Chapter 579: Delicious and Non-Toxic

New Year arrived as scheduled amidst the bustle of the Song family's old residence.

On New Year's Eve, the old residence started bustling from midnight.

The elders of the Mu, Song, Jiang, and Shen families arrived early in the morning, each occupying a corner of the living room; the younger generation was much more relaxed, wandering about freely without restraint.

Window paper cutouts were pasted on the windows, red lanterns hung under the eaves, and from afar the place already had a festive atmosphere.

After getting up, Mu Youyu first glanced at the door of Mu Xin's room next door, saw it was closed, didn't go knock, and instead went to the door of Mu Xi's room.

The door was half open; she poked half her head in, her voice sweet: "Second brother, second brother, are you awake?"

Mu Xi was wearing a coat; seeing the fluffy little head at the door, his expression softened considerably: "Awake, good morning, baby."

Mu Youyu leaned against the doorframe: "Good morning, second brother, where are you going to play today?"

"Let's go out with Grandma to visit the temple fair."

Mu Xi reached out and ruffled the top of his sister's head: "You said last time you wanted to see sugar paintings; today there should be some."

The two walked side by side downstairs, first coming to Grandma Song's side: "Happy New Year, Grandma!"

Grandma Song affectionately tapped her forehead: "Happy New Year; you slept so late last night, yet you didn't get up too late."

Mu Youyu immediately straightened her back, proud as could be: "Am I really that lazy?"

Grandma Song laughed and shook her head; the elders also chuckled.

"No, no, Youbao is the most diligent."

"In the new year, my little treasure has become diligent again, getting up at ten o'clock."

"Exactly, even your uncle isn't as diligent as you!"

"Mu Xi is here too."

"Oh dear, Mu Xi looks spirited in today's outfit!" The eldest aunt's tone was undisguised affection: "Much better than my own son."

Song Lujing didn't react much; these pleasantries, just listen and they're fine—if taken seriously, you lose.

The eldest uncle also nodded, smiling at Mu Xi: "Exactly, our Mu Xi grows steadier year by year; she will surely outshine her brothers."

Mu Xi's face remained its usual cool composure until Mu Youyu furtively tugged his sleeve; then he barely lifted the corner of his mouth, replying: "Yes."

Mu's mother watched from the side, feeling somewhat amused.

She lifted her chin toward the inner table: "Go eat something, don't stay hungry; your brothers are over there."

The other elders followed with cheerful blessings, then turned back to their own topics.

When Mu Youyu arrived at her seat, Jiang Liangjin had already served her a bowl of tangyuan; the white porcelain bowl held several plump glutinous rice balls.

She was just scooping one up with her spoon when Song Huaixian at the neighboring table glanced over, raised an eyebrow.

He deliberately sighed: "Alas, again glutinous rice; poor glutinous rice turned into tangyuan, year after year we eat it all."

Jiang Liangjin turned his head, interrupting the spellcasting: "I recall Huaixian brother also ate some."

Song Huaiyu: "Exactly."

"..."

The other brothers came downstairs one after another, and the living room gradually grew lively.

When Mu Xin approached the table, the innermost table was already full, all brothers, sitting tightly packed, playing poker, playing mahjong—everything except fighting.

He glanced around, seeing his sister and second brother seated on either side, so he could only sit down beside Song Yusui.

Song Yusui squeezed his throat: "Good morning, dear Xinbao~"

Mu Xin replied in a low voice: "Good morning."

"Wow, Xin actually replied to me!" Song Yusui was overjoyed, grabbing Lu Yuchu's sleeve: "Chu Chu, did you hear that? Xinbao said good morning to me!"

Mu Xin: "?"

Lu Yuchu: "..."

Mu Yichi slumped on the table, perking up to cheer: "Congratulations, you've become today's fifth person to receive a reply from Xinbao!"

Mu Yichen really couldn't bear to watch, began closing his eyes to rest.

Mu Youyu was indeed amused, waving at Mu Xin: "Xin Xin brother, sit here."

Mu Xin curled the corner of his mouth, moved the chair over, and slipped in between Mu Xi and Mu Youyu.

Mu Xi helplessly shifted half an inch to the side, but said nothing.

At this poker table, Song Lujing's luck was excellent; a large stack of chips lay before him, all winnings, his whole being full of vigor: "Anyone else?"

Qing An slammed his cards down on the table, unconvinced: "You must have cheated; how do you win every round?"

Song Lujing pointed at his own face: "See? This is skill, intellect suppressing."

Before he finished speaking, Mu Nian had already reached out and pushed over his own cards in front of him: "Mine."

Song Lujing lowered his head to look at the chips he had just been proud of, now all taken; his Expression instantly collapsed, he tossed his cards onto the table and pushed Song LuXiao out: "Switch."

After breakfast, Mu Youyu pushed the plate of assorted pastries to one side, lifted her face: "I saved this for you."

Jiang Liangjin lowered his head and saw that the delicate pastries on the plate had clearly been "inspected."

Two pieces were each missing a small corner, obviously someone had taken a bite each and then put them down.

Mu Youyu showed no guilt: "I tried them for you; they're delicious, non-toxic, feel free to eat."

Jiang Liangjin's eyes crinkled with a smile as he reached out and took a piece: "Thank you, Ah You."

After dinner, the elders withdrew to the side hall, and the younger generation's activity range shifted to a courtyard of the old residence.

Several long tables were set up on both sides of the courtyard, tables laden with various fireworks and cold sparklers, plus several boxes of Gatling fireworks moved out by the bodyguards, imposing in scale.

Grandma Song, fearing the children might be blown up, specifically warned before going to the side hall that no one was to set off large-caliber fireworks alone.

As soon as she left, everyone gathered around, scattering to stand in the courtyard.

Mu Xianyan rarely spends New Year domestically; she held a long sparkler in her hand, asking Ruo Ya to help her take a photo, the flash and the sparkler's light alternating, illuminating her delicate profile.

Mu Xianqi shook his head straight: "Yan Yan, you're wearing so little, are you going through autumn?"

Mu Xianyan adjusted her coat, "Don't talk, we're filming a video."

Qing An wandered around the crowd, eventually ending up beside Jun Chenling, chatting intermittently.

Song Huaixian's group gathered, grunting as they set up the Gatling gun's base; the scene briefly became very chaotic.

Mu Yichen and Mu Yichi were exhausted, standing far in the corridor's shadow, with no desire to join.

Song Yan also held a lit sparkler, occasionally casually drawing a circle, sparks flying.

Lu Yuchu stood aside with legs crossed, "Don't get it on your hands."

"I know, I know."

Mu Nian and a few others also gathered nearby.

After much discussion, finally someone was pushed out to light the fuse.

Song Huaixian shoved the lighter into Song Lujing's hand, "You go ahead, you're young, don't say I'm not letting you."

"Tch." Song Lujing took the lighter, squatted, lit the fuse, the flame quickly spread along the fuse.

Song Huaixian was the first to retreat backwards.

Song Lujing was even faster, letting go, turning and running, almost flashing past Song Huaixian's back.

When the first firework exploded, Mu Youyu was standing by the long table picking sparklers, undisturbed.

She narrowed her eyes, fingertips moving back and forth above a row of held firework sticks, finally picking two thin sparklers.

Jiang Liangjin stood beside her, already holding the lighter for her, he pressed it, firelight flickering in his eyes, "Shall we light now?"

Mu Youyu shook the sparkler in her hand, "Light!"

When the flame shot out, Jiang Liangjin first lit his own, then turned sideways to bring the fire to her face.

Three clusters of sparks lit up simultaneously, light points crackling and scattering.

Mu Youyu shook her hands again, watching the sparks trace golden arcs in the air, suddenly she lifted her face, "Do you want to make a wish at the fireworks?"

Jiang Liangjin lowered his brows, the sparkler in his hand burning, firelight flickering in the depths of his eyes, "My wish has already come true."

He reached out, gently grasping her wrist holding the sparkler, their sparks intertwining, inseparable.