Offending the thousand gold of Deputy Minister Yao's family, Xue Ping was so frightened that he didn't dare to speak out. Chen Zikun, however, took it lightly: "What's wrong with the deputy minister's daughter? Does she have two more eyes than others? She crashed into a car and beat people up, is there still justice?"

  Xue Ping let out a sigh: "That's the way it should be, but who talks about reason these days? You're young and impulsive, big guy. Let me give you some advice, if you want to live a long life in this world, you have to learn one word."

  "Which character?"

  "Endure."

  Back in the house, Baoqing saw a business card on the table, picked it up and took a look, then jumped up like a cat with its tail stepped on: "Du Xinwu, the great hero of the north and south!"

  Xue Ping's eyes lit up, took the business card and looked at it, exclaiming: "It really is Du Xinwu, Du Xiake! I never thought that this afternoon's guest would be him!"

  Chen Zikong said: "The name of Nanbei Daxia is very loud, is he very powerful?"

  Xue Pingshun said, "Du Daxia had once taken a martial arts expert as his master, and his martial arts skills were quite impressive. He had also served as the bodyguard of Song Jiang, the leader of the outlaws, so he was no ordinary person."

  Chen Zikong asked: "How is Bi Yuankui?"

  Xue Pingshun sneered: "Compared to Du Daxia, Yu Zhan Kui is just a dish."

  Chen Zikun nodded thoughtfully.

  ……

  The next day was the 30th of the lunar year, and the Ziguang Car Factory had prepared all kinds of goods for the New Year: food, clothing, daily necessities, toys, offerings, fresh produce, cooked dishes, dried goods, and fresh goods - everything was complete.

  Ordinary pork, mutton and beef are not mentioned. Xing'er also specially arranged some goods from the northeast to cater to Chen Zikun's taste, including venison, wild chicken, frozen fish; as well as southern goods such as water-milled rice cakes, cold bamboo shoots, and yulan slices.

  He also bought a set of clothes, including a satin-faced calabaza hat, a blue cotton-padded jacket with a removable outer layer for summer wear, and a black horsehair cloak. He had two pairs of white-soled single-layer cloth shoes, as well as new undershirts and socks that fit perfectly.

  Incense, tin foil, door gods, stove king, candles for offering Buddha, paper flowers, honey offerings, firecrackers, two kick feet, horse hoof and peace flower on New Year's Eve.

  With Xing'er's efforts, the garage also had a bit of New Year's atmosphere. On New Year's Eve day, Chen Zikun gave all the workers in the garage a holiday, letting them go home early to celebrate the new year. Xu Daishu also let him drive back home. The large courtyard was left with only Chen Zikun and Wang Dama.

  Although it was still daytime, the firecrackers had already started to go off one after another. Chen Zikun thought of last year's New Year's Eve in the mountains, where he and his brothers drank large bowls of wine and ate large pieces of meat, and couldn't help but feel a little melancholy.

  Suddenly the door was knocked, Wang's mother hurried to open the door, and it turned out that Xing Er's family and Xiao Shunzi's siblings had arrived. All six of them were wearing traveling clothes, except for Chen Sanpi, each with a joyful smile on their faces.

  "Big brother, we'll spend the New Year with you, aren't you happy?" Yanhong wore a brand new red jacket today, beaming with joy. Since Xiaoshunzi went to work as a waiter at the Sixth National Restaurant, she was no longer a secret child and could hold her head up in front of the neighbors.

  "Great, great!" Chen Zikun excitedly rubbed his hands together. He was a person who went crazy when there were many people around.

  So many people came, and the house suddenly became lively. Xing Er and her mother, as well as Wang Da Ma, went to the kitchen to cook, Guo Er took a pair of shuttlecocks and went to the alley entrance to play with those kids, Xiao Shun Zi accompanied Chen Zi Kun in chatting in the main room, while Chen San Pi stood timidly in the corner, wanting to join them but seemingly not daring.

  "Hey, big brother, try this." Little Shunzi handed over a cigarette.

  Chen Zikun took it over and sniffed, "What cigarette?"

  "Three cannons, six national restaurants have recently been popular with this." Xiao Shunzi took out a green gold cigarette case, skillfully popped the bottom of the box, and a cigarette jumped into his mouth. He casually picked up a red-headed match, lit it on the sole of his shoe, first lit Chen Zikun's, then his own, raised his leg wearing black leather shoes, and spat out rings of smoke with great satisfaction.

  Chen Zikun picked up the cigarette box on the tea table and invited Chen Sanpi: "Uncle, have one too."

  Chen Sanpi hastily came over with a flattering smile, taking the ashtray from his ear.

  Before he could make a move, Chen Zikun took out a big dollar and said: "Uncle, would you mind helping me buy some firecrackers and sparklers? Also, can you pick up some roasted peanuts from the hutong entrance?"

  "Alright, I'm going now." Chen Sanpi turned around and left.

  Xiao Shunzi pouted: "One yuan, he can still haggle down to fifty cents."

  Chen Zikun said: "Even if it's all black, it's only one dollar. I'm looking at him awkwardly and deliberately sending him out."

  "Is that so." Xiaoshunzi stopped continuing this topic and turned to talk about the anecdotes of Liuguo Restaurant, such as which young master of a certain general's family had taken a fancy to which socialite, or which miss of a certain military commander's family had eloped with someone.

  "Last night, the Liu family restaurant held a dance party. Miss Yao from the Yao family's household scolded Master Xu from the Xu family's household severely...". Xiao Shunzi said with flying eyebrows and colorful language, enjoying himself immensely.

  Chen Zikun interrupted him and asked: "Yao Cizhang from the Ministry of Communications?"

  "Huh, how did you know?" Little Shunzi was puzzled.

  "Don't underestimate me. The assistant at Peking University Library is my friend, and I can read newspapers casually. There are several deputy ministers with the surname Yao in the cabinet, don't you know?"

  Chen Zikun's words are a bit boastful. Mao's assistant is indeed his friend, but newspapers aren't that easy to borrow.

  "Hehe, yes, it's the Deputy Minister of Transportation Yao's family, that thousand-gold daughter's temper is really fierce, I don't know how Master Xu can stand it, tsk tsk." Little Shunzi shook his head and sighed, seemingly very interested in the gossip of the noble families.

  "Which department is Xu Cizhang in?" Chen Zikun asked, he suddenly remembered Xu Tingge coming, and heard that his family was a deputy director or something.

  "That's a big deal, Xu Shuwen, the second-in-command of the Ministry of War, is also a general, and this second-in-command is more powerful than Yao's, but Master Xu is a nephew, so the relationship is slightly distant, making them evenly matched."

  "Ah," Chen Zikun exhaled a ring of smoke and suddenly understood why Xu Er was so arrogant - it turned out he was the chauffeur for General Shang's family.

  Just then, Chen Sanpi came in with a big bundle of firecrackers and a large bag full of roasted peanuts wrapped in old newspapers, which he placed on the tea table and said: "I've got everything ready. That old man at the entrance of the alley is really pitiful. I bought all his peanuts, so let him go home and have a good New Year too."

  "Uncle Chen has a good heart." Chen Zikun praised, one dollar can buy so many things, it seems he really didn't take the black money.

  "Whatever, I'll go sweep the floor." Chen Sanpi was encouraged and seemed to be in a great mood. He took a large broom and started sweeping the yard with all his might.

  "Xing Er's father isn't all bad either." Chen Zi Kung sighed.

  "That's right, they're all from poor families, how bad can it be? If not for the wine and gambling habits, Xing Er's family wouldn't have ended up so miserable. By the way, in two days' time, Liu Guo Restaurant will have a fireworks party, with Western-style fireworks, completely different from our own firecrackers, absolutely stunning, you should come then."

  "Eat peanuts." Chen Zikong said, opening the newspaper package, the peanuts inside were fragrant and crispy, plump and full. He casually spread out the old newspaper to take a look, it was a headline from last November's Times, the National Government's diplomatic delegation went to Paris to attend the victory conference of the warring countries. Below that was a small news item, Peking University President Cai Yuanpei announced a three-day holiday, students took to the streets cheering and marching.

  "Hmm, it seems our country has also become a victorious nation." Chen Zikun said, flipping through the newspaper.

  "It's not like that now, it's different from the Qing dynasty era. Let others ride on our heads and hit us? Now we are in the Republic of China, a victorious country, you know? The European war has wiped out all their men, now they need to transport men from our China to help them carry on their family lines." Little Shunzi said with spirit and vitality.

  Chen Zikun was taken aback: "This is a novelty, could it be that all the men in their family have died out?"

  "It's not that they're all dead, it's just that there aren't enough. I heard them say at the Six Nations Restaurant that this time in the big war with Britain, a million people died, and France lost two million, all of whom were young men in their prime. Think about it, how many widows is that? Not enough to go around, we have to import some Chinese men."

  He looked around and lowered his voice, speaking in a mysterious tone: "I've heard that over in Europe, there are big mansions to live in, with four or five women serving you. If I weren't stuck here, I'd want to go too."

  Chen Zikun snorted and lost his smile: "Forget it, who would believe that."

  Xiao Shunzi was excited: "Don't cheat, this is what I heard people say at the Liuguo Restaurant, it's absolutely true! Our country has already sent 600,000 strong soldiers over there, and it's still not enough. Duan Qirui also trained 100,000 troops to prepare for battle in Europe. When Germany and Austria heard the news, guess what? They surrendered! Haha, we won, China is also a victorious nation!"

  Chen Zikong didn't read many newspapers, and he had never been to the Six Nations Restaurant before. He couldn't say anything back, so he just lowered his head and ate peanuts. Xiao Shunzi snickered a couple of times and said, "The Six Nations Restaurant is preparing to celebrate Chinese New Year and the victory in Europe with a large-scale fireworks party. All the celebrities in Beijing will be there, and I can get tickets. Da Kungzi, you come and have some fun, and see the grandeur of the Six Nations Restaurant."

  "You stay here by yourself." Chen Zikun said.

  The aroma of the dishes wafted over, and Xing Er and Wang Da Ma carried steaming hot plates and bowls back and forth like a merry-go-round, quickly filling the large round table to the brim. There were chicken, duck, fish, and meat, all complete, but what was most tempting was that plate of pork-filled dumplings, which could be eaten as both rice and dishes. With a dip in vinegar and fragrant oil, accompanied by garlic cloves, and a bit of Er Kuai (a type of liquor), it was truly divine, not even a god would trade it.

  The whole family sat around the round table, and Wang's mother still wanted to hide in the kitchen to eat, but was persuaded by Chen Zikun to stay at the table. Facing a full table of wine and dishes, everyone surprisingly didn't know how to start.

  Finally, it was Xing'er who was the most generous. Holding up her wine cup, she stood up and said: "Thanks to Da Kunzi, we can also have a decent New Year's this year, with wine, dishes, and dumplings..."

  She had just started, and she was already choking back tears. Xing Er's mother was even wiping her eyes with her sleeve, Yan Hong lowered her head and didn't speak, Wang Da Ma was also sorrowfully hurt, Chen San Pi was so ashamed that he wanted to bury his head in his crotch.

  The two children stared tightly at the oily chicken legs in the plate, their throats almost stretching out a hand, and Xiao Shunzi was so anxious that he scratched his ears and cheeks, eager to start the meal.

  Chen Zikun took over and said: "From now on, we'll have wine, dishes and dumplings every year. Let's make it a blast and make sure everyone is full!"

  Xing'er let out a snort of laughter, the dense firecracker sounds outside grew louder, and the New Year's atmosphere became even more festive. Chen Zikun raised his wine cup: "Let's take one shot."

  Everyone raised their wine cups, the men downed theirs in one gulp, while the women just took a small sip and their faces immediately flushed red.

  They finally started eating, and Xiao Shunzi and Guoer pounced on the food like two wolves, grabbing a chicken leg and devouring it fiercely. They were scolded by Yan Hong and Xiang'er's mother. Chen Zikong was no better, holding a pig's trotter in both hands and tearing at it with his teeth, looking just like a bandit.

  Everyone couldn't help but laugh and say that Da Ke's eating style was domineering and majestic.

  Xiao Shunzi pretended to be angry and said that it's always good to push the blame onto Da Kunzi, but not onto me. Where can I reason with him?

  "You're no match for Zhuo Qi either." Guo Er retorted.

  Everyone burst out laughing.

  ……

  The New Year's Eve ended with the sound of firecrackers, and no one left that night. The older ones gathered together to chat and keep vigil, while the younger ones went out to set off firecrackers and have fun, and fell asleep when they were tired.

  On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Xue Ping and his family came early to pay their respects and start work. Although all industries were closed for the holiday, the rubber band factory couldn't afford to take a break. During the New Year period, people frequently visit relatives, and going out means doing business, with potential earnings of several hundred yuan per day, so no one was willing to take time off.

  After chatting with Uncle Xue and Baoqing for a while, Chen Zikun glanced at the large clock in the room and said, "I should get back to work."

  Xue said: "Take a rest today, if you can't bear to part with the cart, let Baoqing help you pull it, his clinic is also closed."

  Chen Zikun said: "This job of mine, no one else can replace."

  After finishing speaking, he pulled the rickshaw out of the door.

  "This child is really a hard worker." The elderly people all sighed like this.

  No one knew that Chen Zikun pulled out an empty car, met a called car and didn't respond, and went straight to Lin's house. He stopped at the entrance of the alley and started waiting eagerly.

  After a while, the door of Lin's house creaked open, and a small head poked out to look around, then quietly slipped out, dressed in a simple yet elegant light blue outfit, it was indeed Chen Zikun's dream lover, Lin Wenjing.