Xu Nianhua was also very happy, the family was together, complete and united. The future seemed more promising, no longer fragmented and shrouded in shadows as before, like struggling desperately in a storm.
"I’ll show you something nice tonight," Pei Yicheng whispered in her ear while taking the chance to toast, and before Xu Nianhua could ask what it was, Pei Yicheng had already moved on to clink glasses with Ji Ying.
Pei Yining looked on with a hint of sourness at Xu Nianhua, but with Aunt Ji and Sister-in-law Xu present, she didn’t say much, afraid that her brother might be kicked out of the house before he could even win his crush’s heart.
Right now, she was just engrossed in savoring the delicious food.
Braised lion’s head meatballs, tasty taro rice pudding, stir-fried bacon with winter bamboo shoots, homemade sausages by Ji Ying’s own hands, duck soup, rice dumplings, and many other dishes made Pei Yining feel that her stomach was too small.
A table full of delicious food that was different from the exquisite meals she used to have at home. These homestyle dishes actually made her enjoy them even more.
Aside from Zhuangzhuang, who was still being held, the men had all drunk wine. The scene of their chattering, though noisy, was festive.
After dinner, Ling Dong stealthily went out.
"Grandpa, Uncle Xu, there’s something nice to see. Please come to the courtyard," said Pei Yicheng suddenly, catching everyone off guard. It was the middle of winter, go out to the courtyard?
Xu Nianhua seemed to sense something and followed everyone to the courtyard. As soon as they stepped outside, dazzling fireworks soared into the sky, painting beautiful colors onto the black canvas of the night.
Exclamations kept rising up.
The villagers, hearing the noise, all came out of their houses. Everyone did the same thing: looked up at the beautiful night sky.
Xu Nianhua had seen many fireworks in later generations, many of which were more splendid than these, but today, they seemed especially bright and beautiful.
"Do you like it?" Pei Yicheng had approached her side at some point.
Xu Nianhua looked away from the sky and saw that her parents and the others had moved outside the yard to watch the fireworks. At the doorway, only Xu Nianhua and Pei Yicheng stood side by side.
"It’s beautiful," affirmed Xu Nianhua with a nod.
"From now on, I’ll buy fireworks every year to show you, is that okay?" Pei Yicheng gazed at her sincerely and seeing her surprised expression, couldn’t resist lifting his hand to brush aside the hair on her forehead ruffled by the wind, saying, "I like you, I want to spend every New Year’s with you, I want to have a lifetime with you."
Pei Yicheng’s sudden confession startled Xu Nianhua.
When she had rejected Amos before, Xu Nianhua had changed the subject and avoided it; later, when she was injured, Pei Yicheng hadn’t said anything either.
The fireworks erupted beside them, splendid and gorgeous. Pei Yicheng leaned in closer and said, "No matter what your answer is, I’ll wait for you." Wait for the day you fall in love with me.
Xu Nianhua’s heart instantly became turbulent.
She thought, no one could resist his deep affection; her heart throbbed wildly, like the splendid fireworks in the sky, striking directly at her heart.
"Little sister, what’s wrong, you seem lost in thought?" After seeing off Pei Yicheng and the others, Xu Nian’an looked at Xu Nianhua with a puzzled face, feeling that Xu Nianhua was a bit distracted.
"No, not really," Xu Nianhua shook her head and asked, "By the way, what was in... the envelope you gave him?"
Having just been confessed to, Xu Nianhua was too embarrassed to even say his name, as if speaking would give something away, making her especially nervous. Fortunately, everyone was cheerful today, and with the fire burning brightly in the room, everyone’s faces were flushed, so it wasn’t very noticeable.