New Year's Eve Fireworks

The evening of the twenty-ninth day of the Twelfth Month.

Professor Chen and Lawyer Wei had yet to come home. They were probably having a great time chatting with friends, or their friends' hospitality had kept them there for dinner.

The four younger ones were at home slurping Hot-and-Sour Rice Noodles.

The broth Chen Shu had made was rich and fragrant, both sour and spicy. The moment he brought it out, the whole house filled with the tang of vinegar. He had piled on the pork intestines as though they were free, then added tender bean sprouts. One slurp brought up noodles and broth together—nothing could have been more satisfying.

As Chen Banxia ate, she marveled at how good her little brother was at making food.

She did feel a little bad for Qingqing and Xiaoxiao, though. They had come over during the New Year holiday to eat Hot-and-Sour Rice Noodles with her when they should have been feasting on delicacies from land and sea.

But what could she do? She had said a few days ago that she wanted Hot-and-Sour Rice Noodles.

She could not even remember when she had said it. Maybe she had been talking in her sleep?

Chen Banxia also made the most fuss throughout the meal—

One moment she burned her mouth. She could easily have endured it with a cultivator's constitution, but insisted on yelping anyway. The next, she choked and coughed. Then she asked her brother to pull out a tissue for her. Her precious mouth could not bear the slightest smear of oil.

Qingqing, on the other hand, was quiet and refined, savoring each small bite.

The television in the living room was playing the evening news, describing the grand scenes of people welcoming the New Year across the country.

Chen Shu