Chapter 83
But once you’ve paid, the service must be good.
His sister said she wanted to set off fireworks, and no matter how reluctant I was, I had to follow her downstairs to set off the fireworks.
Haicheng has controls on fireworks and firecrackers. If you set off firecrackers at will, you will be fined. You can't set off the kind that flies into the sky. So the three of them bought a bunch of spinning tops, small whirlwinds, and land gods. After lighting them, they threw them on the ground. They spun and crackled, igniting colorful sparks. Some of them even sang while spinning.
The wind was howling, as cold as a knife. The three people squatted on the ground and watched the God of Land spinning and jumping, without any emotion in their hearts.
In the final season, Let the expressionless man stand up and say, "Go back."
Qi Ying: “Yeah.”
Yu Zhuo: “…”
I think you two are really sick.
After returning home, it was finally warmer. Ji Rang poured several cups of the Yu family's traditional drink, cola and ginger. Yu Zhuo looked at him like a monster, "Don't you think it tastes bad?"
Ji Rang: "It tastes good."
Yu Zhuo: “???”
This was one of the dark dishes he hated the most. What was wrong with this person's sense of taste? Why was it as weird as his parents'? He was too lazy to care about him and fell on the sofa to continue playing games.
Qi Ying sat on the sofa with Ji Rang to watch TV. They were watching a mystery horror variety show. Qi Ying was watching with great interest. Ji Rang would peel a candy and feed it to her from time to time. It was so warm that Yu Zhuo felt like he was the outsider who came to visit.
He was reluctant to see his sister being so intimate with the eldest brother, so he deliberately shouted: "Dad, what are you doing in the kitchen? Come out and watch TV. There's your favorite female star on it."
Yu Cheng still had garlic in his hand. He poked his head out of the kitchen and took a look: "I've seen this episode. Why are you lying down again? You don't know how to sit properly! Look at Xiao Ji, sit properly!"
Yu Zhuo: “…”
So angry!
He glared at the boss fiercely, and Ji Rang turned around just in time. His cold gaze was intimidating without even being angry. Yu Zhuo immediately became timid and went back to play his own game in a wronged manner.
I heard his sister say, "I don't want candy anymore. I want melon seeds, spiced ones."
The boss's voice was so gentle that it seemed as if the person who had just killed him with his eyes was not him: "Okay."
Yu Zhuo: I don’t want the New Year’s money anymore. Now I want to expose this person’s true face in front of his father.
As evening approached, the sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner was finally served. Qi Ying had Yu Zhuo tell Wu Yinghua about Ji Rang's taste preferences in advance, and several dishes on the table were Ji Rang's favorites.
Yu Cheng and Wu Yinghua were cheerful and outgoing, and they didn't make anyone feel uncomfortable at all. Ji Rang sat between Qi Ying and Yu Zhuo, and the whole family kept serving him food and pouring him drinks, telling him not to be polite, to treat this place as his own home, and to eat more.
There were a few moments that made him feel dazed.
He hadn't had a New Year's Eve dinner with anyone for many years. He had a tough temper since he was a child, and even his means of revenge were tough, punishing others the way he punished himself, wishing that they would die together.
I have been tormenting myself for so many years that I even forgot what it feels like to celebrate the New Year.
He thought he liked someone, but now he realized that he was just used to being that person.
Wu Yinghua put the biggest piece of sweet and sour pork ribs into his bowl and said, "Xiao Ji, don't just stand there, eat it quickly. It tastes best while it's hot. Auntie's cooking is absolutely amazing, come and try it."
Ji Rang retracted his thoughts, nodded and smiled: "Okay, thank you Auntie."
The tradition of the Yu family is to give out lucky money at the New Year's Eve dinner table. Yu Cheng took out three red envelopes from his inner pocket and gave them to Qi Ying and Yu Zhuo first, then handed them to Ji Rang with a smile: "Xiao Ji, in the new year, you must study hard and strive to get into a good university next year!"
Ji Rang was stunned for a moment, and Yu Zhuo said beside him: "No? Don't give it to me."
Yu Chengxu hit him and said, "You little brat, eat your meal! When you can get the same score as Xiao Ji, I will give you double the New Year's money."
Qi Ying is right, they are really nice.
Ji Rang took the red envelope and whispered, "Thank you, uncle. I will."
Yu Cheng couldn't stop smiling.
He was polite and gentle, and after the meal, he was firmly established as a model student in the couple's minds.
After dinner, Ji Rang wanted to help clean up the dishes, but Wu Yinghua sent him back and told the three children to go play by themselves. It was up to them whether they wanted to watch the Spring Festival Gala or go out for the New Year's Eve, as long as they paid attention to safety.
Haicheng held a New Year's Eve fireworks show last year and a countdown clock this year. It was a real big bronze clock, three stories high, and it was set up in the square in the city center early in the morning.
Several major businesses in the city bid for the qualification to ring the bell. When the countdown begins, the bidders will ring the bell. It is said that this will bring good luck for the whole year ahead.
After all, there is only one person who can ring the bell, and the more blessings the better. Later, people said that the person who hears the first bell will have good luck in the coming year. So many people ran to the central square to watch the bell ringing and wait for the New Year's Eve.
Ji Rang also took Qi Ying with him.
Before going out, she ran back to the bedroom and changed her clothes.
He took off his coat and put on the red cloak.
When she came out, even Wu Yinghua and Yu Cheng were stunned: "Yingying, what are you wearing? A cape? Not to mention it looks pretty."
She suits red very well.
She has fair skin, delicate features, and looks particularly beautiful in red.
Ji Rang's eyes darkened and he didn't say anything until the three of them left the door and Yu Zhuo ran to find his classmates. Ji Rang stood under the dim street lights and finally couldn't help but pull the little girl to his side.
He rubbed her cheek with his fingers, as if he couldn't get enough of it, and whispered to her, "Why are you wearing something so pretty?"
She smiled so beautifully, so obedient and soft: "I need to wear new clothes for the New Year."
Ji Rang's fingers tightened.
I want to hold her in my arms and kiss her.
In the distance came the sound of children setting off firecrackers, and the wind brought with it the smell of gunpowder.
He brushed the corner of her lips with the tip of his thumb and whispered, "Close your eyes."
She blinked her wet eyes once, then closed them obediently.
He leaned over, held his breath, and gently kissed her trembling eyelashes.
"Okay, there's something dirty, I'll wipe it off for you." He stood up straight and smiled, took her hand, and hailed a taxi as if nothing had happened: "Let's go celebrate the New Year."
Qi Ying pursed her lips and smiled obediently.
The central square was bright with colorful lights, as bright as day, and crowded with people. From afar, you could see the bronze bell enclosed by the fence. Many people took this opportunity to make money, and there were snack stands and toy stands everywhere.
Qi Ying likes this kind of excitement the most. She wants to see everything and taste everything.
Ji Rang obeyed her.
As long as he saw her smile, he felt that even if the sky fell, it wouldn't be a big deal.
As it approached midnight, the scattered crowds of people who were having fun gradually moved towards the bronze bell, and the representatives of the successful bidders were already in place inside.
Neither of them wanted to squeeze in, so they stood in the outer circle and waited at ease, since they could hear the bells anyway. Ji Rang asked her to stand on the round stone platform and held her from behind so that she could see the bell ringing clearly.
Soon, the crowd began to count down, starting from ten. Qi Ying reacted and shouted happily along.
Five! Four! Three! Two! One!
The deep bells rang out, like ripples on water, spreading out in circles across the square, and everyone shouted excitedly, "Happy New Year!"
Ji Rang put his arm around her waist, lowered his head to her ear, and whispered in a low voice: "Baby, grow up quickly."
…
After the New Year's Eve, they played in the square for a while. Not wanting the Yu couple to worry, Ji Rang sent Qi Ying home.
Her slender body was hidden under the red cloak, like an elf sneaking into the human world from the night. She held his clothes and asked him, "Shall we go see the pandas tomorrow?"
What pandas to see on the first day of the Lunar New Year.
Ji Rang smiled and touched her furry hat brim: "Okay."
Walking downstairs of the community building, the pure moonlight sprinkled through the withered branches of the crabapple tree, falling on her in tiny pieces. She waved to him, her eyebrows and eyes like the crescent moon in the sky, "I'm leaving now, see you tomorrow."
She could always make him look forward to tomorrow.
On the way home, I checked my phone and received many congratulatory messages and red envelopes. Qu Dazhuang tagged him in many messages in the group chat:
——Brother Rang, I heard that you went to meet the parents?
——How is it? Are your father-in-law and mother-in-law satisfied with you?
——Did Yu Zhuo, that kid, try to trip you up?
——The brother-in-law is the most difficult to deal with!
Yu Zhuo, who was pulled into the group by Yue Li: Qu Xiaokeai, you’re trash.
Qu Xiaokeai: Who is this white lotus? Why do you call me trash? Come out and fight me if you dare! ! !
White Lotus: Middle finger.
The group chat was noisy, Ji Rang flipped through it, shook his head, laughed and cursed. After returning home, he washed up and went straight to bed. After all, he had to accompany the baby to see the pandas tomorrow.
The phone rang at around four in the morning.
Ji Rang was confused and thought he was dreaming, so he pinched himself the first two times.
It was only after the third time that I realized it was my cell phone that was ringing. I was so annoyed by the interruption of my sweet dream that I half-closed my eyes and swiped the phone, asking unhappily, "Hello?"
Ji Qian's trembling voice came from the receiver: "Arrang, grandpa is dying."
Ji Rang suddenly came to his senses and sat up on the bed. Ji Qian was still crying on the phone and told him the address of the hospital.
It was still dark and everything was quiet. He hurriedly put on his clothes and rushed out the door.
The hospital was as bright as day.
In the corridor outside the ward, all the members of the Ji family were there, as well as many comrades and subordinates in military uniforms.
Ji Qian was waiting at the elevator entrance with red eyes. When she saw him coming out, she immediately rushed over. Ji Rang's throat tightened a little, and he asked in a low voice: "Are you still there?"
She nodded, her voice low and hoarse: "It seems that the old man... has something on his mind and is holding on to his last breath."
Ji Rang didn't look at the people in the corridor and walked straight into the ward.
There were only doctors and nurses inside, and Mr. Ji kicked everyone out.
There was a strong smell of disinfectant in the ward, the heart rate monitor was weak and invisible, and the old man on the bed had his eyes half-closed. He slowly opened his eyes when he heard footsteps.
Ji Rang stood beside the bed.
The old man's eyes were cloudy. The soldier's physique that he once took pride in was now so thin that one could almost see the bones. The vitality had slowly drained away from him. He was hanging on with only one breath as he looked at the grown-up boy beside him.
He stretched out his dry fingers tremblingly, trying hard to pull the boy's white finger bones.
He remembered that when his beloved grandson was a child, he loved holding his hand like this the most.
Ji Rang moved for a while, then slowly held his hand.
He tried hard to open his eyes, wanting to see the boy's current appearance, but he couldn't see clearly. There was only a vague light in front of him. The boy was walking away in the light, and he had been gone for many years.
The warmth of the boy's palm was transmitted to his heart through his skinny fingers.
Fortunately, the boy’s hands are still so warm.
He opened his mouth, and a hoarse and weak voice seemed to be squeezed out from his throat: "Agen..." The light and shadow began to fade in front of his eyes, and the old man didn't even have the strength to open his eyes, but he still stubbornly looked at the blurry figure in the light and shadow, wanting to see it clearly for the last time.
His life is full of things in his mind.
A life full of honor, but also a life full of regret.
A bitter smile spread across the corners of his mouth. When a person is about to die, he suddenly realizes what has happened, but there is no chance to make up for it.
That young man has long gone away.
The old man slowly closed his eyes: "Arang... Grandpa was wrong..." A turbid tear slid down from the corner of his eye, and Ji Rang's hands, which were clasped in his palms, dropped weakly.
The heart monitor beeped sharply and the people outside the door rushed in.
Ji Rang just stood there, watching the old man on the bed take his last breath.
The hospital became busy again in the early morning.
Ji Rang didn't want to talk to anyone, nor could he hear anyone talking.
He walked out of the ward alone, walked along the corridor for a long time, walked out of the hospital building, and sat down beside the flower bed downstairs.
It was still dark and the early morning wind was chilly.
He rested his elbows on his knees and slowly covered his face with his hands.
I didn't cry, I just felt a little sad.
——What is the Ji family motto? Memorize it and grandpa will buy you a gun.
——Loyal and brave! Respect virtue and be kind! I will serve my country with my body and I will sacrifice my blood for the country!
——Ajan is really smart. Come on, let grandpa buy you a gun. With a gun in hand, you are a little soldier. You must protect your country and family. Remember?
——Remember! Grandpa, I want the most impressive gun.
——Hahaha, okay, grandpa will buy you whatever Valan wants!
That majestic toy gun accompanied him for many years, and was later crushed by him.
The phone vibrated.
It’s Qi Ying calling.
Ji Rang collected his thoughts and coughed twice to make his voice sound less hoarse: "Why did you wake up so early?"
The little girl's voice was hazy, light and soft: "I had a nightmare, and I'm a little scared."
He laughed softly: "Don't be afraid, I'll stay with you, sleep a little longer, I won't hang up."
She hummed obediently, and seemed to have changed her posture, with a soft rustling sound coming from it.
She said, “Then I’ll go to sleep.”
"Well, go to sleep."
A shallow breath gradually came from the receiver, and it brushed across his heart through the phone.
It doesn't seem so painful anymore.
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