Jiang Cheng’s hand was wrapped in Shen Que’s palm.

One big, one small; warm and soft against rough and hard.

Jiang Cheng lowered his head, pulled out a hand, and played with Shen Que’s fingers.

His fingers were very long, if he hadn’t trained them, they could have been hand model material.

Now, his hands were rough, and the joints had grown larger.

"Not as good-looking as yours."

Shen Que hooked Jiang Cheng’s finger.

Jiang Cheng looked up, his fingertip sliding across the lines of Shen Que’s palm.

"These are all medals."

With one sentence from Jiang Cheng, Shen Que’s heart was instantly set aflame.

The desire to marry him grew even stronger.

Perhaps it was Shen Que’s fiery gaze, but Jiang Cheng intuitively asked, "Do you want to marry me?"

"I do!"

Shen Que said without hesitation.

Jiang Cheng pretended to think for a while, then suddenly smiled at Shen Que.

"Actually, I do too."

"But you’ve decided on the engagement, I’ll decide the date to register, okay?"

"Okay!"

Shen Que agreed happily again.

Jiang Cheng pulled out both hands and cupped Shen Que’s face, saying, "Good boy!"

With just those two words, Shen Que, lost in love, could hardly bear it.

He had never thought in his life that the word "good boy" could be associated with him.

The two no longer lingered as darkness approached.

The aroma was already wafting from the aluminum lunchbox on the stove.

Shen Que, wearing gloves, took the lunchbox down, opened it one by one, and started eating.

"It smells great!"

"Of course, it’s Grandma Shen’s cooking."

Jiang Cheng sat opposite Shen Que, holding a pair of chopsticks, occasionally taking a bite of the dishes.

He wasn’t hungry at all.

He was simply there to keep Shen Que company while he ate.

"Are we making dumplings here tonight?"

Shen Que nodded, looking at Jiang Cheng. "Tonight we’ll make dumplings with the people on duty, so don’t worry."

"Okay, as long as there are dumplings to eat."

Jiang Cheng continued to keep company.

After Shen Que finished eating, he washed the lunchbox before letting Jiang Cheng take it back.

Jiang Cheng didn’t let Shen Que escort him, it wasn’t like he didn’t know the way.

"You just stay here and do your duty. Don’t come out to see me off and get accused of dereliction of duty, or all the time and effort we’ve put in will go to waste."

Shen Que nodded obediently, "You’re right, take your time going back."

"Don’t worry."

Jiang Cheng rode away on his bicycle.

Shen Que stood by the window watching for a long time until he couldn’t see him anymore.

Jiang Cheng returned to the communal courtyard, and Grandma Shen was already up.

It wasn’t long before it got dark.

Currently, the Shen Family doesn’t have a TV, everyone just listens to the radio and eats sunflower seeds and peanuts, and it’s considered lively.

Actually, they could afford a TV, but since they’d be the only ones in the courtyard with one, it wouldn’t be polite to not let the neighbors watch after so many years.

Grandma Shen said it would be too chaotic, so better not to buy one, for peace of mind.

The family listened to the radio and could also enjoy it greatly.

Around seven, Grandma Shen began kneading dough and making dumpling filling.

Cabbage, pork cracklings, and vermicelli filling, just thinking about it made the mouth water.

The pork cracklings bought for New Year were all saved for this batch of dumplings.

Once the dough and filling were ready, everyone washed their hands and made dumplings together. George also joined in.

However, the dumplings he made were neat and square, all lined up like soldiers.

Once the dumplings were made, they were cooked.

As the dumplings were being cooked, Jiang Cheng and Shen Xing lit a small string of firecrackers.

The crackling sounds made many children run out, cheering and shouting in joy.

Although there didn’t seem to be many firecrackers, they crackled for quite a while.

Afterwards, a group of children rushed over excitedly, picking up the unburned firecrackers on the ground.

Once the Shen family started eating dumplings, other families in the courtyard began theirs too.

The children were running wildly outside, overjoyed to find a small firecracker.

But when they heard a parent’s call to come eat dumplings, they eagerly ran back home to eat!!

After the dumplings, Jiang Cheng stayed up with Shen Xing and Shen Yue, while Grandma Shen dozed on the heated bed.

Time passed quietly, and when the clock struck twelve, Shen Xing and Shen Yue both stood up and bowed deeply to Jiang Cheng.

"Sister, Happy New Year, sending you New Year greetings!"

"Sister, sending you New Year greetings!"

Jiang Cheng quickly took out the red envelopes he had prepared and handed them to Shen Xing and Shen Yue.

"Happy New Year, let’s all have a better year!"

Grandma Shen was awakened by their voices and also came over with red envelopes, giving one to each of the three.

The three knelt and gave New Year wishes to Grandma Shen, who hurriedly helped them up.

"Alright, alright, hurry and get to sleep, on the first day of the New Year you can’t be lazy, they say if you’re lazy you’ll be lazy all year."

Shen Xing and Shen Yue went to bed, as for George, he went to bed much earlier.

Jiang Cheng took Grandma Shen by the hand, pulled out a big red envelope from his pocket, and handed it to her.

"What others have, my Grandma Shen must have too!"

Grandma Shen didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, thinking about receiving red envelopes at her age.

Jiang Cheng guessed and said, "Red envelopes have nothing to do with age, they represent that our Grandma Shen is loved."

"So, accept it!"

Jiang Cheng’s alternative explanation for the red envelope almost moved Grandma Shen deeply.

"I won’t give it back, I’m not foolish." 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Grandma Shen, with her tough mouth, accepted it, planning to save it and eventually give it back to Jiang Cheng.

Once Grandma Shen accepted the envelope, Jiang Cheng turned and went back to the small courtyard next door.

On the first day of the New Year, every household rose early.

Today was a harmonious day.

There’s an old saying that if you’re angry on the first day of the New Year, you’ll be angry all year.

So today, the parents were especially gentle with their children.

Early in the morning, groups of children began their New Year visits, and the households they visited would give them a handful of sunflower seeds or a piece of candy, making it a lively scene.

Shen Que also returned home early in the morning, and the first thing he did was give red envelopes to Shen Xing and Shen Yue.

But after handing them out, he got a disapproving glare from Grandma Shen.

Shen Que didn’t understand how he had offended his grandaunt.

With this question in mind, Shen Que went next door and gave a red envelope to Jiang Cheng.

After receiving it, Jiang Cheng beamed, "We both had the same thought, I prepared one for you too."

"I even gave one to Grandma Shen."

As soon as Jiang Cheng said this, Shen Que immediately understood why he was glared at.

He relayed this to Jiang Cheng, who concluded, "Serves you right!"

Shen Que helplessly smiled and also prepared a big red envelope for Grandma Shen.

On the first day of the New Year, nearly everyone gets a holiday.

Shen Que took his family out for a stroll to the park for some skating.

After returning, the family continued eating the leftovers from yesterday, signifying abundance.

The second day, the second day of the New Year.

Most people visit their maternal family’s home today, but the Shen family didn’t have any maternal family or relatives around, making it incredibly quiet.

The family simply stayed at home to rest, as they had to return to work tomorrow.

The holiday passed quickly, like an illusion.

On the third day, Jiang Cheng appeared at the Shen family entrance early in a red dress.

Not understanding, Grandma Shen watched until Shen Que came out.

Seeing Jiang Cheng, who had dressed up carefully, Shen Que directly praised him, "You look great."

Jiang Cheng raised an eyebrow.

"See... Because there’s something important to do today."

"Perhaps Director Shen could take a two-hour leave?"