The whole roast goose, golden and glistening with oil, stands tall and proud, symbolizing "prosperity for the family."
A plump carp lies among emerald green scallions, symbolizing "abundance year after year";
The round meatballs are piled up like a small mountain, symbolizing "reunion"; fresh green vegetables are scattered among them, and there are also various exquisite dessert platters, like blooming flowers.
The servants moved about busily, constantly bringing out steaming hot new dishes to the table.
My maternal grandfather sat in the main seat, wearing a brand-new ochre brocade robe with floral patterns. He was in good spirits and had a ruddy complexion.
Xin's father and Qi Feng sat on either side of him. After a few cups of warm wine, the fatigue from the long journey had long since disappeared. They were chatting in low voices about the trade and people-to-people relations between Yingzhou and Yuncheng, and the atmosphere was harmonious.
Chen Ping sat to the left of Xin's father, smiling as she looked at Xin Xiyao and Qi Huaihe with loving eyes.
Xin Yunzhou sat next to Qi Huaihe, excitedly telling Qi Xinghui and several other younger members of the Qi family about interesting things that happened in the military camp, eliciting gasps and laughter from them.
Xin Jiuwei sat beside Xin Xiyao, quietly savoring a light soup in front of her. Occasionally, she would glance up at the lively scene at the table. Her calm eyes appeared much softer in the warm yellow candlelight.
"Let the feast begin!" My grandfather announced in a strong voice, as if sounding a joyful horn.
The atmosphere at the gathering immediately became lively. Xin Yunzhou, as the "protagonist" who had just returned from the military camp, once again became the center of attention. He raised his glass and toasted his maternal grandfather, his father, Qi Feng, and other elders with great enthusiasm, thanking the Qi family for taking care of his elder sister and younger sister. His words displayed both the straightforwardness of youth and a sense of responsibility. His maternal grandfather chuckled and repeatedly said "good," while Xin's father looked at his son with undisguised pride in his eyes.
"Yunzhou, are you getting used to life in the military camp? Are you able to handle it?" Qi Feng asked with concern.
"Don't worry, Uncle!" Xin Yunzhou patted his chest, his voice booming, "I'm eating well and sleeping soundly! The training is a bit tough, but we can handle it! You don't know, our captain said that with my physique, I'm born to be a soldier!" He gestured exaggeratedly, which drew another round of laughter from everyone.
Xin Xiyao carefully served food to her father and brother, watching them chat and laugh, listening to the joyful sounds filling the room. She felt an unprecedented, profound sense of happiness fill her heart. This was the reunion she had longed for for so long! Her father was by her side, her brother had returned safely, her sister was well, and… She secretly glanced at Qi Huaihe, who was whispering something to her father beside her. Her heart felt as if it had been gently brushed by a feather, sweet and tender. Qi Huaihe seemed to sense her gaze, turning his head to meet her shy, bashful eyes. A gentle smile curved his lips, and he gently squeezed her hand under the table. Xin Xiyao's cheeks instantly flushed red. She quickly lowered her head, picking up a piece of food with her chopsticks as if to hide her embarrassment, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curve upwards.
Xin Jiuwei took in her sister's subtle actions and felt happy for her. She picked up the sweet rice wine in front of her and sipped it. The warm liquid, with its faint osmanthus fragrance, slid down her throat, bringing a sense of comfort. Looking at her father and brother's joyful faces, and feeling the genuine warmth of the Qi family, a long-lost sense of peace called "home" enveloped her like a warm spring. She even temporarily set aside her vigilance against the venomous snake in the capital, immersing herself in this rare and pure warmth.
Staying up late on New Year's Eve is the highlight of the festival. After a hearty meal, everyone moved to the spacious and warm flower hall, carpeted with thick Persian rugs. The charcoal in the huge copper brazier was burning brightly, crackling softly and warming the entire room. The servants had already prepared various dried fruits and candied fruits, melon seeds and peanuts, as well as piping hot almond tea and ginger syrup.
Xin Yunzhou, full of energy, pulled Qi Xinghui and several other Qi family members of similar age to a corner of the warm pavilion and set up a large chessboard. They began playing a simple yet fiercely competitive game of marching chess, a style they had learned in the military. The atmosphere was lively and noisy. Qi Feng and Xin's father, meanwhile, accompanied their maternal grandfather, sipping fine cloud-mist tea and chatting about interesting anecdotes from the past and present, occasionally letting out knowing laughter. Shen Ping and several other women sat together, whispering intimately while their hands busily sewed red bibs for their unborn child.
Xin Jiuwei, unusually, also let go of her aloofness and, pulled by Xin Xiyao, joined Qi Xinghui and several other young girls in playing games like "hiding hooks" and "solving the nine-linked rings." Although she wasn't as boisterous and playful as the others, a faint, relaxed smile always played on her lips. Occasionally, she would offer some pointers to Qi Xinghui, who was stumped, drawing admiring glances from the latter.
As midnight approached, the atmosphere of staying up all night to welcome the New Year reached its peak. Suddenly, someone shouted, "Fireworks!"
The crowd surged toward the open pavilion overlooking the lake. Thick cotton curtains hung on three sides of the pavilion to block the cold wind, but now only the side facing the pavilion in the middle of the lake was open. Servants had already prepared all sorts of fireworks in the spacious courtyard.
Xin Yunzhou volunteered, grabbed the tinderbox, and was the first to rush out. He quickly lit the fuse and then ran back to the open veranda.
"Whoosh—Bang!"
The first firework, trailing a long, luminous tail, roared into the dark blue night sky and exploded with a deafening roar at its highest point! Instantly, a huge, radiant golden chrysanthemum bloomed brilliantly in the night! Its radiance illuminated the faces below, filled with amazement and joy as they looked up.
Then, a second, a third… fireworks of all colors shot into the sky, vying for attention and displaying their brilliance. Silver snakes danced wildly, golden rain poured down, fiery trees and silver flowers bloomed, colorful butterflies fluttered… The dazzling light splashed the most dreamlike colors across the deep night sky, rising and falling in waves, endlessly. The deafening explosions, the excited screams and cheers of children, and the exclamations of admiration from adults intertwined, creating a New Year's Eve symphony full of the warmth and joy of everyday life.
Xin Jiuwei leaned against a pillar, gazing up at the dazzling light that bloomed and vanished in an instant. A cool night breeze brushed against her warm cheeks, bringing a touch of clarity. Amidst the extreme hustle and bustle and visual feast, her thoughts seemed to be pulled back to distant Yingzhou by that fleeting brilliance.
She remembered that cold, rainy night at the Yingzhou villa… The rain pounded on the green tiles, the chill seemingly seeping into her very bones. In the flickering candlelight, the man's handsome yet obsessive face, his burning breath, his possessiveness fueled by despair and madness… And then there was that chaotic morning, the aches in her private parts, the lingering ambiguous atmosphere in the air, and the cold, farewell letter clutched tightly in her palm as she fled… Those chaotic, humiliating, struggling, and resolute images exploded in her mind like fireworks, bringing a sharp, hidden sting.
She instinctively gripped the railing, her knuckles turning slightly white. The fireworks before her were still dazzling, but reflected in her clear, cool eyes, they seemed veiled by a layer of hazy mist.
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