Chapter 67 Lunar New Year's Eve
Before four o'clock in the afternoon, Shan Tong and Jiang Ronghai returned home.
Jiang Wan's room door was closed, but the faint sounds of her discussing issues with Zhou Chong could be heard inside. Shan Tong smiled with relief and prepared to go to the kitchen to cook.
Jiang Ronghai walked into the living room and immediately saw several high-end gift boxes stacked on the coffee table.
"What are these?" Jiang Ronghai flipped through them, then turned to call out to Shan Tong, "Wife, have you bought any New Year's gifts and sent them home yet?"
"No, I've already prepared the New Year's gifts in advance." Shan Tong paused, then turned around and walked over. "I didn't buy any of these things."
"What happened?"
"Let's ask Wanwan later. She's home all day, so she'll definitely know."
Knowing that Jiang Wan and Zhou Chong were still studying in their room, Shan Tong didn't want to disturb them and decided to wait until they came out before talking to them.
Today is the eve of the Lunar New Year, and she prepared a sumptuous feast of ingredients well in advance.
The meal features a variety of dishes, including chicken, duck, fish, and meat, as well as dishes like Shaoxing chicken, braised duck, steamed pork with rice flour, grouper in soy sauce, and salt and pepper prawns. While it may not be as elaborate as the New Year's Eve dinner prepared by the chef at Yuxing Restaurant tomorrow night, the menu is still quite good for a small family reunion.
On the stove, two clay pots were bubbling away. Just as Shan Tong put the fish and meat on to steam, she heard Jiang Wan and Jiang Ronghai talking in the living room.
When he came out, he saw Zhou Chong standing next to him, smiling and nodding at Jiang Ronghai.
"Zhou Chong, your mother is too kind." Jiang Ronghai patted Zhou Chong's shoulder with a smile. "You've helped Wanwan so much with her studies, it's clearly you who should be taking care of Wanwan."
Shan Tong walked over, looked at the two of them, and asked, "What's wrong?"
“Wife, these things were brought by Zhou Chong.” Jiang Ronghai pointed to the several open gift boxes on the coffee table. “My favorite Da Hong Pao tea, the Ganoderma lucidum spore powder to nourish your body, and this set of bronze sculptures are all gifts from Zhou Chong to wish you a Happy New Year.”
"Oh dear, how could I possibly accept this?" Shan Tong exclaimed in shock.
These items are not cheap, so there's no reason for a young person to spend money on them.
“Auntie, this is all from my mother,” Zhou Chong explained. “She knows you’ve taken good care of me these past few days, so she asked me to bring some New Year’s gifts to express her gratitude.”
"this……"
Shan Tong opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, Jiang Wan interrupted her.
"Yes, Mom, this is all from Auntie's heartfelt wishes." Jiang Wan winked at her parents. "Since she's already brought it, how can we refuse?"
Jiang Ronghai patted Shan Tong's hand gently from behind and whispered in her ear, "I've prepared a few return gifts, I'll have Zhou Chong take them back later."
"Okay." Shan Tong nodded, then turned to Zhou Chong and asked, "Zhou Chong, is your mother coming home to cook tonight?"
Zhou Chong shook his head. "She has to be on duty at the hospital tonight."
"That's perfect." Shan Tong clapped her hands happily. "Why don't you stay home and have dinner before you go back? Dinner will be served soon. Today is the eve of the Lunar New Year, so it should be lively and festive."
Jiang Wan smiled and nodded, then tugged at Zhou Chong's sleeve, "Let's have dinner together at my house, it's the eve of the Lunar New Year."
Unable to refuse such a kind invitation, and understanding Shan Tong's intentions, Zhou Chong naturally did not turn down the offer.
Shan Tong returned to the kitchen, and Jiang Ronghai followed to help out, leaving Jiang Wan and Zhou Chong in the living room.
"What would you like to drink with your meal?" Jiang Wan opened the refrigerator door and counted the rows of drinks. "Grapefruit juice, apple juice, orange juice, coconut juice, yogurt, cola, Sprite, and Want Want milk, but no Li Zi Yuan."
Zhou Chong smiled gently, "Either is fine."
"I want to drink Coke, and I also want to drink Want Want milk." Jiang Wan tapped her chin with her index finger, then turned to Zhou Chong. "How about we take turns drinking them later?"
Zhou Chong nodded, a smile still playing on his lips. "Okay."
Jiang Wan took out a can of Coke and a can of Want Want milk, and pulled Zhou Chongxian to sit down at the dining table.
"Is your mother on duty tomorrow?" Jiang Wan was worried that Zhou Chong would be alone on New Year's Eve, and wondered if she should invite him to have New Year's Eve dinner together.
“No need, she’s on holiday for New Year’s Eve this year.” Zhou Chong paused, “But after the New Year’s Eve dinner, she should go to the hospital. The department head needs to make rounds and visit the wards and the duty room.”
Jiang Wan nodded and asked, "So, are you having your New Year's Eve dinner at home?"
"Let's go to Grandpa and Grandma's house."
"Yes, I'm going to Grandma's house tomorrow too."
Jiang Wan didn't say "grandpa and grandma's house" like Zhou Chong did, but rather "grandma's house." Zhou Chong noticed the subtle difference but didn't ask any further questions.
Because he knew that Jiang Wan's grandfather had passed away when she was young.
Jiang Wan didn't know he did. After a moment of silence, she took the initiative to ask, "Why didn't you ask me why I said it was Grandma's house?"
Zhou Chong looked at her intently, then lowered his gaze and asked softly, "Why?"
"Because my grandfather passed away when I was very young, I have hardly ever met him. When I was little, my parents were very busy with their company, so my grandmother raised me. Therefore, I have a very good relationship with my grandmother."
Jiang Wan continued, "Now, for the convenience of going to school, we've temporarily moved to live near the school. Only Grandma lives at home, and we'll go back to spend more time with her during the Chinese New Year."
Jiang Wan explained it casually, but Zhou Chong was well aware of it.
Fortunately, Grandma Jiang Wan is not old and is still in good health, so she has plenty of time to spend with her.
Jiang Wan didn't mean anything by it; she just wanted to tell Zhou Chong about her family situation. But when she turned around, she saw a hint of loneliness on Zhou Chong's face.
She was slightly taken aback, not quite understanding what was going on. The fleeting emotion on Zhou Chong's face disappeared, and behind them came Shan Tong's voice calling to them.
"Dinner's ready, tidy up the table."
"good."
Jiang Wan snapped out of her daze, turned to smile at her mother, and together with Zhou Chong, helped clear the table.
The dinner was very lavish, with the table piled high with food.
Dan Tong opened the casserole lid; the Shaoxing chicken was already tender and mushy. With a gentle pinch of chopsticks, he tore off two chicken legs, bone and all.
She placed a chicken leg into Zhou Chong's bowl, saying, "Come on, try Auntie's cooking."
Zhou Chong picked up the bowl with both hands, bowed his head and smiled, "Thank you, Auntie."
Dan Tong smiled and put another chicken leg into Jiang Wan's bowl. "Wanwan, eat more too. Senior year is tough, so physical fitness is the most important thing."
Jiang Wan followed Zhou Chong's example, holding the bowl with both hands and grinning at Shan Tong, "Thank you, Mom."
"This child." Shan Tong couldn't help but laugh.
"Haha." Jiang Ronghai laughed heartily, raising his glass. "Come on, let's clink glasses first."
Everyone at the table raised their glasses in unison.
Jiang Ronghai's glass contained clear white liquor, Shan Tong's glass contained red wine, Jiang Wan's glass contained Want Want milk, and Zhou Chong's glass contained bubbly cola.
Jiang Wan found it inexplicably funny that there were four cups of four different colors.
The next moment, four glasses of different colors collided, making a crisp and pleasant sound.
"Happy New Year--"
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