"Brother! Brother!"

Under constant shaking and calling, Lin Jie finally woke up, seeing Lin Miao neatly dressed and kneeling by the bed.

He glanced at the electronic clock on the bedside table; it was not yet six in the morning, and he said gloomily, "Miaomiao, what's the matter with you? During vacations, you never woke up so early."

Lin Miao chuckled, shaking him, and said, "Brother, get up. It's already the twenty-eighth of the twelfth lunar month, and we haven't prepared a single New Year's supply."

She continued speaking unilaterally, "We need to buy Spring Festival couplets, lanterns to decorate the room, Chinese knots, colorful lights, and such. We also need to buy candies, nuts, fruits, firecrackers, fireworks, chickens, ducks, fish, cured meats, sausages, and vegetables..."

Lin Jie turned over, lying on the bed still motionless.

Seeing this, Lin Miao became a bit anxious and began to tug at Lin Jie's arm, calling out urgently, "Tomorrow is the twenty-ninth, you have to rest well during the day to prepare for the surgery at night, today is the only free day you have."

"We have to celebrate this New Year well, we need to buy a lot of things, I can't handle it alone, brother get up quickly..."

Lin Jie was nagged to the point of no return, so he had to turn over and sit up, helplessly saying, "Big supermarkets aren't closed during the New Year, we don't need to do a big shopping, we can buy whenever we need."

Lin Miao, hands on her hips, said, "Goods are plentiful this time of year, going to buy after the New Year means only leftovers and disposed items are left. Also, we need to do a thorough clean of the room today; such a large room will take us several hours to clean."

Hearing this, Lin Jie fell back onto the bed again, groaning, "Let's hire people from a cleaning company to do the cleaning!"

Lin Miao is getting a little angry now, shouting, "Lin Jie, get up quickly!"

"You think I don't want to? At this time, cleaning company people are either on holiday or have been booked long ago, there's no one to help us."

Under Lin Miao's urging, Lin Jie slowly rose from bed, washed up, ate breakfast, and it was already past eight when they left home.

They first went to a large nearby market, buying freshly slaughtered chickens, ducks, and fish, along with cured ducks, fish, cured meats, sausages, and pickled ham.

Watching Lin Miao energetically and painstakingly selecting New Year supplies, marking each item with blissful expression on a long list, Lin Jie suddenly realized, this Chinese New Year isn't an ordinary one for Lin Miao, it carries a special significance.

This year marked significant changes for both, Lin Miao wanted to celebrate this memorable, noteworthy year with a "good New Year."

Thinking of this, Lin Jie also carried a grateful heart, actively engaging in the grand shopping spree led by Lin Miao.

The bought assortment of meats, vegetables, seasonings, various candies, fruits, nuts, and snacks filled up the car's trunk and backseat, prompting Lin Jie to drive home for a first round of unloading.

Afterwards, Lin Jie drove Lin Miao to Wanda Mall, purchasing numerous New Year decorations!

Lin Miao, in a great mood, also bought bright and cheerful outfits for both men and women.

On the way back home, they specifically went to a designated firecracker and fireworks sales point, buying lots of firecrackers and fireworks.

The crazy shopping spree ended with everything sorted, reaching three in the afternoon.

Lin Miao exuberantly said, "Brother, next is cleaning! As for decorating the room, I can slowly handle it at home by myself over the next couple of days."

Looking at the huge living room, Lin Jie, somewhat apprehensive, said, "Miaomiao, you always clean the house from time to time. Every two weeks we hire cleaning companies for thorough cleaning, the house isn't dirty at all!"

"I don't think there's a need for a big clean."

Lin Miao, taking on the role of a housekeeper, said, "No way! Brother, the cleaning of appliances, dusting, polishing windows and doors, these are New Year customs. Don't think of being lazy, and your car, it also needs a thorough wash."

Seeing this work couldn't be shirked, Lin Jie took out his mobile phone, saying, "With such a big house, the two of us working all day might still not finish, let me see if I can find helpers."

He sent out a group message to his WeChat contacts list, "Shout out if you're spending New Year in Binhai and not going home, poor souls!"

As soon as this message was sent, two people instantly responded, one returned a crying face, the other a pitiful animated picture.

Lin Jie chuckled, saying, "Miaomiao, the food we've bought could probably feed seven or eight people throughout the Chinese New Year holiday. I'll invite two people to celebrate the New Year with us, shall we? It'll be lively with more people!"

"Who?"

Lin Miao curiously leaned over.

"One is someone you know, Ling Mengjiao, and the other is someone you've heard of but have never met, Yang Leyi!"

While talking with Lin Miao, Lin Jie invited them over for dinner through WeChat, and noted that they couldn't just eat for free; they had to help with cleaning the house.

Seeing both replied with "I'll come over after work," after sending them the address, Lin Jie happily said, "Miaomiao, I found you two helpers, though they'll be a bit late."

"Let's rest for a while, we've been running around for most of the day and you're tired too."

Lin Miao pouted, helplessly saying, "Brother, I really have to hand it to you, to lazy out, you actually invite not-so-familiar friends to do the work."

"Once unfamiliar, twice acquainted!"

Lin Jie pulled Lin Miao onto the couch in the living room, saying, "These two girls have kind hearts, if they accept the invitation and spend the New Year with us, it'll definitely be lively."

He's not just whimsically inviting outsiders to celebrate the New Year at home.

Since their grandfather passed away, every New Year's time, both find their moods not so good, Lin Miao even hides in her room crying. Although this year is quite different, it's hard to avoid moments of melancholy.

Having two more people at home, with several people talking and laughing, just livens up the atmosphere.

Just then, Lin Miao's phone rang, it was An Kemeng calling.

She answered the call, muttering to the side for a while, then ran over with a bright smile saying, "Brother, Kemeng asked about your group message and upon knowing your intention, said she'll come over to help us with cleaning."

Lin Jie just pouted, saying, "Kemeng, this little one, probably hasn't even washed her own clothes! She comes to help? Watching you busy perhaps."

Lin Miao stood up, giggling, saying, "Brother, since you said you'd invite them for dinner, now it's time to get busy. Kemeng specifically comes over after hearing you'd personally cook a great meal."

Lin Jie then realized he'd dug a pit for himself, helplessly heading to the kitchen to start busily cooking.

Lin Miao also began cleaning Lin Jie's bedroom!

An Kemeng arrived around four-thirty, not helping Lin Miao with cleaning, but showed great interest in wandering around the kitchen, doing little errands per Lin Jie's instructions!

Ling Mengjiao and Yang Leyi both arrived around six, just in time for Lin Jie to finish dinner.

The few who already knew each other, gathered around the dining table, facing the array of dishes, watched as Lin Jie raised a glass with a bit of red wine!

Lin Jie jokingly said, "I am kind-hearted, serving food before doing work."

After several laughed, Lin Jie continued, "This year, we've met due to various reasons, a rare fate, and being able to dine together today is another kind of fate."

"The soon-to-be past year is worth each of us to remember! Let us raise our glasses together, hoping next year we all have better lives, cheers!"

"Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.