On New Year's Eve, Ji Ran decided to make dumplings.
There were no particular New Year customs in Li City, but Ji Ran thought making dumplings sounded fun and would help pass the time.
He asked, "Bro, do you know how to make dumplings?"
Zhao Pingchuan nodded. "I do."
"That's great," Ji Ran said happily.
They made two kinds of filling, pork and corn and chive and egg, and made enough dumplings to fill two large containers. They set aside some for lunch and put the rest in the freezer.
That way, when Zhao Pingchuan didn't feel like cooking at home, he could boil some dumplings.
At noon, they each had a big plate of mixed dumplings. The fruits of one's own labor always looked better, and they both enjoyed their meal.
After lunch, it was time to prepare the New Year's Eve dinner.
Even though there were only two of them, Ji Ran refused to cut corners. He carefully planned a menu of six dishes, with meat and vegetables, soup and dessert.
The two of them squeezed together in the tiny kitchen, having to turn sideways just to grab a plate. But neither complained, and they took their time enjoying the moment.
At six, dinner was on the table.
Ji Ran brought out the beer he'd prepared and raised his glass to Zhao Pingchuan. "Bro, happy New Year's Eve! Here's to things getting better and better for us!"
"Happy New Year's Eve, Ranran."
At seven thirty, they turned on the TV and sat together on the little sofa, wrapped in small blankets, to watch the Spring Festival Gala.
Ji Ran asked curiously, "Bro, you probably didn't use to watch this, did you?"
Zhao Pingchuan nodded. "I was always busy replying to messages on New Year's Eve before. I didn't have time to watch the gala."
He had to exchange messages and send good wishes to all sorts of business partners and people he needed to maintain relationships with. Some messaged him, while he messaged others, making him even busier over the New Year than usual.
Ji Ran said, "I didn't watch it much before either, but I'd leave it on as background noise."
Now that he had company, even the gala he'd once found dull held his attention, and he laughed out loud at the better comedy sketches.
Ji Ran sat leaning naturally against Zhao Pingchuan, whose arm circled his shoulders from behind. The little house was filled with warmth and comfort.
When the hosts began the countdown, Ji Ran, who had been growing drowsy, was startled awake by fireworks going off outside and couldn't help looking out.
Through the window, he could see a vast, star-filled sky. Bursts of fireworks exploded across it, and the whooshes of rockets shooting upward rose one after another, making for a lively scene.
When midnight arrived, Ji Ran looked at Zhao Pingchuan and broke into a wide smile. His greeting overlapped with Zhao Pingchuan's.
"Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year."
At the same time, Zhao Pingchuan took out a red envelope and placed it in Ji Ran's hand.
Ji Ran was surprised. He turned the envelope over and over, looking at it several times. "New Year's money?"
Zhao Pingchuan smiled. Instead of answering directly, he said, "Open it and see."
Ji Ran opened it. Instead of the hundred-yuan bills he'd expected, there was... a key?
Puzzled, he tipped it out and discovered it was a car key.
He looked at Zhao Pingchuan and asked in confusion, "Whose car key is this?"
Zhao Pingchuan smiled and answered, "Ji Ran's."
???
Ji Ran was dumbfounded. He repeated in disbelief, "Mine?"
Zhao Pingchuan nodded and asked him, "Want to go see your New Year's gift?"
In a daze, Ji Ran let Zhao Pingchuan lead him downstairs to a brand-new car. It was a classic black, with a simple design and sleek lines. The emblem matched the key in his hand perfectly, and it even had a license plate already.
Ji Ran said, "Bro, what's going on?"
Zhao Pingchuan said, "Didn't I tell you I was going to invest? I made a little money, just enough to buy you a car. It's nothing fancy, so it won't draw too much attention when you drive it around."
Was the quality of the car really the issue?
Ji Ran was stunned. He wasn't an idiot; he knew a car of this model cost at least 200,000 yuan.
Zhao Pingchuan had invested 50,000 yuan, but he'd transferred it back to Ji Ran's account not long afterward. He'd actually made so much money in such a short time?
"Bro, you really shocked me," Ji Ran said from the bottom of his heart.
Zhao Pingchuan patted his head. "It's inconvenient for you to go to work when it's cold or raining. You need a car."
Actually, with Ji Ran's income, it wouldn't be long before he could buy a car himself.
But Zhao Pingchuan wanted Ji Ran's first car to be a gift from him.
Ji Ran calmed down and finally accepted the fact that he had gotten a new car on the first day of the New Year.
Delighted, he walked around the car several times and sat inside to try it out, his eyes shining.
There wasn't a boy who didn't like cars.
Zhao Pingchuan said, "It's too late to see it clearly now. Let's come back and look at it after we've slept."
It really was too late, and Ji Ran had just been drinking, so he couldn't take it for a spin. He could only head back upstairs, reluctant to leave.
Seeing that he liked it, Zhao Pingchuan was reassured.
Something suddenly occurred to Ji Ran, and he asked Zhao Pingchuan, "Bro, even if you made money, you should have kept it for yourself. Why did you spend it all at once?"
Zhao Pingchuan found it amusing. Ji Ran had never said a word about letting him spend his money as he pleased, yet now he wouldn't let him spend the money he'd earned himself.
"I didn't spend it all. I kept some capital. Besides, a car is a fixed asset, so buying one isn't a loss," Zhao Pingchuan reassured him.
Ji Ran was easily convinced. There was always a good reason for what Zhao Pingchuan did.
Even so, his entire worldview had been shaken. Was this the true ability of a villain boss? The gap between him and wage slaves like Ji Ran, who could only work their jobs diligently, was far too wide.
Ji Ran couldn't help saying, "Bro, if you make so much trading stocks, why do you still go to work?"
Zhao Pingchuan chuckled. "Investing comes with risks as well as returns. I can't guarantee I'll always make the right decisions. Besides, with a small amount of capital, it's harder for outside factors to interfere with my judgment. If the amount gets too large, emotions will affect my rationality."
Ji Ran only half understood, but he thought Zhao Pingchuan was right. Earning money through one's own efforts was the proper path after all.
A little embarrassed, he said, "I even boasted before that I'd support you."
"Didn't you do it?" Zhao Pingchuan smiled gently. "Apart from this car, which thing I've paid for wasn't bought with your money? Even the money I used to trade stocks was borrowed from you."
Ji Ran was capable of supporting himself; Zhao Pingchuan just wanted to clear some obstacles from his path ahead of time.
Besides, without Ji Ran, where would he be now?
Ji Ran soon thought it through. They were family, after all. Zhao Pingchuan's money was his money, and his car was Zhao Pingchuan's car. There was no need to draw such clear lines.
"Then let's celebrate our family getting a new car this year!" he declared grandly, clapping his hands.
Zhao Pingchuan nodded, smiling dotingly.