On New Year's Day, the sky finally cleared, and the warm winter sun, like a gentle hand, shone on the thick snow, reflecting a bright, dazzling light. Under the tender caress of the warm sun, the snow melted silently, turning into trickles that dripped down the glistening icicles from the eaves. Every now and then, sparkling icicles would fall from the eaves, and the children, undeterred by the cold, would hold them in their hands and play around.
Smoke billowed from the chimney of the brigade's canteen, and the room was bustling with activity. The educated youth had all gathered together to celebrate the New Year. Everyone rolled up their sleeves and prepared the New Year's Eve dinner themselves. The vegetables were provided by the brigade, and they pooled their money to buy some meat. The educated youth were used to having only themselves to feed, so they spent money much more generously than the villagers. Now that many of them had settled their destinations and would soon be returning to the city, they naturally wanted to celebrate properly. Therefore, this New Year was more lavish than ever before.
Shen Xuyue grew up in the north and especially loved dumplings. When he went to the county town to buy groceries, he saw flour for sale and used his ration coupons to buy five jin (2.5 kg) of wheat flour to make dumplings. Meanwhile, a group of young people were in the kitchen kneading dough and chopping filling. The dumpling filling was cabbage and pork; although there was a bit too much cabbage, it couldn't dampen their enthusiasm for dumplings. The clinking of knives against the chopping board and the cheerful laughter of the people filled the air. This was the most comfortable New Year they had experienced since coming here. Although many still hadn't found their way back, so many others had managed to return; their turn should be coming soon. Everyone was full of confidence.
Someone suggested singing, and then loud singing filled the kitchen, from "Socialism is Good" to "Returning from Target Practice." Liu Weiguo said, "We hear these all the time, let's try something different. Lao Shen, sing us something different."
"Yeah, Lao Shen, sing us a song. After the New Year, many of us will be leaving, and we won't be able to hear it again."
Shen Xuyue was kneading dough with his sleeves rolled up. He glanced at everyone and said, "Go outside and see if anyone else is coming."
A girl ran to the door and glanced inside: "Nobody's here."
Shen Xuyue said, "Then I'll sing a different one quietly. You guys have someone guard the door so no one notices. It's Chinese New Year today, let's do something cheerful."
Everyone held their breath as Shen Xuyue began to sing: "By the fields and streams, red berries bloom..." He was actually singing "Red Berries Bloom." Everyone's expressions became excited. This melody was so melodious and beautiful, so familiar yet so unfamiliar. How many years had it been since they had heard it?
"...Let my beloved guess for herself!" After Shen Xuyue finished singing the last line, the whole room fell silent, and many people had tears in their eyes. Shen Xuyue smiled and asked, "What's wrong?"
Someone whimpered softly, "Old Shen, you sang so beautifully. Could you sing it again?"
Shen Xuyue shushed him, saying, "I'm risking making a mistake by singing for everyone. If we have the chance in the future, we should sing our hearts out." Russian songs were definitely off-limits at that time.
Everyone sniffed and nodded. Shen Xuyue clapped his hands and said, "Alright, the dough is ready. Those who know how to make dumplings, come and help make them. Those who don't, come and learn."
There were originally about twenty educated youth in Moon Bay, but now only a dozen or so remain. After the New Year, only seven or eight will be left. We have spent several years together, sharing joys and sorrows, and have built a deep friendship, just like brothers and sisters. Now that we are going our separate ways, it should be a happy thing, but the thought of not being able to get together again makes us feel a little down.
Shen Xuyue wasn't the oldest among them, but he was always the backbone of the group. Seeing that everyone was in low spirits, he kept telling jokes to liven things up.
Everyone was amused by Shen Xuyue and cheered up again. At this moment, someone suddenly said to Shen Xuyue, "Old Shen, someone is here. It seems like they are looking for you."
"Who is it?" Shen Xuyue put down the jar he was using to roll dough and went outside. He didn't have a rolling pin, so he used the jar instead. The jar was a bit too big and not very handy, but that didn't stump the clever and capable Shen Xuyue. Shen Xuyue reached the door and saw Wu Jie standing in the yard, and paused for a moment.
Wu Jie wore a dark red plaid scarf around her neck, a dark brown woolen coat, and leather shoes, dressed very fashionably. At the moment, she had her hands in her pockets and kept stamping her feet. When she saw Shen Xuyue, she didn't come over. Shen Xuyue had no choice but to walk over and ask, "Why are you here?" It's the New Year, not the first day of the lunar new year. What are you doing here?
Wu Jie took her hand out and breathed on it: "It's freezing. Xu Yue, I've come to say goodbye."
Shen Xuyue frowned. Wu Jie was four or five years younger than him and usually called him "brother." Today, she actually called him by his name. He tried to ignore it and glanced back at the kitchen: "Then let's go sit in the dorm. We're making dumplings. Let's eat dumplings before we leave. Perfect timing, dumplings when we go out, noodles when we come home."
Wu Jie shook her head: "No. I'll just talk for a bit and then leave. I have some friends waiting for me. Let's go back together."
"Why are you in such a hurry? Why not wait until after the New Year?" Shen Xuyue asked. If they left today, they would be on the road for the New Year.
Wu Jie pouted, "I don't want to stay in this awful place for even a day longer. The sooner I go back, the better." She looked up at Shen Xuyue, "When I get back, I'll talk to my dad and he'll arrange a job for you. Then you can go back too."
Shen Xuyue waved his hand: "No need, I will arrange my own affairs."
Wu Jie frowned at Shen Xuyue: "You're making your own arrangements. How long do you plan to wait? There's only one fool like you in this world. Everyone else is racking their brains and trying every possible way to get back, but you have the chance and you don't even seize it. Look at this godforsaken place, you've been here for seven or eight years, haven't you had enough yet?"
Shen Xuyue frowned: "It's not as bad as you say. I want to go back, and I will go back, but I don't want your help."
Wu Jie looked at him, biting her lip: "Shen Xuyue, have you never liked me?"
Shen Xuyue lowered his eyes: "I'm sorry, I've always only seen you as a younger sister. I've never thought about it in that way."
Wu Jie's face flushed red: "Who's your sister? I have absolutely no blood relation with you. If you don't want to date me, why do you keep coming to my place? Everyone there thinks you're my boyfriend. Now you're saying no, where am I supposed to put my face?"
Shen Xuyue looked at Wu Jie in surprise: "Isn't it always you who asks me to go? We've never said we're dating, have we?" He rarely takes the initiative to see Wu Jie. Could it be that just because he occasionally helps deliver things or does chores, they've become boyfriend and girlfriend? These days, is the only thing left between men and women besides blood relatives?
Wu Jie bit her lip: "Is there any need to say it? Anyone with eyes can see it. How am I supposed to face people after this?"
Shen Xuyue looked at Wu Jie speechlessly: "I'm sorry, I don't think I've ever done anything out of line or said anything out of line to you. We've always maintained a pure gay friendship. If you've misunderstood, I apologize to you here. If anyone else has misunderstood, I'll apologize to them too. This is too damaging to your reputation. I'm sorry."
Wu Jie blinked, tears clinging to her eyelashes, making her look pitiful. She stomped her foot angrily: "Shen Xuyue, you bastard, I hate you!" Then she turned and ran away.
Shen Xuyue watched Wu Jie's retreating figure: "Take it easy, be careful of the slippery road. Have a safe trip!" It's good that Wu Jie went back. She and Wu Jie are no longer from the same world. After she goes back, she will definitely have more suitable people to choose from, and then she will forget about him.
Thinking about Wu Jie's words, he felt a little uneasy. He had almost been tricked by her. Was she planning to use public pressure to force him to comply, and for him to agree to be with her in order to protect her reputation? It seemed that he should be more careful in the future to avoid causing misunderstandings. However, if it was Zhao Mingyue, that would be a different story. People you like and people you don't like should not be treated the same way.
Shen Xuyue turned back to make dumplings. Five jin of flour made more than two hundred dumplings, about twenty for each person, which was hardly enough to fill a tooth gap. Fortunately, there was a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner. Shen Xuyue ate half of his twenty dumplings and kept the other half in his lunchbox.
After the New Year's Eve dinner, everyone gathered around to eat melon seeds, warm themselves by the fire, and stay up late to welcome the New Year. Shen Xuyue quietly left the house and walked to the Zhao family's house in the dark. Zhao Mingyue's house was also bustling with activity. The families of Zhao Mingyue's eldest and second eldest brothers had also come over. The whole family, young and old, had gathered together for the New Year's Eve reunion dinner. They had already eaten their New Year's Eve dinner and were gathered around the fire, warming themselves by the fire, eating melon seeds, and chatting.
Shen Xuyue touched the lunchbox in his arms. Although he had kept it warm in a pot before coming, it was probably cold after walking such a long distance. Dumplings weren't anything fancy, but he really wanted Zhao Mingyue to try them; she probably had never eaten dumplings before. Shen Xuyue carefully tucked the lunchbox under his cotton coat to keep it warm from the cold wind.
But how should he deliver it? Shen Xuyue's mind raced. What excuse could he use to knock on the door just to deliver ten dumplings? What kind of nonsense would that be? Or should he wait outside until Zhao Mingyue went to the restroom before calling her back?
Shen Xuyue waited for a while, and then the door to the next room opened, and a little girl of about ten years old came out. Shen Xuyue recognized her as Zhao Mingyue's cousin. What was her name again? He didn't have time to remember, so he quickly called out to her, "Hey, little girl, come here for a moment."
Zhao Mingxiu was on her way out to get firewood when she heard someone calling her. Startled, she realized it was already late and there was no moonlight on New Year's Eve, only a faint light filtering through the windows and doors of her own house. Standing there, she mustered her courage and asked, "Who is it?"
Shen Xuyue quickly walked into the light: "It's me, Secretary Shen."
Zhao Mingxiu recognized him: "Secretary Shen, is there something you need?"
"May I have your name?"
"My name is Zhao Mingxiu."
Shen Xuyue nodded: "Zhao Mingxiu, can you do me a favor? I need to talk to your sister Zhao Mingyue about something. Could you call her out for me? Tell her quietly, don't let anyone else know, okay?"
Zhao Mingxiu was a simple-minded child. Hearing what he said, she nodded and walked towards Zhao Mingyue's house. After taking two steps, she stopped and asked, "How should I tell her?"
Shen Xuyue said, "Just tell her that the brigade secretary will bring her some things, and that she can come out alone. Remember, don't let anyone else know."
Zhao Mingxiu nodded and left. Shen Xuyue disappeared back into the darkness. A little while later, Zhao Mingyue followed Zhao Mingxiu out. They stood under the eaves for a while, then Shen Xuyue coughed, and Zhao Mingyue walked towards him. Zhao Mingxiu followed behind her sister. Zhao Mingyue glanced at her cousin, wanting to tell her not to come, but not wanting to say it, so she let her follow.
Shen Xuyue walked up to Zhao Mingyue and said, "Happy New Year!"
Zhao Mingyue looked at Shen Xuyue in the dim light: "Happy New Year! Secretary Shen, what brings you here?"
Shen Xuyue handed over the dumplings he had been carrying in his pocket: "We made some dumplings today, and I wanted you to try them. You haven't had them before, have you?" They live in the south, and dumplings are hardly ever eaten here.
Zhao Mingyue was suddenly overwhelmed with gratitude. It was just a few dumplings, yet they had brought them to her. Her eyes welled up with tears as she reached out to take the still-warm lunchbox. "I haven't eaten before, thank you. It must be delicious!"
Shen Xuyue smiled and said, "There's no soy sauce or vinegar, otherwise it would taste even better dipped in soy sauce and vinegar. But it's minced meat, and it tastes pretty good. You should try it."
Zhao Mingyue asked, "Shall we eat now?"
"Yes, I'll take the lunchbox back with me later."
Zhao Mingxiu looked at her cousin and the brigade secretary with some curiosity. What were they doing? Zhao Mingyue opened the aluminum lunchbox and saw ten plump dumplings neatly arranged inside. She reached out, picked one up, and took a bite.
Shen Xuyue asked eagerly, "Is it delicious?"
"Mmm, delicious." Zhao Mingyue almost burst into tears. These were the most delicious dumplings she had ever eaten in both her lives.
Zhao Mingyue handed the lunchbox in her hand to Zhao Mingxiu: "Xiuer, you should try some too."
Zhao Mingxiu had never seen dumplings before. She reached out, grabbed one, and took a bite. She felt that she had never eaten anything so delicious before, and her eyes crinkled with laughter: "Sister Mingyue, it's so delicious."
At this moment, Wang Zhaodi shouted from inside the house, "Xiu girl, where have you been? You haven't brought the firewood back yet!"
Zhao Mingxiu quickly turned to run, but Zhao Mingyue grabbed her: "Don't rush, grab another one. Xiuer, only the three of us know about today's events, you're not allowed to tell anyone, okay?"
"Yes, I know." Zhao Mingxiu nodded repeatedly, grabbed another dumpling, and ran off.
The two women turned their gazes away from Zhao Mingxiu, looked at each other, and couldn't help but smile knowingly. Zhao Mingyue felt a surge of joy, even more delightful than the dumplings in her mouth; Shen Xuyue had actually brought her dumplings. She handed the lunchbox to Shen Xuyue: "You should eat too."
Shen Xuyue shook his head: "I've already eaten. We each had twenty. I ate half and left the other half for you."
Did you wrap it?
Shen Xuyue smiled: "Yes."
Zhao Mingyue said, "I've never eaten anything so delicious before, really. Thank you."
Is your hand feeling better?
Zhao Mingyue was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening and held out her hand to show him: "It's much better now. The pearl cream works very well, it's very moisturizing. Soaking my hands in eggplant stems is also very good, and the chilblains aren't as itchy anymore."
Shen Xuyue nodded: "You should pay attention to keeping warm in the future."
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