Any student who had gone through the Gaokao knew how short this final winter vacation was. Some places gave you only seven days off for the Spring Festival, while others added another week.
You were already a senior in high school. At a time like this, could you really relax?
Ding Yebai had only truly given himself two days off—the first and second days of the Lunar New Year. He spent the rest of the time working through practice papers again.
Their family's Spring Festival was like that of most ordinary people: visiting relatives, eating reunion dinners, and then having the adults play poker and mahjong.
The children either went home or watched television and played games.
Every year around this time, Ding Yebai's father would return from far away.
No matter what, he had to reunite with his family at least once a year.
Although this father and son spent more time apart than together, that did not stop them from having an excellent relationship. They felt more like close buddies.
His father, Ding Dahai, had an especially good personality and temper. He was also upright and kindhearted. For someone like him not to become friends with his son would have been strange.
On the night of the first day of the Lunar New Year, after dinner, Ding Yebai and Ding Dahai sat on the stone bench in the courtyard.
The father and son chatted and laughed, utterly happy.
"How has this past year been, son?"
"Tell Dad, how are your studies? I scored 666 on the Gaokao back then. How about that? Pretty auspicious, right?"
"Actually, Dad missed you all too. I missed you, Yuerong, and your mother."
The more Ding Dahai spoke, the more emotional he became. The alcohol still had not worn off, and his eyes