Seeing Lin Wenjing come out, Chen Zikun hastily straightened up and greeted: "Miss Lin, would you like a ride?"

  Lin Wenjing saw that it was Chen Zikun, and a look of joy flashed across her face. She made a silencing gesture with her hand, then ran over in small steps, jumped onto the car and said: "Hurry up, hurry up."

  Chen Zikun didn't say another word, and with a burst of speed, he pulled the cart out of the alley. Lin Wenjing covered her mouth, still feeling shaken, "That was close! We almost got seen by Old Man Zhang."

  "Miss, are you running away from home or what?" Chen Zikun asked while running.

  "Hehe, Uncle you're really good at joking, Auntie Mi took Brother to a card game, Dad has a dinner party, and I'm the only one left at home. Wang Yueqi and I made plans to go watch high-wire walking today. By the way, Uncle, how's your business?"

  "It's all right, no worries about food and clothes, why did you suddenly think of asking this?"

  "Because of taking us out to play, you got fired by Aunt Mei, I've been wanting to say sorry to you."

  "Haha, it's nothing."

  Wang Yueqi's home was just two streets away, and soon they arrived at the Wang residence. Lin Wenjing got out of the car and said, "Uncle, can you wait for me for a moment?"

  "No problem."

  "Thank you." Lin Wenjing hopped and skipped into the Wang residence, and in less than ten minutes, she came out with Wang Yueqi. Wang Yueqi saw Chen Zikun without any surprise, only a hint of puzzlement: "You've got a new car?"

  Lin Wenjing didn't say a word, and got on the bus with her. They rushed to Dazhong Temple, where the temple fair was being held on the first day of every year. There were opera performances, acrobatic shows, stilt walkers, and all sorts of delicious and affordable snacks, everything you could think of.

  After arriving at the place, Wang Yueqi gave Chen Zikun two big sons and took Lin Wenjing to play. Chen Zikun handed the two big sons to an old man selling tea by the roadside: "Old man, help me watch the car, thank you."

  After parking the car, he followed behind the two girls. The temple fair was crowded with people rubbing shoulders and bumping into each other. There were also some hooligans who couldn't be missing from such an event. The two young girls naturally caught their attention quickly. Two rascals gazed at Lin Wenjing's slender back with lustful eyes, wiped the saliva from the corners of their mouths, and followed her.

  The rogue's actions couldn't escape Chen Zikong's sharp eyes, he quickly stepped forward, grabbed one of the rogue's arms and pulled it down violently, instantly dislocating it, causing him to let out a pained cry, with beads of sweat as big as beans dripping down, his accomplices were at a loss, no longer daring to follow the beauty.

  After hearing the scream from behind, Lin Wenjing turned her head to look back. Wang Yueqi, who was used to such things, said calmly: "It's nothing, maybe someone just stepped on someone else's foot. By the way, there will be a firework party at Liu Guo Restaurant tomorrow, are you going?"

  "What? I don't know." Lin Wenjing was taken aback.

  "You must go, all the celebrities in Beijing will be there, it will be the most grand fireworks party of 1919, to celebrate the victory of the European War and the Chinese New Year, every guest is dressed up and dancing under the night sky with fireworks, it's just like a fairy tale." Wang Yueqi closed her eyes, in a state of intoxication.

  "Uh-huh." Lin Wenjing could only meekly respond with a single word, having been confined to her home for reflection this whole time, without knowing what was happening outside.

  "I've made some inquiries, and it seems that all officials above the rank of deputy will receive invitations. However, many officials in the Duan government are pro-Japanese and would rather stay at home playing mahjong than attend the gathering, so it's not hard to get an invitation. I've already asked Xu Xuechang to help me get one."

  "Can you get one for me too?" Lin Wenjing asked with pleading eyes.

  Wang Yueqi hesitated for a moment and then agreed: "Okay, I'll think of a way, but no promises."

  Chen Zikun hid not far away, clearly eavesdropping on their conversation.

  Two girls had a great time at the temple fair and were just thinking of heading home when Chen Zikong appeared in a timely manner, pulling a rickshaw.

  "Two young ladies, go back."

  "You've arrived just in time. First, take me to the Shun Cheng County Prince's mansion, and then send your young lady back home." Wang Yueqi said this with a hint of pride.

  On the first day of the New Year, there were few cars and horses on the streets. Chen Zikun ran with all his might, arriving at the Duke's Mansion. The gate was truly magnificent. The three-bay main gate had three bays of side gates on either side, forming a nine-bay entrance that was grand in scale. At the entrance stood two stone lions with ferocious faces and an air of majesty. However, what was even more impressive were the eight guards standing at attention on either side of the gate, clad in blue-gray uniforms, with leather belts, cartridge boxes, and rifles held upright.

  In front of the Wangfu gate, a large empty space was filled with cars, horse-drawn carriages and rickshaws. At the foot of the wall, in the sunny spot, a row of carters were squatting, no need to ask, these carts' owners all came to pay New Year's visits to the high-ranking officials living here.

  The person living in the Wangfu of Shunxing County was not the former Qing dynasty's Prince, but rather Xu Shuzheng, the Deputy Minister of the War Department of the Beiyang government, who was at the height of his power. Xu Tinggong was his nephew, and Wang Yuqi had come to see Xu Xuechang.

  "I'm fine here, Lin Wenjing, you go back first." Wang Yueqi got off the car and bid farewell to Lin Wenjing.

  "Uh-huh, goodbye, hurry up and inform me if there's good news." Lin Wenjing rode the rickshaw away, and Wang Yuqi finally arrived at the Xu family gate, asking someone to pass on a message saying she wanted to find Young Master Xu.

  The steward of the Xu family saw that it was a female university student who had come to find Young Master Xu, and he didn't dare to neglect her. He quickly reported back, and soon Xu Tingge came out to greet her, inviting Wang Yueqi in. As they walked, he asked: "Hey, where's that female classmate of yours who's always by your side?"

  "You're talking about Lin Wenjing, she has something on," said Wang Yueqi.

  "Oh, what brings you here? Wang Yueqi." Xu Tingge seemed a bit distracted.

  "Xu Xuechang, Liuguo Restaurant is going to have a fireworks party, I...I and Lin Wenjing both want to go, can you help us find two invitation cards?" Wang Yueqi said.

  "This is a bit difficult, several of my uncle's concubines want to go, and the invitations are not enough. However, there are some tickets for watching the fireworks." Xu Tingge said, taking out two tickets.

  "With this, you can enter Dongjiadu Lane, except for the restaurant and dance hall of the Six Nations Hotel, it's almost like an invitation."

  Wang Yueqi took the admission ticket and said: "Thank you, senior. I'm leaving."

  "You're leaving without even having a cup of tea? Wait a minute, it's not easy to hail a taxi now, I'll get Xu Er to send you."

  Xu Tingge called out to a servant and had him summon Xu Er, who took the carriage to send Wang Yueqi home.

  Xu Er was in the gatehouse laboriously reading a primary school textbook, when he heard Young Master's call and hastily pulled the carriage to send Wang Xiang away. Wang Yueqi did not go home directly, but first went to Lin's residence.

  At this time, Lin Wenjing had already returned home. Fortunately, Aunt Mei and Father were not back yet, so no one found out that she had sneaked out to play. Seeing Wang Yueqi arrive so quickly, she suddenly showed a delighted expression: "You got the invitation so soon?"

  "It's not that easy, the officials and wealthy people can't even get them by grabbing, let alone tickets to watch the fireworks." Wang Yueqi sighed.

  "Oh, it's nothing." Lin Wenjing comforted Wang Yueqi instead.

  After chatting for a while, Wang Yueqi bid farewell and left. Lin Wenjing sat at the table, opened the locket on her necklace, gazed at her mother's photo and murmured: "Mom, I really want to go see the fireworks."

  ……

  At night, Xiao Shunzi returned to the Ziguang Car Factory after work and was about to go back to his room to sleep when he saw Chen Zikong sitting in the master chair of the main house, beckoning him over with a big smile.

  "What's wrong, Da Kunzi?" Xiao Shunzi hurried over and asked.

  "Close the door." Chen Zikong said seriously.

  Xiao Shunzi quickly closed the door and pulled over a chair to sit down, speaking cautiously: "Da Kuizi, what are you doing? Don't scare me."

  "Yao Ting, aren't we good brothers?"

  Xiao Shunzi also became serious: "We are friends who have been through life and death!"

  "Alright, I have something now, and you're the only one who can help me with it. Will you help or not?"

  Xiao Shunzi's mind was racing with worst-case scenarios. Da Kui being so serious, could it be that he had gotten into some kind of trouble outside and needed someone to take the fall?

  "Alright, I'll help you out, just leave my sister in my care." Little Shunzi said with a pained expression.

  Chen Zikun was confused by him: "What are you talking about? I just wanted to ask you for two invitations to the Liuguo Restaurant's fireworks dinner party."

  Xiao Shunzi let out a sigh of relief: "Almost scared me to death, thought it was..."

  But then his face lengthened again: "Big brother, my good brother, this is even harder than taking my life. This banquet is hosted by the envoys of various countries at the Liuguo Restaurant, and the guests are either diplomatic envoys or high-ranking officials. I'm just a small waiter in the restaurant's cloakroom, and even if you flayed me alive, I couldn't get an invitation."

  Chen Zikun hesitated for a moment and felt that Xiaoshunzi's words were very reasonable, and he was being a bit too stubborn.

  Xiao Shunzi's eyes rolled around and said, "Are you getting it mixed up? Yesterday I was talking about tickets to watch the fireworks, not invitations. If you want tickets, I can actually get one or two."

  Chen Zikong said: "The vote is also okay, I want it now."

  Xiao Shunzi really pulled out an admission ticket from his pocket, "This is for you, actually no need for a ticket, the doorman is my buddy, he can bring you in later."

  "You're doing pretty well." Chen Zikun casually praised.

  Xiao Shunzi's face lit up with excitement: "Of course, I'm sharp-eyed and sweet-tongued. Who wouldn't give me face? The one at the door is my little brother, and the big sister in the laundry room keeps batting her eyelashes at me. Getting leftovers from the kitchen is a piece of cake."

  "Hehe, not bad." Chen Zikong praised him with a profound meaning.

  ……

  The next morning, Lin Wenjing woke up from her sleep and sat at the table to comb her hair in a daze. Suddenly, she saw a pink note on the table, picked it up and took a look - an admission ticket for the Liuguo Restaurant's Fireworks Party!

  "Mother, did you hear your daughter's prayers?" Lin Wenjing opened the locket on her necklace again and tearfully looked at her mother's photo.

  Having the ticket, I still need to ask my father for leave. After getting dressed up, I carefully came to the main room. The whole family was sitting at the table eating breakfast. My mother said that there would be a mahjong gathering tonight and she would play with Mrs. Zhang and Mrs. Li until midnight. My father read the newspaper while eating and casually said: "Don't come back too late, I have an engagement tonight. Lin Ma, just cook dinner for our daughter."

  Also told her daughter: "Don't go anywhere at night, just stay home and study hard. If you can't get into Peking University in the future, it's all your fault."

  Lin Wenjing didn't dare to mention it again, and she buried her head in eating. After finishing the meal, she went back to quietly tidy up her clothes. She only had two winter coats, one blue and one white. Thinking about it, she decided to wear the dark blue one with a white long scarf, which would have the best effect.

  He pulled the leather shoes out from under the bed, carefully wiping them with a soft cloth. He then poured another cup of water and used the comb to tidy up his hair. Finally, he took out his wallet and counted his savings - two jiao per month for half a year had added up to over one yuan.

  It wasn't easy to wait until the afternoon, Mrs. brought Wenlong to the card room, and Mr. went drinking with his colleagues. Lin Wenjing dressed up neatly, took the admission ticket and slipped out of the house quietly, saw a familiar figure at the entrance of the alley, and suddenly said: "Uncle, hurry up, Liu Guo restaurant."

  "Alright." Chen Zikong pulled the rickshaw and took off. Today, he was still dressed in his usual simple attire: a short jacket made of blue cotton, a pair of trousers with a belt around his waist, an old cotton hat on his head, and a pair of leather shoes on his feet. As he quickly walked down the street pulling the rickshaw, everyone who saw him couldn't help but praise him for being so efficient.

  Arriving at Dongjiaomin Lane, the embassy area is particularly lively today. Lanterns and streamers are hung everywhere. Foreigners follow local customs, celebrating the New Year according to Chinese rules. The patrolling foreign soldiers wear magnificent uniforms, with shiny boots and bayonets. Everywhere, there are elegantly dressed Chinese and foreign guests, filled with joyful voices and laughter.

  Lin Wenjing got off the car and gave Chen Zikun a wink, then took the admission ticket and went in excitedly.

  Chen Zikun put away his rickshaw and entered the Liu Guo Restaurant through a side door, where he was stopped by an ethnic Chinese security guard: "What are you doing here?"

  "Brother, I'm Li Yaoting's older brother." Chen Zikun said with a smile, handing over a cigarette, Sanpao brand.

  "Hey buddy, wait a minute, I'll call him over." The guard immediately became friendly and smiling, and soon found Xiao Shunzi.

  Chen Zikun pulled Xiao Shunzi to one side and whispered a few words, Xiao Shunzi's face changed: "Brother, you're always giving me trouble."