Chapter 116
Chapter 116: A New Lunar Year.
January 31st.
The day before New Year’s Eve.
When Wen Yu woke up in the morning, there were already sporadic firecracker sounds outside.
Slightly chilly, but the atmosphere was heating up.
The living room wasn’t cold because the balcony door was tightly closed. Banben crouched on one side of the sliding glass door, looking outside. The chicken they bought huddled in the corner of the balcony, very frightened by the fat cat’s gaze.
“Banben, go further away, if you dare to eat it, I dare to eat you.”
Wen Yu shouted.
Banben glanced back at him, made a very reluctant human-like expression, meowed and walked to the kitchen door, looking at Mother Wen busy in the kitchen.
Mother Wen was washing dishes, preparing for tomorrow’s New Year’s Eve dinner.
Wen Yu leaned against the kitchen door frame, yawning.
“Mom, where’s dad? Why is there no one around early in the morning?”
Mother Wen glanced back, “Your father went out to buy New Year goods, he needs to buy some more snacks and dried fruits.”
Then she lowered her head again and continued, “Are you hungry? Shall I cook noodles for you?”
“Forget it, I’ll just snack and skip lunch.”
“Snacks, how can snacks fill you up…”
“They can, they can, I’m not hungry!”
Wen Yu hurried off.
After taking a few steps, she heard Mother Wen call out irritably, “If you’re not hungry, go find Qiao’er’s dad next door, he’s writing couplets, ask him to write a few pairs for you to stick up first.”
“Shouldn’t couplets be written tomorrow?”
“Qiao’er’s family has something tomorrow, they’re doing it today.”
“Oh, okay.”
Wen Yu checked the wax plum she bought, grabbed a pack of biscuits, and came to Fu Chengque’s house while eating.
In the living room of the Fu family, the coffee table and the floor were covered with red couplets. Father Fu and Fu Chengque were bustling around, creating a lively atmosphere.
Fu Chengque noticed Wen Yu first and exclaimed with joy, “Wen Yu, come here quickly, let’s write couplets!”
Wen Yu greeted Father Fu first, “Uncle Fu, my mom sent me to ask you for a few couplets.”
Without looking up, Father Fu replied, “Xiao Yu, come help grind ink, Qiao’er is really clumsy, her grinding is terrible.”
Wen Yu stepped forward briskly and asked Fu Chengque, “Want some biscuits?”
He saw the girl shake her head.
Wen Yu, with biscuits in his mouth, took the inkstone from Fu’s outstretched hand and said with a smile, “Uncle Fu, your ‘Yan style’ is really good to look at. It’s vigorous and powerful, with great momentum.”
Father Fu glanced at Wen Yu and said somewhat proudly, “Now you know? Back then, when I asked you two to learn from me, you both refused, and now the words you write aren’t much better than dog pee!”
“It’s not too late now, I’m here to learn.”
“Make the ink thicker.”
“Okay.”
As they spoke, Father Fu finished writing a couplet, blew on it, put the upper and lower parts together, and said to Wen Yu, “Take a look!”
“Welcoming the prosperity of the new spring, bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the prosperous new year.” Wen Yu read it out loud and praised, “Uncle Fu’s handwriting is really nice.”
Father Fu laughed heartily, while Fu Chengque muttered to herself on the side, “Sycophant.”
Father Fu’s ears twitched upon hearing this muttering, and his brows furrowed.
But instead of getting angry, he picked up his pen and wrote a few strokes, then read aloud without waiting for Wen Yu to open his mouth, “One should maintain true gentlemanly behavior, and reading requires diligent effort.”
After finishing, he handed it to Fu Chengque and said, “Go, stick it on your bedroom door.”
Fu Chengque’s face immediately turned bitter, looking around, seeing her dad’s stern face and Wen Yu’s gloating expression.
The Empress, still young and inexperienced, with limited strength and a feeble voice, reluctantly went to quickly paste them.
Father Fu watched Fu Chengque finish pasting them and then turned to Wen Yu, asking, “What are you writing at your place? Do you have any ideas?”
“The front door, kitchen, and balcony will be normal, and I also want to put one in my bedroom.”
“That’s easy, what do you want to write in your bedroom?”
Wen Yu pondered for a moment, “In profound discussions, many scholars emerge; another year begins with the return of the sun.”
Fu Chengque came back over and exclaimed, “Oh, I don’t understand!”
Father Fu was momentarily stunned, pondered for a moment, and then nodded, “Rare couplets, quite interesting. Xiao Yu, do you have any thoughts? If you can tell Uncle, I’ll help you.”
Wen Yu smiled, “It’s not that serious, it’s just something I heard before and thought it sounded good. It’s more appropriate to use it this year.”
“It does seem appropriate. This year, after you finish the university entrance examination, you will embark on another journey in life.” Father Fu looked at the two of them, his gaze softened, “University, work, love, marriage, starting a family, it’s all part of the cycle.”
In his leisurely words, there seemed to be a hidden message, “This couplet is good, come, help me press it down.”
Wen Yu and Fu Chengque both pitched in, one pressing the top and the other guiding the bottom.
After Father Fu deliberated for a while, he put brush to paper.
Once the couplet was written, Wen Yu and Fu Chengque went back and forth, sticking them up one by one.
After the red couplets were pasted, the atmosphere of the Spring Festival became even thicker. Fu Chengque looked satisfied after putting up the horizontal banner “Years in Tranquility” above Wen Yu’s bedroom door.
“Wen, this horizontal banner looks good.”
“Isn’t it elegant?”
Fu Chengque nodded repeatedly, “Yes, yes, it’s a bit like your current temperament.” As she spoke, she noticed that Banben had entered the bedroom, so she followed and found a place to sit down.
Wen Yu became interested and turned to look at Qingmei, “What’s my temperament now?”
“Haha, it’s a bit bland, like the pork rib soup my mom used to make, only with radish and water.”
“Pork rib soup?”
The girl hummed a few times, pondering, then said, “It’s like you only have a pair of eyes, just looking but not thinking.”
“Now it’s better, as if someone added a little salt to you, giving you some flavor.”
“Your metaphor is really interesting, worthy of you.”
She scratched her head.
Wen Yu chuckled, “What you said earlier makes sense. But I still have things to think about, maybe you haven’t noticed yet.”
“Oh? What’s that?”
“For example, university life, I’m really looking forward to it.”
“Me too!”
Excitedly, Fu Chengque added, “I have to go to my grandma’s house tomorrow, and I have to spend New Year’s Eve there this year.”
“Is your grandma’s health okay?”
“It’s okay, so this year we’ll have a lively New Year together.”
“When will you be back?”
“The day after tomorrow, coming back on the second day of the New Year.”
“That’s good, please tell her I miss her.”
“Haha, Wen Yu, you really seem like a good kid in the eyes of adults now.”
“It’s nothing, my grandma treats me well.”
“I know, I know!”
Fu Chengque hugged Banben in her arms and slowly stroked his fur.
The task remained silent, and she couldn’t guess Wen Yu’s thoughts, not even the simplest thoughts of hunger, fatigue, or satisfaction. It seemed like struggling was futile.
It’s over!
The task probably couldn’t be completed anymore.
She thought to herself, feeling regretful but not sad.
The girl stood up, patted her bottom, and said, “I’m going back to eat!”
With a swish of her figure, she left behind a fragrant breeze.
Wen Yu withdrew her gaze, feeling a little amused: he thought that this lifetime’s Fu Chengque was only naive and innocent, but now it seems that she also has delicate aspects.
At least someone noticed him.
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