New Year

Ding-dong,

2021 was quietly drawing to a close.

After experiencing

a year of wind, frost, rain, and snow,

we had finally reached the end of the year.

And,

the new year

we had longed for most.

This year,

we had experienced the arrival of the pandemic.

We had all gone through

lockdown.

Together,

we watched Lanzhou,

our bustling, prosperous city,

gradually grow quiet.

The streets, usually teeming with people,

seemed to empty out in the blink of an eye.

Silence—

such profound silence.

Fortunately,

thanks to our perseverance,

the most perilous moment

had passed.

Let's keep going,

and look to the future.

As we bid farewell to the old and welcome the new,

the streets that had been

so quiet

now held a little hint of the New Year.

That tiny hint

brought everything back to life.

At this moment,

through our actions,

and the customs unique to our people,

we would sweep away the gloom of 2021,

and let sunlight fall on every one of our faces.

Let our frustrations and unhappiness gradually fade away.

Let the first breeze of the coming year

blow it all away.

Let us start our new year

all over again,

with a brand-new outlook,

and face a completely new year.

Let us

become better versions of ourselves.

Believe it—

let's give it our all next year.

Let's confidently call out to the past,

"Goodbye."

Let's call out to the future with ease,

"Come on!"

Keep going,

young people.

Toward the future that belongs to us,

let's press on,

for those who love us, and those we love—

keep going!

At this special moment,

let love fill our hearts.

Let's say to the one we love,

"I love you!"

A word from the author.