Just like the minions, Jin and his dungeon family were enjoying the same bountiful dinner. It had been hard on them as the dungeon supplier had to convince Lynn not to get involved in the food process at all.
For the first time, Lynn had felt ever so restless as she was being forced to relax. (The Queen and Penguins were just too hardworking when it comes to food.) However, upon learning that it would just be hotpot and barbecued meat, she had decided to leave it to Jin. (Even though she could not help herself and prepare some Porkcupine meat ‘just in case’ they would need it.)
Grandma Yuan and Hou Fei had both turned up. The old woman was accompanied by Claire, who had quickly become a favourite guest in the System’s eyes (or sensors). The Panda Waiter had prepared a mini hotpot special for Grandma Yuan so it would be nutritional and tasty but more importantly, premium looking.
“Heh, guess you brats know how to please the elderly.” Grandma Yuan said but little did she know it was Yun who had suggested that specific assortment of food for Jin to procure. She had made him promise that he would not say a word about her involvement, as she would deny everything, but the Dungeon Supplier knew that credit should go where it was due.
Thus, he slipped a video file to Claire and hinted that it might be interesting for Grandma Yuan to see. However, he never knew that it was because they were related in some way and thought it was just a method to close the gap between them. (In hindsight, this small gesture by Jin helped propel the mending of their relationship, but that is for a later story.)
Even before digging in, the bellators’ mouth were already drooling from looking at Grandma Yuan’s hotpot. When their personal hotpot was served, they feasted on it as if they had been starving for weeks. Side dishes were gone, and the Panda Waiters had to come in multiple times to fill the plates.
Even Zeru decided to eat more than usual and laughed with a relaxed posture. As a good disciple, Jin had also prepared a special something for his Sword Saint teacher. He beckoned him to a corner, where he gave Zeru a bottle during the midst of the reunion hotpot dinner.
A bottle of fermented lavender flower wine.
Zeru was curious as to why he would give something like that to him away from the others until he saw Jin pull out an antique Chinese tea set as well as a bottle of sludge.
“This day is meant to be celebrated with the people closest to us. I thank you for all that you have done, but there is still someone else you should spend time with. I think your wife will be thrilled to learn that you can be with her during this day. This bottle is filled with my latest dark sludge, so it is choke full of my Maqi, allowing you to manifest her spirit for some time.” Jin explained and Zeru could not help but stifle his reaction.
“Boss Jin. I… Thank you for your generosity.” Zeru said as he nearly wanted to kneel, but Jin stopped him almost instantly.
“Stop it. I might be your boss, but I am also your disciple. Now please stop or the others will think up something suspicious!” Jin panicked as he tried to stabilise the Sword Saint.
“Agreed, but as your teacher, allow me to honour my precious disciple with a toast from this wine he got for me.” Zeru insisted. He effortlessly opened the bottle and used his chi to grab his glass from the table, making everyone’s attention shift to the duo.
They watched Zeru pour a cup full of wine and drank wholeheartedly not before shouting “Prosperity to the Panda Clan!” which caused chuckles from the table afar. After which he nodded his head with gratitude and left the room early.
“Was that the wine you asked me to get?” Lynn asked in a hushed tone, and Jin smiled widely.
“Yes, and his mouth was wide open when he saw that I took out that bottle.” Jin whispered back.
Not too long ago, Zeru had been asked by Lynn for his opinion for a wine which might accompany a particular dish. At the time, she had presented him with many choices. He had expertly analysed each one of them, but that one in particular had made him halt for a moment. Jin only came to learn of this by sheer coincidence as he had asked his Sub System Users what had happened while he was unconscious.
“Speaking of Prosperity… isn’t it time for our boss to give us some *cough* pieces of paper?” Qiu Yue mischievously asked as she pointed at the clock.
It was about three minutes to midnight, and Jin shook his head with dreaded anticipation. “Damn, time really flies, eh? Shouldn’t we wait until morning?” Jin chuckled with a bitter smile.
“No wonder Grandma Yuan left a little early, citing the need for rest. She must have suspected you guys would be shameless enough to ask for some Hong Bao (red packets).” Claire stated as she laid back on her chair and drank a bottle of beer. Although she was not expecting much since she was the ‘intern’ in the family, she would still like a red packet from Boss Jin too.
“Heh, and you cannot forget about Hou Fei. He flew off the fastest after the first round of meat. Besides, we worked damn hard to fulfil your impossible deadlines, so it is only natural to ask for some good bonus. Besides, who knows what this Boss of ours got to do in the morning. Perhaps we will have to save yet another world from being taken over… or at least some Royal Zodiacs might be knocking on his door after they learn that he is still alive and kicking.” Qiu Yue argued as she looked at the time and kept tapping on the table.
“That you are not wrong. But on the side note, I cannot believe there are still people playing those dungeons at this time. Shouldn’t they be with their parents or something?” Claire wondered, and eventually, all the Sub System Users were staring at each other.
“I ate with my father in the afternoon, because I told him I was eating with you guys in the evening.” Lynn defended herself first and gave a peace symbol with a wide grin, as if she knew she had done her ‘familial duties’ then the eyes slowly shifted to Qiu Yue.
“My parents are still overseas because of their business obligations. I had a video call after Lynn said she was looking for her father for lunch.” Qiu Yue even showed the logs that she called her mom in the afternoon, which allowed her to grin the same as Lynn.
And lastly, the eyes went to Claire.
“The only ‘family’ I had was previously Grandma Yuan and to a lesser degree her students. So, I’d like to formally thank you all for inviting me to this reunion dinner.” Claire even bowed with delight and gratitude too.
“Let me formally welcome you to our family, Claire. No matter what happens, you are now one of us after what you have been through. And of course, what you have seen. Besides I am sure that pesky System will change your status from intern to-”
“HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!!!!” The System suddenly declared and imaginary fireworks lit up the whole terrace, causing Jin to realise that three minutes had already passed. Both the Bellators and Sub System Users together wished Jin a very happy new year by raising their glasses to drink up.
Jin chuckled a little and picked his glass up to toast.
“Happy Chinese New Year, everyone. Let’s hope that we will continue to prosper for the upcoming year and continue to strive towards our goal of being the Number One Dungeon Supplier Store in the World!” Jin said, and everybody stood up to clink their glasses together.
“Ready…1, 2, 3- YAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM” Jin started the toasting chant, and the rest followed up, including Yun and Kraft who had told the System to record the moment. All of them continued to yell for a considerable amount of time for as long as possible as it was a tradition to do so.
“SENGGGG!” The glasses all collided with each other once more, and everyone drank up.
After which, the Panda Waiter came in time with a large giant plate of Yu Sheng, a premium platter of raw fish and vegetables. Everyone knew that the dish was served to usher in good luck and wealth for the new year.
There were eighteen phrases when one added the ingredients into their Yu Sheng, and the Panda Waiter looked eerily familiar. (It turned out to be a replica of Captain Hei.)
He came in with a waiter costume and started to open the extra ingredients that needed to be added into the platter to signify good luck.
“Nian Nian You Yu! May every year be filled with prosperity!” Hei said as he opened the first pack filled with raw slices of fish.
“Da Ji Da Li! For more good luck and prosperity!” Hei proceeded to add dried orange peels into the Yu Sheng platter.
“Zhao Cai Jin Bao! Welcoming wealth into our household!” Hei added the peppers and a variety of seasoning powders.
“Yi Ben Wan Li! May Boss make a thousandfold profit from investment!” Hei shouted out loudly when he poured a packet of oil.
“Cai Yuan Guang Jin! May the money pour in all directions!” Hei said as he sprinkled the last bits of oil in the packet.
“Hong Yun Dang Tou! May fortune greet you at your door!” Hei announced as he threw thin strips of carrots into the platter.
“Bu Bu Gao Sheng! May Boss rise higher with every step!” Hei threw in the shredded white raddish.
“Feng Sheng Shui Qi! May everyone have success and promotion at work!” Hei later placed the shredded cabbage in, and there was a slight cheer from Qiu Yue.
“Qing Chun Chang Zhu! May everyone retain their youthful looks!” Now more cheers came in when Hei threw in the shredded green raddish.
“Jing Ying Man Wu! May our house be full of gold and silver!” Hei sprinkled chopped peanuts into the Yu Sheng mixed platter.
“Sheng Yi Xing Long! May Boss’s business prosper forevermore!” Hei used a little more strength to sprinkle the sesame seeds, and Jin personally added some cheering in.
“Man Di Huang Jing! May your floor be covered in gold!” Hei said as he opened not one but three packets of golden looking crackers and scattered them throughout the whole platter.
“Jin Yu Man Tang! May your hall be filled with gold and jade!” Hei added when he scattered the last packet of golden crackers.
“Tian Tian Mi Mi! May your life be blessed with sweetness.” Hei now opened a small container filled with plum sauce and poured it over the platter. That was when Hei stepped back, and everyone took a pair of chopsticks. They knew that there were a few phrases left, but they were only to be said when everyone started tossing the Yu Sheng platter.
To mix everything up was a symbolic gesture of putting all the wishes together. They allowed Jin to be the first to start by tossing the vegetables and fish platter in the large red plate. Only when he initiated, the others began to follow, and that was when Hei shouted the last few phrases.
“Wan Shi Ru Yi! May everything be good and smooth sailing!”
“Shen Ti Jian Kang! May everyone’s body stay strong and healthy!”
“Gong Xi Fa Cai! Wishing everyone great wealth!”
And lastly, everyone was competing to be the one to toss the vegetables as high as possible as that was the point where everyone had to shout the most auspicious phrase.
“HUAT AH!”
Huat, Huat, Huat Ah! To Prosperity, to Victory and most importantly, to his Family.
