As the Spring Festival drew near, the festive atmosphere in Huai City grew stronger. Spring couplets and "fortune" signs filled the street stalls, each surrounded by shoppers.
"Boss, how much are these spring couplets?"
"...That's too expensive. Lower the price and I'll buy a few more pairs..."
Lin Shuguang took Lin Xiaoxi, dressed in a floral padded jacket, shopping for New Year supplies. Vendors' cries and haggling filled the air.
Lin Shuguang was about to choose some couplets when someone suddenly tugged at his clothes. He instinctively looked back. His younger sister, Lin Xiaoxi, was pointing at the sugar figurines nearby, almost drooling shamelessly. "Brother, I want one of those."
Lin Shuguang said, "...Wait until I finish buying things here."
Lin Xiaoxi immediately moved closer and hugged his leg, having to tilt her head up to see his chin. "Brother, did you bring enough money?"
Lin Shuguang tapped the little girl's forehead in exasperation. "Enough to buy yours, you little foodie."
Lin Xiaoxi immediately brightened at that. Holding on to his clothes, she kept looking back at the sugar figurines nearby, afraid they might be gone the next time she turned around.
Noticing her brother paying and taking a bag from the couplet stall, she immediately began shaking his clothes excitedly. "Sugar figurines! Sugar figurines! Sugar figurines!"
Lin Shuguang was speechless. "All right, let's go. I'll buy you one."
They were just about to move when Lin Xiaoxi suddenly spotted someone in the distance and waved with a smile. "Sister Pei Xi!"
Lin Shuguang looked over. Pei Xi and her younger brother were walking away, carrying all sorts of New Year supplies. Hearing Lin Xiaoxi call out, the siblings instinctively stopped and looked over.
"Sis, the karma on him has grown heavier again. Don't get drawn into it," Pei Xi's