The firecracker exploded in his hand, illuminating Ye Mingxuan’s face, outlining his delicate features and eyes. He murmured softly, “Oh.”
After setting off the fireworks, Ye Mingxuan returned to his bedroom for a hot shower. He decided not to go back to studying, thinking whatever needed doing could wait until tomorrow. Instead, he lay in bed snatching red envelopes.
Clearly, they were just playing around with the red envelopes—a bit of good luck on this special night—so the amounts weren’t large.
Ye Mingxuan got lucky, grabbing 188.8 yuan right off the bat, the biggest envelope of the round.
Yangyang: [Why did I only get fifty cents…?]
Lily: [Compared to you, my 3.6 yuan isn’t so bad.]
Tan Big Bro: [How bad could it be? Last round I only got 0.16 yuan, and I didn’t even complain!]
Tan Jing: [Hahaha, the luckiest one sends red envelopes—it’s your turn, Mingxuan.]
Ye Mingxuan immediately sent a lucky draw red packet. This time, Tan Jing grabbed the most. Mingxuan himself snagged over twenty yuan.
The group was bustling with activity, messages scrolling frantically down the screen. Tan Sizhe warmed milk in the kitchen, glancing at his phone with a faint smile.
He carried the steaming milk into the living room, switched on the TV, and glanced at the tightly shut bedroom door upstairs. He pressed the remote a few times, cranking up the volume.
He carried the warm milk into the living room, turned on the TV, glanced at the closed bedroom door upstairs, and pressed the remote several times to crank up the volume.
“Ladies and gentlemen, you are now watching the XX Satellite New Year’s Eve Gala! Only one hour remains until 2026!”
Tan Sizhe crossed his legs, leaning casually against the sofa for a moment. Sure enough, the bedroom door opened a crack, and Ye Mingxuan’s little head peeked out.
Ye Mingxuan crouched by the door, peering down. Tan Sizhe’s lips curved upward as he called out, “Come down and watch TV.”
“Okay.” Ye Mingxuan scampered downstairs and sat beside Tan Sizhe. The New Year’s Eve Gala played on the TV, hosts dressed in elegant suits and evening gowns.
The camera swept across the audience, revealing numerous unnamed bigwigs and beautiful celebrities. Ye Mingxuan spotted Ophelia, the woman who had delivered his clothes earlier, among them.
Then, the camera lingered on an exceptionally beautiful woman, around forty years old. She wore an evening gown draped with a woolen shawl, her hair elegantly pinned up, revealing a slender, snow-white neck.
The director seemed particularly fond of her, giving her multiple close-ups as she gracefully waved to the audience in front of the camera. Ye Mingxuan studied her features—why did she look so familiar?
He sat cross-legged on the sofa, a blanket draped over his knees, sipping milk from the glass on the table.
As he pondered who this woman was, Tan Sizhe leaned closer to him: “Think she looks a lot like me?”
Ye Mingxuan took a sip of milk, still unaware of anything: “Hmm.”
Tan Sizhe noticed the white residue on his lips and wiped it away: “You snatched her red envelope just now.”
Ye Mingxuan: “…”
Ye Mingxuan sprang up: “Red envelope?!”
The red envelope he’d snatched in the group chat earlier was…
Ye Mingxuan pointed at Tan Jing, who was chatting in the group: “She’s the one on TV just now—Mr. Tan’s aunt?!”
Tan Sizhe pinched his pouty, goldfish-like lips: “She’s our aunt.”
Ye Mingxuan blinked his clear eyes, his face flushing slightly as he nodded understandingly.
Tan Sizhe’s family was his family.
Tan Sizhe urged him to finish his milk: “Drink up before it gets cold.”
Ye Mingxuan gave a faint smile and obediently finished the entire glass.
Tan Jing shared the polished photos from the live stream in the group chat. Tan Sizhe commented: [Reporting you for playing with your phone during the New Year’s Eve show.]
Tan Jing: 【New Year’s Eve parties? Nothing beats grabbing red envelopes, haha.】
As she spoke, Tan Jing sent out a few more red envelopes. Ye Mingxuan had already developed an instinctive reflex—the moment he saw a red envelope, he’d grab it, the roar of the New Year’s Eve party echoing in his ears.
Tan Sizhe draped an arm around Ye Mingxuan’s back as they watched TV together.
Distant fireworks crackled incessantly, while the TV broadcast featured lively song-and-dance performances. As Ye Mingxuan watched, drowsiness unexpectedly crept over him. His head began to nod, gradually leaning against the man’s shoulder.
“Sir…”
Tan Sizhe lowered his head. “Sleep. Tomorrow, when you wake up, it will be a new year.”
Hearing that tomorrow would bring a new year, Ye Mingxuan forced his eyelids open. “Sir… um… Happy New Year.”
With those words, he couldn’t hold on any longer and fell asleep, collapsing softly against Tan Sizhe.
“Ladies and gentlemen, you are now watching XX Satellite TV’s New Year’s Eve Gala! Let’s count down together to welcome the upcoming year 2026!”
“Ten, nine, eight…”
Viewers at home rose to their feet as hosts and performers gathered to cheer.
“Three, two, one!”
The New Year’s chimes rang out amidst the roaring crowd, fireworks bursting overhead to herald the fresh year.
“Happy New Year.” Tan Sizhe tilted his head, planting a gentle kiss on Ye Mingxuan’s cheek.
-
After winter break began, everyone returned to their hometowns for the New Year. Ye Mingxuan and Liu Yan went to his maternal grandmother’s home.
His grandmother lived in the mountains. He had an uncle, Liu Yan’s older brother. Last year, his uncle and cousin had gone out to work and they hadn’t seen each other. This year, his uncle’s entire family would also return to his grandmother’s home to celebrate the New Year together.
The mother and son took the subway from downtown to the train station, then boarded a train, a bus, and finally a small tricycle. After five bumpy hours, they finally arrived at the grandmother’s house.
Fortunately, the pregnancy was stable now, Ye Mingxuan thought. Otherwise, he couldn’t guarantee nothing would happen on the journey.
Liu Yan was also terrified, constantly asking how he felt. Ye Mingxuan touched his belly—the baby was quiet, seemingly sleeping the entire journey.
“I haven’t told your grandparents about your marriage or pregnancy,” Liu Yan said. “The fewer people who know, the better. You don’t need to help with cooking either—don’t tire yourself out.”
Ye Mingxuan nodded.
Upon arriving at his maternal grandparents’ home, they cracked sunflower seeds and chatted for a while. Soon after, his uncle’s family arrived carrying New Year’s provisions.
His uncle was a burly man with darker skin—his cousin clearly took after him. His aunt, however, had fair skin and a gentle, amiable disposition.
Ye Mingxuan greeted his cousin. After graduating high school, his cousin had gone out to work and now ran a small business, comfortably providing for himself.
Before long, it was nearly dinnertime. Uncle urged Ye Mingxuan and his cousin to head up the mountain to chop firewood before dark.
Liu Yan quickly intervened: “Mingxuan shouldn’t go. He’s not in the best health—it’s too much for him. He can stay and help in the kitchen.”
At this, Liu Chengye grew displeased. “What’s wrong with a grown man chopping some firewood? I was gathering firewood in the mountains at ten years old. How old is he now? He can’t even chop wood!”
Grandmother interjected, “Enough. We have plenty of firewood stored. No need to chop any. Why waste your energy?”
My cousin interjected: “Dad, Mingxuan doesn’t know how to chop wood. I’ll go instead.”
My uncle retorted: “If he doesn’t know how, he should learn! When he was younger, it was understandable, but now he’s grown up. Why shouldn’t he chop wood?”
My cousin tried to reason with him: “Dad, Mingxuan still has to study. What if he gets hurt chopping wood?”
Grandma chimed in: “Exactly! Mingxuan worked so hard to get into college. If he gets hurt chopping wood and can’t attend, I’ll never forgive you!”
Uncle glared, fuming: “What good is all that education if he can’t even chop firewood? Does he think the wood will just fall down by itself with his mouth alone?”
But he didn’t insist on sending Ye Mingxuan up the mountain either. He shouldered his basket and headed out himself.
My cousin comforted Ye Mingxuan: “My dad’s always like that. Don’t take it to heart. I’ll go help him.”
Ye Mingxuan nodded: “Thanks, cousin.”
Grandma kindly urged Ye Mingxuan to eat something. Liu Yan said, “Let Mingxuan sleep. He’s exhausted.”
Grandma nodded and had Grandpa take Ye Mingxuan to the small room to make up the bed.
As Ye Mingxuan spread out the quilt, he overheard Grandma grumbling to Liu Yan, “We have so much firewood at home. Why did he go chop any?”
Liu Yan chuckled, “He just wants it to last longer for you all.”
Grandma muttered, “I’ll ask around someday if we can get gas installed.”
Winters were bitterly cold in the mountains. Only Grandpa and Grandma’s room had air conditioning—installed by Uncle three years prior.
None of the other rooms had one, so Grandpa filled a hot water bottle for Ye Mingxuan. He burrowed under the covers, draping the down jacket Tan Sizhe had bought over the quilt. After a day of bumpy travel and being pregnant, he was exhausted. He closed his eyes and slept for two hours, waking just in time for dinner.
He slipped on the down jacket and stepped out. He noticed the woodpile in the storage room had grown significantly. Walking into the living room, he found his uncle drinking baijiu at the dining table.
The baijiu had been warmed in a basin over hot water. After a sip, his stomach warmed up. Spotting Ye Mingxuan, his uncle snorted, “What’s a college student doing here? Not lifting a finger, just sleeping all day.”
Ye Mingxuan hung his head in shame, but his cousin immediately stepped in to smooth things over: “Dad, eat some vegetables. Don’t just drink.”
Grandfather interjected: “It’s the New Year. We’re all together as a family. Lighten up.”
Uncle’s face flushed slightly with alcohol: “Hmph. You always favor whoever’s read more books.”
Grandma shot him a glare before turning to urge Ye Mingxuan to eat with a smile.
Winter nights fell quickly. A small lamp illuminated the backyard. Ye Mingxuan sat on a little stool, pouring hot water from the kettle into a plastic basin. Steam billowed up, filling his nostrils with the scent of soap.
Liu Yan wanted to help, but Ye Mingxuan told her to go chat with his grandparents instead: “I can’t just sit here doing nothing. That would be weird. Besides, washing dishes isn’t that tiring. Mom, don’t worry.”
Liu Yan sighed and went inside.
The hills were dark and dense, with occasional bird calls echoing through the woods. As Ye Mingxuan washed, he heard footsteps approaching, neither light nor heavy.
He turned to see his uncle standing menacingly by the sink, as if he’d slipped from the front yard to the back: “Come here.”
Ye Mingxuan set down the bowl: “Uncle…”
Liu Chengye snapped impatiently, “Come here. College students need things repeated twice?”
Ye Mingxuan immediately dried his hands and approached. Liu Chengye pulled him into a corner, fished a crumpled, folded red envelope from his pocket, and shoved it into his hand. “Take it.”
When Ye Mingxuan realized what he was holding, he gasped: “Uncle, you can’t do this!”
“I told you to take it, so take it,” Liu Chengye narrowed his eyes. “College students need money for school. Without it, you’ll just be a laughingstock!”
“Keep this money for yourself. Don’t give it to your mother. She’s so stingy, it’ll just gather dust if she gets it.”
Liu Chengye glanced at the bright lights inside the house, then shot him a disapproving look. “Go exercise more! Skinny arms and legs like yours—you’ll collapse before finishing your studies!”
Ye Mingxuan’s eyelashes fluttered slightly. “Mm.”
“I’m leaving!” Liu Chengye grunted twice. “College student.”
With that, he turned and slipped back through the rear courtyard into the front house.
Ye Mingxuan clutched the red envelope in his hand, feeling it weigh a thousand pounds—not just heavy, but scorching hot.
After his uncle’s family left, Ye Mingxuan showed the red envelope to Liu Yan.
Liu Yan gasped, “He hasn’t had much luck himself these past two years.”
“Your uncle’s a tough guy on the outside but soft on the inside. Don’t take it to heart.”
Ye Mingxuan sat on the bed, lips pressed together. “Yeah, it’s not like I’m meeting him for the first time.”
He remembered when his uncle took him up the mountain to catch tadpoles and pick fruit as a child.
On New Year’s Eve, the mountain was brightly lit, and red lanterns hung from the small tree in front of his grandmother’s house.
Liu Yan and his grandparents sat in the living room watching the Spring Festival Gala, while Ye Mingxuan went to the front yard to take a call.
“Sir!” Ye Mingxuan held the phone, finding a spot with decent signal. Standing on a large rock, he called Tan Sizhe. “Happy New Year.”
Tan Sizhe was at the ancestral home today. He’d just finished the New Year’s Eve dinner with Grandpa Tan, Tan Jing, and the others. Returning to his spacious bedroom, he called Ye Mingxuan.
“Happy New Year. Have you eaten yet?”
“Yes, I have!”
Tan Sizhe said, “My parents came back today, just in time for the New Year’s Eve dinner.”
Hearing this, Ye Mingxuan sighed, “That’s wonderful.”
Tan Sizhe leaned back against the sofa. ” I’ll collect the red envelopes they gave you for you.”
Ye Mingxuan’s cheeks glowed in the warm indoor light, his eyes softening. “Thank you, Sir.”
Tan Sizhe said, “It’s cold in the mountains. Stay warm. Wear socks to bed at night.”
Ye Mingxuan nodded. “Okay.”
Tan Sizhe chuckled softly: “Mingxuan, would you like to spend next year’s New Year with me at the ancestral home?”
Spend New Year at the ancestral home?
A sudden gust swept through, causing the lanterns on the tree to sway gently. Ye Mingxuan tightened his grip on the phone, feeling that tonight’s wind wasn’t particularly cold.
“Alright,” he said.
