Lin Jie woke up from hunger and checked the ti. It was already near one in the afternoon.
After the life-and-death scare last night and the exhaustion from the evening, when he returned ho, he couldn't hold on any longer. He hadn't even had breakfast and had fallen asleep directly on the bed.
After a quick wash, Lin Jie went downstairs to the living room and saw Lin Miao sitting cross-legged on the sofa folding paper money ingots.
Beside her, there was already a large pile of folded paper money ingots.
In the empty space of the living room, a sacrificial table had been set up.
On the table were offerings for their grandfather and grandmother, including whole chicken, fish, fruits, and a small incense burner in front of the morial photos.
Hearing Lin Jie's footsteps, Lin Miao turned to look at him and smiled, "Brother, you're awake. Today is New Year's Eve, and Sister Yang and Sister Ling will co over in the evening. So I thought to pay respects to Grandpa and Grandma early."
Lin Jie nodded and sat down beside Lin Miao to fold paper money with her.
After folding the paper money and ingots, Lin Miao lit a bunch of incense and handed it to Lin Jie, who then placed it in the small incense burner, and the two knelt in front of the sacrificial table together.
Smoke curled up softly from the incense...
Seeing the loving faces of his grandparents in the morial photos, Lin Jie couldn't help but recall bits and pieces of the past, and his nose suddenly felt a bit sour.
He cald his emotions and said softly, "Grandpa, Grandma, this year has been a year of great turmoil for us."
"I had a heart transplant surgery, and my illness is all cured. Additionally, I unexpectedly gained excellent dical skills and earned a lot of money performing surgeries on others."
"Miaomiao's eyes have also healed, and she's becoming more and more beautiful."
"Although the old house was sold, we now have a new, bigger, and brighter ho. I've even started driving. After the new year, I'll be a graduate student at Binhai University."
Lin Jie rambled on about the events of the year, then added, "Grandpa, Grandma, we're living the life we once dread of."
"In the coming year, Miaomiao and I will have an even better life. I'll take good care of Miaomiao and won't let her be bullied!"
Lin Jie glanced at Lin Miao beside him and saw that her eyes were sowhat red.
Lin Miao choked up a bit and began to speak, "Grandpa, Grandma, Brother has beco so amazing, a true man who shoulders responsibilities and shields from the wind and rain. He will only beco more outstanding in the future!"
"I will also work harder so that Brother doesn't have to worry about any more!"
"Grandpa, Grandma, may your spirits in heaven continue to watch over us!"
After Lin Miao finished speaking, she and Lin Jie placed a large porcelain bowl in front of the sacrificial table and began to burn the paper money ingots.
The two burned the paper money for about twenty minutes until the large pile Lin Miao had made was completely burned.
Then, they respectfully kowtowed, finally ending this simple ceremony.
Just as Lin Jie and Lin Miao got up from the floor, they heard the doorbell ring.
When they opened the door, it was Ye Hongqing.
The paper money ingots had just been burned in the living room, and the incense was still burning. The smoke was lingering a bit, and upon opening the door, so of it wafted out and startled Ye Hongqing.
Lin Jie opened the door to let the smoke disperse and explained, "We just finished paying respects to our grandparents!"
Ye Hongqing nodded in understanding and said, "I happened to show up at the right ti, so let offer so incense for Grandpa and Grandma as well!"
Lin Jie was taken aback. It wasn't sothing he could refuse, so he watched as Ye Hongqing personally lit a stick of incense, bowed to the portraits, and inserted it into the incense burner.
Then Ye Hongqing knelt down briskly and kowtowed three tis vigorously, the sound so loud it left the Lin siblings a bit stunned.
Lin Jie hurriedly invited Ye Hongqing to sit on the living room sofa, and Lin Miao went to open the window to ventilate and quickly disperse the smoke in the house.
Ye Hongqing expressed his gratitude, "Brother Lin, Qin Gang woke up this morning. The doctors at Donghua Hospital conducted a thorough examination and said the surgery went well and he is recovering nicely."
Lin Jie nodded and said, "Qin Gang just needs to recover slowly under the doctor's care."
Ye Hongqing took a thin envelope from his pocket, placed it on the coffee table, and said, "I'm a straightforward person, and this is the simplest and most direct way I can express my gratitude. Brother Lin, this is our token of appreciation, please don't mind."
Lin Jie didn't put on airs and said directly, "I'll accept your token of appreciation."
Ye Hongqing smiled broadly, "That bastard last night..."
Seeing Lin Miao carrying over two cups of tea, Lin Jie quickly shot him a glance.
Understanding Lin Jie's intention to keep it from his sister, Ye Hongqing imdiately fell silent, took the tea from Lin Miao, made so casual small talk, drank the tea, and then took his leave.
Just as the hungry Lin Jie was about to get so food, his phone rang. It was a call from Xiao Feifei.
This phone was a new one bought overnight by Ye Hongqing since his previous one had been destroyed.
Avoiding Lin Miao, Lin Jie went to the kitchen to take the call. "Lin Jie, I'm really sorry. I never thought he would do sothing so insane."
Lin Jie said with so lingering fear, "It's not your fault, nor your responsibility. Thankfully, it turned out alright, and it's all over now."
"Thank you for your understanding!"
After saying this, Xiao Feifei added angrily, "He sent a video to my email last night, recording a confession and apology from a woman nad Hu Xinyi. That woman ca to see today, wanting to pay so money to get it back."
Lin Jie knew that the money He Tongfang transferred last night would definitely be recovered by the police.
He suggested, "Sell it to her, and try to get as much money as possible. Raising a child costs a lot of money. Ultimately, this issue was caused by that awful woman, so let her pay so price!"
After hanging up the phone, Lin Jie took out a few ready-to-eat dishes from the refrigerator.
Just as he was about to start cutting things up, Lin Miao ca running over cheerfully, waving an envelope with one hand and holding a check in the other, "Brother, guess how much it is?"
"A few million, I guess!" Lin Jie casually replied.
"Five million!"
Seeing the ready-to-eat dishes on the cutting board, Lin Miao patted her small belly and said pitifully, "Brother, I'm hungry too. I haven't had lunch yet! Why don't you cook so noodles?"
"Hmm... just a little, tonight is New Year's Eve and we're having a big al together."
Lin Jie had to light the stove to boil water for the noodles!
The water hadn't even boiled yet when An Kexin rushed in anxiously.
She asked about everything in concern and finally said, "I guessed you'd be up around this ti, so I ca right over without having lunch. Cook a bowl of noodles too!"
Lin Jie had no choice but to add so more water to the pot!
After finally eating a bowl of noodles to fill his stomach, Lin Jie realized it was ti to start the preparations for tonight's New Year's Eve feast.
Lin Jie began organizing the ingredients, while Lin Miao and An Kexin helped out.
In reality, Lin Miao was helping, while An Kexin just watched by the side.
Seeing Lin Jie constantly busy, An Kexin suggested, "Tonight, we're having the New Year's Eve dinner with my uncle's family at a restaurant. You should co too; it's not like we can't afford it, and preparing by yourself is so much trouble!"
Lin Miao humd and said, "Sister Kexin, preparing and cooking food at ho is what makes it feel like New Year."
"That's true!"
An Kexin said with a bit of envy and sadness, "After mother passed away, the past few years of Spring Festival have either been spent at my uncle's place or traveling outside, never really at ho."
Lin Miao cheerfully said, "This year you can co spend it at our place!"
"Uncle An and Keng can co too. I've bought so much food this year; even with Sister Yang and Sister Ling helping, we probably won't finish it all."
An Kexin gave it so serious thought and said, "If nothing else cos up, we'll try our best to co. Alright, I have to go now."
"Lin Jie, Lin Miao, Happy New Year!"
Around three in the afternoon, Yang Leyi arrived with a small suitcase!
By four, Ling ngjiao also ca to the apartnt with a change of clothes and personal items.
What especially pleased Lin Jie was that both Yang Leyi and Ling ngjiao were quite skilled in kitchen tasks.
With their help, the preparation for the dinner sped up significantly.
By half past seven in the evening, Lin Jie, with the full assistance of Yang Leyi, Ling ngjiao, and Lin Miao, finally presented a lavish New Year's Eve feast on the table.
The large dining table, which could seat ten, was filled with dishes.
The main dishes, consisting mostly of at, included stead cuttlefish, braised fish chunks, scallion oil chicken, dry-fried duck, braised lion's head atballs, braised pork with preserved vegetables, roast lamb chops, ham and bamboo shoots with stewed eel, and garlic vermicelli stead prawns.
On closer inspection, these were all fairly common ho-cooked dishes, made with everyday ingredients.
The reason being, Lin Jie couldn't make anything too fancy, nor could he handle upscale ingredients.
However, these dishes alone left Yang Leyi and Ling ngjiao deeply impressed.
Lin Jie took out a fine bottle of red wine, pouring a full glass for Yang Leyi and Ling ngjiao, and a small amount for himself and Lin Miao.
He raised his glass and said, "Tonight is the night to bid farewell to the old year and welco the new. Let us raise our glasses and say goodbye to the past."
"No matter what the past year has brought us—pain and tears or joy and glory—for those of us sitting here, it's all in the past. Since it's in the past, let's leave it behind."
"Co, let's drink!"
"Cheers!" Ling ngjiao raised her glass and said softly.
As the cool, fragrant red wine slid down her throat into her body, Ling ngjiao couldn't help but look at Lin Jie.
She felt that Lin Jie's words earlier were directed at her.
Reflecting on the past year, her life had been a rollercoaster ride, almost disappearing into the depths of the East Sea. Ling ngjiao silently said in her heart, "Thank you!"
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