Seeing that she had achieved her goal, Jiang Pei felt much better. She pretended to move closer to Jiang Ting.

He took out the bottle of sleeping pills he had prepared from his pocket, placed it in Jiang Ting's hand, and whispered:

"Tingting, I feel so sorry for you. I know you've been having trouble sleeping lately. I specially asked someone to get you a bottle of sleeping pills from the hospital, since you're studying medicine."

I know how this stuff works and how to take it. If I can't sleep, I take two pills.

Jiang Ting stared blankly at the gray sky outside the window without responding.

"Jiang Ting, Yuan Qiang hates you to the core. You were born into the wrong family and had no choice. Sometimes I think you might as well be dead! Death would end it all, you would be free, and you wouldn't be in pain anymore."

"When we get to Heaven, tell the Old Man of the Moon to tie your threads together, so you can be husband and wife again in your next life."

Jiang Ting covered her face and sobbed softly.

Jiang Pei, afraid that her uncle and aunt would come in, quickly said:

"Tingmei, keep your voice down. You'll only make people around you dislike you more. Your uncle and aunt are already having enough trouble taking care of you."

You're already a burden to them, so you can't let them suffer with you during the New Year.

Listen to your sister, hide the sleeping pills well. Don't let them find out, and take a few more when you want to.

Jiang Pei had achieved her goal, and she pushed open the door and walked out.

"Pei'er, eat here. Auntie has prepared everything and will stew fish for you."

"Auntie, I won't eat here. The troupe needs me to go back and rehearse. The performance starts tomorrow. I'll come see you after I'm done with my work."

"Pei'er, you are the pride of our Jiang family. Do your best in the army, your uncle has high hopes for you. Come over and talk to your sister whenever you have time; she needs your encouragement."

"Uncle, I know. I just talked to Tingmei for a bit and comforted her. She said she feels like she's getting better and better."

She just wants some peace and quiet these next couple of days to adjust herself. Please don't keep coming in and disturbing her. Who knows, she might recover and be healthy again after the first day of the Lunar New Year.

"Okay, your uncle and aunt thank you."

Jiang Pei walked out the door and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Jiang Ting, you have to be strong this time and try to take the whole bottle of medicine in one go. Just leave peacefully like this. The Jiang family only needs me to make something of myself. You'll always be the extra one!"

...

On New Year's Eve, the sound of firecrackers exploding echoed everywhere.

Xia Enruo had already prepared the dumpling filling and put the fermented dough in a bowl, waiting to make dumplings with Gu Shaoxuan.

Gu Shaoxuan, holding firecrackers and two-stage firecrackers, stayed in the courtyard with Zhang Zhicheng and the others, lighting the firecrackers.

This was the first time he had experienced such a peaceful and happy New Year's atmosphere since his marriage; it was as sweet as honey.

In the military family compound, bright red lanterns illuminated all directions, so bright it was almost blinding.

"Shaoxuan, come back and make dumplings with me. Let's save a few firecrackers to set off at midnight."

Xia Enruo lifted the curtain and called out to the outside.

Hearing his wife calling him, Gu Shaoxuan hurriedly ran back.

"Is it cold outside? It snowed all day, and it's finally stopped now."

I'd always heard my mother say that if snow falls on the Lantern Festival (the fifteenth day of the first lunar month), the whole year will be blessed with good weather and abundant harvests. I never expected it to happen on New Year's Eve.

"It's not cold. Spending the New Year with you, I feel warm no matter how cold it is outside."

"Look how pleased you are with yourself. Am I really that good?"

Xia Enruo felt that Gu Shaoxuan's words had been incredibly sweet these past two days, always saying nice things to her.

I was so moved by what I heard that I almost fell for it.

"My wife is the best, the best in the world."

If I marry you, my life will be complete. Aren't we making dumplings? I'll roll out the dough.

I remember during Chinese New Year at military academy, I made the best dumpling wrappers; even the instructor praised me.

After washing his hands, Gu Shaoxuan moved behind Xia Enruo, hugged her, and then gave her a light kiss on the cheek.

"Honey, you smell so good. You always smell so wonderful."

Xia Enruo dipped her finger in the flour in the bowl and smeared it on the tip of his nose.

"You're so good at talking, hurry up and help! Sister Qiuqin and Sister Xiuli are coming over in a little while to play cards and celebrate the New Year with us. If we don't get busy soon, the dumplings won't be ready."

Gu Shaoxuan picked up the rolling pin and rolled out the dough.

And he really wasn't exaggerating. The dumpling wrappers were rolled out to the perfect thickness and were perfectly round, just like the square blankets of an army, each one the same size and neatly arranged.

Xia Enruo picked out the dumpling filling, wrapped the dumplings, and placed them on the board, where they looked like little gold ingots.

"Wife, you're so skillful. Who taught you all these skills?"

"My mother taught me how to make dumplings. She is an absolute master at making pasta, especially steamed buns, which are fluffy and softer than bread."

Gu Shaoxuan wiped the sweat from his brow, looked at Xia Enruo's rosy face under the light, and couldn't help but peck her.

"You're really becoming more and more unseemly; it's not good for people to see you like this."

Xia Enruo has been caught off guard these past two days, constantly being attacked by him unexpectedly.

"My own wife, I cherish her very much."

Gu Shaoxuan said indulgently.

Ge Qiuqin took out the new clothes she had bought for Zhang Xin, wanting to give him a surprise.

This was the first time in all their years of marriage that she had bought Zhang Xin such expensive clothes; she would never have even dreamed of it before.

"Honey, I didn't make you any clothes this year, so I just went to the department store and bought you a ready-made one. Try it on and see if you like it."

Zhang Xin sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, watching Ge Qiuqin walk over carrying a bag.

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