After a busy ten days or so, the old town has started to be brightly lit every night. On New Year's Eve, it even snowed lightly, but it did not affect the liveliness of the old town at all. As night fell, the snow temporarily stopped, and dazzling fireworks occasionally burst open in the white sky.
The five little ones, dressed in matching red outfits symbolizing good fortune, stood in the yard, looking up at the dazzling fireworks, their little faces full of joy.
Qin Nan pulled Bai Hao to help in the kitchen to prepare the New Year's Eve dinner. They wouldn't be sleeping tonight, as Qin Nan still had to make dumplings and burn paper money as offerings at midnight.
While Qin Nan was cooking the fish, she suddenly realized that she hadn't checked her loan repayments in a long time. The last time she checked was in early December, and it seemed that she hadn't made any repayments this month either.
Based on the salary Bai Hao gave him, there shouldn't be any problem. Qin Nan thought about checking his phone, and then he found that he had no outstanding payments. Then he checked the payment records and found that he had paid off all his debts in one go.
Qin Nan was stunned for a moment, then looked up at Bai Hao, who was sitting on the living room sofa eating sunflower seeds and watching TV. After a long standoff, he couldn't help but walk out of the kitchen. Bai Hao suddenly turned to look at him, his eyes flashing with a fierce light.
Qin Nan silently withdrew his foot, turned around and went back to the kitchen. He didn't want to go to bed tonight, nor did he want to sleep until the sun was high in the sky tomorrow.
After preparing the New Year's Eve dinner, Qin Nan packed a separate portion and instructed Chi Wei to deliver it to the old village chief. Li Cheng had family, so they could visit him another day. The old village chief was alone at home this year; his grandson seemed to have had some trouble and was hospitalized, so no one could come back.
Qin Nan still knows some people in the old town, but that was a long time ago. After growing up, they lost contact and became estranged. With no elders left in the family, there was no more interaction.
Qin Nan gave some fried food to the kids while waiting for Chi Wei to return.
When my grandfather was alive, he would make fried meat strips, fried meatballs, fried mushrooms, fried sweet potatoes, fried tofu, and other things every Chinese New Year. They could be kept as snacks or added to dishes.
Not long after, Chi Wei returned, ran into the house with a sullen face, and went straight to Bai Hao. Bai Hao already knew, so he didn't react much, but raised his hand to rub Chi Wei's little head.
Bai Hao: "It's alright. Anyone who dares to come empty-handed will be thrown out."
As soon as Bai Hao said that, Qin Nan and the other kids understood that someone was coming to freeload during the New Year.
Chi Wei returned happily, ready to enjoy a delicious meal, but then someone came and tried to steal his food, which made him unhappy.
Qin Nan, holding a piece of fried tofu, walked to the front yard to see who had come. Sure enough, he saw Murong Xue greeting him, and Lü Zeqi also happily running over with bags and packages. Zhou Miao called out, and Lü Zeqi made a sharp turn and ran back.
Qin Nan silently chewed on the dried tofu. They were old acquaintances, so Qin Nan didn't stand on ceremony. Just as she was about to help move things, Pi Sheng drove up, and there were two more bodyguards standing guard at the door, one on the left and one on the right.
Pi Sheng got out of the car, and Murong Xue walked past him with gritted teeth, her high-heeled boots stomping on his feet without any politeness, before turning her head and carrying her things into the backyard.
Caught off guard, Pi Sheng jumped up and down a couple of times, his face darkening slightly, but he didn't utter a sound.
Qin Nan, as a bystander, was completely bewildered and finished eating the fried tofu in her hand.
A man got out of the passenger seat of Pi Sheng's car. He was about the same age as Pi Sheng, with neat short hair, wearing a long coat and a scarf. He had delicate features and looked very easygoing.
Qin Nan: "And who is this?"
Before Pi Sheng could speak, the newcomer stepped forward, took Qin Nan's hand, and shook it: "Hello, hello. I've heard Pi Sheng mention you before. You must be Qin Nan. My name is Qi Jingtai, Jing as in landscape and Tai as in Mount Tai. I'm Hao Ge's friend and Pi Sheng's childhood friend."
Pi Sheng acted as if he didn't want to know him, dragged Qi Jingtai to the trunk to get his things, greeted Zhou Miao and Lü Zeqi, and seemed to know them before.
Qin Nan realized that she couldn't get involved. After Murong Xue brought some snacks into the backyard, the kids were very happy. Chi Wei initially only saw Lü Zeqi and Zhou Miao, but not Murong Xue. If he had known, he wouldn't have been sad.
So the little ones eagerly came out to move things. When they saw Qi Jingtai, they were all taken aback and greeted him in unison as "Hello, brother."
Qin Nan was somewhat surprised. Judging from the cubs' reaction, Qi Jingtai was most likely a divine beast, otherwise the cubs wouldn't be so obedient.
Just as everyone was about to enter, the sound of a motorcycle came from the doorway. A black motorcycle stopped at the entrance. Qin Fang took off his helmet and waved to Qin Nan and the others. Several large bags were hanging on both sides of the motorcycle seat.
Just as Qin Nan was about to step forward to help, Qi Jingtai was the first to go over. Pi Sheng patted Lü Zeqi, signaling him to take Zhou Miao inside first, and then went forward to drag the enthusiastic "sticky" in front of Qin Nan into the house.
Qin Nan smiled helplessly and walked over to help Qin Fang take his things. After he parked the car, the two of them carried the things inside.
The children ate their meals while looking at the mountain of gifts they had received as gifts. They blinked at Qin Nan, who glanced at Bai Hao. Bai Hao indicated that he didn't care, so Qin Nan nodded but told them not to eat too much after finishing their meals.
Pi Sheng got a headache from Qi Jingtai's nagging, so he got up and switched places with Qi Jingtai so that he could sit next to Qin Fang and have some peace and quiet. At least Zhou Miao on the other side was a relatively quiet person.
Qin Nan was quite puzzled as to why they had come. After all, it was New Year's Eve, a time when families should be reunited. Why were they allowed to come out and play? So she whispered to Murong Xue beside her.
Upon hearing this, Murong Xue happily explained to Qin Nan, "Brother Qin, do you know? From childhood to adulthood, every year during the Spring Festival and holidays, my dad forces me to visit relatives and make friends. It's so annoying."
Every time I didn't want to go, my dad would cry, saying that there would be no one to inherit the family business and that the family fortune was declining. Then I would tell my dad that my mom and I could try to have another child, maybe a younger brother who could inherit the family business. My dad would get angry and beat me up, but he would still drag me to the social events. Winter vacation and Chinese New Year were much more tiring for me than school.
Qin Nan: "Then why were you let out this time?"
Murong Xue spoke with great enthusiasm: "Because of Xiao Yuan and the others! You have no idea how well those three clever little devils have charmed my parents. Last time Xiao Wei and Xiao Yuan came to my house, they were overjoyed. This time when they came, I was practically invisible."
Moreover, after Xiaoyuan came to my house, the few business deals that had been giving my dad a headache went particularly smoothly, and my dad even took out his wine that he had treasured for twenty years and drank quite a bit of it.
My mom is even more amazing. She used to be a seamstress when she was young, but I haven't seen her make clothes since I started junior high school. Didn't you ask me where Xiaoyuan and Xiaoyu bought their new clothes? My mom made them!
I want my mom to make one for me, even crying my eyes out won't help! And Xiaoxue, my mom just tore apart one of my dresses and made a skirt for me. I didn't dare say a word. I brought them back without telling my parents, taking advantage of their absence to quickly bring them back to you.”
Qin Nan couldn't help but laugh: "Won't you get scolded when you get back?"
Murong Xue: "I got scolded! Absolutely beating me up!"
Qin Nan: "So, they shouldn't be letting you out, right?"
Before Murong Xue could answer, Pi Sheng suddenly interjected, "Because of me."
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