“Ningning, tonight you can collect your New Year’s money.”
As soon as Ling Qi mentioned the New Year’s money, the little child, who had been crying just a moment ago, sniffled and stopped crying. His little brain was working well; as soon as he thought of the New Year’s money, the first person he thought of was his dad.
Daddy also had to give Ningning New Year’s money.
If he got angry at Daddy now, it would affect his New Year’s money.
Faced with the New Year’s money, the little child clenched his chubby fists and tearfully gave in. He tugged on Ling Qi’s arm and asked, “Where’s Daddy?”
“Your dad went to get some firecrackers and to do a patrol.”
Every New Year, the Zerg would cause some trouble. Although Ling Qi was annoyed by those bugs, he had no solution for them. The Zerg’s history was too long, and no one knew exactly when they appeared. Their numbers were too great, seemingly endless.
The little child nodded and sat on the bed, obediently letting Uncle Ling Qi dressed him.
In no time at all, Ling Qi had dressed both kids and placed them on the floor. Today was New Year’s Eve, and the little ones were dressed in new red clothes.
Ling Qi, feeling festive, took a photo of them early in the morning and sent it to the family group chat.
Many family members weren’t on the barren planet, and although they weren’t spending the New Year together, sharing photos in the group chat made things lively.
After seeing the photo, Ludwig thought for a moment and sent a red envelope to the group chat: “For the little children.”
As soon as the red envelope was sent, Raphael quickly grabbed it.
Hearing the red envelope notification, Zhan Xi, who was planning to join in and grab the envelope: “?”
Without thinking, he @Raphael in the group chat: “Give me back the red envelope, it’s for our little ones. I need to manage it for them.”
Raphael had opened the red envelope by mistake, but once it was opened, he was reluctant to return it: “I’m their aunt; it’s reasonable for me to manage their red envelope too.”
Zhan Xi: “?”
Zhan Xi privately messaged Raphael, and the two adults, a miser and someone trying to snag the red envelope, exchanged over 99 messages arguing.
In the end, it was unclear what they discussed, but Zhan Xi surprisingly gave up the red envelope and made a deal with Raphael in private.
In the group chat.
An Nuo was saving photos of the little baby and sending messages: “Ling Qi, record more videos of the little child. I want to see him.”
Ling Qi: “Sure.”
The adults were chatting, occasionally sending red envelopes. The group was lively. Ai Wei shared photos of the red lanterns hanging in the palace and the ingredients prepared by the chef for the New Year’s Eve dinner. Raphael also posted pictures of the food from their side.
While the adults were having fun, the little child was eagerly waiting to collect red envelopes.
During breakfast, as they were eating dumplings, he hugged his dad’s leg.
“Daddy, good morning!”
The little child rubbed his chubby face against his dad, speaking in a soft, sweet voice: “Ningning loves Daddy so much!”
Zhan Xi: “...”
Zhan Xi looked at the little child who was still holding a grudge before bed last night, now hugging his leg and saying he loved him. He raised an eyebrow but didn’t expose the child’s intentions.
He knew the little child was laying the groundwork for asking for New Year’s money tonight.
“Daddy spanked your butt last night. Aren’t you mad at Daddy?”
The little child: “...”
The little child wasn’t quite skillful enough yet. He huffed angrily, still mad.
But the next second, thinking of the New Year’s money, he hugged his dad’s leg tightly again and said loudly, “Not mad! Ningning’s butt doesn’t hurt at all!”
Zhan Xi watched his change of expression, almost bursting into laughter.
He teased the little child a few more times before letting him go.
The old Earth custom of burning incense and paper, and kowtowing, was a tradition representing remembrance of deceased loved ones. It was said that burning paper money allowed deceased relatives to receive it.
During the New Year, Zhan Xi would burn some paper for his deceased parents.
“Ningning, come and watch the fireworks.”
After setting the offerings and lighting the incense, Zhan Xi called the little child over to set off fireworks. The long string of firecrackers went off, and the little child and Lele covered their ears, both scared and curious.
After the fireworks, Zhan Xi continued to burn paper and kowtow with the child.
Dressed in red, the little child imitated his father, kneeling down in front of the fire. Ling Qi found it amusing and deliberately turned on his star device to record a little video to post in the group chat.
Zhan Xi lit the paper money and murmured with his eyes closed, “Mom and Dad, I’m burning some money for you. I hope that in the new year, you can bless us with peace and safety, and help Ningning to study well and not cause trouble...”
The little child, Ningning, perked up his ears and listened to his father’s wishes.
His eyes brightened, and he clasped his chubby hands together, bowing to the paper money pile as well: “Grandpa, Grandma, please bless Ningning with not having to go to school, playing games every day, and not getting spanked.”
Ningning’s bow was very sincere.
He was worried that Grandpa and Grandma might not hear him, so he closed his eyes and repeated his wish several times.
Beside him, Zhan Xi was speechless: “...”
Zhan Xi ground his teeth but resisted the urge to spank Ningning right then, firmly burning the rest of the paper money and following the tradition by kowtowing a few times to his parents.
Ningning followed his father’s lead and kowtowed a few times too.
When he opened his eyes after kowtowing, he saw his father still wanting to spank him.
The father and son locked eyes, looking at each other. Ningning got a little scared and quickly climbed up, hiding behind Ling Qi: “Uncle Ling Qi, Dad wants to spank me again.”
Ling Qi: “...”
Ling Qi twitched his mouth. To be honest, Ningning’s words while burning the paper made him a bit itchy-handed too.
But today was a great day, and Ningning had already been spanked once. He couldn’t be spanked again. Thinking of this, Ling Qi took a deep breath and advised Zhan Xi, “Forget it, save it for later.”
They could spank him after the New Year.
Zhan Xi looked at Ningning hiding behind Ling Qi, peeking out his little head, and decided to save the spanking for later.
After burning the paper in the morning, they still needed to put up couplets.
The two little boys helped out for a while before Zhan Xi chased them away: “Shoo, shoo, go play with your little fireworks, or go play outside. Don’t help Daddy anymore.”
With these two helping, he was getting busier.
The chased-away Ningning felt a bit indignant. He thought he was really helpful!
Failing to curry favor with his dad, Ningning dragged Lele along to wander elsewhere. Today was New Year’s, and everyone had fried a lot of New Year’s goods. After wandering around for a while, Ningning came back with his little belly bulging.
He gave a satisfied burp and collapsed on the small sofa at home, whining for his dad to rub his tummy.
He couldn’t call Uncle Ling Qi, because Uncle Ling Qi and several other uncles were together preparing the New Year’s Eve dinner for everyone. This dinner was a reunion meal that everyone on their barren planet would eat together.
After dinner, everyone would stay up together to welcome the New Year.
“Daddy, rub my tummy.”
The little child got sleepy after eating his fill. He lay on the sofa, sleepily asking his daddy to rub his tummy.
Zhan Xi looked at the little child and walked over to rub his tummy.
In the evening.
Everyone gathered again to set off firecrackers. After setting off the firecrackers, they lit several fires and set up the dining table in the open area of the courtyard.
The little child had taken a nap in the afternoon, so he was full of energy now. He pulled Lele along, weaving through the adults and sweetly saying auspicious words to everyone he met.
Lele followed him for a while, a bit puzzled, “Why are we running around?”
The little child patted Lele’s head and shared his wisdom, “We’ll get lucky money soon, so we need to cheer up the uncles now.”
Lele: “...”
Lele nodded seriously, indicating that he understood.
Zhan Xi, seeing the little child busy and bustling around, couldn’t bear to watch. He turned his head away, ignoring his own little child.
When everything was finally ready, everyone started eating the New Year’s Eve dinner together. The dinner was very sumptuous, and everyone toasted and drank, eating meat and drinking wine.
The little child didn’t sit on a chair. He carried a big bowl, eating a bit at this table and then moving to eat a bit at another table.
The adults at the table would pick him up and feed him a few bites.
The little child, being fed, looked up with his chubby little face, sweetly saying thank you, well-behaved and polite.
Before dinner, Zhan Xi had taken photos of the dishes on their side and shared them in the group chat. He also greeted in the group chat: “Let’s all send red envelopes tonight to liven things up.”
Rafael, seeing the message about sending red envelopes, chose to ignore it.
He wasn’t sending any.
He had no money.
The lively New Year’s Eve dinner lasted for over two hours. After everyone was full, they all worked together to clear the dishes and wash them in the kitchen.
After washing the dishes, the fire was still burning.
The adults returned to their seats and started the annual tradition of giving New Year’s money. The slightly tipsy adults looked at the little child dressed in red with smiles in their eyes.
“Ningning, say some auspicious words to your uncles.”
Last year, the little child was too young, and the adults didn’t make any demands when giving the New Year’s money. But this year was different. This year, the little child had started kindergarten and was considered an educated child!
The elders were eagerly looking forward to the little child’s auspicious words: “Ningning, remember to make your auspicious words sound more cultured.”
There had never been an educated child on this barren planet, and the little red-clad youngster in front of them was the first.
Under the expectant gazes of the elders, the little child obediently knelt on the blanket prepared by the adults and said auspicious words to each uncle in turn.
The child, who had scored poorly in language class, struggled for a long time to come up with some words.
“Ningning wishes Uncle a strong and healthy body!”
Zhan Rao’s eyes darkened slightly. “Strong and healthy body” could be considered an idiom, so the little child’s auspicious words were acceptable. Satisfied, Zhan Rao took out a red envelope from his pocket and gave it to the little child.
Lele, sitting beside him, silently remembered his words, preparing to repeat them later!
The little child, having received the first red envelope, was full of energy. He then looked at the other adults: “Ningning wishes Sister Hua Ya to always be beautiful!”
Hua Ya beamed with joy. “Thank you for your blessing, little child. Here, a red envelope.”
The little child received another red envelope and became even more enthusiastic!
He went around offering blessings, and soon, his already limited vocabulary was exhausted. Seeing that he had no more words, the little child’s face turned red from the effort.
“Ningning wishes Uncle Duo Bi, wishes Uncle Duo Bi not to be afraid of the cold!”
Duo Bi: “...”
Duo Bi was taken aback. This blessing seemed a bit lacking in culture, as it didn’t even include an idiom.
But since it was their own little child, he would be indulged no matter what.
Duo Bi handed the red envelope to the little boy, waiting for him to continue offering auspicious words to Zhan Xi and Ling Qi. Although the two adults appeared calm and unperturbed on the surface, they both sat up straight.
The little boy chose to speak to Uncle Ling Qi first, as he was closer.
He looked at the handsome Uncle Ling Qi, his chubby face serious and earnest, and vowed in his heart to use a Chinese idiom!
The little boy racked his brains and finally, a light bulb went off in his head, and he exclaimed loudly in his childish voice, “Ningning, Ningning wishes Uncle Ling Qi to have a noble child soon!”
The idiom “早生贵子” (zǎo shēng guì zǐ) means “to have a noble child soon.”
However, the little child didn’t yet know what this idiom meant. He had heard other adults say it back on White Mist Star.
After using up his last stored idiom, the little child was completely out of ideas.
He looked at his father, hesitated for a moment, and then offered his blessing: “Ningning wishes Daddy, wishes Daddy to never die! Always be with Ningning!”
Zhan Xi: “...”
Zhan Xi’s face almost turned as green as Ling Qi’s.
At this moment, the red envelopes held by the two adults were sincerely not something they wanted to give.
The other adults were silent for a long time before someone murmured, “Is there a problem with the educational standards at the Imperial Military Kindergarten?”
