Chapter 236 – Happy New Year (3)
Shu Yan walked out with a bowl of cola wings and a lobster. “I am already done cooking so I will just eat at home. Perfect timing though. Tongtong likes my cola wings, right? Bring some with you, and some lobster too.”
“I am here to invite you over to dinner. Now I ended up taking food from you.” Lin Hui accepted them though. When she came to return Shu Yan’s dishes, they were filled with food as well. She brought over a plate of pig feet that was filled to the brim and also a plate of sausages.
Shu Yan, too, accepted that. It wasn’t about the cost of the goods. Mainly its good for the relationship when individual exchange favors with each other.
“Mommy, this sausage is very good,” said JingJing as she dip the sausage and ate them with vinegar.*
“If you like it, Mommy will learn how to make them from Aunty Lin Hui so we can make more and save them up for you.” If sausages were what she wanted, Shu Yan could always have Aunty make some when she was back.
With a table full of food, Shu Yan pulled out her camera, set it up on a tripod, and took a picture of the three of them sitting in front of the dinner table.
Shu Yan had specifically asked Hu Ruixue to help her get a camera from Hong Kong, for the purpose of recording their daily lives.
Eating the sumptuous New Year Eve’s dinner and watching the new year gala, the three of them were equally happy and finally started counting down with those on television.
“Happy New Year!” Shu Yan had one kid in each arm and kissed them left and right. It might be hard work having two kids by herself but, most of the time, she was happy.
The phone rang and Shu Yan want to pick it up. A very melodious voice came over the phone. “Happy New Year. The dumplings are very good.”
Shu Yan’s lips curved upward and two very light dimples could be seen. She had only noticed that after she had lost weight. Back when she was fact, the dimples had disappeared.
“Happy New Year to you too!”
After she had hung up on the phone, Hu Ruixue called too. Followed by Lao Zhang, Lao Hu, and finally, Shu Jianyang from his cellphone from who knew where and they wished each other a happy new year through the choppy connection.
It was the first day of new year the next day. Per the Chinese custom, there were many things that one should not do on the first day of the year. Shu Yan and the two kids rolled in bed until the door bell rang.
“Aunty Shu, I am looking for JingJing to play with me.”
“Oh, Tongtong? Where are you two going?” Shu Yan opened up the door to let Tongtong in and put pockets full of candies in her jacket.
“We are going to go look for Li Junran downstairs.” Tongtong smiled when she talked, and one could see that two of her front teeth were missing.
“Oh, okay. Don’t go outside of our little district though. And no playing with firework.”
Li Junran was a boy in JingJing’s class and lived on the first door in the building next to them. Ever since they have moved here, JingJing and Tongtong had been visiting him often. It was said that Li Junran had two rabbits in the backyard. All in all, the two kids wanted to see the rabbits daily.
Little kids always liked to follow the big kids. When Tianbao saw that, he quickly put on his shoes and followed them. Shu Yan didn’t mind that. She just asked JingJing to take good care of her little brother.
Shu Yan had no relatives in City Nan so she had no need to visit her relatives over the new year. It got boring staying home the entire time, so Shu Yan took the kids with her to Beijing on the 3rd. Not very many people travelled over the new year in this era so people were scarce. But that had its benefits. It wasn’t crowded at all. They went to see the flag being raised, visited the Forbidden City, and toured the Great Wall. They tried all sorts of food in streets and alleys. When they returned, Shu Yan brought with her a total of 30 roast ducks.
She needed to bring gifts back for others when going on a trip and, with each person getting two of them, there weren’t much left for Shu Yan.
“You are back?” said Zhang-jie when she took the roast duck and passionately invited them to go dine at her place.
“It’s alright. We have been gone for a few days. I need to clean up some around the house.”
“You don’t need to do that. Aunty came back last night and is over at my place. Let me let her know.” Zhang-jie was an efficient one and immediately went to fetch Aunty after she had finished talking.
It was great that Aunty was back. Shu Yan was relieved from doing housework.
__________
Translator’s note:
Sausages with vinegar? O.O Ugh….
