On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Li Ye felt even busier than when he spent the New Year in Qingshui County!
Because spending the New Year in the capital meant there were far too many thresholds to cross when paying New Year calls.
First, he followed Lu Zhizhang around the office to pay New Year calls. No matter how poorly they usually got along, if they ran into each other today, they still had to exchange New Year greetings.
Then Li Ye went to pay New Year calls at his master Old Ding's home, his teacher Professor Zhang's home, and the homes of several senior brothers and senior sisters. Even with a car to get around, it was nearly noon by the time he returned to Fuyou Street.
Compared with Li Ye's busyness, Li Zhongfa and Wu Juying seemed excessively idle.
In Qingshui County, the old couple held senior standing and had many connections. People came endlessly throughout the day to pay them New Year calls. But here in the Capital City, they barely knew anyone.
Fellow Qingshui Gang natives such as Jiang Hong and Chen Jinhua had all gone home for the New Year. Jin Peng and Hao Jian would not come over until the third or fourth day of the New Year, while Li Dayong had flown straight to Hong Kong Island to be the "new son-in-law" at Pei Wencong's home. So after more than half a day, Li Ye's household had received only one family of New Year callers.
The moment Li Ye returned home, his younger sister Fu Yiruo said to him, "Brother, you're finally back. A neighbor came to pay you a New Year call, but you weren't home. They couldn't bring themselves to leave, yet staying was awkward too. Even I