Chapter 42: 42 New Year’s Eve
Fen Lin’s financial situation was only slightly better than Xiao Liulang’s once was, but it was really not that great, which could be seen from his daily living expenses.
However, when it came to things concerning Xiao Liulang, he had always been unconditionally generous. Just take the red paper for this occasion, a dozen pieces costing almost half a tael of silver.
Normally, all he ate at the academy was pickled vegetables with a steamed bun.
In the evening, the sky started to snow again.
Fen Lin was alone at the academy.
He was reading in his bedchamber, a single oil lamp not bright enough, but he didn’t want to light a second one.
There was a cold wind blowing through the door cracks, causing him to shiver.
He didn’t light a fire because the academy didn’t allow it, and he was too frugal to do it.
The dormitory was shared by four people, and the chill was less noticeable when his classmates were around. But now, being alone, he felt as if all the cold wind blew directly into his stomach.
This was his first Lunar New Year away from home.
He missed his parents, his sisters back home, but he couldn’t go back.
Home was so far away, and the travel expenses could be saved. More importantly, he wanted to spend all his time studying, not wishing to stay idle for a day.
Being the only son in his family for three generations, his sisters were married off to accommodate his education: one to a widower as a second wife, another to a tea merchant over fifty years old.
They had sacrificed their lives for him, he couldn’t afford not to try, he could not fail to return home with honor.
After warming his hands with his breath, Fen Lin wrapped himself up a bit tighter in the quilt, and continued to read.
Suddenly, someone knocked on the door.
Strange, who would come looking for him at this time?
Everyone had already gone home for the holidays, even the teachers had gone home for the New Year. An empty academy was remaining, with only him left.
“Could it be a ghost…” he scared himself, his face paling as he wrapped himself tighter in the quilt, “Who… who are you?”
A familiar girl’s voice came from outside.
Fen Lin threw off the quilt, put on his shoes, walked over and opened the door. Seeing Gu Jiao covered in snow, he thought he would rather see a ghost!
This is a boys’ dormitory!
What was she, a woman, doing here?!!!
“Why are you here? Did something happen to Brother Xiao?” Apart from this, Fen Lin couldn’t think of any other reason. Without waiting for Gu Jiao to answer, he immediately put on a cloak and asked Gu Jiao, “Where is Brother Xiao?”
“At home.” Gu Jiao said.
Fen Lin left the room without a word.
Looking at his hurried back, Gu Jiao calmly said: “There’s no carriage.”
During the Lunar New Year, coupled with the snowy weather, it was impossible to hire any ox or horse carts.
Without thinking, Fen Lin replied: “If there’s no carriage, can’t we walk? Hurry up!”
The one who couldn’t move wasn’t her.
The fact proved that Fen Lin had less stamina than Gu Jiao. Along the way, Gu Jiao did not blush or pant, while Fen Lin was on the verge of collapsing several times.
When they finally arrived at Gu Jiao and Xiao Liulang’s house, Fen Lin felt like his legs weren’t his anymore.
Using the last bit of his strength to push the door open, he was slightly dumbfounded by the scene inside.
Xiao Liulang was sitting in the hall on a chair, watching Grandma teaching Xiaoshun to cut window decorations, looking really healthy and not at all sick.
“We’re back.” Xiao Liulang greeted them.
“It’s little Fen, take a seat!” Grandma also greeted.
Xiaoshun typically didn’t like Fen Lin, but surprisingly, he didn’t give Fen Lin a disdainful look today.
Fen Lin was puzzled, he looked at Gu Jiao blankly: “Didn’t Brother Xiao…”
Gu Jiao shrugged: “You said that, I didn’t say anything.”
He had never realized before how cunning this woman could be.
Fen Lin spent his first Lunar New Year away from home with Gu Jiao and Xiao Liulang. Though he initially thought he’d feel ill at ease because of Gu Jiao and Xiaoshun, who he disliked, the atmosphere turned out to be surprisingly harmonious.
Gu Jiao cooked dumplings following the village tradition, and also made osmanthus sugar rice cake following his and Xiao Liulang’s hometown tradition. As soon as the taste of home hit his tongue, tears welled up in his eyes.
It was not because of being moved, but rather because the food was so, so, so delicious!
Isn’t this little witch a local? Why on earth did she make the sugar rice cake so delicious?!
Fen Lin ate while shedding tears.
At first, he was crying simply because of the delicious food. Later, the food evoked memories of his hometown and he started missing his sisters and his old parents back home.
He wondered how they were faring during the year he had not been at home.
Seeing him crying so pitifully, Xiaoshun, for once, didn’t ridicule him, instead giving him his portion of the sugar rice cake.
Without a doubt, it was a lively Lunar New Year’s Eve, not only for Fen Lin, but also for Gu Jiao and the others.
Gu Jiao used to spend New Year’s Eve alone in the organization in her previous life. After growing up, she was no longer an experimental object in the organization, but there was still only her in that room she moved to.
Xiaoshun used to spend the New Year with the Gu Family. The Gu family was bustling, yet no one ever noticed him. For instance, he was certain no one would notice he ran off tonight.
Grandma couldn’t remember her past New Year’s celebrations, but she was happy with this one. She had personally pasted a couplet, and taught Xiaoshun, that fool, to cut window decorations, which indeed turned out worse than hers, making her feel better! Besides, Jiaojiao let her eat five pieces of candied fruit, usually she was only allowed to eat two.
Xiao Liulang was calm, he was never a man to show his emotions, but Gu Jiao could still feel a touch of melancholy emanating from him.
They stayed up until midnight together.
There were only three rooms in the house, it was unfair to inconvenience Grandma by sharing a room. Therefore, Gu Jiao tidied up Xiao Liulang’s room for Fen Lin to stay for the time being.
No matter how close Fen Lin and Xiao Liulang were, he had no idea that the couple hadn’t shared a room yet. He readily took the room.
This was the second time the couple shared a bed, Gu Jiao’s bed was much more spacious than the one at the inn, and the quilt was thicker.
The lights went out on Lunar New Year’s Eve was not put out, the oil lamp on the table emitted a faint light.
Both of them lay in their own bedcovers, Xiao Liulang had his eyes closed, but Gu Jiao knew he was not asleep.
“Did you enjoy the New Year?” Gu Jiao asked quietly.
Before Xiao Liulang could answer, a slender hand slipped into his bedcovers and held his cold, rigid hand.
Gu Jiao: “Next year will be better.”