Chapter 17 Setting off Firecrackers to Celebrate the New Year

Despite his stubbornness, Jiang Chao kept eating until his stomach, which had been stretched out, began to protest. Only then did he reluctantly put down his chopsticks and get up to take on the task of washing the dishes.

On the coffee table in the main room sat a small black-and-white television, a secondhand item bought from a flea market. Jiang Chao held his head high and fiddled with the antenna for a long time before it finally received the Spring Festival Gala signal.

In the black and white scene, dressed simply, the national treasure-level comedians are performing a skit with great effort. Xiao Jiang is clapping his hands with joy, and even Jiang Chao, who usually has a serious face, has a slight smile on his lips.

The picture quality was poor, and the jokes were corny, but it was clear they were laughing happily, and Yunxia couldn't help but laugh too.

As the party was about to end, Wu Lifang handed out red envelopes to everyone. The little baby, who was being held in Jiang Chao's arms, accepted the New Year's money in a daze and then buried her head in the boy's armpit.

"Jiang An, don't sleep, it's not 12 o'clock yet!"

"Waaah, brother, An'an is so sleepy, I can't stay awake any longer!"

The gloomy boy seemed to believe in folk customs and rumors, and he used a variety of methods to wake himself up, such as prying off his eyelids, pinching his ears, lifting him up high, and blowing air into his ears.

The little one, who had been tormented and listless, lightly punched someone's chest with his little fist after hearing the bell ring, and then... quickly fell asleep!

It was past midnight, and Yunxia, ​​who had been busy all day, couldn't help but cover her mouth and yawn. Seeing this, Wu Lifang turned off the TV, took her little hand, and went back into the house.

The old year ends amidst the sound of firecrackers!

Before dawn, the crackling sound of firecrackers echoed throughout Huaimin Street!

Awakened by the noise, Yunxia tossed and turned, unable to fall back asleep. So she went into the space's fertile field to check on the germination of the seeds.

In just three days, the seeds had already sprouted. Some were only knee-high, some vines had climbed three meters, and so on... In short, it was a lush green, which was very pleasing to the eye.

"Green energy can improve physical health. I wonder if this effect applies to other people? Maybe I should find an opportunity to try it out."

Yunxia opened her arms, raised her head, and inhaled deeply the green mist that filled the air.

She didn't dare inhale the green energy too much. After taking about ten breaths, she would leave the space, as the drowsy side effect was too worrying for Aunt Wu and the others.

When she opened her eyes again, the clock had already struck 8. The little baby lying on the headboard, with his eyelids open and his tongue sticking out, made a face at her.

"Sister Xiaxia, you're so shy! You're still in bed! My brother and I have finished burning paper money. After you get up and offer incense, we can cook dumplings!"

It's reasonable to suspect that Jiang An was lying on the bedside so he could eat dumplings sooner.

"An'an, you go out first, I'll get up now."

After Little Radish Head left, Yun Xia rubbed her eyes, started getting dressed, brushing her teeth and washing her face. She lit three incense sticks, bowed three times, and then placed them in the incense burner.

After eating dumplings, Jiang Chao led us to wish our neighbors a Happy New Year. When we got home, our pockets were stuffed with candy and peanuts.

"Xiaxia, why is your face so red?"

Ugh, it's all because of those aunties pinching me. Damn it, I should never have gone.

"Aunt Wu, it's alright, it'll be fine in a bit. Here, have some peanuts."

He was fine when he went out, but he came back like this. It's the first day of the Lunar New Year, so it's not customary to scold people. Wu Lifang could only glare at Jiang Chao, after all... he was the one who led the person out.

"I'll stay home to take care of An'an. Ah Chao, you take Xia Xia to the City God Temple to burn incense and pray for blessings!"

"With people packed together, if I take her along, I'll have to be careful she doesn't get kidnapped!"

"Pah, pah, pah! Spit those words out! It's the New Year, you can't say things like that!"

Stared at by three pairs of eyes, Jiang Chao, his brows furrowed, could only spit on the ground a few times before picking up his basket and leading Yun Xia to the City God Temple.

Western suburbs, Putuo Mountain, City God Temple!

"Phew, so many people. Hey, Jiang Chao, what are you doing?"

The girl's hand, with its distinct knuckles, gripped her chubby little hand tightly, refusing to let go no matter how hard she tried.

"You think I want to hold your hand?"

“Every year around this time, children get lost at the City God Temple. Whether they can be found or not depends on luck, so… behave yourself, or you’ll be dealt with by slippers after the New Year.”

Knowing that the incident occurred in People's Square, Yunxia realized she was in the wrong and stopped struggling, letting him lead her up the mountain.

After burning incense and praying for blessings, the two strolled around the courtyard in front of the temple.

There is an evergreen tree in the yard, I don’t know what kind it is, the trunk is so thick that several people can’t wrap their arms around it, and the branches and leaves are covered with red ribbons for praying for blessings. When the wind blows, the ribbons sway and it’s quite a beautiful sight.

"Jiang Chao, here, let's each throw one, and see who can throw it the highest!"

The cloth strip is tied to a line, and the line is tied to irregular pebbles. With just a gentle toss upwards, the pebbles will stick firmly to the tree branch due to inertia.

"childish!"

Even so, he still took the strip of cloth, tilted his head back, narrowed his eyes, aimed at a high branch, and used his arm and wrist to throw it up.

Wow, that's high! I'm afraid we're going to lose!

"Your turn!"

The boy crossed his arms, raised his eyebrows, and gave Yunxia a disdainful look, successfully provoking her.

He gripped one end of the cloth strip, swung his arm in large circles, and gritted his teeth, as if he was using all his strength!

Snap!

The strip of cloth hung on the treetop, a meter higher than Jiang Chao's strip of cloth!

"I... won! Haha, Jiang Chao lost!"

Making Jiang Chao suffer is the happiest thing today!

"When the sky falls, the tall ones hold it up; it's the same principle. The higher the cloth is hung, the more the wind and rain get on it, humph!"

"The Jiang Dynasty is full of twisted logic, each one more ridiculous than the last. I just heard that there's a grove of winter plum blossoms not far away. Let's go take a stroll there!"

"Ha!"

Anyway, it's the first day of the Lunar New Year, so beatings and scoldings aren't allowed. A sly glint flashed in the girl's clear eyes as she stepped forward, grabbed his arm, and pulled him toward their destination.

The bright yellow wintersweet blossoms are in full bloom, with petals layered upon each other like pleated skirts, and their refreshing fragrance goes straight into people's nostrils.

"Hmph, someone was so adamant about not coming just now, but now their eyes are glued to it. Even they can't resist the temptation as quickly as you!"

The boy withdrew his gaze and asked in a sinister tone, "Who is 'True Fragrance'? Is he your friend?"

Yunxia: ...

Damn, this generation gap is affecting my ability to argue!

"Yes, he's my best friend, Brother Jiang Chao. In his heart, you're just as important as 'it'!"

The little girl smiled sweetly, her eyes filled with innocent naivety, but the words "Brother Jiang Chao" made the boy realize that it was definitely not a compliment!

"Ha, nobody believes what you're saying! Have you seen enough? If you have, come home with me."

Yunxia wouldn't be willing to spend an hour climbing a mountain and only five minutes enjoying the scenery!

"No way, I haven't had enough fun yet!"

She made a few faces at him, then dashed into the winter plum grove. Jiang Chao was stunned for a moment, then quickly grabbed his bamboo basket and chased after her.

In the wintersweet grove, a little girl in a red cotton-padded jacket darted around like a busy little bee, sniffing this flower and that flower, occasionally striking a unique pose and pausing for three or four seconds.

"It's not like we're in a photo studio, who are we posing for?"

If you have a camera in your heart, you can take pictures anywhere!

"I do what I want, it's none of your business, hmph!"

After saying that, he turned to another wintersweet tree. Jiang Chao raised his eyebrows slightly, picked up his bamboo basket, and followed him.

The language gap severely hampered Yunxia's ability to roast people!