By now, the trunk was open. Sanbing and the others were unloading fireworks. Chen Jian had no choice but to get out of the car first and follow behind Shan Yu.
According to Shan Yu’s usual habits, he would quickly avoid chaotic situations like this, standing as far away as possible. But now, he remained standing by the car.
Chen Jian couldn’t say anything when he followed him over. Every time he turned to look, Shan Yu would turn his face away, refusing to make eye contact.
“You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?” Chen Jian leaned close to his ear. It was dark, and everyone was busy. A slightly more intimate gesture wouldn’t be noticed, and it had an inexplicable hint of excitement.
Shan Yu ignored him, leaning on the trunk door and seriously watching everyone work.
“Boss Shan,” Lao Wu said, setting down a box of fireworks and coming face-to-face with him. “If you’re not going to work, get out of the way. You don’t usually like to join in on the fun…”
Shan Yu had to step aside, leaning against the car.
“Let me,” his dad said, seeing that Lao Wu’s box looked a bit heavy and moving to take it. “This box is heavy.”
“Hey, let me,” Shan Yu said, startled. He hadn’t even leaned fully against the car before he bounced back, squeezed past his dad, and helped Lao Wu lift the box.
“Dad, you can take this box,” Chen Jian immediately took a box from the car and handed it to his dad.
His dad had done a lot of manual labor. No one here was more experienced than him at moving heavy objects. If he didn’t let him carry something at a time like this, he was worried his dad would feel like he couldn’t fit in.
“Okay.” His dad took the box deftly and turned to walk towards the riverbank.
Lao Wu and Shan Yu, carrying that one box, clearly lacked coordination. They walked in circles, sometimes forwards, sometimes backward, their footing difficult on the gravel.
After a few steps, Shan Yu gave up and pushed the box towards Lao Wu. “Hold it steady. I’m letting go.”
“Mhm,” Lao Wu nodded.
Shan Yu let go and walked back towards the car.
“I would have gotten there long ago without you,” Lao Wu said, striding forward with the box.
“How long have you had this symptom?” Shan Yu asked, looking back at him. “Chen Erhu has a pretty good temper.”
Chen Jian took the last box of fireworks out of the car. This one wasn’t heavy, but the box was very large and placed at the very back. It definitely couldn’t be moved without two people.
Hu Pan and Sun Nana had packed up the smaller items like sparklers in bags and carried them away. This box was clearly left for him and Shan Yu to move.
But Shan Yu stopped a few steps away from the car.
“Come and move it,” Chen Jian said, pulling the box to the edge of the trunk and looking at him.
Shan Yu stuck his hands in his pockets and turned his head to look at the river.
“I’ll explain to you now,” Chen Jian said, holding onto the box.
“I’m not listening,” Shan Yu said, his eyes still not looking his way, vowing not to make eye contact.
“Look at me, won’t you, boss?” Chen Jian said. “Are you afraid you’ll burst out laughing if you look at me for even a second?”
“Fuck.” Shan Yu instantly broke into a laugh and strode towards the car.
“I told you about that photo. It was that day Lao Wu was complained about for smok…” Before Chen Jian could finish, Shan Yu walked up to him and pushed the box back into the car.
Then he grabbed Chen Jian by the collar, pulled him forward, and kissed him.
The night wind was cold, the lips were a damp cold, and the tip of his nose was also cold.
But Shan Yu’s scent was warm, his breath was hot. When Chen Jian wrapped his arms around him, it was as if his whole body was leaning against a stove.
When Shan Yu pressed him against the box, Chen Jian’s hand instinctively wanted to slip under Shan Yu’s clothes. But just as his fingertips touched his waist, he felt Shan Yu’s breath stop for a fraction of a second.
…His hand was too cold.
So he only slipped his hand into Shan Yu’s outer jacket and rubbed his back firmly a couple of times through his sweater.
Shan Yu let go of him and took a step back. Only then did Chen Jian glance towards the riverbank. Because Sun Nana had parked the car so carelessly, with the front angled towards the riverbank, the people over there couldn’t see what was happening at the back of the car.
Chen Jian wiped the corner of his mouth. “Still jealous?”
“You’re actually smiling,” Shan Yu said.
“…If I agree to a photo, I have to at least give a polite smile, right?” Chen Jian turned and pulled the box out again.
“Have you seen that photo yourself?” Shan Yu asked as he helped him lift the box.
“No,” Chen Jian said. “I only just got a look when you showed it to me.”
“I’ll forward it to you later. You can take your time looking at it,” Shan Yu said.
“I don’t want it,” Chen Jian said.
“There are a lot of comments,” Shan Yu said. “I took a look. Among all the photos of handsome guys she took, yours has the most comments, several hundred.”
“…When did you see it?” Chen Jian asked.
“I saw it a long time ago,” Shan Yu said.
“You saw it a long time ago, and you’re only getting jealous today?” Chen Jian looked at him.
“What’s wrong with that? I saw it a long time ago, I saved it when it only had about thirty comments,” Shan Yu said. “I was just waiting to see how many people would end up…”
“You’re insane.” Chen Jian couldn’t help but laugh.
“This kind of thing has to be brought out at a critical moment to get jealous over,” Shan Yu said. “I have plenty of other things saved up.”
“Why did you have to bring it out today to get jealous?” Chen Jian asked.
Shan Yu glanced at him without speaking.
“Oh,” Chen Jian realized.
He thought about it again and smiled. “I’m much better.”
Zhou Lecheng had always been gentle and optimistic. Although he was reluctant to leave this world, he accepted it with grace, leaving those who knew him with more hope.
Realizing this, Chen Jian felt much better.
But as he took the fireworks out of the box, he could still see Hu Pan wiping her tears, and Sanbing’s eyes were also glistening.
Fortunately, the sound of a motorcycle engine from behind them diverted their attention.
Chen Erhu had arrived.
“Brother Erhu!” Sanbing waved at him.
“Nag, nag, nag. It’s not like I wasn’t coming. You kept rushing me.” Chen Erhu parked his motorcycle next to theirs. This was an old habit of his, probably thinking it looked more impressive.
Sanbing smiled without saying anything.
“Why the sudden idea to set off fireworks?” Chen Erhu asked. “Weren’t we supposed to do it tomorrow?”
“Boss Shan said we can set them off whenever we want,” Lao Wu said cheerfully. “We’ll buy more when we run out. When I came over just now, someone upstream was already setting them off.”
“They’re definitely not as big as ours,” Hu Pan said, clapping her hands. “Hurry up, which one should we set off first?”
“Let’s set off two big ones,” Shan Yu said, “and then wait a while.”
“Wait a while?” Sanbing looked at him.
“Wait for the onlookers to come over,” Shan Yu said.
“Right!” Hu Pan realized. “Let everyone watch together, and we’ll be in the spotlight again.”
“Be more subtle,” Shan Yu said.
“Dayin’s happiness should be shared with everyone,” Sun Nana said. “The small town is one family.”
“…You’re better than me,” Shan Yu smiled.
Setting off fireworks easily turns adults into children.
To decide who would light the fuse, Sanbing, Lao Wu, and Hu Pan actually played rock-paper-scissors.
Hu Pan had the best luck and easily won the right to light it. She took the cigarette from Sanbing’s mouth and ran over. “Is everyone ready? I’m going to light it!”
“Watch your step,” his dad reminded from the side.
“Mhm!” Hu Pan nodded.
Chen Jian took out his phone, opened the camera, and aimed it at the night sky.
“Ready, light it,” Sun Nana said.
Hu Pan brought the cigarette butt close, but for a long time, nothing happened.
“Did it fall asleep?” Shan Yu asked.
“The cigarette almost went out… Ah, it’s lit!” Hu Pan shouted, jumped up, and ran away. “Oh my god—”
The firework tube let out a “bang,” and a stream of golden light shot into the sky, disappearing into the darkness.
Chen Jian watched the black screen on his phone. Two seconds later, a golden flower suddenly exploded in the night, illuminating the sparkling river surface.
A group of people, holding up their phones, cheered simultaneously.
Then came the second shot, and the third.
Five shots in total.
This thing had a terrible cost-performance ratio.
After that one was finished, it was Sanbing’s turn to light one. The one he lit had colorful flowers, a mix of red, green, and silver. The intervals between shots were shorter than the previous one, but it didn’t go as high.
It was like a colorful starry sky spreading out above everyone’s heads.
Chen Jian filmed a video while shouting a few times along with the others. He didn’t know if it was the wind, but his eyes felt a little sore.
After the three big fireworks were finished, everyone started handing out the smaller ones.
Lao Wu must have cheered too hard. He was coughing while holding up a small firework, his other hand holding his phone up to his face. “Can you see it? I’m about to light it for you…”
“Who’s that?” Sanbing asked.
“Just you wait…” Lao Wu didn’t answer him. He smiled at the video and then thrust the firework in front of Sanbing, signaling him to help light it.
“Who are you showing off for?” Sanbing used a lighter to light the fuse, muttering under his breath.
When the firework sparked to life, Lao Wu ran to the side. “Here it comes, look!”
“Fuck,” Sanbing cursed.
“Does Lao Wu have a girlfriend?” Shan Yu leaned close to Chen Jian and whispered.
“I don’t know,” Chen Jian also whispered. “He occasionally makes a call in the dorm… I don’t think so. It doesn’t sound very lovey-dovey…”
“Then it seems you haven’t been in a relationship either,” Shan Yu glanced at him.
“Wha…” Chen Jian looked at him. “Am I not lovey-dovey?”
Shan Yu’s lips curved up, but he didn’t say anything.
“Well, you’re not so great yourself. Not lovey-dovey at all, quite refreshing,” Chen Jian said.
Shan Yu started laughing. “What’s with that mouth of yours?”
As they were talking, Lao Wu suddenly went silent.
Chen Jian looked over and saw that on Lao Wu’s phone screen, the video call had disappeared, returning to the private chat window.
But Lao Wu didn’t put down his phone. He still held it up, the smile still on his face, as if frozen in place.
The firework in his hand was still spewing golden light. He turned around and continued speaking, “Is it pretty?”
“Damn,” Chen Jian was stunned for a moment.
“He just got his heart broken,” Shan Yu said.
The smile still on Lao Wu’s face was a bit heart-wrenching to see. Chen Jian turned to look at Chen Erhu, wanting to ask if he knew if his little brother was going through some emotional hardship.
The moment Chen Erhu’s gaze met his, he suddenly seemed to make a decision and strode straight towards him and Shan Yu.
“What’s going on?” Chen Jian was a bit confused. The man’s momentum made him feel like he should probably meet him halfway and throw the first punch, a preemptive strike…
“Boss Shan,” Chen Erhu called out to Shan Yu.
“Mhm,” Shan Yu turned his head.
“I caused you trouble today,” Chen Erhu said. “I went back and wanted to talk to my dad. I waited a long time for him to sober up…”
Hearing this, Chen Jian hesitated for two seconds and prepared to walk away.
But Chen Erhu grabbed him. “No need to avoid it. Everyone knows anyway. You know my family situation.”
“Oh.” Chen Jian stopped.
“Did you talk it through?” Shan Yu asked.
“I don’t know,” Chen Erhu frowned. “I don’t have your eloquence. Sometimes when he starts arguing with me, I can’t get a word in. But today, I didn’t let him speak.”
“Hm?” Shan Yu glanced at him.
“I took a cleaver and slammed it into his headboard. He could only speak after I was done talking,” Chen Erhu said.
“Whoa,” Shan Yu raised his eyebrows and glanced at Chen Jian.
“You…” Chen Jian didn’t know what to say.
“I learned this from Boss Shan,” Chen Erhu said. “I’ve learned a lot from him.”
“Isn’t this spreading rumors to my face?” Shan Yu laughed. “Have I ever used this move?”
“It’s about not letting others speak,” Chen Erhu said.
Chen Jian sighed.
Shan Yu debated people until they couldn’t speak, not hacked them with a knife until they couldn’t speak. If he were to hack, it would be with his hand.
← Hack here.
No blood, good effect.
“Anyway, I said my piece today. My brother will go to jail sooner or later. Going to jail for stealing is better than for murder,” Chen Erhu said. “I won’t go see him. He doesn’t need me to. When my brother gets out, if he still hasn’t reformed, we’ll have to fight our common enemy together…”
Chen Erhu paused. “Is it okay to say that?”
“As long as you said it, it’s fine,” Shan Yu said.
“I also told him not to come to the guesthouse to harass us anymore, or I’ll hack him. Anyway, our family has violent genes. If I go all out, it’s not certain who will beat whom,” Chen Erhu said.
For the second time in a short period, Chen Jian didn’t know what to say. Even Shan Yu couldn’t immediately respond to that line.
“You…” Shan Yu cleared his throat. “Alright, it’s fine. It’s the New Year. Have a good New Year with your dad.”
“Mhm,” Chen Erhu nodded.
Over there, Lao Wu suddenly let out a roar, a long howl to the sky, “Ah—”
“Whoa, what a noise,” Shan Yu was startled. “Chen Erhu, you might as well just go and hack Lao Wu.”
“What’s wrong?” Sanbing ran over.
“Nothing,” Lao Wu put his phone back in his pocket.
“Ah—” Hu Pan was having a blast and didn’t care what was happening over there. She also tilted her head back and let out a very loud scream.
“O-ho—” Sun Nana also cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted.
A roar came from a distance from who knows where, and then shouts began to erupt one after another from the riverbank.
It was the nearby villagers and people from town who had come to watch the fireworks.
“Set off the big ones, set off the big ones! Quick, quick! The small town is one family, it’s time to share!” Hu Pan jumped and skipped towards the fireworks. “Uncle Chen, help me pick a big one!”
“This one,” his dad said with a laugh, picking one up. “I just looked. This one has ten shots.”
“Was Lao Wu scammed out of his money?” Chen Jian frowned and thought for a moment. “Last time he was complained about for smoking, he said it was because of money.”
“This bunch of people,” Shan Yu sighed and squatted down to find a rock to sit on. “What helping hand? I want to kick them all back one by one now.”
Chen Jian started laughing and squatted down next to him. “What about me?”
The big firework his dad had picked for Hu Pan was lit, and a string of golden and silver flowers shot into the night sky and bloomed.
“Hold on to me,” Shan Yu said in his ear.
Chen Jian grabbed his hand and squeezed it tightly.
It was almost two in the morning when they returned to the guesthouse. The carload of fireworks they had brought was almost all gone. There were at least a hundred people who had stayed up late to watch.
Many people knew that the boss of Dayin had just bought a pile of fireworks and said there would surely be even more impressive ones tomorrow.
Shan Yu had originally planned to call the fireworks boss the next day to deliver more, but in the end, he called him after midnight.
Fortunately, the fireworks boss was still awake. Seeing the call from his big client, he immediately agreed to bring another truckload over the next morning.
The group was still discussing it when they returned to the dorm. Their phones were full of videos. They couldn’t even wait until morning; as soon as they refreshed their Moments, it was all fireworks.
“I’m going to take a shower. Does anyone want to go first?” his dad asked.
“You go ahead, Uncle. I’ll be after you,” Sanbing said.
Chen Jian looked at Lao Wu. “Are you showering too?”
“No,” Lao Wu said, lying straight as a board on his bed.
“What about Erhu?” Chen Jian asked Chen Erhu.
“I’ll shower. I got my dad’s bad luck all over me today,” Chen Erhu said.
Chen Jian sighed. “I’ll go first. I’m on duty tonight.”
“No way. You were the last one in, so you’re last,” Chen Erhu was particularly domineering today.
“Fine,” Chen Jian said. “I’ll…”
“Go shower in Boss Shan’s room,” Lao Wu said, still lying ramrod straight. “You’re management. Don’t crowd in with us employees.”
“Exactly,” Sanbing said.
Manager Chen Jian left the dorm, got his change of clothes, and went to the office.
Actually, he had been thinking of going to Shan Yu’s place to shower, but he just couldn’t say it out loud. Since everyone said so…
Hehe.
He knocked on the door.
“Come in,” Shan Yu said from inside.
Chen Jian entered the office. Shan Yu had a towel on his head and was shirtless, coming out of the bathroom with water droplets still on his body.
“Here to shower?” Shan Yu asked.
“Yeah, the line in the dorm probably won’t be my turn until tomorrow morning,” Chen Jian said, turning to close the door.
“Just to shower?” Shan Yu asked again.
