On the morning of Lunar New Year's Eve, Fang Yu did not sleep in and went to the market with Yu Jihong.

The market was already bustling with activity. "Let's go check out the fish. There must be fish for the New Year's Eve dinner, so that there will be fish every year."

Yu Jihong bought a fresh sea bass.

"Mom, is it almost done?" Fang Yu asked, looking at the bags the two of them were carrying.

"Okay, that's all. Take these home. You don't need to come to the shop this morning. Just have something to eat for lunch. I'll go sell some more this morning and come back when I close the shop."

There were fewer people buying clothes on Lunar New Year's Eve than in the previous days, but still better than usual. Moreover, people who came to buy clothes on this day didn't haggle much.

After lunch, the streets gradually emptied out as families closed their doors to prepare for the New Year's Eve dinner.

When Yu Jihong returned home, the two-bedroom apartment was spotless.

Fang Yu sat up from the sofa. "Mom, you're back?"

Yu Jihong sat down next to her and stretched. "Well, this year's work is over!"

"Mom, you've worked so hard! Lie down on the sofa and rest for a while."

"Okay." Yu Jihong leaned her head against the armrest and lay on the sofa. Sunlight streamed in through the glass window, making it warm and cozy. "It's so comfortable at home. Fang Yu, we'll make dinner in a bit."

"Okay, Mom, you rest for a while, then the two of you can do it together, it'll be quick."

When setting out the New Year's Eve dinner, Yu Jihong took an extra set of bowls and chopsticks and placed it opposite her. The bowl was filled with rice, and the chopsticks were neatly arranged. "Third brother, we're having our New Year's Eve dinner in our new home this year," she said softly, tears welling up in her eyes, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall.

Smoke was also rising from the chimney of Huahua's house in the countryside. Huahua had made a special trip to the market this morning to buy shrimp and beef before coming back.

Fang Huahua bought new clothes for her parents and younger brother, and they all tried them on before she made dinner.

Fang Huahua helped Huamei take off her coat, tried on the new clothes, and pulled her in front of the mirror. "Mom, take a look, do you like it?"

Hua Mei turned around in front of the mirror, nodded, and smiled with satisfaction.

"Wear it tomorrow." Hua Mei carefully took off her clothes.

"I'll cook dinner. I learned how to make garlic shrimp and stir-fried beef at a restaurant," Hua Hua said.

"Huahua, we've killed a chicken at home, so we'll have something to eat for the New Year. Why do you still need to spend money to buy vegetables?" Fang Shugen and Fang Jingming were moving the table to the doorway to perform ancestral rites.

"It's Chinese New Year, the whole family is gathered together, so let's make something delicious." Fang Huahua brought the dishes to the table.

“Exactly!” Fang Jingming echoed from the side.

“That’s right, that’s right. When you make money in the future, will you be able to buy things back like your sister?” Fang Shugen asked.

"Sure, I'm an apprentice now. Once I've completed my apprenticeship and am able to earn money, I can buy it."

The dishes were laid out on the table, wine was poured, and Fang Shugen lit three incense sticks. "Mom, Dad, come back for New Year's Eve dinner." His voice was a little hoarse in the rising smoke. Hua Hua and Hua Mei, and Fang Jingming stood to the side, watching quietly.

Fang Meili and her family still closed the door on the afternoon of New Year's Eve and sent Fang Damiao back. Fang Meixiang's mother prepared the New Year's Eve dinner early. When they arrived, Fang Meili's family ate some at her parents' house and then went to her husband's house, eating New Year's Eve dinner at both sides.

After dinner, Yu Jihong and Fang Yu tidied up the kitchen, took a shower, and then snuggled on the sofa to watch the Spring Festival Gala.

It's so convenient to take a shower now that there's a water heater in the bathroom. Before, in the countryside, we either boiled water at home or went to a public bathhouse. Public bathhouses were always packed around the Lunar New Year. It's nothing like the comfort we have now.

Fang Yu was already curled up on the sofa with a cushion in her arms. Yu Jihong dried her hair and came over, reaching out to touch her arm. "Are you cold?"

Before Fang Yu could answer, Yu Jihong covered her with a small blanket that smelled of laundry detergent. Yu Jihong then gently ruffled her hair, just like when she was a child, and asked, "Is your hair dry?"

"It's dried." Fang Yu moved closer to Yu Jihong and pulled the small blanket over her as well.

The TV was showing the skit "The Hourly Worker," and the dialogue between Zhao Benshan and Song Dandan made Fang Yu laugh out loud. Yu Jihong stared at the screen, thinking that she would be just like that when she got old. She thought that she would probably find something to do when she got old, just like the character played by Song Dandan.

The lights on the television softened, and the music slowed down. Nicholas Tse held Dong Jie's hand, watching the scene unfold. Dong Jie was wearing a pure white wedding dress. She clutched the blanket on the sofa, feeling a chill in her heart.

Yu Jihong's tears fell without warning.

Thinking back to when she thought she had found love, only to be betrayed, she pretended to go mad, gave birth to her daughter, met someone who truly cared for her, only to be separated from him forever, without a wedding, without blessings, all the regrets are hidden in the trivialities of daily life.

"Fang Yu!" Yu Jihong's voice choked with emotion as she gently stroked her daughter's hair. "You must have a proper wedding in the future, wear a wedding dress, and find someone who truly loves you."

Fang Yu didn't say anything, but simply hugged her mother's waist and buried her face in her arms. The songs from the Spring Festival Gala continued.

Yu Jihong watched on TV, seeing how beautiful Dong Jie looked in her wedding dress and how tender Nicholas Tse's gaze was towards her.

Yu Jihong wiped away her tears, which then flowed again, this time filled with high hopes for her daughter. She knew her own life had too many regrets, and she couldn't let her daughter repeat the same mistakes.

The songs on the TV continued, the lights shone on the two of them, and the small blankets wrapped around each other kept them warm. This Spring Festival night without the sound of firecrackers didn't seem so cold.

Every year on the first day of the Lunar New Year, Fang Huahua is with Fang Yu. This year, without Fang Yu, Fang Huahua feels empty.

Wearing the new clothes her daughter bought for her, Hua Mei would look at herself in the mirror every time she passed by. Fang Hua Hua suddenly thought that she felt bored when she didn't have any friends to play with, but what about her mother? When had she ever had any friends to play with?

"Mom, let's go for a walk!" Fang Huahua came over and hooked her arm around hers.

Hua Mei was taken aback when she heard this. Looking at her clothes, she felt a little embarrassed to go out. "You look so beautiful today. It's the first day of the Lunar New Year. Let's go out and have some fun. Let's go."

Fang Huahua practically dragged Hua Mei out.

Fang Huahua rarely walked hand in hand with Huamei like this. When they met people outside, Huamei stiffened and looked very awkward.

Hua Hua sensed her mother's shyness, tightened her grip on her hand, and turned to smile at her.

Hua Mei smiled and gradually calmed down.

Along the way, groups of young people were playing and fooling around. Fang Huahua took her mother's arm and walked to the other side of the slope where there were fewer people.

The soil on both sides was damp and soft with the early spring air. Hua Mei and Hua Hua walked slowly like this, without saying a word for a long time.

There was no one around. Fang Huahua reached down and intertwined her fingers with Hua Mei's. She rested her head on Hua Mei's shoulder. Just now, she thought about her mother's life. She had no social life, no entertainment, and had spent half her life working in the fields and at home. A sense of sadness welled up in her heart.