Rebirth of Bloody Romance

At 5:30 a.m. on the first day of the Chinese New Year, before dawn, Zhou Xiaobai got up from her bed quietly, trying not to make any noise, for fear of waking up Zhong Yuemin who was still sleeping soundly. However, her subtle movements still caught Zhong Yuemin's attention.

"Wife, what are you doing secretly?" Zhong Yuemin asked curiously, with a hint of laziness and sleepiness in his voice.

Zhou Xiaobai was slightly startled when he heard this, then turned to look at Zhong Yuemin and said with an apologetic smile, "Ah? Yuemin, I woke you up after all!"

Zhong Yuemin shook his head, signaling her not to mind. "Wife, it has nothing to do with you. Listen to the sound of firecrackers outside, which has hardly stopped. How can you sleep well?"

Zhou Xiaobai also laughed when she heard this. She explained, "I heard from my colleagues that there is a custom here. When you go to bed at night, you have to set off a closing cannon, which means that all bad things are locked out of the door throughout the year; when you get up in the morning, you have to set off an opening cannon, which is to welcome the new year and hope that everything will go well in the new year. Some people go to bed late at night, while others get up early in the morning, so the sound of firecrackers must not stop all night. Moreover, we have to get up early this morning to pay New Year's greetings, so the sound of cannons will not stop."

Zhong Yuemin suddenly realized what was going on. He thought for a moment and suddenly said, "Ah? Then we didn't fire the closing cannon last night! No, I have to get up and fire the opening cannon."

"Forget it!" Zhou Xiaobai quickly dissuaded him. "If you get up now, you will have to go back to sleep later. It will be too much trouble!"

Zhong Yuemin shook his head and insisted, "How can that be? When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Since we are here to celebrate the New Year, we must respect the local customs. Wait, I'll go get the firecrackers."

Seeing this, Zhou Xiaobai had no choice but to follow him out. The two found an open space in the yard and lit firecrackers. With the sound of "bang, bang, bang" of firecrackers, the new year officially kicked off.

Zhong Yuemin came back from the toilet, feeling a little sleepy and expectant, and wanted to pull Zhou Xiaobai back to continue their nap. However, Zhou Xiaobai cleverly avoided his hand with a mysterious smile on her face.

"Yuemin, what are you doing?" Zhou Xiaobai asked with a hint of mischief in his tone.

Zhong Yuemin chuckled. "Wife, it's not even daybreak yet! Go back to sleep! My daughter and son have been sleeping with you these past few days, and I haven't had a good time with you. Let's have a good time with you while they're still asleep."

After hearing this, Zhou Xiaobai's mouth corners slightly raised, but she said, "Go away! I don't want to be intimate with you! I have something else to do." As she said that, she walked to the door and gently opened it.

Seeing this, Zhong Yuemin couldn't help but feel a little curious and asked, "Wife, it's not even light this early in the morning, what can you do?"

Zhou Xiaobai turned around and said seriously, "It is a custom in Jinqiu County to deliver dumplings on the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year. Maybe someone will come to deliver dumplings soon. If we still sleep with the door closed, what will happen?"

Zhong Yuemin was stunned when he heard this, then he laughed and said, "Wife, who would send us dumplings so early in the morning? Are you overthinking it?"

Zhou Xiaobai shook his head. "Yuemin, don't disbelieve me. This is the custom here. On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, neighbors will send dumplings to each other, which means reunion and happiness in the new year. It is also a show of friendship and blessing. We have just arrived and don't know the rules here, but since we are in Rome, we should respect the traditions here."

Zhong Yuemin listened and thought to himself that it seemed to be the case. So he nodded. "Wife, you are right. Since we are here, we should respect the traditions and customs here. Then you wait here, I will go back and sleep for a while."

After saying that, Zhong Yuemin turned around and prepared to go back to the house. However, Zhou Xiaobai stopped him. "Yuemin, you should stay here with me. If someone really brings dumplings, we can welcome them together."

Zhong Yuemin listened and smiled helplessly. "Wife, we don't have to wait at the door. It's the same if we wait inside with the door open."

"Well, you go back to the house and I'll go to the kitchen."

Zhong Yuemin looked at Zhou Xiaobai's resolute back, shook his head helplessly, and a doting smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. He said to himself: "This custom is really troublesome, but since my wife has ordered it, I have to obey it, right?"

As Zhong Yuemin spoke, he turned around and planned to go back to the house, but in his mind he was thinking about how to "sneak attack" Zhou Xiaobai later and recover some of his "losses".

Just then, there was a sudden sound of light footsteps outside the door, followed by a few whispers, as if someone was really coming.

Zhong Yuemin's heart moved, and he lost all sleepiness in an instant. He quietly walked to the window and lifted a corner of the curtain. He saw several figures walking towards this side in the night, holding baskets in their hands, and steaming dumplings could be vaguely seen.

"Hey, someone really delivered dumplings!" Zhong Yuemin was secretly surprised, then turned around and walked towards Zhou Xiaobai with a smirk on his face. "Wife, it seems that your 'prediction' has come true!"

Zhou Xiaobai was standing at the door. When he heard Zhong Yuemin's words, he looked up and rolled his eyes at him. "Look how happy you are. Why don't you go and help answer it?"

Zhong Yuemin smiled and walked quickly to the door, just in time to meet several neighbors. Their faces were filled with festive joy and they greeted him enthusiastically. "Happy New Year, County Magistrate Zhou! These are the dumplings we made at home. Let you try some."

"Oh, you're so polite. Please come in, please come in!" Zhou Xiaobai said as he took the basket.

Seeing this, Zhong Yuemin hurried forward and warmly invited everyone to come in and sit down. For a moment, the small courtyard was filled with laughter.

After the people left, Zhou Xiaobai said to Zhong Yuemin, "Yuemin, the customs here in Jinqiu County are really good. I feel warm in my heart to eat dumplings made by my neighbors on New Year's Day."

Zhong Yuemin smiled and nodded. "Yes, the human touch of Jinqiu County is more precious than anything else. It seems that I won't be able to take a nap today, but it's worth it to be able to share this joy with my wife!"

As the sky gradually turned pale, the first ray of sunshine of the New Year passed through the clouds and sprinkled on this small courtyard and on everyone's heart.

Xiao Shihua and Xiao Haichen rubbed their sleepy eyes and climbed out of bed. As soon as they stepped into the kitchen, they were stunned by the scene in front of them - the basin was full of hot dumplings, and there were many steamed buns placed next to it, exuding an enticing aroma.

Xiao Shihua's eyes widened and she asked in surprise, "Wow! Dad, Mom, why did you cook so many dumplings?"

Xiao Haichen also scratched his head and asked in confusion, "Why is the meal so early today? Why are we eating dumplings?"

Zhong Yuemin looked at the cute children and replied with a smile, "These dumplings were given to your mother by others. Is your mother amazing?"

When Xiao Shihua heard this, she immediately jumped up excitedly, hugged Zhou Xiaobai and said, "Wow! Mom, you are so awesome! So many people brought you dumplings, we can't finish them all in one day."

Zhou Xiaobai smiled and touched Xiao Shihua's head. "Don't listen to your father's nonsense. It is a custom here to send dumplings on the first day of the Lunar New Year. People send dumplings to each other, which means reunion and happiness in the new year. Our family has just arrived here, and we didn't expect to receive so many dumplings. It's really unexpected."

After hearing this, Xiao Haichen nodded like a little adult. "So that's how it is! Then we should also send dumplings to others, right?"

Zhong Yuemin and Zhou Xiaobai smiled at each other, their hearts filled with satisfaction. Then the family sat together and began to enjoy this special breakfast.

On the second day of the Chinese New Year, the sun was shining brightly. Zhong Yuemin and Zhou Xiaobai took Xiao Shihua and Xiao Haichen to play in the yard. The laughter of the two children was as clear as silver bells, adding a bit of warmth and joy to this Spring Festival.

Xiao Shihua, with two pigtails and wearing new clothes, ran around in the yard like an elf, while Xiao Haichen followed behind her with anticipation in his eyes.

Just when the family was having a great time, suddenly there was a chaotic sound coming from the gate, mixed with the roar of vehicles and the noise of the crowd, it seemed that a lot of people had come.

Zhong Yuemin frowned, feeling an inexplicable curiosity in his heart, and walked quickly towards the door.

"Fuck! Why are you here?" Zhong Yuemin opened the door and was stunned by the scene in front of him.

In the open space in front of the door, Li Yuanchao, Hou'erbutt and others were standing there, and the most eye-catching one was Takehara Masaki standing among them.

"Yuemin, I finally found you. If I can't find you, I will go crazy." Takehara Masaki said anxiously in his slightly accented Chinese.

"Why don't you just stay in Japan? Why are you coming here?" Zhong Yuemin joked in a nonchalant manner.

Takehara Masaki was about to explain when a middle-aged man next to him took the lead. "How can you talk like that, comrade? This is a foreign guest." The man had a serious face, obviously dissatisfied with Zhong Yuemin's attitude.

Zhong Yuemin glanced at the man with a playful smile on his face. "Who is this guy?" There was a hint of provocation in his tone, and it was obvious that he was not impressed by this person who suddenly showed up.

As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere suddenly became awkward. Zhou Xiaobai, who was following behind Zhong Yuemin, quickly reached out and patted him lightly, rebuking him in a low voice. "How can you talk like that? This is Director Wang from the city, who is in charge of receiving foreign guests."

Director Wang's expression softened a little after hearing this, but he still maintained his official seriousness. "Comrade Zhong Yuemin, Mr. Takehara Masaki is a friendly person in Japan. He has come to China specially to visit and hopes to meet with you. Our municipal government attaches great importance to this and hopes that you can cooperate."

Zhong Yuemin cynically raised his eyebrows, a hint of unruly smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he said to Takehara Masaki, "Mr. Takehara Masaki, what do you want to see me for? I'm very busy. It's the New Year, and I don't have time to chat with you. If you have nothing to do, just accompany the government comrades to do what you should do, and don't hang around in front of me. My small temple can't accommodate a big Buddha like you."

When Takehara Masaki heard this, he was so anxious that he jumped up and down. He knew Zhong Yuemin's temper very well, but at this moment he could not care less and explained quickly, "Yuemin, please stop making trouble! I have something important to talk to you about, and it's urgent. If you continue like this, I will be really angry."

Seeing Takehara Masaki's anxious face, Zhong Yuemin stopped joking and sighed, "Alright, alright, you always cause trouble for me every time you come. This place is really too small to accommodate so many people. Let's go! Let's go to Beihai Hotel. It's almost time for dinner. I'll treat everyone to dinner and listen to your 'business' by the way."

After saying that, Zhong Yuemin turned around and winked at Zhou Xiaobai, signaling her to get ready.

Zhou Xiaobai understood what he meant and immediately went into the house to clean up. He also changed clean clothes for Xiao Shihua and Xiao Haichen and prepared to go together.

Seeing Xiao Shihua and Xiao Haichen jumping out of the room, Le Jizhong and Takehara Masaki hurried over to greet them with friendly smiles on their faces.

Le Jizhong took out a red envelope from his pocket, and Takehara Masaki was not to be outdone and took out a bulging envelope from the inside pocket of his suit.

"Shihua, Haichen, this is the New Year's money your uncle gives you. I hope you will be healthy and happy in the new year and make progress in your studies." Le Jizhong said gently and handed the red envelopes to the two children.

Takehara Masaki followed closely behind and handed over the envelope in his hand. "Yes, children, this is a little gift from uncle, you must accept it."

Xiao Shihua and Xiao Haichen took the lucky money and replied politely, "Happy New Year, uncles! Thank you for the lucky money." Their voices were clear and pleasant, like the sound of nature, making everyone present feel extremely warm and joyful.

The others couldn't help but twitch their lips when they saw Le Jizhong and Takehara Masaki actually taking out large sums of US dollars as New Year's money.

Li Yuanchao and Luo Jianguo were especially angry. "These two grandsons are too generous. They gave us so much US dollars. What should we do? If we had known, we would not have come with these two grandsons. Isn't this obviously embarrassing for us?"

Although I feel a little dissatisfied, I still have to give the New Year's money. "Alas! In this world, it's really frustrating to compare yourself with others! It seems that I have to work hard to make money in the future, otherwise I won't even be able to give out the New Year's money."

However, despite the scolding, the New Year's money still had to be given. They didn't have US dollars, but it couldn't be too shabby.

So, Li Yuanchao took out a few brand new big unity notes from his pocket and handed them to little Shihua and little Haichen. "Shihua, Haichen, this is the New Year's money your uncle gives you. I hope you will be safe and happy in the new year."

Luo Jianguo and others followed suit, each taking out lucky money and handing it to the two children. Although the amount was not large, it was full of heart.

Xiao Shihua and Xiao Haichen took the red envelopes, politely said "Thank you, uncle", then ran to Zhou Xiaobai and handed the red envelopes to her.

Zhou Xiaobai looked at the red envelopes in the children's hands, and she felt mixed emotions. She knew that these red envelopes were not just about money, but also a reflection of human relationships.

Zhong Yuemin was watching this scene from the side, with a playful smile on his face. He thought to himself, "These people are really interesting. But it's good to let the children get in touch with these things earlier, so that they can avoid taking detours in the future."

While everyone else was wondering where Zhou Xiaobai's family came from.