The sound of firecrackers drew nearer, and the air was filled with the smell of gunpowder and sulfur compounds. It was not too pungent, as though celebrating the passing of the old year.
New Year's Eve in the village was simple. After breakfast, people put up spring couplets and went around visiting one another. But Xiao Yu's home was unusually lively now.
"What a fine young man. Xiao Yu has been sensible since she was little. I always said she'd be blessed when she grew up. Looks like she married into a good family." A somewhat plump middle-aged woman spoke.
"More than blessed—it's thanks to her ancestors' virtue. My daughter just told me that he runs a huge company. He's a billionaire."
"A billionaire? He's even met national leaders. Can a mere billionaire meet national leaders?"
Several women sat together, staring fixedly at Chen Mo as they chattered nonstop. Of course they were envious. They practically wished Chen Mo were their son or son-in-law.
Chen Mo sat there with a helpless expression.
He felt like a baby panda in a zoo, surrounded by a crowd of people watching him. He had been through enough that he was used to all kinds of strange looks, so he was not particularly bothered—only helpless.
"Hello, you're Chen Mo, right? Can I take a picture with you?" A girl came over with her phone, staring straight at Chen Mo with excitement and admiration in her eyes.
Chen Mo was an idol to the new generation of young people. After he was exposed to the public, news about him had flooded the media. Anyone who paid even a little attention to mobile news could recognize him. She simply had not expected such a towering figure to be right in front of her.
She was