Chapter 115 : New Year’s Eve

The next day, just after breakfast, the door was knocked on persistently. Liang Qingqing, disturbed by the incessant knocking, was annoyed and frowned deeply. She waved her arm toward the man beside her, causing the quilt to slip slightly and reveal her beautiful back adorned with red plum blossoms.

“Fan Yanxing, go open the door!” she said through gritted teeth, her voice still husky from sleep. The impatient tone quickly woke him up. He first patted her head reassuringly, then, seeing she had snuggled back into the quilt, he hurriedly dressed and ran outside.

His shoes left marks on the snowy ground, which he noted he would need to clear later. He unlatched the gate and faced Liang Junqiang, who was standing outside.

“Just getting up?” Liang Junqiang asked, eyeing Fan Yanxing. Despite Fan Yanxing’s disheveled hair, he looked genuinely unprepared.

Fan Yanxing cleared his throat awkwardly and asked, “What’s up?”

“Oh, right,” Liang Junqiang remembered his purpose and quickly said, “Mom sent me to get you. We’re making rice cakes, they’re best fresh.”

Making rice cakes before the Spring Festival is a tradition in Changbei Province. Everyone chips in to gather and make rice cakes, which are then distributed according to household size.

On a sunny day, steamed glutinous rice is placed in a stone trough, and after greasing the wooden mallet, it’s pounded. The more it’s pounded, the finer the dough. The dough is then shaped into small pieces, flattened into round cakes, and finally done.

The last part is the kids’ favorite, they rush to climb on tables and jump to press the dough, competing to make the biggest and roundest cakes.

Once all the cakes are pressed, they can be taken home and enjoyed in various ways fried, roasted, or boiled.

“Okay, we’ll come right away. You go ahead, Second Brother.” Fan Yanxing recalled that Ma Xiuzhi had mentioned making rice cakes today and had intended to help Liang Qingqing, but he had forgotten after a lively night. He felt a bit regretful and rubbed his nose.

“Be quick, there were already a lot of people when I arrived,” Liang Junqiang urged before quickly leaving.

Fan Yanxing closed the courtyard gate and, skipping the snow clearing, hurried to the kitchen to start boiling water. After quickly preparing two bowls of noodles, he went to the bedroom to wake Liang Qingqing.

During winter, Liang Qingqing was particularly lazy. When she was home on vacation, she would stay in bed as long as possible, and no matter who tried to persuade her, she would always throw a little tantrum, especially when it came to Fan Yanxing, who indulged her even more.

At this moment, Fan Yanxing was gently coaxing her to get up, but she had buried her whole head under the quilt, pretending not to hear and continuing to sleep. He could only smile indulgently and pat the plump quilt. “We’re making rice cakes. Haven’t you always wanted to go and see?”

At his words, her head stirred under the covers, revealing eyes still heavy with sleep. She frowned as if struggling with the idea, then reluctantly extended her hands from under the quilt, signaling for him to help her up.

Fan Yanxing leaned down so that her arms could wrap around him more easily. He then gently pulled her out from under the quilt and, as he bent down, stole a quick kiss from her lips. “Lazy cat, you’re actually getting up.”

She turned her head sharply, pouting in disgust. “Ugh, I haven’t brushed my teeth or washed my face yet. Who gave you permission to call me that? It’s so gross.”

“What’s gross about it? I think it’s quite nice,” he said with a smile, but inwardly he repeated the phrase twice, finding it indeed a bit gross. To change the subject, he cleared his throat and said, “Last year, I had charcoal-grilled rice cakes, they were pretty good. Adding a bit of honey should make them even more delicious.”

At the mention of honey, Liang Qingqing shivered involuntarily. She reached out to cover his mouth, a faint blush creeping up her ears. “I don’t want to hear about that right now.”

Seeing this, Fan Yanxing understood what she was thinking. Not wanting to upset her at this moment, he nodded as if unaware. “Okay, grilled ones are also good.”

As they discussed the rice cake recipes and tidied up, they quickly got ready and headed out. When they arrived at the village square, they saw a group of people gathered from afar. The air was filled with the fragrant aroma of glutinous rice, making their mouths water in anticipation.

At the highest point, Songzi and a group of children were bouncing on a table, their faces lit up with bright smiles.

“Still in bed, huh?”

Seeing the couple arrive late, Ma Xiuzhi couldn’t help but tease Liang Qingqing in a low voice while holding her hand. Liang Qingqing, unable to retort, simply hugged her arm affectionately and asked for leniency. Fortunately, Ma Xiuzhi, aware of Liang Qingqing’s habits, didn’t continue the teasing in front of everyone. She sent Fan Yanxing to help with the men and allowed Liang Qingqing to stand beside her and enjoy the scene.

Watching Songzi climb back onto the table soon after getting down, Liang Qingqing couldn’t help but shout a safety warning. Songzi, hearing her, responded with a grin, “Auntie, I’ll make sure you get the biggest and roundest rice cake.”

“Alright!” Liang Qingqing’s eyes curved with a smile as she watched Liang Shuqiang stand guard by the table with the little one, feeling completely reassured.

“If you want one, just have your own. You and Yanxing have been married for so long, and yet your belly still hasn’t moved?” Ma Xiuzhi glanced at Songzi and then at Liang Qingqing, who remained slim and graceful. As a mother, she couldn’t help but feel concerned and couldn’t resist a bit of nagging. “The sooner you have a baby, the sooner you can recover. The benefits outweigh the drawbacks.”

“It’s only been a short while. I’ve always said that having a child should follow its own course, who knows, maybe one day it’ll just happen. We’re not in a hurry, we’re still young,” Liang Qingqing replied casually, then focused her attention on the process of making rice cakes.

Fortunately, Ma Xiuzhi only brought it up casually and didn’t press the issue. Seeing that Liang Qingqing was unwilling to discuss it further, she decided not to push the topic.

By the afternoon, the rice cake making was done. After each household lined up to collect their freshly made rice cakes, everyone dispersed.

Liang Qingqing and Fan Yanxing went back with the Liang family. They set up a brazier in the kitchen, took out the iron rack used only during the New Year, and placed the rice cakes on it. Before long, the white and tender rice cakes began to puff up with little bubbles and slowly turned a golden brown.

Fan Yanxing had brought back a few pounds of pork the day before. It was just the right time to salt it and start grilling it on the side with charcoal. Liang Qingqing also had him wash a few potatoes and peppers, seasoning them generously making the aroma irresistible.

Ma Xiuzhi watched her family eating with oil-stained mouths, her eyes crinkling into a smile. The family’s living conditions had improved day by day. Who would have thought that just a year ago, they’d be thrilled for days over a simple egg?

The eldest now worked with the village secretary, helping to copy documents and notices, earning a little extra money each month.

The second one was learning a trade from a carpenter and had started taking on small jobs. With the addition of labor points, life was much more comfortable and carefree, at least far better than before.

Third Brother needed no further mention, he was undoubtedly the most successful one in the family. He had a good job, a good marriage, and Fan Yanxing was very respectful, treating his in-laws as if they were his own parents, frequently sending money and gifts.

Each day seemed brighter than the last. She and Old Liang could hardly contain their joy, feeling that they had no regrets in life. Their only wish was for each child to be healthy and happy.

On New Year’s Eve, Liang Qingqing got up early, which was rare for her. She and Fan Yanxing changed into new red clothes, cleaned the house inside and out, and put up Spring Festival couplets and blessing characters.

“I’ll light the firecrackers. I’ll light them.” Liang Qingqing emphasized this twice. Only then did Fan Yanxing hesitantly hand her the matches, repeatedly reminding her, “Be careful, don’t hurt yourself.”

“I’m not stupid. I’ll light them and then run away,” she replied, her eyes brimming with excitement. Before lighting the firecrackers, she turned back to him with a smile and said, “Don’t worry.”

Fan Yanxing stood behind her, his heart racing as he watched the girl with braided pigtails smile brightly at him. His heart pounded so hard it felt like it might leap out of his chest.

She rarely wore such vibrant colors, the last time she did was on their wedding day. The red cotton jacket highlighted her delicate skin, rivaling the snow on the eaves. Her red lips and white teeth, her fiery beauty, were like a red rose blooming in the snow, capturing everyone’s gaze.

Just as he regained his composure, he saw her finish lighting the firecrackers and come running toward him with a scream. Fan Yanxing’s reflexes were faster than his thoughts. He quickly reached out, catching her in his arms and holding her close. Her soft body felt especially comfortable in his embrace.

“I told you, I wouldn’t hurt myself,” she shouted in his ear over the deafening sound of firecrackers, her delicate chin lifted in a triumphant way. Her pale cheeks had a rosy flush, making her look even more enchanting.

Fan Yanxing nodded in agreement with amusement “ I knew you were the best”

The trick of coaxing children made Liang Qingqing feel so embarrassed that she couldn’t bear to face anyone. She decided to cover her ears and quietly watched the firecrackers explode in front of her. The sharp smell of gunpowder that rose to her nose was a symbol of the joyous holiday.

They left the red firecracker papers lying in the yard, planning to clean them up after the holiday. Instead, they walked side by side to the Liang family home. Although newlyweds are traditionally expected to prepare their own New Year’s Eve dinner, they decided to join the lively family gathering and celebrate the New Year together, choosing to forego the traditional formalities.

No rules mattered as long as they were happy and enjoying themselves.

In the kitchen, everyone was already busy washing vegetables, chopping, and tending to the fire, moving quickly and efficiently. Upon their arrival, they didn’t need to be called, they simply found a place to help out. Even Songzi had brought a small stool to the side and was sorting vegetables, her little hands working with surprising dexterity.

The New Year’s Eve dinner was a highlight of the Spring Festival, featuring the best dishes of the year. Everyone took it very seriously, anxious not to make any mistakes.

As nightfall descended, the whole family gathered together, raising their glasses and making wishes.

As the new year begins, everything was renewed.