Wei Heng sat with Grandpa Tang in the stairwell by the door, picking and washing vegetables.
The teachers and their families in the courtyard greeted each other warmly as they came in and out with the children, their faces beaming with smiles.
They would occasionally exchange some side dishes for the Lunar New Year.
"These are my family's fried yellow croakers. There's a garden party in the yard tonight organized by the school's faculty and staff office. There are lots of gifts, remember to come!"
"Really? Then I definitely have to come!"
A cool breeze blew in as Ning Yuan helped knead the dough, gazing at the rich festive atmosphere and human warmth that would never return in decades.
A nostalgic smile appeared on his face.
Time passed by, and before we knew it, it was evening.
As the time for the New Year's Eve dinner approached, Ning Yuan still couldn't spot Rong Zhaonan.
She couldn't help but glance out the window every now and then at the path leading to the teachers' dormitory area.
Grandma Xia took a basket of cleaned duck feathers to the balcony to dry, and saw Ning Yuan looking absent-minded.
She shook her head, but still said, "Why don't you go to Nan's dorm and see if he needs any New Year's gifts?"
Wei Heng brought in the dishes and casually asked, "Didn't Captain Rong bring the rooster over yesterday morning?"
Grandma Xia smiled and said, "It's hard to say. That little rascal is careless. I saw that some ducks were also given out, so maybe he got one too."
Ning Yuan quickly put on her shoes and walked out: "Yes, I'll go take a look."
By the way, check if Rong Zhaonan has returned to the dormitory yet.
Wei Heng watched Ning Yuan's retreating figure, wanting to say something, but Grandma Xia stuffed two more handfuls of vegetables into his hands: "Come on, little Wei, go back to picking vegetables!"
But Ning Yuan returned dejectedly less than half an hour later.
Looking at her, Wei Heng asked casually, "Little sister, Captain Rong hasn't returned yet?"
Ning Yuan nodded absentmindedly: "Mm."
Wei Heng looked at her and his gaze dimmed. He gently comforted her, "Let's have New Year's Eve dinner first. He may have other tasks. He won't not come back unless there's something wrong."
Ning Yuan smiled and said, "I know you're all busy with work. It's okay, let's not wait any longer and eat first."
She would leave some food for Rong Zhaonan later, regardless of whether the dog would eat it or not, she would always leave him some food.
This year, the table was laden with dishes: braised pork belly with bamboo shoots, sweet and sour spare ribs, stir-fried eel, poached chicken, braised pork, pickled mustard greens, egg dumplings, bok choy... and a pot of hot spare rib soup.
Looking at this New Year's Eve dinner, Ning Yuan realized it was just as good as what she had seen in later generations.
Everyone had some fruit-flavored sparkling water and beer on hand.
Everyone sat around the table, the cold wind was blowing outside, but inside it was lively and bustling, with people talking and laughing as they ate.
Old Tang raised his glass with satisfaction and joy: "May we have an even better year ahead!"
Everyone raised their glasses together and shouted happily, "May next year be even better!"
Everyone enjoyed a lively New Year's Eve dinner to their heart's content.
Manhua and Huazi had never seen such a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner before, and they were extremely happy with their meal.
As Ning Yuan ate, she thought back to last year's Chinese New Year.
We were short of money back then, but we still made do with what we had, and managed to put together a warm New Year's Eve dinner.
Grandma Xia and she each handed the old duck leg to Rong Zhaonan, who looked speechless.
And he didn't receive a gift, so he looked very unhappy.
Ning Yuan quietly touched her pocket; she had also prepared a gift for him this year.
but……
It wasn't until everyone finished their New Year's Eve dinner at 8:00 that the lively New Year's Eve garden party for Fudan University's faculty and staff began at 8:30.
I didn't see Rong Zhaonan come back.
The courtyard was filled with the sounds of gongs and drums, laughter, commotion, and even fireworks.
Wei Heng wasn't a sociable person, so he stayed home to keep Grandpa Tang company while he talked and made dumplings.
Manhua and Huazi, on the other hand, were incredibly curious about the way the workers in the city celebrated the New Year and were extremely excited and actively participated.
The prizes for the park activities were eggs, fruit candies, and bottled soda.
Ning Yuan played most of the games at the park, collected a lot of prize tickets, and exchanged them for a bag of candy and half a basket of eggs.
Another hour and a half passed in the blink of an eye. Ning Yuan stroked Ahei, who was circling around her, and sighed, "Oh dear, the dog probably won't be back tonight."
Not wanting to wait any longer, Ning Yuan simply threw herself into the games at the park, turning her disappointment into motivation to strive.
Besides tricky games like solving lantern riddles, there are also blindfolded gong-banging, ring tossing, marble-picking games, and three-legged races...
She had a great time and earned a basket of eggs, a lot of candy, and a bottle of soda.
Manhua jumped for joy on the side, eating candy non-stop.
In the last activity, shooting balloons with an air gun, if you hit the target ten times out of ten, you can exchange it for a small bar of imported Soviet chocolate!
This is probably the prize that young people and children are most looking forward to tonight, but each person can only play once with a game ticket.
So far, only one teacher has successfully hit the target for their own child.
Ning Yuan picked up the air rifle and aimed, unable to help but recall the promise someone had made to her that if she did well in shooting during school military training, he would teach her how to shoot a pistol!
That guy who broke his promise has probably forgotten!
"Bang bang bang!" Ning Yuan snorted coldly to herself and fired the gun repeatedly, as if hitting someone on the head.
I shot eight balloons out of ten shots; I was just two short of shooting ten.
But Ning Yuan didn't have a chance. She was a little regretful and was about to put down her gun.
Then a clear male voice came from behind: "Give my girl ten more air gun bullets, and my game tickets to her."
Upon hearing the voice, Ning Yuan immediately turned her head.
But the next moment, a large hand supported her waist, and a tall, slender figure leaned against her from behind.
He whispered in her ear, "Don't move, spread your legs, I'll guide you through the fight."
The person in charge of the game brought over a pre-loaded air gun and handed it to Ning Yuan with a smile: "You two siblings have such a good relationship."
Ning Yuan's mood improved, and a bright smile appeared on her small lips: "Mm."
Rong Zhaonan held her waist with one hand and supported her wrist with the other, and said leisurely—
"Stop grinning like an idiot, lower your shoulders, keep your upper body stable like a support, aim at the most inflated part of the balloon, don't embarrass your instructor like me."
Ning Yuan smiled and said, "Hmph, you can't expect anything good to come out of a dog's mouth."
But she still held her breath and focused, following his instructions to fire rapidly—
"Clap clap clap—"
This time, it was a perfect 10 out of 10!
Ning Yuan was overjoyed and took the chocolate: "It's been so long since I've had chocolate."
Rong Zhaonan smiled: "How are you going to thank me, Boss Ning?"
Under the warm, dim light and the glow of fireworks, his handsome features were full of emotion.
Ning Yuan smiled brightly and poked his firm chest with her fingertip: "You're back late, so I don't have any thank-you gift."
Rong Zhaonan looked down at her with a half-smile: "That won't do, Boss Ning. I don't offer credit here. In Shanghai, before liberation, defaulting on debts would have resulted in being punished with three cuts and six holes."
His phrase "three cuts and six holes" was quite meaningful.
There were people everywhere, and Ning Yuan blushed inexplicably. She turned to leave, saying, "You're the one with three cuts and six holes."
He suddenly grabbed the back of her collar and pulled her back like a rabbit: "Where are you going?"
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