Chapter Fifty-Three: The Lantern Festival

  The fifteenth day of the first month is a traditional holiday in our country, the Lantern Festival. Plus Zhou Hui plans to go back this afternoon, and her sister Bai Feng will also be going with her. So we specially prepared something at home, eating yuanxiao at noon and seeing off Zhou Hui and her sister.

  At around 6:00 am, we all got up and had a quick breakfast before starting to prepare for the Lantern Festival. In our place, the Lantern Festival is also called "Tangyuan". Glutinous rice flour is mixed with water and stirred evenly, then shaped into balls, which can be filled with red sugar, bean paste, etc., and can be eaten directly after cooking. Of course, nowadays many people don't like to eat sweets, so there are also Tangyuan wrapped in vegetables.

  I, Dongfang Yu and Li Huanhuan were in charge of wrapping the Tangyuan, while my mother was preparing dishes with Zhou Hui and Bai Feng. Because she was worried that some people might not be used to eating Tangyuan, my mother also planned to cook some rice dishes.

  Li Huanhuan made Tangyuan is a "novice", she is a beginner, the Tangyuan she made are all flat and became "Tangbian".

  Dongfang Yu smiled and said to Li Huanhuan, "Brother, why don't you go get a coin? We'll play a game to see who has better luck this year."

  My hometown has a tradition of wrapping coins in glutinous rice balls, to see who's lucky enough to get one. I was just about to pick up the coin when I heard the phone ringing. I answered it: "Who are you looking for?"

  A very familiar voice came over the phone: "Jin Cang, we're coming to your house at noon, prepare more food and wait for us."

  The one speaking was Du Yifei, she seemed to have already forgotten about what happened a few days ago, and when talking to me, her tone was very cheerful.

  "I quickly replied: 'Okay, we're just about to eat Tangyuan at home. If you come over, let's have it together.'"

  Du Yifei laughed happily: "Then you have to prepare more, my dad loves to eat this. By the way, we brought a lot of cooked food, so you don't need to prepare anything else."

  I asked them what dishes they brought and then hung up the phone. I went to tell my mother so that she wouldn't prepare too much food, which would be a waste.

  Time flies, and it's already 12 o'clock at noon. The three of us have also wrapped over a hundred dumplings. These dumplings are not big, but they are all made with real materials, and when placed on a plate, they look very appetizing.

  Coins are used to see a person's luck for the year, belonging to the category of games, not to be taken seriously. However, Dongfang Yu is very serious about washing the coins clean, then wrapping them in a tangyuan, and even deliberately messing up the order of the tangyuan being cooked, just in case someone with ill intentions tries to take advantage of her.

  In fact, among the more than 100 glutinous rice balls, only one contained a coin. Whoever thought of cheating would not be possible. Li Huanhuan and I looked at Dongfang Yu's serious expression and couldn't help but laugh.

  Dongfang Yu loudly said: "Don't peek, I must ensure fairness."

  Li Huanhuan smiled and said: "Don't worry, I won't sneak a peek. Just pay attention to Jin Cang, he's not honest, maybe he'll take a look."

  "Dongfang Yu suddenly glared at me and said, 'Did you hear that? Don't sneak a peek!' After a pause, she added, 'Huan Huan Jie, can you help me get some bowls? Once the tangyuan is cooked, I need to scoop them up.'"

  I glanced at the time and muttered to myself: "Why hasn't Du Yifei arrived yet? I hope nothing happened on the way?"

  Li Huanhuan seemed to have thought of this too, and suddenly said: "Jin Cang, do you want to call Du Yifei and the others now? I don't know if they've arrived yet, we're all about to eat."

  I nodded and quickly went to make a call. As soon as the phone rang, I heard Du Yifei's voice: "Are you in a hurry? We'll be there soon, just wait another ten minutes."

  "I replied, looking at Dongfang Yu and Li Huanhuan who were still busy, 'It's coming soon, let's get ready for dinner.'"

  Eastern Jade whispered: "Come on then, what's so special about it?"

  Li Huanhuan said with some annoyance, "What's the big deal about being a school flower? What's there to be proud of? If it were me, I would have arrived early and made others wait. Doesn't she know that being late is impolite?"

  I couldn't help but smile wryly, yet I didn't dare say much more to them and quickly took the opportunity to leave the kitchen under the pretext of preparing tableware.

  Before long, the sound of a car came from outside the house. When I went out to take a look, I saw Du Yifei getting out of a four-wheel drive off-road vehicle. Du Yifei was wearing a bright red down jacket, but it didn't make her look bloated at all. On the contrary, she looked even more lovely.

  When I saw Du Yifei, I smiled and greeted him: "Are you here? Come in and sit down quickly."

  Du Yifei ran over and grabbed my hand, saying loudly: "Help me move things, we've brought a lot of stuff..."

  I smiled and walked with her to the side of the car, just as Su Shi-hong was about to get out. I greeted Su Shi-hong and also exchanged greetings with Du Si-qi who had just gotten out of the car before heading to the trunk to prepare to move things.

  Du Siqi wore a neat suit, a bright red tie, shiny black leather shoes, and glossy hair... just one look and you could tell he was definitely a successful businessman.

  Du Yifei indeed brought a lot of things, big and small, with five paper boxes. I asked her in a low voice: "Did you buy all these? Why be so polite and bring so many things over?"

  Du Yifei nodded and smiled: "You should be, didn't you also buy gifts for my parents? This is also a return gift."

  I had no choice but to help move things back home, and also asked Dongfang Yu, who just came out, to lend a hand. As for Li Huanhuan, I didn't dare let her help, in case she got angry and said something unpleasant, offending the guests and making me feel awkward.

  Du Siqi also actively moved a paper box and when we passed by each other, he smiled and said: "A little bit of small intention, not enough to show respect."

  I quickly thanked him and hurriedly took the box from his arms, saying: "Don't bother moving it, come in and sit down for a rest first."

  Du Siqi burst out laughing and watched us move things, he didn't enter the house first, but waited in his original position.

  We soon finished moving our things and led Du Yifei and the other two into the house to rest, also pouring them tea.

  My parents then knew that guests had arrived again and hurried out to meet them. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they were invited directly to the dinner table.

  The Tangyuan had been cooked for a while. After everyone sat down, Dongfang Yu and Li Huanhuan served them one by one.

  Du Siqi took a sip of the soup, and after just one mouthful, she exclaimed: "It's so delicious! I've been searching for this flavor all along... Fei Fei, hurry up and try some, it tastes exactly like the tangyuan your grandma used to make!"

  Everyone in the house stared at Du Siqi, who was shouting and screaming. The image of a big boss suddenly collapsed, leaving only an ordinary old man, and also a very greedy old man. However, this change made him suddenly closer to us farmers, even my parents couldn't help but laugh along with him.

  Du Siqi was eating the tangyuan with a big mouth, seeing everyone laughing, he also laughed and said: "To be honest, I haven't eaten such delicious tangyuan for a long time. This... this is the beauty of human taste, priceless..."

  His father smiled and said: "Then eat more, there's still a lot in the pot!"

  Mother heard Father say this, afraid that Du Siqi would misunderstand, hurriedly said: "Don't talk nonsense, what is meant by 'there's still in the pot'? Too bad at speaking. We packed a lot today, enough to eat and add more."

  Du Siqi burst out laughing and said loudly: "It turns out that I really have good luck, as soon as I arrive at Jin Cang's house, there is such a delicious Tangyuan to eat. Haha...I'm here to eat Tangyuan today, no need to be polite."

  "Dad, don't be embarrassing, what's the big deal about eating tangyuan? You're talking as if you've never had it before..."

  Du Siqi didn't respond to Du Yifei's complaints and said loudly, "I often eat Tangyuan, but such delicious Tangyuan, you won't believe it, since your grandmother passed away, I haven't had any... Don't laugh at me for saying this out loud, I've loved eating this since I was a kid, but back then my family was poor and couldn't afford to have it every day. It wasn't until after I got married that my mother-in-law found out about my love for Tangyuan and I finally had the good fortune of having some - almost every time I went to my mother-in-law's house, she would make me her homemade Tangyuan... The taste is really something I'll never forget in this lifetime!" By this point, Du Siqi's eyes were a bit moist and he was quite moved.

  Du Shiqi continued: "Later, my mother-in-law passed away and I never got to eat such delicious Tangyuan again... I thought I would never get to taste this kind of Tangyuan in my lifetime. But I didn't expect that today, at Jin Cang's home, I got to eat it again... Haha, I have to eat more, I'm just afraid you guys will fight with me for it..."

  As we watched Du Siqi eating the tangyuan with big mouthfuls, everyone suddenly fell silent. Even Zhou Hui and Bai Feng looked at each other after watching Du Siqi eat the tangyuan with tears streaming down her face, and then nodded in unison, as if everything was quietly changing.

  Du Yifei looked at her father and suddenly poured all the tangyuan from her bowl into his. She whispered, "Dad, I know you miss Grandma, but... be careful, this isn't our home, it's Jin Cang's home, don't lose your composure..."

  I couldn't help but stand up and interrupt Du Yifei who was about to continue speaking: "It's okay, just let your dad say it, we all understand..."

  Du Si swallowed another Tangyuan, quietly wiped his eyes, and when he looked up again, he was already smiling: "I'm fine, just a little moved... everyone, don't be like this, eat, eat, don't really let me finish it all by myself, that's not worth it..."

  Everyone in the house was amused by Du Si's words, and they all started eating. I looked at Zhou Hui and Bai Feng, nodded naturally, turned around and said to my father: "Dad, bring out our family wine, today is Uncle Du and Du Yifei's first time coming to our house, we should show some hospitality, right?"

  Father smiled lightly and magically pulled out a sealed bottle of Zhenpin No. 1 from under the table, opened it while saying: "Mr. Du, this is your first time visiting our home, our conditions are not good, please be more tolerant. I heard Jin Cang say you're used to drinking Zhenpin No. 1, so I prepared a bottle, please don't decline, let's all have a little together."

  Du Siqi looked at me and stood up, saying to my father: "I'm about the same age as you, so don't learn from the kids and call me Mr. anything. My name is Du Siqi, just call me by my name! Also, I came with Little Girl Du Yifei today, it's a bit presumptuous. However, this isn't my first time coming to your house, I came here several months ago. Only at that time you weren't home, so I couldn't enter. As the saying goes 'one life, two familiarities', we're already familiar with each other, let's not be too polite and just relax, okay?"

  "Alright, Siqi," said the father, "I'm a straightforward farmer and won't say anything flattering. Since we're all sitting together, that's a kind of fate. For our fate, let's have a drink together!"

  I chuckled and said, "If you can drink, then go ahead and have a drink. If not, let's get some beverages to substitute instead." As I spoke, I picked up cola juice and the like, and poured a cup for those who couldn't drink alcohol.

  After everyone had something to drink, Du Siqi said loudly: "Thank you for the hospitality, Feifei and I are very grateful to Jin Cang and everyone. I won't say much more, let's just drink first."

  Watching Du Siqi drink the wine in the cup, I had no choice but to finish it too. However, Dongfang Yu and Li Huanhuan refused to drink, both of them just took a small sip before lowering their heads to eat the tangyuan, with an expression that seemed to say "don't bother me".

  I knew they had opinions, and I also knew that this was not the time to reason with them, so I pretended not to see them and lowered my head to start eating the tangyuan.

  My mother's thoughts were meticulous, and she discovered these, quietly pulling me, hinting that I should go to the kitchen to bring some more tangyuan, also avoiding the current predicament.

  No one knows a child better than their mother, which is why she would make such a subtle gesture. Unfortunately, Du Yifei was unaware of my current predicament and instead said to me at this time: "When are you going back to school? Let's go together. I've already decided that for the time being, I won't be studying abroad, let's talk about it after we graduate from university."

  I nodded and was about to speak when Li Huanhuan asked strangely, "Jin Cang, is this little sister your classmate? She's really pretty."

  I suddenly felt that this meal might not be eaten, and hurriedly said: "Sorry, I forgot to introduce you. This is my classmate Du Yifei, also the daughter of Uncle Du." Then he pointed to Dongfang Yu and Bai Feng, and said to Du Yifei and Du Sizhi: "These two are my relatives, they are both goddaughters of my parents, Dongfang Yu and Bai Feng." After that, he pointed to Zhou Hui and Li Huanhuan, hesitated for a moment before saying: "They are my friends, Zhou Hui and Li Huanhuan." Pausing for a moment, looking at Su Shihong who had been silent on the side, said: "This is Su Shihong, Uncle Su, a member of Uncle Du's family."

  As for my parents, Du Siqi and Du Yifei have already met, so there's no need to introduce them again.

  Du Yifei looked at Li Huanhuan with a strange expression, stood up and said: "So it's Jin Cang's older sister, Li Huanhuan, right? Then I should call you Sister Huanhuan too. Sister Huanhuan, my name is Du Yifei, you can call me Feifei."

  Li Huanhuan smiled, looking very happy. She stretched out her hand to Du Yifei and sweetly said: "No wonder you're the school flower of Jin Cang's school, you're really a lovely girl."

  Yufei smiled naturally: "Huanhuan sister is too polite, Feifei dare not be. Huanhuan sister is also very charming, she looks like a goddess-level person. In the future, I will walk with Huanhuan sister, please let Feifei give way to Huanhuan sister."

  Li Huanhuan was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said: "Nonsense! You're much prettier than me, it's you who should be letting me through."

  Du Yifei also smiled: "But you're more mature than me, and it's easier for people to be attracted to you."

  Li Huanhuan's face changed color a bit, but she still smiled and said: "Youth is an advantage, you are more attractive than me."

  Du Yifei looked at Li Huanhuan, seemingly trying to find something on her face. She heard her say: "Let's not be polite anymore, we're all gathered together, why don't we have a drink together? What do you think, Huanhuan?"

  Li Huan nodded slightly, picked up the drink in front of her, and smiled: "Let's all do it together, today is the Lantern Festival, so I'll be the first to wish everyone a happy Lantern Festival."

  Du Yifei also smiled and said: "Let's celebrate together, Happy Lantern Festival!"

  "Happy Lantern Festival!"

  I and Zhou Hui, Bai Feng originally pretended not to know what had happened, but this time we could only stand up and clink glasses with everyone.

  The older generation doesn't care about us young people; they have their own things to say and wine to drink, and they've long forgotten about us.

  Zhou Hui sat beside me and took the opportunity to say, "I think you'd better withdraw for now. If because of you this wonderful atmosphere is ruined later on, your parents will blame you."

  I immediately took advantage of the situation and went straight to the kitchen to prepare some tangyuan or rice for everyone.

  At this moment, my mother came to the kitchen and whispered to me: "That Du Yifei is not bad at all, no worse than my two goddaughters. How about it, which one do you like? Tell me, mom will consider it for you."

  I forced a smile and said, "Mom, don't say that, what's the point of all this? Honestly, I'm telling you, these girls... I'm not worthy of any of them. You should see their backgrounds! Just stop worrying about it!"

  The mother sighed and nodded unnaturally: "What you said is also true. Apart from Dongfang Yu, I think the others are not simple people. Son, you have to work harder, otherwise it's really not worthy of their family."

  My chest felt a bit stuffy, but I nodded: "I'll try my best. Mom, hurry up and bring the tangyuan over, everyone's waiting! In a while, I'll send the rice over, those who don't like tangyuan can eat rice."

  Mother responded with a sound, turned around and left. I couldn't help but mutter to myself: "Am I really that bad? Am I really not good enough for them?" I shook my head hard, turned around, picked up the rice, and walked back to my seat in big strides.

  At this time, Du Siqi was still discussing with my father and Su Shixiong, they were drinking and chatting while the atmosphere was very warm.

  I was originally going to give Du Yifei some rice, but then I heard Dongfang Yu say: "Brother, give me the rice and I'll distribute it. You go call Sun Heng back, he called this morning and I forgot to tell you."

  I nodded and smiled: "Remember to leave some rice for me, I'll be right back."

  Regardless of whether anyone answered me or not, I ran away quickly. This place is not suitable for me to stay, it's better to leave quickly.