Chapter 65: Happy Birthday

Chapter 65: Happy Birthday

Winter break has arrived.

Overall, the winter vacation was not as appealing to Fang Yue Nian as the summer vacation, because it was short and busy. From the Lunar New Year to the Lunar New Year, there were scheduled traditional activities every day, and it seemed that there was not a single day of leisure.

However, this year may be different. After all, as everyone knows, high school students are under a lot of pressure, so it's understandable that they sometimes don't visit relatives or meet guests.

Wang Jing remains as extremely busy as ever.

Fang Yuenian would occasionally pause his writing to come out of his room and help with cleaning, organizing the refrigerator, and tidying up the vegetables and fruits. Each time, he would be called to stop and rest after less than an hour. Wang Jing always doted on him and had old-fashioned, stubborn ideas, believing that household chores shouldn't be the son's or student's concern. Fang Yuenian couldn't change his mother's mindset, which left him feeling somewhat helpless.

Because of the events before the Lunar New Year, the Fang family had a series of verbal battles, which, while not particularly alarming, made it impossible for him to concentrate on the mountain of winter break homework—he and Cheng Bing usually did their own homework during the winter break.

It was the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month. In Shuibiwei, most families would burn paper money to worship their ancestors on the morning of the 29th or 30th, a custom known as "inviting the ancestors." Their piety even surpassed that of the Qingming Festival. They paid great attention to every aspect, from the arrangement of tables, chairs, cups, bowls, plates, and chopsticks to the types and order of dishes. However, even after lighting incense and starting to kowtow, Wang Jing still couldn't find Fang Wu.

She never slacked off on such important matters as ancestral blessings, and was therefore furious—Teacher Fang had already kowtowed gracefully as the head of the family, and with Fang Wu absent, neither the women nor the children could bypass him, or time would be wasted.

Grandma Fang was also furious and scolded, "He was just here a moment ago, and now he's disappeared again. Never mind him, I said, Niannian, you kowtow first!"

Wang Jing felt this was inappropriate and said, "Mom, this..."

Old Mrs. Fang said sternly, "Your son is more successful than him, ignore him. Niannian, come here!"

Wang Jing really needed an older generation to step up and solve her problems, but Teacher Fang never cared about such things. Now that her mother-in-law had spoken up, she went along with it and patted her son on the shoulder: "Go ahead."

Fang Yuenian's status in the family rose a notch, and he knelt down properly on the prayer mat, beginning to silently recite some things that required the blessings of his ancestors.

When adults say these things, they read them aloud, such as wishing everyone in the family, young and old, to be safe and sound, that the children should grow up to be cute and clever, and that they should go to university, etc. But Fang Yuenian never does.

After he finished reciting, he kowtowed three times properly, and that was the end of it.

Grandma Fang and Wang Jing took turns kowtowing. After they finished speaking, Fang Wu finally returned. Under the scolding of his family, he hurriedly kowtowed, made some wishes for wealth, lit firecrackers and threw them out the door, and the ancestral worship was considered complete.

Wang Jing asked Fang Wu to go out and burn paper money together, but Fang Wu said he was about to take a bath and told the mother and son to go by themselves. Wang Jing already disliked him, so she dragged Fang Yuenian out the door.

The place where they burned paper money was near the house, and the location was also particular. Fang Yuenian was used to burning it every year, and he could even control the wind direction so that the smoke wouldn't make his eyes water. They had marked out a spot near the wharf and were burning stacks of paper money. When Fang Yuenian looked up, he saw Cheng Xiaoxiao and Cheng Junjun on the other side of the river.

The two sisters are applying sap to the fruit trees in front of their house.

Cheng Junjun had grown her hair long. When Fang Yuenian and Cheng Bing picked her up at the train station the day she returned, they were immediately struck by her long hair. She had never grown her hair long before.

While burning paper money, Wang Jing continued to chant, "Grandma, Grandma, Second Grandfather, Third Grandfather... please bless him, may he travel safely and have a smooth journey in his studies..."

Seeing that she wasn't paying attention, Fang Yuenian raised her hand and waved to the two older sisters opposite her.

Cheng Xiaoxiao saw him, smiled, and waved her hand, seemingly telling him to focus on burning.

On New Year's Eve, every household started getting busy from morning, especially the Cheng family.

Cheng Xiaoxiao bought hair dye for Cheng Qiuyan. Early in the morning, the two girls pressed Cheng Qiuyan to try dyeing her hair. The mother and her two daughters were not in charge of the kitchen today. They were only asked to prepare tea and fruit dishes and fireworks. Lin Guohui claimed that he would show off his skills by cooking the New Year's Eve dinner. The only person he handpicked to help was Cheng Bing.

The kitchen was filled with smoke and fumes—outside, the sounds of three women laughing and joking could be heard, mixed with Cheng Qiuyan's pleas for mercy, as she really didn't want to dye her hair some kind of chestnut red—Lin Guohui, wearing an apron and holding an iron ladle, was stacking steamers high on one side and running around in circles over two large stoves on the other. He had only put two spring rolls into the pot when he was burned by splattered oil.

Cheng Bing, who was adding two pieces of firewood to the stove, poked his head out and said calmly, "Dad, let me do it."

Lin Guohui felt ashamed and rubbed the small red dot on his wrist. "Aren't you afraid of getting burned?"

Cheng Bing had already stood up and went to get water to wash her hands. "It's okay, I know how to do this."

The chef was replaced. The spring rolls were half-fried when Cheng Xiaoxiao came in looking for food. She saw her younger brother wearing an apron and cooking, while her father was adding firewood to the stove. She turned around and hurriedly ran out to tell everyone.

So at the New Year's Eve dinner, Cheng Bing, who only fried a plate of spring rolls, was treated like a chef, while Lin Guohui, who had prepared a whole table of dishes, was punished with three drinks by the unanimous approval of the whole family.

Today is Cheng Bing's birthday again, but this year's cake... surrounded by pink cream and decorated with strawberries—his expression stiffened strangely the moment he saw it.

Cheng Xiaoxiao and Cheng Junjun laughed so hard they bent over. Cheng Qiuyan, thinking something was wrong, came over and was also stunned. She suppressed a laugh and said, "This..."

Lin Guohui laughed heartily, enjoying the spectacle, and said, "It's okay, it's okay, our Bingbing can do this too, just be gentle, okay?"

Grandma Cheng patted Grandpa Cheng on the back, "Old man! What are you buying?" She laughed halfway through her sentence.

Cheng Bing let out a low sigh, holding a plastic knife in her hand, but she was a little reluctant to cut anymore.

However, around eight o'clock, he quietly took the cake he had specially saved, put on a new black down jacket he had bought this winter, and went out in the light snow.

At the same time, Fang Yuenian slurped up a lunchbox of freshly cooked thin noodle soup, stuffed it into his coat, tightened his jacket, and went out.

Cheng Bing had cleaned the carpenter's shop before, and he had left some snacks and fruit. Fang Yuenian pushed open the door and a gust of cold wind followed him in. Cheng Bing was leaning against the table, lost in thought. When she saw him, she smiled and said, "You're here?"

"You seem to be in a good mood, huh?" Fang Yuenian put her hands in her clothes, huddled up, raised an eyebrow and smiled, then slammed the door shut. "It's freezing."

His chest was already burning hot, and he pulled out his lunchbox, saying, "Quick, quick, catch this, it's burning me!"

Cheng Bing went to take it and found it was indeed hot to the touch. She frowned and said, "Why is it so hot? Are you alright?"

Fang Yuenian, though outwardly cold, was actually quite warm-hearted. She shivered and said, "It's alright, it's alright. I just wanted you to have something hot to eat, otherwise I've been feeling cold all the way here, and the snow is getting heavier."

"Come here." Cheng Bing put her arm around his shoulder.

The room where they usually do their homework has air conditioning, and it's warm and cozy as soon as you enter. Fang Yuenian exclaimed, "My God, I'm alive!"

Cheng Bing smiled, sat down, and opened the lunchbox.

He paused for a moment, looking at the bowl of mushy, lumpy noodle soup, and turned his head: "This noodle soup... did you make it?"

Fang Yuenian stood below the air conditioner vent, and turned her head upon hearing this, "W-what's wrong? Don't judge a book by its cover, are you going to eat or not?"

Cheng Bing smiled, took out her chopsticks, and slowly began to eat.

Fang Yuenian leaned closer with a grin: "I think I'm quite talented. How does it taste?"

Cheng Bing pursed her lips, and Fang Yuenian paused, then asked, "What's wrong? Is it too sweet? Too bland?"

"No, it's delicious."

Fang Yuenian was a little skeptical, but subconsciously smiled broadly, "Hey, that's right."

Cheng Bing gestured with her chin toward his back, "The cake is behind you."

Fang Yuenian became even more excited: "Okay!"

However, his excitement was abruptly interrupted when he saw the pink cake. Two or three seconds later, he couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Hahahaha, oh my god, is this really your birthday cake? Hahaha, no, my stomach hurts, there's even a heart-shaped strawberry..."

Cheng Bing put down her chopsticks and calmly smiled at him.

After the man had finished laughing, he asked, "Do you want some?"

"Eat, eat, eat," Fang Yuenian rubbed her cheek, placed the cake next to him, and deliberately moved closer, "But can I ask who bought this cake?"

"Grandpa said that when he was buying it, a little girl next to him said it was pretty."

Fang Yuenian couldn't hold back any longer: "Was this cake bought for you or for that young lady?"

Cheng Bing glared at him, then said, "You haven't made a wish yet."

“Oh right, you didn’t make a wish either. Hurry up, stop eating,” Fang Yuenian took his chopsticks away. “Make a wish first.”

The two made a silent wish with a special sense of ceremony, then opened their eyes. Fang Yuenian turned to look at Cheng Bing and said with a smile, "Okay, happy birthday, Brother Cheng, happy birthday."

Cheng Bing looked at him and said, "Yes, happy birthday, Fang Yuenian."

Fang Yuenian: "What wish did you make?"

Cheng Bing countered, "What did you wish for?"

“Hmm,” Fang Yuenian blinked, “I hope everything is alright at home, and also that you can get into the top five in your grade before the end of your first year of high school.”

Cheng Bing smiled. "Top five."

"Yeah, there's a chance this could actually happen, right?"

I'll try my best.

“You must work hard,” Fang Yuenian said, taking a spoonful of cake and squirming his face from the sweetness. “I haven’t told you your wish yet.”

Cheng Bing took a sip of soup and after a long while said, "I hope everything is alright at home, and also..."

Fang Yuenian had almost finished eating the cake when she asked, somewhat mumbled, "What is it?"

Before Cheng Bing could speak, the two cell phones placed side by side on the table rang once in succession.

They've all sent me text messages.