Chapter 76 Chinese New Year 1

Jiang Yining looked down at the sleeping baby in her arms and suddenly sighed, "If Xie Shiyan had fallen for her back then, she would be the one living in a villa as a young mistress now."

"Pfft—" Chen Nian'an spat out a mouthful of water, "Jiang Yining, what's wrong with your brain?"

"Exactly," Xiao Xiao said, both amused and exasperated, "How could President Xie have such poor taste? If he were interested in Qin Qing, would he have waited for you for so many years?"

Amidst the laughter and banter of the three, the door was gently pushed open. Lu's parents entered, carrying a thermos. Seeing Jiang Yining there, they greeted her warmly, "Yining's here! Perfect timing, I just finished making some angelica and black chicken soup, have some with us."

Mother Lu ladled a bowl and handed it to Jiang Yining. The soup was clear, with a few goji berries floating on top, and its aroma was enticing. Jiang Yining took a sip, and her eyes immediately lit up: "Auntie, this soup is amazing! It's even better than what the chef makes."

"Drink more if you like," Mrs. Lu said with a smile that smoothed out the wrinkles around her eyes. "You young people are so busy with work, you need to nourish your bodies even more."

Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting dappled shadows in the room. Lu's mother held the baby, while Jiang Yining sipped hot soup, listening to the elders' nagging and her best friend's jokes.

No.

Soon it was Chinese New Year, so Xie Shiyan took Jiang Yining back to Z City to spend the holiday with her parents.

This was Jiang Yining's first Chinese New Year since her rebirth. She spent New Year's Eve in her familiar home, surrounded by the familiar aroma of food and the loving gaze of her parents.

Snowflakes tapped against the airport windows, making a soft, pattering sound. Jiang Yining gazed at the familiar street scene outside the window. Winters in Z City were always like this, carrying a damp chill and the warmth of everyday life.

"Are you cold?" Xie Shiyan's voice rang in her ears. His palm enveloped hers, warm and dry, like a piece of warm jade that would never cool down.

Jiang Yining shook her head, her hair brushing against his cashmere coat, making a soft rustling sound. She looked out the window at the street scene rushing by, the shops with red lanterns hanging, and the old neighborhoods with Spring Festival couplets pasted on their walls.

There were also children laughing and setting off fireworks by the roadside; everything was so familiar that her eyes welled up with tears.

"Sister, brother-in-law, over here!"

Jiang Yunting's voice pierced through the wind and snow. He stood beside a black SUV, his nose red from the cold, but his smile was so wide it almost disappeared his eyes. His "brother-in-law" was exceptionally loud.

Jiang Yining clearly felt the man beside her catch his breath and tighten his grip on her hand.

"That kid..." Xie Shiyan said in a low voice, his tone filled with undisguised pleasure. Jiang Yining didn't even need to look to know that he was currently planning to arrange more projects for Jiang Yunting's company.

The luggage was neatly placed in the trunk. When Xie Shiyan opened the car door, he carefully placed his hand on Jiang Yining's head to shield her. This habitual gesture made Jiang Yunting raise an eyebrow, and the smile on his lips deepened.

The car slowly drove into the old town. Red lanterns hung from the plane trees lining both sides of the street, looking like strings of glowing persimmons in the twilight.

Occasionally, mischievous children would dart out from the alley, holding sparkling sparklers that left bright trails in the snow.

"The policy is a bit more relaxed this year," Jiang Yunting said, glancing at her sister's absent-minded profile in the rearview mirror. "The neighborhood committee gave every household a guide to safe fireworks displays, and everyone is being very conscientious."

Jiang Yining nodded. Z City was quite nice, maintaining the order of a big city while retaining the warmth of a small town. She remembered when she was a child in H City, her father would always take her to the corner store to buy firecrackers at this time, while her mother would prepare the New Year's Eve dinner at home, the kitchen window always covered with a thick layer of condensation.

"arrive."

The car stopped in front of the elegant, mid-range residential area. Arriving at the front door, before he could even take out his keys, Mr. Jiang opened the door. Warm yellow light mingled with the aroma of food wafted out. A special program before the Spring Festival Gala was playing on the television. His little nephew, sitting upright at the coffee table, immediately turned his head upon hearing the noise.

"Auntie, Happy New Year, Auntie!" The sweet, childlike greeting made everyone laugh.

Jiang Yining squatted down, looking directly into the little one's bright eyes: "Happy New Year, baby." She took out a thick stack of red envelopes she had prepared beforehand from her bag, "Wishing our baby health, happiness, and that you grow tall quickly."

"Hey, what are you doing blocking the doorway?" Jiang's mother's voice came from the kitchen, accompanied by the clatter of a spatula. "Come in, wash your hands, and eat. The food's getting cold."

The room was warm and cozy. The table was laden with food: steamed sea bass, symbolizing abundance year after year; golden and glistening poached chicken; braised pork belly with an enticing savory sauce; and Jiang Yining's favorite braised prawns and braised sea cucumber with scallions.

In the corner, there was even a bowl of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, a dish that Father Jiang used to make only on the most important occasions.

Xie Shiyan helped Jiang Yining take off her coat, his movements as practiced as if he'd done it a thousand times. While washing her hands in the kitchen, the warm water caressed her fingers, and Jiang Yining looked through the condensation on the glass...

Seeing Xie Shiyan helping his father open a bottle of aged Shaoxing wine, the two of them talked for a while, and the father's wrinkles at the corners of his eyes relaxed with a smile.