The New Year's Eve dinner on the thirtieth of the lunar month often lasts a long time.
Families gather around excitedly, chairs squeezed together, making the round table feel full. Warm light spills over everyone's faces, reflecting smiles of happiness.
The elders eat with relish, some squinting their eyes, savoring the joy brought by the food, some whispering and chatting about their family affairs, and others clinking glasses, engrossed in the atmosphere of exchanging toasts.
An hour later, the younger generation, including Li Jing, had long left the table after finishing dinner, while Li Fuguo and Li Weijun, among others, were still raising their glasses and drinking, their faces flushed with excitement, chatting about everything under the sun.
Liu Mei and other women had long gathered to the side, talking about each other's family matters.
Leaving the old house, Li Jing took out the fireworks he had specially bought from the trunk.
