Spring Festival was always the most important celebration for the Ye family.
On the 29th day of the lunar month, Minglang prepared incense and candles for the ancestral rites under Grandpa's guidance, while everyone else decorating the house. Early on New Year's Eve, Cheng Yi and Minglang accompanied Shufang to the local flower market to buy New Year blooms, while Mingzhe, George, and Grandpa took charge of shopping for the family reunion dinner.
There was a unique tradition in the Ye family: the men handle the New Year's Eve dinner. Minglang, wary of getting in the way, wisely chose to hang red envelopes on the tangerine tree. Shufang arranged the flowers leisurely. Cheng Yi, feeling somewhat anxious, hesitantly passed her a gladiolus stem and voiced her concern:
"Are you sure I shouldn't help out in the kitchen?"
"No need," Shufang replied with a smile.
After all, a massive pot of dishes had already been ordered from a restaurant earlier in the day. All they needed to do now was cook some rice and stir-fry a couple of vegetables. Even so, the three Ye men bickered endlessly in the kitchen, their voices carrying through the house. Yet, Shufang remained serene, her tone gentle and reassuring:
"Don't worry, the Ye men have their own unique way of expressing love—arguing in the kitchen is just part of it."
Cheng Yi nodded, half-understanding. Sure enough, when dinner was served, despite all the chaos and squabbling that had taken place, the atmosphere around the table was peaceful and harmonious, as if none of the earlier disputes had ever happened.
After dinner, Grandpa took his seat at the head of the table, and his son and daughter-in-law knelt respectfully to receive their red envelopes. Then it was the turn of the younger generation—Mingzhe and the newly 'adopted' Minglang—who followed suit. Ye Mingzhe then pulled Minglang over to kneel and accept red envelopes from their parents. Sitting upright and seizing the moment, Ye George launched into a fatherly lecture.
"This year, don't just sit around the house all day. Go out and earn some money!"
Minglang received his red envelope, inspecting it with curiosity. Just as he was about to open it, Cheng Yi quickly stopped him. Little did she know, he was also eyeing Grandpa's seat at the head of the table, without a second thought, plopped himself down in it—Grandpa's special seat, no less! Cheng Yi tried to pull him away, but it was too late. This "new grandson" had already given the family plenty of laughs that evening.
No matter how many bumps and scrapes a family goes through, there's always a place in their hearts reserved for one another.
Cheng Yi began to understand the deeper meaning behind Shufang's words: Each member of the Ye family, no matter how different, held their sense of home and unity close to heart.
On the first day of the Spring Festival, Chinatown's annual lion and dragon dances and New Year's parade attracted a huge crowd of Chinese and non-Chinese spectators. The streets were lined with spectators, and the drums and firecrackers filled the air, creating a festive atmosphere that rivalled any celebration back in China.
On the second day, friends and relatives of the Ye family came by for New Year's greetings. The Ye family had connections across the United States, and those in New York came by to pay respects to Grandpa.
Among them, Cheng Yi was most impressed by two brothers, Ye Michael and Ye Paul, and a girl who accompanied them, Angelina.
Cheng Yi had never met anyone as audaciously straightforward as Angelina. Beaming with a radiant smile, she introduced herself without a hint of hesitation:
"Grandpa, I'm Angelina, Michael's future wife!"
"Is Michael married?" Grandpa asked, puzzled.
"Nope! But if he were, I'd happily step aside. Just don't forget to like me, Grandpa!"
Angelina laughed cheerfully, entirely unbothered by the question. Meanwhile, Michael, who had sat down with Minglang at the computer, seemed utterly oblivious to what was going on around him.
With no explanation from him, it was taken as silent consent.
Angelina was clearly taking the 'strategic approach,' charming the elders one after another. She even handed out red envelopes to the younger generation, on the condition they called her 'Sister-in-law'. Whether she had successfully wooed Michael remained to be seen, but she had certainly won over everyone else in the house.
Michael's younger brother, Ye Paul, was a quiet man and a renowned lawyer from a top Wall Street firm. After greeting the elders, he remained focused on Michael and Minglang. He was intrigued by Minglang's hacking skills and offered legal advice from time to time to ensure they didn't cross any legal boundaries.
The Ye family's Spring Festival was bustling every day, lasting until the seventh day of the first lunar month. Cheng Yi thought back to New Year celebrations from her childhood, when her family would clean together, prepare festive foods, and visit relatives. Here with the Ye family, she felt the warmth of reunion and the comfort of a family.
A few days later, Shufang's asthma flared up unexpectedly. Ye George insisted she shouldn't stay in New York to care for Grandpa and persuaded her to return to California to recuperate. They agreed on a compromise: Grandpa would go back with them.
With Shufang and Grandpa leaving, Minglang was often pulled out by Michael to help with various tasks, Mingzhe kept busy working in his room or handling affairs outside, and Cheng Yi focused on her school exams. They gathered once more for the Lantern Festival, and soon after, everyone returned to their usual routines.