They finally got everything settled. The whole family wandered through the bright, clean rooms in a state of quiet awe, their footsteps echoing slightly on the polished floors. Everything was so comfortable that it felt almost surreal. As they touched the smooth surfaces and looked out the clear windows, they began to truly understand the sheer scale of the wealth Jing Shu had accumulated.
Living in a space this spotless made them acutely aware of the grime on their own clothes; the grit of the outside world felt out of place against the pristine walls. Noticing the awkward way everyone stood, Jing Pan cheerfully asked Wei Zheng to fetch a few kettles of hot water so everyone could wash up properly.
Jing Shu was happy too. She watched the bustle with a quiet sense of satisfaction, leaning against a doorframe as the house began to feel lived-in.
Li Zhu, his eyes shifting restlessly as he took in the expensive furniture, leaned closer. "Hey Jing Shu, since we're all settled, when are we going to visit your mom at the villa? It's been ages since we last met. I bet your grandparents miss me."
Jing Shu laughed, the sound bright in the airy room. "Miss you? I'm not so sure about that. But when the Paternal Eldest Uncle dropped by earlier, grandparents were really happy. They even said he came all that way bringing half a pig. He knew Grandpa loved pig ears with his wine, so he specially saved some for him. Said he was really thoughtful. Grandparents seem to think pretty highly of him. What about you, Paternal Second Uncle, what did you bring them this time?"
He scratched his head, his fingers catching in his messy hair as he looked away. "If my liquor shop hadn't been shut down, I would have brought a few good bottles, no question."
"Tsk tsk, sure. And before the apocalypse, how come you never brought any good liquor for New Year's? You always showed up with that cheap stuff that costs two yuan a bottle. Grandparents gave out over a thousand in lucky money every year, but you never spent a dime extra."
Jing Zhao dropped her head, her chin nearly touching her chest. She had spent years believing her mother favored sons over daughters, a resentment that had slowly curdled into a cold distance from her family. But now, with the world in ruins and resources scarce, the weight of her isolation pressed down on her. She realized the only people she could really count on were her own kin. Her husband's side was completely useless in a crisis. But the damage was done; she had spent so long pulling away that the path back felt blocked by the bridges she had burned.
The plan had been set long ago. This year, everyone would celebrate at the grandparents' place. The villa wasn't even part of the arrangement, and no one would set foot inside it. The scheming Li Zhu stood there, his mouth slightly open, completely dumbfounded by the dismissal.
Once Grandpa Jing finished his errands, he came over with a wide smile, his arms full of the Spring Festival couplets he had written himself. The scent of fresh ink clung to the red paper, and he also carried intricate paper cuttings, braided Chinese knots, and colorful images of door gods.
In the old days, there was a strict, traditional order to the festivities—cleaning on one day, hanging couplets the next, and marinating the meat after that. Now, with the uncertainty of the world outside, nobody bothered with such rigid formality. They did it all at once, hands working together to transform the house. The Jing household gradually filled with a rare warmth, the air ringing with the sounds of shared labor and occasional laughter.
That afternoon, Su Lanzhi and Jing An returned from their work shifts, their faces lined with exhaustion but lighting up at the sight of the family. Wu You'ai dragged herself in shortly after, her eyelids heavy with fatigue. She let out a long sigh as she slumped into a chair. "Looks like I will be off for a while. My mentor is going home for the holidays."
It was a bit of a shame, really, considering how much she was learning.
"Well, good. You can finally get some rest."
Jing Pan had been a blur of motion, running between the cafeteria and the house to ensure everything was ready. Once she set out plates heaped with sunflower seeds, dried fruit, and squares of milk-white nougat, she headed to the villa kitchen to help with the heavy lifting. Everyone praised the nougat, their eyes widening at the creamy, sweet taste, only to find out Jing Shu had made it herself over the past few days.
Li Zhu tried sneaking a few extra pieces into his pocket, but his wife caught his wrist and snapped, "Eat all you want here, but if you dare take even one piece home, you can sleep outside."
"So stingy," Li Zhu muttered, his brow furrowing. He didn't even want the candy that badly for himself, but if he went home empty-handed, his mother would nag him until his ears rang.
"Well, we're eating dinner here tonight anyway. There's bound to be leftovers, right? I will just take a little then," he said, his mind already calculating the size of the portions.
Meanwhile, Jing Shu, Grandma Jing, and Jing Pan were deep in the preparations for the New Year's feast over at the villa. To be fair, most of the actual labor fell to Grandma and Jing Pan. Jing Shu was cooking and snacking simultaneously, her chopsticks darting into pans so often that she had eaten a significant portion of the food before it even reached a serving dish.
The glutinous rice lotus roots, which had been simmering in a sweet, fragrant syrup all afternoon, were nearly gone. Jing Shu had polished off almost all the sweet soup. If the Paternal Third Aunt hadn't stepped in to stop her, pointing out that the liquid was still needed for the rest of the cooking, she probably would have drained the pot.
"Burp~"
Jing Shu let out a loud, satisfied burp, patting her stomach. It had been a very long time since she had felt that comfortably full, the warmth of the food radiating through her.
"Grandma, there are too many people this year. We can't fit everyone at one table, and there's no space for two. Why don't we just eat separately?"
Grandma Jing hesitated, her ladle pausing over a pot. "That isn't really proper, is it? Nobody eats separately for New Year's. It's supposed to be one big circle."
Jing Shu couldn't exactly voice her real concerns about the chaos that would ensue. She coughed lightly, her eyes glinting with a mischievous but practical light. "Grandma, you have no idea how sneaky Paternal Second Uncle is. The moment he sees food, he starts thinking about how to stash some to take home for his whole family. If we all sit together, half the meat will disappear into his pockets before anyone else gets a bite."
Of course Grandma knew about his habits. She had dealt with his greed for decades.
"Fine then, we will do separate portions. I want to see if that bastard still dares to snatch food from someone else's plate when it's clearly marked."
The gathering was massive tonight. It wasn't just Jing An's side of the family; Su Lanzhi's eldest brother had arrived with his entire family in tow. Once everyone squeezed into the hundred-square-meter house, even two tables would have been a tight fit. Thankfully, the decision to portion the meal saved them from total gridlock. The food was packed neatly into individual lunch boxes. Jing Shu carried them out from the insulated container, the heat fogging her glasses as she handed one to each person.
When the boxes were opened, a rich, savory aroma flooded the room. The top layer was a carnivore's dream: glossy cured pork, tender ribs, golden meatballs, seasoned chicken, and succulent lamb. Beneath the meat sat stir-fried dried goods, and at the very bottom was a compact ball of sticky rice topped with a dusting of sesame seeds. There weren't many fresh vegetables to be found, but to families who had spent months thinking of plain rice as a luxury, this was an absolute feast.
For Jing Shu, the house felt vibrant and full of life, making this the liveliest New Year's she had experienced since her rebirth. In the bedroom, the children were shouting and laughing as they played. Every corner—the living room, the balcony, even the narrow kitchen—was packed with people sharing the moment.
The TV was on in the background, playing the Spring Festival Gala. It was full of the usual government speeches and cheerful messages to the public, the bright colors of the broadcast flickering against the walls.
Nobody left even a single grain of rice uneaten. Ever since they had started eating Spirit Spring food, everyone's appetite had grown significantly. Jing Pan's family and the others hadn't had a meal this substantial in ages, and they weren't about to waste a single morsel. By the time they finished, every lunch box was wiped spotless.
Jing Lai poured everyone a cup of rich rose milk tea, the steam carrying the scent of flowers. Inside the cups were chewy pumpkin and sweet potato balls that provided a satisfying texture. The sweetness hit right in the heart. Even the Li Zhu, who usually prioritized hoarding for later, couldn't bring himself to save any. He had meant to hide some away, but the taste was so addictive that he had eaten every last bite before he even realized what he was doing.
"Everyone mark your bowls. We will keep using the same ones for the next few days, and even after we go back, until they wear out," Jing Lai said, holding up a marker.
Jing Shu, keeping her face deadpan, looked at the plastic containers. She thought, "Seriously? That's a bit much, isn't it?"
No one moved to exercise or clear the floor after dinner. Everyone just slumped on the sofas or leaned against the walls, too full to do much more than breathe. Only Jing An had the energy to get up and start cleaning the discarded scraps.
After a long pause in the conversation, Li Zhu finally spoke up. "Once the New Year is over, Li Yun will be turning thirty. Time really flies."
"Yeah, it sure does," someone murmured in agreement.
"I want to get him a job in the city. Even temporary work is fine, as long as it's steady."
Grandpa Jing lit his old pipe, the sharp scent of the tobacco cutting through the lingering smell of food. He claimed it was to "freshen the air." He gave a slow nod. "Then go do it."
The uncle fell silent, the sound of the pipe bubbling being the only noise for a moment.
After a while, he tried again, his voice lower. "We have got some rations saved up to use as leverage, but I don't know who to talk to. Grandpa, do you have any connections?"
Grandpa Jing shook his head, the smoke curling around his white hair. "Nope. Our kids all found their own work through their own grit. I have got no clue about that stuff."
"Then could you at least introduce us to someone who knows the system?"
Grandpa nodded toward Jing Shu. "Granddaughter, why don't you explain the rules to your Paternal Second Uncle and cousin?"
The chatting died down after that. The festive mood began to ebb as people remembered the work they had to get back to and the reality of their daily struggles. Lately, Jing Shu's mood hadn't been great either. Nothing seemed to go smoothly, not even her father's affairs. She sighed softly.
Sometimes she really wondered; how could she make herself feel a little better again?