Chapter 365

I sincerely admired Xi Meizhu's attentiveness. The New Year gift she prepared for me fully embodied the benefits of having a woman in the house.

A pair of fine liquor, a carton of fine cigarettes, and two boxes of high-end supplements. They were of great value and high quality.

I weighed them in my hand and asked Huang Weiwei with a smile, "Is anything else missing?"

"What do you think?" she asked back.

I scratched the back of my head, truly unable to think of what was missing.

"These aren't as humble as the things you brought to our house back then," she said, turning to go into the room to get her handbag.

Back then? Back then, I was just a small secretary; if I wanted to send good things, would your family have accepted them? At that time, you and I were complete strangers, and I was ten poles away from your mom and dad. Who would dare to accept things from a stranger?

I brought local specialties back then because I was a small township cadre, and I was following local customs. Although the items were humble, they could genuinely express my feelings.

Seeing that I was still standing there, Huang Weiwei urged me to go.

Xi Meizhu was also urging me from the side, saying that paying respects to one's father-in-law shouldn't be done in the afternoon; it had to be done before twelve o'clock noon.

I had never heard of this set of rules, but I didn't want to refute her. After all, I was already prepared to go pay my respects.

I went out, started the car, let it warm up, and drove toward her house.

On the way, I received a few calls; they were New Year calls from Yu Wei and Zhu Huayu and the others. Yu Wei said he would be coming to Hengyue City on the third day of the New Year.

I didn't ask him what he was coming for. He was just a driver, and he wouldn't be back to work until the eighth day of the New Year. Now it was his vacation time; where he went was none of my business.

After hanging up, I turned to look at Huang Weiwei and found that she was using the rearview mirror to carefully draw her eyebrows.

I laughed, "Why don't you wear makeup at home? Why put it on now? Who are you showing it to?"

Huang Weiwei curled her lip and said, "A woman beautifies herself for the one she loves. Who do you think I'm showing it to?"

"Me?"

"What do you think?"

"Why don't you wear it at home?"

"I'm afraid your mother won't be used to it. Old people generally don't like others wearing makeup."

"How do you know?"

"Xi Meizhu doesn't wear makeup."

My heart stirred, and I thought that Xi Meizhu was a natural beauty; she looked even more refined and elegant without makeup than with it. But I didn't dare to say this thought out loud.

"She is different from you."

Huang Weiwei gave an 'en' sound, nodded thoughtfully, then shook her head and sighed, "Indeed, I am your wife, and she is your sister. It is different. But on the issue of makeup, as long as I am in your house, I will definitely not wear any."

"Sometimes, wearing makeup is a courtesy to others, and it's also a habit," she concluded. "For example, my mom doesn't leave the house without makeup."

I nodded, acknowledging her point. I stepped on the gas, and the car moved steadily forward like a boat on a calm lake.

People were walking in twos and threes on the street, their red and green clothes dotting the world.

Firecracker sounds rang out from time to time, and on the streets on both sides, there were still firework shells left over from last night.

Hengyue City does not ban fireworks and firecrackers during the New Year. Although the municipal government issues a ban every year before the New Year, no one has ever enforced it. Every household still competes to set them off in various ways during the New Year.

Not setting off firecrackers during the New Year? That's a load of crap!

For Chinese people, the New Year is a tradition spanning thousands of years. In everyone's subconscious, the New Year is the biggest event.

No matter what kind of person they are, deep down, everyone has a wish to have a good New Year. From the beginning of the year to the end, working hard and toiling, they are just waiting to heave a sigh of relief during the New Year.

And the best way to express the New Year is to set off fireworks and firecrackers.

There is a legend from ancient times that firecrackers are things to ward off evil. I don't hold this belief now, but I have always believed that the New Year only feels real and festive amidst the sound of firecrackers.

As the car passed a roundabout, I saw someone directing traffic on the podium. I looked closely and was stunned to see a naked man wearing a tilted police cap without a badge, acting very serious.

I laughed out loud. Seeing me laugh, Huang Weiwei also looked up. When she saw it, she was so embarrassed she turned bright red, pounded me with her small fists, and scolded, "Chen Feng, are you trying to die?"

I laughed, "I didn't tell you to look."

"You pervert." She took out her phone to call the traffic police brigade.

I snatched the phone from her hand and said, "It's the New Year, let it go."

She was still relentless, so I simply threw her phone into the box by the car door and ignored her.

While we were bickering, my phone rang. It was Qian Youyu calling, shouting excitedly, "Little brother, wishing you wealth!"

I gave an 'en' sound and laughed, "Old Qian, Happy New Year."

Qian Youyu shouted, "Little brother, you're at home, right? I'm coming to pay my New Year respects."

"Didn't you already pay them?"

"Not you. I'm going to pay my respects to my mother."

"Your mother?" I became confused. Qian Youyu's mother died decades ago; where did a mother come from?

"Your mother is my mother. As a son, it wouldn't be right not to pay my respects to my mother on the first day of the New Year."

I couldn't help but laugh. Qian Youyu, you old guy, how did you come to recognize my mother as your own?

"I'm out paying respects, I'm not at home," I politely refused him.

"You pay yours, I'll pay mine." He hung up the phone.

"Who was that?" Huang Weiwei asked me.

"Qian Youyu," I answered, a smile spreading across the corners of my mouth.

"That construction contractor?"

"Yes. But he's not a contractor, he's an entrepreneur."

Huang Weiwei snorted and said, "These people, have less to do with them in the future."

I was very unhappy inside. Qian Youyu is a friend who stood by me through thick and thin. Without Qian Youyu, my Suxi Township wouldn't have been able to stand tall.

Huang Weiwei probably sensed my displeasure and said softly, "These people have no culture and low quality; it lowers your own status."

I didn't respond to her, but instead said, "In life, you have to deal with all kinds of people. It's good to know even three fireflies."

She didn't say anything more. After pondering for a while, she reminded me, "Aren't you going to call Secretary Liu to pay your New Year respects?"

"I won't call," I said, stepping on the gas.

When the car arrived downstairs at her house, I saw a woman walking slowly ahead, her back very familiar.

Just as I was about to speak, Huang Weiwei called out, "Hey, isn't that Xue Bing? What is she doing here?"

I was shocked. Meeting Xue Bing at Huang Weiwei's doorstep was something I hadn't expected.

Xue Bing probably sensed the car behind her and looked back. This glance happened to meet ours, and she was so surprised her mouth fell open.

Huang Weiwei opened the car door, got out, took Xue Bing's hand, and said, "Teacher Xue, where are you going?"

"I came to pay my New Year respects to you," Xue Bing said softly, not looking at me.

"Pay your respects to me?"

"Yes, just to pay my respects to you. I have to thank you for helping me transfer jobs. We country folk believe in knowing gratitude and repaying kindness."

I heard every word she said. These few sentences were like a heavy hammer, pounding on my heart.

I awkwardly looked away, pretending to admire the scenery, my eyes drifting everywhere.

Huang Weiwei was also awkward, but she immediately adjusted her mood and called to me, "Chen Feng, hurry and invite Teacher Xue inside."

Minister Huang hadn't gotten up yet; only Bureau Chief Chen Yazhi was in the house.

Seeing us enter, she shouted upstairs in surprise, "Old Huang, Weiwei is home to pay her New Year respects."

This sentence warmed me.

I quickly stepped forward and called out obediently, "Auntie, Happy New Year."

Chen Yazhi looked at me in surprise, a strange expression appearing on her face. Glancing at Xue Bing behind us, she was even more confused.

Huang Weiwei introduced, "Mom, this is Teacher Xue, she came to pay her respects to you. I just ran into her downstairs."

Bureau Chief Chen Yazhi smiled faintly. She was naturally no stranger to the name Xue Bing.

"You guys sit down first. Weiwei, I'm going to call your dad."

Bureau Chief Chen Yazhi walked quickly upstairs. The three of us stood in the living room, and not a single one of us spoke.

After a long time, Huang Weiwei regained her sense as the hostess and greeted us, "Hurry and sit down, why are you all standing?"

Xue Bing was also carrying some gifts. Hearing Huang Weiwei's greeting, she naturally handed the things in her hand to me.

I was just about to reach out to take them, but Huang Weiwei took them first, hugged Xue Bing's shoulder, and said affectionately, "Teacher Xue, it's enough that you came, why bring gifts?"

Xue Bing laughed, "A guest is a guest, how can one enter the door empty-handed."

Huang Weiwei didn't say anything more, handed the things in her hand to me, and said, "Chen Feng, go put these away."

Huang Weiwei's instruction made me feel a bit unhappy. I knew she was doing it on purpose, but I didn't show it.

"Chen Feng, go pour some tea," she commanded me again.

I pretended to be happy as I went to pour tea. Before I could bring it up, I heard footsteps, and then I saw Minister Huang Shan coming downstairs with his coat draped over his shoulders.

Xue Bing in the living room quickly stood up, met Minister Huang Shan's gaze, and called out, "Minister Huang, Happy New Year."

When Minister Huang Shan saw her, a look of surprise appeared on his face, but it vanished in an instant.

I took all of this in.