44 Chapter 44
◎It’s Chinese New Year◎
"Third brother, the couplet should be moved a little further to the left."
"Here?" Jiang Jingfeng, who was standing on the ladder, moved slightly to the left by a palm's distance when he heard it.
"Wait, don't move, let me take a look." Jiang Qingrong took two steps back, carefully compared the height of the door lintels on both sides, nodded, "It's here, stick it on."
"Okay." After sticking the couplets that had been coated with glue firmly on both sides of the door, Jiang Jingfeng also pasted two red "Fu" characters on the door.
"Have you finished pasting it? I'm going to get ready to set off firecrackers." Jiang Jinglin stood beside and urged, holding a bamboo pole with a string of red firecrackers hanging on it.
"Right away," Jiang Jingfeng agreed, but complained, "Really? You didn't even come to help me when I was in a hurry."
Faced with his brother's complaints, Jiang Jinglin turned a deaf ear to them and did not listen at all.
He looked at Jiang Qingrong who was still standing there, and said, "Little sister, hold big brother's two rabbits and hide in the yard. Cover your ears. You are both timid. Don't be scared by the noise."
After that, he called his third brother, "Jingfeng, help me get a lit incense stick over here!"
“Here I come.”
As the fuses were lit, a long series of "crackling" firecrackers echoed throughout the alley, and the two brothers cheered happily: "Wuhu, it's New Year's Day!!!"
Today, Jiang Jingyun and Jiang Erge were in charge of the cooking. The two of them worked together to cook boiled chicken, braised carp, sweet and sour spare ribs, braised pork, lemon duck, smoked bacon... one dish after another with good color, aroma and flavor was served like water. As the last plate of taro braised pork was served, Jiang Erge was so excited that he shouted, "It's time to eat!"
The academy only has seven days of holiday for the New Year. As the weather is too cold and there is not enough time to go home and back, everyone simply decides to celebrate the New Year in the capital.
On New Year’s Eve, every household is decorated with lights and the night seems as bright as day under the illumination of thousands of lights.
The sound of firecrackers continued in the streets and alleys, creating an endless bustle.
The six members of the Jiang family sat together happily. The table was filled with steaming hot New Year's Eve dinner. They raised their glasses to celebrate with the glutinous rice wine brewed by Jiang Jingyun.
Brother Jiang raised his glass first, "In the new year, I wish you all good health and good luck!"
Xiao Muyan raised his glass and said, "May you have peace and happiness every year!"
Jiang Jingyun responded with a smile, "May the new year be better than the old year, and each year be better than the last!"
The three children also raised their cups and shouted, "Happy New Year! Cheers!"
The crisp sound of wine glasses clinking together is like a cheerful piece of music, filled with happiness and joy that cannot be concealed in the hearts.
After dinner, the children laughed and played in the yard, holding palm-sized lanterns. From time to time, the naughty Jiang Jinglin would secretly light a few small firecrackers that he had secretly saved up, scaring his younger brothers and sisters so much that they would scream and chase and beat him up together.
The three adults sat aside, watching them play with a smile on their faces.
Brother Jiang took a sip of wine, his expression was indescribably relaxed and comfortable, "Thanks to my fifth brother, our lives are getting better and better."
Jiang Jingyun smiled and clinked glasses with his second brother, and said modestly, "I didn't do anything. It's all because of everyone's joint efforts that I can have the life I have today."
"What do you think? Should I go out and try my luck in the future to broaden my horizons?" Before following his fifth brother into business, he was like a frog in a well. All he had was a small piece of land in front of him and nothing else. After coming to the provincial capital, he felt even more insignificant and ignorant. When he had some free time, he also wanted to go out and see the world.
"If you want, of course you can." Jiang Jingyun agreed.
"But I don't know what I can do," Jiang Erge frowned in distress, "Brother, I'm not smart, how about you help me think about what I can do?"
"Hmm...business?" Jiang Er Ge is actually very smart and agile, so he should be able to do business well, but this product... Jiang Jingyun had several ideas in his mind, but he still had to think about the specific implementation. "Let me think about it carefully."
"You are still reliable. Second brother's love for you is not in vain." Second brother Jiang seemed to be drunk. He patted Jiang Jingyun's shoulder with a bit of force and his voice was full of alcohol. "Don't worry, think about it slowly, and strive to make your brother a wealthy tycoon in the future. Hehe, hehehe..."
Jiang Jingyun smiled and responded obediently, "Okay, I'll try my best."
As they chatted, it was already late at night. After helping his drunken second brother to rest, he came back and saw three children still making a fuss in the yard. Jiang Jingyun's forehead instantly became bulging with veins, and he shouted angrily, "What time is it? Are you still playing? Go wash up and go to bed! Whoever is still hanging around here in a quarter of an hour will have his New Year's money canceled tomorrow!"
Upon hearing this, the three of them immediately dispersed.
"Really!" They complained that he was nagging every day and treated them like children, but he never looked at himself to see if he had the maturity and stability of an adult.
"It's a holiday today, so it's inevitable to be a little excited. Aren't they usually very well behaved?" Xiao Muyan was also very happy today. He didn't have that cool face that kept strangers away all day long. There was always a faint smile in the corners of his eyes and eyebrows. He handed Jiang Jingyun an orange that was heated on the stove, "Here, eat an orange first to sober up, the night is still long."
On New Year's Eve, according to custom, people need to stay up all night, which is also known as "staying up all night". After eating the New Year's Eve dinner, people light candles all night long, which is called "illuminating the void". This is to pray for the coming year to be free of evil spirits, peace and prosperity at home. 【1】
Now it seems that they are the only two people staying up tonight.
Jiang Jingyun ate the orange and picked up a few roasted peanuts to play with. "It's a bit boring to just sit there. I should have made some small things to pass the time."
After sitting quietly for a few minutes, Jiang Jingyun couldn't wait any longer. He stood up and shook the wine pot in front of him. There seemed to be a lot of wine left in it. He raised his eyebrows slightly and looked at Xiao Muyan with a smile: "How about we drink a little more and have a candlelight night chat and drink happily?"
Xiao Muyan shook his head. "Although your wine tastes sweet, it also has a strong aftertaste."
"Pfft... this is just the beginning. I can also brew another kind of rice wine. After a few cups, when the wind blows, you will feel dizzy and forget what day it is." Jiang Jingyun smiled evilly, "I will brew it next time and let you taste it?"
"Okay, then keep today's for next time." Xiao Muyan agreed readily. Afraid that someone would drink it when he wasn't paying attention, he secretly hid the wine jug to himself.
Jiang Jingyun pretended not to notice Xiao Muyan's little action. In fact, he was already a little dizzy from drinking, and he was just teasing him just now.
Sitting next to the stove, he gathered his fur coat tightly with his hands. The white fox fur scarf around his neck made the drunk man's lips and teeth look red. Jiang Jingyun looked up at the sky full of stars and sighed, "It's great."
A rich life, a few close friends, the company of family, and care and kindness all around you are things that the modern Jiang Jingyun can only dream of but cannot achieve.
Feeling a hint of warmth from the occasional touch on his shoulder, Jiang Jingyun thought, perhaps, this was the best arrangement God had given him.
However, children who have never eaten sugar have no idea how sweet it is. [2] But once they have tasted the sweetness, they will no longer be able to endure a life filled with only bitterness.
So, even if someone told Jiang Jingyun that the huge handful of candies in front of him belonged to him alone, he would still not dare to move forward.
It is clearly within reach, but I dare not touch it easily.
Jiang Jingyun looked up at the sky. The night sky filled with stars and the lights of thousands of houses complemented each other. It was quiet, warm, and yet attractive. "Brother Xiao, do you also feel that your current life is too ordinary and boring? Do you want to go out and start your own business?"
"If I say no, will you think I'm a loser?" Xiao Muyan did not answer directly, but asked tentatively.
"No." Jiang Jingyun shook his head without hesitation. Compared to a life full of ups and downs, he prefers a plain and simple happiness that is within reach.
"Will you get bored if I stay by your side all the time?" People who are drunk seem to be more straightforward and frank.
Jiang Jingyun still shook his head.
"Well, then I won't leave." As long as you are willing, I will stay for you forever.
Although they were plain words, they were unexpectedly touching and burned Jiang Jingyun's heart like fire.
The late onset of alcohol seemed to have clouded his mind. He mustered up the courage to secretly confirm the existence of the person next to him, but the moment he touched the warmth, he immediately shrank back in fear.
Before he could retract his outstretched hand, it was tightly grasped by a warm big hand. Xiao Muyan tilted his head, his expression was normal, but his ears were red as if bleeding.
"Don't run away."
"If you don't want to, I can always move back to a position that you feel comfortable with."
"If you nod, it doesn't matter if you don't dare to move forward. I will walk the rest of the way."
"Don't be afraid, follow your heart and I will take care of the rest."
"No matter what, I'm always here."
"Jiang Jingyun, I like you."
The hoarse and low voice spoke gently.
Just like the glutinous rice wine I drink tonight, it is sweet and lingering in my throat, tempting me to drink one cup after another until I pass out, surrender, and let others do whatever they want.
It's not the wine that makes people drunk, it's the people themselves.
The clenched fingertips trembled slightly, but left no room for anyone to break free.
Jiang Jingyun lowered his eyes to look at the hands clasped together. The bony fingers curled and stretched, softly yet powerfully.
After a long silence, he shook hands gently back.
Then, the force holding his hand seemed to increase a little.
Jiang Jingyun raised his eyes to look at Xiao Muyan. His misty peach blossom eyes seemed to be covered with mist, and the corners of his eyes were red with alcohol. "Brother Xiao, the academy will be closed on the Lantern Festival. Then, shall we go to see the lanterns?"
"Okay." Xiao Muyan responded gently, looking at him with eyes full of doting.
In case people didn't understand the meaning of his words, Jiang Jingyun quickly added in a low voice: "Just the two of us will go, without bringing those annoying little brats at home."
"Okay." The fingertips were gently kneaded.
The fingers that were tightly grasped curled up unconsciously. After hesitating for a moment, Jiang Jingyun finally mustered up the courage to speak: "I still have something to say to you, but I haven't sorted it out yet. Please give me some time."
Xiao Muyan was stunned for a moment, then he was overjoyed.
Day after day, year after year, the patient hunter, with meticulous care and tolerance, weaved layer after layer of a net called "gentleness", and finally coaxed the kitten in his heart to willingly step into the trap set for him.
"good."
【Author’s words】
【1】For information, please refer to Baidu.
[2] The original sentence comes from Baidu, the source is unknown, and is similar to Emily Dickinson's "Had I not seen the Sun": I could have endured the darkness if I had not seen the light.
Coincidentally, today is also New Year's Eve. Jiang Maomao, Xiao Dog and others join hands to wish all our readers: In 2025, you will be rich, loved and have good luck! Love you guys, muah!
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