Chapter 1608: The New Year Festival

The incident at No. 9 Middle School fermented quickly, spread widely, and carried significant subsequent repercussions; recently, the crackdown has become even more severe.

For Wang Yan, there was no additional trouble, after all, the government was involved. Those who came to hack at him lacked any powerful backing, saving him further hassle. Yet the outcome was certainly no different; since the old general's grandson had been executed, others mattered even less.

Even if some troubles arose, as long as Wang Yan weathered the initial blow, it would be his turn to strike back. Or, to put it another way, those who opposed him over this matter were all people he could deal with without expending too much effort...

In short, for Wang Yan, this matter was now past. With this incident behind him, he believed no one else would dare to act rashly, allowing him to live steadily, attend school, and watch his classmates recklessly squander their youth.

His life was very stable: waking early each day to run around Purple Gold Mountain, attending school to read leisure books, returning home in the afternoon to cook a meal and eat well. On holidays, he would simply wander about outside.

Of course, he was not lonely; whenever he wandered outside, Er Sha Qiang accompanied him, and most of the time Si Mei tagged along as a little follower. San Li was an honest child; during holidays, she would stay home doing homework and chores, only occasionally coming out to stroll and play...

Worth mentioning is that while Wang Yan and Er Sha Qiang were once strolling along the street, they encountered a thief. Consequently, Wang Yan tracked down the gang of thieves and made a small fortune.

This reminded Wang Yan of such a group, and in the time that followed, he specially went out a few times, bringing back several thousand yuan...

"Brother Yan, Brother Yan, do I look good like this?" Si Mei asked happily, striking poses on the street.

Er Sha Qiang retorted, "So vain; you've already used up a whole roll of film."

"I am beautiful, I am beautiful; you look terrible," Si Mei snorted, continuing to strike beautiful poses.

Wang Yan adjusted the focus on a camera and took two shots of Si Mei. "Alright, let me take a group photo for you; we've been shooting only individual portraits for so long."

"Yes, yes, yes," San Li nodded repeatedly. "You should be in the picture too; I saw you have that tripod, didn't I?"

"Fine, I'll take a few pictures of you first," Wang Yan agreed with a smile.

Thus, right on the street corner outside their home, Wang Yan used his camera to take group photos of Er Sha Qiang, San Li, and Si Mei; then he set up the tripod, took individual shots with each of them, and finally captured a grand group photo. This perfectly displayed the joy of having just bought a new camera—he simply had to keep shooting.

Just as they finished taking dignified group photos and were about to switch to a fashionable pose for another shot, someone approached leading a child.

"Oh, taking photos, are we?"

"Brother Weimin, Qi Qi!" Si Mei skipped over happily. "Why have you come?"

San Li's observation was more delicate: "Brother, is Qi Qi sick? He seems listless."

"He has a cold and is running a fever. Wang Yan treats colds well, so I wanted him to prescribe something," Qi Weimin nodded, looking at Wang Yan who was approaching. "I was thinking of using your previous prescription to get medicine, but my mother said treatments for colds differ, so I didn't dare proceed."

"Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes syndrome differentiation, distinguishing between internal and external, cold and heat, chill and coolness, and so on. However, using your previous prescription wouldn't hurt; colds and fevers often resolve on their own anyway. It just means the treatment wouldn't be targeted and thus less effective. Come here, Qi Qi, let me see."

Wang Yan squatted down, examined the boy's tongue and throat, then felt the pulse on both of Qi Qi's wrists before returning home to write out a prescription.

"Here you go, Big Brother Weimin. Get one dose, simmer three bowls of water down to one, and finally dissolve some old rock sugar into it. Drink it tonight, sleep, and by tomorrow you should be mostly recovered."

"Let me give you two yuan," Qi Weimin said, taking the prescription and pulling money from his pocket.

"Really, no need for money, Big Brother Weimin. Our relationship is close enough. You're not feeling sorry for me because I'm alone, are you?"

"How could that be? Relationships are relationships, and medical treatment is medical treatment. Money earned through skill should be paid. Moreover, these two yuan are too little; normally, taking a child to see a doctor would cost at least four or five yuan."

"You still have to spend money on the herbs; it's not that cheap," Wang Yan waved his hand, pointing to the camera Er Sha Qiang was carrying inside. "Look, I just bought this camera; with several lenses, it cost several hundred. I really don't need your two yuan. If I truly couldn't afford food, I'd consider two yuan too little anyway. Put it away quickly."

Glancing at Qi Qi, who was being held by Er Sha Qiang while San Li and Si Mei fed him apple slices, Qi Weimin smiled and ultimately put the money back.

"Alright, since you've put it that way, I won't insist. Another day I'll buy you some delicious food; I've heard you love good food the most."

"Si Mei told you that, right? I'm simply a spendthrift; money comes too easily, and no one controls how I spend it, so naturally, I do whatever feels most comfortable," Wang Yan laughed heartily, completely unaware of any shame in being a spendthrift.

"My eldest brother must have said it too; he has the best relationship with Brother Weimin," Si Mei added, not forgetting to drag her eldest brother into it. "Isn't that right, Brother Weimin?"

"Yes, yes, yes, little Si Mei; your eldest brother said even more than you did," Qi Weimin told Wang Yan. "It's also that what you did was too impressive; I've heard about your deeds even at school."

Patting his camera, Wang Yan laughed loudly. "That's exactly why I live so comfortably; it's all paid for by their compensation."

"Still, you should spend sparingly and think about the future. You are still young and cannot earn money yet; it will be five years before you reach adulthood. If you get into university, it will be nine years before you start working. Although you could tutor, it's not as good as having a formal job unit. If you spend lavishly now, you will face hard days later."

"I know, Big Brother Weimin. But overall, the country is developing better and better, and we are in the city, so we certainly won't starve. I take each day as it comes; as for future hardships, when the cart reaches the mountain, there will surely be a road."

Looking at Si Mei, Wang Yan said with a grin, "Si Mei promised that once she earns money in the future, she'll treat me to fine food and drink."

"That's for sure; I won't even manage my own father, I'll only manage you, Brother Yan!" Si Mei spoke with such seriousness that it sounded utterly genuine.

Such words, combined with Si Mei's expression, made everyone burst into laughter; even Qi Qi, who was feverish and listless, cracked a smile.

Yet no one found fault with Si Mei's remark about not managing her father, not even Qi Weimin, whose sense of righteousness was off the charts.

Truth be told, Qi Weimin had it hard too. His family was troublesome, requiring his constant worry. However, unlike Da Qiao Yicheng, the younger siblings Da Qiao Yicheng raised did not grow estranged from him, whereas Qi Weimin's younger siblings were not so commendable...

This was part of Wang Yan's daily routine; as the weather turned colder, ailments like colds and fevers became prevalent, along with some chronic conditions among the elderly. Wang Yan, despite his youth, could treat these illnesses, or at least manage them, as there were precedents for this before.

Therefore, quite a few people came to seek Wang Yan's medical help during this time, creating a small market. Since they were all neighbors, Wang Yan did not accept money, but like Qi Weimin, they insisted on giving some cash as a way of looking after him.

Of course, everyone who came for a prescription inevitably discussed his fierce reputation elsewhere. In other places it might be less pronounced, but among these neighborhood folks, he was like a ferocious beast; according to Er Sha Qiang, nearby hooligans had become quiet, and there were no thieves left.

Auntie Wu, a neighbor of the Da Qiao family, also learned of Wang Yan's situation and connected the dots; she had previously come here to get a prescription for a cold, naturally for her child. If it were for herself, she would just take a paracetamol tablet to endure it, suffering for four or five days until it passed...

After buying the camera, Wang Yan's outings turned into street photography; he carried the camera everywhere to shoot. Due to the need to develop film, he even converted one room of the east wing of his house into a darkroom, which truly cost a lot.

He took many photos for the neighbors as well; carrying his camera out daily, whenever neighbors saw him, there was always someone wanting a picture taken. The public's demand for photography has always been high. No matter how poor, every family has a few old photographs.

Wang Yan was quite warm-hearted and did good deeds; after all, he didn't photograph everyone continuously, nor did everyone want their picture taken by him...

Time flowed swiftly like water, and in the blink of an eye, the New Year festival arrived.

As the New Year approached, the outside world grew increasingly lively. People with abundant hair walked the streets with straight backs and loud voices, happily purchasing New Year goods with their families. The streets were filled with laughter and joyful chatter.

Click.

Wang Yan pressed the shutter, capturing the bustling scene of the market. Then he wound the film advance lever, placed his hand on the focusing ring, scanned his eyes around, and searched for the next scene to record.

"Wang Yan," Er Sha Qiang arrived at the house, looking up to say, "There are two days left until the New Year; my eldest brother asked me to invite you to spend the holiday at our home?"

Wang Yan was standing on the roof of his house; since his house was located at an intersection, many vendors had set up stalls along this north-south road nearby, making it very noisy and lively. Being on the roof gave him a good position and a great angle...

He took another photo, hummed "Hmm?" and asked, "Why did Big Brother Yicheng ask you to invite me? Are you not welcoming me?"

"No, how could that be? Ah, you know I'm bad with words; anyway, my whole family welcomes you, especially my dad; he's been craving the dishes you cook for a long time. But this time, don't..."

"It's the New Year; the whole year leads up to this festival, so we must eat and drink well; we certainly have to buy things. You all know how much I can eat; how could we not buy enough? But don't worry, I definitely won't buy other random nonsense; I'll only buy what I eat. Big Brother Yicheng just thinks too much."

Er Sha Qiang asked with a smile, "What about my dad?"

"He simply wants to help me spend money."

"He's just shameless!"

Wang Yan shook his head without responding to that remark. After taking a few more photos and finishing a roll of film, he climbed down from the roof and called Er Sha Qiang to go outside together.

Watching Wang Yan directly buy a huge slab of pork, Erqiang's eyes widened: "Buying it just like that?"

"There are only two days until New Year, and it won't spoil; we should prepare in advance. There's so much fat here; let's take it back and render some lard first. Today, we'll have rice mixed with lard and cracklings..."

Just like that, Erqiang followed Wang Yan around for half a day, buying meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, and fruits, along with various seasonings and other dried fruits and pastries, purchasing a chaotic heap of items.

Da Qiao Zuwang drank wine with pure delight, Simei jumped up happily, and that day Wang Yan ate at the Da Qiao family home, celebrating New Year early...

"Oh my, Wang Yan, spending New Year at the Da Qiao family's?" Aunt Wu greeted him warmly.

"Yes, Aunt Wu; besides, there's no one at my home, while their family is large and lively." Wang Yan's opening words evoked tears of loneliness.

Aunt Wu paused for a moment, then nodded repeatedly: "Right, right, right; New Year must be lively. Look how thin you are; eat more. Go on, go on quickly."

"Paying an early New Year call to you, Aunt Wu."

Wang Yan smiled slightly, then carried the goods into the Da Qiao home...

"Brother Yan~" Simei was always the first to bounce out and greet Wang Yan.

Then, seeing Da Qiao Yicheng stand up and walk over two steps, Simei acted mischievously, coughing twice: "Didn't you already buy quite a few things? Why buy so many more?"

Yicheng opened his mouth as if to speak, swallowed his words back, and shook his head with a bitter smile.

Wang Yan laughed heartily, flicked Simei's braid, but answered Yicheng instead: "These were sent to me by the street leaders and the neighborhood committee; there are quite a lot of things. Enough rice, flour, grain, and oil to last me a year with plenty to spare; they even brought two portions each of apples, pears, and such, plus canned goods, vermicelli, cutlassfish, and so on.

They said it was purchased from factories with poor performance, so I happened to benefit. With so many items, I couldn't eat them all myself, and leaving them too long would just cause spoilage. Since I have no one to give them to, isn't it best to bring everything here to eat together? Simei, have some candy; this was bought for me by Big Aunt Li from the neighborhood committee. I don't really like eating sweets, so keeping a few pieces is enough. Remember to take some to Qiqi later; don't eat it all yourself."

"Don't worry, Brother Yan; I'll deliver some to Qiqi tomorrow." Simei accepted the candy joyfully and walked aside to unwrap one.

The items in Wang Yan's hands were taken by Yicheng and Erqiang, while Sanli took Wang Yan's removed coat and put it away properly.

At this moment, Simei had just unwrapped a candy and was about to open it to put in her mouth when a rough hand reached out from the side, snatched the candy, and stuffed it into its owner's mouth.

"Ah!" Simei shouted in dissatisfaction.

Da Qiao Zuwang slapped the back of Simei's head: "You little brat, aren't you happy that your old dad ate a piece of your candy?"

"Then don't take the one I already unwrapped; it's so annoying!" Simei pouted, hugged the candy away from her birth father, quickly ate a piece herself, and then distributed one candy each to Yicheng and the others to eat.

Da Qiao Zuwang clasped his hands behind his back, sucked on the candy, and spoke: "Wang Yan, you've worked hard. After eating the meals you cook, Uncle Da Qiao finds other food unbearable to swallow. Thinking about today being New Year, my mouth has been watering for the past half-month."

Wang Yan laughed heartily, rolling up his sleeves: "Let's start right now; first boil some meat and stew a bone broth."

"No dignity of an elder," Yicheng remarked, then put his arm around Wang Yan's shoulders, "The vegetables were mostly prepared early this morning; I'll assist you."

Seeing Wang Yan nod with a smile, Yicheng said laughingly, "People are simply greedy; before, I insisted on not letting you cook, but after eating your dishes a few times, I'm afraid of wasting good ingredients now. Your cooking is simply more delicious!"

"Big Brother Yicheng is an honest man; Uncle Da Qiao is quite right. Whoever cooks better should do the cooking; it's no big deal."

"I said so long ago, yet he still bared his teeth at this Laozi of his."

Da Qiao Zuwang reproached his eldest son and patted Wang Yan's shoulder with satisfaction: "It has to be you, Wang Yan; we two truly match temperaments. You've grown so tall; can you hold your liquor? Today is New Year; let's have a drink together. Why are you glaring at me? Back in the day, when Laozi was your age, I was already drinking."

Wang Yan waved his hand: "It's fine; my qi and blood are robust; I basically never get drunk even after a thousand cups."

Thus Da Qiao Zuwang became unconvinced, but once Wang Yan finished cooking the dishes and everyone sat around the table happily eating and drinking heartily, after just two cups of wine, Da Qiao Zuwang became subdued, leaving the table in less than half an hour.

Only Wang Yan and the four Da Qiao siblings remained, chatting idly and envisioning a beautiful life, saying that in the future they would also buy a television, so that during New Year they could watch the Spring Festival Gala in their own home...

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