January 12, 1992, Sunday, the Laba Festival on the lunar calendar.
After more than ten days of urgent preparations, The Department's inspection delegation had finally resolved a whole series of issues involving personnel, visas, and so on. The day to depart for the north had arrived.
Wen Leyu's departure was a few days later, so she brought the child over to see Li Ye off.
Little Pouch burrowed into Li Ye's arms, wrapped her arms around his neck, and sobbed with tears streaming down her face.
"Dad, how long will it be before you come back? Can't you come back before this year's Spring Festival?"
Li Ye rubbed his cheek against his daughter's and gently comforted her. "That won't do! Daddy has to work. If I don't work, I won't get paid. And if I don't get paid, I can't give Little Pouch lucky money!"
Little Pouch froze for quite a while, as if she had made an enormous decision, before saying something.
"Then I... I don't want lucky money. I don't want any this year."
"..."
Seeing Little Pouch choose her father over money for the first time, Li Ye was genuinely moved. This little miser had actually chosen her old man over lucky money. That truly was no easy feat.
"You won't get any less lucky money. But after your mom and I leave, you have to listen to Grandma and your brother. No being naughty."
"Mm-hmm."
Little Pouch agreed a few times, then suddenly asked, "Dad, is Mom going on a business trip too?"
Li Ye sighed. "Yes! Mom has to work too."
The tears in Little Pouch's eyes vanished at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"Oh, then that's fine. I'll listen to Grandma. Don't worry, you two!"
"..."
Li Ye and Wen Leyu were