Rebirth: General, Don't Mess Around!

Uncle Fu took Ye Jian to the oldest and most bustling ancient-style street in the capital city, which restored the architectural essence of the Ming and Qing dynasties. With all sorts of New Year’s goods fully stocked—food, utilities, decorations—it was a one-stop shopping experience, and Ye Jian found her eyes darting everywhere.

As Uncle Fu picked out ingredients, he chatted with Ye Jian, ”It’s truly wonderful that you all have come back. I’ve been with the Fu family for so many years, and I haven’t seen Old Man Xia as happy as he has been these past few days in a long time. Every year I want to stay and keep Old Man Xia company, but he’s always reluctant, instructing the security to book my ticket early and personally escorting me to the airport. An Jiaxin, Old Man Xia is in great health now, and you have played a big role in that.”

”During the Spring Festival in previous years, your father could occasionally make it back for the celebrations. But most of the time, Old Man Xia was left to celebrate alone in the house. Although people like us are around, we aren’t blood relatives, and I could see the sense of loss in Old Man Xia’s heart.”

”Especially seeing the neighboring Qin family always bustling with activity during the New Year, Old Man Xia didn’t know how envious he was. So, when Old Man Xia learned that you would stay for the New Year along with your father and Li Jinnian, he was so excited last night that he couldn’t sleep.”

Hearing this made Ye Jian feel bittersweet. She hoped that Grandpa Gen could live many more decades, allowing her to take good care of him, ”From now on, I will try my best to make time to come back and spend New Year’s with Grandpa.”

But some things aren’t as easily achieved as one might hope. The New Year’s she could spend with the elderly might become fewer and fewer, so she resolved to try her best to return every Spring Festival to be with Grandpa Gen.

”Old Man Xia will certainly be very happy to know this,” Uncle Fu said with a smile that crinkled his eyes, ”It doesn’t matter when, coming back for the New Year is certainly lively, but coming back any time is just as good. To Old Man Xia, whenever you come back, it’s like celebrating the Lunar New Year.”

”I’m really grateful to you for always being there with Grandpa, and for taking care of him on behalf of me and my father. Thank you, Uncle Fu. With you around, we are all very relieved while out on the team.” Ye Jian sincerely appreciated Uncle Fu; without his attentive care, how could she be at ease?

Uncle Fu chuckled heartily, ”No need to thank me, no need at all. Old Man Xia is my benefactor, and taking care of him is the greatest honor of my life. There’s no need for thanks. Saying ’thank you’ would be too formal.”

The Huahua Market was crowded, and while Uncle Fu continued talking, he picked out items, occasionally asking for Ye Jian’s opinion on things like couplets and paper-cuts. Whatever Ye Jian liked, Uncle Fu would agree to.

After choosing the couplets, Ye Jian suddenly remembered something, ”Will many people come to visit Grandpa Gen for New Year’s greetings? The last time I was home, quite a few guests came from the Space Academy.”

”Yes, yes, this year there might be even more. Students from the laboratory at the school, every year a few representatives and leaders will come. From the first day of the lunar month to the fifteenth, our home is full of people. Everyone knows Old Man Xia usually celebrates the Spring Festival alone, so many of Old Man Xia’s old friends, including former students, come to visit him,” Uncle Fu answered earnestly, also to put Ye Jian at ease, ”Old Man Xia also likes having guests over, to drink tea and chat, it’s the liveliest time.”

”He won’t even need to cook as the food will be prepared by the security canteen and delivered. Old Man Xia just needs to make a phone call in advance to arrange it.”