Going home for the Chinese New Year with a year-end bonus of 100 million

The meal lasted until dark before they dispersed.

After seeing his mentors off, Yang Fan returned to his room.

Wang Xiuying was clearing away the dishes, while Yang Jianguo sat by the stove, staring blankly at the newly installed air conditioner.

Yang Fan gave his sister a wink.

Yang Ya understood, and the two of them went into the room next door together—where their luggage was kept.

When they came out again, both of them were carrying something in their hands.

"Dad, Mom, come on, try this." Yang Fan first handed two packs of Zhonghua cigarettes to his father.

Yang Jianguo took the cigarette, looked at it, and then looked at his son:

"Why are you buying such expensive cigarettes? Dad can just smoke the cheap ones that cost a few dollars a pack."

"It's Chinese New Year," Yang Fan smiled, "so we should smoke the best cigarettes we can afford."

Then, he took out several more bags:

"These clothes are for you two. Mom, try on this wool sweater."

"Dad, try this down jacket on, it's lightweight and warm."

Wang Xiuying wiped her hands, took the bag, opened it, and her eyes widened again: "This...how much does this cost? It doesn't look cheap..."

"Oh, Mom, just try it on!" Yang Ya pushed her mother into the house. "Try it on to see if it fits and if it looks good!"

Yang Jianguo was persuaded by his son to take the clothes and go inside.

A few minutes later, the two came out.

Wang Xiuying was wearing a burgundy wool sweater with a dark coat over it.

Yang Jianguo was wearing a navy blue down jacket over a gray sweater.

The two of them stood there, looking somewhat awkward.

"Mom and Dad, you look so good in these outfits!" Yang Ya's eyes lit up. "You look so energetic and stylish!"

Wang Xiuying blushed: "What nonsense are you talking about, child? Your mother is already in her fifties or sixties, what's with all this talk about being fashionable..."

That's what she said, but she unconsciously raised her hand to touch the fabric of the wool sweater, and then looked down at it.

Yang Jianguo didn't say anything, but walked to the mirror and looked at himself.

He looked at it for a while, then turned to his son and asked, "These clothes... weren't cheap, were they?"

"Dad, don't ask about the price," Yang Fan said. "As long as it fits well, it's fine."

Wang Xiuying was still touching her wool sweater, muttering complaints, but the joy in her eyes was impossible to hide.

Yang Fan smiled and took a small box out of his pocket.

turn on.

A gold necklace lay inside. The chain was thin, and the pendant was a small "福" (good fortune) character, gleaming warmly under the light.

Wang Xiuying was stunned.

She stared at the necklace for a long while before she realized what it was: "This...this is..."

"Mom, this is the gold necklace I bought for you." Yang Fan handed over the box.

"No, no!" Wang Xiuying waved her hands repeatedly as if she had been burned.

"Mom heard that gold is really expensive now! This is too expensive, too extravagant! Mom is already in her fifties, why would she wear this thing?"

Her voice was urgent and panicked.

"Mom, you've worked hard your whole life, can't you enjoy yourself a little?" Yang Fan's voice was soft, but firm:

"Please consider this my way of showing filial piety. I didn't come back for the Lunar New Year the past two years, and I've felt guilty ever since."

"Now that you're finally back, you must accept this."

"Exactly!" Yang Ya grabbed the box, took out the necklace, and said, "Mom, stop dawdling! Here, let me put it on you!"

"Xiaoya, you child..."

Wang Xiuying wanted to decline, but Yang Ya had already gone behind her and put the necklace on her.

The cold metal pressed against her skin, and Wang Xiuying's body stiffened for a moment.

Yang Ya pulled her to the mirror: "Mom, look how beautiful you are!"

In the mirror, Wang Xiuying looked at the gold necklace around her neck, then at her new clothes, and then at her slightly reddened eyes reflected in the mirror…

She suddenly covered her face and cried.

"Mom, why are you crying?" Yang Ya quickly hugged her mother.

"Mom is...Mom is happy..." Wang Xiuying choked up:

"Mom never imagined in her life... that she would wear a gold necklace... or dress in such beautiful clothes..."

Yang Fan walked over and put his arm around his mother's shoulder: "Mom, things will get even better from now on. I promise you."

Yang Jianguo stood aside, looking at his wife and children. This man, who had been tough all his life, also had tears in his eyes.

But he held back, and simply patted his son's shoulder heavily.

It took Wang Xiuying a while to calm down.

The family sat around the fireplace, the fire burning brightly and casting a rosy glow on everyone's faces.

"Oh right, Mom and Dad." Yang Fan suddenly remembered something:

"Tomorrow is the 26th of the twelfth lunar month, and it will be the last market day in town."

"We need to go shopping for New Year's goods. Although Xiaoya and I brought some things back, we still need to buy some New Year's goods on the spot."

Wang Xiuying nodded: "It's time to buy them. We haven't bought the Spring Festival couplets yet, and we also need to buy some firecrackers. We also need to prepare melon seeds, peanuts, candy... all of these need to be prepared."

"And candles," Yang Jianguo added, "for the New Year's Eve dinner. We also need to buy incense."

Wang Xiuying thought for a moment, "I also need to buy a fish, for abundance every year. And a chicken, for good luck..."

She counted on her fingers, and the more she counted, the more there seemed to be.

Yang Fan smiled and said, "Mom, don't worry, we'll go together tomorrow."

"You two decide what to buy; Xiaoya and I will be responsible for carrying the things and paying for them."

"Then you have to go early," Yang Jianguo said. "The market is on the 26th of the twelfth lunar month, when there are the most people. If you go late, all the good stuff will be gone."

"Okay, let's go first thing tomorrow morning." Yang Fan made the decision. "Let's set off after breakfast."

"Okay." Wang Xiuying smiled. "Mom, get up early tomorrow to cook, and then we'll leave after we eat."

"Mom, let me help you," Yang Ya said.

"No need, you should get some more sleep." Wang Xiuying patted her daughter's head. "You worked hard at your winter break job. Get some rest when you get home."

"I'm not tired..."

The fire crackled and popped.

Outside, it was completely dark. Occasionally, a few dogs barked, some near and some far.

But it was warm inside.

The newly installed air conditioner was blowing warm air, the stove was burning brightly, and the family sat together, discussing their plans for going to the market the next day.

Looking at the smiles on his parents' faces and his younger sister's chattering, Yang Fan felt that the empty space in his heart that had been there for so many years was finally filled.

This is what celebrating the New Year should be like.

This is home.

"Oh, right, Dad," he suddenly remembered something, "You should wear that new down jacket when you go to the market tomorrow. It's cold, don't catch a cold."

Yang Jianguo paused for a moment, then nodded: "Okay."

"Mom, you should wear your new clothes too," Yang Ya said. "Let everyone in town see how beautiful my mom looks!"

Wang Xiuying laughed and patted her daughter: "You silly girl, you're just talking nonsense."

But she touched the gold necklace around her neck, then looked down at her wool sweater, her eyes gleaming.

It was a kind of happiness that had been hidden for a long time, and which I finally dared to show.