Chapter 36: The Spirit of the New Year

As people grow older, the festive spirit of the Lunar New Year often seems to fade away. For Li Yifei, ever since he began his working life in his past life, he had lost the ability to truly feel that joy.

It was not like his childhood, when a few coins in his pocket were enough to buy boxes of snap-fireworks with his friends. The sound of those tiny explosions brought them hours of pure delight. He would hold a snap-firework in his palm, throw it forcefully against the dirt ground, and the sharp "pop" would startle the sparrows from under the eaves, sending the children chasing after the scattered shadows, laughing in a heap. Mischievous boys would sneak up and throw them near the girls' feet, eliciting shrill screams and leading to playful chases through the streets.

When they grew tired of that, they would throw rocks at the ice on the river, competing to see who could shatter it. The flying shards of ice caught the sunlight, gleaming like stars scattered across the ground. If they were lucky, the cracks in the ice would form patterns like blooming flowers, and they would lie on the bank, breathing out clouds of white mist as they argued over whether a particular "flower" looked more like a peony or a plum blossom.

Since entering the workforce, Li Yifei had never felt that joy again. Toward the end of each year, his bank balance was always pitifully low. Looking at his parents’ aging faces—the wrinkles at the corners of their eyes like rings carved by time—his heart was heavy with an indescribable ache. It is often said that children are the guarantee of a secure old age, yet he, their son, could not provide for them. In the concrete jungle of the city, the heavy burdens of life had worn away his youthful ambition. He was forced to follow the rules laid out by society, living mechanically like a marionette. The exhaustion of working late into the night, the pressure of performance evaluations, and the landlord’s calls demanding rent—all these made him feel even more stifled as the year drew to a close. Celebrating the New Year felt like nothing more than another workday where he had to force a smile.

But in this new life, Li Yifei felt the joy once more. He lived with parents whose backs had not yet been bent by the weight of time. Simply hearing the faint, busy sounds of his mother in the kitchen every morning and smelling the fragrance of rice porridge filled him with endless contentment. Before the morning mist had cleared, his father would ride his clattering "twenty-eight" bicycle to the market, returning with fresh vegetables and dew-kissed strawberries, smiling as he said he would make breakfast for the children.

On New Year's Eve, Li Yifei’s family did not return to the town to celebrate. The old house there had mottled brick walls covered in the traces of time, and the red paint on the wooden window lattices had long since peeled away, revealing grey, weathered wood. Li Yifei had initially wanted to let it go, but his parents had lived there for most of their lives. The Eight Immortals table in the main hall still bore the chessboard his father had carved in his youth, and the old jujube tree in the backyard produced sweet, crisp fruit every year. Every brick and tile held memories; he could not bear to discard them. Understanding his parents' attachment, he went along with their wishes.

Before the New Year, Li Yifei accompanied his parents back to the town. Scattered snowflakes drifted through the winter streets. Shops were hung with bright red lanterns, and the stalls selling New Year goods were crowded with people picking out items. The sound of hawking and haggling intertwined, and the thick, festive atmosphere was palpable.

They brought carefully chosen New Year gifts for Li Yifei’s grandfather and grandmother. Li Yifei had specially selected a soft cashmere scarf for his grandfather’s new wife—a warm wine-red color—and thoughtfully paired it with a set of woolen gloves. For his grandmother, he bought a compact heater, hoping to keep her warmer during the cold winter.

Li Yifei’s biological grandmother had passed away in 2004, and his grandfather had since found a companion to spend his days with. Looking back at his past life, Li Yifei did not object; he knew all too well that for the elderly, loneliness was the greatest pain. As for his grandmother, she had always lived alone. In his past life, his family had looked after her, but his uncles would gossip behind their backs, telling everyone that it wasn't that they didn't want to care for her, but rather that Li Yifei’s family was "too eager" to do so. This groundless accusation was like a thorn in his heart. Therefore, in this life, Li Yifei had kept his mother from getting involved from the start. He would only buy things to bring over during holidays. His mother would occasionally visit, and he left the rest for his uncles to handle.

While in town, Li Yifei’s parents invited both elders to come to the county seat to celebrate the New Year, but both refused. His grandfather and his new wife waved their hands with a smile, saying that the sausages and cured fish at home were already prepared, and they wanted to stay in their familiar home for the holiday. His grandmother said that his second uncle’s family had already prepared new bedding and insisted that she go over to enjoy the bustle. Thus, Li Yifei, his parents, and his younger sister set off on the road back to the county seat.

Along the way, the scenery outside the window retreated rapidly. His sister leaned against the window, watching the fireworks occasionally flashing by, clapping her hands in excitement. She suddenly turned her head, her eyes sparkling, and asked Li Yifei, "Brother, can we set off such beautiful fireworks tonight too?"

Li Yifei tapped her little nose and laughed, "Of course, I’ll set off even more beautiful ones for you!"

Back in the county seat, the house had been tidied up by his mother until it looked brand new. Fresh spring couplets were pasted on the doors, and the character for "Fortune" was hung upside down in the center of the main gate, signifying that good fortune had arrived. The chandelier in the living room had been fitted with festive red covers, and the dining table was laden with melon seeds, candies, and various fruits. His mother had even placed sprigs of wintersweet in every room; the faint floral scent mingled with the aroma of glutinous rice, filling the house with a warm, festive spirit.

The New Year's Eve fireworks lit up the small county town. At that time, there were no regulations banning fireworks. Li Yifei moved many boxes of fireworks from his family’s small grocery store and took his little sister downstairs. The open space below was already filled with people. Children held fairy sticks, drawing golden arcs in the air.

Li Yifei carefully lit a firework. With a "whoosh," it shot straight into the night sky, blooming into colorful flowers against the pitch-black backdrop, illuminating the smiles on everyone’s faces. His sister jumped and skipped with excitement, grabbing Li Yifei’s hand and shouting, "Brother, look, it’s so pretty!" Suddenly, a firework exploded in the shape of a heart, and his sister shrieked with joy. The adults around them also pulled out their phones to take pictures, recording the beautiful moment.

After the fireworks, the family returned inside and busily began wrapping dumplings. His mother prepared the dough and rolled out round wrappers, while his father seasoned the fragrant filling, which included tender pork and crisp cabbage, with the addition of shrimp, which Li Yifei and his sister loved.

His sister clamored to help, pulling up a small stool and trying to mimic them. But her small hands couldn't seem to hold the wrappers properly, and even when she managed to put some filling inside, she couldn't seal the edges. Her hair kept getting in her eyes, so she would brush it aside with flour-covered hands, ending up with flour all over her rosy little face. She looked like a cute little sprite, making the whole family burst into laughter. His sister blinked, looking at everyone in confusion, and finally began to giggle along with them. The crisp sound of her laughter echoed in the room, warm and sweet.

Li Yifei secretly hid a coin in one of the dumplings, saying that whoever ate it would be the luckiest person of the year.

After the dumplings were done, the family sat around the television, eating their reunion dinner and watching the Spring Festival Gala. The table was covered with sumptuous dishes: braised fish, signifying abundance year after year; sweet and sour pork ribs; and his mother’s signature braised pork, rich but not greasy. Li Yifei served his parents, watching them eat happily, his heart full of bliss. The programs on the gala were spectacular, with sketches that made everyone laugh out loud and song-and-dance performances that were a feast for the eyes.

When the familiar melody of "Unforgettable Tonight" began to play, his sister was already leaning against her mother, her little head bobbing until she drifted off to sleep.

Li Yifei took the initiative to stay up through the night. He sat by the window, brewed a cup of his father’s favorite jasmine tea, and watched the brilliant fireworks outside, listening to the continuous crackle of firecrackers, lost in thought. The hardships of the past felt like a nightmare from which he had finally awakened. As the clock struck midnight, the sound of fireworks outside intensified, becoming deafening.

Li Yifei picked up the firecrackers he had prepared earlier and went downstairs. He lit the fuse and quickly ran back. The firecrackers popped and crackled, sparks flying and dispelling the winter chill. At that moment, he felt as if he were welcoming the arrival of the New Year with the entire world.

Returning home, Li Yifei crept into his bedroom and lay down under the warm covers. Recalling every detail of the day, a smile curled at the corners of his lips involuntarily. Let the past remain in the past; let it be nothing more than a dream. All he needed to do now was protect this life, cherish his family, and let this happiness continue forever.