"When are you coming back? It's been a year since you last came back to visit." There was a hint of anticipation in the voice on the other end of the phone.
"I'll talk to you when I have time. I'm doing fine here. How are you two doing? Are you short of money? Give me your account number and I'll transfer the money to you!" Lu Feng asked.
On the other end of the phone, Lu Feng's parents were indeed quite shocked by the money at first, going from being a poor family to becoming rich overnight. However, they have gradually adapted to the life of wealth, and those relatives who used to be related by money have stopped contacting each other because they can no longer get much benefit from it.
When the noise subsided and people calmed down from the commotion, the elderly couple still wanted to see their son. However, they also knew that Lu Feng was no longer the same person he used to be, as he appeared to be very busy every day according to television and newspaper advertisements.
"I don't need money, I have enough. Your father and I could never spend it all in two lifetimes. I just miss you."
Lu Feng felt a pang of sadness as he listened to the voice on the phone. He understood his parents' desire to see their son, but he also knew that once he returned home, there would be a whole bunch of people there again.
Most importantly, Lu Feng didn't know how to face the elderly couple, especially their affection.
“Okay, I’ll go back after the New Year when I have some free time,” Lu Feng agreed.
"It's okay, just keep busy if you're busy. It's just that your mom misses you. Everything's fine at home," Dad's voice came through the phone.
"Nonsense! Didn't you tell me to make the call?"
"Alright, that's enough!"
The murmurs on the other end of the phone made Lu Feng feel somewhat indebted to the two elderly people, and his heart ached a little.
"Um... Mom and Dad, I'm a bit busy right now, I'll hang up first. Please take good care of yourselves. If you need money, just let me know. Eat and drink as much as you like, don't worry!" Lu Feng instructed.
"I won't bother you anymore, you go ahead with your work!"
The other end of the phone didn't hang up, so Lu Feng had no choice but to put the phone down himself.
As I went downstairs, the sun was shining brightly outside. It was the end of the year again, and I could already see people packing up to go on holiday. When you first arrive in Shenzhen, you say you're a Shenzhen local, but every year at the end of the year, you realize you don't belong here.
Lu Feng wandered around aimlessly, watching everyone carrying large and small bags heading back. Most of them couldn't afford a taxi and had to take motorcycles to the station.
Over the decades, people have come and gone in this city, leaving their footprints in a hurry. Countless people once longed to stay among these high-rise buildings, but in the end, the vast majority returned to the countryside.
The people Lu Feng saw were mostly young people, some even still looking immature. At one intersection, Lu Feng was smoking and looking at a few eighteen or nineteen-year-olds, who were also smoking and looking at Lu Feng.
They envied Lu Feng, secretly thinking that years later they could also make it like him in this city. Lu Feng looked at them, but he understood that so-called success was nothing more than a group of people searching for gold on the ground, and most people would eventually return to where they came from.
After wandering around the company for a while, Lu Feng couldn't find any festive atmosphere, so he drove out and explored the area. He discovered that the more bustling and upscale the place, the less festive it was, while the smaller the alleys and the more lively the stalls were.
The poor are busy looking forward to the coming year, while the rich are too busy to have time!
As evening approached, Lu Feng parked his car in front of a small restaurant, which was packed with people. He ordered two dishes and sat down. Next to him was a large family, young and old, who all looked very happy.
From the conversation, it was clear that the middle-aged man had brought his family over; the children's faces were filled with excitement as they kept looking around.
"Cooking at home is fine; eating out is too expensive," the old man complained.
"It's alright, this is how it is in big cities!" the man boasted.
As Lu Feng ate his meal and listened to their conversation, he sometimes found himself laughing along. In fact, not only now, but even before his rebirth, Lu Feng felt that the New Year was meaningless, as if it lacked the festive spirit.
As for what the "New Year's flavor" is, Lu Feng didn't know; he couldn't explain the feeling he had when he was a child.
Now he seems to understand a little: the spirit of the New Year is about being with family, seeing the person you miss the most, eating your favorite food, and wearing the clothes you want to wear.
The spirit of the New Year is about being unrestrained.
But when you indulge in recklessness 365 days a year, where is the festive spirit? All you can think about is the awkwardness of being brutally tortured by life when facing questions from relatives.
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