Chapter 100 "Happy New Year".

People always have to learn to grow up; they can't stay in the same place forever and stop moving forward.

Children grow up, and adults need to keep up with the times. The tricks that used to work on three-year-olds won't work on four-year-old Shengfang anymore.

The little boy patted the grass clippings off his knees and slowly lay back down on the lawn.

He crossed his short legs, put his hands behind his head, and his expression, which seemed to understand the thoughts of all the adults in the family, left Zhu Qing speechless for a moment.

"They're at home." Zhu Qing straightened the tilted bicycle, bracing it with her foot to bring it to a steady stop. "Where are you going to take it?"

"That's none of my business."

Not long ago, Shengfang rode his little tricycle around the police station like a patrol officer, treating it as his most beloved treasure.

But now that he can't learn to ride a bicycle, even though Zhu Qing suggested putting the training wheels back on, he firmly disagreed. Even a child has his own pride. The whole class knows about removing the training wheels, and now they want them back on? Where will that leave the young master of the Sheng family's reputation?

Zhu Qing wanted to try to persuade this heartless child again.

How did such a perfectly good little bicycle end up being relegated to the sidelines?

"It will be sad."

"Let it be sad!"

Shengfang rubbed her little arms and legs, and said angrily, "I'm still sad, it dropped me several times!"

Aunt Ping, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but chuckle.

These two, uncle and nephew, actually managed to argue back and forth over a small bicycle. The once stern Madam has become so childish after spending so much time with the young master.

"Anyway, I'm never riding a bicycle again!" Shengfang said with a "what's the use" attitude.

On this day, the bicycle was returned to the garage.

I don't know when, but the owner was finally willing to give it another chance.

...

Although there are only four people in this family, it is always incredibly lively.

Aunt Ping has been incredibly busy lately, going out shopping every few days. Each time she comes back, she's carrying bags and bags of things to the kitchen, chattering about all the exciting things that have happened outside. For example, the supermarket shelves have been decorated with festive bright red, cheerful New Year's songs are playing on a loop on the radio, and even the butcher at the market, Rong, is offering discounts and promotions so he can sell out quickly and go back to his hometown for the New Year.

Sheng Peirong has a very regular schedule.

Every day, right after breakfast, Uncle Nian, the driver, would already be waiting outside. She'd heard that when Sheng Fang bought a car for Coco, he repeatedly emphasized that his niece absolutely could not drive someone else's old car; it had to be a new one. But when it came to her, she could just pick any car from the garage at the villa halfway up the mountain; there weren't so many restrictions. Sure enough, this younger brother only favored his niece.

Sometimes, when work wasn't finished, Sheng Peirong would think of staying late to finish it, like she used to do when she was younger. But every time it was just past six o'clock, her cell phone would ring on cue. Sometimes it was her younger brother's childish voice urging her on, and sometimes it was Zhu Qing's reminder. Even though Sheng Peirong believed that her current health allowed her to continue, her uncle and nephew wouldn't allow it. Under their joint supervision, her overtime plan had to be abandoned.

After all, work is never-ending, but the time spent with family at home at night is what really matters.

"Parent-child time" refers to the rules that children set up at home.

He and his eldest sister were "close relatives," while Qingzai was their "son." The two adults had to play with the most precious child in the family. As the youngest in the family, Zhu Qing was already used to being stuck in the living room every time, supposedly because her uncle was playing with his niece, but in reality, only Fangfang really enjoyed playing.

Such parent-child time usually lasts until bedtime.

At this point, Shengfang would face a serious choice: go to her older sister's room or stay in Qingzai's room? No matter where she went, little Shengfang would always bring her "Uncle Bear." That toy bear suffered greatly; it was either pressed under her belly every day, or thrown to the floor in the dead of night, and occasionally kicked into a corner. Gradually, it became dirty and even showed signs of age.

“Uncle Xiong is getting old,” Sheng Fang said sadly.

Zhu Qing sat cross-legged on the carpet, holding a pair of scissors, giving Uncle Xiong a beauty treatment.

"Welcome to Qingzai and Fangfang's beauty salon." Shengfang's two little hands were clasped together in front of her belly. "What kind of treatment would you like today?"

Sometimes Sheng Peirong wondered if there was anything in this world that Sheng Fang, a child, didn't understand? He had never been to a beauty salon, yet he grasped the receptionist's tone so precisely, as if he had taken the time to work part-time at a beauty salon.

At this moment, Shengfang, the most professional beautician, covered "Uncle Bear" with a tissue and tore off two small pieces of paper to cover his eyes.

"Now it's time to relax your eyes, they need a rest too," Sheng Fang explained seriously. "That way, wrinkles won't appear around your eyes."

Sheng Peirong leaned back on the sofa, looking at them with a smile.

She had never seen Coco grow up. But now, watching Zhu Qing carefully comb the tangled fur of the teddy bear, it was as if time was truly flowing before her eyes. If Coco had grown up with them, she would probably have played house earnestly like this.

"I'll cut it," Shengfang said eagerly, stretching out her little hand.

"No way." Zhu Qing raised the scissors high. "You'll ruin 'Uncle Bear'."

The little girl could only pout and watch longingly as Zhu Qing carefully trimmed the branches.

"Crack—"

The living room fell silent.

"It's over." Zhu Qing sat frozen in place.

Uncle Bear was missing a tuft of hair on his head, making him look bald and pitiful.

"That's terrible." Sheng Fang gloated to the little bear, "Our Qingzai's hands are only good at grabbing bad guys, not at fixing her hair."

This teddy bear was already unbearable for Zhu Qing to look at because it resembled her colleague, but now that it was missing a tuft of fur on its head, it was even uglier and heartbreaking.

Zhu Qing silently put down the scissors and stuffed "Uncle Bear" back into the arms of the child.

Let's take it further away.

"Wow! You little rascal!" Sheng Fang stood up for the little bear. "You messed it up and then dumped it on me. You're so irresponsible."

"Then what should we do?" Zhu Qing put away the scissors and said confidently, "If I cut it any further, I'll be bald."

Shengfang covered "Uncle Bear's" ears: "I don't want to hear it, Qingzai is just scaring you."

He gritted his teeth and said, "You heartless madam!"

...

The children's holiday has officially begun.

A meticulously crafted schedule was pasted on the door of the children's room; it was Sheng Peirong's holiday plan for him. Even on holidays, he couldn't just run wild and play. Phrases like "Time is precious and shouldn't be wasted" were things his older sister often nagged him about, and he could recite them backwards.

Shengfang completely ignores this schedule. Now, whenever he enters the house, he closes his eyes and feels his way forward with his little hands. As long as he can't see, the schedule can't keep up with him.

Sheng Peirong was both annoyed and amused, so she simply took the time to pin the child down in front of the desk.

How could her younger brother be "uneducated and incompetent"?

Zhu Qing still shows up at the police station on time every day. With the New Year approaching, even the police station has a festive atmosphere.

The task assigned by Inspector Mo was to organize old case files. These files were laid out at her workstation, and she examined them with exceptional care, filling her notebook with important notes.

On Thursday afternoon, Mo Zhenbang returned from outside carrying a cup of extra espresso.

His subordinates, who knew him well, immediately exchanged glances. Only when he was extremely anxious would Ah Tou drink such bitter coffee.

"I heard that the results of the inspector test were released today."

"Are the results out yet?"

"Officer Mo, how did it go? Did you pass?"

The subordinates quickly surrounded him.

Mo Zhenbang shook his head, a bitter smile curving his lips.

"How is that possible?" Xiao Sun was the first to jump up. "Didn't the last interview go very smoothly? In terms of qualifications and crime-solving rate, how is our boss not qualified?"

"That doesn't make sense. Even Inspector Weng said it was a sure thing."

"You passed the written test, there's no reason why you shouldn't do well in the interview..."

The office erupted in chaos.

“Listen to me, Mo Sir is definitely acting,” Tsang Wing-shan said. “Even TVB doesn’t make such a clichéd plot anymore!”

"It's definitely approved."

"Treat us to a meal! Inspector Mo is treating!"

The office was lively for a while, but the jeers gradually subsided.

Mo Zhenbang took another sip of coffee and lowered his head.

"No way? You really didn't pass?"

"You were eliminated at the last minute? Boss, did you offend someone?"

Mo Zhenbang's lips drooped down, his features wrinkled, and his face looked even more bitter than a bitter gourd.

Zhu Qing silently handed him a box of sugar cubes: "Mo sir, would you like some sugar?"

Mo Zhenbang picked up two sugar cubes and dropped them into his coffee cup; the sugar cubes slowly melted.

"The higher-ups probably think I'm not qualified enough," Mo Zhenbang sighed. "They'll be transferring a new inspector over next—"

Before he could finish speaking, Ong Siu-lun pushed open the door and entered: "What are you planning to treat us to now that you've been promoted? Pick the most expensive thing, everyone. Don't try to save money for 'Inspector Mo'."

The office fell silent for a moment, the air seemed to freeze, before erupting into a frenzy of celebration.

Zhu Qing closed the sugar cube box again, muttering to herself, "Even if Inspector Mo went to a fraud gang, he could still be a leader."

"I knew it!" Xu Jiale rushed forward, pretending to jump onto his back.

Zeng Yongshan straightened her back more and more, and excitedly asked Uncle Li next to her, "Uncle Li, how's my eyesight lately?"

"Hey! How about you switch careers and become an actor? You don't even need to attend acting training classes, your acting skills are..."

"Such an old plot, but they acted it out like it was real!"

"Treat me! I want to eat at the most expensive Japanese restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui!"

Weng Zhaolin laughed and said, "Isn't it a case of 'everyone who sees it gets a share'? I'll bring my wife with me then."

"Hey, hey, hey—" Mo Zhenbang pleaded, "Are you trying to bankrupt me?!"

When his colleagues started making a ruckus, even Weng Zhaolin, unusually, didn't stop them, but stood aside and laughed.

The winter sun shines through the window, making everyone's smiles even brighter. This New Year is destined to be warm.

...

As the workday ended, the door to the CID office was pushed open, and a lovely little face peeked in.

My niece is even more calculating than Aunt Huang from Temple Street. It's as if she knew he would come and specially saved an egg tart for him.

Zhao Lin seemed to have anticipated this as well, and mysteriously beckoned him to his office, taking out a warm egg tart from the tart box as well.

"John, you and Qingzai are the best to me!"

The child's mouth was as sweet as honey. Weng Zhaolin waved his hand to tell him to stop with that, but the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up. When did he become someone who could be on par with his niece?

Sure enough, the effort paid off.

All the officers in Group B finished work on time. On their way downstairs to the open-air parking garage, one of them, Shengzi, was eating an egg tart with a pastry on his face.

It had become a habit for colleagues to hitch a ride home with Zhu Qing. The group chatted and laughed, and they happened to run into Ben from the forensic department.

Ben was originally in Cheng Xinglang's team, but since Dr. Ye was transferred back to work with the CID, the officers in Team B hadn't seen him for a long time. During the small talk, Ben looked envious; he longed for the CID to have so many young colleagues. Before, at least Cheng Xinglang would eat with him, but now he was all alone. The forensic scientists were either talking about twin babies or diapers and formula, and he couldn't join in at all.

"Didn't you forensic scientists used to have happy hours together all the time?"

“They’ve all been transferred. On-jai went to the Hospital Authority, and Fat Man was transferred to the Government Laboratory… Now the entire forensic department is full of people with families. I sit in the restaurant all day staring at them.”

“It’s not too late to enroll in the Wong Chuk Hang Police Academy right now,” Tsang Wing-shan joked. “After 36 weeks of training, you can come to the CID and be our colleague.”

"Forget it," Haozai bluntly dismissed, "With his physical abilities, he won't make it."

"By the way, how is Dr. Cheng doing?" Xu Jiale asked.

“Four months have passed in the blink of an eye,” Ben said. “Actually, this time it was a special invitation from our supervisor there. That professor has been working with our forensic medicine department for many years. He spoke with Dr. Chan on the phone the other day and praised Xinglang’s outstanding performance. During the meeting, our Dr. Chan also said that this kid will be successful anywhere—”

When Ben said this, he glanced at Zhu Qing.

Before Cheng Xinglang went to the United States, the iron tree had just blossomed. In the past six months, without being able to contact him, all the flowers should have withered.

"So you'll be back in two months?" Zeng Yongshan asked.

The little girl, Shengfang, quickly calculated and said, "Spring is coming back!"

On the way back, the conversation naturally turned to Cheng Xinglang.

Haozai suddenly remembered something and said, "Uncle Li mentioned that every Lunar New Year's Eve, Dr. Cheng used to cook the reunion dinner alone at home. Now that he's abroad, he doesn't have to feel lonely during the holidays..."

Zhu Qing recalled the tragedy that occurred seventeen years ago.

When she first heard about the case, she wasn't familiar with Cheng Xinglang. Uncle Li mentioned that there was a folding bed in Dr. Cheng's forensic office, and that he rarely went home. But it turned out that every New Year, he would still go back, prepare everything alone, and eat the reunion dinner alone, as if his family was still by his side.

Time flew by as we chatted and laughed.

When they got home, Aunt Ping was busy with the custom of cleaning up the old year, and she and the helpers were cleaning the house inside and out.

She was holding a rag and was about to climb up and down to wipe the glass when Shengfang and Zhu Qing grabbed her arm.

Aunt Ping has now been promoted to housekeeper, and she only needs to give instructions; she doesn't need to do anything herself.

After Zhu Qing finished speaking, she handed a small broom, the size of a child's broom, to the child: "Go and tidy up the children's room."

The children's room was a mess, with toys scattered on the floor, and children had to walk on tiptoe.

"I……"

"No discussion, you have to do your own thing!"

Sheng Fang's eyes widened in disbelief—

Why does the young master have to do the work himself?

...

Finally, the long-awaited New Year's Eve has arrived!

Two large lanterns hung in front of the villa; Aunt Ping had prepared them specially.

As she hung the lanterns, she murmured auspicious words. Seeing how high she climbed, Sheng Peirong, who had rushed out, was terrified and broke out in a cold sweat. It had to be Aunt Ping; she could complete such a difficult move so deftly.

Early in the morning, Shengfang was dressed in a brand new red New Year's outfit, and felt very uncomfortable.

He pouted and tugged at the hem of his shirt: "Not cool at all... looks like a red rice dumpling."

Fangfang is determined to be a stylish young man and is trying to put on his cool windbreaker.

The New Year's outfits aren't stylish at all!

However, when he dawdled out of the children's room—

Sheng Peirong was wearing a red cheongsam, Zhu Qing had a cheerful red scarf around her neck, and even Aunt Ping specially ran back to the kitchen to tie a red apron on...

Let go of all your reluctance and may your whole family prosper!

"That's not all." Aunt Ping smiled broadly and, as if by magic, produced a red woolen hat that she had knitted herself from behind her back. "This is Uncle Xiong's New Year's gift."

Shengfang's eyes lit up as she and Zhu Qing put little red hats on the dolls.

Its comical bald spot was covered up, making the Uglydoll suddenly a bit cuter.

Shengfang then pestered Aunt Ping, asking her to knit a few more little red hats.

That whole row of Autobots, Ultraman, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles all need new looks for the New Year.

"My little darling, please have mercy on me," Aunt Ping couldn't help but laugh. "Even if I stayed up all night, I wouldn't have enough time to knit hats for all those toys in your room!"

Aunt Ping has been busy enough lately and simply can't find the time. So Shengfang and her niece have to take turns wearing Little Red Riding Hoods, using other toys as makeshift shelters.

As Sheng Peirong passed by, she laughed and said, "Uncle Xiong's hat is still the best. It may be ugly, but it suits this hat quite well."

Zhu Qing helped cover the teddy bear's ears.

"I won't listen, I won't listen." Sheng Fangbao squinted at Sheng Peirong and said, "Big sister, it's New Year's Day, you're not allowed to scold Uncle Xiong!"

As Sheng Peirong turned around, she muttered to herself, "They don't even let us speak the truth during the New Year."

The atmosphere of the New Year filled every corner of the house.

A delicious aroma wafted from the kitchen as four people bustled about.

"Shengfang! Don't steal any!" Zhu Qing's voice came from the kitchen.

Then, the kitchen fell silent.

When Sheng Peirong came in, she saw that the uncle and nephew both had their cheeks puffed out, and they were eating with great relish. The two of them covered their mouths, but couldn't hide their smiling eyes.

"Is the preserved meat rice ready?" Sheng Peirong leaned closer to smell it. "I'll have a bite too..."

Finally, it was mealtime, and the family couldn't wait to start eating.

Aunt Ping grew up in a walled village in the New Territories and is now serving up today's heavyweight Poon Choi (a traditional Cantonese dish).

Layers of ingredients steamed in a special clay pot, with sea cucumber, fish maw, and abalone gleaming enticingly.

"Fangfang, let me introduce you," Sheng Peirong said.

The children clearly remembered: "Dried oysters symbolize good things coming one after another, pig's trotters represent unexpected wealth, abalone is all-encompassing, and there's more..."

So many dishes, served to the children who knew them all like the back of their hand.

Zhu Qing's eyes widened when she heard this: "Have you been practicing this lately?"

"I haven't been practicing for long," the young master waved his hand.

I didn't practice for very long; I was just reciting these auspicious dish names even in my dreams.

The house was bustling with activity, and Aunt Ping even dug out her DV camera.

The TV screen showed footage of the children performing at their kindergarten. Fangfang was looking dejected, his head drooping, when his Powerpuff Girl niece suddenly appeared like a ray of light!

Memories filled the living room with laughter.

"You all seem so happy today," Aunt Ping said with a smile, "Your family should take a family photo."

The DV camera had a camera function, and just as Aunt Ping picked up the camera to take pictures for them, she was pulled into the frame by the whole family.

Zhu Qing set up the machine and turned on the timer function.

Aunt Ping sat down next to Sheng Peirong, feeling rather helpless, before she could even speak—

With a "crack" sound.

Aunt Ping's eyes suddenly reddened.

She had family from a young age, many family members. As the second oldest child, she was never valued. Later, when she grew older and remained unmarried, her family began targeting her salary. For decades, Aunt Ping sent so much money home, yet she never received a single sincere greeting.

Unexpectedly, after she turned sixty, she was truly accepted by her employers and became part of their family.

Aunt Ping always said that she was getting old and wanted to do as much work as she could while she was still able to… The implication was that she couldn’t do this job for a lifetime. But at that moment, Sheng Peirong held her hand tightly.

"Aunt Ping," Sheng Peirong said gently, "this will always be your home. Stay here until you grow old."

There was no polite formality or perfunctory tone in these words.

It was a promise of a home, and from now on, she would never have to worry about having nowhere to go.

Aunt Ping hurriedly turned her back, pretending to stand up casually: "Oh dear, I'll go check if the lotus seed and lily bulb sweet soup is ready yet."

Watching her hurried departure, Sheng Fang frowned worriedly and whispered, "Qingzai, Qingzai, Aunt Ping seems to be crying."

“Those are tears of joy,” Zhu Qing explained softly.

When Aunt Ping returned to the living room, her face was beaming with smiles again. This time, she was determined to carefully record this family's happy reunion moment.

"Let's take one more." Aunt Ping steadily held the camera, adjusted its position and angle, and pointed the lens at the family.

"Ready—"

In the shot, Sheng Peirong is hugging Zhu Qing, while Sheng Fang sits in their laps, her little bottom taking up half of each side, which is quite fair.

All three of them had such bright smiles.

This is a family photo that Zhu Qing and her mother had agreed to take long ago.

"Three, two, one!"

The shutter clicked, and the smile was captured in that moment.

...

This was Zhu Qing's first Lunar New Year's Eve with her family.

They thought the day would end warmly after the reunion dinner, but little did they know there was another part waiting for them.

Sheng Peirong took out two exquisite red envelopes.

“This is for Coco.” Sheng Peirong handed one of them to Zhu Qing. “Mom has owed you New Year’s red envelopes for so many years.”

Inside the gold-embossed red envelope lay a black card.

Sheng Peirong said that the password was the day she and her daughter were truly reunited. Zhu Qing will never forget that day in Berlin. After a long wait, her mother was wheeled out of the operating room, safe and sound. From then on, she had a mother.

"Fangfang got one too." Sheng Peirong took out another red envelope and rubbed her little brother's head. "Buy toys for your little brother."

Sheng Fang accepted it with both hands, and suddenly pulled out a crooked "red envelope" from her pocket.

This is a red envelope he folded himself out of colored paper, with glue still stuck to the edges.

The children present New Year's red envelopes to their younger relatives, saying, "This is for my uncle."

"Qingzai," Uncle Fangfang puffed out his little chest, mimicking an adult's tone, "Take this and buy some toys!"

Aunt Ping was already prepared, and she rubbed her hands together somewhat embarrassedly.

In the past, she would have worried that it was against the rules—what kind of helper would hand out red envelopes to their employer? But at this moment, she still solemnly handed over two red envelopes.

"Wow!"

"Thank you so much, Aunt Ping!"

When giving red envelopes during the Lunar New Year, the most important thing is the sentiment and the auspicious meaning. I don't know when it started, but Aunt Ping has long become an indispensable part of this family.

Sheng Peirong did not refuse, but simply watched the scene with a smile.

Holding these red envelopes, Zhu Qing felt the weight of heartfelt sentiments. The missing parts of her childhood were slowly being filled.

That night, Shengfang was made an exception and allowed to stay up all night.

The moonlight was clear and bright, and the fireworks blooming in the courtyard reflected the dazzling starlight in the night sky. The laughter of the uncle and nephew seemed to never stop. Sheng Peirong and Aunt Ping stood aside, their eyes occasionally reddening, but they couldn't help but show even more gratified smiles.

They had agreed to stay up late, but the little boy's head started to nod and he began to yawn. So Zhu Qing accompanied him upstairs, leaned against the crib in the children's room, and flipped through picture books, reading stories page by page.

Every story is different, but on this night, every story has a perfect ending.

The tadpoles finally found their frog mother, the grand forest concert was a complete success, and even the idiom "waiting for a rabbit to run into a tree stump" was adapted by Zhu Qing. Instead of foolishly crashing into the tree stump, the little rabbit ran around it once, then hopped away with its long ears perked up, beginning a new journey...

In the past, it held the magic that children wanted to freeze time. Later, he hoped to preserve happiness, that today would be more than yesterday, and that tomorrow would be even happier than today.

It turns out that children's little wishes can come true!

There's no need for magic; every day will be better, as long as we're family and always together.

As one story after another was read, Fangfang's eyelids began to droop. Even when he tried to pry them open with his little hands, he couldn't resist the overwhelming drowsiness.

My eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and in my hazy state, I vaguely heard the ringing of a cell phone.

In a hazy state, Shengfang saw Qingzai's lips curving into a beautiful smile.

As the clock struck midnight, a deep, gentle voice came from the other end of the cell phone.

The fireworks display on Mount Kadoorie outside the window illuminated her profile perfectly.

"Happy New Year, Cheng Xinglang," Zhu Qing replied softly.

Hearing these words while I was in a sweet drowsy state, I drifted peacefully into my dreams.

...

This New Year, Zhu Qing got a few full days off.

Shengfang peeled off the "Fangfang Schedule" that her eldest sister had pasted on the door and hid it under her pillow.

Fangfang had no interest in the packed schedule of "children's extracurricular activities." His schedule consisted of only one thing: going out and about with Qingzai!

The winter sun lazily shines on the streets of Central.

Zhu Qing held Sheng Fang's chubby little hand and strolled leisurely. Today, she was just running an errand for Sheng Peirong to pick up the pre-ordered New Year's gift boxes from the time-honored bakery, but the little one insisted on coming along, clinging and acting spoiled, wanting to be her "little tail."

Turning the corner, several domestic helpers were sitting and resting by the roadside.

Zhu Qing suddenly felt a tightness in her palm. It was Fang Fang Bao Bao who suddenly exerted force, using her strength to rise onto her tiptoes, her little sneakers sliding across the ground as she took a running start.

"Marisa!"

A strong, resonant child's voice rang out.

With a successful running start, it shot off with a "whoosh".

The plump Filipina maid, who was not far away, turned around upon hearing the sound. Her expression changed drastically, and she threw the lunchbox in her hand with a clatter before turning and running away.

"Stop! Don't move!" Sheng Fang took off running with her short legs.

Zhu Qing was stunned. By the time she came to her senses, the two of them were already engaged in a street chase.

"Young master, don't chase, don't chase..." Marissa was running frantically, saying in broken Cantonese, "I can't run anymore!"

"Give me back the Railway Dragon!!!"

“Marisa—”

Last summer, Marissa absconded with the young master of the Sheng family's rare toys.

They met on a narrow path, and the brave and capable officer finally caught him!