Despite the shortage of supplies this year, it couldn't dampen people's enthusiasm for celebrating the Lunar New Year.
This traditional festival is something that no Chinese person will overlook. It's also a day when the whole family looks forward to reuniting.
Gu Qishen accepted the He family's offer and celebrated the New Year with his son and the He family. Little Gu Huayang was the happiest; he was noticeably more lively than before.
Gu Qishen was very happy to see the changes in his son. Sending his son to the He family was definitely the right decision.
He knew that Du Yuhan had put a lot of effort into raising their son, which was why his son had become so lively. He was truly grateful to Du Yuhan and the He family.
This year is a truly happy New Year for the Ho family, and everyone is overjoyed.
Huo Xicheng was also invited by He Zhendong to his home for New Year's Eve dinner.
The Huo family members are all in Beijing, and Huo Xicheng is the only one here. As Huo Xicheng's good brother, He Zhendong certainly wouldn't leave Huo Xicheng alone in Beijing, so he went home for the New Year himself.
Du Yuhan also put a lot of thought into the New Year's Eve dinner, making sure that the Spring Festival in this year of great disaster was not meager, at least there was fish and meat.
Du Yuhan came home late this year and didn't have time to plant any vegetables to add to the Spring Festival menu. However, she did grow some mung bean sprouts and soybean sprouts. So there were a few green dishes on the table.
He Zhenhua and He Zhendong were also surprised to see the dishes on the table; this year's New Year's Eve dinner was truly sumptuous.
There were braised pork belly, chicken stew with mushrooms, scrambled eggs with wood ear mushrooms, stir-fried mung bean sprouts, Mapo tofu, candied sweet potatoes, pickled fish, hot and sour shredded potatoes, cold seaweed salad, and dried shrimp and winter melon. A total of ten dishes were laid out on the table.
After everyone sat down at the table, Du Yuhan took out a bottle of Moutai and a bottle of Erwotou.
Several men's eyes lit up when they saw the liquor; they were even getting to drink Moutai.
He Zhendong exclaimed in surprise, "Little sister, did you get this Moutai?"
Du Yuhan laughed and said, "I thought it's almost Chinese New Year, so I should let you guys have a good drink. Moutai is the national liquor, and this year is our first year of family reunion, so we have to drink it."
He Zhendong snatched the wine bottle from his sister's hand, looked at it, and said, "This year's New Year's Eve dinner is really great. Come on, let me pour everyone some wine."
Yu Huiru said, "Xiaohan prepared all the dishes and wine on this table; I barely had to lift a finger. Xiaohan's cooking skills are truly exceptional. Even I, as her mother, am humbled by her."
Gu Qishen smiled and said, "I'm also taking advantage of this year to enjoy a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner and drink Moutai liquor. Thank you, Auntie and Xiaohan."
Huo Xicheng also smiled and said, "With Uncle He and Aunt He coming to C City, it's like we have a home here. It's like I'm celebrating the New Year at home. Xiaohan, you've worked hard today too."
Du Yuhan smiled and said, "Knowing I've worked hard, everyone should eat more."
He Zhendong poured wine for everyone present except for the two little ones.
He Chenglin raised his glass and said, "Today is a day worth celebrating. Today is not only the Spring Festival, but also the first Spring Festival reunion for our He family. From now on, we will celebrate the Spring Festival together every year. Cheers! You two ladies can drink as you please."
After they finished speaking, everyone clinked their glasses. The men drank their drinks in one gulp, while Du Yuhan and Yu Huiru only took a small sip.
Everyone was using small wine cups, and there wasn't much wine in each cup, so it wasn't a big deal to finish one.
He Chenglin invited everyone to eat. Only then did everyone begin to eat the sumptuous dishes on the table.
As He Zhendong ate the delicious food, he gave Du Yuhan a thumbs up: "Little sister, your cooking skills are truly amazing. I'll come home often to eat your cooking from now on."
He Chenglin rolled his eyes at his youngest son and said, "Stop running home all the time. Focus on your work."
The men were drinking and chatting happily. Du Yuhan and her mother were feeding the two little ones.
Gu Huayang didn't even bother to look for his father; he just sat next to Du Yuhan and waited for her to prepare something delicious for him.
Gu Qishen felt a silent surge of emotion as he watched Du Yuhan take such good care of Gu Huayang.
The interaction between the son and Du Yuhan is just like that of a mother and son. Du Yuhan exudes maternal tenderness, so it's no wonder that her son is willing to be close to her.
Gu Qishen thought that his son had truly received the maternal love he had lacked in the past from Du Yuhan.
Everyone enjoyed a happy New Year's Eve dinner. Since it was quite late after dinner, Gu Qishen and Huo Xicheng stayed at the He family's house.
Huo Xicheng slept in the same room as He Zhendong. Gu Qishen slept in the guest room.
The two children couldn't stay awake any longer and went to bed early.
The He family's place was bustling with activity, while Han Yixian, far away in Kyoto, was spending the Spring Festival alone.
He did not spend the Spring Festival with anyone this year, but chose to spend it alone.
Now that he has severed ties with the Han family, he will never go back to face his mother and his siblings with whom he has no affection.
He sent Liu Gang home for the Chinese New Year, while he himself returned alone to the new home that had been arranged for him and Du Yuhan.
Before the new house could be fully furnished, Du Yuhan had her accident. The half-furnished house looked empty and desolate.
On the eve of the Lunar New Year, Han Yixian sat alone in his cold room, reminiscing about the only Spring Festival he and Du Yuhan had spent together. How happy and warm those times were.
The courtyard housed warm rooms, delicious dishes, and a cozy atmosphere, filled with laughter. Luancheng's courtyard holds many beautiful memories for him and Du Yuhan.
There was nothing here; Du Yuhan didn't even have time to look around. With Du Yuhan's departure, everything from before would be gone forever.
All the happiness he had in his life would never belong to him again.
Han Yixian took out the necklace he always carried with him, the one he had once given to Du Yuhan. How happy they were when he put this necklace on Du Yuhan back then.
Their hearts were filled with love, and the air seemed to be filled with a sweet atmosphere.
But now all that's left for him is regret, loneliness, solitude, and pain.
The image of Du Yuhan turning and disappearing before his eyes before the accident kept flashing through his mind. It was as if he had personally pushed her into a desperate situation, into the abyss where she would perish together with the criminals.
The only thing he can do now is work desperately to temporarily forget all this pain.
He desperately needed something to hold onto, something to keep him going.
He sent people out to search for Du Yuhan's adoptive parents and they had received news. The Du family had indeed moved to Northeast China, to a village under the jurisdiction of City C in Province L.
Having received news of them, he was ready to leave. No matter who tried to stop him, he was determined to go to the Northeast.
There's nothing left for him to cherish here. His future is to take good care of the Du family. Once Du Yuhan's younger brothers have all come of age, he will resign from all his posts and return to Luancheng, to the little courtyard where he and Du Yuhan shared beautiful memories, to spend the rest of his life.
Han Yixian was like a soulless walking corpse, radiating a chilling aura. His condition seemed even worse than when they first learned he was disabled. Because in his heart, not a single glimmer of hope remained; it had all been taken away by Du Yuhan.
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