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

At five o'clock in the morning, before there was even a glimmer of light on the horizon, the sound of firecrackers outside the window started a new round.

He Wanqing lay face down on the pillow, rubbing her lower back, her voice hoarse as if sanded: "You beast..."

Mo Ye leaned against the headboard, looking down at the person in his arms who didn't even want to move a finger, his face showing a satisfied laziness: "The first time of the new year, we should leave a memento."

He Wanqing kicked him lightly, like a cat's paw scratching him: "We didn't use protection this time, could I be pregnant...?"

Mo Ye paused for a moment, then his expression turned serious:

"Probably not? Others have been trying to conceive for so long and it still doesn't work, so it shouldn't be that easy for us to get pregnant."

He Wanqing reached out and grabbed his ear: "Are you afraid I'll get pregnant with your baby?"

Mo Ye quickly begged for forgiveness: "Of course not! I was just worried you were working too hard!"

He Wanqing then released her grip, grumbling and turning her face away: "You're smart to know what's good for you."

Mo Ye pulled her closer to him: "Let's go to sleep. We'll get up at seven tomorrow morning to pay New Year's visits."

"What time is it?"

"Seven o'clock."

He Wanqing suddenly looked up, her eyes wide: "It's already five o'clock..."

She lowered her head and remained silent for a moment, then suddenly sat up and straddled him.

Mo Ye was taken aback by her action: "Weren't you tired?"

He Wanqing looked down at him and said, "You're more comfortable without that."

Mo Ye's Adam's apple bobbed slightly: "Alright then."

Then, the world spun around, and he flipped her over again, pressing her into the soft quilt.

At 6:30 in the morning, Mo Ye finally stopped what he was doing, carried the immobile He Wanqing into the bathroom and gave her a shower.

Hot water poured down from above, enveloping her in its warmth. She felt limp, like a lump of mud, leaning against the edge of the bathtub, too lazy to even move a finger.

She spoke, her voice hoarse as if she had just finished a marathon:

"How am I supposed to give New Year's greetings now... I can barely walk."

Mo Ye helped her dry off, then wrapped her in a bath towel: "I'll carry you on my back."

He Wanqing rolled her eyes at him: "Then do I even have the right to be a human being?"

She leaned against the wall for a while to catch her breath before she felt like she had become a person with bones again, though her walking posture was still a bit awkward.

Mo Ye helped her change into her new New Year's clothes; the red clothes made her complexion look even fairer.

Then he dressed himself and helped her slowly walk out of the room.

She took only two steps before shaking off his hand and walking on her own. Although her steps were a little slow, at least she could walk now.

Mo Ye pushed open Tongtong's room door and lifted the little dumpling who was still curled up in the quilt.

Tongtong was lifted into the air, and she groggily opened her eyes, her little face scrunched up: "Daddy, are we going to set off firecrackers?"

Mo Ye put her down on the ground: "I put her down a long time ago, it's already morning."

Tongtong paused for two seconds, then pouted, her voice filled with unspeakable grievance:

"Hmm... why didn't Dad remind me? I wanted to set off firecrackers too!"

Mo Ye squatted down and helped her button up her cotton-padded coat: "You slept like a log last night."

Tongtong pouted, and was sullen all morning.

Mo Chashan sat down next to her, looking at her listless little face, and put down his chopsticks: "Tongtong, what's wrong?"

Mo Ye gave a brief explanation.

After hearing this, Mo Chashan waved his hand and said, "It's no big deal, just put one more in."

He stood up, took out a small, unopened firecracker from the corner, and held out his hand to Tongtong: "Come on, Grandpa will take you to set it off."

Tongtong paused for a second, then slid off the stool, her short legs moving incredibly fast, and dashed to Mo Chashan's side, looking up at him with her little face: "Grandpa is the best!"

Mo Chashan bent down, picked her up, carried her on his shoulder, and walked out of the courtyard.

Mo Ye watched the backs of the old man and the child and fell silent.

It seems that's true. There's no problem that a firecracker can't solve. If there is, then set off another one.

From outside the courtyard came Tongtong's excited "whoosh" and the crackling of firecrackers.

Jiang Hui came out of the house, holding several red envelopes in her hand, and waved to Mo Ye: "You brat, wait for me to get the firecrackers."

Mo Ye nodded: "Understood."

Jiang Hui handed him a red envelope and said, "Happy New Year."

Mo Ye looked down at the red envelope and didn't accept it immediately: "Mom, I don't need it, I've already graduated."

Jiang Hui impatiently shoved the red envelope into his hand: "Stop making a fuss, take it."

Hearing her say that, Mo Ye didn't refuse anymore and put the red envelope away.

Then Jiang Hui took out another red envelope and handed it to He Wanqing, her voice immediately softening: "Come, come, Wanqing, Happy New Year."

He Wanqing looked down at the red envelope, a thick, bulging stack. She took it and said, "Thank you, Auntie, Happy New Year." She looked up and glanced at Mo Ye.

Mo Ye was looking down at the red envelope in his hand, which was noticeably thinner, and his lips twitched slightly.

He Wanqing glanced at Jiang Hui, feeling a little embarrassed, as she should have been the one giving the elders red envelopes.

She completely forgot about giving red envelopes last night.

She glanced at Mo Ye, her eyes conveying a hint of pleading.

Mo Ye walked calmly to her side, pulled her to the stairwell, took out a stack of red envelopes from the inside pocket of his coat, and stuffed them into her hand: "Take this."

He Wanqing looked down at the stack of bright red paper packets in her hand, somewhat surprised: "When did you make these?"

"It's all ready."

He Wanqing took it, weighed it in her hand, and a slight smile appeared on her lips: "So, did you prepare it for me?"

Mo Ye smiled and nodded, then took out an even thicker red envelope from another pocket and handed it to her. The envelope had a particularly cute little bunny on it.

"Of course I have a wife, Happy New Year."

He Wanqing took it, squeezed it, and a soft smile appeared at the corner of her eye. Then she remembered something:

"You really have one? I didn't prepare one for you..."

Mo Ye lowered his head, his lips almost touching her earlobe: "Didn't I give it to you last night?"

He Wanqing's face flushed red instantly. She raised her hand and gently punched his chest, her voice both urgent and shy: "Don't talk nonsense."

Jiang Hui stood in the living room, looking at the two lovey-dovey figures at the top of the stairs, and raised her voice to call out, "Alright, stop being so lovey-dovey, let's wish each other a Happy New Year."

Like a startled rabbit, He Wanqing reflexively took a step to the side and tidied her hair: "Okay... okay, Auntie."

Tongtong and Mochashan walked in just then. The little girl's face was still flushed with excitement from setting off firecrackers.

Jiang Hui bent down, handed a red envelope to Tongtong, and said with a smile, "Happy New Year, Tongtong."

Tongtong's eyes lit up instantly, like little light bulbs being lit, and she stretched out her two chubby little hands to take it: "Happy New Year! Thank you, Grandma!"

Jiang Hui reached out and patted her little head, her eyes full of affection: "Let's go, Tongtong, let's go pay our respects for the New Year."

Tongtong nodded vigorously, her little tuft of hair swaying as she did so, looking just like a little rooster about to go into battle.

Mo Ye and He Wanqing each took out a red envelope and handed it to Tongtong, saying, "Happy New Year, Tongtong."

Tongtong clutched a red envelope in each of her little hands, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons with a smile: "Happy New Year, Mom and Dad!"

Then he stuffed the red envelopes one by one into his little pocket, patted them to make sure they were all lying quietly, and then grinned contentedly.

Mo Ye and He Wanqing then handed red envelopes to Jiang Hui and Mo Chashan respectively, which the two accepted with smiles.

The family walked along the cement road in the village for a while, turned a corner, and arrived at the place to pay New Year's visits.

Mo Ye's uncle Mo Chasheng and aunt Liu Ying had arrived with Mo Yunqi. Mo Yunqi was wearing a brand-new blue cotton-padded jacket and a pair of black leather boots. He was standing in the crowd, tiptoeing and looking in this direction.

Mo Ye stepped forward and greeted them. When Liu Ying saw Tongtong, her face immediately lit up with joy, and she quickly waved to her, "Come, come, let Grandma give Tongtong a hug!"

Tongtong ran over with a "da da da" sound, buried her head in Liu Ying's arms, looked up at her with her little face, and called out sweetly and softly, "Happy New Year, Grandma!"

Liu Ying sighed, took a red envelope out of her pocket and stuffed it into Tongtong's hand, then pointed to Mo Yunqi next to her: "Go play with Brother Yunqi."

Tongtong took the red envelope and replied crisply, "Thank you, Grandma." Then she ran over to Mo Yunqi's side, and the two little figures quickly stood side by side, whispering to each other.

The New Year's greetings were quickly coming to an end.

Firecrackers formed a long red snake on the open ground, and Mo Chashan lit the fuse.

With a crackling sound, red paper scraps rose and fell like petals scattered across the sky, and the air was filled with the distinctive smell of sulfur.

Tongtong covered her ears tightly with her chubby little hands, her face tense, but her eyes still curiously glanced in that direction. Then, a small pebble flew out and hit the ground near her feet.

Startled, she jumped back half a step and hid behind Mo Ye's legs, peeking out only half her face to continue watching.

The sound of firecrackers gradually subsided, the smoke slowly dissipated, and the New Year's greeting ceremony came to an end.

Everyone then went home to have breakfast.

After finishing breakfast, Mo Yunqi couldn't wait any longer.

He stood at the gate of the courtyard, glanced into the house a few times, and when he saw Tongtong put down her bowl and chopsticks, he immediately waved to her.

Tongtong slid off the chair and ran out with her short legs.

Mo Yunqi took her hand and lowered his voice: "Let's go fry cow dung."