RPAGF Chapter 191 Welcoming the New Year
Chapter 191 Welcoming the New Year
As the Spring Festival approaches, a new scene unfolds, with every household busily sweeping away the dust. The festive atmosphere grows ever stronger. A gentle breeze caresses the willow-lined banks, and the aroma of aged Zhijiang wine fills the air. A gentle, tipsy bliss fills the air with the joy of family reunion.
Amidst the crackling of firecrackers, another year departs. Peace and harmony return to the world. The spring breeze turns the trees of Jiangnan green, sparing the world from the white hairs of the people. With flickering candles and old peachwood charms, why refuse a final drink of New Year's wine? Returning home, I am fortunate to have a beautiful garden, where flowers bloom in succession, providing my own enjoyment.
The city was filled with lanterns, and the streets were teeming with tourists, creating a lively and unprecedented scene.
Inside the courtyard of the Shi residence.
Shi Wanxia stood in the center of the courtyard, watching the busy crowd around her, a slight smile unconsciously creeping onto her lips. The campfire danced merrily in the night wind, its orange flames illuminating everyone's faces and bringing warmth that seemed to dispel all the winter's chill.
The courtyard was bustling with activity. Shuyun, like a composed general, led a group of skillful girls sitting in a corner, intently making paper-cut window decorations and lanterns.
The colored paper in their hands danced lightly under the scissors, and soon, exquisite window decorations appeared before their eyes, including auspicious characters for "good fortune," lifelike zodiac animal patterns, and clusters of flowers symbolizing reunion.
The materials used to make lanterns gradually took shape under the skillful hands of the girls. Bamboo strips were bent into beautiful shapes, covered with colored paper, and decorated with various ornaments. The lanterns seemed to be given life, shining as brightly as stars.
On the other side, Qin Xin, with her hair tied in a neat ponytail, was leading a group of young men and women skilled in cooking, busily working in the kitchen. The kitchen was filled with various tempting aromas, steaming baskets were billowing out, and the cutting board was piled high with prepared ingredients.
Everyone chatted and laughed, the sounds of chopping and stir-frying vegetables mingling together to create a unique New Year's symphony. They were preparing the New Year's Eve dinner with care, each dish brimming with anticipation and blessings for the new year.
Shi Wanxia was all alone, without any sect or ancestors, and without any relatives or friends. Yet, at this time of family reunion, she felt no loneliness whatsoever. Everyone here was her family, and this courtyard was her home.
Lin Yu and Qing Huan were intently writing Spring Festival couplets in the main hall. Lin Yu held the brush, dipped it in ink, but paused halfway through. His eyes were somewhat unfocused, and his thoughts drifted back to his home.
When he was at home, the house was always filled with a lively atmosphere during the Spring Festival. His mother was like a magical magician, arranging everything in the house in an orderly manner. He and his brothers, on the other hand, spent most of their time studying in the study.
Only when his mother sent someone to inform him to go to the ancestral hall to worship their ancestors would he put down his book and go out. His father and mother loved all of them dearly, and the warmth of that family affection, like the bonfire in the courtyard at that moment, burned continuously in his heart.
Qinghuan noticed Lin Yu's unusual behavior and gently touched his arm. "Brother Lin, what's wrong? Are you tired?"
Lin Yu snapped out of his reverie, looked at Qing Huan's concerned gaze, and smiled slightly, "It's nothing, I just remembered the Spring Festival at home." A hint of tenderness flashed in Qing Huan's eyes, "It's very warm here too, isn't it?" Lin Yu nodded and continued writing the Spring Festival couplets.
Laughter and playful shouts echoed from the courtyard, filling every corner with joyful sounds. The small courtyard was filled with a harmonious atmosphere, as if time itself had stood still, leaving only this warm and beautiful scene.
As night deepened, preparations gradually came to an end. Window decorations adorned the windows, lanterns hung throughout the courtyard, and Spring Festival couplets were displayed high on both sides of the main hall. The New Year's Eve dinner table was laden with food, and everyone sat together to welcome the arrival of the New Year.
On this special night, everyone found a sense of home in this small courtyard, and the emotions hidden in their hearts gradually spread and blended in this warm atmosphere.
Shi Wanxia stood in the middle of the courtyard and called out to Chen Ping'an and Anqing not far away, "Ping'an, Anqing, go to the gate and tie up the firecrackers. You can light them when the New Year's Eve dinner is served!"
The burly men responded immediately upon hearing the call. They were tall and muscular, appearing rough and ruthless, but a closer look revealed a subtlety and caution in their eyes.
They had only been in this house for a short time, and being newcomers, they were always timid and cautious in their actions. Every move they made was tentative, as if they were afraid that they might lose this hard-won place to stay if they were not careful.
They were struggling to survive in the dead of winter, nearly freezing to death on the streets, when the girl became like a beacon, illuminating their world and taking them in. This kindness weighed heavily on their hearts like a mountain, and burned like a blazing flame within them.
They knew that Miss Shi had given them a second chance at life, a debt of gratitude higher than the sky and deeper than the sea.
Therefore, they once swore under the moon that they would serve Miss Shi like slaves for the rest of their lives, even at the cost of their lives, to protect her and never let anyone bully her or anyone else in the courtyard.
Chen Ping'an led his two brothers briskly towards the door, their faces beaming with smiles that softened their usual sternness and added a touch of tenderness. Anqing followed behind his second brother, his heart filled with joy, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
He couldn't help but say, "Second Brother, Miss Shi is such a good person. If it weren't for you bringing us here to seek refuge with Miss Shi, how could we have such a good life now? Miss Shi taught us how to make a living and taught us a lot."
He paused, then continued, "And there's Young Master Lin, who personally taught us to read and write. I never dared to dream that I could live such a blissful life in this lifetime."
Hearing his younger brother's words, Chen Ping'an felt a surge of relief. He patted Anqing on the shoulder and said earnestly, "You must always remember that our lives were given to us by Miss Shi. In this life, we will only listen to Miss Shi. She has been so good to us, not only providing us with food and shelter but also teaching us to read and write. Even if we were to serve her like slaves, we could never repay this kindness. We must do our utmost to complete every task Miss Shi assigns and absolutely cannot let her down."
The others nodded in agreement, knowing that without Miss Shi, they might have already perished in this cold winter.
Before long, the group had quickly and skillfully hung up the firecrackers. After checking that everything was in order, they closed the gate and hurried back to the courtyard. The courtyard was bustling with activity, as the young men and women played together, their laughter echoing in every corner.
Everyone was busy setting up the tables and chairs for the evening and putting up exquisite paper-cut window decorations. Shi Wanxia directed everyone to put up and hang the finished paper-cut window decorations and lanterns. Everything was in good order, except for the Spring Festival couplets, which had not yet been put up.