Chapter 595: First Day of the New Year: Snowfall and New Year’s Greetings

When they reached the little house by the fields, Xia Qing asked, “Captain Hu, do you think it’ll snow soon?”

Yesterday, while disguised as Yan Ning, Xia Qing couldn’t tune in to weather reports, nor could she get Territory One’s weather updates.

Territory One had weather monitoring equipment so Hu Zifeng knew the forecast well. “Yeah, it should start soon and last at least three or four hours. We’ll get at least five centimeters—a decent cover to hide any wolf tracks from when you got dropped off. That’s good news.”

It really was good news. But it hadn’t been a whole pack that brought her back—just a lone wolf. Not that many tracks to cover. Even if someone spotted the prints, nobody would connect them to her.

Xia Qing set the pot on the small stove, added water, then started boiling dumplings. Hu Zifeng rinsed bowls and plates in hot water from the kettle. By the time Xia Qing lifted the lid to swirl the dumplings, he peered inside. “Pumpkin filling?”

No, he didn’t have some see-through x-ray skill. It was just that a few bright orange pumpkin strands were floating on top.

Xia Qing nodded and explained, “Auntie Shi said the pumpkins wouldn’t last long after the New Year, so I turned the last two Green Lantern pumpkins into dumplings and froze them.”

Something must’ve gone wrong—some of the dumplings were split.

A broad grin appeared on Hu Zifeng’s rugged face. “Guess I’m lucky today. Once we finish off what’s left, the pumpkins in the greenhouse should be almost ready, right?”

“Still not even budding. After the first Devastation Rain, I’ll pinch off the pumpkin shoots—should force them to start flowering.”

The water started boiling so Xia Qing topped it up and kept cooking. Neither of them mentioned Xia Qing’s absence, acting as if she’d never left.

Hu Zifeng started filling her in on local news. “Yesterday morning, Tang Huai tried asking you to team up for hunting in the channel, but Chang Li turned him down. In the afternoon, he called, said he wanted to bring over a few abalone. I picked up and told him to come today instead.”

Abalone, huh? Xia Qing hadn’t tasted it in over ten years—she’d forgotten what it even tasted like. She asked, “No word from anyone else?”

“Just the usual small talk. Wen Nengjie from Territory Seventeen said he’d give everyone New Year’s greetings this morning. Captain Tan wants any territory planning to set off fireworks to report ahead. Only Territory Twelve around here actually did.”

He’d barely finished when the sharp crackle of fireworks erupted outside.

Xia Qing handed Hu Zifeng the slotted spoon for the dumplings, opened the door and dashed home. At the village entrance, she ran into Old Goat and Er Gou. Sensing their unease, she quickly soothed them. “Don’t worry, Boss, Er, it’s just fireworks. No invaders—everything’s fine.”

Seeing Xia Qing safe and sound, Er Gou calmed down. Old Goat dug angrily at the snowy ground with his hooves.

“First day of the New Year, get up and send your greetings~~~”

Over the walkie-talkie, Tang Huai broke out into a cheerful song that made Xia Qing’s fists itch and got Old Goat’s hooves twitching, too.

Hu Zifeng logged on and cursed him out, “You bug-digger, can’t you wake folks even earlier? It’s barely five-thirty, for crying out loud!”

Tang Huai was in too good a mood to care. “So what if it’s five-thirty? It’s still the New Year! If you don’t like it, come over! Let’s have a New Year’s scuffle while you’re at it!”

“Moo!”

Old Goat, furious, scraped his hooves and looked ready to charge Tang Huai, head down and horns out.

Xia Qing figured Tang Huai’s mood was probably because he’d found out about Tang Zhengsu’s ‘suicide’—hence the celebratory fireworks.

Both her companions were annoyed; they stuck close to Xia Qing and didn’t want to separate. When she went back to the little house by the fields to fetch dumplings for breakfast, Tang Huai gave up arguing with Hu Zifeng and started calling for her again. “Xia Qing, Xin Yu, are you up yet? Let’s head out to give New Year’s greetings together!”

Yeah, right, like she’d want to do that.

Before Xia Qing could hit the button on her walkie-talkie, Zhang San’s voice rang out on the Lords’ channel. “Tang Huai.”

Tang Huai immediately turned on the charm. “Third Brother, happy New Year! Wishing you luck and every success in the coming year!”

But Zhang San sounded miserable as ever. “If I hear you wandering around anywhere near Section Seven and wake me up, you can forget about getting anything done this year.”

Everyone else jerked awake from the noise too…

Tang Huai quickly apologized, all meekness. “Third Brother, please, go back to sleep, I promise I won’t come close.”

Of all the ‘elders’ in the territory who’d get a New Year’s visit from Tang Huai, Xia Qing only knew Zhang San. Tang hadn’t even made it out the door before getting scolded. So much for New Year’s greetings.

With a smile, Xia Qing messaged her idol to say she was back in the territory so he could rest easy.

With Tang Huai quiet, the channel finally settled down.

Xia Qing sat by the fireplace, eating more than thirty dumplings in front of the family photo before heading out to clear the snow.

It was coming down hard—thick white drifts piled up on the roof, the greenhouse, and the top of the shed. Clearing it all off quickly was a must.

She drove the rotary tiller out from the garage, picked up her two companions, and began plowing snow. Around the same time, Deputy Base Leader Tang Zhengrong from Hui Three came by with his crew and knocked on Tang Zhengbo’s front gate.

“Happy New Year, Uncle!” Tang Ning opened the door with a bright smile and let Tang Zhengrong in, then called out happily, “Grandma, Uncle’s here to bring New Year wishes!”

Tang Zhengrong, who’d come intending to report a death, found himself completely thrown off by Tang Ning’s cheerful greeting. He managed to plaster on a smile and stepped inside, giving his New Year’s greetings to the old lady seated in the living room. “Happy New Year, Auntie. Wishing you peace and longevity in the Year of the Dragon.”

The old matriarch rose with a gentle smile. “I know things at base keep you busy. No need for a special trip—a call is enough for me.”

Tang Zhengrong hadn’t visited for years, always using work as an excuse. There were even years when he hadn’t called.

The old lady was being polite, but she was also calling him out.

Before Tang Zhengrong could say anything, Tang Zhengbo came out of the kitchen in an apron, carrying a plate of dumplings. With a smile, he offered an easy out. “Mom, Ah Rong’s here to wish you luck and bring you good fortune for the year.”

“That’s right.” Tang Zhengrong took the dumplings with his own hands and set them on the table. “Auntie, may you have good health and a long life this Dragon Year.”

The old lady made her way over to the table with a smile. “Why’s everyone standing? Sit down and have dumplings together.”

“I already ate. Take your time, Auntie.” Tang Zhengrong had no time for dumplings. He shot Tang Zhengbo a glance, signaling they needed to talk privately.

Everything was in chaos now, and Tang Zhengrong needed Tang Zhengbo to rally the family and help him calm things down.

But before Tang Zhengbo could react, his wife Li Shumin came out of the kitchen with another plate of dumplings and blocked him.

Her voice was gentle, but her words had a chill. “There’s no outsiders here. Whatever you have to say, just say it right here. In just over a month since Ning’s dad has been back, he’s already survived six assassination attempts—and that last injury at your office still isn’t healed.”