On the eve of New Year's Eve, Old Man Zhou was grinding ink on the stone table in the courtyard.
While others wrote inscriptions and couplets and made red lanterns, Grandma Zhou sat to the side cutting paper-cuts for the windows. Wenheng and I were in charge of making paste and pasting the couplets and paper-cuts. We were all very busy and happy.
I admired the couplet written by Old Man Zhou, which was beautiful in both calligraphy and poetry, and then I looked at the exquisite window decorations created by Old Woman Zhou.
The extraordinary talent of these two men is worlds apart from that of most of the illiterate villagers.
They impressed me greatly, giving me the impression that they were unassuming and reclusive masters.
However, I didn't think too much about their backgrounds, whether they were extraordinary or not.
Even so, this is their choice to lead an ordinary and simple life, and as long as they are happy.
Soon, the small courtyard with its three thatched huts, along with the festive decorations of every household in the village, became a joyous and lively place.
On New Year's Eve, I looked at the dazzling array of delicious food that I don't usually get to eat, and my mouth watered.
Unable to contain their joy, Old Man Zhou and Old Woman Zhou took out their homemade Tusu wine and filled everyone's cups, saying, "The spring breeze brings warmth to Tusu, and this year our family has many happy events. Everyone should drink this Tusu wine to wish for a prosperous and fulfilling new year."
"Clang." The sound of clinking glasses marked the start of the New Year's Eve dinner... Everyone drank it all in one gulp.
Only Wen Heng held his wine glass to his nose and sniffed it, as if he had remembered something.
Those who are disgusted should put down their wine glasses.
But I intercepted his hand, which was holding the wine glass, halfway down the table before it touched the table.
With lightning speed, he pushed the wine in the glass into his mouth through his hand.
I saw him make the same face he had last time we drank, with his brows furrowed and teeth bared.
Everyone couldn't help but laugh.
Fortunately, the liquor wasn't too strong today, and he didn't pass out after just one drink...
However, after we had eaten and drunk our fill, he turned red in the face.
Staggering behind me with a dazed expression, he tried to pounce on me.
Before I could react, I heard a loud "Ugh!"
He vomited the food he had just eaten onto me and our clothes.
I looked at the filthy body with disgust, and a foul, pungent odor wafted up at me.
The nausea almost made me vomit up everything I ate that day.
While helping Wen Heng to his feet, Grandma Zhou said with a smile, "It's alright, it's alright. To wash away the filth of the past year and welcome the new year, I just happened to boil two large buckets of hot water for a bath today."
"One bucket is just enough for the four of us, two people. Before, your father would wash with Zhou Lang, but now that you're husband and wife, your father doesn't need to. How about Ahua and Zhou Lang wash together?"
How could I shower with him? I shook my head vigorously to express my inner resistance.
But then I remembered the scar left by the bite I made on Wen Heng's shoulder, and I thought, what would happen if they found out that I was abusing and bullying his precious son?
I nodded vigorously, like a chick pecking at rice.
Grandma Zhou smiled and filled a large wooden bucket with hot water for me and Wenheng.
After putting away the clean clothes and towels, she reminded him before leaving, "It's warmer if the two of you bathe together in the tub."
I... indeed, karma is a wheel, and no one escapes the judgment of Heaven.
So that bite I took back then was waiting for me here.
Wen Heng stood unsteadily in front of me, his expression vacant, and let out a drunken hiccup.
I covered my nose; I had never felt such disgust for him as I did today.
What a sin! If I had known this would happen, why did I so carelessly put that cup of wine into his mouth? How could a dignified god's body not even be able to withstand a cup of wine?
It's just sharing a bathtub, right?
As a flower spirit who has cultivated for a thousand years, shouldn't I be unconcerned with trifles in order to achieve great things?
With a hint of reluctance, I called out to Wen Heng, "Time to take a shower!"
Under the dim light, Wen Heng, his eyes blurry with drunkenness, squinted at the wisps of steam rising from the wooden tub in front of him.
He obediently stretched out his arms as if it were second nature, letting me undress him...
I was so disgusted by the smell that I stripped him naked, completely naked.
Wen Heng, his naked body reeking of alcohol, stood before me, and I froze for a moment...
It has to be said that his well-defined muscles and extraordinary physique are incredibly alluring...
I gazed longingly for a moment, then suddenly felt a burning shyness on my cheeks.
Wen Heng, oblivious to the awkwardness of the distinction between men and women, calmly stepped onto the tub ladder and "plop" entered the steaming bathtub...
"Not bothered by details... not bothered by details."
I kept muttering to myself.
He doesn't understand anything, and his drunken and confused state shouldn't be a concern, so I tried to convince myself while undressing.
I intended to shower in my underwear, but the stench on my body forced me to cover myself completely naked in front of the bear.
He then cautiously stepped into the bathtub...
Wen Heng and I sat facing each other on opposite sides.
The bucket was steaming and filled with wisps of mist, obscuring the expression on Wen Heng's face as he bent over, playing with the water.
It's a pity we can't see each other clearly.
After being completely immersed in the tub, surrounded by warm water, a sense of security made me breathe a sigh of relief.
"Be a good girl and wash yourself," I instructed Wenheng, then closed my eyes and enjoyed the warmth of the bath.
He didn't respond to me.
All I could hear was him splashing around in the water, and I assumed he was obediently taking a bath.
But the splashing sound stopped after a while, and then there was no sound at all.
I wondered if he had gotten drunk and drowned. I was shocked to find Wen Heng staring intently at the two white mounds floating on the water below my collarbone.
Curious, I reached out my index finger and poked the pink cherry blossom on one of the white patches. The white patch bounced around in the water like a playful rabbit.
An uncontrollable tingling sensation suddenly spread throughout my body.
Wen Heng cried out in surprise, grabbing my snow-white breasts with both hands and shouting, "Bunny, don't run away!"
It felt like a thunderbolt struck my head...
Just as he was about to reach for my other "rabbit," I raised my hand and chopped him on the back of the neck, causing him to fall forward unconscious and slump onto my shoulder.
I pushed Wen Heng to the edge of the bathtub. Wen Heng leaned his body and head against the edge of the tub, his wet hair disheveled and hanging on his shoulders and cheeks.
Glistening water droplets dripped down his cheeks and slid down his skin... In the steamy heat, I felt a surge of panic, like my blood was boiling and my heart was pounding.
I hurriedly washed myself in the bathtub, then got up, changed my clothes, and held my pounding heart for a while to calm it down.
I heard Grandma Zhou knocking on the door outside, asking if I was done washing.
I reluctantly gave Wen Heng a quick wash of his upper body.
After struggling to pull him out of the bucket, I lost all interest in admiring him.
I hastily changed his clothes and tossed him onto the bed, but he fell fast asleep without a care in the world.
After tidying up the room, I collapsed onto the bed, completely exhausted.
I didn't want to look at Wen Heng again; I was afraid to even glance at him.
"I'm committing a crime? That's fucking weird," I muttered, clutching my chest. "I actually got harassed by this little rascal. Luckily... I managed to control myself."
Quickly start silently reciting a calming mantra...
As I was reading, I drifted off to sleep, my eyelids drooping.
Until midnight, I was awakened by sounds from the night sky outside.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
A loud noise woke me up.
I sat up in surprise, thinking something had happened outside, and hurriedly pushed open the window in front of the bed.
What came into view was a dazzling display of starlight, blooming one after another in the night sky.
The sky was filled with a profusion of flowers.
I once heard in a storybook that every year on New Year's Eve, after midnight, people would set off colorful fireworks and firecrackers in the night sky to welcome the new year. People called them "fireworks".
I never imagined it would be so beautiful; I was so mesmerized that I looked up at it, unable to tear myself away.
At this moment, Mr. and Mrs. Zhou were also sitting in the courtyard. Mrs. Zhou, with her full head of white hair, affectionately rested her head on Mr. Zhou's shoulder and they looked up at the magnificent night sky above.
I could faintly hear Old Mrs. Zhou whispering, "With Ahua here this year, Zhou Lang seems a little different. Our family hasn't been this lively in a long time."
"Hmm...yes...with Ah Hua by my side, I feel at peace. After we pass away, we won't have to worry about Zhou Lang's livelihood."
"If our Ah Niu were here too, that would be even better, Old Zhou, I miss our Ah Niu again..." Old Mrs. Zhou's voice choked up at the end.
Old Man Zhou raised his arm and put it around her shoulder, gently stroking her to comfort her. He looked up at the distant night sky and said, "Perhaps he has always been watching us from where we can't see him..."
Watching the elderly couple's silhouettes against the dazzling fireworks, I couldn't help but recall a popular saying: "To support each other through thick and thin, to hold hands and grow old together." That must be what describes their relationship.
But why does the name "Ah Niu" they're talking about sound so familiar? I started to think back to it.
I slapped my forehead: "Ah! Isn't that Zhou Aniu?"
He told me back then that he was reincarnated as a mentally challenged person here to become the village guardian and protect this land.
The Zhou couple took Wenheng in out of pity because he was mentally challenged, just like their deceased son.
How could I be so stupid?
Before he left, Mr. A Niu said, "Please take care of my parents," and then departed...
I was wondering why he didn't tell me his parents' names before rushing off with the Black and White Eunuchs as if he was in a hurry to be reincarnated.
How can I take care of them?
Those who are far away yet right before our eyes are only now belatedly realizing this.
I'm feeling down right now.
Wen Heng suddenly sat up with a start, gazing sleepily at the fireworks in the night sky. He smiled and said, "What beautiful flowers..." He then leaned his head on my shoulder, closed his eyes, and fell asleep again.
I turned my head and looked down at Wen Heng's clean, sleeping face on my shoulder, and a ripple stirred in my heart.
Wouldn't it be better if he always remained this well-behaved and adorable?
Why should we retrieve his soul and turn him back into the gentle god Wenheng? What if he's no longer lovable? Will I still be happy if the curse is lifted?
Compared to mortals who only live to be a hundred, what is there to complain about now that people can only live to be eight hundred?
Since divine punishment requires Wenheng and me to stay here, and we have been instructed by Mr. Aniu to take care of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Zhou will feel at ease and happy with me here.
The thought of whether or not to leave this place, which had been lingering in my mind, suddenly vanished...
I ran my fingers along Wen Heng's nose, then couldn't resist poking his fair face, a satisfied smile spreading across my lips.
Alright~ Since you all need me, I'll stay and not leave.
Besides... it's not that bad here.
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