Shocking! A three-year-old brings his aloof mother to their door.

He Wanqing stood to the side, watching the two of them, helplessly rubbing her forehead, but couldn't help but curl the corners of her mouth slightly.

Mo Ye checked the time and felt the residual warmth of the earthen kiln: "Tongtong, the chicken should be cooked."

Tongtong quickly stuffed the remaining sweet potato into her mouth and followed Moye as they ran towards the earthen kiln.

Mo Ye used a shovel to turn over the last layer of soil, revealing a white tin foil package that was still steaming.

He used tongs to take it out, brought it back to the kitchen, unwrapped the foil, and a whole golden-yellow chicken appeared before his eyes, its skin crispy and golden-brown, glistening with oil, and its aroma irresistible.

Mo Ye chopped off the chicken leg, wrapped it in a tissue, and handed it to Tong Tong.

Tongtong took the chicken leg: "Thank you, Dad!"

Then it dashed away, leaving behind a small, clattering silhouette and a lingering fragrance.

In the blink of an eye, Lunar New Year's Eve has arrived.

Mo Ye stood on the A-frame ladder, holding a horizontal scroll in his hand.

He Wanqing, holding onto the ladder, looked up at him and asked, "Is it straight now?"

Mo Ye turned his head to look at Tongtong below the ladder: "Tongtong, is it straight now?"

Tongtong squinted her big eyes, examined it carefully for a while, and said in a clear and bright voice, "A little to the left~"

Mo Ye shifted an inch: "Like this?"

Tongtong was startled and quickly waved her hand, "You said it backwards! Daddy, move a little to the right!"

Mo Ye moved an inch to the right.

Tongtong: "A little closer... Okay, a little back... to the left... to the right..."

Mo Ye paused for a moment, then looked down at the little dumpling below who seemed to be conducting a symphony orchestra: "Wanqing, why don't you do it?"

He Wanqing smiled, pursing her lips, and released the ladder: "Be careful."

Mo Ye nodded: "Don't worry, it's alright."

With He Wanqing's help, the horizontal scroll was quickly adjusted and pasted perfectly in the center of the lintel.

Mo Ye climbed down the ladder again, hung up the lantern, and dusted off his hands: "All done."

He Wanning also wrapped the LED light strip around the eaves. As evening fell, the whole courtyard lit up, and the red lanterns swayed gently in the night breeze.

In the evening, Tongtong took a lighter and set off fireworks in the yard.

She lit the fuse, sparks crackling and popping. She yelled excitedly, turned and ran, but then she twisted her ankle, swayed to the side, and was about to fall flat on her face.

Mo Ye grabbed her by the back of her collar and lifted her up.

Tongtong's feet left the ground, she pushed off twice in the air, and was then gently placed back on the ground.

She patted her chest, still shaken: "That scared me to death! I almost fell!"

She looked up at the fireworks exploding in the sky, red, green, and gold, like flowers blooming in the night.

Her little face was illuminated by the flickering light of the fireworks, and she exclaimed in her childish voice:

"Fireworks weren't allowed last year, so Tongtong just watched them on TV."

Mo Ye squatted down, picked her up, and let her sit on his arms: "You can release them every year from now on, Dad won't interfere with that."

Tongtong clapped her chubby little hands: "Yay!"

After the fireworks were finished, Tongtong saw firecrackers going off in front of other houses and immediately turned to Moye: "Tongtong wants to set off firecrackers!"

Mo Ye: "No, and it's not time to set off firecrackers yet."

Tongtong scratched her little head: "Then why did they release it~"

Mo Ye glanced in the direction she was pointing and said, "Every family is different. Our family sets off at midnight tonight."

Tongtong pouted, "It's twelve o'clock! Tongtong must be asleep~"

Mo Ye glanced down at her: "Not necessarily."

He Wanqing chimed in from the side, "Tongtong might not be able to wake up."

Mo Ye chuckled, glanced at the little dumpling next to him who had already started rubbing his eyes, and gently shook his head.

Jiang Shuya's voice came from the kitchen: "The leaves are all set up!"

Tongtong's sleepiness vanished instantly, and her eyes widened in surprise: "Tongtong wants to eat!"

She ran into the kitchen, grabbed a jackfruit leaf-wrapped pastry from the plate, tore it open to reveal a soft, white pastry inside, took a bite, and the aroma of peanuts mixed with coconut melted on her tongue. "Delicious!"

Mo Ye also took one, tore off a leaf, and handed it to He Wanqing: "Try it and see if it tastes good."

He Wanqing took it, took a bite, chewed it a couple of times, and her eyes lit up slightly:

"It's delicious! I didn't expect Auntie to be able to do everything."

Mo Ye also took one and took a bite. As he chewed, a smile appeared on his lips: "It still tastes the same."

That little girl, Tongtong, was fast asleep in bed before 11 o'clock.

The firecrackers outside the window kept popping and crackling. Her little mouth was slightly open, and she was drooling in her sleep. In her sleep, she unconsciously scratched her little belly, then turned over and continued to sleep.

Mo Ye gently closed the door and walked back to the living room. He Wanqing glanced at him sideways: "Not awake?"

Mo Ye shook his head, a hint of helpless laughter in his voice: "Sleeping soundly."

11:50.

Mo Ye spread out the firecrackers at the entrance of the courtyard. The red paper rolls looked like a winding snake, with the snake's head pointing in the direction of the road.

He Wanqing held the lighter in her hand, watching him set it up: "You keep an eye on the time, we need to release it on time."

Mo Ye took out his phone and opened the Kyoto time.

He Wanqing wasn't usually interested in these kinds of things, but this was her first New Year with Mo Ye, and she wanted it to have a proper start.

Mo Ye watched the numbers on the screen jump: "Nineteen, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one—release!"

He Wanqing pressed the lighter, the flame lit the fuse, and with a "sizzle," sparks spread rapidly along the fuse. She turned and ran, but Mo Ye reached out and put his arm around her shoulder, leading her into the courtyard.

"Crackling and popping—"

Firecrackers exploded, and red paper scraps danced in the night wind, carrying the atmosphere of the New Year.

He Wanqing looked up, and the sparks from the firecrackers reflected in her eyes, flashing intermittently.

She turned her head to look at Mo Ye: "Happy New Year, honey."

Mo Ye lowered his head and placed a kiss on her lips, his lips pausing for a moment: "Happy New Year, the first kiss of the New Year."

He Wanqing's face flushed slightly in the firecracker light: "Let's go up."

Mo Ye looked at her: "You mean...?"

He Wanqing nodded: "Mm..."

Mo Ye nodded: "Okay, since we can't sleep tonight anyway, let's play until morning."

He Wanqing reached out and patted his chest, her voice both urgent and embarrassed: "Who...who wanted to play with you until morning! Shameless!"

Mo Ye scooped her up in his arms, his voice laced with laughter: "For the first time of the new year, shouldn't you let me have my way this once?"

He Wanqing buried her face in his chest: "You bad boy."

Her voice came from inside the clothing compartment, muffled.