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The Spring Festival, a reunion etched into the very soul of the Chinese people, annually brings forth congested highways, the human tide of Spring Festival travel, returning wanderers, and children delighting in their holiday.
While some might lament the fading festive spirit of the New Year, there are always those who eagerly anticipate, longing for reunion dinners, the boom of firecrackers and the glow of fireworks, and the promise of the coming year.
A University had an early holiday break.
Inside dorm room 503, Sun Weijie, who was eager to attend to his life’s significant event, had already departed for home with his girlfriend.
Wu Di was immersed in the gym, while Li Qingyu was also packing his belongings, preparing to head home.
“Second Brother, you must take good care of yourself in my absence,” he declared mawkishly, embracing Zhou Haochen with feigned tears and sniffles.
Zhou Haochen shoved his head away, responding dismissively, “Scram!”
“Second Brother, are you truly not going home?”
“No, and if you don’t leave soon, I’ll kick you out.”
Li Qingyu immediately disengaged from him, whispered something quickly into his ear, and then darted away.
“Actually, I’m also great at carrying girls in games. Want me to carry you to victory, sis~ter~?”
Zhou Haochen spun around, intending to grab him, only to find that Li Qingyu had vanished without a trace.
As a loyal fan of Fox, Li Qingyu was well aware of the identity of the ‘sister’ Bai Sha often played with.
Getting in a quick jab before their separation felt utterly refreshing!
Li Qingyu pulled his suitcase, walking out of the campus gates with a noticeably lighter step.
Zhou Haochen slapped his forehead, “Aish, Shiba! (TL Note: A Korean expletive, similar to ‘damn it’ or ‘f*ck.’)”
‘Forget it,’ he mused. ‘What would a single dog (TL Note: A Chinese slang term for someone who is single and often feels left out during romantic occasions) like me understand about the little romantic quirks between couples? Can I even find a girlfriend?’
Zhou Haochen left the dormitory and headed towards the school gate.
A University was vast, and he found himself lost in thought along the way.
He, who was almost twenty, now had a daughter, was in love with the person he cherished, and had co-founded a company with his senior.
Finding a good partner to start a family, and a discerning mentor to establish a career (TL Note: A Chinese saying emphasizing the importance of both personal and professional fulfillment).
In just two short months, it seemed he had achieved both.
The biting north wind howled past.
Along the bustling, crowded street, Zhou Haochen looked up, peering through the throngs of people.
He spotted Bai Sha from a distance, holding the little one’s hand as they stood by a car, both of them smiling radiantly, waiting for him to reach them.
Zhou Haochen navigated through the congested crowd, making his way to their side, and took Bai Sha’s hand.
“Why did you two come?”
Bai Sha asked, “Are you truly not going home?”
He picked up the little one, who had her hands raised for a hug, and smiled, “Isn’t this also home?”
Every child grows up.
Everyone forms their own family.
Among the myriad household lights, there will always be one that belongs to you.
Bai Sha once had a home, just herself.
Now, she had a home, a family of three.
“Of course, we’re going home.”
****
Inside the supermarket, Andy Lau’s annual seal (TL Note: A humorous reference to the widespread playing of Andy Lau’s Chinese New Year songs during the festive season) was once again broken.
The joyful melody of “Gong Xi Ni Fa Cai! Gong Xi Ni Jing Cai! (TL Note: A popular Chinese New Year song, wishing prosperity and a wonderful year)” echoed through the brightly lit supermarket, adorned with red lanterns and paper.
Zhou Haochen pushed the cart while Bai Sha grumbled, “It’s the same song every year. Can’t they play something different?”
“It’s the familiarity that creates memories,” he countered.
“The moment you hear this song, you know it’s New Year.”
The little one trailed behind them, occasionally glancing back at the children’s section they had passed, her mind still on the toys within.
“What New Year’s goods are you preparing?” Bai Sha asked.
Having always been alone, Bai Sha used to freeload meals and drinks at her aunt’s and grandfather’s homes on the second and third days of the Lunar New Year.
Now buying for herself, she truly felt overwhelmed (TL Note: A Chinese idiom, ‘yÄ« gè tóu liÇŽng gè dà ,’ meaning to have a headache or be overwhelmed by a difficult situation).
“It should be pretty much the same, right? Chicken, duck, fish, meat, fruits, pickled vegetables, and such.”
“So, do you really enjoy watching the Spring Festival Gala (TL Note: An annual variety show produced by China Central Television, broadcast on Chinese New Year’s Eve)?”
This question touched upon the regional differences in celebrating the Spring Festival.
“Of course, we watch it every year,” Zhou Haochen replied.
“However, people in the south don’t seem to watch it as much.”
Li Qingyu, for instance, wasn’t particularly fond of the Spring Festival Gala.
“Mm, our family didn’t really watch it much before either,” Bai Sha admitted.
“We were usually outside playing with fireworks and firecrackers, only catching a bit if we came back in time.”
Bai Sha had no distinct memories of the Spring Festival Gala, only snippets she had scrolled past on her phone.
The family browsed the supermarket, purchasing some meat and vegetables, frozen and fried foods, two boxes of mandarin oranges, a carton of beer, some pure milk, and snacks like melon seeds and peanuts.
The little one also happily acquired a colossal Ultraman doll and a transformation device.
Bai Sha truly couldn’t fathom why modern Ultraman toys involved so many cards and capsules.
In the past, wasn’t a simple light-up stick sufficient?
By the time the trio returned home, laden with large and small boxes, dusk had already begun to fall.
Zhou Haochen went to put the groceries in the refrigerator, while Bai Sha began preparing dinner.
Clutching her transformation device, the little one excitedly pulled her father into a game of Ultraman battling monsters.
One could argue that such games never truly go out of style: phantom elbow strikes, phantom energy beams, and health points always determined by oneself, much like the enduring classic of jump rope.
Bai Sha, meanwhile, tied up her hair, put on an apron, and quickly stir-fried a few simple dishes.
Then she called out to the living room, “Dinner’s ready!”
The little one scampered over immediately, while Zhou Haochen helped carry the dishes and serve the rice.
The little one’s eyes widened as she praised, “Mama’s cooking smells so good!”
Bai Sha took off her apron, smiling, “Only your little mouth is so sweet.”
****
After dinner, Zhou Haochen made a phone call from the balcony.
Bai Sha sat on the sofa, cuddling the little one as they watched television.
“Mama, why are they so silly?” the little one asked, pointing at the person and monkey on the screen, voicing a question everyone has pondered.
“The bad guy is clearly right there, but they still can’t see him.”
“Perhaps it’s because Baby is too clever; they aren’t as smart as Baby.”
“But he’s so obvious, he almost walks right up to them and steals things before they even notice!”
‘Otherwise, how else would they make you learn a couple more English words, child?’ Bai Sha thought.
Faced with a bombardment of ‘why’ questions, Bai Sha, whose intelligence wasn’t particularly high, chose to remain silent, deciding to direct the child to her father instead.
Seeing her mother’s delayed response, the little one wisely clammed up, and the mother and daughter continued to watch television in harmonious contentment.
A while later, Zhou Haochen ended his call and walked in, only to find that the television content had switched from “Dora the Explorer” to “Ninjago.”
He sat down and asked curiously, “Weren’t you supposedly laying the foundation for school next year? Why did you change the channel?”
Bai Sha scratched her head somewhat sheepishly.
“That show made both me and Xiao Yu uncomfortable. Since it’s a holiday, why not watch something that makes us both happy?”
Zhou Haochen was speechless, simply resolving that he would have to take full responsibility for teaching the child to read and study.
In the future, when educating Zhou Yuying, they couldn’t even use the classic phrase, “If you don’t study hard, then…” (TL Note: A common parental threat in China to encourage children to study).
After all, Bai Sha served as a living example right there in their home.
‘Forget it,’ he thought. ‘Whatever happens, happens.’
Neither he nor Bai Sha were the type to make excessive demands on others.
If Zhou Yuying truly disliked school after her nine years of compulsory education (TL Note: Refers to the nine years of mandatory schooling in China, typically primary and junior high school), they probably wouldn’t force her.
Bai Sha leaned closer to Zhou Haochen and asked, “Do you want to come with me to visit relatives on the second day of Lunar New Year?”
Zhou Haochen chuckled, “Do you want to come with me to visit relatives on the third day of Lunar New Year?”
To his surprise, Bai Sha replied without hesitation, “Okay! It’s settled then!”
He looked at Bai Sha in astonishment.
“Really?”
Bai Sha retorted playfully, “Boiled! (TL Note: A playful pun in Chinese, where ‘boiled’ (煮的, zhÇ” de) sounds similar to ‘really’ (真的, zhÄ“n de)) Still ‘really’?”
A smile he couldn’t suppress spread across Zhou Haochen’s face.
He picked up his phone and posted in the family chat group:
[On the third day of Lunar New Year, I’m coming home!]
– Peaceful Years: If you’re going to spend time, spend it well. Why come back?
– Worth a Thousand Men: Who said I’m coming back alone?
– Peaceful Years: ??
– Benevolent Healer: That’s some skill.