Chapter 408: Reunion Talk in the Sound of Firecrackers

The morning light of the first day of the New Year was awakened by the sound of firecrackers.

First came sporadic crisp sounds, like tentative footsteps. Then a crackle of pop and snap burst into a frenzy, and the whole alley was drowned in smoke and clamor.

When Li Ping'an opened his eyes, the pillow beside him was already empty.

From the main hall came the children's hushed giggles, along with Lin Xueqing's gentle scolding.

"Keep it down, Daddy's still sleeping."

The door curtain was gently lifted a crack.

Two little heads squeezed at the doorway, their eyes sparkling.

"Daddy's awake!" Li Yaozong whispered.

Xiao Nuanqing echoed, "Daddy's awake!"

Li Ping'an laughed as he sat up, pulling on his cotton coat.

The two children fluttered in like little birds.

"Daddy, wishing you wealth!" Li Yaozong stood straight, clasped his small fists, and performed a solemn bow.

Xiao Nuanqing tried to imitate her brother, but she wobbled and swayed.

"Red... red envelope, bring it!" she said in a babyish voice, finishing the second half, then burst into giggles.

Lin Xueqing came in carrying hot water, both laughing and crying.

"These two kids, after a night of teaching yesterday, only remembered this line."

Li Ping'an fished two red paper packets from under his pillow.

They were thin, each containing a dime.

But in the children's eyes, that was a treasure of the heavens.

"Thank you, Daddy!"

The two children took the red packets, slipped them carefully into their close‑fitting pockets, and pressed them with their hands.

Afraid they'd lose them.

After breakfast, the courtyard became lively.

Children from every household, dressed neatly, paired up to pay New Year visits.

Li Yaozong held Xiao Nuanqing's hand and joined the group of little companions.

In front of Yan Bu Gui's house in the front courtyard, a line had already formed.

The children entered one by one, crisply shouting, "Third Elder, Happy New Year! Wishing you wealth!"

Yan Bu Gui, wearing a new Zhongshan suit, adjusted his glasses, pinched a few peanuts from a plate on the table, and gave one to each person.

"All good, all fine. Come, eat the peanuts."

The peanuts were roasted, their skins all wrinkled, yet the children took them and remained overjoyed.

When they reached the Jia family in the central courtyard, the atmosphere changed.

Jia Zhangshi sat on the doorstep, clutching peanuts in her hand.

The children shouted, "Grandma Jia, Happy New Year," and Jia Zhangshi gave each a peanut.

"One per person, no grabbing."

Jia Zhangshi was already stingy; managing to hand out peanuts was already generous.

The children took the peanuts and moved on to the next house.

Bang Geng, with Xiao Dang Huaihua, also followed the line to pay New Year visits.

When it was the Liu Haizhong family's back courtyard, the Second Elder, belly protruding, held a tray.

"Come, all stand properly. I'll say a couple of lines."

The children looked at each other.

Do we have to listen to a speech while paying New Year visits?

"In the new year, study hard and strive upward every day. Listen to Chairman Mao's words and become successors of communism…"

After speaking for about five minutes, he finally fished a few small firecrackers from his pocket.

"One per person, take them to play."

The children, as if granted a pardon, grabbed the firecrackers and ran.

Sha Zhu's house doorway was the liveliest.

Ma Dongmei carried a basket of sunflower seeds and peanuts, grabbing a handful for anyone she saw.

"Come, come, eat more! Zhuzi, bring out more candy!"

Sha Zhu brought out a box of biscuits from the house, inside were fruit candies.

Red, green, yellow—five‑colored.

"Open up and eat! Plenty!"

The children surged forward, their little hands reaching high.

Xu Damao's house doorway, however, was cold and quiet.

He stood in the doorway, watching the bustling scene outside, his expression gloomy.

Wang Cuihua whispered, "Damao, let's take some candy out…"

"Take what!" Xu Damao glared, "Give them to eat? Feed blind wolves?"

He slammed the door shut.

On the afternoon of the second day, a long‑missed scent of meat drifted through West Cross Courtyard.

Li Pingle's family arrived.

Chen Jianghe carried two boxes of pastries, and Chen Anbang and Chen Anning rushed toward their uncle as soon as they entered.

"Uncle! Aunt! Congratulations on your wealth, great luck and great profit."

The two children wore new cotton jackets, their cheeks flushed red.

Li Ping'an picked them up one by one and gave them red envelopes.

"They're settled, they've grown."

Lin Xueqing took the snacks and led Li Pingle into the house.

"If you're coming, you're coming, and you even brought something."

"Of course." Li Pingle said with a smile, "Sister‑in‑law, you look radiant."

In the main hall, the stove fire burned brightly.

On the table were already several cold dishes: smashed cucumber, sweet tomato salad, fried peanuts.

They were all home‑style dishes, but in these times such abundance was rare.

Li Ping'an tied on an apron and entered the kitchen.

In the pot simmered Red Braised Pork, the broth bubbling and steaming, its aroma filling the air.

On the Stove lay several prepared dishes: a carp, a block of tofu, half a chicken.

All were taken from the Spiritual Spring Space, fresh water spirits.

"Brother, let me help you." Chen Jianghe followed in.

"No need, just sit." Li Ping'an deftly handled the carp, "Today I'll let you taste my cooking."

He heated the oil pan, then dropped the carp into it.

Sizzle! White steam rose.

Li Ping'an gave a slight flick of his wrist; the fish turned over in the pan, both sides fried to golden.

He added cooking vinegar, soy sauce, sprinkled sugar, and poured water.

The motions flowed in one breath.

Chen Jianghe watched with his eyes fixed.

"Brother, your skill is getting better and better."

"Just messing around." Li Ping'an covered the pot, "It's what I've honed over the years."

When lunch was set on the table, fragrance filled the house.

The Red Braised Pork was glossy and tender; a single chopstick pinch made it tremble.

The sweet‑and‑sour carp was perfectly balanced, its flesh tender.

The chicken stewed with mushrooms came from the space‑raised chickens; the meat was firm, the mushrooms soaked up the broth, exceptionally delicious.

There were also cabbage stewed with tofu, stir‑fried bean sprouts, and vinegar‑sautéed shredded potatoes.

The table was piled high.

"My heavens," Chen Jianghe exclaimed, "Brother, this is richer than a state‑run restaurant."

Lin Xueqing served rice to everyone.

"Everything's handled by Ping'an, I just lend a hand."

The children had long been unable to wait, their eyes fixed on the meat.

"Eat," Li Ping'an gave each child a piece of meat, "Today it's enough."

The whole family sat around the table, steam rising.

Li Ping'an opened a bottle of Fen liquor and poured some for Chen Jianghe.

He poured himself a cup as well.

"Come, it's New Year, have a drink."

The glasses clinked together.

The scent of wine mingled with the food, the room warm and cozy.

Chen Jianghe took a sip, his face slightly flushed.

"Brother, the factory lately… seems a bit unsettled."

Li Ping'an picked up a piece of tofu.

"What do you mean?"

"It's about Xu Damao's case." Chen Jianghe lowered his voice, "Security Section investigated him, uncovered a heap of issues. But the kid is slick, bites and refuses to admit. I heard… he even wants to bite back."

Li Ping'an set down his chopsticks.

"Bite back at whom?"

"Bite you." Chen Jianghe's voice dropped further, "Saying you retaliated, mixing public retribution with private vengeance."

The table fell silent for a moment.

Li Pingle's complexion changed.

"He dares!"

Lin Xueqing looked at her husband with worry.

Li Ping'an, however, smiled.

His smile was faint.

"Let him bite."

He lifted his glass and took another sip.

"Jianghe, I have a few words for you, remember them."

Chen Jianghe sat up straight.

"Go ahead."

"First, in the factory, do your own work. Don't meddle in things that aren't yours, and don't speak words that shouldn't be spoken."

Li Ping'an looked at him, his gaze very earnest.

"Second, don't join others in causing a ruckus. The wind direction has begun to change; some people want to seize the chance to climb up, others want to fish in the muddied water. You are in the Security Section, so you must hold your stance firmly."

He paused briefly.

"Third, and also the most important—keep your mouth in check. Disaster comes from the mouth; these four characters are never out of date."

Chen Jianghe nodded heavily.

"I've noted it."

Li Ping'an gave him a piece of fish.

"Eat the vegetables."

After the meal, the women cleared the dishes, and the children played in the courtyard.

Li Ping'an and Chen Jianghe sat in the main hall drinking tea.

The tea was jasmine tea, its fragrance filling the nose.

"Brother, you just said the wind direction changed…" Chen Jianghe asked hesitantly, "Is there any explanation?"

Li Ping'an looked toward the window.

The jujube tree branches in the courtyard were bare, casting fine fragmented shadows in the winter sunlight.

"Don't you feel it?" he said slowly, "Lately the meetings in the factory have become increasingly frequent. Study documents, straighten thoughts, criticism and self‑criticism… These things existed before, but not this often."

Chen Jianghe thought for a moment.

"It's more than last year."

"This is just the beginning." Li Ping'an withdrew his gaze, "Later it will become even more frequent. Some people will jump out, some will be punished. Remember, watch more, listen more, speak less."

He took a sip of tea.

"People like Xu Damao are the example. They think they're clever, leaping up and down. But they don't know, the higher they jump, the harsher they fall."

Chen Jianghe seemed thoughtful.

"Then we…"

"We live our own lives." Li Ping'an set down his teacup, "Work when it's work, live when it's life. But there must be a string in the heart, knowing when to tighten, when to loosen, you must understand."

Just as he was speaking, the courtyard echoed with children's shrieks.

The two rose and went out.

It turned out to be Li Yaozong leading his younger brother and sister to set off small firecrackers.

The firecrackers exploded in the snow, scattering fine snow spray.

The children were both scared and excited, covering their ears, their little faces flushed red.

Li Ping'an looked at them, his gaze softened a bit.

"Look at the children, how simple they are. A single firecracker can make them happy for half a day."

Chen Jianghe also smiled.

"Indeed."

"That's why." Li Ping'an said softly, "We adults have to hold up the sky, so the children can enjoy a few more happy years."

At dusk, Li Pingle's family was about to leave.

The two children, tired from playing, rested their heads on their parents' laps and dozed off.

"Brother, sister‑in‑law, we're going back." Li Pingle said, "Today was really joyful."

"Come often." Lin Xueqing stuffed the prepared snacks to her, "For the children to eat on the road."

At the gate, Li Ping'an called out to Chen Jianghe.

He took a cloth bag out from the house.

"Take this with you."

Chen Jianghe took it, felt it, and was stunned.

"Brother, this…"

"Air‑dried chicken, air‑dried duck." Li Ping'an lowered his voice, "I made them myself; take them home and eat slowly, give the children a supplement, don't make a fuss."

The cloth bag was bulging; there were at least five or six pieces.

Chen Jianghe's eyes were a bit red around the corners.

"Brother, your…"

"Take it." Li Ping'an patted his shoulder, "Remember the words I told you."

"Got it."

He saw them off as they rode away on bicycles, disappearing into the dusk.

Li Ping'an stood at the courtyard gate, unmoving for a long while.

Lin Xueqing walked over and gently grasped his hand.

"Let's go back inside, it's cold outside."

The two turned and returned to the courtyard.

Behind them, the lanterns in the Alley lit up one by one.

The reddish halos swayed in the twilight, like melted rouge.

Years go on, still continuing.

But Li Ping'an knew that some things had already changed quietly.

Just like the light of these lanterns, warm to the eye, yet unable to pierce the thick night.

He tightened his grip on his wife's hand.

Step by step, walk back into the warm house.

There are children, there is a home.

There is everything he must protect.