Bai Dan and Old Han were supposed to return on the 28th, but because of this, they stayed an extra day.
"However, it doesn’t matter, Bai Da isn’t anything important nowadays, and being wanted doesn’t affect him. Happy New Year, Xingxing and Wu Wa."
After saying this, Bai Dan chuckled again, looking at the two girls as he spoke.
"Happy New Year, Grandfather."
"Happy New Year, Grandfather. Happy New Year, Master."
Bai Da ran away, but it’s fine, as long as Nan Xi and Ye Xiu are here, he will definitely come back.
On New Year’s Eve, the village had already come to life before anyone had even gotten up.
Everyone started preparing the New Year’s Eve dinner together.
Rich in grains, abundant in resources, everything from start to finish.
Chicken, duck, fish, and meat were indispensable.
There were also various kinds of meatballs, eggplant fritters, and couple’s cakes.
It was an exceptionally bustling New Year.
Lion dances and magic tricks, truly, everyone was showing off their best skills.
Bai Zhi looked at the atmosphere in the village and felt it was particularly lively, but suspected that in a few decades, only empty houses would remain.
Everyone preferred city life now.
But when emptied by the fast pace, they would miss the good old times of their childhood.
Like now, even Bai Xiang, mature as he had become, joined his friends in playing games.
He took Wu Wa to the river to catch fish with firecrackers.
The small kind, a box for ten cents, just strike it hard and throw it into the water, then cover your ears.
"Bam"—the splash of water was always the children’s favorite game.
Then there were pop-pops, slam them on the ground and they’d go off.
Even Wu Wa, with her salary, had bought many fireworks to play with.
The "bang bang bang" echoed continuously.
In the evening, the revelry resumed, a table laden with delicious food, a year of hard work—now everyone could eat till they were full.
Of course, grateful to those raising the pigs, grateful to Nan Jin.
And the village head, himself, and every person in the village.
At midnight, everyone stayed up together, and the sound of firecrackers marked the arrival of the new year.
Bai Zhi and Wu Wa received red envelopes from Bai Meng, Bai Dan, Old Han, and Bai Xin.
"Happy New Year, Wu Wa, Xingxing."
Bai Zhi and Wu Wa grinned happily as they accepted the red envelopes.
On the morning of the first day of the new year, everyone packed up and returned to their homes for meals. Untouched dishes, including meat, were all shared.
Bai Zhi’s family also brought home some wild pork and fish. As for the pork head, every family took only half, no one was wasteful, and the last meal was eaten clean.
The children mostly received candies or red envelopes, usually a penny each.
Looking at the pennies, Bai Zhi told herself to save them, they would appreciate in value.
The second day of the new year was for visiting maternal homes.
Bai Xin was already at her maternal home, Ye Xiu didn’t have one.
Ye Xiu and Bai Ye had prepared the meal, Bai Zhi joined them to eat.
Once again, Bai Zhi encountered Nan Xi, and today’s Nan Xi, along with Bai Yu, were not just talk—currently, Nan Xi was wiping the table and serving dishes.
Bai Zhi and Wu Wa wanted to help, but Nan Xi quickly spoke up.
"Sister, you and Wu Wa just rest here, we’ll handle the dishes, you are guests."
Nan Xi had a smug look as she spoke, and if not for fearing that Bai Zhi would discover the truth, she really wanted to say, "You’re the outsider, this is my home, my mom."
Of course, she spoke very softly, afraid Ye Xiu would hear.
Watching Nan Xi’s childish demeanor, Bai Zhi felt like laughing.
The dishes were all served, and Nan Xi went to bring out another item, a durian.
Again a durian, probably from Ouyang?
"Mom, brother, sister, this is from Brother Ouyang, he said to just bring one back. This is a durian..."