The snow a few days ago added to the atmosphere of the New Year in Jianghai. It was a fine day on New Yearâs Eve. Under the bright sunlight, the streets were full of happy people carrying New Yearâs goods. People got off work early and rushed back home. Relatives gathered together festively, frying and cooking, preparing for the rich New Yearâs dinner in the evening. The children had long been counting down the time, hoping that it would be dark soon, so that they could set off fireworks.
On the streets were pickled vegetables washed and dried by the elderly. The air was full of the flavor of reunion. The entire Jianghai was enveloped in a strong New Yearâs atmosphere.
Yang Lei returned to his home in the military region. His home was also particularly lively. His younger brother, Yang Rui, had arrived home the day before. Yang Dahai and his wife were both very happy. Yang Datianâs whole family was also present. Every New Yearâs Eve, the two families would celebrate together. On New Yearâs Eve, as the provincial leader, Yang Dahai had a busy schedule and had to send his condolences everywhere. But for this yearâs New Yearâs Eve dinner, he still specifically took time to come back for dinner.
When Yang Lei got home, it was almost dark. Both families were all there, just waiting for him. The nanny had already prepared most of the dishes and was about to go back home for New Yearâs. Here, Yang Dahai and Yang Datianâs wives were busy with the cooking as they talked and laughed in the kitchen. Yang Rui accompanied his father and uncle, sitting in the living room and chatting. Yang Datianâs daughter was watching the television, occasionally giggling happily.
The house was full of warmth.
The New Yearâs Eve meal was very rich, and the large table was full. Yang Dahai was in a very good mood, and he even opened a bottle of Maotai that had been treasured for many years.
Although the food was rich, Yang Lei couldnât eat anything. The night before, the military camp had dinner and drank happily. It was very scary for the army to drink. There was a principle at the wine table: Donât challenge soldiers or police when drinking. Even if you have a gifted alcohol tolerance, you are definitely not an opponent. Yang Lei, who was known as âYang Yijin,â also got drunk by his own people. He accepted everything that was offered and got very drunk. He didnât even know that someone had helped him back to the dormitory, and he slept until the afternoon. Right now, before a table of food, he didnât have any appetite. He carelessly ate a few bites and stopped moving his chopsticks.
It was still time for the news broadcast. Outside, someone started setting off fireworks.
Yang Lei let his family eat slowly and went to smoke on the balcony.
Looking out from the balcony, there were thousands of lights. The windows were warm, and every kitchen was emitting scents.
Tonight, every family was reunited.
Everyone had their closest and most loved people by their sides.
After dinner, Yang Datianâs wife called everyone to play mahjong. Yang Lei watched them play for a while and didnât want to stay at home. He said, âYou all play. Iâm going out for a while.â
âWhere are you going? Itâs New Yearâs Eve. Just stay home and donât go out.â
Yang Leiâs stepmother really treated Yang Lei like her own son.
âGe, itâs rare for me to come back, but youâre still going out.â
Yang Rui still didnât have the time to talk to his older brother properly.
âIâm just meeting a few comrades. They are at a restaurant in the city. Iâll be back soon,â Yang Lei said casually.
âGo to Fang Meiâs house. You have to follow etiquette,â Yang Dahai instructed him.
Yang Lei didnât say anything. He went out and walked out of the military region.
Yang Lei just didnât want to stay at home, and he hadnât thought about where he was going to go.
On the evening of New Yearâs Eve, there were very few people on the streets. They all went back to have a reunion dinner. Many stores were closed. There were only the sounds of gongs and drums and the hostâs elated voice at the start of the Spring Festival Gala coming from every window.
Yang Lei listened to the scattered sound of firecrackers and walked to the eight-story house. He wanted to find a quiet place to stay, and he came here unconsciously.
Yang Lei was just waiting to go up to the terrace on the second floor when he saw a familiar face.
âGuoz-i!â
On the streets ahead, three young people were walking, their hands in their pants pockets, looking for restaurants everywhere.
âLei Ge?â
Guo-zi saw Yang Leiâs face and cried in surprise.
Guo-zi was Yang Leiâs brother in the past. At that time, he was young, only fifteen or sixteen, and he followed Yang Lei. He had a small stature and a sweet mouth, and he was pleasant. At that time, Yang Lei regarded him as a younger brother and often took him with him. He was also very familiar with Fang Yu. Later, Fang Yu went to prison and Yang Lei went to school. After so many years, the whereabouts of these little brothers of the past were unknown. Suddenly, they bumped into each other here, and they were all very pleasantly surprised.
âLei Ge! I heard that you are an official in the army. So cool!â
Guo-zi was still like a gangster. He seemed to still be in the gangdom.
âWhy are you fooling around here?â
Yang Lei saw that no one else was in the street, just the three of them wandering.
âSigh, isnât it New Yearâs Eve? My two brothers and I wanted to find a place to eat. Weâve walked three blocks already, and not a single shop is open! Fuck, weâre freezing to death from walking!â
Guo-zi stomped his foot. Once Yang Lei saw them, he knew that they didnât have any money. Only big restaurants were open on New Yearâs Eve. It wasnât easy for the poor to find a cheap restaurant for New Yearâs Eve dinner.
âAll right! Come with me.â
Yang Lei felt bad. He couldnât stand to see his past brothers unable to even eat a New Yearâs Eve dinner.
Guo-zi followed Yang Lei happily. Yang Lei went up to the eighth floor. At this time, big restaurants were also no longer supplying food. He knew that there was a restaurant that delivered late night food on New Yearâs Eve and New Yearâs Day. It was cold, so he wasnât planning to run. He would first go into the house, then call to ask that restaurant to send wine and food.
Yang Lei took out the key and opened the door.
He entered the room. Before turning on the light, in the darkness, he saw a man suddenly sit up from the wire bed in the bedroom.
Yang Lei stopped.
That person also did not move.
âWhy donât you turn on the light, Lei Ge?â
Guo-zi and the two brothers followed him in. Guo-zi casually felt for the switch in the entrance hall.
The light turned on.
Guo-zi turned around and saw the person in the room.
ââŚYu Ge?!â
Fang Yu was dressed in all black. He was very unused to the sudden bright light, and he squinted his eyes.
âWhy is it you, Yu Ge?! Didnât you go to the south? When did you come back?â
Guo-zi was very excited. He really didnât expect to meet two big brothers of the past one after the other on this New Yearâs Eve night.
âGuo-zi?â
Fang Yu also still remembered him.
Initially, when Fang Yu left prison, he went to the south. Everyone in the Jianghai gangdom knew. In these three years, no one saw Fang Yu come back. It was no wonder that Guo-zi was so surprised to suddenly see him here. But Guo-zi soon realized.
âYouâre back to see Lei Ge, right?! Lei Ge, youâre no fun. Yu Ge was here, but you didnât say it just now!â
Guo-zi was a rough man and couldnât tell that something was unusual.
ââŚâ
Neither Yang Lei nor Fang Yu spoke.
Both of them didnât know what to say in the unexpected encounter under these circumstances.
They looked at each other and looked away. Fang Yu got out of bed and stood up.
âYu Ge, why donât you turn on the air conditioner? Itâs so cold!â
Guo-zi hugged his arms and looked for the air conditioner.
âYou all sit first,â Yang Lei said. He looked all around, and he didnât see what he was looking for. Fang Yu had already opened the drawer of the bedside table, took out the air conditioner remote control, and handed it to him.
ââŚâ
Yang Lei glanced at Fang Yu and took it.
He set the air conditioner to warm air. The ice-cold room finally had a hint of warmth.
âYu Ge, why havenât you changed at all? Youâre still so handsome!â
Guo-zi was straightforward. In the past, Fang Yu was a famous handsome man among Jianghai fighters. Guo-zi heard people say that people who have been in prison would change a lot when they come out. He didnât expect that, after many years of not seeing him, Fang Yu still looked the same as before. It was just that his gaze was heavier, and he was more silent.
âDo you all know who this Yu Ge is? He is Fang Yu!! That is my Da Ge, Yang Lei!! I donât need to introduce these two people, do I?!â
Guo-zi was very proud, and his tone was one of awe. His two brothers were both little gangsters who just joined the gangdom not long ago. To them, the names Fang Yu and Yang Lei were really legends. They had only heard about their past achievements from the elderly people of Jianghu. Usually, Guo-zi was proud to have once followed these two people. His mantra all day was, âThinking about when I was with Lei Ge and Yu Ge in the pastâŚâ These two young people didnât expect to see the actual people now. They were excited and nervous.
âYu Ge! Lei Ge!â
The two young men hurriedly said. Then they came up to give them cigarettes. Their eyes as they looked at the two people were full of worship.
âEnough, neither of us are in the gangdom anymore. Why are you calling us that?â
Yang Lei didnât take their cigarettes, telling them to leave some rations for themselves. He was about to take some out of his pocket, but Fang Yu had already thrown one at each person. Guo-zi and them caught it gratefully. Fang Yu paused for a moment, and also threw one towards Yang Lei.
Yang Lei stood at the entrance, far away from them. But when Fang Yu threw it, Yang Lei raised his hand and caught it in his hand out of habit. Full tacit understanding, without the slightest mistake.
This was an action that they had gotten familiar with from once doing it many times. It was almost subconscious, without needing to think about it.
ââŚâ
Yang Lei caught the cigarette in his hand. He didnât light it and was silent for a moment.
âHave you eaten?â he asked Fang Yu.
Fang Yu hesitated for a moment.
âLetâs eat together, Yu Ge! Lei Ge and us also havenât eaten!â
Guo-zi and the others were starving.
Yang Lei looked at Fang Yuâs expression, lowered his head, and took out his phone. He called the fast-food restaurant.
But Yang Lei didnât expect that the restaurant wasnât delivering this year. They said that this year, there were few workers, and they were already closed for the New Year.
âThen do you know where there is still food?â Yang Lei asked on the phone. He only knew about this restaurant.
âI know a place. Iâll go and have a look. You all chat,â Fang Yu said. He put on his jacket and walked out the door.
ââŚHow are you going?â Yang Lei hesitated for a moment and asked. There wasnât a single taxi outside. He also hadnât seen a parked car downstairs. Fang Yu had probably already returned the taxi to his friend.
âI got a motorcycle. Itâs downstairs,â Fang Yu said.
âWhere is it? Iâll go,â Yang Lei was silent for a while, then said.
The places that Fang Yu knew a few years ago might not be there now. Moreover, the roads of Jianghai have changed greatly in the past seven years. It was not the Jianghai of the past.
âGo in. Iâll be back soon,â Fang Yu said quietly. He closed the door, and the sound of his footsteps disappeared in the corridorâŚ
Fang Yu was gone for a long time. When he came back, he was covered with the cold air outside. Fang Yu took out boxes of well-packed dishes. When they were opened, they were still steaming hot. In order to keep them warm, Fang Yu wrapped them in his coat. He was only wearing a black sweater. Rushing the whole way, his hands were purple from the cold.
âWow, Kung Pao chicken, ants climbing a tree, sweet and sour ribs⌠and salted duck! Yu Ge, youâre really good! Where did you get so many good dishes?!â
As Guo-zi opened the lids of the boxes, he was happy.
Yang Lei looked at the dishes covering the table. All of them were very familiar.
Ever since he joined the army, Yang Lei ate whatever was in the canteen.
He had already forgotten what he used to like to eat.