiao also didn’t feel like going out, so she asked Han Cheng to take the older children out for a walk.

Actually, Xiao Yu and the others had already arranged to meet up early and asked Fantuan’s group to join them after having dinner to play at the banyan tree.

These children were all from the same area. It’s normal for children like Fantuan to go out to play on their own. However, Su Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but feel worried about the kids going out by themselves, especially since Xiao Doubao was so young. If the older brothers weren’t keeping an eye on him, what would happen if he encountered problems? Han Cheng was also worried about this.

“Do you want to go out for a walk? How about you go out while I stay home watching Xiao Tangyuan and Xiao Roubao?” Han Cheng suggested.

Su Xiaoxiao shook her head and said, “I’m very tired and don’t want to go out. You guys go ahead. If it’s too crowded, carry Xiao Doubao. He’s so short and easy to be stepped on.”

Han Cheng leaned down and kissed her lips. “I know, if you feel tired, go to bed early.”

Su Xiaoxiao nodded and said. “Go ahead. I’ll secretly place their New Year’s money under their pillows.”

Han Cheng said, “Put two, help me put one as well.”
The custom in Sujia village was for the elder women to give out New Year’s money, and at the start of the year, the elder women would distribute red envelopes. However, Su Xiaoxiao had already prepared a stack of red envelopes for Han Cheng. She took out a stack of red envelopes from her pocket, spread them out in front of Han Cheng like a fan, wrote each child’s name and a blessing on them, and finally signed them.

Su Xiaoxiao took out another stack and said, “These are yours. Give the kids your blessings too.”

Han Cheng took a pen and wrote on the red packets for the boys: “Be confident, have self-respect, and strive constantly.” he wrote his name. Only on Xiao Tangyuan’s red packet did he write, “May my daughter be always safe and successful.”

Su Xiaoxiao looked at him speechlessly and said, “Han Cheng, on such an important day, can’t you write ‘Happy New Year’ for the kids?”

Han Cheng said, “We men all communicate like this.”

Su Xiaoxiao: “…” Okay, their six-month-old Xiao Roubao had already been included in the category of men in their household.

Han Cheng noticed a red packet in Su Xiaoxiao’s stack with “Dear Comrade Han Cheng, Happy New Year” written on it. He smiled and patted his wife’s head. “Do I get one too?”

Su Xiaoxiao, with a playful smile, said, “Of course! You’re our family’s most precious treasure. We can’t leave anyone out, especially not you. Since mom isn’t here, I’ll give you the red packet this year.”

Looking at his gentle and beautiful wife, Han Cheng lowered his head and kissed her small dimple, then pressed his lips against hers, giving her a deep kiss before turning over in bed. He didn’t feel like going out today.

However, the kids were already eager to leave. Fantuan shouted from outside, “Dad, are you ready? Why are you taking so long? There are firecrackers outside!”

Han Cheng let go of Su Xiaoxiao and pressed his forehead against his loving wife’s blushing cheeks. “Thank you. You’re the greatest treasure in our family.”

After answering Fantuan’s sentence, he reluctantly turned around and left.

Su Xiaoxiao looked at her husband’s tall and straight back, listened to the children’s joyful voices outside the door, and glanced at the twins sleeping soundly in their small beds. Why was this year so warm?

When they arrived at the Banyan Tree, the place was really lively. Most parents seemed to share Han Cheng’s thoughts. The scene resembled the rush of a market during the New Year shopping season.

Zhao Xianfeng and Xiao Yu arrived early, along with Lao Hu, Xiao Houzi, and the kids, who gathered in one place while the adults chatted elsewhere. Han Cheng instructed the eldest to look after their younger brother and not let him get too close to the fireworks.

Xiao Doubao was too short, so the three older brothers agreed to take turns carrying him. Xiao Doubao had grown up accustomed to being carried by Fantuan and Zhuzi’s backs.

It had been a year since Grandpa Zhao passed away. Following the customs of Qingfeng Town, on the first New Year after a loved one’s passing, they couldn’t use spring-themed decorations. So, Zhao Xianfeng replaced the white lanterns at the door with red ones, adorning the house inside and out with red decorations.

Zhao Xianfeng looked at Han Cheng’s family children and felt envious. Not counting the twins at home, there were already four children here, and each of them was more adorable and eye-catching than the other children in this military quarter.

“After tomorrow, remember to bring your kids over to our place for New Year greetings, to add some liveliness to our home.” After the two elders left, the house felt empty. Even Xiao Du would return after the New Year and only come back on the eighth day, leaving only their family of three.

“Prepare their big red envelopes first, and we’ll go,” Han Cheng said as he looked at the children.

Zhao Xianfeng choked for a moment and said, “Am I such a stingy person? I naturally have big red envelopes to give.”

Han Cheng replied, “You can tell them yourself later. Also, when Xiao Du returns, arrange for him to take Da Bao and Xiao Bao back to Sujia Village.”

“When will they leave?” Zhao Xianfeng asked.

“Probably after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, they need to go back before school starts.” Han Cheng replied.

“It’s a coincidence,” Zhao Xianfeng said. “I have to go to Zhou City on the sixteenth day of the first lunar month. I can give them a lift back on the way.”

Han Cheng glanced at him and said, “Such a coincidence?”

Zhao Xianfeng lowered his voice. “Do you remember Comrade Lu Zheng?”

Han Cheng nodded. “I remember. He was implicated by the Yue family and sent to the countryside near Zhou City.”

Zhao Xianfeng nodded and said, “It’s not far from Sujia Village. He’s been seriously ill lately. I want to go and take a look.”

Han Cheng frowned. “Hasn’t their family been struggling with this matter for a long time? Is there still no resolution?”

“The process is too slow, it has been dragging on endlessly. I don’t know how many more years we have to wait. I’m not even sure if Old Lu can wait that long. Think about how long Zhuzi’s family has been dealing with their issue. It’s a known injustice, yet it’s been years waiting for due process,” Zhao Xianfeng explained.

Han Cheng: “Is it okay for you to just go there like this?”

Zhao Xianfeng said, “I’m just worried about finding an excuse, but now I’ll help you see off your nephew and visit him. Oh, that’s perfect.”

Han Cheng was too lazy to pay attention to him. A firework burst into the pitch-black sky, blooming above the banyan tree, illuminating the dark night bit by bit. No matter how difficult life gets, there’s always hope, right? Han Cheng felt that such days wouldn’t last too long.

Old Hu and Li Mu also gathered together to chat and enjoy themselves.

The kids and their good friends brought fireworks and firecrackers and put them all together. They discussed that instead of setting them off one by one, it would be more spectacular to wait until everyone was ready and then set them off together.

Xiao Bao said, “But won’t they all be finished in one go?”

Fantuan replied, “Isn’t it more exciting to enjoy it all at once?”

Da Shu also said, “I feel it’s a bit of a waste to set them off all at once.”

Da Bao didn’t seem to mind.

Dun Dun and Xiao Houzi always looked up to Fantuan; whatever Fantuan said, they would follow.

Fantuan said, “Look, what we’re seeing now is setting them off one by one. Later, if each of us holds one and sets them off together, it will surely be ten times more magnificent.”

Finally convinced by Fantuan, Xiao Bao rarely saw fireworks in Su’s village. He wished to split one firework into two to set it off. Here, there were many people setting off fireworks individually, but Xiao Bao could imagine how amazing it would be if they all set them off together.

When the people in front were almost done, Fantuan shouted to Han Cheng, “Dad, come help us light the fireworks!”

Xiao Yu and Xiao Houzi also called their fathers.

The mothers carefully prepared matches and long incense, and the fathers lit them for the children to hold.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!” Fireworks burst into the sky one after another.

The children all raised their heads, exclaiming, “Wow! Wow! Wow!” It was a feast for the eyes.

As Fantuan said, the effect of setting them together is more than ten times better than that of setting them individually.

Xiao Doubao, who was nestled in his father’s arms, clapped happily with squinted eyes.

The neighbors, enjoying the spectacular scene, smiled from ear to ear.

Finally, the firecrackers were also set off together. Each child had a face full of happiness and laughter, covering their ears while watching the sparks fly and listening to the farewell of the old year.