215: Chapter 215 Uncle's New Year's Gift

Chapter 215: Uncle's New Year Gift

New Year's Eve.

The night was gentle, and bright lights lit up the modern city like a sea of stars.

Firecrackers crackled occasionally on Jiuchang Street, echoing through the chilly air.

On this New Year's Eve, every household gathered together, enjoying a sumptuous reunion dinner.

In the Tubular Building, the Fang family home was equally filled with joy, feeling exceptionally livelier than usual.

In the living room, the TV was playing the Spring Festival Gala.

Warm yellow light spread gently like a soft veil, filling the room with a cozy ambiance.

A family portrait hung on the wall, and the somewhat aged furniture was wiped spotlessly clean.

A newly bought money tree stood in the corner, lush and vibrant, full of wonderful wishes for the New Year.

Li Biyun was like a tireless spinning top, bustling back and forth between the kitchen and the living room.

The wisps of hair on her forehead were slightly damp with sweat, hanging down in a few messy strands, yet they could not hide the warm, sunlike smile of contentment on her face.

When she looked at her son standing in front of the stove in an apron, looking like a top chef, her eyes curved into crescent moons.

Flames licked the bottom of the wok, and smoke rose gently.

Fang Cheng held the handle with one hand and a spatula with the other, cooking a heavy dish full of wok hei.

Oil-fried prawns.

During the continuous toss and turn, the prawn shells turned red in the hot oil, wafting an irresistibly mouth-watering aroma.

Soon, a dish of oil-fried prawns, perfect in color, aroma, and taste, was plated.

"Mom, give it a taste."

Fang Cheng picked up a steaming prawn with chopsticks and held it out to his mother standing nearby.

Li Biyun took a bite with a smile, chewed gently a few times, and immediately gave a generous thumbs-up:

"Chengcheng, your Culinary Arts have improved so fast. I'm afraid your mom won't dare to show off her cooking in front of you anymore."

Receiving his mother's praise, the corners of Fang Cheng's mouth curled up uncontrollably.

He then glanced at the panel notification floating in the air.

[Culinary Arts EXP +3]

[Culinary Arts Lv. 1 (163/250)]

Looks like the panel really knows its stuff.

Just judging by the quality of this main dish, it could easily compete with an authentic chef from a five-star hotel.

Perhaps because he was personally cooking the New Year's Eve dinner, doing a whole round of frying, searing, stewing, braising, and simmering caused his experience points to shoot up.

Before long, he would become a true Great Master chef in his own right.

Fang Cheng thought happily to himself as he picked up the kitchen knife, preparing to slice some beef to make a red-braised beef brisket that the whole family loved.

He was starting to fall in love with the feeling of cooking.

The Culinary Arts skill didn't boost his combat strength much, but it made his life much more comfortable and enjoyable.

Li Biyun brought the plated oil-fried prawns to the dining table.

By now, the table was nearly filled with piping-hot dishes of all kinds.

Right in the center was a large, glossy, fragrant red-braised carp sprinkled with cilantro, shredded ginger, scallions, and garlic, symbolizing "abundance year after year" and "the carp jumping over the Dragon Gate."

Next to the braised fish was a ring of home-cooked meat and vegetable dishes.

Richly sauced sweet and sour pork ribs, golden and crispy spring rolls, evenly sliced poached chicken, hairy crabs brimming with roe, along with several dishes of refreshing appetizers.

There was also soft taro paste and a clay pot chicken soup specially prepared for Grandfather, which Li Biyun had spent the entire afternoon simmering over low heat.

"Biyun, there's no need to cook so many dishes."

Grandfather Li Zhenhua sat in his newly bought wheelchair, covered with a thick blanket, and advised upon seeing this:

"I can only drink some thin porridge and soup right now. There are so many dishes that the few of you won't be able to finish them all—it's too wasteful."

It had been less than two weeks since his stomach cancer surgery, and he had just been discharged yesterday. His face was still somewhat pale, but his eyes were full of gratification.

"That's right, Sis, you and A-Cheng don't need to stand on ceremony."

Li Dingjian was sitting boldly on the sofa beside him, chatting with his father, and chimed in:

"Honestly, if you ask me, going to a hotel for a meal would have been best to save you the trouble. After all, customized New Year's Eve dinners are all the rage now."

Currently, he showed no trace of his past decadent and sloppy appearance.

Dressed in a well-tailored new suit, he looked full of energy, exuding the subtle air of a successful man.

Li Dingjian had originally wanted to arrange for the family to have dinner at Dongdu's highest-end hotel, but Li Biyun had said it lacked the New Year atmosphere, so he had no choice but to go along with his sister's wishes.

"It's no trouble. It hasn't been this lively at home in a long time."

Li Biyun placed the oil-fried prawns on the table with a face full of smiles:

"How wonderful it is for everyone to rarely sit together for a meal. Besides, Chengcheng helped out a lot too."

As she spoke, her loving eyes looked toward the kitchen at her son's busy figure.

Hearing this, Fang Cheng turned his head and called out:

"Just wait a little longer, everyone! We can eat as soon as I finish this dish."

Before long, all the dishes were served.

Everyone gathered around the table, not standing on ceremony, and casually started eating.

Li Biyun first served a bowl of steaming chicken soup for her father.

A layer of golden oil floated on the surface of the soup, dotted with a few red dates and goji berries, looking exceedingly appetizing.

"Dad, you just got discharged from the hospital, so drink more chicken soup to replenish your body. This is an old hen Chengcheng went to the countryside to buy especially, simmered for several hours."

Hearing that it was his grandson's gesture of filial piety, the wrinkles on Grandfather Li Zhenhua's face bloomed like a chrysanthemum, and he nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Seeing his grandfather drink a small sip with satisfaction, Fang Cheng also smiled.

The old hen was actually swindled from Ma Donghe's place, reportedly raised by Ma Jianguo specifically on precious herbs, making it highly nourishing.

Thinking of this, he looked toward Li Dingjian with an expectant gaze and greeted him:

"Uncle, you've never tasted my cooking before, right? Try this oil-fried prawn and see how it tastes?"

As he spoke, he pointed at his proud creation.

"Oh, then I must give it a good taste."

Hearing this, Li Dingjian picked up his chopsticks and smiled:

"Don't look at how your uncle usually lives as a bachelor; when it comes to eating, I've seen it all. Back when I accompanied clients to dinners, I tasted all kinds of delicacies. As long as it walks on land, flies in the sky, or swims in the water, there's nothing that hasn't entered my mouth..."

While bragging, he picked up a large prawn with a crispy fried shell and put it directly into his mouth.

With a gentle bite, a clear "crunch" sound echoed.

Li Dingjian's eyes instantly lit up as the fragrance of the fried prawn shell filled his mouth.

Moreover, the inside of the prawn meat retained its moisture; the moment he bit down, a slight burst of juice spread in his mouth, with a tender and springy texture.

This unique texture was an important indicator for judging whether the heat control of this dish was spot on.

After just a few bites, Li Dingjian couldn't help but praise:

"A-Cheng, your skill is incredible! Even if you don't take the postgraduate entrance exams, becoming a chef could easily net you hundreds of thousands a year."

Li Biyun and Grandfather Li Zhenhua couldn't help but smile at the scene.

The atmosphere inside the room grew increasingly cheerful and lively.

In high spirits, Li Dingjian reached out and opened a bottle of expensive good liquor he had brought.

He poured a glass for himself and his nephew each, then poured freshly squeezed juice for his father and sister.

Then he raised his glass high and spoke words of blessing:

"Come, the first glass tonight, to Dad's good health and a blessed life ahead. May God grant him a long life of a hundred years!"

Everyone raised their glasses upon hearing this, clinking them together gently to produce a crisp and pleasant sound, like New Year bells.

On the TV, the host's festive voice also added to the lively atmosphere of this reunion night.

After three rounds of drinks, having downed several glasses of liquor, Li Dingjian seemed a bit tipsy.

He let out a satisfied sigh, gently swirling the glass in his hand while murmuring in a low voice:

"If brother-in-law were here too, so the whole family could reunite, how wonderful that would be... I still remember back when I stayed in Dongdu for New Year, A-Cheng was still very small, wearing a bright red new outfit, clutching firecrackers, his eyes bright as he ran around the yard behind brother-in-law... Thinking about that scene makes one happy..."

Grandfather suddenly coughed and reminded him with slight reproach:

"You foolish boy, what nonsense are you blabbering! It's New Year's Eve, why bring up these things?"

Realizing his blunder, Li Dingjian laughed sheepishly:

"Sorry, I got a bit muddled from drinking."

Saying that, he raised his glass, leaned forward slightly, and looked at Fang Cheng and Li Biyun with a sincere gaze.

"This glass, I toast to Sis and A-Cheng. Sis has suffered so much over the years, raising the child on her own while busy with work and taking care of the home through rain and shine. Luckily, A-Cheng is very sensible, and now he's grown up and mature. Sis, you can finally enjoy your life from now on."

Fang Cheng and Li Biyun smiled faintly, neither minding his heartfelt words from earlier.

The family raised their glasses again, the glass cups glistening under the light.

"Come, to our lives getting better and better, cheers!"

This toast held both reflection on the past and full expectation for the future.

The sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner came to an end.

As usual, Li Biyun walked into the kitchen and got busy.

The tap water rustled as she systematically cleared the dishes and washed the greasy plates.

Fang Cheng sat in the living room, chatting with his uncle and grandfather while watching the Spring Festival Gala.

On the coffee table in front of the sofa were melon seeds, peanuts, and several kinds of snacks.

When a sketch starring a famous comedian played, they laughed and commented along with the TV audience, enjoying a warm and harmonious time.

Suddenly, Li Dingjian seemed to remember something.

He took out a document folder from the briefcase he had brought with him and handed it to Fang Cheng.

"A-Cheng, this is for you."

"What is this?"

Fang Cheng looked at him in confusion, putting down the melon seeds he was about to crack open.

"A New Year's gift from an uncle to his nephew."

Li Dingjian had a mysterious smile on his face as he urged: "Open it and take a look, I guarantee you'll like it."

A New Year's gift?

Fang Cheng was slightly startled as he took the document folder. It felt thick and sturdy with neat edges, and he could feel there were quite a few sheets of paper inside.

It couldn't be study materials, right?

He looked up at his uncle, and under his encouraging gaze, filled with curiosity and anticipation, he gently opened the seal of the document folder.

As he pulled out the papers inside, his eyes gradually widened, his mouth opened slightly, and his face was full of astonishment.

It turned out that this was actually a contract for purchasing commercial housing.

"Didn't I say I'd give you a surprise after coming back?"

Seeing Fang Cheng indeed express surprise, the crow's feet at the corners of Li Dingjian's eyes showed a bit of pride, and he immediately explained with a chuckle:

"All you need to do now is sign your name on it, and I'll handle all the subsequent procedures for you..."

As he spoke, he enthusiastically introduced the prime seaside location and environment of this house, clearly having put a lot of thought into this gift.

"This gift is too valuable, I can't take it."

Listening to him, Fang Cheng quickly returned the document folder and house purchase contract to his uncle.

Remembering how his uncle had generously gifted his mother a pair of expensive jade bangles earlier...

And now giving him a house, this heavy sentiment left him feeling flattered and hesitant to accept recklessly.

"I've already paid the deposit; the money can't be refunded."

Li Dingjian waved his hands repeatedly, his tone leaving no room for refusal.

After thinking for a moment, he added:

"Originally, this house was bought for your grandfather to recover his health in Dongdu, but I heard people say that living near the sea isn't good for elderly people because it easily causes rheumatism. So I thought of giving it to you—you won't mind, will you?"

Seeing Fang Cheng still shaking his head and insisting on shoving the purchase contract back, a trace of guilt flashed in Li Dingjian's eyes, and his expression became more serious.

"A-Cheng, after all these years, your uncle hasn't even given you any New Year money. I know you must have feelings about it."

"Back then, I was tight on money and had no choice, but now that your uncle is capable, I want to make up for all those past regrets."

"So, you must accept this gift this time, so your uncle can stand tall and hold his head high in front of his nephew for once, okay?"

Saying that, he wiped his face and took a deep breath, his eyes turning slightly red, his voice trembling slightly.

"Uncle..."

Fang Cheng hesitated, not knowing how to explain and comfort him.

"A-Cheng, this is your uncle's good intentions. Accept it, just treat it as giving him a chance to show his care."

Grandfather Li Zhenhua sat in the wheelchair to the side, knowing his son's recent changes, and chimed in to help persuade.

Fang Cheng felt completely torn; although he had plans to save money and buy a house himself, this gift laden with familial affection was simply too valuable.

After weighing the options, he finally decided to temporarily accept it, treating it as safekeeping his uncle's property.

In case his uncle faced cash flow problems in business in the future and needed money, he could return it to him.

"What gift?"

At this time, Li Biyun, busy washing dishes in the kitchen, heard the conversation and looked over at everyone with an inquiring gaze.

"Oh, I want to buy A-Cheng a computer to help him with his studies."

Li Dingjian answered naturally and gave Fang Cheng a subtle wink:

"Wait until the procedures are completed, then tell your mother in a few days."

Fang Cheng understood and nodded slightly, knowing his uncle didn't want his mother to feel burdened.

Right at that moment, a knock on the door suddenly rang out crisply.

Fang Cheng immediately got up and walked to the door.

Opening the door, a pure and pretty face came into view—it was Zhou Xiumei.

"Brother Cheng, Happy New Year! This is a gift for you... for you and your family."

Zhou Xiumei held a pink gift box in both hands and happily handed it to Fang Cheng.

Only when her eyes glanced at the scene inside the house, her cheeks instantly turned crimson, her eyes betraying shyness.

Clearly, being stared at by so many people made her somewhat embarrassed.

"Xiumei, wait a moment."

Fang Cheng took the gift with a gentle smile on his face, turned around, and walked quickly to his bedroom.

A moment later, when he came out, he held an equally exquisitely wrapped gift box in his hands.

"Since you gave our family a gift, I shouldn't be stingy either."

Fang Cheng walked up to Zhou Xiumei and handed her the New Year gift he had prepared days ago, his eyes full of sincerity.

At this time, Li Biyun spoke with a smile, her tone affectionate:

"Xiumei, to still keep us in mind on New Year's Eve, you really are a thoughtful child. It's cold outside, come in and sit for a while."

Saying that, she warmly waved to Zhou Xiumei.

Li Dingjian also joined in:

"A-Cheng, really, why aren't you hurrying to invite the girl inside?"

Hearing this, Zhou Xiumei became even more bashful, hurriedly shaking her head and replying softly:

"No, Auntie Li, my mom and brother came back today, and there's still a lot of work to do at home, so I have to hurry back."

Saying that, she took the gift, and like a startled little deer, hurried away.

Standing at the doorway, watching Zhou Xiumei open the iron gate and head back into her house, the corners of Fang Cheng's lips rose unconsciously.

He then turned back into his bedroom, took out the New Year gifts he had prepared for his mom, uncle, and grandfather, and presented them one by one.

Inside the room, the lights were bright and filled with laughter; family affection grew deeper and warmer in the giving and sharing.

In the night sky outside the window, fireworks bloomed competing for glory and neon lights sparkled brightly, as if clothing the entire city in festive attire.