Chapter 39: Do You Like Fireworks?

“Why are you asking about this?” Cheng Shan asked.

“It’s nothing.”

Cheng Yanyu responded casually.

As long as it wasn’t thrown away, that was all that mattered. Thinking this, he turned around and went upstairs to the master bedroom. Standing in front of the wardrobe, he bent down and took out the clothes from his suitcase one by one, hanging them up and filling the once-empty wardrobe.

In the second year of their relationship, since they were both from Nanan, he had brought Wen Yang home during the summer break when they visited their parents. At that time, their families lived close to each other.

Over time, with all the back and forth, both families became aware of their relationship. The two had both gone to universities outside their hometown but still ended up in the same university. Being from the same place—it was fate.

Even before they got married, relatives, neighbors, friends, and classmates in Nanan had already heard about their relationship, more or less. Nanan wasn’t too big or too small, but news traveled fast.

Dating, graduation, marriage, starting a business—everyone knew everything.

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“Eld Zydt, usw’al cynj!”

Eld Zydt pxkzle yde dseele, tallvkdt vblx kd alvwad.

“Bdnzl Hbld, Gwdv Hbsw.”

“Wen Yang is getting prettier every year. You still look like a young girl!”

Zhu Yun glanced at Wen Yang and chuckled, “Don’t praise her too much, or she’ll get a big head.”

Wen Yang laughed, “Nah, I’m used to it.”

Uncle Zhen and Aunt Zhou laughed, saying she hadn’t changed at all.

Zhu Yun tapped Wen Yang’s nose playfully, and the mother and daughter stepped into the house. At the alley entrance not far away, a few middle-aged women were standing together, whispering as they looked in their direction. It was obvious they weren’t saying anything good—they were known as the most gossip-loving women in the village.

Both Wen Yang and Zhu Yun noticed them. Zhu Yun gestured for her to ignore them and closed the door behind them.

Inside, Wen Li was washing a tea tray.

On the wooden sofa in the living room, cushions were piled up, still needing to be covered. Wen Yang stepped forward to help. Zhu Yun came out with a mop and started wringing it using an old-fashioned bucket. As she worked, she warned Wen Yang, “If you run into those women outside and they try to chat with you, just ignore them. They love stirring up trouble.”

While covering the cushions, Wen Yang responded, “Got it.”

“If you hear them talking nonsense, come back and tell me. I won’t let them get away with it.” Zhu Yun’s tone was sharp. She had deliberately waited until now to bring Wen Yang back to the old house to avoid these people. Unlike their house in the city center, where shutting the door kept everything private, the old village homes were all open. Neighbors were practically family—just stepping outside to take out the trash meant running into a relative.

The gossip had started with people taking Wen Yang’s side in the divorce, criticizing Cheng Yanyu. But eventually, it shifted to blaming Wen Yang, saying she wasn’t capable of keeping her husband. People even used phrases like, “It takes two to tango,” which made Zhu Yun furious every time she heard them.

After finishing a cushion and setting it in place, Wen Yang reassured her, “I know, Mom. Don’t worry.”

Zhu Yun hummed in acknowledgment.

Wen Li added, “You should try to control your temper a little. We’re leaving after the second day of the new year—it’s just a few days. No need to get into big arguments with them.”

Zhu Yun immediately shot back, “If a fight needs to happen, then it’ll happen. Otherwise, they’ll think we’re easy to bully.”

Wen Li sighed, “Alright then.”

Wen Yang glanced at her father’s helpless expression and smiled.

Ever since she was a child, Zhu Yun had always stood up for her. There was one time when her great-aunt’s granddaughter tried to snatch Wen Yang’s hair clip. Wen Yang wasn’t quick enough to dodge and got caught. When she tried to take it back, they ended up pulling each other’s hair, and eventually, Wen Yang was shoved into a corner.

Zhu Yun, furious, stormed out, grabbed the little girl, and tossed her into the muddy ground, making her roll around in the dirt. The girl was so traumatized that it became a lasting childhood memory.

At the time, Wen Yang had felt extremely satisfied.

However, the great-aunt didn’t let it go easily. She came to their house and caused a scene for quite a while. Back then, everyone was afraid of Zhu Yun, but after Zhu Yun moved away, it didn’t take long for those people to go back to their old ways.

The old house had two rooms on the second floor and a small living room. With the three of them working together, it only took an afternoon to clean the two-story house. Afterward, they started preparing for the New Year. They had already bought most of the supplies, but there were still some things missing. Wen Yang accompanied Zhu Yun to the market to shop, and Wen Li drove the car to help transport everything back.

On the 29th of the lunar calendar, they needed to honor their ancestors by visiting the ancestral hall. Then, on New Year’s Eve, they started preparing for the reunion dinner in the afternoon. Wen Yang stood beside Zhu Yun, helping her devein shrimp — mother and daughter standing side by side, a scene that felt both familiar and distant.

Because in the past two years, Wen Yang had spent this time at her in-laws’ house. Now, she was back beside Zhu Yun, peeling shrimp again.

Zhu Yun thought of this and pressed her lips tightly together.
She was glad to have her daughter by her side but also heartbroken that she had returned this way.

Wen Yang, however, simply enjoyed the time spent peeling shrimp with her mother. Zhu Yun was a fantastic cook, especially known for her salt and pepper shrimp — a dish she made for Wen Yang every year — along with candied sweet potatoes, another of her specialties.

When they finished preparing the shrimp, Zhu Yun began cooking.

Wen Yang peeked over and stole a few slices of cucumber. Zhu Yun tore off a small piece of dried tangerine peel and handed it to Wen Yang, giving her a look. “Go take a shower first. Dinner will be ready soon.”

“Okay,” Wen Yang replied.

In their family, it was a tradition to wear new clothes before the New Year’s Eve dinner. She quickly went upstairs, took a shower, and changed into a red sweater paired with a black skirt. The red made her look vibrant and radiant.

Zhu Yun was still stir-frying vegetables in the kitchen.

Wen Li, holding a plate of food, glanced at his daughter. She was still beautiful — red truly brought out her charm. Seeing their daughter like this, both Zhu Yun and Wen Li were satisfied. Zhu Yun softly said, “Come help out.”

“I’m coming!”

Wen Yang grinned as she hurried downstairs and started setting the table.

For the New Year’s Eve dinner, even the number of dishes mattered. Zhu Yun prepared an even number of dishes, filling the table with Wen Yang’s favorite foods. Once everything was ready, Zhu Yun quickly went upstairs to take a shower and change out of her smoky kitchen clothes.

Wen Li, being a man, wasn’t as particular. He simply wore his sweater and didn’t bother changing into new clothes right away.

The family of three gathered around the table for the reunion dinner.

Wen Li poured himself a glass of wine, while Zhu Yun and Wen Yang drank fruit juice. He raised his glass, signaling for a toast.

The three glasses clinked softly in midair. Wen Li looked at Wen Yang and said, “I hope everything goes smoothly for you in the new year.”

Wen Yang smiled, her eyes curving gently. “Thanks, Dad.”

“I hope you and Mom stay healthy. Don’t worry too much about me.”

Wen Li nodded and took a sip of his wine.

Zhu Yun patted her daughter’s hand and added more food to her plate.

Just as they started eating, the sound of firecrackers erupted outside — crackling loudly. Their neighbors had already set off the first fireworks to welcome the New Year, followed by the second and third rounds. The deafening sound filled the night sky, marking the beginning of the new year.

They finished their meal to the soundtrack of fireworks.

Then, Wen Yang’s phone rang.

She glanced at the screen — it was Fu Xingzhou.

Taking her phone, she went upstairs to the balcony and sat on the lounge chair.

Fu Xingzhou’s voice came through the line. “Happy New Year.”
Wen Yang smiled as she watched the scattered fireworks in the sky. “Happy New Year.”

Her voice carried a hint of laughter.

Fu Xingzhou noticed it immediately — the smile in her tone — and his own lips curved into a smile. “Have you eaten yet?”

“Just finished. What about you?”

Fu Xingzhou stood by a floor-to-ceiling window, his family chatting on the sofa behind him. He was wearing a black shirt with the sleeves casually rolled up. “We just finished too.”

Hearing the faint sounds of fireworks in the background, he asked, “Did your family set off fireworks?”

Wen Yang paused briefly before answering, “No, it’s the neighbors. Our family didn’t.”

“Are you afraid of firecrackers?” he asked.

Wen Yang shook her head. “No, I’m used to it. Around here, the fireworks start on New Year’s Eve and go on until the Lantern Festival.”

“That’s a long holiday,” Fu Xingzhou remarked.

He knew that Nanan’s traditions were well preserved.

Wen Yang smiled and said, “Yeah, it’s a long holiday. Festivals here usually last quite a while. But ever since my dad and mom started their jobs, we haven’t been able to stay at the old house until the Lantern Festival. My dad has to go back to work on the ninth day of the lunar calendar.”

Fu Xingzhou listened quietly.

“Uncle Wen is an engineer?”

Wen Yang replied, “Yeah.”

“What about your mom?”

“She’s an auditor,” Wen Yang answered.

An engineer and an auditor — Fu Xingzhou already knew this from the information he had looked into before.

He could hear faint voices on Wen Yang’s end and asked, “You’re in Nancheng, right?”

Fu Xingzhou smiled softly. “Yeah, my grandma’s here, and my mom’s back too.”

Wen Yang blinked in surprise. “Oh?”

Fu Xingzhou added, “My mom spends most of her time abroad.”

Wen Yang let out a quiet “Oh, I see.”

“Still curious? You can ask me more,” Fu Xingzhou said softly.

He liked it when Wen Yang asked about his family — it made him feel a bit closer to her. His voice, so gentle and calm, seemed to linger in her ear. Wen Yang felt a sudden warmth rise to the tips of her ears.

She hesitated for a moment. She wanted to ask about his father, but since Fu Xingzhou didn’t bring him up, she decided not to pry.

She shook her head lightly. “No more questions.”

Fu Xingzhou immediately understood why she stopped asking. She was thoughtful — it was the New Year, after all, and some topics didn’t need to be mentioned right now. Since she didn’t ask, he decided to save that conversation for another time.

After a brief pause, Fu Xingzhou asked, “Do you like fireworks?”

Wen Yang leaned against the back of the chair, gazing at the sky. Every now and then, a burst of fireworks lit up the night. “I do,” she said. “But they’re always gone in a flash.”

Fu Xingzhou’s voice was soft. “Maybe not tonight.”

The moment his words fell, there was a loud boom in the distance.

The once-quiet sky suddenly lit up with a massive firework, blooming brilliantly in the air.

Wen Yang was stunned for a second. She tilted her head back, eyes fixed on the sky. “A huge firework just went off — it was so beautiful.”

Fu Xingzhou’s lips curved into a subtle smile. “Really?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Just when Wen Yang thought it was just a single firework, another shot up, then another — one after the other, lighting up the sky.

The fireworks weren’t far from their village — coming from an open area nearby. Soon, the loud explosions drew neighbors and relatives out of their homes. Wen Yang, still on the second-floor balcony, watched as a crowd gathered below to admire the show. The sky felt so close, as if she could reach out and touch it.

She whispered in awe, “It’s so beautiful.”

Hearing the wonder in her voice, Fu Xingzhou’s smile deepened.

As Wen Yang kept watching, she noticed the fireworks didn’t seem to be stopping. “It doesn’t look like they’re ending anytime soon,” she said.

Fu Xingzhou’s voice was calm and clear. “When do you want them to stop?”

Wen Yang blurted out, “Is that something I get to decide?”

The second she said it, she realized something was off. Her mind raced back to his question earlier — Do you like fireworks? — and how, right after, the sky lit up.

A sudden thought hit her. She gripped her phone a little tighter. “Did you… arrange this?”

Fu Xingzhou chuckled softly. His eyes were full of warmth.

“Yeah,” he replied.

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Sansukini: So extravagant!

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