In the basement where the three little ones lived, a neat red "good fortune" character was pasted by the entrance. Everything else in the room looked rather shabby, but that bright red character was brand-new.
When Yue Wen sent a message from the doorway, Black Cat came out to meet them.
As the group walked inside, Big White Cat was holding a pair of Spring Festival couplets and carefully wiping them. He grinned as he worked. "Pretty impressive, huh? I found these just outside, and they're still in great shape. Let's put them up in a bit."
"Great job," Orange Cat Girl praised him. "Now it feels even more like New Year."
The three little ones seemed fascinated by human New Year traditions, but Yue Wen still reminded them, "The reason you found those is that each year has a different zodiac animal. So when New Year comes, people replace the couplets from the previous year. What does yours say?" Orange Cat Girl pointed to the writing and read aloud, "A snake treads the feathered road, carrying grass and mud; the new year begins, bringing blessings and good fortune..."
"That's not right," Zhao Xing'er said. "The Year of the Snake is over. We need to put up couplets for the Year of the Horse now."
"Why don't we just change one character and put them up? A horse treads the feathered road, carrying grass and mud..." Big White Cat suggested.
"That's even less right!" Yue Wen hurriedly stopped him. "I'll buy you a new set in a bit."
"Thanks," Orange Cat Girl said, smiling sheepishly.
Black Cat suddenly asked, "If there's a Year of the Horse, is there a Year of the Cat?"
"There really isn't one." Zhao Xing'er shook her head, then listed the twelve zodiac animals.
The three