Another year had passed.
The return trip was jammed the whole way—traffic in the city, traffic on the highway, even traffic after getting off the highway.
Everyone was busy heading home for the New Year.
I was no exception. Even stuck in traffic, the wind on the way home felt cool and refreshing.
By the time I arrived in Bountiful City, it was exactly four in the afternoon.
I bought some New Year's goods in the county town. Since our village was near the mountains and forest, fireworks and firecrackers were prohibited, so I bought colored lights and Spring Festival couplets instead.
As I was getting ready to head back, I ran into two of my childhood friends, Second Brave and Dog Chicken.
Dog Chicken was the one who had been haunted by a ghost after selling used cars.
Second Brave was the one whose family had been afflicted with gu poison last year.
They spotted me first. They said they had recognized my Maserati and come looking for me, only to find me buying Spring Festival couplets.
The two of them were carrying plenty of New Year's goods too...
The three of us were all delighted to see one another.
"Ningzi!"
"Ningzi!"
"Yo! Second Brave, Dog Chicken..."
I greeted them with a smile.
"You came back for the New Year too."
"Yeah! Just buying some New Year's stuff..."
As we spoke, Dog Chicken handed me a cigarette.
The three of us stood by the roadside and started chatting.
Second Brave said he was getting married this year and was currently negotiating the bride price. His girlfriend was from Jiangxi...
Dog Chicken had gotten himself a girlfriend too. She was a middle school classmate, someone I had seen before from the class next door.
The two of them also asked