Chapter 593: Happy New Year

Jiang Nian made no reply, but he didn't sit down to rest either.

"Where's the kitchen?"

He'd been here a few times; he wasn't unaware of the kitchen's location. He merely used this as an excuse to inform Li Lanying.

"There."

"Alright, I'll prep the ingredients first." Jiang Nian rolled up his sleeves, ready to seize the moment—he'd have to return to the internet cafe soon.

He couldn't truly wake someone up and then just leave halfway.

While prepping, I'll make an extra portion. Take it back and share it with Li Hua and the others—it's like celebrating the New Year with the guys.

Don't ask. Ask and you'll get righteousness.

Li Qingrong stepped out of the bathroom and found no one in the living room. Hearing noises from the kitchen, she walked over.

Someone was already at the door—Li Lanying leaned against it, watching. She marveled at the knife skills while chattering incessantly.

"Why are you moving so fast?"

"Because I'm young." Jiang Nian brushed off the question, his hands never pausing. "What time is it?"

"Two thirty-five. Did you train for this?"

"No."

"How many people in your family?"

"I forgot."

Li Qingrong stood a short distance away, her hair slightly damp. Her skin, pale as snow, reflected a delicate luster.

She looked speechless, but said nothing.

"Why are you so quiet when you walk?" Li Lanying pressed her heaving chest. "You just... scared me to death."

Li Qingrong:

"Forget it. I was going to check your household registration for you. Since you're here, ask yourself."

"Go back to sleep." Li Qingrong said.

"I'm not tired."

"You are tired."

"I'm not tired—not even a little." Li Lanying stood firm. "And I'm going to stand right here the whole time!"

Li Qingrong's reaction was calm. "Mm."

She stepped around her sister, sidestepped past, entered the kitchen, and began assisting as if utterly unfazed.

Preparing the New Year's dinner for three wasn't complicated.

Li Lanying kept standing by the door, watching. After ten minutes, she couldn't hold out and brought over a stool to sit at the threshold.

After sitting for half an hour, her butt couldn't take it anymore.

So she made up some excuse and went back to her room to lie down and scroll on her phone.

Throughout, Jiang Nian stayed busy in the kitchen, cooking earnestly, yet occasionally couldn't help but comment.

"This fish is so fatty."

"Mm."

"Embracing Qingqing, your hands are so pale," Jiang Nian said. "So small and soft—how do you do it?"

Li Qingrong shot him a warning glance, unable to hold back her reply:

"Thank you, I can wash my own hands."

"Oh, oh, alright." Jiang Nian released her hand. "I saw you silent, so I thought you didn't know how to wash."

After her bath, Embracing Qingqing smelled faintly sweet.

Three thirty in the afternoon.

Jiang Nian left with three large boxes of spicy crayfish, planning to return briefly to the internet cafe before coming back to continue cooking.

He estimated they'd finish eating and return home around six or seven.

As for after dinner, Li Lanying planned to take the class monitor for a stroll by the river—after that, he had nothing more to do.

So he still had plenty of free time.

Internet cafe.

"Wait, didn't Jiang Nian just run off?" Liu Yang lost a match and glanced at the others absorbed in their games.

"Damn, what the hell are you reading, study rep?"

"Manga."

"Fucking hell."

"He'll probably show up soon. Hope he doesn't come back empty-handed," Li Hua said calmly, clicking his mouse.

"What do you mean, 'not empty-handed'?" Liu Yang stood up and walked behind him. "You're actually reading a book?"

"So what?"

"Reading a book in an internet cafe? Are you really Li Hua?" Liu Yang froze.

Li Hua coughed and sneered. "You don't understand—I occasionally indulge in literary refinement."

Ma Guojun leaned in and read aloud.

"The Weaknesses of a Married Woman?"

"No way..." Liu Yang cracked. He pointed at Li Hua. "You little bastard—you're seriously literary!"

The door to the private room creaked open.

"What are you guys talking about?" Jiang Nian walked in, carrying bags and smiling. "So lively?"

Everyone turned, eyes gleaming.

"Where the hell did you go!"

"Holy shit, that's a lot of food."

"Holy fuck!"

Jiang Nian said, "New Year's is coming up, so I went home and stir-fried some crawfish. Can't really come out here and just eat instant noodles."

The few of them were deeply moved at his words.

"You ran out just to get this?" Ma Guojun's eyes went wide, his face full of disbelief.

Jiang Nian nodded slowly, his expression dead serious.

"What else would it be?"

"You think I'd ditch my bros and go out flirting with some girls? Holding hands, living it up?"

"Misjudged you." Li Hua's face was awkward.

"Sigh, don't mention it." Jiang Nian waved his hand forlornly. "Once doubt arises, the verdict is already sealed."

He put his hands behind his back and turned around.

"No need to apologize to me......

"Why aren't there gloves? Don't steal mine!" Liu Yang shouted, "Holy shit, stop pushing me, damn it."

"Holy shit, Li Hua, you really have no shame!"

"These red crawfish remind me of something." Tao Ran held up a piece of crawfish, suddenly getting sentimental.

"Shut up!! 3."

"The study rep is really terrifying, the moment she opens her mouth she's already a pervert."

"Don't make us miss out on the crawfish."

"Pass me a beer."

Jiang Nian saw this and couldn't help but shake his head. People these days, really. Then he pulled out a pair of disposable gloves and put them on.

"Save some for me!"

Coming out of the internet cafe, the five of them went their separate ways.

"Bye bye."

"Drunk like a damn fool, can you even walk back on your own?"

Ma Guojun said, "I'll walk him back."

After everyone left, Jiang Nian pulled out his phone and checked the time. He turned and headed back to Jingfu Community to keep cooking.

More accurately, to grope hands.

"I was wondering why the seasoning felt so soft, my bad." Jiang Nian was in the kitchen, showing almost no sign of remorse.

Li Qingrong: "

Around six o'clock it got dark, and since Jiang Nian had said he'd come home to eat soon, they moved dinner time up a bit.

There weren't many dishes, but they still filled a table.

The living room TV was playing promos for the New Year's Eve gala, adding a touch of festive warmth to the empty, chilly house,

"What's this?"

Li Lanying had long since followed the smell out of her room, and saw the bright red crawfish and hot-and-sour fish on the table.

There was also a stir-fried duck, plus boiled pork slices.

Meat and veggies both, big dishes and cold plates all accounted for. Add the showstopper chicken soup, and it was a proper New Year's Eve dinner.

"These...... you made all of them?"

"Qingqing and I made them together." Jiang Nian said, then thought for a moment and added, "Mainly Qingqing, she was a huge help."

Hearing this, Li Lanying couldn't help but purse her lips.

"She can't cook."

Li Qingrong happened to come out of the kitchen and glanced at her older sister.

"Then don't eat."

"So what if I eat?" Li Lanying was twenty-six or twenty-seven, yet still loved acting cute. "I'll eat extra."

Li Qingrong couldn't be bothered with her, walked over to Jiang Nian and turned around.

"Help me...... untie the apron."

"Oh, oh, sure." Jiang Nian put down his phone, stood up and untied the apron for her, naturally leaning close,

This scene left Li Lanying with a sour taste in her mouth.

"Hm."

"What?" Jiang Nian asked.

"A grown daughter can't be kept at home." Li Lanying picked up her chopsticks, grabbed a piece of boiled pork, and slurped it down.

"Hm? It's actually pretty good."

Li Qingrong walked over, about to sit down.

Jiang Nian rubbed his chin, feeling something was missing. He frowned and thought for a while, then took out his phone.

"Let's take a photo first, phone eats first."

"So slow and fussy." Li Lanying complained, "Oh right, remember to send me a copy after."

"I don't have your WeChat."

"Here, scan it." Li Lanying pulled out her phone.

With a slap, the class rep covered it. She glanced at Li Lanying, then turned to look at Jiang Nian.

"Just send it to me."

"No, Embracing Qingqing!" Li Lanying complained, "What do you mean? I'm really going to get angry!"

Li Qingrong ignored her and sat down beside Jiang Nian.

"Take it."

"Oh oh," Jiang Nian thought to himself—Class Monitor really has deep sisterly affection—then sent the photo to Embracing Qingqing right after.

Li Qingrong forwarded it to her sister; a soft ding signaled delivery.

"You really are!!" Li Lanying was speechless, pinching a shrimp with force, "Look, you're this shrimp right here!"

"Oh," Li Qingrong didn't care.

After a while, Li Lanying had eaten her fill and forgot her earlier annoyance, pouring a little wine for both of them.

"Come on, have a sip, have a sip."

She stood up, raising her cup.

"Mm, today's been the happiest."

Jiang Nian took a small sip, remembering he'd be riding his bike soon. Though home was close, safety came first.

"I'll pass. Embracing Qingqing, will you drink?"

"Mm."

Li Qingrong nodded, then took his cup and poured its contents into her own, her expression utterly calm.

Jiang Nian: "???"

Is Embracing Qingqing this frugal?

Still, not being rejected was undeniably pleasing.

Li Lanying stared blankly, glancing at Jiang Nian, then turned to look at her sister, sinking into deep thought.

Is this really the sister I know?

Impossible!

"Embracing Qingqing."

"Mm," Li Qingrong turned to face her troublesome sister, face expressionless, "What is it?"

"Whoever you are!" she slapped her hand onto the Class Monitor's shoulder, "Get off my sister!"

Li Qingrong gave her a sharp glance, too lazy to even lift her eyelids.

"Mm."

"Cough cough, how about each of us says a New Year's blessing?" Jiang Nian stood up, offering a suggestion.

Occasional small interactions help when relationships are half-familiar.

Half-familiar meant Li Lanying.

"Fine, I'll go first," Li Lanying paused, then forced out, "Five Goats Soar to Heaven!"

A soft ding as she clinked her cup with Jiang Nian's.

"Huh?"

"Five Goats what?" Jiang Nian was baffled, turning to her, "Isn't it 'Five Goats Bring Prosperity'?"

"Close enough."

Chicken? That's way off.

"Then I'll say: May all your wishes come true," Jiang Nian said, then looked at Li Qingrong, "Embracing Qingqing, what about you?"

Just then, fireworks sounded in the distance.

All three turned their attention, drawn unconsciously toward the balcony outside.

"Fireworks?"

"Where are they setting them off? Seems like by the river."

Li Qingrong watched for a moment, then raised her wine cup and tapped it against Jiang Nian's tea cup—producing a crisp ding.

"Happy New Year's Eve."

"I'm back!"

Jiang Nian pushed open the door; the living room blared TV sounds. The Spring Festival Gala hadn't started yet, and the house buzzed with lively energy.

"You finally remember to come back?"

From the kitchen, Li Hongmei poked her head out to glance.

"You've been out playing since morning and wouldn't come home for New Year's Eve dinner unless I called you—really not an easy child to manage."

"Hasn't dinner started yet?" Jiang Nian's face flushed—he'd eaten half-full, "Didn't Xu Qianqian and the others come either?"

"They helped in the afternoon, then went back to rest," Li Hongmei chattered on, listing a long string of complaints.

Jiang Nian, lost for words, made an excuse and slipped away. Seeing the couplets still weren't hung, he knocked on the neighbor's door.

"Bang bang bang!!"

"Xu Qianqian, open up."

"Stop knocking, it's annoying!" Xu Qianqian opened the door in cotton slippers, "Didn't you spend the whole day online?"

"Pretty much—I had a blast."

"Pfft."

"My mom told me to come tell you to come eat," Jiang Nian pointed toward his own door.

"Let's go, don't keep them waiting too long."

"Got it," Xu Qianqian turned toward the living room, "I'll call Xi Yun—she seems to be asleep."

Knock knock knock—Song Xiyun opened the door.

She looked guilty—her game was halfway through. Just as she was tense, Jiang Nian arrived—game still unfinished.

"What's wrong?"

"Let's eat, we..."

":.:" Xu Qianqian paused mid-sentence and asked, "Xi Yun, why are you sweating so much?"

Song Xiyun felt guilty, "The air conditioning must be too hot."

Saying that, she turned and went back to her room to get her phone. After hesitating for a few seconds, she took her gaming phone as well.

"Request assembly!"

A faint game sound startled her.

After stepping outside, Song Xiyun walked behind the two of them. She glanced at her game and controlled her character to return to the city.

Suddenly, Jiang Nian turned his head and said.

"Xu Qianqian, shall we go put up the couplets for both families later?"

"Alright."

Taking this opportunity, Song Xiyun finished her game.

But when she exited the page, she accidentally let Jiang Nian see it. Yet his reaction was calm—he even smiled.

Song Xiyun felt even more guilty,

+

At the dinner table.

Five people sat at a table piled high with dishes—the kind of meal that would take at least three days to reheat.

"Cheers!!"

Fireworks had been exploding intermittently since before dinner began. In front of the TV, the Spring Festival Gala had just started.

Throughout the small southern town, the sound of fireworks ascending filled the air.

"They're already setting off fireworks before midnight," Old Jiang remarked. "House prices have kept rising these past two years."

"Dad, every industry is developing now," Jiang Nian picked up some food. "Are you thinking of coming out of retirement?"

"Pfft, your dad never entered the martial world," Li Hongmei said.

Hearing this, Old Jiang looked around.

"I used to have the urge to stir things up, but now... everything's fine. No need to stir anything—just wait peacefully for retirement."

Xu Qianqian had wanted to say something, but felt a bit shy.

My lord's words are hard to understand, but sometimes very simple.

At eleven fifty-five at night, Jiang Nian also went downstairs carrying a large roll of firecrackers and pulled out a lighter from his pocket.

He glanced at his phone—still a few minutes before midnight.

He scrolled through group messages instead. The class group was flooded with repeated messages and New Year greetings, red envelopes flying everywhere.

He claimed two red envelopes, then sent out several thirty-yuan ones. The group instantly erupted in excitement.

Students' joy is this simple: sending large amounts brings less happiness. Small, frequent bursts are the essence.

Twelve o'clock.

He lit the firecrackers, accompanied by thick smoke and flashes of flame.

The new year begins.