Sold into a ghost marriage? Four-year-old and his thuggish father go on a killing spree.

"Sizzle—"

A piece of pork with alternating layers of fat and lean meat slides into the scalding hot iron pot, instantly releasing an irresistible aroma.

The pork skin quickly tightens in the hot oil, turning golden and crispy, with the fat being forced out little by little, sizzling as it cooks.

Gu Niannian stood on a small stool, holding a pair of long chopsticks, and carefully turned the meat in the pot, imitating what Aunt Wang had taught her.

Today is Lunar New Year's Eve.

The entire Chengjiawan area was immersed in the joy of welcoming the New Year.

The enticing aroma of meat wafted from the chimneys of every household.

The laughter of children, mingled with the sporadic sounds of firecrackers, echoed through the village.

The Gu family's small mud-brick house was also warm and cozy.

Gu Yanqiu returned from the county town.

He brought back not only half a pound of pork, but also a large grass carp weighing over a pound.

They even went so far as to buy a whole bottle of soy sauce and a small bottle of vinegar!

This was definitely considered a "luxury" setup for the Spring Festival of 1965.

"Niannian, be careful not to get splashed with oil."

Gu Yanqiu kneaded the dough beside her, preparing to make dumplings, while nervously giving her instructions.

"Okay, Dad!"

Gu Niannian answered crisply, her little face full of seriousness.

The aroma of braised pork, mixed with the wheat scent of flour, permeated the small kitchen, creating a flavor that could be described as "happiness."

The fish was for lunch.

Gu Niannian learned how to stew fish from Aunt Wang. Although she didn't control the heat very well and the fish was a bit overcooked, the delicious taste still satisfied the father and daughter. They even soaked their rice in the fish soup and ate it all up.

The highlight of the evening was pork and cabbage dumplings.

The flour was a reward from the brigade last time, the cabbage was stored in their own cellar, and the pork was bought by Gu Yanqiu with a month's overtime pay.

The father and daughter worked together seamlessly, one rolling out the dough and the other filling the filling.

Gu Niannian has very skillful hands; the dumplings she makes...

Each of them, with their round, bulging bellies, was neatly stacked on the canopy.

Outside, it was completely dark.

A few sparse, cold stars dotted the dark blue night sky.

In the distance, someone set off a string of firecrackers, their crackling sounds echoing through the night sky, marking the start of the New Year's Eve dinner.

"Dinner's ready!"

Gu Yanqiu placed a large plate of steaming dumplings and a bowl of fragrant braised pork on the old, worn-out square table.

In the center of the table, a brand-new kerosene lamp was lit.

The bright firelight made the faces of the father and daughter glow red.

Gu Niannian picked up a dumpling, blew on it, and carefully took a bite.

The delicious meat juices burst in your mouth instantly.

"Mmm...delicious!"

She squinted her eyes happily, like a kitten that had just stolen a bite of fish.

Looking at her daughter's satisfied expression, Gu Yanqiu felt sweeter than if she had eaten honey.

He picked up the largest piece of braised pork and put it into Niannian's bowl.

"Eat more, you're so thin."

"Dad eats too!"

Gu Niannian picked up another dumpling, stood on tiptoe, and tried her best to put it into her father's mouth.

Gu Yanqiu smiled, opened her mouth, and ate it in one bite.

"It smells so good! My daughter's dumplings are the best in the world!"

The father and daughter smiled at each other, their eyes sparkling.

Outside the window, others are having a lively time.

Inside the window, their family reunion unfolds.

While eating, Gu Niannian suddenly looked up and asked curiously, "Dad, what were you doing this time last year?"

Gu Yanqiu paused for a moment as she picked up some food.

A bitter and helpless smile appeared on his face.

"This time last year..."

He thought for a moment and said with a self-deprecating laugh, "Probably... lying in bed alone, listening to the firecrackers outside, figuring out whose house I can go to for some leftovers tomorrow."

Back then, he was known as "Lazybones Gu," a name disliked by everyone in the village.

On New Year's Eve, my eldest brother's family enjoyed a lively and festive New Year's Eve dinner.

But no one remembers that there was a younger brother, cold and hungry, in the dark room next door.

As Gu Niannian listened, her nose began to sting with tears.

But she quickly broke into a big smile and joked, "Back then, Dad was a lazy bum!"

Gu Yanqiu was amused by his daughter, and the gloom in his heart was swept away.

"Yes! It's all thanks to that little girl who wasn't afraid of getting dirty or tired, traveling all the way to our house to beg for food. Otherwise, your father would still be lying on the kang (heated brick bed) unable to get up!"

He reached out and affectionately pinched his daughter's little nose.

"You are my lucky star."

"Hehe, then Daddy is my big tree!"

The father and daughter laughed together, their warm laughter seemingly melting away the chill of the winter night.

The night grew deeper.

The noise outside gradually subsided.

The father and daughter cleaned up the dishes and prepared to boil water for washing up and going to bed.

Just then, a suppressed, violent cough, carried by the cold wind, faintly drifted over from the direction of the Gu family's old house next door.

It was Grandma Wang Guifang's voice.

Ever since she was exposed by Gu Niannian for faking illness to swindle money and was then given the cold shoulder by Gu Yanqiu, Wang Guifang has fallen ill.

This time, I'm really sick.

He caught a cold and suffered from severe heart palpitations, which completely broke him down. He lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) for almost a month.

Gu Niannian stopped moving.

She tilted her ear and listened quietly for a while.

The coughing continued, one after another.

It sounded like someone was coughing up their lungs.

Gu Yanqiu heard it too, and his expression was somewhat complicated. The hand holding the basin of water unconsciously clenched tighter.

Gu Niannian looked at her father, then at the few dumplings left in the pot.

She remained silent for a moment, then quietly walked to the stove, added another ladle of water to the pot, and rekindled the fire in the stove.

"Niannian, what's wrong with you...?"

Gu Yanqiu was somewhat puzzled.

Gu Niannian didn't turn around, but kept her head down and whispered, "We're full, but they... probably haven't eaten yet."

Because the eldest brother Gu Yanchun's family had few work points, they also received a small amount of grain, so they had a very tight New Year's celebration.

Grandma is sick, so they probably don't feel like cooking anything delicious.

Gu Yanqiu's heart felt as if it had been gently bumped by something.

He watched his daughter's small figure bustling around the stove, and for a moment, he didn't know what to say.

Soon, two bowls of steaming dumplings were cooked.

Gu Niannian filled the bowls with the two best rough porcelain bowls in her house and presented them to Gu Yanqiu.

"Dad, this... let Uncle take it over when he comes over later."

The uncle she was referring to was Gu Yandong.

Gu Yandong was taking a correspondence course at the commune and just returned today. In the afternoon, he made a special trip to see the father and daughter.

Although he didn't say it, his actions gradually showed that he was on Gu Yanqiu's side.

Looking at the two bowls of plump, white dumplings, Gu Yanqiu felt a mix of emotions.

He knew that his daughter's words were not an act of forgiveness.

This is just a complex kind of family affection that can't be severed.

It is also a kind of basic kindness that comes with being human.

He nodded and said in a deep voice, "Okay."

Just then, a series of light footsteps and Gu Yandong's tentative voice came from outside the courtyard gate.

"Second Brother, Niannian, are you asleep?"

Gu Niannian's eyes lit up and she quickly ran to open the door.

Standing outside the door was Gu Yandong, the honest-looking uncle.

He saw the dumplings on the table inside the room, swallowed hard, and then said somewhat embarrassedly, "Second Brother, my...my mom...she's been saying she wants to eat some dumplings."

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw the two bowls that Gu Niannian had brought over.

Gu Yandong was stunned.

He hadn't expected that they... were already prepared before he even spoke.