Chapter 41 Fireworks
“Nimudiweiwo”
"Long time no see, la la la"
"Nimu Gade Suo"
"Mulaghtebo"
......
A beautiful folk song echoed from the distant mountains. San San pushed open the door, gazed into the distance for a moment, then turned back and smiled at Chen Yunqi, saying, "It's our 'God of Song' singing."
......
"Distinguished guests from afar, friends from all directions"
We don't get together often, and it's rare for us to see each other.
"The Yi people have a tradition of first serving wine to guests."
"The Yi people have plenty of fine wine; we offer it to our guests."
"Please have a drink."
"Please have a drink!"
......
A shower fell last night, and the morning air was filled with the moist, earthy fragrance. On the morning of New Year's Eve, every household cleaned their houses and set out fine wine and dishes in the main room to worship the gods and ancestors.
The Yi people still retain a strict ancestral worship system. San San's father holds a tray full of abundant food and leads his family to first offer sacrifices to the ancestors, heaven and earth, soil, water, sun and moon, dragon and stove in turn, and then to various farming tools, in order to pray for good weather and a good harvest in the coming year.
Chen Yunqi also stood respectfully behind, bowing deeply and praying sincerely for the San San family.
According to custom, on this day, all borrowed items must be returned, no household goes out, women who have worked hard all year can do nothing and be hands-off, and no one is allowed to use foul language or beat or scold children.
The old man put on a thick headscarf and other ornaments, and the children dressed up in their new clothes. San San changed into the new coat that Chen Yunqi had bought for him, picked up a cup of freshly brewed oil tea and handed it to him, saying respectfully, "Wu Wu, Lai Duo."
The boy in blue with black hair was gentle, lovely, and strikingly beautiful. Chen Yunqi stared at him blankly and smiled. San San knew he couldn't understand, so she repeated it in Chinese:
"Brother, have some tea."
Chen Yunqi took the teacup and drank it all in one gulp. He didn't care that his tongue was numb from the heat. He reached into his pocket, took out a red envelope, and gave it to San San, saying with a smile, "Good girl, may you have a peaceful and safe year ahead."
San San's father frowned and said repeatedly, "No, no, the Yi people don't have the custom of giving New Year's money. Teacher Chen, please don't spend money."
Chen Yunqi waved his hand and said, "It's alright. I'm Han Chinese, and I'm the elder brother too. I have my own rules. Uncle Lu, please don't worry about it. It's not much money. I spent it last time I went down the mountain. It's just a small token of my appreciation."
After saying that, he took out another red envelope and gave it to Sheng Xiaoyan.
Sheng Xiaoyan lowered her head, not daring to reach out and take it. Chen Yunqi urged her in a low voice, "Xiaoyan, take it quickly, it's a small token of my appreciation. May everything go smoothly for you next year, and may you make progress in your studies."
Sheng Xiaoyan looked up at her parents sitting beside her. After receiving their permission, she reached out and took the red envelope with both hands, carefully put it into her pocket, and said almost inaudibly, "Thank you, Teacher Chen."
San San's mother said embarrassedly, "Oh my, Teacher Chen, you've bought us food and new clothes for the kids for the New Year, and even gave us red envelopes. How can we possibly accept that? Oh dear, we don't have anything good to give you."
Chen Yunqi smiled and said, "Auntie, you're always so formal with me. I'm really happy to be able to spend the New Year with you all."
San San couldn't help but interject, "We're especially happy that you're spending the New Year at our house."
Everyone in the room laughed warmly, except for Sheng Xiaoyan, who remained silent with her head down. San San's mother frowned, looking her over curiously, and said, "What's wrong with this child lately? Why isn't she happy during the New Year?"
"No, I'm fine," Sheng Xiaoyan replied without looking up.
"Don't look so grumpy! It's the New Year, so it's bad luck! I've bought you everything you wanted, and you're still not happy? What more do you want? If you're not happy, go back inside!"
San San's father didn't understand any girl's thoughts. He only felt that his daughter's expression was rude and disappointing. After all, there were guests at home, and he didn't know who she was showing her long face to. He felt embarrassed and began to scold Sheng Xiaoyan impatiently.
Sheng Xiaoyan was usually not afraid of her father, letting his scolding go in one ear and out the other, never taking it seriously. But now, for some reason, after only a few words, she suddenly burst into tears, got up, and ran back to her room. San San's father was also a little surprised, stunned for a while, then pretended to be nonchalant and said, "This kid's getting more and more temperamental."
Chen Yunqi felt a little embarrassed and couldn't say much, so he just gestured to San San to go and take a look.
San San understood and followed her into the inner room. He saw Sheng Xiaoyan lying on the bed, her shoulders heaving, crying her eyes out. He walked over and sat down by the bed, saying softly, "Alright, alright, it's nothing serious. Tell me what's bothering you."
Sheng Xiaoyan sobbed, "Get out! I don't need your help!"
"You really don't want to talk to me?" San San asked tentatively. "Alright then, I'm leaving."
He stood up to leave, but couldn't help turning back to look at her retreating figure and said, "Today is New Year's Day, you should be happy and not cry, otherwise you won't be happy all next year."
Upon hearing this, Sheng Xiaoyan sat up and called out to San San, who was about to leave, asking out of the blue, "Brother, are you going to work after the New Year?"
San San paused for a moment, then withdrew the foot that had already stepped out and walked back to sit down on the edge of the bed.
"I'm not going. I want to go back to school," he replied earnestly.
Sheng Xiaoyan looked at him thoughtfully, then asked, "Teacher Chen is so good to you, what does he want from you?"
San San didn't understand why she would suddenly ask such a question, and immediately felt a little guilty. She immediately shifted her gaze away from Sheng Xiaoyan, her long eyelashes trembling slightly as she spoke.
"Teacher Chen is good to me... without expecting anything in return. He is a good person."
"Brother, he's definitely going to leave. Don't be so close to him. He'll forget about you once he's gone."
San San didn't want to hear these things. He instinctively resisted the topic because he was very certain of his feelings for Chen Yunqi, but he wasn't sure if Chen Yunqi felt the same way about him. After all, Chen Yunqi had never given him a single response, let alone made any promises.
As for those sweet words uttered when feelings run deep, he was even less sure how much of it was genuine affection and how much was just impulsiveness.
He suddenly felt annoyed at his own persistent and humble advances, and immediately felt like he had been played. The thought startled him, and he quickly composed himself, saying impatiently, "Don't talk nonsense, kid. What do you mean by forgetting? I don't understand."
"Teacher Chen is very good to you, you should be grateful."
Sheng Xiaoyan suddenly felt an overwhelming rage. She wanted to shout at her brother, "How can I express my gratitude? Is it by letting him kiss me on the lips? What if he wants to kiss me too? He's a pervert!"
Unaware of her impending outburst, San San simply frowned and said calmly, "When you're done, come out and apologize to your father. Don't make him angry during the New Year."
After saying that, he got up, slammed the door, and left.
After this nonsensical conversation, Sheng Xiaoyan felt a little better and stopped crying. She rubbed her red eyes, took a deep breath, and comforted herself, saying, "It's okay, it'll be okay..."
San San returned to the house with a furrowed brow, put on a normal expression, and said to Chen Yunqi and her parents, "It's nothing. I just suffered a little grievance at school. Children can cry it out and be fine."
Chen Yunqi also chimed in, "It's normal for girls to be a little sensitive at this age. It's not easy for her to study away from home. You two can talk to her more." Not wanting to interfere in their parenting, he changed the subject, asking, "What are our plans for tonight?"
What kind of arrangements could there be in this poor, remote place? Even during the Spring Festival, there was no Spring Festival Gala to watch, no excitement to join in, and no visiting other people's homes in the evening. It was just a family reunion for a meal, drinking, smoking, playing cards, and staying up late to welcome the new year. Chen Yunqi was still thinking about visiting his third aunt, worried that it would be inconvenient after dark, so he immediately got up and, while it was still early, planned to go to his third aunt's house to give the three children lucky money.
Li Laoqi's three children were all young, and now that they had all returned together, the house became extremely noisy and lively. When Chen Yunqi stepped into the house, Li Laoqi was lying face down on a straw mat, while Li Dong and Li Ye waved small branches and shouted "Giddy up!" as they sat on his back and rode him like a horse.
"Happy New Year, my little one," Chen Yunqi said, taking full advantage of the noisy father and son as soon as he opened his mouth.
Li Laoqi sprang to his feet, throwing the child off his back, picked up a twig and threw it at Chen Yunqi, shouting, "How dare you! You dare to disrespect your father-in-law!"
Chen Yunqi suddenly felt extremely warm and familiar with the scene and atmosphere before him. It was as if he had completely become a part of Tianyun Village, with many brothers, sisters, and fellow villagers. He could speak freely and visit others openly like a genuine Yi person. He had transformed from the cold and aloof Teacher Chen into a flesh-and-blood Xiao Chen with laughter and tears.
Third Sister walked into the house carrying several bottles of beer, smiling as she watched Chen Yunqi and Li Laoqi banter back and forth. It was clear she had dressed up carefully today; she wore earrings given to her by Chen Yunqi, and although her clothes were old, they were clean and tidy. Her thick, black hair was braided into a large braid, adorned with a royal blue hair clip—she looked absolutely beautiful.
Chen Yunqi pushed aside Li Laoqi, who was shouting that he wanted to arm wrestle with him, and stared intently at San Niang, praising her repeatedly: "San Niang looks especially beautiful today!"
Third Sister smiled shyly and sat by the fire pit, brewing beer for everyone.
Chen Yunqi took the cigarette Li Laoqi offered and asked while smoking, "How is Grandpa? When is he coming back?"
Li Laoqi took out a cigarette, but instead of lighting it, he tucked it behind his ear and replied with a grin, "I'm doing well. I called just a couple of days ago to say hello. Thanks. I'll be back after the New Year."
Chen Yunqi nodded and took out a red envelope from his pocket, gesturing for the three children to take it. Third Aunt and Li Laoqi hurriedly tried to stop him, and in the midst of the pushing and shoving, Chen Yunqi suddenly said seriously, "I called you brother and sister today, and you'll be my brother and sister for life. Don't be so formal with me."
The seventh brother and the third sister were stunned for a moment, watching him stuff the red envelopes into the children's hands, their eyes reddening.
Li Qin, who was about the same age as Sheng Xiaoyan, accepted the red envelope, whispered a thank you, and sat back down to read. Li Dong eagerly handed the red envelope to his mother and stood obediently to the side, waiting to be praised. Only Li Ye sat down affectionately next to Chen Yunqi, opened the red envelope in front of him, counted the few bills inside, and finally looked at Chen Yunqi seriously and said, "Thank you, Teacher Chen. I'm going to save the money to buy a parrot later."
Chen Yunqi was amused by her serious expression, patted her head and said, "Okay, after you buy the parrot, I'll give you a nice birdcage."
The beer today had more spices than usual, making it sweeter and warmer. It was getting late, and after drinking and smoking, Chen Yunqi politely declined the offer to stay with the Third Aunt's family and got up to leave.
The New Year's Eve dinner in the mountains was unexpectedly plentiful. On the square tables of the three families, there was a variety of dishes, including stir-fried green peppers with cured pork, stewed radishes with pork ribs, stewed potatoes with chicken, stir-fried vegetables, cold mixed houttuynia cordata, sliced sausages, and a large bowl of fried peanuts. Each dish was fragrant and looked delicious. Paired with a jar of old wine that was only opened during the New Year, listening to the family's warm and affectionate conversation, along with the corn and red peppers hanging on the wall and the couplets and the character "福" (good fortune) pasted on the door, Chen Yunqi felt the long-lost strong festive atmosphere.
The fish he bought earlier couldn't be kept and had already been eaten a few days ago, but Chen Yunqi didn't feel regretful. Tonight, he was in an exceptionally good mood, so he poured himself a full glass of wine and toasted his parents several times, expressing his heartfelt gratitude repeatedly.
Seeing him down one cup after another, San San tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Brother, drink less. We have to 'open the gate' first thing tomorrow morning."
Chen Yunqi was touched that San San still remembered this matter, but in the atmosphere he couldn't control himself and, emboldened by the alcohol, became more and more unrestrained. He leaned close to San San's ear and said, "Don't worry, we can just stay up all night and keep watch together."
Seeing that she couldn't persuade him and noticing his unusual enthusiasm, San San had no choice but to go along with him. Infected by his mood, San San filled her own glass, lightly clinked it against Chen Yunqi's, and said earnestly, "Brother, I'd like to toast you. Knowing you is a blessing I earned in my past life, and I'm extremely happy. Thank you."
After saying that, he tilted his head back and drank first as a sign of respect.
Chen Yunqi was overwhelmed with excitement upon hearing his words. He longed to immediately reply, "You are the treasure I met after using up all my luck in this life," but in front of his family, he could only carefully choose his words and say, "I am also very happy to have met you and your family."
After several rounds of drinks and dishes, even San San was a little tipsy. It was getting late, and San San's parents, being elderly, couldn't stay up all night, so they went to rest early. Chen Yunqi and San San prepared to go out to set off fireworks, but Sheng Xiaoyan refused to go with them, making an excuse that she was tired, and went inside to lock the door.
Whether intentionally or unintentionally, she fulfilled their wish to be alone. Taking advantage of the fact that no one was in the room, Chen Yunqi picked up San San's coat and carefully dressed him, then picked up a bag of various fireworks and firecrackers and led him out the door toward the school.
The surroundings were unusually quiet on New Year's Eve. The mountain people couldn't bear to buy these expensive trinkets, and with nothing to do at night, they would simply gather around the fire to drink, play cards, and boast. Chen Yunqi, along with San San, braved the cold wind and climbed onto the school roof. They found a corner and dumped all the firecrackers from their pockets onto the ground, then picked and chose which ones to set off first.
San San put the two strings of firecrackers back into the bag to set off in the morning, then picked out the largest bucket of fireworks and handed it to Chen Yunqi, saying, "I want to see this."
Chen Yunqi took it, moved a little further away from him, placed the bucket of fireworks on the ground, took the cigarette out of his mouth, and lit the fuse with the lit cigarette butt.
With a "sizzle," sparks flew up. Chen Yunqi quickly took a few steps back to San San's side, took his hand and put it in his coat pocket. They stood side by side, staring at the fireworks, eagerly waiting.
The fuse burned out, and just seconds later, a golden firework burst into the air with a "bang," soaring straight into the sky and then blooming into a beautiful flower in the air.
San San immediately gripped Chen Yunqi's hand tightly, pointed to the sky, and said excitedly in a low voice, "Brother! It's so beautiful!"
This bucket of fireworks was probably the biggest and most expensive of all the firecrackers Chen Yunqi had bought. It had many explosions and was beautiful, but compared to the fireworks Chen Yunqi had seen before, it was nothing. However, for San San, who had never set off fireworks before, it was unprecedentedly magnificent and magical.
Chen Yunqi glanced at San San's slightly flushed cheeks. The colorful sky reflected in his pure and bright eyes. The boy in front of him was like an innocent child seeing the stars for the first time. His eyes were full of indescribable amazement and excitement. He was pure and innocent, and his smile was as beautiful as a flower.
He couldn't help but gently turn San San's shoulders, pulling him tightly into his arms. Against the backdrop of countless dazzling fireworks, he leaned down and whispered something in his ear:
"I love you."
Chapter Forty-Two: Jumping Off the Cliff
"I love you."
Brilliant fireworks illuminated the deep, boundless night. At the summit of Yunshan Mountain, a young man stood on tiptoe, gazing into the light brown eyes of his beloved, and kissed his lips tenderly again and again.
How fortunate I am to have met you amidst the vast sea of people and the green hills and white clouds. I wish to accompany you through all the splendor of the world from now on, and hold your hand to walk through life together.
There could never be a more romantic New Year's Eve. Chen Yunqi embraced San San, who was holding fireworks, from behind with his broad chest, and together they drew fleeting, beautiful arcs in the night sky. They were both immersed in unparalleled happiness and joy, and every little detail of the past played back before their eyes like scenes from a movie.