The air conditioning kept the room warm as Qin Tian, arms crossed, watched the Spring Festival Gala on television.
In his memory, he had barely watched the gala this year, going to bed soon after eating the New Year's Eve dinner.
His shoulder suddenly felt heavy.
Qin Tian turned his head to see that his mother had dozed off at some point and had leaned against him, falling asleep.
Under the lamplight, a few white strands hidden within her black hair were striking.
The skin and physique-improving cream exchanged through the system had improved his mother's skin and constitution, but it couldn't turn those few white hairs black again.
Over the years, his mother had indeed suffered a lot and worked hard.
Qin Tian kept his body still, then carefully reached out his right hand to pick up the remote control on the coffee table, lowering the TV volume slightly.
The night deepened.
His phone lay on the sofa beside him. Qin Tian quietly watched the Spring Festival Gala on TV, occasionally exchanging messages with Xia Nuannuan.
Just then, the hosts on the Spring Festival Gala were starting to build excitement, preparing to lead all the viewers across the country in a New Year countdown.
"Mom! Wake up!"
Qin Tian called out softly.
Tang Xiuxia groggily opened her eyes and yawned, saying, "Did I fall asleep?"
"Yes, it's almost New Year."
Qin Tian smiled and gestured towards the television.
"Ah? I slept for that long!"
Tang Xiuxia looked at the TV in surprise.
On the screen, the four hosts were beginning to count down in unison.
"Ten, nine, eight..."
"Three, two, one, Happy New Year!!"
Outside, which had been silent for two to three hours, the sound of firecrackers and fireworks erupted again.
Clearly, many people had been waiting for the exact moment.
"Mom, Happy New Year!!"
Qin Tian sent his blessings with a bright smile.
"Happy New Year."
Tang Xiuxia smiled warmly.
"Buzz!!"
Beside them, Qin Tian's phone, set to silent mode, vibrated.
Qin Tian picked up his phone and unlocked it. As expected, it was a message from Xia Nuannuan.
It was a simple congratulatory message.
"Brother, Aunt Tang, Happy New Year!!"
Mother and son saw the message together and smiled at each other.
"Quick, reply!"
Tang Xiuxia urged.
Qin Tian nodded and quickly typed out a New Year's greeting message, then sent it.
"Go burn some incense, set off the firecrackers, and then go to bed quickly. You have to wake up early to pay New Year's visits tomorrow!"
Tang Xiuxia said with a smile.
"Okay!"
Qin Tian replied and got up, leaving the room.
He went to the ancestral hall in front of the incense altar, first lit three sticks of incense, then burned yellow paper. Carrying a lighter and the largest string of firecrackers, he went outside.
Soon, the deafening sound of firecrackers echoed. Qin Tian also carried two large fireworks out of the house and lit them in the open space outside.
In previous years, their family did not set off fireworks, for no other reason than being reluctant to spend the money.
Now, there was no need. As long as he wanted, he could set them off until dawn tomorrow.
"Boom, boom boom!!"
Several bursts of fireworks soared into the sky, finally exploding high up in the dark night, their colorful flames illuminating the night.
Qin Tian stood at his doorstep, looking up at the bursting fireworks, his expression momentarily dazed.
"So beautiful!"
Beside him, his mother's gentle voice sounded.
"Yeah!"
Qin Tian nodded with a bright smile, looked at his mother rubbing her hands and exhaling in the cold air, and then put his arm around her shoulders.
After the fireworks finished, they both went back inside and retired to their respective rooms to sleep.
...
...
The New Year was lively, but it was also very tiring.
For example, on the first day of the Lunar New Year, as long as one was not in an urban area where firecrackers were prohibited, it was very difficult to sleep soundly.
Because the sound of firecrackers, coming and going, would continue until dawn, and one had to wake up early to pay New Year's visits.
The earlier the visits, the better the fortune, and it also represented the sincerity of the younger generation.
At six in the morning, before dawn, Qin Tian was woken up by his mother.
He groggily got up, dressed, washed his face, and brushed his teeth. He then casually grabbed a small bun from the table in the main hall and ate it with a cup of hot water.
Tang Xiuxia came out of her room and looked at him with a smile.
"What's wrong?"
Qin Tian asked in surprise.
"Did you forget something?"
"What?"
"Paying New Year's visits!"
"Didn't we do that before going to bed!"
Qin Tian said helplessly.
"How is that the same? Hurry up."
Tang Xiuxia urged him impatiently.
"Alright, alright, my dear mom, Happy New Year!"
Qin Tian said with a laugh.
"Hmph, not sincere at all!"
Tang Xiuxia rolled her eyes and took a red envelope from her pocket, handing it to him.
"You're still giving out lucky money?"
Qin Tian was taken aback.
"Of course, everyone gets it before they get married. Here you go!"
"Oh, thank you, Mom!"
"Later, invite Nuannuan and Xiaoxue over for New Year's visits, I've prepared for them,"
Tang Xiuxia said with a smile, patting her puffy down jacket pockets.
"Mom, you're very well-prepared!"
"That's a given."
"As expected of you!"
Qin Tian gave a thumbs-up to show his admiration.
"Stop dawdling, come on, let's go to the neighbor's to wish Grandpa Sun and Grandma Liu a Happy New Year."
Tang Xiuxia called out.
Qin Tian quickly nodded and followed his mother to the neighbor's house to pay their respects to Grandpa Sun and Grandma Liu, who were already awake.
The two elderly people also prepared red envelopes of lucky money for him. Qin Tian tried to refuse a few times, but to no avail, and Grandma Liu forcibly stuffed it into his coat pocket.
The amount was not much. When Qin Tian was young, it was a hundred yuan. After junior high, it increased to two hundred. After starting high school, it became five hundred.
The two elders also knew that for the current Qin Tian, this pocket money was no longer necessary, but it was a gesture of their affection, treating him as one of their own juniors.
Afterward, as in previous years, Qin Tian teamed up with Grandpa Sun to visit neighbors and pay New Year's calls, while Tang Xiuxia and Grandma Liu stayed at home to receive the neighbors who came to pay their respects.
It wasn't until nine o'clock that Qin Tian returned after visiting all the neighbors with Grandpa Sun. His pockets were filled with many red envelopes and candies, all of which were forcibly given to him by the elders.
Clearly, the elders of the neighboring families were much more enthusiastic towards him this year than in previous years.
Many elders, upon seeing him, showered him with compliments, their underlying meaning being that they wanted him to tutor their children and impart some learning experience.
Fortunately, Qin Tian was well-prepared and smoothly brushed them off with polite excuses.
When he returned home, his mother and Grandma Liu had already reheated the leftovers from the New Year's Eve dinner and also made some dumplings with pork and cabbage filling.
After eating his fill, Qin Tian called Xia Nuannuan.
Xia Nuannuan had also just returned from paying New Year's visits with Old Xia and was eating at home.
"Then shall I go over to wish Grandpa and Grandma and the others a Happy New Year?"
Qin Tian asked with a smile.
"Yes, you can. Have you eaten? Should I save some for you?"
"No need, I've just finished."
"Oh, oh, then hurry up and come. Xiaoxue and the others are already here, waiting for you to give them lucky money!"
Xia Nuannuan said cheerfully.
"Brother-in-law, brother-in-law, come quickly!"
Xia Xue's voice immediately rang out.
"Okay, I'll be right there."
Qin Tian replied loudly with a smile, then added, "I'll hang up now, I'm coming over."
"Mmm-hmm!"