Momo saw his dad’s miserable attempt at handiwork and said in utter disdain, "Daddy, you’re so dumb!"
Han chimed in beside him, mocking mercilessly, "Dumb as a pig! Dumb as a pig!"
Huo Tingdong glared at him indignantly, "It’s the New Year, and I don’t want to beat you!"
He glanced at the paper cutting Han made and retorted with confidence, "What are you laughing at me for? Look at what you’ve made! You’re the dumb pig!"
Han countered using Lin Qi’s words, "Even if I’m dumb as a pig, you’re the one who gave birth to me! If you’re so capable, so brilliant, why didn’t you make me smarter?"
Han added, "I haven’t even complained about how unfair you are! Why did you make Momo so smart and me so dumb? Hmph!"
Momo said, "Daddy, let me teach you! Let’s see if you can learn it this time!"
Momo perched on Huo Tingdong’s lap and taught him, hand over hand.
To be honest, paper cutting is truly a magical thing.
Fold it here, cut a line there, draw a few strokes, and occasionally use a craft knife to carefully carve parts. When you finally unfold it, a neatly crafted character for "fortune" appears, full of charm.
Huo Tingdong learned earnestly, and in the end, under Momo’s guidance, his paper cutting was at least passable.
Momo nodded objectively and gave his verdict, "You’ve made some progress!"
After finishing the paper cuttings, Huo Tingdong and Lin Qi pasted them onto the windows, instantly imbuing the room with a festive atmosphere!
Huo Tingdong couldn’t help but smile as he looked at the vivid red paper cuttings on the clear glass.
So this is what the Lunar New Year feels like—quite warm and cozy!
In the past, most New Year’s Eves for him were spent at the office.
By the time he returned home at midnight, the clock had already passed twelve.
Han would have long fallen asleep.
Even on rare occasions when he managed to take a few days off to spend at home with Han, their interactions lacked much liveliness. Han was more withdrawn back then, silent and unspoken, and neither of them knew how bustling the New Year could be.
Perhaps spending the New Year with family is where the warmth and happiness lies.
That’s probably the most important meaning of the New Year!
Huo Tingdong suddenly understood why, as soon as the year-end approached, his company’s employees were so eager to head home.
Huace’s consistent policy is that as long as employees finish their current workload, they can start their holiday early.
As a result, before the Spring Festival travel rush, everyone in the company works tirelessly, practically 24/7, desperately increasing their productivity. They scramble to secure tickets, even to the point of fierce competition. If they fail to snag airline tickets, they’ll wake up at dawn to vie for high-speed train or regular train tickets. Even if it’s a dozen-hour sit or stand ticket, they’ll do whatever it takes to get home for the New Year.
Han raised his hand, "I want to stick the last paper cutting!"
He had ruined several sheets of paper before finally managing to cut one that looked decent, and it deserved to be placed on the window.
But, he was too short, and the ceiling was over three meters high.
There wasn’t a ladder at home.
Huo Tingdong walked over and effortlessly lifted Han up.
Finally, Han successfully pasted his paper cutting onto the glass.
Momo personally cooked a table full of delicious dishes.
The family made plans to watch some programs after their New Year’s Eve dinner, and as midnight approached, they would head to the riverbank to set off fireworks and welcome the New Year.
In recent years, Beijing had implemented strict bans on setting off fireworks within the city. However, on New Year’s Eve, there were still plenty of people who flocked to the riverbanks to set off fireworks. For one, it was about celebrating and preserving the festive spirit; for another, fireworks were an activity loved by young and old alike, especially by children. Without them, the New Year would lack a certain spark.
Setting off fireworks is an ancient tradition, a custom passed down from our ancestors, and losing it would be a pity.
So, on New Year’s Eve, many young people would head to the riverbanks to set off fireworks.
By 11 PM, Han couldn’t hold back his excitement any longer and rushed everyone incessantly.
Thus, the family bundled up and marched to the riverside to set off fireworks.
Outside, the temperature was below zero.
During the day, there had been sunshine, but at night, the cold wind swept through.
By the time they arrived at the riverbank, it was already 11 PM.
Though late, Huo Tingdong managed to find a good spot.
The riverbank was already crowded with people, most of them young. Their cars were piled full of fireworks.
Huo Tingdong had also bought plenty of fireworks, ranging from tens-of-thousands-worth of artistic displays to smaller ones for simple enjoyment.
Han had never set off fireworks during New Year’s before, so he was overly excited, constantly urging to begin.
Lin Qi said, "It’s not midnight yet!"
She took out a sparkler and handed it to him, "Here, play with this first."
Han asked, "What’s this?"
Momo walked over with a windproof lighter, holding Han’s hand firmly, "Don’t move around!"
He lit the sparkler, and soon, it crackled to life, sparks flying everywhere.
Han’s eyes lit up with excitement as he exclaimed, "Wow! So pretty!"
The dazzling sparks illuminated his tender little face.
Momo lit another sparkler and started waving it in the air.
The colorful sparks danced in the night sky, creating brilliant streaks of light—mesmerizingly beautiful.
Seeing how creatively Momo played with the sparkler, Han tried imitating him and began enthusiastically waving his own sparkler.
Huo Tingdong stood off to the side, watching in a daze. Lin Qi handed him a sparkler, saying, "Here you go, hubby!"
Huo Tingdong took the sparkler, its glittering sparks reflecting in his eyes, as if carrying a dazzling galaxy within.
Lin Qi held two sparklers in her hands and began twirling them.
Huo Tingdong watched her, his eyes filled with an affectionate smile.
As he looked at her, a warm sensation surged in his heart.
In that fleeting moment, he felt that Lin Qi’s world, both herself and everything around her, radiated an extraordinary brilliance.
Meanwhile, Han and Momo started another playful squabble nearby, chasing each other relentlessly.
Momo chased after Han to hit him.
Han smartly hid behind Huo Tingdong, clutching his sleeve tightly, "Daddy, Daddy..."
As Momo was about to pounce on Han, Huo Tingdong picked Han up and lifted him high above his head, placing him on his shoulders.
Han sat triumphantly on Huo Tingdong’s shoulders, sticking his tongue out and making faces at Momo.
Momo clenched his fists and said to Han, "Get down here!"
He rolled up his sleeves, ready to give Han a good beating.
Lin Qi asked, "Momo, what did Han do to provoke you?"
Momo said, "He just wished that he’d grow taller and stronger than me next year, so he can bully me!"
Han laughed, "Hehe, you can’t hit me, you can’t hit me, na-na-na..."
He tugged at his eyelids and stuck his tongue out at Momo.
Little did he know that Huo Tingdong was slowly lowering him back to the ground.
By the time Han realized it, his feet were already on the ground, standing face-to-face with Momo.
Han froze for a good moment, then let out an awkward "Eek!" before bolting away!