After the college entrance examination, life began to follow one's heart

Chapter 195 New Year’s Eve

As soon as Xu Lin joined the group, someone immediately chimed in.

"Congratulations on your arrival, Mr. Xu!"

"Mr. Xu, please post a picture!"

"Newcomer, same old rule, send a red envelope first!"

"Yeah, let's have a red envelope, and Mr. Xu, can you post a picture?"

Xu Lin glanced at it and realized there was no need to look at the photos or the red envelopes.

The group is full of celebrities with high social standing and wealth; the red envelopes are just for fun.

So Xu Lin completely ignored it, and the same went for posting the photos.

He looked at the group; it was full of real names, like Jay Chou, David Tao, and G.E.M.

There are thirteen people in total.

It seems that only highly capable people can get in here.

Xu Lin was the first to greet everyone: "It's nice to meet you all!"

"Mr. Xu, you've been in the spotlight lately. Share a photo so everyone can get to know you."

"Yes, at least half of the entertainment industry is curious about what Mr. Xu is thinking!"

People in the group started to speak, but not everyone, as only six people were online.

Xu Lin wondered, what if you guys spread my photos out?
And we're not even familiar with each other.

Xu Lin changed the subject, "Is anyone in the group interested in songwriting? Of course, the price is negotiable, and I can also tailor songs to your style. I'm skilled in multiple themes and styles."

"Mr. Xu, could you write a song for me?"

G.E.M. @him.

Xu Lin: "Of course, your voice has the characteristics of a super high range and super explosive power. You are also good at using strong mixing and delicate vibrato to express enough tension. At the same time, you can use mid and low frequencies to create enough narrative. I can combine your voice characteristics to create a song specifically for you."

"Wow, Mr. Xu knows my style so well?" G.E.M. exclaimed in surprise.

"After all, I've been listening to your songs since elementary school."

G.E.M.: ...

G.E.M.: "Really? They were listening to my songs in elementary school?"

"Ha ha……"

Several people behind them laughed.

Jay Chou: "Mr. Xu was born in 07. We are all old folks."

"Damn, in 07, I felt like I was already in my forties and about to be buried."

"Born in 2007, am I an old man from the 1980s?"

"Damn it, I'm from the 80s, time waits for no one!"

Everyone was surprised and moved.

Actually, when Xu Lin said he was eighteen, most people probably didn't quite grasp the significance.

However, if you say you were born in 07, then it's different; the feeling of time passing by immediately comes through.

It used to be the era of the post-00s generation, but now, the post-05s generation is gradually taking center stage, and in a few years, the post-10s generation will be around.

Xu Lin: "If anyone needs songwriting services, you can contact me after the New Year. The price is reasonable, and I can also tailor-make songs according to your individual styles."

G.E.M.: "Awesome hot babe.jpg I'll commission you to write a song for me later!"

Jay Chou: "I'm still considering whether to include a song in my new album this year."

Xue Zhiqian: "I have a concert in March, so I might sing one of those songs."

Several other people then expressed interest in this regard.

However, Xu Lin didn't take it to heart. These words were just words; he would only say them when the other person came to visit. After all, anyone could say polite things.

After chatting with everyone for more than ten minutes, Xu Lin added a few more people's personal accounts and then logged out of the work account.

During the Spring Festival holiday, Xu Lin doesn't plan to log in to his work account for the next few days.

At 10:30, Xu Lin went over with his mother to help Rong Xiyan make her bed.

Rong Xiyan didn't sleep with him tonight either.

Xu Lin's old house is a single-story house with three floors, each with three rooms and a hall.

Xu Lin was on the third floor, his mother was on the second floor, and Rong Xiyan was also on the second floor.

the next day.

New Year's Eve.

As soon as he got up, Xu Lin turned on his phone and received a message from Ning Yuhan.

It turned out to be a New Year's Eve blessing.

"Happy Lunar New Year's Eve, my love!"

"Happy Lunar New Year's Eve, baby!"

Xu Lin originally wanted to say "senior sister," but when he was about to send it, he changed it to "baby."

Ning Yu: "shy.jpg"

Xu Lin: "Are you busy today?"

"I'm very busy today, I have a lot to do!"

"Honey, what about you?"

"IM about the same."

Chatted for a while.

Rong Xiyan came over to call him to get up and have breakfast.

Xu Lin didn't have much to do in the morning. His mother and Rong Xiyan were just tidying up the paper money to be burned for the afternoon's worship and the red paper to be pasted on the door, stove, and other places.

It's about ten o'clock in the morning.

Ms. Ren thought of something and said, "Xu Lin, do you want to set off fireworks tonight? If so, you can go buy some while the town market is still open."

"want!"

Rong Xiyan was the most enthusiastic, saying, "I want to see fireworks!"

Xu Lin also felt that it was a bit of a shame to celebrate the New Year without fireworks, and since fireworks were not allowed in cities, they were allowed to be set off freely in rural areas.

"Then I'll go buy it later."

"Xu Lin, I want to go with you!"

"Then change your shoes, and we'll go out."

"oh oh."

After Rong Xiyan finished packing, she went to the town market with Xu Lin.

Xu Lin was driving an electric car. On the morning of New Year's Eve, the market was still open and many people went there. If he had driven a four-wheeled vehicle, he probably wouldn't have been able to get into the town.

Which kind of fireworks do you want?

Soon the two arrived at a fireworks shop in the market, where all kinds of fireworks were on display.

Xu Lin and his group selected several types of large fireworks, spending a total of over two thousand yuan.

Time quickly passed and it was past one o'clock in the afternoon.

The old man caught two roosters and a duck. One rooster would be killed tonight, and the other would be killed on the morning of the second day of the Lunar New Year.

As for the ducks, they'll be dealt with tonight.

Are we slaughtering all the chickens and ducks tonight?

Xu Lin was curious.

Old man: "Yes."

Xu Lin suddenly realized.

A dozen minutes later, the father and son worked together to slaughter a chicken and a duck and bleed them.

After scalding it with boiling water once.

Rong Xiyan arrived without Xu Lin even having to call her.

"Xu Lin, I'll pluck the fur with you!"

"Aren't you afraid of getting dirty?"

"Not afraid!"

The work procedure was the same as yesterday, except this time there was an extra duck.

Then Xu Cheng was in charge of steaming the chickens and ducks.

It was past three o'clock.

Today is another sunny and cloudless day.

After worshipping the gods at the stove, Sanxu and his companions prepared to set off for the commune to worship the gods, as the commune was a place where every village would worship the gods during festivals.

Xu Lin and the others placed a chicken, pork, and other offerings in two baskets.

Xu Cheng picked up the carrying pole and was about to carry it out.

Seeing this, Xu Lin said, "I'll do it."

Xu Cheng laughed and said, "Your dad isn't old yet!"

"Then I'll carry it when we come back."

"also."

After Xu Lin went to university, he did mature a lot. Xu Cheng carried two baskets of offerings in front, and Xu Lin followed behind.

Actually, Dad isn't old yet, only forty years old, the prime of a man's life, and Xu Cheng is in very good health.

The hunched back of the father described in the textbook did not materialize in Xu Lin's life; perhaps it would appear years or even ten years later.

Soon, the two arrived at the commune.

Around 3 PM, quite a few people came here to worship the gods.

Some people start as early as 2 a.m. In Xulin Village, many people have already bought houses in the city. Some people come back on New Year's Eve to worship the gods, and then leave again after having dinner.

After finishing their prayers at the commune, Xu Lin and the others returned home. They first prayed to the gods at their own home, and then went up to the old house.

Rong Xiyan and Ms. Ren also followed along.

Rong Xiyan arrived at the living room of Xu Lin's old house. It was dark and poorly lit.

"Xu Lin, is that your grandfather?"

At this moment, Rong Xiyan saw a photo of an old man hanging on one side of the living room wall. It was a funeral portrait. Her great-grandfather was an old man from the late Qing Dynasty.

"This is my great-grandfather."

"Oh." Rong Xiyan suddenly realized.

Ms. Ren lit incense in the living room and said, "Your grandfather looks exactly like his father. When Xu Lin and your father get old, they'll probably look about the same."

Ms. Ren paused for a moment, then added, "And it'll probably be the same when you get old!"

"That's not a bad deal, at least he's a handsome old man." Xu Lin touched his stylish hairstyle.

The Xu family had fallen on hard times. They used to be landlords, but they were overthrown during the anti-landlord movement.

Because of their good family background, the great-grandfather in the photo is a handsome old man, and Xu Lin's grandfather is also a handsome old man.

That's how family genes come about.

The older generation of farmers toiled in the fields, exposed to the elements, and rarely grew up to be good-looking. They often struggled to get enough to eat, and those suffering from malnutrition were often short. Their wives were similarly short, so naturally, their offspring wouldn't be good-looking either.

However, Xu Lin's family has good genes; they don't even have genes for common conditions like hair loss and obesity.

"Ah Lin, come over and light the firecrackers!"

At this moment, Xu Cheng shouted.

"coming!"

The afternoon worship ceremony ended amidst a deafening barrage of firecrackers.

However, the work on New Year's Eve is not yet finished.

The next step is to paste up the couplets.

In addition to putting up couplets for their own family, Xu Lin's family also had to put up couplets together with his uncles' families at the old house.

My uncle's family has two sons and two daughters. All four of them are married and have children.

My second uncle's family has two sons and three daughters, all of whom are married and have children.

Therefore, both families can be described as having a large and prosperous population.

He was the only second-generation member of the Xu family.

It's not unreasonable for Xu Cheng to say that his house is rather deserted; there are hardly any people there.

Like my uncles' families, there are always a huge crowd during the Spring Festival, especially when my married cousins ​​come home with their husbands and children, making up more than twenty people. They need two large tables to eat together.

When the couplets were being put up at the old house, all four of Xu Lin's cousins ​​were there. They all had children, averaging two kids each. The eight kids playing at the old house made it incredibly lively.

"Ah Lin, do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend?"

The older cousin patted Xu Lin on the shoulder.

"Have."

"Haha, then I'll bring it home to see next year!"

"I'll try my best next year!" Xu Lin said with a smile.

After the couplets were pasted up, everyone parted ways and went home.

"Those two families are really lively, with so many people!"

Ms. Ren also felt envious. Just now, the eight children kept calling her "Third Aunt," which made Ms. Ren very happy.

She even regretted not having two more children back then.

Xu Lin knew the other person was envious, so he laughed and said, "Don't worry, I'll work harder and have a dozen kids for you to take care of."

"Do you think your wife is a pig? She even gave birth to over a dozen!"

"What if you marry several?"

"Alright, you can marry a few more, and have a dozen or so children, and Mom will take care of them for you."

Ms. Ren only thought her son was joking, but she never expected that one day she would be so overwhelmed and at a loss when taking care of her child.

Xu Lin smiled and said nothing.

Dinner time arrived quickly. Dinner started early tonight, before nightfall, and by then everyone was full.

As night falls.

A booming sound rang out, and bursts of fireworks lit up the night sky. Someone in the village was setting off fireworks.

"Xu Lin, look! Someone's setting off fireworks! They're so beautiful!"

Rong Xiyan rushed out of the courtyard, skipping and jumping as she pulled out her phone to start filming a video. She excitedly said to Xu Lin, "Xu Lin, come out and watch the fireworks!"

"I'm watching!"

After the fireworks ended, Xu Lin took out the fireworks he had bought that day and placed them one by one in the open space outside the yard.

Fireworks worth over two thousand are placed here; it must be quite a thrill.

"You can go into the yard to look, but don't come any closer."

Xu Lin reminded Rong Xiyan.

"Okay, I'm going back to the yard."

Rong Xiyan quickly returned to the courtyard and stood with Ms. Ren.

Xu Chengzheng stood not far away, looking at the sky and smoking without saying a word.

Ms. Ren cautioned, "Xu Lin, be careful not to start a fire, okay?"

"Do not worry!"

Xu Lin replied and then began to light all the fireworks one by one.

biu!

biu!

The sound of fireworks going up into the sky could be heard.

Then came a series of booming sounds—the sound of fireworks exploding in the sky.

In an instant, the entire sky lit up, displaying a dazzling array of colors, both magnificent and beautiful.

"What a nice view!"

Rong Xiyan exclaimed in surprise and quickly took a picture with her phone.

She really enjoys the feeling of celebrating the New Year; having people she likes and cares about around her is enough.

She didn't think much about it; she wasn't greedy.

This was a feeling Rong Xiyan hadn't experienced during the Spring Festival in the past few years. Since her mother passed away, she hadn't felt this kind of joy in a long time.

"So beautiful!"

Ms. Ren sighed and looked around. Her family was all there, and happiness was all around her.

That seems to be the meaning of the Chinese New Year.

Xu Cheng held a cigarette between his fingers, simply gazing at the sky without saying a word.

Xu Lin, who was not far away, took out his phone and filmed a video of the fireworks until they ended.

Of course, Xu Lin didn't just record the fireworks because he thought they were pretty.

After filming the video, Xu Lin sent it to Ning Yuhan and Chi Linyue respectively.

He texted Ning Yuhan, "Did you set off fireworks at home?"

Xu Lin then sent a message to Chi Linyue: "My dear Miss Chi, Happy New Year's Eve."

Soon after, news of Ning Yuhan arrived.

"No, my family didn't buy any fireworks; we just watched others set them off!"

Ning Yuhan also filmed a video of someone else setting off fireworks, but it was nowhere near as good as Xu Lin's. Xu Lin's video cost over two thousand yuan, and it featured several fireworks set off at once. Those fireworks that cost tens or hundreds of yuan couldn't compare at all.

"Honey, your fireworks are so beautiful!"

"As long as it looks good, Happy New Year's Eve."

"Happy Lunar New Year's Eve, my love!"

After chatting with Ning Yuhan for a while, news from my older sister arrived.

"Oh, I can't set off fireworks here."

"The fireworks are so beautiful!"

"I envy you being able to set off fireworks!"

"Happy New Year's Eve!"

Chi Linyue sent four messages in a row.

"Happy New Year's Eve!"

Xu Lin also replied.

Chatted for a while.

Xu Lin and the other three went out together and decided to take a walk in the village.

As for the Spring Festival Gala?

This thing is rarely watched by Xu Lin's family or even his village. Most families just leave the TV on and make some noise.

There were still quite a few people outside at this time of year on New Year's Eve, so it was very lively.

Xu Lin's village has a large population, and despite the prevalence of bachelors in rural areas, there are very few older bachelors in this village.

Many of them are doing quite well, so getting married is naturally not a problem.

With more people getting married, there are naturally more children.

So when Xu Lin and his group came out, they saw a lot of children, about twenty or thirty. This was only a portion of the children in the village. After all, there were eight children in total, including Xu Lin's four cousins.

The group strolled around, stopping and looking at the sights. Xu Cheng and Ms. Ren chatted with the villagers from time to time, and before they knew it, more than an hour had passed.

Everyone returned home around 10 p.m.

Xu Lin and the others didn't go to sleep either.

We're going to ring in the New Year at midnight tonight.

"Go to sleep if you're tired."

Xu Lin saw Rong Xiyan sitting on the stool yawning.

At that time, the two of them were sitting on a low stone stool outside the courtyard.

"No, I want to celebrate the New Year too!"

"It's just setting off some firecrackers and burning incense; there's nothing special about celebrating the New Year."

"I want to see it!"

Little Rong pouted, "Xu Lin, play Dou Dizhu with me!"

She showed her phone and started playing Dou Dizhu (a card game), and Xu Lin, who was bored, played along.

It's quite cold outside at night, around 11 degrees Celsius, and it's windy, so it'll be even colder.

Rong Xiyan sat next to Xu Lin, and the two played Dou Dizhu (a card game) on their phones together.

This game is quite a time killer; before I knew it, more than an hour had passed, and it was almost midnight.

Xu Lin and the old man went to offer incense and then set off firecrackers.

At the same time, the whole village was setting off firecrackers, and the nearby villages were also setting them off, so it was like they were all burning together. The crackling sound seemed to puncture people's eardrums.

"Xu Lin, so many people are setting off firecrackers, it's so lively!"

Rong Xiyan found it very strange and stood there cheering.

She grew up in the city and only went to the countryside with her parents once when she was a child. But at that time, Rong Xiyan did not experience any New Year's atmosphere. In her memory, her father did not seem to like her very much, so Rong Xiyan always stayed with her mother.

One time, Mom got angry for some reason and said that Grandpa and Grandma didn't like the two of them.

So Rong Xiyan and her mother never went to the rural area where her father's hometown was again.

The festive atmosphere of the New Year was something very new and novel to Rong Xiyan.

Xu Lin saw her cheering and jumping for joy, but he didn't know why. He didn't think much of it either, because it was very common for Xu Lin. Sometimes he would even find firecrackers noisy. Like now, firecrackers could go off for ten minutes or even longer, which was very noisy.

Why are you so happy?

"Of course I'm happy during the Chinese New Year!"

Rong Xiyan timed it perfectly, right at midnight.

She cupped her hands into a megaphone shape and shouted at Xu Lin, "Xu Lin, Happy New Year!"

"Happy New Year!"

Xu Lin responded.

"Xu Lin, where's my red envelope?!"

"I didn't send any red envelopes."

Xu Lin felt that sending red envelopes via mobile phone was not very meaningful. It wasn't like he couldn't see her in person. For example, if they were far apart, he could send her a WeChat red envelope. But now that Rong Xiyan was right in front of him, sending her a WeChat red envelope seemed to have little meaning.

Rong Xiyan wasn't short of money, so she didn't care how much she gave, but Xu Lin thought paper red envelopes were better.

"I'll wrap one up for you when I go upstairs!"

"Xu Lin, I sent you a red envelope!"

Rong Xiyan had her phone on, and Xu Lin saw a transfer of 10,000 yuan.

"Damn it, why is the bag so big?"

"I'm happy, it's none of your business!"

"That's up to you."

"Xu Lin, hurry up and collect your red envelope!"

"I've received it," Xu Lin nodded.

Huh?
The older sister's red envelope has arrived too.

At midnight, the older sister also appeared.

First came the words "Happy New Year," followed by a transfer of 88888 yuan from the older sister.

Big sister: "88888, may you prosper! Just a little something, don't send me a red envelope back, I don't need the money."

Xu Lin accepted the transfer: "I am deeply grateful and have no way to repay you. I can only offer myself to you!"

Big sister: "Smirking.jpg"

Big sister: "New year, new look! Go to bed early!"

Xu Lin: “OK.”

Xu Lin: "You should go to sleep early too."

Finally, there was Ning Yuhan, the senior student, who also transferred 1,000 yuan to Xu Lin.

Xu Lin returned it to her, saying, "Just give me a hundred yuan as a token, don't bother with a thousand."

The senior student didn't have much money either. A thousand yuan would have been enough for her to live on at school for two months, based on her expenses for food, clothing, and accommodation.

Buzz!

Ning Yuhan's 300 yuan has been transferred.

Ning Yuhan: "Transfer 300 yuan via WeChat!"

"Oh, you're making a meme, aren't you?"

"Humph!"

Ning Yuhan became mischievous, "Honey, can you accept this red envelope?"

After receiving the red envelope, Xu Lin suddenly thought of Sui Sui and An An.

How much cash do you have on you?

"Over two thousand? What's wrong?"

"I want to give Sui Sui and An An a red envelope, could you help me give one?"

Children's red envelopes don't need to be too big, and given Ning Yuhan's parents' personalities, it wouldn't be appropriate to give them too large a red envelope, as they would feel embarrassed. So Xu Lin discussed it with his senior and decided to give Sui Sui and An An a red envelope of two hundred yuan each.

In eastern Guangdong, a 200 yuan red envelope is already quite common. Even in 2026, many people only give 10 or 20 yuan. Only when giving money to their own children will they give 100 or 200 yuan. The red envelopes are just a token gesture, not meant to make money.

In some places, children are given red envelopes containing hundreds or even thousands of yuan at a time. In reality, it's just the older generation giving red envelopes to each other as a reciprocal gesture. For example, if you give my child 500 yuan, I will also give your child 500 yuan. It doesn't really mean anything.

"That's all for now, get some rest."

"Mmm, honey, get some rest."

Xu Lin replied with a goodnight message.

Then Xu Lin went to collect Yu Xinyan's red envelope. In fact, Yu Xinyan gives Xu Lin a red envelope every year, and this time it was 500 yuan.

Xu Lin felt that with more girls around him, there were more people he needed to take care of.

He thought about it and felt that he couldn't just give her another red envelope, that would seem too vulgar. Ning Yuhan gave him a red envelope, but Xu Lin didn't give her one back. He planned to make it up to her later elsewhere.

So Xu Lin sent Yu Xinyan a video of the fireworks display that night.

"Wow! So beautiful!"

"You're beautiful! Happy New Year! May your life be as brilliant and dazzling as fireworks!"

"Xu Lin, you're the same!"

Yu Xinyan's reply was a loud shout.

Luckily, the village is still setting off New Year's Eve firecrackers, otherwise Rong Xiyan would have heard it.

It's a real headache.

The New Year celebrations are coming to an end soon.

Xu Lin went back to his room, took out a red envelope, put four hundred yuan inside, and gave it to Rong Xiyan as a red envelope.

This was all the cash Xu Lin had on him.

"Come here, here's a red envelope for you."

"Xu Lin, congratulations on your fortune, good health, and all the best!" Rong Xiyan happily accepted the red envelope.

"Okay, let's go back to sleep."

"Xu Lin, let's sleep together tonight!"

Rong Xiyan lowered her voice, "I'm in my safe period."

"This is not right. It's the New Year, and they're doing something like this."

"Then I'm going back to sleep!"

"No, let's just consider it a good omen for the new year!"

Xu Lin chuckled and decided to fire the first shot of the new year.

His room is on the third floor, so he can take it easy and not panic.

(End of this chapter)