"Let's gather after dinner then," he said.
"Alright. After dinner, I'll see you at the ferry landing of Little Manor Town by Dragon River, outside the city. This New Year celebration is deadly boring..."
And so, Chen Ku and Jiang Shaoyou settled on the meeting place.
By the time Chen Ku walked out of Tongwen House, the sky had already turned a dusky gray. The streets were alive with the joyful shouts of children and the crackling of firecrackers.
On this final night of the 153rd year of the Daji Dynasty, the fireworks in the Inner City of Baojiao County were spectacular, while the Outer City remained much dimmer.
Chen Ku had just returned home when he saw his sister and brother-in-law already seated. A large table in the main hall was laden with food, candied fruits, and preserves; some prepared by Chen Ku's family, others brought by Li Yuancheng and his wife.
