Chapter 1552: New Year's Eve

Time flew by, and soon it was New Year's Eve.

Everyone took into account that Fu Yan Cheng's household still had three children to look after, so they let him rest on the first day of the New Year.

On the night of the thirtieth, he went to the canteen to eat dumplings with the soldiers, then hurried home.

When he arrived, Auntie Wei's New Year's Eve dinner was already ready.

Chuxue had originally wanted them all to eat together, but Auntie Wei refused: "I appreciate the thought, but you haven't finished your month of confinement yet—there are still things to be careful about. Wei Wenbin and I will eat in the kitchen."

Seeing that every dish had been set aside for them, Fu Yan Cheng didn't press the matter, but he did send over two bottles of orange soda: "Here, drink this."

Auntie Wei was deeply moved. It was the first time she and her grandson had ever had this drink. Although it was surely something Deputy Regiment Leader Fu had prepared in advance for his wife, now they were getting a share of it too.

Wei Wenbin's eyes lit up at the soda: "Thank you, Uncle Fu and Auntie Fu."

Fu Yan Cheng ruffled his head: "Happy New Year's Eve."

Wei Wenbin looked up: "I wish Uncle Fu and Auntie Fu, and the little brother and sisters, a Happy New Year's Eve too."

No sooner had Fu Yan Cheng left than Auntie Wei pushed the bottle in front of her over to her grandson: "Keep this one for yourself too."

Wei Wenbin reached out and pushed it back: "Grandma, I'm all grown up now—how could I still be as greedy as when I was little? This is Uncle Fu and Auntie Fu's kind thought. Let's share it."

Hearing her grandson's words, Auntie Wei's eyes immediately reddened, but remembering it was New Year's Eve and they were in someone else's home, she quickly held back her tears: "My Binzhi has grown up, knows how to care for people. Alright, let's drink it together."

The moment the orange soda touched his lips, Wei Wenbin suddenly blurted out: "Grandma, I'll remember Uncle Fu and Auntie Fu's kindness to us. When I grow up, I'll definitely repay them."

Auntie Wei hadn't expected her grandson to say such a thing. When she looked, she saw the tears at the corner of his eyes—though the boy had taken advantage of tipping his head back to drink the soda to hold them back: "You're right. We must remember this kindness."

Ever since coming here, they had eaten and drunk the same as Chuxue—even the chicken soup meant to nourish her body was no exception. How could the grandmother and grandson not be grateful?

At the Fu family home, Father Fu and Mother Fu had once again gone to the compound to spend the New Year with Xiao Laoyezi Fu.

Pan Peilin, thinking that the second branch's Yanwan had not only returned to Huicheng to marry but was also pregnant, said: "Dad, look, even little Wan has come back to the city. Could you pull some strings and get Yanjing transferred back too?"

For this New Year's Eve dinner she had pulled out all the stops, hoping that with the second branch's fourth son having triplets, the old master might be so pleased he'd relent.

But the old master was perfectly clear-headed: "Little Yan's return was entirely on her own merits—I didn't lift a finger."

Fu Zhixing, as the eldest, afraid of upsetting the old master on New Year's Eve, quickly stepped in to smooth things over: "She just saw little Wan come back and is missing little Jing. Dad, don't pay her any mind."

Pan Peilin wanted to say more, but her own man gave her a tug under the table, so she could only hold back.

But after the New Year's Eve dinner, she still cornered her brother-in-law and his wife: "Second Uncle, the only one still in the countryside now is Yanjing. Hasn't your bearing factory added a new production line? Couldn't you help get her transferred back?"

Father Fu said, somewhat embarrassed: "Sister-in-law, it's not that I don't want to help, but the workshop at the bearing factory is all heavy physical labor—even the quality inspector needs a fair amount of strength.

If I really placed her in there, I doubt three days would pass before she'd come crying to you. Not to mention the slot I had before, which I already gave to the second brother.

I truly don't have the ability to fit anyone else in."