Going home for the New Year during the winter break, I encountered a cool school girl on the high-sp

Chen Chen smiled and led Lin Muxi to sit down.

Everyone began to eat formally.

Lin Muxi's gaze swept around, and she saw that the room was filled with tables and chairs, roughly ten in total.

The crowd was several times larger than the number she had seen before.

She leaned closer to Chen Chen, her warm breath brushing against his ear, and whispered:
"Senior, your family's celebrations during the Lunar New Year are never this lively."

Although the Spring Festival was lively back then, it paled in comparison to what we have now.

There were also many unfamiliar faces.

Chen Chen nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping across the crowd, and slowly began to explain:

"The festive atmosphere of the New Year is indeed not as strong as it used to be. Many relatives who work in faraway places are too far away and have short holidays, so they simply don't come back."

However, ancestor worship is the most important event here. No matter how far away from home or how busy with work, everyone must come back on this day.

If someone doesn't come back to pay respects to their ancestors, they'll be talked about behind their back and criticized in our area.

Lin Muxi nodded gently, "I see."

Then her gaze fell on the abundant dishes on the table, and she said:
"But judging from this setup, preparing so much food must have been very hard work."

Although Lin Muxi helped out today, she and Chen Yuanyuan washed vegetables in the back of their own kitchen and didn't go to check on other people's homes.

I can see so many people and so much food right now.

She then realized that she had known far too little.

Chen Chen responded with a smile:

"Indeed, the elders in the clan started preparing several days in advance. Every household contributed their share, with the men getting up in the morning to kill chickens and fish, move tables and chairs."

The women gathered together to wash and chop vegetables and help with the fire. Although it was hard work, everyone enjoyed it.

Just then, an elderly man with gray hair but a sprightly spirit walked over with a glass of wine, and said to Chen Chen with a smile:

"Little Chen, you've come back this year with such a beautiful girl."

Chen Chen quickly stood up and said respectfully:
"Uncle, this is my girlfriend, Lin Muxi. Xiaoxi, this is Uncle, the eldest in our family."

Lin Muxi stood up politely and said with a smile, "Greetings, Uncle."

Uncle laughed heartily:
"Good, good! It's rare for you young people to come back and participate in ancestral worship these days. Come back and visit more often. You must not forget the rules left by our ancestors."

Chen Chen nodded in agreement: "Uncle, you are right. I have always remembered that."

The uncle patted Chen Chen on the shoulder, then looked at Lin Muxi:
"Young lady, this is your first time here, so don't be shy and eat more. All the vegetables here are home-grown and raised, so they're green, healthy, and taste authentic."

Lin Muxi said gratefully, "Thank you, Uncle. The atmosphere here is wonderful, and I feel very warm."

After Uncle Wang left with a smile, Lin Muxi moved closer to Chen Chen again:
"Senior, your family elders seem so kind and warm."

Chen Chen's eyes were full of tenderness:

"Yes, in our area, the relationships between neighbors and clansmen are very close."

If anything happens, everyone helps each other out. Although many young people have gone out to make their way in the world, this friendship remains. Just then, the sounds of children playing came from afar. Several children chased each other, holding colorful candies they had just picked.

Lin Muxi watched their lively figures as they walked away, and couldn't help but smile.

"They seem so happy and carefree."

Chen Chen also laughed:

"When we were kids, we were the same way. On the day of ancestor worship, the happiest thing was being able to play with our friends and eat all kinds of delicious food. That kind of happiness still feels wonderful when I think back on it now."

As time went by, the aroma of food filled the air, and people ate and chatted, their laughter echoing throughout the venue.

Lin Muxi was immersed in the lively yet warm atmosphere.

She knew that this trip back with Chen Chen had given her a unique warmth she had never experienced before, a deep affection rooted in this land.

After the meal, Chen Chen checked the time and estimated that it was about time to send Chen Yuanyuan back to school.

Chen Yuanyuan stood to the side, her little face scrunched up, her little face full of reluctance as she muttered:

"Sigh, I really want to stay at home a little longer, I don't want to leave."

The voice carried a hint of coquetry, yet also a deep sense of longing.

Seeing this, Lin Muxi gently patted Chen Yuanyuan's shoulder and smiled comfortingly:
"Yuanyuan, don't be sad. It will be fine after the college entrance examination. Then you will have plenty of time to stay at home."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yuanyuan's eyes lit up immediately, her previously drooping head snapped up, and she instantly perked up, nodding vigorously as she said:
"That's right! Once the college entrance exam is over, I'll be free!"

After saying that, she turned her gaze to Chen Chen, and said proudly and confidently, "Brother, let's go."

Chen Chen smiled gently, nodded slightly, and then looked at Lin Muxi, saying softly:
"Muxi, you should rest well at home. I'll take Yuanyuan back to school. It won't take long, and I'll be back soon."

Lin Muxi tilted her head slightly, her eyes full of smiles, and said:
“I’ll go too. I can chat with Yuanyuan a bit more on the way.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Yuanyuan's eyes instantly lit up like twinkling stars, and she nodded vigorously, excitedly saying:
"Yes, yes, brother, I really want my sister-in-law to see me off too. After this separation, it will be several months before I see her again, so I want to spend as much time with her as possible."

Chen Chen smiled helplessly and looked at the two of them with affection. "Alright, let's go together then. It'll be more lively on the way."

After saying that, the three of them walked together towards the car.

Chen Chen gentlemanly opened the car door, letting Lin Muxi and Chen Yuanyuan get in first, before walking around to the driver's seat, gently closing the door, starting the car, and slowly driving away.

The car moved slowly forward, and soft music flowed inside, adding a touch of comfort to the journey.

Chen Yuanyuan sat in the back row, leaning forward, her head squeezed between Lin Muxi and Chen Chen's seats, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Along the way, she chattered away like a cheerful little bird, eagerly sharing the many interesting things that happened at school.

From the playful squabbles between classmates during breaks to the hilarious jokes that teachers unintentionally make in class, she describes every single event vividly and interestingly.

Lin Muxi couldn't help but laugh as she listened to these novel and fun stories, filling the car with a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.

Chen Yuanyuan recounted the story vividly:

"Our homeroom teacher always said to us with a serious face, 'You are the worst class I've ever taught.'" (End of Chapter)