Chapter Fifteen: New Year's Day

  Sometimes life is simple, it's just repeating some meaningless things.

  Here is the translation:

  The next few days, because of the New Year's holiday, Saturday and Sunday classes were also required. Chen Juan noticed that Ouyang was particularly diligent in class, not even bringing a single extracurricular book to school, so she asked: "Have you suddenly woken up? Are you going to study hard now?" Ouyang didn't show any modesty, nodding and saying: "I've always been a good student." Chen Juan sneered and said: "Really? Do you want me to spread the word about who brings extracurricular books for me every week?" Ouyang pleaded: "Sister, spare me, I'll bring a few more books after the holiday, and you won't have to return any books this winter break." Chen Juan laughed and said: "That's more like it. You'd better review well during the New Year's holiday, after all, exams are coming up soon." Ouyang nodded in agreement.

  This was the last day before the New Year's holiday, and school rules stated that only half a day of classes would be held today. However, both Ou Yang and Wang Lin told their families it was a full day of classes, planning to sneak out in the afternoon to go online. Beforehand, Ou Yang had some concerns, worried that someone from District D might spill the beans. Ou Yang knew District D all too well - the place wasn't big to begin with, and everyone kept their heads down, not even looking up to greet each other. The last parent-teacher conference for Max was a prime example. Ou Yang genuinely feared that some parent would run into his mother and give away their plan. However, Wang Lin didn't seem too concerned about this point, saying: "We have exams coming up soon, we'll all be heading back home to study, our parents are busy with work and aren't even in the same unit, who knows what's going on today?" Ou Yang listened and thought it made sense, so he agreed.

  After the last class, Ouyang packed up my school bag and prepared to leave. Wang Lin left early, saying he was going to the internet cafe to reserve a computer. It seemed like there were many people going online this afternoon. As we were packing up, Xu Yuejie walked over and said to Ouyang, "During the winter break, you must study hard and not be lazy." Ouyang nodded, "You're not secretly going out to play, are you? You promised me that you would stay home and chat with me on QQ." Xu Yuejie saw that Ouyang hadn't finished packing up his books, so she helped him. "Of course, it's just that sometimes I might be too busy reading to reply to you. Now, getting a phone is the most important thing for me." Ouyang thought for a moment and still didn't tell Xu Yuejie about going out to play with Mu Yuhan.

  "Yu Jie, you're leaving? Didn't you say you were going to my place this afternoon?" Yu Jie turned around, and at the classroom door stood Mu Yu Hang. Ouyang couldn't tell what kind of gaze she was using to look at them.

  Xu Yu Jie smiled at Ouyang Xiao and then walked towards Mu Yu Hang.

  When Ou Yang arrived at the internet cafe, he saw Wang Lin standing dejectedly at the entrance and asked: "What's wrong?" Wang Lin said: "Don't mention it, there were only two machines left just now. Because today is the end of the month, someone will come to inspect, so the downstairs won't be open. As a result, the last two machines were occupied by Zhao Junyi and Zhou Feng." Just after he finished speaking, Zhou Feng and Zhao Junyi walked out of the internet cafe entrance. Zhou Feng said to Zhao Junyi: "This isn't quite right, is it?" Zhao Junyi glared at Zhou Feng, then turned to Ou Yang and said: "We're going to play basketball this afternoon, you two can use our machines, 56 and 57. Just pay us back when the semester ends." Wang Lin heard this and pulled Ou Yang inside, not forgetting to thank Zhao Junyi. However, Ou Yang glanced at Zhou Feng and found that he gave himself a very meaningful look.

  Ouyang and Wang Lin had just sat down next to the machine when Wang Lin excitedly asked Ouyang what he wanted to play, still muttering to himself about how Zhao Junyi was being so kind today. Ouyang suddenly reacted and said "Let's go home, Zhao Junyi must have called our house."

  "No way, can he be so careless?" Wang Lin looked like he didn't think this kind of thing would happen. Just as the two were entangled, Wang Lin's phone rang. Wang Lin had told Ouyang that his phone was a hand-me-down from his mother after she got a new one, and it had been damaged by water, so it consumed a lot of power. Wang Lin answered the phone, said a few words, and then turned to Ouyang: "It seems like it's true, Xu Xue Mei just called me, saying my mom called her family to ask what time school lets out, she said we might not catch the commuter bus and will probably be late getting back."

  "Let's go, take a taxi home, it's still early," Ouyang said, pulling Wang Lin out. Wang Lin was clearly very angry with Zhao Junyi's behavior and grumbled all the way. Ouyang and his friends took a taxi back home quickly. As soon as they arrived, his mother asked him why he was late coming home. He explained that he missed the shuttle bus and then got stuck in traffic. His mother glanced at the time and saw it was only half an hour later, so she didn't make a big deal out of it. She just asked why school had changed to a half-day schedule. Ouyang explained that it was because exams were coming up and the school decided to have only half a day of classes.

  Ouyang felt like this conversation would eventually reveal something, so he asked his mother, "Is my dad coming back for New Year's?" His mother hesitated before saying, "I don't know, you should call him yourself." Ouyang sensed that his mother was not speaking in a good tone and wondered if his father had done something to upset her. Just as he was about to ask more questions, he saw his grandmother, Feng Qinglian, shaking her head at him from behind, so he didn't ask any further.

  Ouyang went into the house, where Max's school still had classes today. He picked up the phone and dialed his father's number.

  "Hello, is it Ouyang?" On the other end of the phone, I heard my father's voice, Ouyang Mu Bo. His voice sounded tired, so I asked: "Dad, what's wrong? I was calling to ask if you're coming back for New Year's." Ouyang Mu Bo sighed and said: "Son, I might not be able to come back for New Year's, but Dad promises you that when you move into your new home, I'll definitely go stay with you for a while, okay?" Although my father won't be back for New Year's, he promised me that he would keep me company in the new house for a while, so I was still happy and said: "Alright then, bring some good food when you come back." "Mm-hmm, see you then." After finishing speaking, Ouyang Mu Bo hung up the phone.

  "What did you say?" Ouyang turned his head around and saw his mother standing at the door, asking.

  "He said he wouldn't be back for New Year's, but the new house is renovated and he'll come back to stay with us for a while," Ouyang said to Feng Hongyan.

  "It won't be long, your grandma's house will probably be ready in less than half a year. When the time comes, we'll all move to our new home and won't have to stay here anymore." Ouyang could tell that his mother was still somewhat satisfied with his father's response. His mother, like him, wore her emotions on her face.

  That night, Ouyang and Mai Si watched the New Year's Eve concert together, which was basically what they did every year. Ouyang and Mai Si would fight over the TV every year because they liked different stars, so they would argue over which channel to watch the New Year's Eve show. Meanwhile, their mother and grandmother played poker on the side, with the grandmother usually going to bed around 8:30 PM, but staying up a bit later on the last day of the year. The mother would drink two bottles of beer every year on this day, saying it was her way of rewarding herself for a year's worth of hard work. Mai Si sometimes joined in and drank two cups with his mother, prompting Feng Hongyan to jokingly call him a "little socialite". Mai Si also praised Feng Hongyan for being able to hold her liquor, while Ouyang couldn't help but think of his uncle Feng Manyan getting drunk and shuddered at the thought.

  New Year's Day. Ouyang and Mais were late risers because they stayed up too late on the first night, so they didn't get up until almost noon. Ouyang rubbed his eyes, looked at the clock, and saw it was 10:30, then shouted, "Mom, what's for breakfast?"

  There was no response, so Ouyang got out of bed and walked to the kitchen, where he found Feng Qinglian preparing breakfast. Feng Qinglian said: "Your mom went out this morning, tonight we'll have hot pot, she's gone to the vegetable market to buy vegetables."

  "What's with the hot pot, why not go outside?" Mais heard about food and walked out of the house to the kitchen, casually picked up a sandwich and started chewing.

  "Hey, did you wash your hands? You've never been careful about hygiene since you were a kid, what will happen to you in the future? Ouyang, go wash your hands, don't learn from him." After hearing Grandma's words, Ouyang went to the bathroom to wash his hands. Only Feng Qinglian and Mike were left in the kitchen.

  "Did Grandma really go buy vegetables?" Mais asked Nainai

  "What else can I do?" Feng Qinglian said vaguely.

  "Who goes shopping that early? Ouyang's reaction is slow, I'm not that stupid." Mais took a sip of milk and said.

  "It's actually going to the hospital for a physical examination, your aunt has been sleeping poorly and having headaches lately," said Feng Qinglian.

  "It's not that serious, by the way, when will our house be renovated? I'm always uncomfortable living here, and Ou Yang is always grinding his teeth while sleeping, making me sleep poorly." Maes continued to ask.

  "It'll be soon, just a few more months, hurry up and eat, after eating you should also study, aren't you having an exam after the holiday is over? Do you want to get beaten by your dad?" Feng Qinglian urged.

  After finishing breakfast, Ouyang started studying. He had never studied so seriously before, not just for the phone and his promise to Xu Yuemei, but also to prove himself. Who says students from District D can't achieve good grades in city schools?

  After studying for a while, it was almost time to eat. Ou Yang took the opportunity to log onto QQ and saw that Xu Yuejie was talking to him. "Ou Yang, are you studying? Add oil! By the way, do you have time on the 4th? I'll go find you, I know you're directionally challenged." Ou Yang thought for a moment before responding: "I have something at home on the 4th and might not be able to accompany you out. Let me see if I have any free time, otherwise I can keep you company during the holidays too." Not long after, Xu Yuejie responded, and from her words, Ou Yang could tell that she was very disappointed. "Okay, but if you don't come out with me, you must study hard and not forget our agreement!" Ou Yang felt that since Mu Yuhan had asked him first, he should reject Xu Yuejie's invitation.

  That night, the family had a hot pot dinner together at home. Ouyang felt that it was indeed better to have hot pot at home, where they could buy and eat whatever they wanted without waste, and it was also cheaper than eating out. Most importantly, the feeling of being together with family was great.

  "It would be great if Grandpa and my brother were here." Ma said while eating.

  "Who made our home small? No problem, wait until this year's New Year's Eve, we'll have it at our place and invite them all. How about that?" Feng Hongyan proposed this suggestion, and both Ouyang and Mais nodded in agreement. For the next two days, Ouyang studied very hard, and when Feng Hongyan saw her son working so diligently, she agreed to his request to go out on the 4th.

  On the 4th day, the weather was very good, but it was still quite cold. The northern weather is like this - when it's not snowing, it's dry and cold. You can feel the wind blowing over, as if it's piercing through your body.

  Ouyang finished lunch and headed to the park in District D, as this was the only place in District D that Ouyang could think of. However, it's said that the original elementary school of Ouyang has been renovated into a plaza, and he had always wanted to find an opportunity to take a look. Why not bring Mu Yuhan along later? With these thoughts, Ouyang arrived at the park entrance 5 minutes early.

  After a while, he heard someone calling him from beside; "Ouyang Chenxi."

  Ouyang turned his head around and saw Mu Yuhan standing behind him, giving him a big fright...

  "Y-y-you..." Ouyang was at a loss for words...