A joyous occasion. Happy people.
It snowed heavily on the night of the first day of the Lunar New Year, but the morning was sunny and bright – a beautiful day. Many people believe that a good snowfall promises a bountiful year.
As soon as Ling Ruoke got up, she received a large red envelope from her grandfather. Although the general and Yang Ziyun were not happy about it, they still gave her a token of appreciation.
In addition to the large red envelope, Grandpa also gave me a jade bracelet, which was emerald green and translucent, and you could tell at a glance that it was of excellent quality.
Ling Ruoke was initially hesitant to accept it, but she couldn't resist her grandfather's persuasion, and the colonel also told her to take it. She had no choice but to accept it, and it fit her wrist perfectly.
Yang Ziyun's face was extremely ugly. That was a family heirloom passed down through generations of daughters-in-law in the Huo family. It was supposed to be passed to her, and then to her daughters-in-law. Now it had bypassed her and been given to Ling Ruoke, which was tantamount to a slap in the face!
The Huo family's first meal of the New Year was lavish, and there were quite a few people. The whole family, plus the general and several of the grandfather's bodyguards, filled the large table, which was packed to capacity.
The nanny, Ahui, was naturally an excellent cook. The table was laden with delicious dishes, served quickly, and the variety of dishes was comparable to a grand feast in a high-end hotel.
Yang Ziyun was unhappy, but she wouldn't make a scene in front of her father-in-law and the guards; she was a person who cared about her reputation.
Therefore, the dinner table was lively and harmonious.
After the meal, the soldiers sat on the sofa, drinking hot tea and chatting about everything under the sun.
Ling Ruoke volunteered to help the nanny clear the table. While she was washing dishes in the kitchen, Yang Ziyun called her into her room.
"Auntie," Ling Ruoke called out as she closed the door.
Yang Ziyun glanced at her wrist, pointed to the chair, and said, "Sit down."
"No need. Auntie, just say what you want to say." She wasn't the naive girl she used to be, easily frightened by her casual remarks.
Yang Ziyun frowned. "How can you be so rude? You're standing, do you expect me to sit and look up at you?"
Ling Ruoke knew she was using this as an excuse to vent, so she didn't argue and sat down in the chair. She stared straight at her, waiting for the unpleasant words. Perhaps their mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship would never have a good day.
As the wolf once said, no matter what happens, we should strive to make things look good, but we should also be prepared to accept a bad outcome.
Yang Ziyun's face darkened; she found the face before her utterly displeasing. "I know you're good with words, you've made the old man so happy he's completely lost his bearings. But let me tell you, you're not the daughter-in-law I want. If I could change, I wouldn't have chosen you as my daughter-in-law."
Ling Ruoke smiled slightly, her expression unchanged. "Auntie, I don't ask you to like me, nor do I ask you to bless our marriage. I just think that children and grandchildren have their own blessings, so please let Qingfeng choose for himself. And you can spend more time with your partner, travel together when you have time, and have fun, isn't that better?"
Yang Ziyun was caught off guard, and her face grew even more unpleasant. Just as she was about to retaliate, there was a knock on the door.
"Mom, don't bully my wife, open the door!" Although Colonel Huo was talking to his grandfather and the others, his eyes were fixed on his wife.
"Auntie, I'll open the door now."
Yang Ziyun snorted coldly.
Ling Ruoke opened the door, and the colonel walked in. "Mom, what were you whispering to my wife? Ruoke, why don't you go out and play chess with Grandpa? I'll keep Mom company."
Ling Ruoke responded and left after closing the door.
Huo Qingfeng sighed and sat down next to his mother. "Mom, you should enjoy some peace and quiet with Father. Don't worry about me, okay?"
"You call yourself a soldier? You've forgotten your mother now that you have a wife! I just want to talk to her, and you're worried I'll bully her. Why aren't you worried she'll bully your mother?" This son used to be so considerate, but now he's becoming more and more unreliable.
Huo Qingfeng smiled. "Mom, my wife is such a good person, would she bully you?"
"Oh, so you mean your mother is a vicious woman, right? You said you've forgotten your mother now that you have a wife, and you still don't acknowledge her!"
Huo Qingfeng put his arm around her shoulder and sighed. "Mom, you're not mean. You're just too concerned about your pride. You not only mind that she's divorced, but you also mind that she's not from a prestigious family. But Mom, all these things are superficial. In the end, the only person who will stay with you is someone who truly cares for you! Look at this time, you all thought I really died in the line of duty, and all you know is sadness and grief. She was sad too, but she's a weak woman, and she dared to go to war-torn X country just to confirm her dream! Mom, if it were you, you might not dare to do it. If I didn't marry a woman like that, I'd be blind!"
"She went to country X to find you?" Yang Ziyun's eyes widened.
Huo Qingfeng nodded. "Mom, those are real guns and bullets, they can kill people. She dared to go. If she didn't value me more than her own life, would she have gone? So, just stop worrying about it and live your life, okay?"
Yang Ziyun was speechless this time.
Huo Qingfeng patted her shoulder and went out. He knew that his mother's resentment towards Ruoke ran deep and couldn't be resolved with just a few words. He hoped things would improve in the future.
The capital city of Beijing is a place many Chinese people yearn for.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Colonel Huo took his wife and children for a drive around the capital in his Hummer. That evening, he met up with a group of his childhood friends for drinks and boasting. He also took the opportunity to introduce them to his wife.
Located at the foot of the capital, everything is better than elsewhere, even the traffic jams. However, with migrant workers returning home for the Spring Festival, the streets are surprisingly clear. Besides, the two lively kids in the back seat, one big and one small, are quite a handful, providing plenty of laughs.
Ling Ruo had been to B City before. After all, it was the capital city, so it was inevitable that she would come for tourism. However, traveling and visiting with a loved one were completely different experiences.
The family of three was still wearing their matching outfits, which looked quite heartwarming.
Actually, while the Spring Festival seems grand, the most important activities are visiting relatives and friends for meals; there aren't many other events. In City B, there are quite a few temple fairs during the Spring Festival, but they are always crowded and overly lively.
Even so, Huo Qingfeng still carried his son and dragged his wife to join the fun. His wife was from out of town, so naturally he wanted her to see the most distinctive local items.
The temple fair offered plenty of food, drinks, and games, and the mother and child had a wonderful time. One was beautiful and the other adorable, and they were even wearing matching outfits, attracting a lot of attention.
Huo Qingfeng was in charge of taking photos. His hand was as nimble as pulling a trigger, snapping away non-stop.
When they stopped, the family of three walked hand in hand, and some people wanted to take pictures of them. The colonel reacted quickly, always dodging the camera immediately, or letting people only take a picture of their side profile.
When Ling Ruoke saw him trying to avoid the camera for the nth time, she finally couldn't help but say, "I think being a soldier is pretty tough. Even taking a picture requires you to hide your face. Hey, can't we even take wedding photos with our faces turned to the front?"
"cannot."
Ling Ruoke immediately wailed, "What's the point then? If we're just taking pictures of our backs, is that even a wedding photo?"
Huo Qingfeng patted her head and comforted her, "Don't worry, there will always be a way."
This little incident certainly won't spoil my good mood for the day.
The family of three ate, drank, and played to their hearts' content. Finally, at dusk, they rode home in their Hummer.
After taking a shower, Huo Qingfeng took his wife out. They had arranged to meet at a bar in B City, a place they used to frequent.
Ling Ruoke was a little nervous, but she felt relieved when she heard that the others would also be bringing their wives. If it were a bunch of men and she was the only woman, she would feel like she was watching monkeys, which would be very uncomfortable.
Bars are always a bit noisy. But this one is alright, not too noisy.
They booked a private room, which was much quieter than the outside.
When Ling Ruoke and Huo Qingfeng arrived, everyone else was already there. There were about ten people in total; luckily, the private room was large enough. They weren't late; it was the others who had arrived earlier.
Whether it's early or late, the last person to arrive will be punished with a drink.
"Don't say anything, just punish yourself with three drinks! Sister-in-law, do as you please, let Old Huo finish what's left."
"We weren't late, so isn't this penalty of drinking unfair?"
"Don't worry, you won't be wronged. Look, our chief prosecutor is here, who would dare to wrong you?"
"Monkey, I'm driving later, do you want me to go to the restaurant?"
"Restaurant my foot! There's that fancy hotel right next door, let's just get a room! It's the first night of the new year, we should at least make it a little romantic, right?"
"Well said!"
...
After much deliberation, I naturally decided to drink some alcohol. However, it was all beer, not very strong.
Ling Ruoke drank one glass and gave the rest to the colonel.
"Come on, Lao Huo, the drinks are finished, hurry up and introduce us."
Huo Qingfeng introduced everyone in turn. "Wife, this is Hou Zhixin, we all call him Monkey; this is Xing Dayong, we all call him Ape; this is Zheng Ye, we call him Leopard; this is Zhong Yu, we call him Tiger; this is Ma Wenjun, we call him Black Horse."
Finally, the colonel put his arm around his wife's shoulder, grinning and showing off his white teeth. "My wife, Ling Ruoke! Ruoke as in clear and bright!"
"Look at his smug look! Brothers, kill him!" As soon as the words were spoken, the men rushed up and attacked the colonel.
Ling Ruoke quickly stepped aside, letting the men express their feelings. A moment later, her sleeve was tugged. Turning around, she saw the woman sitting on the far right.
"Is that right? Hello, my name is Zhang Ting, I'm Hou Zhixin's wife, the one who called me Monkey earlier. I'm 27, how old are you?" Zhang Ting was clearly a native of B City, and she was very enthusiastic.
"I'm 25, so I'll call you Sister Ting from now on."
“Okay.” Zhang Ting then pulled her along and introduced the other people as well.
"I am Xing Dayong's girlfriend, and my name is Li Xiaoyun."
"I am Zheng Ye's wife, and my name is Zhang Lulu."
"I am Zhong Yu's wife, and my name is Yang Shuang."
"I am Ma Wenjun's girlfriend, my name is Wang Xi."
Ling Ruoke greeted them one by one, and they were all very lively and not awkward at all.
The women had finished getting to know each other, and the men had finished their commotion. They returned to their seats and embraced their respective women.
Huo Qingfeng was badly beaten and pitifully returned to Ruo Ke's side. "Wife, they bullied me."
"Holy crap, Huo, does it have to be this cheesy? Ugh, I'm getting goosebumps!"
"My teeth are sore!"
"What's so special about that? People actually propose on the Spring Festival Gala, that's real jealousy. My goodness, my teeth can't even chew on a bone anymore!" the monkey yelled, making the world go round.
"That's alright, as long as you can handle your wife, right?"
"Hahaha……"
"Come on, you guys are probably afraid that we're already in our graves and might have something to say about it, so you're making fun of Old Huo and Ruoke. If you're so capable, why don't you give us one too? We'd be so jealous we'd choke, right, sisters?"
A chorus of shouts erupted.
Zhang Ting was the first to yell, which made her monkey droop.
"Wife, let's get real, not his empty promises," the monkey said, drooling and trying to please his wife.
"You didn't even give me a single empty promise, so what are you talking about for real things? You're sleeping on the floor tonight! For a week!"
"Monkey, you're so pitiful!"
"Wife?" The monkey's face was so bitter it looked like it was about to burst.
“Two weeks.” Zhang Ting held up two fingers.
"Wife, why are you teaming up with outsiders to bully me? Wife, we need to unite and stand together against them!"
“Three weeks!” Three fingers were waved in front of him.
The monkey waved its hand and yelled, "Damn it, I'm going to go home and chop all the beds up! I'll sleep on the floor from now on!"
"Hahaha……"
Ling Ruoke laughed so hard her stomach went numb, and she couldn't straighten up. Although it was their first meeting, everyone was so warm and humorous that it felt like they had known each other for a very long time.
Ling Ruo knew that Qingfeng rarely had the chance to meet with them. But their relationship seemed to remain strong, regardless of their status or position. This was true friendship—unaffected by time and distance, and undiminished by the years.
"What are you thinking about?" Huo Qingfeng asked, seeing his wife smiling, clearly indicating that she was deep in thought.
Ling Ruoke shook her head. "I just thought, you two have such a good relationship."
"That's right, we all grew up together with our bottoms showing." True childhood friends.
Ling Ruoke thought of their nicknames and whispered in his ear, "When you introduced them, I thought I had come to a zoo, and that they were all animals."
Huo Qingfeng was amused as well. Indeed, what they called each other as children had become a testament to their affection as adults. It was a nickname that belonged exclusively to them.
"Hey, hey, hey, what are those two whispering about over there? Whispering in front of all of us, that's so inappropriate. They should just give each other a kiss, that would be much more appropriate! Don't you all agree?"
"Yes! Give me a kiss, give me a kiss..." came the enthusiastic shouts.
Ling Ruoke blushed, unsure of what reason to give for refusing. Although it's common practice nowadays for couples to kiss in a hotel room, she still wasn't used to it and always felt that these things were something only done in private.
Huo Qingfeng turned his head, grabbed his wife's head, and kissed her before she could react.
"Whoosh—" The shouts and whistles rose and fell.
Ling Ruoke blushed and glared at the colonel.
The colonel, receiving a flirtatious glance from his wife, grew even more smug. In previous years, they were always together when he returned, while he remained alone. Now, he finally had a wife, and he wasn't afraid of them showing off!
"Look at him, acting like he's the only one in the world with a wife. Brothers, take care of him! You little punk!"
Another violent storm raged, throwing everything into chaos.
Ling Ruoke wanted to blush for a while longer, but the atmosphere just wasn't right.
“They’re always making such a fuss, you’ll get used to it,” Zhang Ting said with a smile, munching on sunflower seeds.
Ling Ruoke smiled at her. "I think it's great; this kind of relationship is rare."
“That’s true. No matter how long it’s been since we last saw each other, we can always get along well as soon as we meet. If one of us is in trouble, the other five will definitely come to our aid. In today’s money-driven society, this kind of friendship is really rare.” Yang Shuang was the one who spoke.
The other women nodded in unison, watching the man rolling around in a heap with laughter, munching on sunflower seeds and cheering him on.
Ling Ruoke hadn't been this unrestrained since her graduation party. These people were all incredibly outgoing; in the end, you couldn't maintain your composure at all. Because you could only experience that joy by truly immersing yourself in the experience.
This kind of happiness cannot be bought, no matter how much wealth one possesses.
Huo Qingfeng, despite not winning against multiple opponents, certainly stole the show. He returned to his wife's side smugly, grinning broadly. "Honey, isn't your husband amazing?"
"Amazing, the most amazing!" Ling Ruoke looked at his childlike side with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.
The group continued their boisterous activity, and soon it was past midnight. After another two hours of revelry, they headed home. After all, they could endure it, but the women couldn't.
As they parted ways at the bar entrance, Hou Zhixin pulled Huo Qingfeng aside. "Old Huo, come here, I want to say something to you."
"I'll wait for you over there." Ling Ruoke smiled and walked a short distance away to give them some space.
Hou Zhixin looked at her and said with a smile, "Your wife is really great."
"Of course! My wife is the best!" Colonel Huo loved it when people praised his wife.
Hou Zhixin kicked him. "Smug! I'm telling you, don't get too cocky. She'll be back soon. Who knows what kind of trouble she might cause then."
"Who is it?" Huo Qingfeng frowned when he saw that he looked serious, but he couldn't remember who he was talking about.
"Guzheng (Chinese zither)".
Huo Qingfeng suddenly realized that he had completely forgotten about this person. "I have nothing to do with her anymore."
Just because you think that way doesn't mean she thinks that way. Anyway, you should still be careful.
"I understand. Thanks, brother." Patting Monkey on the shoulder, Huo Qingfeng walked towards his wife.
Ling Ruoke smiled and took his arm, without asking what they had talked about. Everyone has their own little secrets.
The early morning wind felt slightly chilly on my face. But my heart was warm because we had each other's company.
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