Chapter 31 Fireworks

The large table in the downstairs restaurant has been cleaned and covered with a clean white cloth.

The kneaded dough and the mixed cabbage and pork filling.

Second sister-in-law Zhang Xiufen was rolling up her sleeves, kneading the dough and pinching off small pieces with deft movements.

Fourth Sister-in-law Wang Juan washed her hands and stood aside waiting.

Seeing Nan Zhiyi come down, Wang Juan greeted her with a smile, "Zhiyi's here? Perfect timing, let's have three meals together."

Zhang Xiufen looked up, a faint smile appearing on her face, then buried her head again and vigorously picked up the dumpling wrappers, one after another, round wrappers flying out of her hands quickly.

Nan Zhiyi washed her hands and stood next to Wang Juan, saying honestly, "Sister-in-law, I... I'm not very good at it."

"Hey, what's so hard about this! Watch this." Wang Juan picked up a dumpling wrapper and demonstrated for her.

Nan Zhiyi imitated Wang Juan, clumsily pinching the pleats.

She was naturally clever and skillful; after a few tries, she managed to make them look quite decent.

"Wow! You learn so fast!" Wang Juan praised. "Look at these pleats, they're getting better and better! I knew it, Zhiyi is skillful."

Zhang Xiufen didn't speak, only letting out a soft "hmm" from her nose as a response to Wang Juan's words, while her speed in peeling the skin didn't slow down at all.

Nan Zhiyi didn't pay attention and focused on making dumplings.

Once she had mastered the technique, she used her fingernail to pinch a small crescent shape on the edge of the dumpling and carefully wrapped more than a dozen dumplings with crescent shapes.

“Aunt Wu,” she called to the maid, pointing to the marked dumplings, “can I cook these… in a separate bowl? For… for Fifth Brother.”

Aunt Wu smiled knowingly and nodded: "Okay, don't worry."

Wang Juan listened from the side and smiled with pursed lips.

As dusk settled, the Gu family's small building was brightly lit.

A sumptuous feast was laid out in the restaurant once again, with several more main dishes than at noon.

Just then, the living room door opened, and there stood Gu Yan, who had been missing for almost a day.

"Dad, second brother, fourth brother, second sister-in-law, fourth sister-in-law, fifth brother, fifth sister-in-law."

Gu Yanhui's usual nonchalant smile vanished. His gaze swept across everyone's faces, finally lingering on Nan Zhiyi for a moment before quickly looking away. "We rushed as fast as we could, but at least we didn't miss the New Year's Eve dinner."

"Sixth Brother is back!" Gu Jianjun greeted him. "Sit down quickly, we've been waiting for you."

Gu Yan exchanged a few pleasantries with his elder brothers and sisters-in-law, then walked up to the children, took out three thick red envelopes, and handed them to each of them: "Qiangzi, Gangzi, Nannan, here's your New Year's money, keep it safe!"

The children cheered.

The atmosphere at the dinner table was much more lively than at noon.

Gu Jianjun and Gu Weimin chatted about their local experiences, their voices gradually rising.

Wang Juan smiled and chatted as she took care of Nannan.

Even Zhang Xiufen relaxed a bit, occasionally chiming in with a word or two.

Commander Gu sat in the main seat, his eyes gentle.

Gu Xiao remained mostly silent, only occasionally adding some of Nan Zhiyi's favorite dishes to her bowl.

Nan Zhiyi ate quietly, occasionally responding to her fourth sister-in-law's words beside her.

Dumplings were the main attraction. Bowls of steaming dumplings were served to everyone.

The bowl in front of Gu Xiao contained plump white dumplings squeezed together, looking no different from the others.

Wang Juan asked casually, "Fifth brother, try these dumplings. How do they taste? Are they fragrant?"

Gu Xiao picked up a dumpling from the bowl, blew on it, took a bite, and found it fresh and delicious.

He said, "It smells delicious. My wife made it herself, how could it not smell delicious?"

The voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

"Hey!" Wang Juan clapped her hands and laughed. "Fifth brother, how did you know it was your wife who made it? Are you telepathic?"

Gu Xiao didn't say anything, but picked up another dumpling and ate it slowly.

Gu Weimin chuckled and chimed in, "I think those dumplings in Lao Wu's bowl were specially cooked by Aunt Wu at your sister-in-law's request, right? She made those dozen or so by hand?"

Wang Juan chuckled: "That's right! Zhiyi secretly made a mark, especially for her fifth brother!"

All eyes at the table immediately focused on Nan Zhiyi.

Gu Jianjun laughed heartily: "Fifth brother is so lucky!"

Nan Zhiyi felt as if her face was on fire, burning intensely.

Gu Yan sat diagonally opposite, holding a wine glass. He glanced at Nan Zhiyi out of the corner of his eye, then tilted his head back and drank the wine in one gulp.

After dinner, it was pitch black outside the window, and the sound of firecrackers could be heard.

The children couldn't contain themselves any longer, and Qiangzi and Gangzi rushed into the yard with strings of small firecrackers in their arms.

Commander Gu said, "Go out into the yard and let it all liven things up, to get rid of the bad luck."

Gu Xiao took Nan Zhiyi's wool scarf and walked up to her.

She understood and tilted her head up slightly.

Gu Xiao wrapped the cloak around her neck, leaving only her clear eyes visible, which looked as if they were filled with water under the light.

"alright."

The courtyard was bitterly cold, and the air was thick with the smell of gunpowder.

Qiangzi and Gangzi were excitedly lighting the "little firecrackers" on the ground, the crackling sounds accompanied by flames and smoke.

Gu Jianjun and Gu Weimin stood under the corridor watching, while Gu Yan leaned against a pillar, playing with a blank "skyrocket" in his hand, his eyes somewhat vacant.

Gu Xiao brought over a few slender sparklers and handed one to Nan Zhiyi. "Here, I'll light it."

Dazzling golden sparks shot out from the top, tracing bright and beautiful arcs of light.

Nan Zhiyi looked at the leaping flame in her hand, her eyes sparkling.

After only a few games, Nan Zhiyi lost interest: "It's so cold."

Gu Xiaoyuan had no interest in these things; he was only doing it to keep her company.

He led Nan Zhiyi back to the warm and cozy living room, where the television was on.

Before long, everyone gathered in the living room to stay up all night to welcome the New Year.

Commander Gu sat upright on the sofa.

The guard brought over a red lacquered wooden tray, on which a neat stack of brand-new red envelopes was piled up.

The commander picked up the top one and handed it to Nan Zhiyi. "Zhiyi, take this. It's yours."

Nan Zhiyi accepted it with both hands: "Thank you, Dad."

Commander Gu nodded and distributed the red envelopes to everyone in turn.

"Listen up, everyone. Zhiyi is now our Gu family's rightful daughter-in-law and a member of this family."

"The Gu family's fate is intertwined; we rise and fall together. From now on, keep your eyes open and your minds clear. Be mindful of what you should do and what you should say. Consider the bigger picture."

"Especially, not in front of the children..."

"Yes, Dad," Gu Xiao was the first to respond, his voice steady.

"Okay, Dad," Gu Weimin replied immediately.

Gu Jianjun quickly nodded, "Understood, Dad, don't worry!"

Wang Juan, holding her daughter's hand, smiled and replied, "Dad is right."

Gu Yan leaned back on the sofa armrest, twitched the corners of his mouth, and remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement.

Zhang Xiufen lowered her head and whispered a reply.

Nan Zhiyi looked at Gu Xiao, who was also looking at her, and she gave him a soft smile.

Outside the window, the New Year's bells were drowned out by the overwhelming sound of firecrackers.

The stirring singing continued on the television.

The Gu family's New Year's Eve ended amidst deafening noise and an unspoken silence in the living room.