Chapter 55

In early February, as the university entered its final exam week, He He temporarily put aside her book-selling business.

She has earned over eighty yuan in the past two months by selling books. The new book has just been released, and everyone finds it novel, so there are many buyers now. However, in a few months, there will be far fewer customers. Therefore, He He has been looking for classmates who write well at school.

The classmates who had previously submitted articles to the newspaper, upon hearing that she was accepting submissions, were also willing to send her their newly written articles.

Although He He has high standards, she has selected many candidates and is just waiting for the exams to end so she can make her mark during the winter break.

As the end of the semester approaches, everyone is studying hard. He He and her roommates also go to the library, but it's crowded during final week and they often can't find a seat. They can only go early in the morning to have a chance of getting a seat.

After a busy week of studying, all the exams for the Chinese Department of the Normal University were over. My roommate, who wasn't from the local area, bought a ticket home early in the morning and packed his things to leave after the exams.

He He didn't stay at school for long; she packed her things and went home.

She was very happy at home. She could sleep in as late as she wanted and get up whenever she wanted. Her grandparents knew she was tired from studying, so they wouldn't wake her up early in the morning.

With a week to go before the Lunar New Year, He He went to the street with her aunt and cousin-in-law to prepare for the holiday.

Snacks and candies were a must, and some dried goods and seafood were also bought. When they arrived at the department store, her aunt even pulled her to choose a new outfit. He He couldn't refuse, so she let her aunt happily pick out clothes for her.

Her aunt gave her a red coat, saying that people should dress festively for the New Year.

My aunt and cousin-in-law each chose an outfit, and my wealthy aunt paid for them both.

Shopping is a woman's nature. The three of them shopped from morning to afternoon before having a meal at a state-run restaurant, and then continued shopping.

When they were too tired to walk any further, the three of them carried their bags back to the military compound.

It was the weekend, and many aunties and grandmas were sunbathing outside. As soon as you saw them, you would start chatting with them.

First, he praised He He for becoming more and more beautiful, and then he asked He He if she had a boyfriend, saying he wanted to introduce her to someone.

Before He He could even speak, her aunt-in-law smiled and explained that she had a boyfriend, a student at Rongda University, and that the two were a perfect match.

As soon as the aunt-in-law spoke, the other aunts who had been harboring some ulterior motives all stopped talking and started asking them what they had bought that day.

My aunt talked at length about how many New Year's goods she had bought, pointing out which stores were good and which were affordable.

Seeing that her aunt-in-law still wanted to talk at length, He He and her cousin-in-law exchanged a glance.

"Auntie, let me carry the things. My cousin and I will go back first. It'll be tiring for you to carry all that stuff while we're chatting."

"Mom, Xiaohe and I will go back and put our things away first."

My aunt really wanted to continue chatting with the old neighbors, and she was tired from carrying so many things. "Go ahead, go ahead, you can leave your things in the living room."

He He and her cousin-in-law returned home, put down their things, and lay down on the sofa. They were really tired from walking all day.

Another tradition of the Cheng family before the Lunar New Year is to fry fish balls. The younger aunt and the aunt who helps out at home go to the market early in the morning to buy fish.

Now that the market has opened up, many people have started doing business, and vegetables can no longer be purchased in rations without coupons, which is much more convenient. The Cheng family can also buy more fish.

Some were caught by my uncle in the river, and others were mud carp he bought from fellow anglers.

In Rongcheng, fish balls are usually made with mud carp. Mud carp is tender and has many small bones, making it perfect for making fish balls.

On the 29th of the lunar year, He He and Cheng Fang, who were on holiday, also participated. The main person in charge of making fish balls was the aunt, and the uncle was in charge of killing the fish and hanging the fish meat.

My grandparents are getting old, but my grandmother is not one to sit idle. She also helps to make fish balls. From morning to afternoon, except for lunchtime, she is basically making and frying fish balls. Two big bowls of fish balls are ready.

The Cheng family is large, so if each family gets a small share, there won't be much left.

On New Year's Eve, He He had a family reunion dinner at the Cheng family's house.

Yesterday, some people from the He family came over and asked He He if she wanted to come home for dinner on New Year's Eve. He He declined, saying only that she would go back on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year.

The Cheng family also has the custom of staying up all night on New Year's Eve. Except for the maternal grandparents who went to bed early, He He and her uncle's family sat in the living room, watching TV and waiting for midnight to arrive.

With ten minutes to go before midnight, He He sat on the sofa next to the landline. She wanted to call Chen Jingbai and be the first to wish him a Happy New Year.

Her uncle's family saw through her intentions, teased her a bit, and then tacitly refrained from eavesdropping on the young couple's conversation.

The convenience store near Chen Jingbai's home has a landline phone, which was installed at the end of last year. She and Chen Jingbai have contacted each other twice using the store's landline.

When the auntie at the convenience store receives her call, she calls Chen Jingbai over. He lives nearby, and he always arrives quickly whenever He He calls.

He He didn't need to worry about Chen Jingbai going to bed early. She had told him before the holiday to wait for her call on New Year's Eve.

He He propped herself up on the edge of the sofa with one hand and idly played with the telephone cord with the other. There were still three minutes until midnight when Chen Jingbai's voice came from the other end of the line.

His voice was slightly distorted over the phone, but his unique voice clearly reached He He's ears.

"Xiao He, I've been waiting for you."

A smile appeared on He He's face: "Really?"

Chen Jingbai: "Really? Did you eat your fill tonight?"

He He: "I'm so full! I ate so much!"

Fearing Chen Jingbai wouldn't believe her, she emphasized her certainty.

She had mentioned to Chen Jingbai that she had gained weight and wanted to lose it. Chen Jingbai overheard this and was worried that she was actually dieting to lose weight, so he told her that she wasn't fat at all and would ask her from time to time if she was eating properly.

Chen Jingbai stood in front of the convenience store, holding a phone in his right hand. The dim light of the store shone on him, casting shadows on his eyelashes.

When Aunt Wang from the convenience store called him over, he was so anxious that he forgot to put on his coat. At that moment, a cold wind blew, and goosebumps spread up his neck.

However, he seemed oblivious to the cold, standing motionless as he gently said to the person on the other end of the phone, "It's good that you're full. Eat your food properly and don't keep thinking about dieting; it's bad for your health. You're already very beautiful."

He He looked down at the table and said, "I know. I was just saying it casually before. Please stop worrying about whether I eat or not."

She really just mentioned it casually, but she gritted her teeth and skipped dinner that night. She didn't eat for three days in a row, and when she was starving, she gave up immediately.

Now she eats dinner properly and doesn't punish herself for the other two meals; she eats until she's full.

Chen Jingbai: "As long as you eat well, I won't mention it again."

Just as He He was about to speak, she heard her aunt-in-law call out with a smile, "He He, it's midnight. It's the new year now. Happy New Year to everyone!"

Hearing her aunt call out, He He panicked a little and exclaimed, "Ah!" She immediately shouted into the microphone, "Happy New Year! I almost missed it!"

She was having such a good time that she forgot to look up at the clock, but luckily her aunt reminded her.

He He heard Chen Jingbai chuckle softly, "It's not too late now. Happy New Year, Xiao He. I wish you academic progress and even greater success in your career."

He He pouted, "Oh, you're so formal. Is there nothing else?"

Chen Jingbai: "It's just as beautiful every year, like a pretty little flower."

He He: I am Xiaohua, but I'll let you off the hook. Could you also wish Sister Jingyi a Happy New Year for me? Are you free on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year? Let's go shopping. There's a new Western restaurant that just opened in [alley name], I have some foreign exchange vouchers, shall we go try it?

Chen Jingbai had no reason to refuse, "Okay, then see you on the sixth day of the month."

After agreeing on a specific time and hanging up the phone, Chen Jingbai paid for the call.

Aunt Wang teased Chen Jingbai, "Jingbai, are you chatting with your girlfriend?"

That's the downside of public telephones: you can be overheard when you speak.

Chen Jingbai's expression was indifferent. "Yes, it's windy here, so I'll head back first. Happy New Year, Aunt Wang."

Aunt Wang: "It's quite windy. You're not dressed warmly enough, so hurry back home and don't catch a cold. I'm also getting ready to close up shop and take a break tomorrow."

The convenience store is a converted residential building, and Aunt Wang's house is right behind it, integrated with the store.

The Spring Festival is the busiest time. Even at her uncle's house, He He is busy greeting relatives and guests.

My maternal grandparents were of a higher generation and had many comrades-in-arms, so quite a few people came to visit.

Busy until the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, He He went back to the He family home for dinner.

Dinner was peaceful. During the meal, He Zhongguo gave her a red envelope. After dinner, He He left without waiting for He Zhongguo to stay.

On the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, He He dressed up beautifully for the appointment, wearing the same red coat she had worn from the first day to the sixth.

Her skin was fair, and the red coat she wore didn't make her look old; instead, it added to her beauty.

The V-neck of her coat revealed a white turtleneck sweater, and He He also wore a white scarf. She wore wide-leg jeans, and because she was afraid of the cold, she wore thermal underwear underneath. Thinking that no one could see it, she boldly wore a pair of fleece-lined thermal underwear.

He He, wearing small leather shoes and carrying a small leather bag, went out the door with a clatter.

She had arranged to meet Chen Jingbai at 5 p.m., thinking she would go shopping after dinner.

When she arrived, Chen Jingbai was already there; he had chosen a seat by the window.

The Western restaurant is elegantly decorated, with melodious music playing inside and tables decorated with lace.

Chen Jingbai looked very handsome today, wearing a black overcoat over a white shirt and a brown crew neck sweater, and his hair was meticulously styled.

He He's eyes lit up. "Brother Jingbai, you look even more handsome today."

Chen Jingbai smiled faintly: "Really? Don't I feel this way about you every day?"

He He put her bag on the chair. "Brother Jing Bai, this is the first time I've realized how narcissistic you are."

"You flatter me." Chen Jingbai moved the menu in front of her. "Take a look and see what you'd like to eat."

When the waiter saw that someone was sitting opposite Chen Jingbai, he brought him another glass of water. The service was much better than that of state-run restaurants.

He He said thank you and then flipped through the menu. "Is there anything you'd like to eat?"

Chen Jingbai was very easygoing. He wasn't picky about food and was happy with anything. "You can order. This is my first time at a Western restaurant, so I don't know what's good. You can order for me."

He was very composed, showing no signs of the discomfort one might feel when visiting a Western restaurant for the first time.

"Shall we order two servings of fried pork chops, two servings of borscht, one serving of braised beef in a pot, and some bread rolls?" He He ordered classic dishes. She glanced at them and realized there weren't many dishes, not even as many as in state-run restaurants, but they were fresh, and it was nice to try them once in a while.

Chen Jingbai: "Okay, whatever you say. Order more if it's not enough."

He He handed the menu to the waiter, and after placing her order, the dishes were served one by one in no time.

"Knife on the left, fork on the right, Brother Jingbai." He He looked at the steaming fried pork chop with a smile on her face. She hadn't eaten it in a long time and really missed the taste.

Towards the end of the meal, we ordered an extra salad and vanilla ice cream.

After the meal, the two walked out of the Western restaurant.

There is a river near the Western restaurant, and the riverside is very prosperous, with old Western-style buildings still nearby.

The two walked towards the riverbank, their shadows, one tall and one short, overlapping, appearing to stretch and shrink together.

He He put both hands in her pockets. "Are you going to be busy until school starts?"

Chen Jingbai replied, "I'll be busy until the start of the semester, so we probably won't see each other again. But I'll make time to go shopping with you. The teacher will give us some rest time."

Workers only get three days off for the Spring Festival holiday, unlike students who get more than a month off. Many construction sites resume work on the third day of the Lunar New Year, and the construction industry in Rongcheng has returned to its bustling state.

The department teacher asked him to go help out on the ninth day of the lunar new year, and he should be busy until the start of the new semester.

He He looked up at Chen Jingbai. Since she mentioned it last time, she wondered if he had listened to her and rested well. He was not so tired now and looked much more refreshed.

"Then you should also take care to rest and not overwork yourself."

Chen Jingbai reached out and patted the back of her head: "I will, don't worry about me, have fun during the rest of your vacation."

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Author's Note: [Hugs][Hugs][Hugs]