Chapter 399 Chu Mingzhou, Happy New Year
January 30, 1976.
New Year's Eve.
The snow in the Northwest Military Region compound was swept into neat piles. Children were chasing each other among the snow piles, holding simple lanterns made from cans in their hands. The candlelight cast tiny spots of light on the glass covered with ice flowers.
Lin Anan leaned against the door frame, watching Chu Mingzhou and Lin Zihuai hanging colorful lights outside the yard. Her belly was bulging under her military coat, like a round cotton bag.
"Mingzhou, go a little to the left!" She instructed with a smile, "Hang that string of small red lanterns on the treetops. When they light up, they will look like a string of red persimmons!"
Chu Mingzhou looked down at her. There were snowflakes hanging on the fluff on the brim of her hat, but her smile was warmer than the sunshine.
Lin Zihuai was standing on tiptoe to wrap colorful lanterns around the branches, humming a newly composed tune.
This idea was all from Chu Mingyu. He made a lot of colorful lanterns, and not enough to hang them in his own house, so he pestered Chu Mingzhou to decorate the trees outside as well.
A rich aroma wafted from the kitchen. Dujuan lifted the straw door curtain and brought out a plate of freshly fried cakes.
The golden fried cake is sprinkled with white sesame seeds. When you bite it open, the brown sugar filling is hot in your mouth, mixed with the crispy fragrance of walnut kernels, so sweet that it makes you squint.
"Sister, try it."
She picked up a piece and handed it to Lin Anan, "Fried it according to Aunt Luo's teaching, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside!"
Lin Anan took a bite, and the sugar juice almost overflowed from the corners of her mouth, causing Chu Mingyu to raise his hand and shout, "Sister-in-law, leave me a piece!"
"There are plenty, I'll leave them all for you."
Chu Minglan also came out holding a large earthenware jar, with the rich aroma of mutton soup wafting from the mouth of the jar.
"This pot of soup has been stewed for three hours. The lamb ribs, carrots, and potatoes are stewed until they are soft. It will be delicious when I add the wide noodles later!"
Lin Zihuai got down from the ladder and immediately helped serve the dishes. He even leaned over to smell them and said "wow" in an exaggerated manner, "Xiaolan's cooking skills are comparable to those of the chefs at state-owned restaurants!"
"Brother Zihuai, please stop joking with me."
"Overture to the New Year" sounded on the radio in the military district auditorium.
As the song ended, the sun was setting.
Everyone from the kitchen team came carrying the big lunch boxes.
Delivering food door to door to the comrades who were commended by the military region this year.
Chu Mingzhou and Lin Anan have both been commended this year, so naturally they have their share.
"Captain Chu, Interpreter Lin, we are here to serve the food! There is braised pork, pork elbow in soy sauce, cold dishes, and a big pot of stewed pork with pickled cabbage."
"This is……"
"It was the leader's instruction to serve more food to everyone!"
Lin Anan looked at the aluminum lunch box sent by the kitchen staff, opened the lid, and the food inside was still steaming hot.
"Thank you. You've worked hard."
"It's okay, we'll leave first. We still have to send the next family off."
Lin Anan hurriedly grabbed a handful of candy for the man and said, "Okay, be careful."
"I'm leaving."
As soon as the people from the kitchen team left, there was a "crackling" sound of firecrackers outside the yard. Chu Mingyu covered his ears and rushed in, "Brother! It's time!"
“Here I come.”
Chu Mingzhou and Lin Zihuai walked towards the gate one after another.
The firecrackers that had been prepared long ago were lit.
There was a series of "crackling" sounds.
The event begins on New Year’s Eve.
“It’s time to eat!”
Chu Minglan brought the last dish to the table.
The braised rabbit meat in the enamel basin was shiny and fragrant, the potato cubes were soaked in the bright red soup, and the belt noodles were piled up into a small hill.
I didn’t expect the military district to send food, so the table seems very crowded now.
"It's so rich~" Chu Mingyu smiled so hard that his eyes narrowed into slits. He felt extremely satisfied before he even started eating.
Everyone took their seats.
Chu Mingzhou made a bowl of mutton soup for Lin Anan, "Drink some to drive away the cold."
He put two more dumplings and a piece of shiny braised pork into her bowl.
Lin Anan looked at the braised pork in the bowl. The sauce was wrapped with the sweet fragrance of rock sugar, mixed with the aroma of star anise and cinnamon, and suddenly her appetite was aroused.
She took a bite, and the fat and lean meat melted on her tongue.
Suddenly I felt a little strange. Why did I feel more greedy the more I ate?
She usually doesn't like to eat such greasy dishes...
Chu Mingzhou also noticed that she ate more today than usual, and all she ate were meat dishes.
"It's delicious. Xiaolan has completely conquered my stomach."
Chu Minglan's mouth was all greasy from eating. "As long as sister-in-law likes it."
"This table of food is thanks to Xiaolan and Dujuan, you guys are awesome~"
"Sister-in-law, I love Chinese New Year so much, there are so many delicious foods..."
As dusk deepened, the song "Unforgettable Tonight" sounded on the radio in the military compound. Amid the rustling sound of electricity, the beautiful song floated out, mixed with the sound of firecrackers in the distance, weaving a warm web.
"Come, let's toast to 1975 and express our gratitude for bringing us together."
Lin Anan raised her glass, and everyone followed suit.
Seeing that he had finished the drink in his cup, Chu Mingyu hurriedly took Lin Zihuai's bottle and poured himself another one.
"Cheers to the year 1975, the year we met."
Everyone clinked their glasses, with smiles on their faces.
"One more!"
"May 1976 be a year of peace and prosperity."
Chu Mingyu felt that he had other lines to say, so he raised his voice a notch, "May my sister-in-law give birth to a baby safely in 1976, my elder brother be invincible, my sister always get first place in exams, my brother Zihuai become a pillar of the art troupe, my sister-in-law Dujuan's dreams come true, and I myself... become the best in the world!"
"Ha ha ha ha……"
"I'll have one too." Lin Zihuai cleared his throat. "May my parents be healthy, my sister and brother-in-law be safe and happy, Xiaolan and Xiaoyu be smart, and Dujuan... be happy forever in 1976."
Dujuan blushed after hearing what he said. She gave him a sidelong glance and quickly lowered her head to eat, not daring to speak anymore.
Chu Minglan also laughed, "I don't ask for anything, I just hope our family can be so lively every year."
Lin Anan looked at Chu Mingzhou.
Chu Mingzhou poured himself a small glass of white wine, looked at Lin Anan deeply, and actually raised his head and drank it all.
"You...you go slower." Lin Anan hurriedly handed him a handkerchief, fearing that he would give her too much to drink.
Chu Mingzhou hummed lightly, said nothing, and started to pick up food for her.
Lin Anan thought this person didn't have any wishes.
After dinner, everyone gathered at the doorstep to watch the fireworks.
The fireworks were organized by the military compound, and I heard there were dozens of them.
With a "bang", the first firework shot into the night sky and exploded into a dazzling golden chrysanthemum on the inky black sky. Fine rain of light fell, making the snow as bright as day.
Chu Mingyu jumped up excitedly, "Brother! Look! It's like stars falling!"
Lin Zihuai put his arm around Du Juan's shoulders, pointed at the sky and said with a smile: "Do you like it? This is more beautiful than the stage lighting of our art troupe."
Dujuan nodded, blushing and saying nothing, and quietly moved closer to him.
Chu Minglan held up the chestnuts that had just come out of the pot and shared them with everyone, "Eat them quickly, they're still hot!"
Immediately afterwards, the second firework soared into the sky, and when it bloomed, it turned into a sky full of scarlet peach petals, fluttering down as if about to fall into people's arms.
Lin Anan covered her ears and looked at the brilliant fireworks. Suddenly, she felt the baby in her belly move slightly, as if it was also cheering for this moment.
She turned to look at Chu Mingzhou, only to see him staring at her, his eyes hotter than fireworks.
"Why are you looking at me?" Lin Anan asked softly.
Chu Mingzhou reached out and brushed away the snowflakes on her shoulders. His voice was low and gentle: "I hope my luck can be better."
"Um?"
The answer is not relevant to the question.
He paused, then continued, "I'm afraid that all my luck has been used up in meeting you! So I greedily hope... that my luck can be better, and that I can stay with you forever."
Lin Anan: “…”
I was touched.
As expected! When straight men speak sweet words, they are more lethal.
The third firework exploded, and the green and blue spots of light formed into a point, spreading in all directions and lingering in the night sky for a long time. It was so beautiful!
Exclamations and cheers rang out one after another in the military compound. Children ran after the light of the fireworks, and their laughter echoed far away in the snowy night.
Those lonely New Year’s Eves in the past seem like a lifetime ago compared to the warm reunion we have now.
The last firework rose into the sky and blossomed into a huge silver waterfall. Amidst the colorful lights, the New Year’s bell rang.
"May the country be peaceful and the people be safe, and the people you love be by your side."
"Chu Mingzhou, Happy New Year."
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