On New Year's Eve, Xia Enruo was woken up early by the sound of firecrackers in the courtyard.
Liu Cuiyun's son got up early in the morning and hung a string of firecrackers at the door.
The red confetti scattered on the ground symbolizes the arrival of the New Year.
Gu Shaoxuan had just returned from his morning run, and as soon as he opened the door, he could feel the white steam rising from the room.
In previous years, he would spend New Year's Eve with Lu Zhenhua and the soldiers in the army, while Xia Enruo would spend the New Year at home by herself.
This year he took a special leave to stay home with his wife.
Xia Enruo had already made the dumplings and prepared all the ingredients needed for the dishes she would make on New Year's Eve yesterday. She started cooking early this morning.
The aroma of fried fish wafted from the kitchen.
After washing up, Gu Shaoxuan took out the couplets he had bought a few days ago and prepared to paste them on the door.
The original owner was too lazy. Gu Shaoxuan didn't come home, so she didn't buy any couplets or put them up. In the end, on the first day of the Lunar New Year, only their door was blank.
Today, Xia Enruo not only bought couplets and the character "福" (fortune), but also specially bought two lanterns. She also bought a set for the shop, planning to take Gu Shaoxuan to the shop to put up the couplets and hang the lanterns before noon.
"Shaoxuan, remember to wear a hat when you go out to put up couplets, or you'll catch a cold."
Xia Enruo saw that he was only wearing a white shirt and gave him some instructions.
"Okay, it's too hot at home, I'll put it on when I go out."
In the past, during winter, Gu Shaoxuan would have to light a fire in the stove when he got home, while the original owner would stay in bed all day and wouldn't even get off the floor.
It's so cold at home that a thin layer of ice can form in the water tank in the kitchen overnight.
This year is completely different from last year. Xia Enruo has made sure the stove fire is burning brightly, and in the autumn, Gu Shaoxuan even hired a bricklayer to replace the roof tiles and add an insulation layer.
The house was so warm, it felt like a house with underfloor heating from a past life; you could wear shorts inside.
"Do you need my help? You're not very good at it by yourself, are you?"
Xia Enru came out of the kitchen and placed the prepared paste on the round table.
"No need, I can manage on my own. It's too cold outside, you can just wait at home."
"Here's what we'll do: you go out and put up the couplets, and I'll stay inside and put up the paper-cut window decorations. Dinner's ready. Let's finish quickly, we still need to go to the shop to hang the lanterns."
"Okay, as long as you don't leave the house. Don't be fooled by the sunny weather today, the temperature is really low, the kind of dry cold."
"Okay, I won't go out."
Gu Shaoxuan took the couplets and glue and went out the door.
Ge Qiuqin stood alone at the door, holding a broom and tiptoeing. The couplets on the door were still pasted crookedly, but unfortunately, she was not tall enough.
"Sister-in-law Qiuqin, why are you putting up the couplets by yourself? Where is Brother Zhang Xin?"
"Zhang Xin said he caught a cold and couldn't get cold, but he could put up the couplets himself."
Xia Enruo overheard their conversation from under the window inside the house. She knocked on the window, signaling Gu Shaoxuan to come and help her.
Zhang Xin lay in the room with a book. He didn't have a cold at all; he was just too lazy to move.
Now he's looking forward to going to the military base to participate in the Spring Festival Gala tomorrow, the first day of the Lunar New Year, so he won't have to go home and can go wherever he wants.
He couldn't be bothered with anything at home.
He had already arranged with Chen Yan to spend the second day of the Lunar New Year at their rented apartment. Chen Yan had told him before the New Year that she had bought a particularly sexy thermal top, the kind that shows through black gauze, and was waiting to wear it for him to see during the New Year.
"Chief of Staff Gu, thank you so much. I'm so grateful that you put down what you were doing to help my family."
"Sister-in-law, you're too kind. You've helped Enruo so much, and I haven't even had a chance to thank you. If there's anything I can do to help with during the New Year, just let me know."
"No problem. By the way, did Xia know that we need to inform them to bring their military dependents to the Spring Festival celebration tomorrow?"
"I know, I've already told her, I'll tell her again later."
After Xia Enruo finished pasting the paper-cut window decorations, she started making dumplings. Then she plated the prepared braised beef and freshly fried ribbonfish and put them on the table. She also made a seaweed and vermicelli salad.
After Gu Shaoxuan finished putting up the couplets, he went inside. Breakfast had already been prepared.
"Hurry up and wash your hands and eat. After we finish eating, we still have to go to the store. We must finish putting up the Spring Festival couplets before 12 o'clock."
Gu Shaoxuan thought his wife was quite particular, doing everything according to a set time.
However, she is knowledgeable and intelligent, so what she said is probably true.
"Enruo, the regiment is having all military dependents go to the troops to participate in the party tomorrow, you haven't forgotten, have you!"
Xia Enruo was struggling with this matter. She didn't really want to participate. It was the New Year, and she really wanted to stay home and rest and rejuvenate.
It's so much more pleasant to do a beauty treatment at home, drink tea, and eat some melon seeds and candy. Not only are there many people in the army, but you also have to run into weirdos like Jiang Pei. I really can't be bothered to deal with them.
However, Gu Shaoxuan was, after all, a regimental leader, and if he didn't go, it would seem that the military family members did not support the work of the troops. He was really in a dilemma.
"Do I really have to go? I'm actually not too keen on going. Does it mean I'll have to prepare a performance again?"
Xia Enruo didn't want to stand out anymore. She had already made some people hate her to the core last time, and she knew the saying that the bigger the tree, the more the wind would blow against it.
"If I go to a military spouse's place, I'll definitely have to perform two acts, but they'll all be impromptu. It's just for fun, and no one will say anything since I'm not a professional actor."
Honey, are you feeling unwell? Going to the military base would be nice and have some fun!
"I know it's lively there, but do we really have to go?"
"Yes, not going would discourage the soldiers. Many of us officers got married in Yongning City or moved our families here, so we can go home at least once a week."
For ordinary soldiers in the army, some haven't been home for three to five years since they joined. They might even have forgotten the taste of their mother's cooking. New recruits are also spending their first Chinese New Year in the army, so they must miss home.
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