"Uncle, Happy New Year."
The door opened, and Yan Nian carried large bags of New Year's goods. Having shed his suit, he wore a simple, clean hoodie, exuding a youthful charm. It was a hoodie that Qin Yi had bought for him when she and Meng Wan went shopping, thinking it suited him.
Although it wasn't a big brand, Yan Nian was still stunned when she received it, and stroked it for a long time.
"You're here! Happy New Year!" Meng Boqun patted him on the shoulder.
He was wearing the new clothes Meng Wan had bought for him, and he had even dyed his hair. His complexion was rosy, and he looked much younger, completely unlike the颓废 and vicissitudes he had been six months ago.
"Why are you carrying so many bags? Aren't they heavy?" Meng Boqun took some of the gift bags from her.
"It's not heavy, just some small trinkets and some paints from Yaoyao. Where's Aunt Qin?" Yan Nian changed into her slippers.
"Your Aunt Qin is making your favorite food in the kitchen. Wanwan and Yaoyao went downstairs to buy soy sauce."
"Boqun, help me wash this vegetable." Qin Yi's voice came from the kitchen.
“Yan Nian has arrived,” Meng Boqun called out.
The next second, Qin Yi popped her head out of the kitchen.
"Yan Nian is here! Sit down for a while, dinner will be ready soon."
"Auntie, let me help." Yan Nian rolled up his sleeves and was about to go into the kitchen.
"What can a child do? Let your uncle do it."
"Mom, Yan Nian is a really good cook, let him show off his skills." Meng Wan returned at some point, holding soy sauce in one hand and Meng Zhiyao's hand in the other.
She was wearing the red sweatshirt Qin Yi had bought for her.
She handed the soy sauce to Yan Nian and pushed him into the kitchen.
"This child." Qin Yi looked at Yan Nian, but was actually referring to Meng Wan.
Yan Nian didn't say anything, but smiled and put on the apron from the wall. Meng Wan skillfully took the rope and tied a knot for him, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
The two elders watched their actions. Qin Yi was filled with relief, while Meng Boqun's emotions were more complicated, looking both relieved and conflicted.
"Dad, let me play chess with you." After tying up the child, Meng Wan turned to look at Meng Boqun.
"Good, good!" Meng Boqun's eyes lit up immediately.
"First, call and ask when Zhiyuan and the others will be back, and whether Zhili has picked up Aunt Liu yet?"
Qin Yi held a spoon in her hand, looking even busier than when she was in the restaurant.
Outside, a layer of snow covered the ground, but inside, the atmosphere was lively. Almost everyone was there except for Meng Zhilian.
"Let's eat." Meng Boqun brought out the last soup, and Meng Zhiyuan followed behind, arranging the bowls and chopsticks neatly.
At some point, Qin Yi and Yan Nian had left the kitchen, the main battlefield. One was chatting happily with Aunt Liu, while the other sat obediently next to Meng Wan, letting Meng Wan play with the two straps on the front of his hoodie.
A group of people gathered together. The environment was no longer as crowded as before. Aunt Liu looked a little awkward, but after a round of eating, she relaxed a lot.
The television was showing footage of the host interviewing backstage, and the camera quickly panned across the screen, but it caught a glimpse of Meng Zhilian sitting in front of the makeup mirror putting on makeup.
"Brother!" Meng Zhiyao pointed, and the adults laughed. Meng Wan rubbed his head, and Yan Nian took the opportunity to put a chicken leg on their plates.
After dinner, the two told Meng Boqun and the others that they planned to go to the clinic to find Chen Xiong.
Knowing the relationship between the two and Chen Xiong, Meng Zhili did not choose to go with them, but instead said that he would bring gifts to visit his master the next day.
"Hey, Yan Nian, Wan Wan, you two wait a minute." Qin Yi called out to them as they were about to leave.
Releasing their grip on the doorknob, the two stood obediently in place, watching Qin Yi hurriedly run back into her room and then hurriedly run out again.
"What's wrong, Mom?" Seeing her in such a hurry, Meng Wan wondered what had happened.
"Here you go, this is your New Year's money. I was going to give it to you tonight, but I was worried you'd be back late, so I'm giving it to you now." Qin Yi placed the red envelopes in their hands, one for each of them.
"Thank you, Mom." Meng Wan accepted the gift without hesitation, a smile on her face.
Yan Nian, on the other hand, was holding the red envelope, unsure of what to do.
"Why are you stunned?" Qin Yi looked at Meng Wan, who then looked at Yan Nian and tugged at his sleeve.
"I just didn't expect to have one too, thank you, Auntie." Yan Nian's expression was a little unnatural.
In a daze, it seemed as if I had returned to my childhood, when my parents would give us a red envelope after every family reunion dinner.
As children, they didn't have much of a concept of money; its only meaning was that it was given to them by their parents.
"What are you talking about? Aren't you a child?" Qin Yi patted his arm, speaking as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“That’s right, what child doesn’t receive New Year’s money?” Meng Boqun finished washing the dishes and came over as well.
"Having received your New Year's money, may the new year bring you peace, prosperity, and happiness." Qin Yi smiled gently, her words filled with blessings for her two children.
Yan Nian stroked the red envelope, smiling as he thanked the Meng couple. Only Meng Wan looked at his hand and glanced at him sideways.
She knew everything he was thinking.
When winter comes, it gets dark early. By the time we arrived at the restaurant, it was already incredibly dark outside.
Red lanterns hung in the alley, and then a few children ran out, holding sparklers.
“We used to play like this when we were kids,” Yan Nian said, as she caught a boy who almost fell.
The child thanked them, responded when he heard his friend calling his name, and hurriedly ran over, disappearing into the alley with his friend.
"At that time, the whole alley was filled with the sound of people calling their children home for dinner. Uncle Yan shouted until his voice was hoarse, but we didn't hear him. Aunt Jiang even said that Uncle Yan was playing hide-and-seek with us and had been hiding for an hour."
Yan Nian smiled and placed Meng Wan's hand inside his coat.
"Yes, in the end the three of us just stood in the yard and Dad lectured us for a full half hour. It was only when Mom threw a tantrum that it ended."
Meng Wan nodded. "You almost led me astray."
Yan Nian touched his nose guiltily, a smile playing on his lips.
At that time, he didn't know the way and almost got led astray by Meng Wan. In the end, it was Meng Wan, who was visiting for the first time, who led him back to the clinic.
Even so, Jiang Yu laughed at him for ten years, mentioning it every year when she came here for the Spring Festival.
The gate was wide open; it seemed to have been left open specifically for them.
"Happy New Year, Grandpa!"
"Brother Yan Nian, Sister Wan Wan," Chen Liu greeted them.
The two went inside, where Chen Xiong was busy in the courtyard, directing Chen Liu to carry the table into the inner room.
Upon seeing the two arrive, he disregarded the table and walked over, leaning on his cane.
It was at this time that they clearly realized that while they were growing up, others were also slowly growing old.
"Coming! Come in quickly, the food will be delivered soon."
In previous years, Yan's father would cook, but since the Yan family's misfortune, the so-called New Year's Eve dinner has been nothing more than dishes delivered from the best hotels.
"Okay, these are pastries my mom specially made for you this afternoon."
Meng Wan handed the pastries to Chen Xiong, while Yan Nian stepped forward to help Chen Liu lift the table.
Chen Xiong's eyes reddened, and his hand trembled slightly as he accepted the gift. In previous years, Jiang Yu would specially buy it for him, but now...
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