Chapter 15.1 - 山楂 Hawthorn
After returning home, Shen Xifan saw piles of burlap sacks and gift boxes in the living room. When she went to wash her hands in the bathroom, she heard a “splashing” sound from a plastic bucket. Curious, she lifted the lid and was shocked, “Oh my god! There’s a snake!”
It was Shen’s father who was startled instead. He chuckled and teased with a small wooden stick, “That’s just a yellow eel, can’t you tell?”
Shen Xifan felt nauseous, “Throw it out on the balcony, I can’t stand having something staring at me while I’m in the bathroom!”
Then she heard a “squeaking” noise coming from the burlap sacks. Shen’s father explained, “Those are crabs. This is a silver carp. Fanfan, come help me put the fish into the bucket, don’t let them die, or your mom will be sad.”
During dinner, Shen’s mother, happily holding her chopsticks, pointed out, “Pick out a few boxes of the best seafood to send to Grandpa and the grandparents, and those vegetables, the greenhouse ones from the agricultural bureau, they grew really well this year.”
Shen’s father nodded, “It’s practical to send flowers, vegetables, and fruits to the elderly for the New Year.”
Shen Xifan blinked, realizing, “Oh… no wonder the house is so full of things, it’s almost New Year!”
Shen’s mother frowned, “You only think about work. You don’t even know if you’ll get time off for the New Year. This year, on New Year’s Eve, your uncle will host, and on the first day of the New Year, we’ll go to your grandpa’s house. On the second day, they’ll all come over for dinner, just homemade dishes.”
Shen Xifan groaned, “I’ll have to give red envelopes to the little ones again, I’m going to be broke!”
The New Year was indeed approaching. That evening, several guests from Shen’s mother’s office came over, bringing two pots of orchids—beautifully named “Sea Butterfly Heart,” six pots of kumquats, and several boxes of tangerines, oranges, kiwis, and strawberries.
Food—this was Shen Xifan’s only expectation for the New Year. Although material life was abundant now, and she could eat anything she wanted, she felt that having the whole family gathered together for a meal, even if it was just cabbage and tofu, was the sweetest.
On the internet, people were discussing “how to spend the New Year,” “what to do for the New Year now,” and even the “Spring Festival Gala program list.” Some were even openly posting online ads for “temporary girlfriends” and “temporary boyfriends” to deal with their parents’ matchmaking pressure.
She casually clicked on a webpage that featured a post asking for advice on what wedding gift to give a girlfriend. It was highly popular, with many comments, most likely from women—almost all of them suggested giving diamonds.
Indeed, “Diamonds are forever, and a single one will forever be passed down,” no matter how aloof and refined a woman is, the allure of diamonds remains irresistible. For example, even someone like Shen Xifan couldn’t resist the charm of the “Platinum Heart Shadow” necklace.
However, it’s not something she deserved. She thought back to the deep disappointment in Yan Heng’s eyes this afternoon, and she found herself feeling somewhat reluctant. But after all, he had hurt her first. What right did he have to ask for compensation now? Three years later, was her lingering attachment a result of her inability to forget the love, or was it because of the lingering resentment over the hurt he caused?
She thought to herself that perhaps it was better this way. When the time came to get married, she would find someone suitable, have a simple relationship, and then marry. During the New Year, they would visit each other’s families, spreading joy. The younger generation would call him “brother-in-law” and ask for red envelopes, and she would have a few drinks with the grandfathers and uncles, play Mahjong with the aunties, and then the year would pass. Maybe that was what it meant to be part of a family.
But she always felt a sense of dissatisfaction. Was this the life she truly wanted? Was this the kind of love she had always dreamed of? In such a chaotic city, was there really a place for her to find a pure and sincere kind of love?
