Chapter 457 Juice

Gu Zhao suddenly laughed, "Grandpa, even on New Year's Eve, you can't drink alcohol. How about I come back and have some juice with you? My mom bought orange juice, it's so sweet."

Commander Gu's hearty laughter came through the receiver, and even Nan Zhiyi, who was standing next to him, could hear it clearly.

Gu Zhao laughed along, "Grandpa, my mom said we'll be home the night after tomorrow."

The old man seemed to be asking something, and Gu Zhao answered seriously, "I brought it. My dad bought me a set of 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' comic books, forty-eight in total... Hmm, I'll keep them safe... Grandpa, are you watching the gala tonight? Mom said there's a crosstalk performance on TV this year..."

The child's voice was clear and crisp, each sentence a casual, everyday conversation.

After talking for about three or four minutes, Gu Zhao said, "Okay, then I'll give the phone to Mom. Grandpa, wait for me to come home."

Nan Zhiyi took the microphone: "Dad."

Commander Gu paused for a moment, then hesitated before saying, "Well... Gu Yan brought Anna back today, and the wedding banquet will be held on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year."

Nan Zhiyi already knew about this, but she didn't know why Commander Gu brought it up again? Or was it just a casual chat?

"Dad, Gu Yan mentioned this to Fifth Brother on the phone," Nan Zhiyi said gently. "Are Eldest Brother and Third Sister home by now?"

Gu Xiao didn't tell her the details of his brothers and sisters-in-law's schedules, but she knew that Commander Gu looked forward to the Lunar New Year's Eve reunion the most every year.

"They've all gone back," Commander Gu said with a hint of amusement in his voice, "except for your family."

Nan Zhiyi felt that the old man hadn't finished speaking; his breathing was a little heavy, as if he was carefully choosing his words. But after waiting a while, he only said, "Everything at home is ready, and the rooms are cleaned up. We're just waiting for you to come back."

"Okay, Dad." Nan Zhiyi gripped the microphone tightly. "Please take care of yourself and drink less alcohol. We'll be leaving early on the second day of the Lunar New Year."

"Okay," Commander Gu responded, then added, "Be careful on the road."

After hanging up the phone, Gu Zhao leaned closer and said, "Mom, I miss Grandpa."

Nan Zhiyi patted her son's head and hugged him: "Grandpa must be missing you too. You'll see him soon, the day after tomorrow."

Gu Zhao nodded, still feeling somewhat down.

Nan Zhiyi hugged him, but her mind was still on Commander Gu's hesitant tone during the phone call earlier...

Commander Gu dotes on this grandson the most; even Gu Xiao has to take a backseat.

No matter how many times they tried to persuade Commander Gu to come and stay in Beijing for a while, he always refused, saying that he was used to living in Jian'an, that his old comrades were all there, that Gu Xiao's mother was buried there... Every reason was valid, and every one of them was irrefutable.

I don't know when he'll change his mind.

Gu Zhao was still young, and after being held and comforted by her mother for a while, her mood improved.

Then cheerful music came from the television, and the children's program "Little Wisdom Tree" began to play, with the host leading the children in games.

Gu Zhao's attention was drawn to it, so he let go of her hand and sat back down on the sofa.

Nan Zhiyi washed her hands, sat down next to Gu Zhao, took an orange from the fruit plate, slowly peeled it, removed the white pith from each segment, and put it to her son's mouth.

Gu Zhao opened her mouth to take it, her eyes still glued to the TV. After chewing a couple of times, her little eyebrows shot up, and she looked as satisfied as if she had eaten some rare delicacy.

Nan Zhiyi also tried a segment herself. The orange was a common variety on the market, sweet with a hint of sourness, not enough to make one's face light up.

She looked at her son's puffed-up cheeks; he was just so adorable.

After watching TV with her son for a while, Nan Zhiyi got up and went to the kitchen to heat up the food.

The four-happiness meatballs, braised fish, and poached chicken on the stove were all covered with bowls. She heated each dish one by one, took some out and put them into an aluminum lunchbox, covered it, and placed it on the stove to keep it warm.

A tray of dumplings was frozen on the windowsill. They were made with Sister Zhang this morning, and each one had a plump, white belly.

She picked up a dozen or so and put them in the pot. The water boiled three times, and the dumplings floated to the surface, their skins translucent.

After serving two small bowls of dumplings, Gu Zhao had already washed her hands and came over to help.

"Mom, I'll serve the dishes."

My child will turn seven this May. He is tall for his age and does things in a very capable manner.

"Son, you're so capable," Nan Zhiyi praised.

Gu Zhao looked smug, and the corners of his mouth curled up again.

Although it was just the mother and son, the table was still fully occupied.

Gu Zhao poured orange juice for the two of them, raised his glass, and clinked glasses with his mother. The glasses made a crisp 'ding' sound when they touched.

"Happy New Year, Mom."

"Gu Zhao, Happy New Year."

Gu Zhao gave her the first dish he picked up with his chopsticks; it was a piece of chicken leg meat.

"Mom, time to eat."

Nan Zhiyi took it, feeling a warm glow in her heart. Her son had been raised with a free-range approach since childhood, but he had a very warm personality and knew how to care for others.

It was not even seven o'clock when we finished our New Year's Eve dinner.

The snow started falling quietly outside the window again, and occasionally a firework or two would explode in the distance, their brief flashes reflecting on the glass.

Nan Zhiyi looked at the lights and thought about bringing food to Gu Xiao.

She turned and went back to the kitchen, cooked another twenty or so dumplings, drained them, and put them into another lunchbox. She then placed them, along with the previously prepared vegetables, into a cloth bag and wrapped it tightly in a small blanket.

She stood in the entryway, wrapped in a coat and scarf.

Seeing her mother's movements, Gu Zhao walked over in a few steps: "Mom, are you going to bring Dad his lunch?"

"Um."

"I'm going too!"

Nan Zhiyi originally wanted him to stay home and watch TV, but seeing her son's expectant little eyes, she changed her mind and said, "Wear something warm, it's cold outside."

The mother and son dressed neatly and went out. There was already a thin layer of snow, which crunched underfoot.

The Lunar New Year's Eve in the army compound was very quiet. Most families were gathered at home, with only a few children setting off small firecrackers by the roadside.

Gu Zhao held her hand and asked, "Mom, can we set off firecrackers tomorrow?"

"Yes, we bought some at home."

“Brother Tiger said his family bought a skyrocket,” Gu Zhao looked up, “It can fly really high.”

"We have that too."

"I also want firecrackers!"

"We don't have this at home. I'll go to the convenience store tomorrow."

"Okay, by the way! I'm going to visit Tiger tomorrow morning. He said that on the first day of the Lunar New Year, if I go to pay my respects, I can receive lots of candy."

Nan Zhiyi gripped his hand tightly.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, children in the army compound would indeed run around in groups, going from house to house, exchanging a few auspicious words, and stuffing their pockets full of melon seeds and candies.

She had experienced something similar when she was a child in Jian'an. One year on the first day of the Lunar New Year, Gu Yan led them all over the Jian'an Military Region compound and they received half a bag of candy.

"Son, we've also prepared some candy. Take it with you tomorrow and share it with the children who come to visit us for the New Year."

She whispered, "You can only play inside the army compound; you can't go outside the gate."

"I know." Gu Zhao kicked the snow off his feet. "Brother Hu said he ran away to the logistics compound last year and got a beating from his dad."