chapter 10

Chapter 10

After staying at home with me for a week, Dad went out again to earn money.

En County is a small town. As the New Year approaches, all the migrant workers have returned home, and the streets have suddenly become crowded.

With more people, there are more needs. Plus, with the New Year coming, business in every industry is getting better and better, especially those dealing in food, clothing, housing, and transportation. It’s no exaggeration to say that even the children helping out at home are so busy their feet barely touch the ground.

I wanted to help Dad too, but his three-wheeler is too small. If I go along, he can load much less cargo. He can’t bear to let me freeze, so no matter what, he won’t let me go with him.

Fortunately, the goods sell quickly now, so Dad comes home early every day.

Thinking about it, the only one who has it tough at home is Cheng Yubai. High school lets out very late; they don’t get their winter break until just ten days before the New Year.

As the end of term approaches, Cheng Yubai has obviously become busier.

But even though he’s so busy, he still finds time to tear out the answers from the back of my winter homework.

But clever as I am, I naturally know how to lighten my own load.

Whenever a math problem asks, “Little friend, do you have any questions? Please raise them and try to solve them,” I just write, “No questions.” As for the Chinese questions, I keep my answers concise and precise, never writing a single extra word.

So what if Cheng Yubai tore out the answers?

It doesn’t trouble me at all.

My efficiency in doing homework soared, and I was in a great mood-though Cheng Yubai’s expression when checking my homework was not so beautiful.

When he saw those four big characters on the paper, he fell silent.

I looked at him, all innocence.

“Manman.”

Cheng Yubai pinched the bridge of his nose, at a loss for words. “You only do two pages of Chinese and two pages of math every day. With so much blank space left here, are you planning to build me a house?”

I spread my hands. “But I really don’t have any questions!”

My words were logical and well-founded, and for a moment, he was left speechless.

But leaving so many big questions blank was just too much. Threats were out of the question, so Cheng Yubai opted for bribery.

He promised that if I could finish all those big questions before his break, he’d take me to set off fireworks, visit the temple fair, and buy me sweet candied hawthorn for the New Year.

My eyes lit up as I listened, and I nodded eagerly.

These questions weren’t hard for me. In fact, I finished them all in just a day and a half. For the rest of the time, I just looked forward to Cheng Yubai’s break, and after that, I kept looking forward to the New Year.

I waited and waited, and finally, New Year’s Eve arrived.

Dad bought lots of incense and paper money for Mom, and took me, Cheng Yubai, and the TV back to the village.

The old house was clean and tidy, and all the ingredients were well prepared.

Whenever Dad was too busy to come back to town, he’d stay here. Mom was buried behind the house; with her here, Dad felt at ease.

This year’s New Year’s Eve dinner was still just the three of us. There weren’t many people, but Dad still made a big table of dishes. After dinner, we sat on the heated brick bed, watching the Spring Festival Gala and staying up late together.

I was completely absorbed, wishing I could jump right into the TV.

Dad happily peeled candies and fed me sunflower seeds. After all, it’s New Year’s, just one day a year, so even Cheng Yubai didn’t nag me to eat less candy.

Time ticked by, and light snow began to fall outside the window.

All the homes were brightly lit. The clock finally struck twelve. I held a big White Rabbit milk candy in my mouth, listening to the lively sound of firecrackers outside.

On TV, the midnight bell rang. Dad and I simultaneously looked up at the memorial photo on the wall.

It was the lunar New Year of 1995, the sixth year since Mom passed away.

Back then, I was very small, but now I’ve grown so much. If people really reincarnate, she should call me “big sister.”

A new year has arrived again.

But Dad and I will always, always think of her and miss her.

“Manman.”

A hand gently rested on my head, interrupting my thoughts.

I turned around. Cheng Yubai’s long eyelashes drooped, making him look especially gentle. At this moment, he was looking at me intently. “…Happy New Year.”

I broke into a big smile and hooked my arms through his and Dad’s.

“Wishing us-a Happy New Year!”