Chapter 26: Lunar New Year

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Chapter 26: Lunar New Year

The next day was New Year's Eve.

Waking up early, He Yuzhu saw heavy snow falling outside the window, and the room felt quite chilly. The *kang* bed had long since gone cold, holding only a faint trace of residual warmth. He Yuzhu remained firmly sealed inside his quilt; since it was a holiday and he did not have to work, and all the necessary New Year’s supplies had already been purchased, there was no need to rise early.

A snowy day is the perfect companion for sleeping in.

However, He Yuzhu eventually got up to light the fireplace in the living room and stoked the *kang* as well, lest the room become too freezing later on, making it miserable to get out of bed.

Just as he finished and crawled back under the covers, hoping to catch a bit more sleep, He Yushui woke up. She was accustomed to her brother waking her every morning, but today she had stirred on her own. Turning her head, she saw her brother still in bed, eyes open but not yet up.

"Brother, why aren't you up yet today?" she asked, looking at him tucked away in the quilt.

"It's a holiday, and it's snowing heavily outside, so there’s no need to rush," He Yuzhu replied. Hearing this, Yushui tucked herself back in, choosing to linger in bed with her brother.

"Brother, what are we going to do today?" she asked.

"Once we get up, we'll clear the snow from the courtyard and put up the couplets I bought. Then, I’ll take you to Master’s house. We’re spending the New Year there this year," He Yuzhu explained.

Feeling the room temperature rise, He Yuzhu finally left the warmth of the bed and helped Yushui get dressed.

"You play nicely for a bit while I make breakfast," He Yuzhu said. "What would you like to eat this morning?"

"I want the shrimp dumplings you make," she replied.

"Alright, I'll go make them for you."

Fortunately, He Yuzhu often prepared buns and dumplings in advance and stored them in his dimensional space, making them easy to retrieve and steam whenever needed. He went to the kitchen, started a pot of millet porridge, and took the shrimp dumplings out of the space to steam. Soon, breakfast was ready: millet porridge, shrimp dumplings, and a small dish of his homemade pickled vegetables.

"Yushui, come and eat," he called out.

"Coming!" she replied. After they finished breakfast together, He Yuzhu said, "I’m going to clear the snow in the courtyard first. You play for a little while."

"I want to build a snowman!" she exclaimed.

"It’s still snowing, so why don't we wait until it stops? Otherwise, you might catch a cold," He Yuzhu advised. Thanks to the diluted spirit spring water he added to their water tank and the food from his space, Yushui’s health had gradually improved, and she hadn't fallen ill since.

"Fine, but you have to help me build it later," she compromised.

He Yuzhu went out and cleared the snow under the veranda, using a cart to haul the snow to the backyard. The snow was falling heavily; no sooner had he cleared an area than a new layer began to accumulate. He opened the front gate and cleared the alley as well. It was a dead-end alley, and the small gate at the end, which led to a four-section courtyard, had long been bricked up. Effectively, he was the only one living in this small alley.

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The main streets were being cleared by neighborhood committee volunteers, but they only managed to carve out a single path. Since the snow was still falling, the paths were covered again almost as soon as they were swept, so everyone eventually returned to their homes.

Back inside, He Yuzhu retrieved the couplets and prepared some paste. He put them up, then went to the courtyard next door to do the same. Since purchasing the neighboring property, he hadn't paid much attention to it, and after several heavy snowfalls, the roofs of a few rooms had already collapsed.

He still needed to return to the Red Star Courtyard to check on things. Not wanting to leave Yushui alone, he bundled her up until she looked like a little ball, sat her on the bicycle, and pedaled to his master’s house.

At the Master’s home:

"Come in quickly!" the Mistress said, ushering them inside as soon as she saw them braving the snow. She poured them each a cup of hot water. "Drink up and warm yourselves."

"Thank you, Mistress," they replied.

"You really are something, traveling in such heavy snow with Yushui. Aren't you afraid of freezing her?" the Mistress chided him.

Yushui went off to play with Xiao Hu and Fan Yao.

"Mistress, I need to go back to my old home for a bit," He Yuzhu said as he stood up.

"Why go out in this weather? Just stay put," she insisted.

"It's alright, Mistress. I’ll just take a look and be right back," he promised.

After bidding her farewell, He Yuzhu rode his bicycle toward the courtyard. Thanks to the physical enhancements from the spirit spring water, he could ride through the snow without any fear of slipping.

At the Red Star Courtyard:

As soon as he entered the gate, he was spotted by the Third Master, Yan Bugui.

"Zhuzi, why are you back in such heavy snow?" the Third Master asked.

"It’s New Year’s, so I came back to put up some couplets. Actually, I was going to trouble you to write three sets for me," He Yuzhu said.

Under the cover of his pocket, he pulled a large handful of candies from his space and handed them to Yan Bugui. Writing couplets was a source of income for the Third Master every year, as families usually gave him sunflower seeds or peanuts in return.

"I’ve already written them for you, just waiting for you to come back and put them up. I’ll go get them now," the Third Master said, delighted by the candies.

"Third Master, could you also ask Jiecheng to come and give me a hand?" He Yuzhu added.

"Sure, you go on back, and I'll have him bring them to you," Yan Bugui replied.

After parting with the Third Master, He Yuzhu went to the middle courtyard and bumped into Qin Huairu, who was coming out to dump some water. Her belly was quite large now; in a few months, the "little white-eyed wolf" Bang Geng would be born.

"Zhuzi, you're back," she greeted him. With Jia Dongxu still around, the Jia family was doing alright, and Qin Huairu had not yet turned "dark."

"Yes, Sister-in-law, just stopping by. It’s snowing hard, so do be careful with your pregnancy," He Yuzhu said.

"Don't worry, I'll be careful," she replied.

"Qin Huairu, get back in here right now!" Jia Zhangshi shouted.

"Sister-in-law, you’d better go," He Yuzhu said.

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"I’m heading back, then," Qin Huairu said.

He Yuzhu didn't dwell on the affairs of the Jia family and unlocked his door to go inside. In the kitchen, he lit a fire to boil a pot of hot water.

Soon, Yan Jiecheng arrived with the couplets. He Yuzhu made some more paste, and the two of them worked together to put them up. He Yuzhu gave a few candies to Jiecheng.

"Jiecheng, take these candies. Thank you for helping me," He Yuzhu said.

"Thank you, Brother Zhuzi!" Jiecheng said, happily accepting them. "Brother Zhuzi, is there any other work you need help with?" Seeing that helping He Yuzhu meant getting candy, he was eager to earn more.

"How about this: if you help me clean the place up, I’ll give you a few more candies. How does that sound?" He Yuzhu asked.

"Great! I’ll do a thorough job," Jiecheng agreed.

The two spent some time cleaning the place inside and out. He Yuzhu gave Jiecheng a small handful of candies, and the boy left happily.

As He Yuzhu stepped out of the room, the First Master, Yi Zhonghai, called out to him.

"Zhuzi, you just got here and you're already leaving?" Yi Zhonghai asked. "Where is Yushui? Why don't I see her?"

"First Master, Yushui is at my master’s house," he replied.

"You aren't coming home for the New Year?" Yi Zhonghai asked.

"I can't help it; my master insisted that Yushui and I spend the New Year at his place," he explained.

"What about your father? Any news? Is he not coming back for the New Year either?" Yi Zhonghai continued.

"My father is in Baocheng and doing well. He took on a big job preparing a New Year’s Eve dinner for someone, so he won't be back," He Yuzhu said.

"Have you been to the backyard to see the Old Madam?" Yi Zhonghai asked.

"I was just on my way," he replied.

"Then go ahead," Yi Zhonghai said, dropping the subject.

He Yuzhu went to the backyard to see the Deaf Old Madam. Upon entering, she was happy to see him, but when she noticed he had come empty-handed, she became displeased and began pretending to be deaf and mute. After saying a few polite words, He Yuzhu took his leave.

As he stepped out, he bumped into Xu Damao.

"Silly Zhu, where have you been? Not coming back to live here?" Xu Damao asked.

"Who said I’m not coming back? I’ll be back once the weather warms up," He Yuzhu replied.

"I thought you had moved out for good," Xu Damao said.

"Not at all. My master is just concerned about us freezing, so he invited us to stay at his place," He Yuzhu explained. "I can't talk anymore; I need to hurry back and help my master with the New Year’s Eve dinner."

With that, he said goodbye to Xu Damao, left the courtyard, and rode his bicycle back to his master’s house.