After the New Year's Eve dinner, before the warmth of the old year had faded, the footsteps of the new year had already quietly arrived.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Lei Feng and his father brought gifts to Fang Yu's house.
The sky was overcast and the wind carried a chill, but it couldn't dispel the warmth that was gradually building up inside Fang Yu's house.
They agreed that Yu Jihong would not open her shop on the first day of the lunar new year so that they could discuss wedding arrangements. Yu Jihong had already brewed tea and prepared snacks on the tea table.
Lei Feng often came here, feeling at home, without the same restraint as his father.
"Fang Yu's mom, no need to go to so much trouble. We've already eaten breakfast before we came." Lei Feng's dad sat on the sofa and rubbed his hands together.
"No trouble at all. It's the first day of the new year, so come and have some 'prosperity tea'." Yu Jihong and Fang Yu brought over the longan tea.
After Lei Feng finished the longan in his bowl, he tugged at Fang Yu's sleeve and winked at her, "Yu Baobao, you've been at the shop all year, so don't mind the shop today, we're going out to play. Auntie, Dad, we younger generation don't know anything about these things, so please take care of them. Just say what you want, and we'll follow your arrangements."
Fang Yu looked at Yu Jihong, "Mom, shall we go out and play?"
Yu Jihong hesitated for a moment, then said, "Go!"
Lei Feng immediately took Fang Yu's hand and led her to the door, saying, "Parents, please have a good chat. Thank you for your hard work!"
The room fell silent. "Fang Yu's mother, I've looked at the auspicious dates during the year and selected a few. I've come to discuss them with you."
Lei Feng's father took out a red slip of paper from his pocket and said, "Take a look at these dates."
Yu Jihong took a look and said, "Let's take this one. We can hold the engagement and wedding together and save some money."
Lei Feng's father was taken aback for a moment, then smiled, his restraint lessening. "Fang Yu's mother, thank you for thinking of us."
"It's good to give the children a ceremony and leave them with beautiful memories at the wedding, but we'll also save money where we can."
"That's what I thought too. I didn't expect you to be so open-minded. You're such a good woman."
As soon as he said that, the air in the room seemed to freeze for a moment. "Fang Yu's mother, Lei Feng didn't have a mother. You need to be careful with the preparations before the wedding. There are some things that will require your attention."
"It's nothing, it's what I should do."
The couple discussed the number of tables for the wedding, the wedding candies and cigarettes, and all the other aspects and preparations they could think of until noon.
Yu Jihong checked the time. "Where are the two kids playing? I'll call them back for lunch. Lei Feng's dad, you can have lunch here too."
“Okay, let’s burn it together.” Lei Feng’s father readily agreed.
Yu Jihong hung up the phone. "They said they've gone to the countryside and won't be back for lunch."
"Let them play a little longer, there's nothing else to do during the first month of the lunar calendar," Lei Feng's father said with a smile.
Fang Yu hung up the phone and couldn't help but ask Lei Feng, "Your dad... it's just your dad and my mom at home, will he bully my mom?"
Thor put his arm around Fang Yu's shoulder. "My dad is a gentleman, just like me. He wouldn't do that. If he dares to bully your mom, I'll be the first to object."
"If your dad dares to bully my mom, I'm done for with you too."
"Pah, pah, pah, what nonsense are you talking about on the first day of the Lunar New Year? No way. Let's find something to eat first, and then we'll go to that newly developed ancient village this afternoon."
"good!"
"It's just the two of us, so I'll just cook something simple," Yu Jihong said.
“Okay.” Thor’s dad walked to the kitchen, washed his hands, and said, “I’ll do it.”
The range hood hummed. Yu Jihong, wearing a blue apron, was bending down to put noodles into the pot. With a slight flick of her wrist, the silvery noodles slid down the edge of the pot, splashing up tiny droplets of water.
Lei Feng's father poured in the stir-fried side dishes he had just prepared, and the two of them, standing side by side, were inevitably close together. As he turned around, his elbow accidentally brushed against Yu Jihong's arm.
Lei Feng's father quickly took half a step back, not daring to look at Yu Jihong.
Yu Jihong also lowered her head and pretended to stir the noodles in the pot. The steam from the pot rose up, making her cheeks feel hot. She couldn't tell if it was from the heat or something else.
The noodles were served in two white porcelain bowls, sprinkled with greens and golden-fried eggs, and were still steaming when they were placed on the small table in the living room.
The two sat facing each other, neither speaking, only the soft sound of chopsticks touching bowls could be heard.
The lingering smell of cooking in the kitchen seemed to carry a hint of sweetness, a sweetness that carried unspoken feelings, quietly spreading throughout the small room.
After finishing the noodles, Lei Feng's dad helped tidy up the kitchen and then sat back down on the sofa.
They had been talking about wedding preparations all morning, but now the conversation had stalled and neither of them spoke.
Lei Feng's father looked at Yu Jihong, his Adam's apple bobbed, he took a deep breath, and softened his voice, "Fang Yu's mother, we're both alone. I... I also want a companion. In the future, let's take care of the children together, okay?"
Yu Jihong lowered her eyes and after a long while said softly, "The children's weddings haven't been held yet. Let's talk about it after they've settled down."
"Okay, let's get their wedding arranged, and then we'll live together."
"No, that's not what I meant," Yu Jihong hurriedly explained.
“Fang Yu’s mom, when Feng told me about you, I passed by your shop and saw you. After getting to know you, I think you’re a really good person. I like you.”
Yu Jihong turned her head to one side and remained silent.
Lei Feng's father sat down next to her and hugged Yu Jihong tightly.
Yu Jihong was startled; she also had a good impression of Lei Feng's father.
Lei Feng's father put his face close to Yu Jihong's ear.
Yu Jihong closed her eyes briefly, took a deep breath, and thought, "No, I have to control myself. My daughter hasn't even had her wedding yet, how can I do this?"
She pushed Lei Feng's father away.
Lei Feng's father immediately sat up straight, placing his hands together between his knees. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Fang Yu's mom, I acted impulsively just now! I really like you."
"Let's take care of the children's affairs first."
"Okay! We can't find any workers to do the work before the eighth day of the lunar month. I'll find someone to repaint the house after the eighth day. We also need to hurry up and renovate Feng's room."
The two continued chatting about the wedding, as if the little incident from earlier had never happened.
In the evening, Lei Feng and Fang Yu returned home chatting and laughing. As soon as they entered the door, they smelled the aroma of food wafting from the house. Yu Jihong and Lei Feng's father were cooking dinner together.
The four people sat around the table, the warm yellow light illuminating the food on it. This dinner on the first day of the Lunar New Year was like a thread, quietly tying the hearts of the two families together.
After dinner, Lei Feng and his father went home. "Dad, have you seen Fang Yu's mother...?"
"No!" Lei Feng's father immediately replied.
"I didn't ask you anything, and you just said no. You're guilty." Lei Feng grinned mischievously.
"No, don't ask, there's nothing." Lei Feng's father's ears turned slightly red.
"Hehe, the old man is shy!"
Lei Feng's father patted him on the shoulder and said solemnly, "You're about to be a groom, and you still don't act properly. Fang Yu's mother is really good; she doesn't make things difficult for our family at all. She saves us money. You must be good to Fang Yu!"
"I know, I like her, and I will treat her well."
"I'll send the betrothal money to her tomorrow. Here's the money, so you can take Fang Yu to buy some gold jewelry as soon as possible. With Fang Yu's mother helping with the arrangements, we won't need to ask relatives for help. After tidying up the house and covering expenses like the wedding banquet, son, the family's savings will be completely depleted!"
"Okay, Dad. I'll keep working for now and get ready. When the time is right, I'll start doing plumbing and electrical renovation contracting. I'm still young, and I can take care of things at home. It'll be fine."
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