EFB Chapter 126 I'll grant you a wish
Chapter 126 I'll grant you a wish
Chapter 127 I'll grant you a wish
"Why?" Xia Li asked.
"The old year has passed, and the new year is coming," Song Che said. "Keep the old year in mind, and the coming year will be smooth sailing."
Xia Li thought for a moment.
"Should we use magic to protect it?"
Song Che smiled.
"No need, just keep watch with your eyes."
Xia Li was watching TV.
A different group of people appeared on the screen, running around on stage. She didn't quite understand what they were doing, but she found it entertaining.
In Hitt, there were no years, no festivals, only day and night, only war and truce. Sometimes she wondered why the people here celebrated, why they gathered together.
Now she knows.
I'm usually too tired, so I need a day to relax.
Because we're usually too scattered, we need to get together on one day.
Because life is usually too hard, we need to eat something good one day.
"Song Che".
"Um?"
"Happy Chinese New Year," she said.
Song Che glanced at her.
She didn't look at him, but stared at the TV, her eyes crinkling as the novel things on the screen flashed before her eyes.
Song Che reached out and took her hand.
Her hands were cold, always cold on winter nights. He held them, placed them on his lap, and covered them with his other hand.
Xia Li moved her hand slightly, but didn't pull it away.
She just let him hold her hand while she watched TV.
A skit was playing on TV, and the audience was laughing so hard they were doubled over. Tao Xiang laughed along, giggling, but it was hard to tell whether she actually understood it or was just laughing along.
As for Momoka, she would probably just giggle like an idiot.
Song Jianguo held the teacup and closed his eyes.
The snoring sound slowly began.
At 11:30, Tao Xiang couldn't hold on any longer.
Her head bobbed up and down, and finally she simply collapsed onto Xia Li and fell fast asleep. She slept soundly, with a few crumbs of snacks still on the corner of her mouth. She had never slept so soundly when she was a homeless person. She didn't even know if she had any relatives left in this world, or why she was a homeless person, but here, she felt at peace.
Xia Li looked down at her.
This little one is usually so chattery, but he's quiet when he's asleep. He has chubby cheeks, long eyelashes, and even breathing.
She pinched it subconsciously.
Like many girls, she also likes these cute little things, with their pouty lips and soft texture. Now she doesn't have to worry about being a witch or being so dignified.
"Take her to bed," Zhang Shushu said.
Song Che stood up and picked up Tao Xiang. Tao Xiang opened her eyes groggily, glanced at him, then closed them again, muttering something under her breath before closing her eyes again.
He carried Taoxiang into the house, put her on the bed, and covered her with a blanket.
When they returned, Zhang Shushu also stood up.
"I'm going to cook dumplings," she said. "We'll eat at midnight, and then we'll set off firecrackers."
She went into the kitchen, and the sound of water started again.
Song Jianguo was still asleep, his snoring sometimes loud and sometimes soft.
Song Che sat back down next to Xia Li and continued to hold her hand.
The countdown is on TV.
"Ten, nine, eight, seven —"
Xia Li stared at the screen, her heart suddenly beating a little faster.
She didn't know why, but she suddenly felt a little nervous.
"Three, two, — Happy New Year!"
Cheers erupted on the television, a cacophony of applause, laughter, and singing. Outside, the sounds of firecrackers, near and far, crackled and popped incessantly.
Xia Li turned to look at Song Che.
Song Che was also looking at her.
He leaned closer and gently touched her forehead.
"Happy New Year." Song Che paused for a moment, "And also—Happy Birthday."
Xia Li blinked.
She touched her forehead, the spot where he had touched her. It felt warm, like it had been scorched by a flame.
"This is—" she asked.
"New Year's greetings and birthday wishes," Song Che said. "That's how we do it here."
Xia Li thought for a moment.
"Then I'll give it to you too."
She leaned over and touched his forehead. She had done this before, but didn't understand it then. Now she knew what it was called.
Song Che paused for a moment, then smiled.
"You've learned it?"
"I've learned it." Xia Li nodded.
Zhang Shushu came out of the kitchen carrying dumplings.
"Come on, let's eat dumplings, and then we'll set off firecrackers."
She saw two young men standing face to face, one touching his forehead, the other smiling. She paused, then pretended not to see them.
"Dumplings, dumplings, hot ones, come and eat!"
Song Jianguo was woken up by the noise and sat up groggily.
"Did they set off firecrackers?"
"Not yet, let's eat dumplings first."
The family sat down around the table again. Tao Xiang was still asleep, so they didn't wake her. Children are actually the least able to stay up at night; once they're sleepy, they won't get up.
The dumplings were steaming hot, and when you bit into them, you found they were filled with cabbage and pork.
Xia Li ate dumplings, listening to the firecrackers outside, and looking at the red lanterns outside the window. The lanterns swayed in the wind, their red light flashing.
It's nice to have someone with you.
"Song Che".
"Um?"
"It will be the same next year," she said.
Song Che glanced at her.
"OK."
After finishing the dumplings, Song Jianguo took out firecrackers.
It was a regular red firecracker, coiled in a circle. He took the firecracker to the yard, hung it on the clothesline, stretched it out, coiled it in the yard, lit the fuse, and quickly ran back into the house.
Crackle, crackle.
Red paper scraps flew up, fluttering in the red light of the lanterns, and landed on the ground. Occasionally, some of the more vigorously flying scraps landed on Xia Li's silver hair.
Xia Li stood at the door, looking at the red paper scraps.
They resemble red snow, but are not as cold as snow; they are warm.
A piece of paper fell onto her shoulder; she picked it up and looked at it in her palm.
It's round, covered in gold powder, and has some words written on it.
"Fu (福)," Song Che leaned closer, "half of the character 'Fu' (福)."
Xia Li nodded.
She put the piece of red paper into her pocket.
The firecrackers were finished, but the smell of gunpowder lingered in the yard, pungent but pleasant.
This is the taste of the New Year.
Song Jianguo put away the clothesline, and Zhang Shushu began sweeping up the red paper scraps in the yard. She said she had to sweep them up, otherwise they would be everywhere when she stepped on them tomorrow morning.
Song Che and Xia Li stood under the eaves.
The moon hung on the top of the old tree, its light mingling with the lantern light, casting a hazy glow over the courtyard. At this moment, every household was probably in the same state.
Song Che suddenly remembered a sentence.
The moon rises above the treetops, and sorrow fills my heart.
"Are you done staying up all night?" Xia Li asked.
"We've finished guarding it," Song Che said. "This is the New Year."
Xia Li looked up at the moon.
"The moon is still there."
"The moon is there every day."
"It's different," Xia Li said. "Today's moon is new."
Song Che thought for a moment.
That's right, the New Year's moon is new.
"Are you sleepy?" he asked.
Xia Li shook her head.
"Not sleepy."
"Shall we sit a little longer?"
Xia Li nodded.
The two walked to the stone slab in the corner of the courtyard and sat down.
The moonlight shone down, the red lanterns glowed, and the distant sound of firecrackers gradually faded away, with only one or two occasionally ringing out, like the last few coughs.
Xia Li moved a little closer, not just because she was cold, but because she had some other intention.
Song Che didn't move, letting her lean against him.
"Song Che".
"Um?"
"Where's your New Year's money?"
Song Che smiled.
He pulled a red envelope from his pocket; it was wrapped in red paper and looked bulging.
"Give."
Xia Li took it and looked at it.
The red envelope wasn't big, but it was very red, with a golden "福" (good fortune) character printed on the front. She squeezed it; inside wasn't money, but something else.
She opened it and poured it out.
It's a piece of paper, folded into a small square.
She unfolded.
The above is Song Che's handwriting, which is neat and tidy.
"To Xia Li: Use this to exchange for a wish. Any wish is fine."
Xia Li stared at the paper for a long time.
Then she looked up at Song Che.
"Song Che".
"Um?"
Why did you write this?
Song Che paused.
"I don't know what to get you," he said. "You want to go skiing, but I haven't saved enough money yet. I thought about buying something else, but I'm afraid you won't like it. Besides, it's past midnight, not only for the New Year—but also for your birthday, so something else—"
The moonlight shone on his face, outlining his features more clearly than in daylight. His brow bone, bridge of his nose, lips, and chin. Even his subtle expressions were visible in the moonlight.
She folded the paper, put it back in the red envelope, and then put it in her pocket.
"Song Che".
"Um?"
"I also have something for you."
She took something out of her pocket.
It was a cloth bag, about the size of a palm, bulging and full.
She handed it to Song Che.
Song Che took it and opened it.
There is a stone inside.
Round and pale blue, like a bird's egg. The surface of the stone has fine lines, not cracks, but carvings forming a pattern.
It is a magic circle.
Song Che recognized the magic circle; it was troublesome to engrave—especially the small patterns inside, which required a magician with extremely high mental strength to do.
"A talisman," Xia Li said. "I carved it."
Song Che looked at the stone.
"nice."
"It can keep you safe," Xia Li said. "It lights up when you're in danger and can block one attack."
She paused, then added, "The magic here is suppressed, so we can only carve such small pieces; we can't carve larger ones."
Song Che looked at the pale blue stone.
It was warm to the touch, lying in my palm.
She carved it, bit by bit, with that sliver of suppressed magic.
"When was it engraved?" he asked.
"I carved it at night," Xia Li said. "I couldn't sleep."
Song Che nodded, but he didn't believe it. Xia Li's words didn't make sense. This kind of magic circle couldn't be carved well in one night. Magic circles are mentally taxing. A complete one takes more than ten days, and even a small one takes several days.
"Xia Li."
"Um?"
He reached out and pulled her into his arms, hesitating slightly as he did so, but still holding her tightly.
Xia Li didn't move, so she let him put his arm around her.
Her face was pressed against his chest, and she could hear his heartbeat, thump, thump, thump, a little faster than usual.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
Song Che didn't say anything.
He simply held her, his chin resting on the top of her head.
Simply holding him was enough; no other unnecessary actions were taken.
The moonlight shone down, the red lanterns glowed, and occasionally a firecracker or two could be heard in the distance.
The courtyard was very quiet.
"Happy New Year."
Song Che lowered his head and touched the top of her head.
She leaned against him, looking at the moon in the sky.
The moon was round and bright, casting a silvery glow over the entire courtyard.
She thought, this is what Chinese New Year is like.
So this is what Chinese New Year is like.
very nice.
On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, Xia Li was awakened by the sound of firecrackers.
One after another, near and far, large and small, like someone was fighting. She opened her eyes, stared at the ceiling for three seconds, before remembering—
Where do I come from?
Song Che's hometown. I stayed up until after 2 a.m. last night to celebrate the New Year, and I don't even remember how I finally fell asleep.
She sat up, her hair a mess, with several strands of silver sticking up. Her collar was askew, revealing half of her collarbone. She reached up to straighten her collar, then tried to smooth her hair with her hands, but after a few tries it was no use, she gave up.
There were people talking in the courtyard.
It was Zhang Shushu's voice, and Song Jianguo's voice as well.
Xia Li got out of bed and peeked out from behind a corner of the curtain.
Zhang Shushu, wearing her maroon cotton-padded jacket, was busy working by the stove. Song Jianguo was sweeping the yard, piling up the firecracker scraps from last night.
She opened the door and went out, and everyone in the yard looked up at her.
Tao Xiang was the first to speak: "Sister, your hair is sticking up."
Xia Li touched her head, but couldn't find it.
Song Che came out of the west room and glanced at her.
"What are you laughing at?" Xia Li asked.
"I wasn't laughing." Song Che walked over and reached out to press down the hair sticking up at the back of her head.
"Never mind," he said, "that's fine."
"
Xia Li didn't say anything, but she raised her hand and pressed it herself.
At this moment, Zhang Shushu peeked out from the kitchen.
Tao Xiang squatted in the corner, still looking at the pile of firecracker debris that hadn't been swept clean. She poked at it with a twig, trying to find the piece with the most gold dust.
"Momoka."
She looked up and saw Zhang Shushu standing at the kitchen doorway, waving at her.
"Come in, come inside."
Tao Xiang threw away the branch and ran over excitedly.
Inside the main room, the eight-immortal table had been wiped clean, and melon seeds and peanuts were set out again. Song Jianguo sat in his usual spot drinking tea, while Song Che and Xia Li sat to one side. Zhang Shushu pulled Tao Xiang to the center of the room.
"Stand still," she said.
Tao Xiang didn't know what to do, but she stood there obediently.
Zhang Shushu took a small red envelope out of her pocket.
The red envelope was a little smaller than the one Song Che gave Xia Li last night. It was also made of red paper, with a golden ingot printed on the front.
"Here you go," Zhang Shushu said, handing over the red envelope. "Lucky money."
Tao Xiang was stunned for a moment.
She looked at the small red envelope but didn't take it.
"Take it," Zhang Shushu said.
Tao Xiang reached out and took the red envelope. She looked at it over and over; the red paper was a little slippery, and there was a cute little horse on it—this was a red envelope for the Year of the Horse.
"What is this?" she asked.
"Lucky money," Zhang Shushu said. "It's given to children by elders during the Lunar New Year to bless them with peace and safety."
Tao Xiang looked up at her.
"For me?"
"Yes, it's for you."
Tao Xiang looked down at the red envelope again.
She clutched it tightly. She had never received this money before. She didn't even know if she had any relatives, so she never received any New Year's money.
At this moment, Song Jianguo stood up from his chair and walked over. He also took out a small red envelope from his pocket, which was a little bulging than Zhang Shushu's.
"Here, Uncle will give you some too."
Tao Xiang looked up at him, her eyes wide open.
"besides?"
"And there's more." Song Jianguo stuffed the red envelope into her hand.
Tao Xiang held one in her left hand and one in her right.
She stood there, unsure of what to do.
Song Che smiled to himself.
"Put it away, put it in your pocket."
Tao Xiang realized what was happening and quickly stuffed the two red envelopes into her pockets. The pockets of her cotton-padded jacket were a bit small, and it took her a while to get them in. After stuffing one in each pocket, she looked up at Zhang Shushu and then at Song Jianguo.
"Thank you, Auntie. Thank you, Uncle."
Zhang Shushu smiled.
"This child has a sweet tongue."
Tao Xiang grinned, then looked down at her pockets. There were two bulging sacs, one on each side. She pressed them with her hands.
She suddenly remembered something.
"Auntie, what's in the red envelope?"
Zhang Shushu paused for a moment, then burst out laughing.
"Money, what else could it be?"
Tao Xiang blinked and spoke happily.
"It's all money?"
"Yes, money," Zhang Shushu said, "to buy delicious food."
Tao Xiang's eyes lit up immediately.
"How much good food do you want to buy?"
Zhang Shushu thought about it.
"Enough for you to buy a bunch of candy and snacks."
Tao Xiang's mouth opened into an "o" shape.
She looked down at her pocket, then reached in, took out a red envelope, opened it, and looked inside.
Inside was a brand new red bill.
She had never seen this kind of money before, red money!
But she knew what money was. Back in the city, she'd seen people buy things with money. One bill could buy so much; how much could this red bill buy?
She folded the red envelope and put it back in her pocket.
Okay, I'll stay at Song Che's house for the rest of my life!