Chapter 279 Happy New Year
After finishing their meal, Nan Zhiyi accompanied Gu Xiao as they cleaned up the dishes by the kitchen sink.
That was the clock striking precisely on time at the military compound's broadcasting station, announcing the official arrival of the new year.
The two listened intently until the lingering sound of the bells faded away.
Gu Xiao looked at Nan Zhiyi. There were no stars or moon outside the window, only the lamplight illuminating her face, like jade soaking in warm water.
"Happy New Year, my dear wife."
He opened his arms, his gaze intense.
Nan Zhiyi instinctively threw herself into his arms, where he held her tightly.
"Fifth Brother, Happy New Year!"
On the morning of New Year's Day, Gu Xiao woke up early but continued to sleep while holding his wife.
As dawn broke, Xiaoman stirred in her crib before Gu Xiao got up.
He quickly dressed his son in a maroon sweater and corduroy overalls, then picked up the soft little body and headed out the door.
"Looking for Mommy..." Xiaoman rubbed her sleepy eyes and pointed her little finger towards the big bed.
In his young mind, as long as his mother was still in bed, it meant he could crawl in, kiss and hug her, and enjoy a warm embrace. Of course, his father wasn't home then.
Gu Xiao pinched her son's cheek and lowered her voice: "Mom is tired, let Mom sleep a little longer."
He coaxed and coaxed her as he walked, and when he reached the bottom of the stairs and handed Xiaoman to Sister Zhang, the little girl puffed out her chest and proudly announced, "Xiaoman is the best girl!"
Gu Xiao praised his son a few more times before quickly returning to the bedroom and pulling Nan Zhiyi back into his arms.
She nuzzled against his chest and quickly fell asleep again.
Gu Xiao lowered his eyes and silently looked at her sleeping face. He thought that since he had a rare day off today, he would take her out for a walk to relax. However, there were very few ways to spend time in winter, and for the time being, he couldn't think of a good place to go.
After lunch.
Gu Xiao suggested, "How about we go ice skating at Beihai Park? Or maybe we should visit the City God Temple? I heard there are lots of stalls there, it's quite lively."
Nan Zhiyi knew what he meant, so she smiled and said, "Okay, shall we go ice skating first? And then check out the temple fair on the way?"
Seeing her relaxed expression, Gu Xiao felt a little more at ease.
He got up to help his son put on his cotton-padded coat: "Mom is happy, so she's taking us out to play."
Xiaoman understood, immediately jumped up, grabbed her father's leg, and dragged him toward the door.
The open-air ice rink in Beihai Park is like a giant frosted glass, where your breath turns to frost everywhere.
Gu Xiao half-squatted down, steadily supporting Xiao Man under his armpits, and glided with him on the ice.
The little guy clumsily spread his legs, and each time he accelerated and slid out, he burst into a clear and cheerful laugh, like the ringing of a string of little silver bells.
"Again! Daddy, one more time!"
Nan Zhiyi slowly circled the father and son, her lingering depression evaporating completely in the sunlight. She was content to do only what she could.
In the late afternoon, the family of three went to the City God Temple.
The area in front of the temple was bustling with people, and all sorts of stalls lined the street.
The vendors selling New Year pictures spread bright red calendars all over the ground, and lanterns made of colored paper spun in the wind. The aroma of roasted chestnuts mixed with the sweetness of sugar paintings wafted in the air.
Xiaoman was carried on Gu Xiao's shoulders, her bright black eyes wide open. She looked at the old man blowing sugar figurines over here, and then at the man playing with a diabolo over there. Her little mouth was slightly open, and she couldn't take it all in.
Nan Zhiyi stood close to Gu Xiao, gazing at the bustling scene, and recalled the past: "I remember the winter I was pregnant with Xiaoman, we went to the temple fair in Jian'an. Back then, he was still just inside me. Now, he can pick out candy for himself."
She took Gu Xiao's hand and shook it, sighing, "Time flies..."
Amidst the surging crowd, Gu Xiao held her hand in his palm, "As long as I'm with you, it doesn't matter whether time passes quickly or slowly."
Nan Zhiyi stopped worrying and, like Xiaoman, looked around.
"Fifth Brother, it seems like they sell everything here."
"Okay, buy whatever you want."
Nan Zhiyi glanced at her son, then stopped in front of the candied hawthorn stall and picked out a skewer with only three hawthorns.
She handed it to Xiaoman, and when Xiaoman stuck out his tongue to lick it, with sugar crumbs sticking to the tip of his nose, he squinted and said, "Mommy, it's so sweet."
He even wanted his mother to have a bite, but Nan Zhiyi pushed him away.
The family of three followed the flow of people inside. Nan Zhiyi selected a few brightly colored New Year pictures, a few paper-cut window decorations, and a pair of lanterns... Finally, she squatted in front of a stall selling daffodil bulbs and picked out a pot that had already sprouted some tender green buds.
Gu Xiao silently paid the money and took the rough pottery basin.
After wandering around for quite a while, and after Nan Zhiyi weighed out some spiced melon seeds, dried fruit, and chestnuts, Gu Xiao's hands were already full. He even had to hold onto the candied hawthorn sticks that Xiaoman had left over.
Nan Zhiyi looked at Gu Xiao, who was now like a walking shelf, with his coat pockets stuffed full, and couldn't help but chuckle. She reached out and hugged Xiaoman.
"Go home."
Gu Xiao asked, "Have you really bought enough?"
Nan Zhiyi shook her head. "You can't expect me to move all these stalls home, Minister Gu."
Gu Xiao then led his wife and children toward the jeep.
When I got home, dusk had fallen.
Sister Zhang came up to Nan Zhiyi, helping her carry her things while saying, "Around 3 p.m., a Comrade Lin called, saying he was looking for you. It didn't seem to be urgent; he just said he'd call back later."
Nan Zhiyi nodded and bent down to take off Xiaoman's coat as he eagerly ran off to play with his new toy: "Okay, I understand. I'll call him back tomorrow."
The room was warm, so Gu Xiao took Xiaoman to wash up, while Nan Zhiyi started organizing the things they had bought.
She temporarily put away the brightly colored New Year's paper-cut window decorations, and placed the daffodils on a small table near the window in her study.
As for the few packets of melon seeds and snacks bought at the temple fair, Nan Zhiyi found three clean sheets of oil paper, divided the snacks into three portions, wrapped them carefully, and prepared to bring them to Zhang Yueran, Shan Xiaoyan, and Yang Mei when she went to school the next day.
The next day, I arrived at school and took advantage of the time before class.
Nan Zhiyi took out an oil paper packet from her bag and gave it to Shan Xiaoyan and Yang Mei.
"I bought this at the temple fair yesterday, so you guys can try it out."
Shan Xiaoyan readily accepted it and patted Nan Zhiyi's arm, "That's great!"
Yang Mei smiled and accepted it, putting it into her schoolbag. "Thank you for your kindness."
Shan Xiaoyan put away the paper package, then suddenly her face fell. "Just thinking about the final exams starting on the 20th makes my heart tremble."
She exaggeratedly covered her chest.
Just as Nan Zhiyi was about to reply, Yang Mei, who was sitting on the outside, nudged her elbow, gestured towards the classroom door, and whispered, "The teacher is here."
The three immediately fell silent, sat up straight, and took out their textbooks.
After finishing her morning classes and having a quick lunch in the cafeteria, Shan Xiaoyan wiped her mouth and announced with high spirits, "From today until the holiday, lunch breaks are canceled! Everyone is going to the library to read!"
Nan Zhiyi: "You guys go ahead, I need to go find Yueran."
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