On the last day of the year, most of the people had gone back to their hometowns. All the families were saturated with cheering and laughing. After all, on that day, there were so many customs in many places, such as visiting the graves of their ancestors, inviting them to go home to celebrate the Spring Festival, and so on. Consequently, Capital Airport, where the people had been hurrying to and fro and which had been quite lively on usual days, became somewhat deserted today.
However, many travelers were catching flights, intending to go back home and unite with their family members before New Year’s Eve. The atmosphere of the Spring Festival was quite lively at the airport. However, the livelier the atmosphere was, the more grieved they felt. If it were not for their livelihoods, everybody would like to go back home early and unite with their family members. However, instead, they had no choice but to rush home at the last moment.
Gongsun came to pick up Qin Sheng and Qin Ran in person. As a general housekeeper of the Qin Family, he had set up everything related to the Spring Festival celebration of the Qin Family.
In contrast to the situation in which they had come to the airport yesterday, there were not any cars on their way to the airport today. The vast city became an empty one again. However, it would become noisy and lively soon, which would go on in circles year after year. It was unknown when this cycle would end.
In the car, Qin Ran was chatting with Uncle Gongsun, talking about the preparations in the family and so on. As Qin Sheng looked through the car window and stared at the Spring Festival decorations along both sides of the outside street and on the tall buildings, he could not help thinking of those interesting deeds happening during the Spring Festival when he was little.
Compared with the atmosphere of the Spring Festival in the cities, the atmosphere of the Spring Festival in the villages was much livelier. However, the situation today was no longer the same as that in his childhood. When Qin Sheng was little, he had never liked celebrating the Spring Festival. This was because he felt lonelier when the Spring Festival came. As all other families were uniting, he had no choice but to watch over his grandfather in the old house.
At that time, Qin Sheng was somewhat tough and stubborn. Though he only had his grandfather, he insisted on tidying up the old house, pasting up Spring Festival couplets and the “fu” character, and hanging up Chinese knots and various decorations. The old house had to be the same as other houses, which should be filled with the atmosphere of the Spring Festival. Fortunately, at that time, the Lin Family was by his side. It was the Lin Family that had prepared all the new year’s goods for the old house. Though the Lin Family had asked Qin Sheng and Old Master Qin to celebrate the Spring Festival, never had Old Master consented. It seemed that celebrating the Spring Festival never existed in his world at all. Since Old Master did not come to the Lin Family’s house, of course, Qin Sheng would not go there. He stayed with his grandfather in the old house. It was not until the second day of the Chinese New Year that he went to visit the Lin Family.
Upon thinking of those past events, Qin Sheng could not help smiling bitterly. The more aged he became, the better he knew how difficult his grandfather’s situation was. Never had he blamed his grandfather for taking him away from the Qin Family. That was because he had learned many things at the side of his grandfather, which could not be obtained even if he had spent all of his life outside.
He had been wondering how many obstacles the old man had gone through all his life, since he was so calm and gentle in his old age. Nothing in the world could stir any emotion in his heart. He repeated his life year after year and day after day, seemingly doing nothing but waiting for his death quietly.
So far, never had Qin Sheng came across another legendary figure like his grandfather in his lifetime. However, until now, he was not even able to demythologize his grandfather’s lifetime stories.
However, since Qin Sheng had gone back to the Qin Family now, he knew the day when he demythologized his grandfather’s lifetime stories would be within reach. Those truths over the past years would surface gradually. Even if he did not take the initiative to go after the answers, some things would come to him proactively.
To Qin Sheng, going back to the Qin Family was a rebirth, turning his life completely upside down. However, as the saying goes, every coin has two sides. Going back to the Qin Family plunged him into a greater crisis. This was also the reason why Qin Changan had dared not reconcile with Qin Sheng at first, fearing that Qin Sheng could not handle all of these issues.
After all, he could not ruin the happiness and comfort that the Old Master had endowed to Qin Sheng for more than two decades…
When they arrived at the alley where the siheyuan was in, they saw that all the families had pasted up Spring Festival couplets and the “fu” characters, and only the doors of the Qin Family were bare and empty. Qin Ran smiled and asked, “Uncle Gongsun, why have we not even pasted up the Spring Festival couplets yet? At this time in the past years, everything should have been done, right?”
Gongsun explained smilingly as he said, “According to the Master, the Spring Festival couplets should be pasted up by you. So we left that to you for when you come back.”
Qin Ran said disapprovingly, “A shabby genteel.” However, she also knew what her father’s order meant. If they thought about it solemnly, all the members in the siheyuan started celebrating the Spring Festival formally this year. In the previous years, the siheyuan had been so desolate. After all, Qin Sheng came back this year.
After Qin Sheng and Qin Ran went into the siheyuan, they had lunch, rested for a while, and started getting busy. Gongsun had prepared everything. However, compared with the situation on usual days, many people had left the siheyuan on New Year’s Eve, which had been ordered by Gongsun. They would be divided into two shifts every Spring Festival. Those bodyguards and servants who had been staying in the siheyuan would go home to celebrate the Spring Festival after the seventh day of the Chinese New Year. It was not until the 15th day of the Chinese New Year that they would come back to the siheyuan.
Qin Changan was not at home. Though he was high in position, he was far busier than anyone else whenever the Spring Festival arrived. It was not until the afternoon of New Year’s Eve that he would go home. He needed to pay a visit to many people and vice versa. Consequently, he needed to stagger his schedule. However, Qin Changan could be more relaxed this year. This was because Qin Sheng could help him with many things.
“Sister, the way you see it, is it OK?”
Outside the siheyuan, Qin Sheng was stepping on a ladder while pasting up the couplets. Qin Ran was keeping an eye on him from the bottom of the ladder. Two bodyguards were stabilizing the ladder. Gongsun was saying that Qin Sheng should be careful by his side.
It did not occur to Qin Sheng that it was Qin Changan who had written this pair of Spring Festival couplets by himself. It was not until he asked Gongsun that he learned that Qin Changan would write the Spring Festival couplets and “fu” characters on his own every year. It was well-known that many tycoons were all aspiring for a pair of Spring Festival couplets from Qin Changan.
Upon pondering over it, Qin Sheng figured it out. After all, the Qin Family was a family of scholars, which could be seen from the calligraphy of his grandfather, which could be counted as being at a very high level. As for himself, when he was a child, he had been cultivated by his grandfather, who had brought him to the Beilin Museum to do the copy painting and so on. He was making some progress in calligraphy now. Consequently, it was no wonder that Qin Changan’s calligraphy was hotly sought after.
Qin Sheng had studied Qin Changan’s calligraphy in detail a moment ago. Compared with the calligraphy of his grandfather and his own, Qin Changan’s calligraphy could be better. However, it definitely could appeal to refined taste. Qin Sheng ridiculed Qin Changan in secret that if it were him who had written the calligraphy, he definitely would have amazed all the people, which was somewhat true. If Qin Sheng had written the Spring Festival couplets in the semi-cursive script, some experts would have taken it as a fairy if they had passed by it.
“They are crooked, crooked. Move them to the right side. The left one could be pasted up higher. Yes, yes, yes, you got it. Now it is OK.” Qin Ran, who had been standing at the bottom of the ladder, lifted her head and gave orders to Qin Sheng. Her face was filled with a happy smile.
Within minutes, they pasted up the Spring Festival couplets and “fu” characters on the doors, and had cooperated tacitly. Standing outside the main door, Qin Sheng said with great interest, “Great. However, the characters look shabby. If it were me who had written the characters, it would be perfect.”
Qin Ran found it funny and did not know whether she should laugh or cry. It was well-known that Qin Changan’s calligraphy had been well-recognized by several influential figures. Qin Sheng’s saying so was showing off his skill before an expert.
Qin Ran covered her mouth, smiled cutely, and said, “You go on bluffing. You are better at blowing hot air. Do you know who collected father’s calligraphy?” She liked the way Qin Sheng talked about the nonsense formally better and better.
Qin Sheng said disapprovingly, “Sister, you don’t believe me, right? You must have not ever seen Grandfather’s calligraphy, which is super awesome. I dare not say I can beat Grandfather, however, his calligraphy is just so-so. If there were a chance, I would give you a piece of calligraphy as a gift. If you don’t believe me, you could go to a master randomly and ask him to appraise it or take it directly to the auction branch of Jia De or Bao Li. They would be scared to death by you.”
The more Qin Sheng boasted, the less Qin Ran would believe his words. She did not know whether she should laugh or cry as she said, “Yoho, the way I see it, who did you learn this defect of boasting from? There is nobody else like you in our family.”
As the saying goes, never can you wake up someone who is pretending to be asleep, all you want to do is pour a basin of cold water on him. Consequently, Qin Sheng did not bother to argue with her. He shrugged as he said, “Forget it if you don’t believe me. Probably I am in too low a profile.”
“I do believe you. You are indeed in a low profile, OK? Can you stop nagging? We have more Spring Festival couplets to paste up inside. Hurry up, once we are done in a while, we need to go to the Sanli River.” Qin Ran did not want to keep arguing with Qin Sheng. Instead, she held Qin Sheng’s hands and pulled him inside while walking.
“Sister, hear me out.” Originally, Qin Sheng had intended to reason things out with his sister. However, his sister had not paid any attention to him already.
Qin Sheng had no choice but to sigh in secret. “A master is destined to be lonely.”
Besides pasting up the Spring Festival couplets and “fu” characters on all the doors and windows of all sizes inside the siheyuan, Qin Sheng and Qin Ran had also hung up many Chinese knots and lanterns. The whole siheyuan looked pretty beautiful after the decoration.
After they were done, it was already four o’clock. Qin Ran took Qin Sheng to the old house by the Sanli River in a hurry. Fortunately, the house by the Sanli River was not far away from the siheyuan. It took them less than 20 minutes to get there.
The old house had been cleaned up by the auntie. Qin Sheng and Qin Ran pasted up the Spring Festival things, hung up the lanterns in a hurry, and so on. It took them half an hour to get the decoration of the old house done.
Lastly, of course, and most importantly, they needed to hold a memorial ceremony for their mother. After they put the offerings in position, which they had brought from the siheyuan, as the sister, Qin Ran lit up the incense, knelt, and kowtowed. Following that, while facing her mother’s portrait, Qin Ran said happily, “Mom, it is the Spring Festival Holiday.”
Qin Sheng echoed his sister’s words as he said, “Mom, it is the Spring Festival Holiday.”
More than two decades had passed. Their family finally could reunite and celebrate the Spring Festival together…
After they came back to the siheyuan from the old house, it was already 5:30. The atmosphere of the Spring Festival became more and more lively along the way. The host on the radio was talking about the local customs of each place during the Spring Festival Holiday. As Qin Sheng stared at his sister, who was driving attentively, he felt happy inexplicably.
By the time they got home, Qin Changan had already been home, who was busy in the living room. Qin Ran teased him on purpose as she said, “Dad, I thought that you would not be home and intended to take brother to seek shelter from Grandma in Shanghai.”
Qin Changan did not know whether he should laugh or cry, knowing his daughter was teasing him again. He had no choice but to reply, “How am I willing to part with you?”
Various kinds of fruits, sunflower seeds, candies, and snacks were piled on the tea-table in the living room. There was no unoccupied place on the whole table. Qin Ran found it confusing and said, “Dad, why did you put so many things on the table?”
Qin Changan did not respond. Of course, he would not tell her the reason. He pushed Qin Ran as he said, “Don’t meddle around here. You two bought new clothing, right? Go to take a shower and get yourselves changed. The New Year’s Eve dinner will be ready soon.”
Qin Ran twitched her mouth as she said, “We are not children anymore. Why should we be dressed in new clothing?”
However, it seemed that she had forgotten that Qin Sheng had said the same words some time ago. She had not bothered to pay attention to what Qin Sheng had said and insisted on taking him to buy many things.
Though Qin Ran had said so verbally, she still pulled Qin Sheng upstairs. The Spring Festival this year was destined to be different from those in previous years. After all, so many years had passed, and no other previous Spring Festivals could make her feel so happy.
As they went out after taking a shower and getting dressed, Qin Ran saw Qin Sheng, who had taken on an entirely new look, and could not help saying, “Tut, tut, tut. You are indeed my brother. You are so handsome. As your sister, I am almost enchanted by you.”
Meanwhile, Qin Sheng eyed his sister in front of him up and down and thought, “Look at my sister’s temperament and appearance, she has left those so-called celebrities far behind.” He smiled and said, “Yes. Since I have such a beautiful sister, of course, as your brother, I should be so handsome. Otherwise, I would disgrace you.”
Qin Ran was amused by Qin Sheng’s words and could not help smiling cutely. She held Qin Sheng’s arms conveniently and went downstairs. What a golden boy and jade girl pair.
As expected, after they went downstairs, Qin Changan, who had taken a few bottles of red wine from the cellar, was directly astounded. He almost blurted out: “As expected, you are indeed my son and daughter.”
Qin Ran walked to Qin Changan’s side, held her father’s arms obediently, and asked, “Dad, why is the New Year’s Eve dinner so sumptuous?”
Qin Changan smiled gently. Following that, he revealed the answer as he said, “Guests should be here. Greet them on my behalf.”
Qin Ran could not help being curious as she asked, “We have guests this year? Who are they?” During the Spring Festival in previous years, never had a guest been in the siheyuan on New Year’s Eve.
Qin Changan left her hanging on purpose as he said, “You will know the answer once you go out.”
After Qin Ran went out of the siheyuan with Qin Sheng and waited at the entrance for less than two minutes, two cars stopped by the entrance of the siheyuan. As they were confused about the identities of the visitors, they saw their uncle and aunt getting out of the cars slowly along with their two cousins, their cousins-in-law, and their children.
Qin Ran was so astounded by this surprise that she stood there at a loss for a while. She was so excited that she did not know what she should say. It did not occur to her that all the family members of her uncle would come to the siheyuan to celebrate the Spring Festival, which was simply so far out of her expectation.
The siheyuan, which had been desolate over the previous years, was so lively this year. Qin Ran only wanted to say one sentence: “This is how a Spring Festival Holiday should look.”
As for Qin Sheng, who was smiling happily at a short distance, of course, he did not know what it meant…