Entertainment from Divorce

In the twelfth lunar month in Jishui, a northern city, the cold wind, carrying fine snowflakes, swirls through the old city's bluestone alleyways, whipping up the withered leaves piled up in the corners of the walls and slamming them hard against the red brick walls.

This is the unique chill of a northern winter, yet it also carries a lively festive atmosphere.

In the living room, the old-fashioned cast iron radiators were burning hot; you could feel the heat if you touched them. Tan Zhaohe, wearing reading glasses, sat at the pear wood table, rummaging through his suitcase, his fingertips brushing against the neatly folded thick cotton-padded coat.

Li Yulan was folding cashmere sweaters on a velvet sofa nearby, and the two were discussing what to bring to the capital.

"You have to bring your bottle of aged vinegar. Ziyu's dad is from the south and is used to sweet food. Let him try our northern vinegar. It's delicious in cold dishes and as a dipping sauce for dumplings."

Li Yulan gently placed a dark gray thick cotton-padded coat into the box, then picked up a camel-colored wool scarf and draped it over it, her fingertips pinching the scarf's thick stitches.

"And I've packed your favorite frozen pears in an insulated box. When we get to Beijing, I'll let Ziyu and the others try them. They don't have this in the South. It'll help cut through the richness and whet their appetite."

Tan Zhaohe nodded and took out a ceramic jar from the storage cabinet on the balcony. The mouth of the jar was sealed with a red cloth.

It was garlic that he had been pickling for three years.

"Don't worry, it's all packed. Oh, and you should also pack that jar of steamed buns you made for Ziyu in a cotton bag. She mentioned in the last video call that she missed your northern-style steamed buns, which are sweet and filling. You two can steam them together. Also, bring a few boxes of sesame candy from the old Jishui brand, which Tan Xin loves. Otherwise, she'll be asking for it again when we get to Beijing."

As the two were talking, the door was gently pushed open, and a gust of cold air carrying snowflakes rushed in. An Nuan walked in carrying a thermos with a floral print, her breath condensing into tiny water droplets in the cold air. Behind her followed Tan Xin, who was carrying a pink backpack.

Yesterday afternoon, she received a call from Tan Yue, who wanted her to bring Tan Xin to Beijing for the Chinese New Year. She rushed over early this morning to confirm the matter and help with the preparations.

"Uncle, Aunt, I'm here!" An Nuan placed the thermos on the table, the steam from the bottom of the thermos creating a ring of white mist on the table. "Tan Yue called me yesterday and said that I should bring Tan Xin with me to Beijing for the New Year!"

Tan Xin put down her schoolbag.

The plush rabbit hanging on her schoolbag swayed, and she ran to Li Yulan's side, hugged her arm and acted coquettishly, rubbing her face against Li Yulan's cotton-padded coat.

"Grandpa and Grandma! Uncle Tan Yue called An Nuan's mom yesterday! He said he'd take us to Beijing for the New Year and we could even visit the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City! Aunt Ziyu is from the South, will she make sweet glutinous rice balls for us? I'd love for her to teach me!"

Li Yulan smiled and patted Tan Xin's head, her palm stroking the child's soft hair: "Yes, your Uncle Tan Yue has already told us, and we're just waiting for your mother's approval. We'll definitely be able to go to the Forbidden City. Your grandfather will tell you the story of the Hall of Supreme Harmony; he knows so much about these things. Aunt Ziyu is from the South, and she might even make you some sweet glutinous rice balls, which are so delicious."

An Nuan sat down on the sofa, picked up the enamel mug on the table, and took a sip of hot water, feeling the warmth travel down her throat.

Watching the two pack their luggage, she took the cashmere sweater from Li Yulan and folded it up, saying as she did so, "Auntie, A-Yue said on the phone yesterday that winters in Beijing are even drier and colder than the Ji River, and told me to pack more warm clothes for Tan Xin. I've packed her thickest down jacket and hand warmers today, just waiting to go with you. By the way, is there anything else you need to pack? I'll help you prepare. I've also checked Tan Xin's winter vacation homework and packed a few commonly used ones, so she won't have trouble doing it in Beijing."

"You're so thoughtful, An Nuan." Li Yulan patted her hand, her eyes full of gratitude. "There's nothing special, just some changes of clothes and local specialties. As for you, don't be shy when you go to the capital, make yourself at home. Ziyu's mother is from the South and is a great cook of Southern cuisine. You've always wanted to make osmanthus cake for Tan Xin, so you can learn from her."

An Nuan nodded with a smile, her eyes full of anticipation: "That's exactly what I was thinking! Last time I saw osmanthus cake from the South online, Tan Xin said she wanted to eat it. This time, I can learn how to make it with Aunt Ziyu and show off my skills to her. By the way, Tan Yue also said he would take us to visit the National Museum. Tan Xin loves to draw, so it's a good opportunity for her to see the artifacts and find some inspiration."

An Nuan helped pack the luggage, putting Tan Xin's watercolor pens and notebooks into a special backpack, and carefully packing the steamed buns made by Li Yulan and the aged vinegar from Tan Zhaohe in the corner of the suitcase to prevent them from being bumped or damaged.

The radiators in the living room hummed, the aroma of stew filled the air, and the family chatted and laughed, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere.

The snow outside the window fell heavier and heavier, and the snowflakes fell on the glass and melted into water droplets, but this did not affect their anticipation of going to the capital for the New Year in the slightest.

Meanwhile, inside the Chen's Catering headquarters building in Hangzhou, the floor-to-ceiling windows offer a view of the misty West Lake, while the glass curtain wall reflects the distant Leifeng Pagoda, and the air carries the unique dampness of a southern winter.

Mr. and Mrs. Chen sat in the top-floor office. The mahogany desk was large and imposing. Mr. Chen was wearing a dark gray suit and holding a Spring Festival work schedule for each store. His fingertips traced the densely packed names. Mrs. Chen was sitting on a leather sofa next to him, drinking Longjing tea. The tea leaves in the cup unfurled and carried the unique fragrance of southern tea. Both of them had a serious expression on their faces.

"During the Spring Festival, we must keep a close eye on the food supply of each store, especially fresh fish and shrimp, which must be transported from Qiandao Lake every day. There can be no problems. Chen's Catering has been in business for so many years, and we rely on the freshness and vitality of Southern cuisine."

Mr. Chen placed the work schedule on the table, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force he exerted.
"We also need to make sure that the employees’ Spring Festival benefits, such as lotus root powder from Hangzhou and walnuts from Lin’an, are distributed on time so that everyone can have a peaceful New Year and not feel that we are mistreating our employees."

Mrs. Chen nodded, took a sip of tea, and let the fragrant aroma fill her mouth: "Don't worry, everything is arranged. The ingredients for each store have been ordered from the supplier in Qiandao Lake, and they will be delivered to our door at five o'clock every morning. There are people specifically checking their freshness; employee benefits have also been packed up."

Mr. Chen put down the work schedule, leaned back in his leather chair, rubbed his temples, and looked tired: "I plan to let Chen Xiang take charge of the company's affairs. He has learned a lot from me recently, from store management to supply chain coordination. He can handle it all now, so it's time for him to get some experience. He can't always be following behind me."

Chen Xiang studied business administration in college and joined Chen's Catering after graduation.

Starting as a store intern, he has been learning from his father over the years and is now able to handle some company affairs independently. He has the meticulousness of a southerner, but sometimes he is not decisive enough.

"Can Chen Xiang handle it?" Chen's mother asked with some concern, putting down her teacup. "He's still young, only twenty-five, and doesn't have enough experience. What if there's an unexpected situation, like a sudden increase in customer traffic or the fish and shrimp going bad? Can he handle it?"

"Don't worry, I'll be keeping an eye on things," Mr. Chen said with a smile, his tone confident. "I've already spoken with the senior managers of each store and asked them to help Chen Xiang out. If he has any problems he can't solve, he can call me anytime. This is a good opportunity for him to gain more experience so he can better take over the company in the future."

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Chen Xiang walked in, dressed in a black suit, holding a report in his hand. His hair was neatly combed, and he looked a little reserved. "Dad, Mom, this is the revenue report for each store this month. Take a look. It's up 8% compared to last month. It's mainly because the new store by West Lake has a particularly large customer flow."

Mr. Chen took the report, quickly flipped through it, and his eyes fell on the revenue figures. He nodded in satisfaction: "Not bad, the revenue is better than expected." "Chen Xiang, I'm entrusting the company's affairs during the Spring Festival to you. You must take good care of yourself and keep a close eye on every single thing. There can't be any mistakes, especially the freshness of the ingredients. Our Southern cuisine relies on that freshness."

Chen Xiang nodded, placed his hands at his sides, and said firmly, "Dad, don't worry, I will definitely take good care of myself. Every morning I will go to each store to check the ingredients and services. If there is anything I don't understand, I will call you to ask for advice as soon as possible. I will definitely not delay anything."

"Good, I'm relieved to hear that." Mr. Chen patted Chen Xiang's shoulder, the warmth of his palm passing through his suit. "If the company isn't too busy during the Spring Festival, you can come to Beijing and spend the holiday with us. You can have a good chat with your sister and brother-in-law. Your brother-in-law has management experience, so you can learn a lot from him."

A look of surprise appeared in Chen Xiang's eyes, which lit up: "Really? That's great!"

Looking at the father and son, Chen's mother smiled and said, "Alright, stop talking about work. The New Year is coming soon, we should pack up and get ready to go to Beijing. We southerners love to visit temple fairs during the New Year, and the temple fairs in Beijing will definitely be more lively."

Mr. Chen smiled and nodded, picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip: "Okay, once the company matters are settled, we'll take the high-speed train to Beijing. It'll be a good opportunity for you to relax. You've been worrying about the company with me all these years and haven't had a proper rest. Oh, and bring the osmanthus cake you made, so Ziyu's mother can try it and experience the taste of our southern desserts."

Chen's mother was overjoyed, and she couldn't hide the smile on her face.

She got up and walked to the French windows, looking at the misty West Lake outside, her heart filled with anticipation.

Thinking about seeing his daughter and son-in-law soon, and learning to make northern-style dumplings with Li Yulan, and strolling through temple fairs in Beijing, even his fatigue lessened.

As the year draws to a close, the streets of Beijing are gradually becoming more lively.

On the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month, the Brilliant Entertainment Company was bustling with activity.

The employees, all dressed in brand-new clothes and with smiles on their faces, gathered in twos and threes near the front desk, busy receiving the New Year's gifts distributed by the company.

This year's New Year's goods were exceptionally plentiful, including long black down jackets suitable for northern winters, West Lake Longjing tea loved by southerners, branded headphones with the company logo, 100-yuan vouchers for Chen's Catering, and gift boxes filled with nuts from both the north and south. Every employee carried a full load of New Year's goods and happily discussed their New Year's plans.

Tan Yue and Chen Ziyu stood by the stairs in the company lobby, watching the employees receive their New Year's gifts, and their faces showed a relieved smile.

Chen Ziyu wore a beige coat and her hair was tied up in a bun, exuding the gentleness of a southerner while maintaining the competence of a strong woman.

She walked up to a young employee who had recently joined the company and asked with a smile, "Are you satisfied with the New Year's gifts? Have you bought your train ticket home?"

The young employee, a girl from the south, carried a New Year's gift box, her face flushed: "Thank you, General Manager Chen and General Manager Tan! The New Year's gifts are wonderful. This Longjing tea is perfect for my parents to try, and the down jacket is especially warm; I just need a thick coat. I've already bought my train ticket home; I'll be able to see my parents on the high-speed train tomorrow morning."

Tan Yue smiled and said, "I'm glad you're satisfied. I'll go home and spend the New Year with my parents."

The employees nodded and thanked the two men before happily leaving the company with their New Year's gifts, their footsteps echoing in the lobby.

Watching the employees leave, Chen Ziyu turned to Tan Yue and said, "Finally, I can have a few days of rest. It'll be lively at home when my parents come."

Tan Yue held Chen Ziyu's hand, which was slightly cool due to its southern origin. He wrapped her hand in his palm and said, "Yes, everyone has worked hard during this period and should relax."

Back home, the villa was warm and cozy, with the central air conditioning providing warmth.

Tan Yue and Chen Ziyu got busy again. Tan Yue climbed the ladder to put up the Spring Festival couplets, while Chen Ziyu stood below handing over tape. The two worked together seamlessly.

Tan Yue carefully hung a stool on the ceiling of the large red lantern in the living room. When the lights were turned on, the whole room was filled with red light.

Tan Xin's room was also tidied up, with pink sheets, her favorite watercolor pens and drawing board on the desk, a poster of Tan Yue's movie on the wall, the black hole on the poster shining, and a hand warmer placed there.

In Li Yulan and Tan Zhaohe's room, there were their favorite Northern opera CDs and purple clay teaware. On the bedside table were steamed buns made by Li Yulan, as well as aged vinegar and Laba garlic treasured by Tan Zhaohe.

In Chen Ziyu's parents' room, there were their favorite southern silk pajamas and skincare products from Chen's Catering. In the drawer, there was also West Lake Longjing tea, which Chen's father loved to drink, and osmanthus cake, which Chen's mother loved to eat.

Everything is ready, and we're just waiting for the parents to arrive.

Tan Yue and Chen Ziyu stood on the balcony, looking at the night view outside the window. The tall buildings in the distance were lit up like stars.

Tan Yue hugged Chen Ziyu from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder: "When Mom and Dad come, our family will truly be reunited."

Chen Ziyu leaned against him, smiling and nodding: "Yes, we're reunited!"

The Chinese New Year is a time for family reunion when everyone is together.

The snow outside the window had stopped sometime ago, and a bright moon hung in the night sky, casting a cool, clear light. (End of Chapter)