Chen Shouwang’s submission pleased Hualing greatly. After being reprimanded by Cheng Su, she didn’t cling to the issue. Seeing Chen Shouwang giving in, she gracefully stepped back and naturally apologized, allowing Chen Shouwang to relax as well. The couple considered the matter settled.
And just a few days later, Chen Shouwang secretly visited the hospital where Hualing worked to get a check-up. Once the results came out, both breathed a sigh of relief; there were no problems with either of them. Their childlessness was probably due to their past pattern of frequent separations combined with their recent daily arguments, which significantly reduced their intimate moments, and thus, the delay in having a child.
Hualing reflected on her behavior and had another in-depth conversation with Chen Shouwang. She promised to try to control her temper from now on. Once she opened up, Chen Shouwang himself felt somewhat guilty.
He thought of Liu Li.
Perhaps, going to the small bar was no longer an option!
There were no fertility issues for the couple, and to clear up any misunderstandings, Hualing specifically showed Cheng Su the report, partly to restore her husband’s dignity.
Cheng Su was overjoyed, and she shared the news privately with Qi Taiguo, remarking that both were stubborn, complicating their otherwise good life needlessly.
...
As the days grew shorter and nights longer, time flew by, and as the year drew to a close, Cheng Su, looking at the account books, gave her restaurant staff a generous bonus. She then chose a date to gather everyone for a year-end feast.
Since it was the restaurant’s first year, Cheng Su decided to close on the twenty-ninth of the lunar year, and to reopen for business on the eighth day of the lunar month, allowing everyone to have a joyous holiday. In the future, if the restaurant grew larger in scale, she anticipated there would be no holidays, just a rotation of shifts for rest instead.
As the New Year approached, the calls from home grew more frequent; there were constant inquiries about when Qi Taiguo and his family would return, especially from Mother Qi, who even told Qi Taiguo in private what to buy for the trip back.
To coordinate with Cheng Su’s restaurant holiday schedule, Qi Taiguo’s shifts at the military unit were until the evening of the twenty-eighth of the lunar year, and his official holiday started on the twenty-ninth, but because of military regulations, the holiday could only extend until the fifth day of the lunar month.
Even so, Cheng Su was happy. Over time, she had purchased many New Year’s goods and packed them into large bundles, so much so that even Qi Taiguo teased her for wanting to move the whole of Qing City back to her hometown.
After Little New Year, Ning Ge returned to Beijing. Cheng Su didn’t forget to prepare some local specialty gifts for him to take to the Chief as New Year’s presents.
"You better not toss them away halfway, I’ll be calling the Chief to wish him a New Year and ask about it," Cheng Su warned.
Ning Ge rolled his eyes, "I got it, why do you nag like an old mother!"
Cheng Su was provoked and chased after him to hit him playfully.
Once the factory officially closed for the holiday, Dazhi managed to wrap up work at the shop by the twenty-sixth.
Cheng Su, accompanied by Qi Taiguo, went to check it out especially. The shop had been completely renovated and emitted a faint scent of paint. The kitchen had expanded to more than twice its original size, not only fitted with stoves but also with stations for chopping vegetables, washing, and sinks for dishes.
After inspecting everything inside and out, and seeing that all was developing according to plan, Cheng Su settled the renovation payment with Dazhi. Once the New Year rolled round, the shop could set a date for its opening.
On the twenty-seventh, Cheng Su separately invited County Chief Ying, Luh Kai, and others for a New Year’s meal. It was a way to offer early New Year wishes, and the prepared gifts went without saying.
By the twenty-eighth, Joy Soon Loy Restaurant had seen off its last customers. Everyone cleaned up, properly storing food that needed refrigeration, locking up, and tidying everything. After wishing each other a good New Year, they all headed home for their own celebration.
Cheng Su arrived home and sat on the sofa. It was only then that she felt that having been here for more than half a year, she was truly taking a break for the first time and finally had a moment to relax.
Outside the window, someone began setting off fireworks. She smiled, amused. The New Year was coming.