As the 2020 New Year approaches, colorful lanterns are hung on both sides of the city’s main roads.
After winter training ended early, Yang Xiao had an extra week off. She planned to discuss with Zhou Qi about returning to Luzhen for the Lunar New Year. Zhou Qi told her that Uncle Zhou had already moved to the city and wanted to spend the Lunar New Year away from home. Yang Xiao was overjoyed; she had never spent Lunar New Year in the city before.
"Will it be very expensive, Zhou Qi?" Yang Xiao was a little worried. Accommodation in the city during the New Year must be very expensive.
"Don't worry, we're here. Collect the things you need, and I'll pick you up at the school gate later."
When Zhou Qi and Zhou Daye arrived at the school gate, Yang Xiao had already been waiting there for a while. Zhou Qi saw her, wrapped up thickly, standing at the gate looking around. He immediately turned the car around, approached her, lowered the passenger window, called out "Yang Xiao" again, and got out to help her put her luggage.
"Zhou Qi? Where did this car come from? So you can drive?" Yang Xiao was a little curious. Before Zhou Qi could explain, Zhou Daye got out of the passenger seat and called out "Waiter" with a smile. "Uncle Zhou!" Yang Xiao saw Zhou Daye walking towards her and couldn't help but add, "I miss Uncle Zhou so much."
Yang Xiao rarely said such cheesy things, but this was exactly what she wanted to say in this situation. Zhou Daye laughed and pulled her and the other girl to the back seat. When the driver, Mr. Zhou, put Yang Xiao's luggage in the trunk, neatly sorted it out, dusted off his hands, and returned to the driver's seat, he realized they had both gone to the back.
"Where are you two going? Master Zhou's starting price is not cheap." Zhou Qi glanced at the rearview mirror and joked.
"Uncle Zhou, Zhou Qi can actually drive? Where did this car come from?" Yang Xiao, still a stickler for answers, turned to Zhou Daye and asked him the question Zhou Qi hadn't answered just now. "Okay, let's talk about it on the way. We can't stop for too long. Dad, Yang Xiao gets carsick, let her sit in the front." Zhou Daye nodded. "Yes, waiter...sit...in the front."
When did Zhou Qi become carsick? Yang Xiao jumped into the passenger seat, full of questions, then looked at Zhou Qi and fastened her seatbelt in the same way. Zhou Qi knew what the girl in the passenger seat was thinking, so he spoke up. "My dad told me you'd get carsick just now. I learned how to drive after the college entrance exam, and I've even worked part-time as a delivery driver for Senior Brother Fang Qiu. I won't get you into trouble, and this car is a rental."
"Haha, I didn't say I didn't believe in your driving skills." After saying that, Yang Xiao started picking her nails guiltily, and then changed the subject: "Where are we going now?" Zhou Qi snorted and replied, "To the ditch." Zhou Daye in the back seat was so happy when he heard it. Why didn't he notice that they would bicker before?
Zhou Qi's driving was indeed very steady, and the road conditions in the city were good, so Yang Xiao felt drowsy all the way. When she felt the car stop, she asked drowsily, "Are we there yet?" Zhou Qi nodded, got out, and helped Zhou Daye open the door. Yang Xiao patted her face, unbuckled her seatbelt, and only after getting out did she realize she was in a courtyard.
A bougainvillea plant sat lazily against the wall in the yard, its branches spreading far into the distance. A swing was tied to its base, swaying gently in the breeze. Further in, there was a living room and a bedroom on either side. Yang Xiao found it quite novel: in the city, there was a place as quiet as Lu Town.
"Is this where we live?" Yang Xiao followed Zhou Qi and Zhou Daye and spoke.
"Well, we'll live here this week." Zhou Qi led Zhou Daye into the bedroom, pointed to the room opposite and said, "You live in the room opposite." Yang Xiao nodded and pushed open the door of her bedroom. It was exceptionally clean and bright inside.
The window opened to the side, and the bed was placed against the wall. There was also a bookcase and desk, next to a gray fabric sofa. It was the first time Yang Xiao had seen such a simple yet chic room. The thought of staying in this beautiful house for a week filled her with excitement.
Zhou Daye said he was tired from the journey and wanted to rest in the bedroom. Zhou Qi quietly closed the door and came out to see Yang Xiao sitting on the swing in the yard, swinging back and forth. The wind was not strong in the yard, but she managed to stir up a small breeze. The strands of hair on her forehead occasionally flew up, and her ponytail seemed to be stained by her high spirits, swaying happily with the rhythm.
"Zhou Qi, this house is really nice." Seeing him come out, Yang Xiao stomped her foot on the ground, stopping herself from swaying. "Well, this is owned by a friend of Brother Fang Qiu. They're a short-term rental for vacationers." Zhou Qi looked into her eyes, which were bright with joy, from a distance.
"You continue playing, I'll go move the luggage." Zhou Qi walked towards the door with the car keys. Yang Xiao immediately jumped off the swing and trotted to catch up with him: "I'll help you."
As soon as Zhou Qi opened the packed trunk, several potatoes tumbled out. He quickly picked them up and told Yang Xiao to carry the lighter vegetables while he took care of the rest. Yang Xiao said yes, but in reality, she hung bag after bag on her arm and headed back to the house. This was the important thing. Zhou Qi really underestimated himself.
When Yang Quezi was suffering from rheumatism and had difficulty moving, she would carry the rice and oil home by herself. Once, she bought a large bag of rice on a cheap price, but on the way home, she couldn't carry it anymore, so she simply put it on the ground and dragged it along. She didn't realize when a sharp stone had torn the bag, and only discovered the rice scattered on the road when she was almost home.
Although Yang Quezi felt bad about the food, he didn't blame her. He and her each took a small wooden shovel and shoveled the rice that had been spilled on the way back to feed the chickens and geese. From that time on, Yang Xiao knew what it meant to do things within one's ability.
After the trunk was completely empty, Yang Xiao shook her aching hands and followed Zhou Qi into the kitchen. "Let's make something delicious tonight. I'll help." Zhou Qi took down the apron hanging on the side of the cupboard and, without refusing, instructed her to peel the potatoes. "Let's make spicy and sour potato shreds, pickled fish, and cabbage soup."
Yang Xiao knew she was still a little short of the right heat for a hard dish, so after peeling the skins, she helped Zhou Qi chop the vegetables. Her knife skills were excellent, and with a few slicings, the potato shreds were long and neat. For a moment, the only sounds in the kitchen were the sounds of frying, stir-frying, and boiling, and the aroma of pickled fish filled the room.
She turned her head to glance at Zhou Qi. He was wearing an apron, spatula in hand, occasionally turning the fish in the pot. The lid was left on, steam swirling around the kitchen, blurring his presence. Yang Xiao's heartbeat quickened, a smile spreading across her lips. She felt completely happy at that moment.
After the meal was ready, Yang Xiao went to the bedroom to call Zhou Daye. Before she could even knock, Zhou Daye opened the door and said, "Eat...eat, huh? I smell delicious." Yang Xiao chuckled and said, "Uncle Zhou, you have a good nose." Then, she raised her hand to straighten Zhou Daye's collar, which was curled around his neck.
Zhou Qi poured himself a bowl of steaming white rice and placed freshly cooked dishes on the table, preparing to eat. Yang Xiao placed a fish fillet in Zhou Daye's bowl: "Uncle Zhou, may you have more than enough every year, and win every round of chess." Then she placed another piece in Zhou Qi's bowl: "Zhou Qi, may you have more than enough every year, and have a leisurely day at work." Finally, she placed a piece for herself: "Yang Xiao, may you have more than enough every year, and your grades will be excellent." After saying this, she took a big mouthful of rice.
Zhou Dashe and Zhou Qi were so amused that they laughed while holding their rice, telling her to eat slowly and be careful of fish bones. Just as Yang Xiao was about to add a second bowl of rice, Zhou Dashe waved them off and told them to continue eating, going out for a walk to digest his food. So, after two dishes and a soup, most of the food was left over. Yang Xiao, who never liked to leave any food, insisted on eating until she was completely stuffed before putting down her chopsticks.
"Zhou Qi, your pickled fish is really delicious." Just as she finished speaking, a burst of firecrackers rang out, a crackling noise that seemed particularly loud in the quiet evening. "It's good. Let's take a break and go to the bridge to watch the fireworks." Zhou Qi saw that the corners of her mouth were stained with chili peel from eating so much, so he handed her a tissue.
"Okay!" Yang Xiao took the tissue somewhat embarrassedly and wiped her mouth carefully again.
By the time they packed up and drove to the riverside bridge, there wasn't even enough space for a person to stand. Even the stone piers beside the bridge had children growing out of them. Zhou Qi checked the time and turned back up the mountain. At night, one or two flying insects hit the windshield, making a thud. The car was warm and quiet.
Zhou Dashe and Yang Xiao stared silently out the window. The asphalt road, illuminated by the headlights, reflected the yellow anti-collision markings at the corner. Zhou Qi turned on the car stereo, and music slowly streamed into their ears.
It was Westlife's "Written in the Stars." It was the first time Yang Xiao had ever heard such a song. She watched the subtitles scroll across the front screen and silently memorized the name. Just as the car reached the halfway point of the mountain, a firework quickly rose and exploded above their heads. Then, clusters of fireworks shot up into the sky, scattering in all directions, leaving behind a trail of dark shadows.
Yang Xiao felt like they were chasing fireworks. The sound of fireworks whirred by and the crowd cheered, but the car kept moving forward. She couldn't help but search for the source of the sound, leaning against the car window to peer. The dense trees blocked her view, but the gaps between the branches allowed her to glimpse a glimpse of the fireworks' brilliance.
Finally reached the top of the mountain.
She jumped out of the car impatiently and gazed up at the sky. Now, not a single tree or leaf obscured her view. Below her were the sleepless lights of the city, and above her were dazzling fireworks, towering over the mountaintops, streaking across the sky like falling meteors before disappearing from view. Yang Xiao jumped up excitedly. She had never experienced such a beautiful and memorable New Year. Something in her mind made her turn and look at Zhou Qi.
He looked up at the sky, his clear eyes like a mirror, reflecting the colorful fireworks, his expression relaxed. The sound of another cluster of fireworks rose in his ears, but Yang Xiao seemed to have walked into a silent world at this moment, staring at Zhou Qi's face lit up by the fireworks, lost in thought.
Until Zhou Qi turned around and said to her: "Yang Xiao, Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year, Zhou Qi."
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