New Year's Eve

"Mr. Bi, what a coincidence! Then I'll play a little trick—let's treat this cigarette holder as a birthday gift." Bi Qingtang smiled faintly, saying nothing in response. Tan Yang followed up, "Mr. Bi, you're the birthday star today, so that's why you were made to drink so much at lunch, right?"

Bi Qingtang shook his head, unconcerned. "No, a friend's child had their first-month celebration. That little gentleman is truly lucky. Not like me—my mother passed away right after giving birth to me. For thirty years, my birthday has been my mother's death anniversary. So, there was no first-month banquet, no hundred-day feast, and I've never celebrated my birthday." He gave a self-deprecating laugh. "Back then, only my father and I knew about my birthday. But two years ago, my father passed away as well. Today, I was celebrating the baby's first month—over a hundred tables across three floors, and at first I was happy, joining in the revelry. But halfway through the drinking, I suddenly remembered today was my thirty-second birthday, and my mood soured. Ah, how pathetic—a grown man envying a child."

He looked up by chance and saw Tan Yang frowning in distress, and thought to himself, she is still just a child, always treating others' sorrows as her own. Not wishing to dwell on it, he teased, "I've only told you, so you must remember to give me a birthday present every year from now on!" Tan Yang nodded eagerly, "Alright, alright, I promise." Bi Qingtang clapped his hands and laughed, "Ha! Swindling gifts—this trick never fails!" Tan Yang was taken aback, then scolded him, "Rascal!" and turned back to the house.

Bi Qingtang laughed loudly behind her, but when Tan Yang entered the study, he suddenly stopped, weighing the ivory cigarette holder gently in his hand and sighing, "First one in thirty years!"

From that day, Bi Qingtang started visiting the apartment more frequently. Zhao Ling and Li He were still always flirting whenever they had a free moment. Bi Qingtang never hesitated to expose them, chastising them, and whispered to Tan Yang, "See? Learn from them—they love to act, but we don’t even like to watch." The couple would restrain themselves for a while, then quickly forget. Whenever they started their old tricks again, Bi Qingtang would wink at Tan Yang and say, "Your turn or mine?" Outside, the weather grew colder, but Tan Yang was increasingly happy in Shanghai.

Soon, New Year's Eve arrived. Early in the morning, Tan Yang cut gold-speckled red paper at the grocery shop, wrote a couplet in her room, and prepared to paste it on the front door. In the alley, children ran around joyfully with lanterns, and somewhere, the crackle of firecrackers would suddenly erupt, filling the air with the spirit of the New Year. After pasting the couplet, her hands were numb with cold and she was about to close the door when a child ran up, "Miss Tan?" Tan Yang nodded. "A gentleman asked me to give this to you!" Tan Yang took the paper, opened it, and read the words: "Dress warmly and come with me. Bi Qingtang." The handwriting was strong and forceful. The note's lack of any polite phrasing irked her slightly, but she still went inside, put on her cotton cape, and left. Aunt Wu had returned to Tongli for the New Year days ago, so Tan Yang locked up herself before leaving.

At the mouth of the alley, she saw Bi Qingtang sitting in a rickshaw, legs crossed, smoking. Seeing her, he laughed, "After the child took the note, I realized I forgot to write 'please.' I was worried you might refuse to come with me!" Tan Yang waved the note, "Who says I'm going with you? I came out especially so you could add the missing 'please.'" Bi Qingtang laughed and pointed to the rickshaw behind him, "Young lady, please get in."

Tan Yang lifted her skirt and climbed into the rickshaw. Before the driver started, Bi Qingtang turned and asked, "Aren't you going to ask where I'm taking you? What if I sell you?" Tan Yang wrapped her cape tighter, "If you really wanted to sell me, you'd have done it long ago. Selling people isn't like selling pigs—you have to fatten them up first." Bi Qingtang shook his head and signaled the driver to go, "Your mouth is even sharper than Miss Zhao's! I won't argue with you anymore!" She suddenly recalled Bi Qingtang saying that bantering was flirting, and remembered how Zhao Ling always sparred with Li He. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, wishing she could disappear, but the rickshaw picked up speed, and fortunately Bi Qingtang was in the one ahead, sparing him from seeing her awkwardness.

They arrived outside a clothing shop in the foreign concession, and Bi Qingtang called the driver to stop. Both got out, and Bi Qingtang pointed to a dark blue women's coat in the window, "I passed by here this morning and saw it at a glance. I remembered someone spent her New Year's clothing money on a cigarette holder. So, in a hurry to find you, I even forgot to write 'please'!" Tan Yang stood there, stunned. Bi Qingtang opened the door and called back, "Come in!"

The woolen coat was simple and elegant, and on Tan Yang, whose skin was fair, it looked graceful and beautiful. Like all girls, she loved pretty things, and smiled happily at her reflection in the mirror. Bi Qingtang glanced at her and said casually, "I knew you'd like it the moment I saw it—and it looks great on you. You can wear it to school, too." As he took out his wallet to pay, Tan Yang felt embarrassed, "You've spent money on me again." Bi Qingtang replied impatiently, "If I weren't happy to spend on you, I'd be keeping you at a distance! You gave me a gift—I didn't even thank you, and you didn't feel awkward, nor did I. Isn't that much better?"

As they left the shop, fine snow began to fall. The new coat was windproof and warm. On New Year's Eve, rickshaws were hard to find. So the two of them strolled along the main street, chatting and laughing. On the roadside, an old man stood by a warm stove, calling out, "Roasted sweet potatoes! Genuine Shandong sweet potatoes!" Tan Yang stopped instinctively. The old man saw them and said to Bi Qingtang, "Sir, buy a hot sweet potato for your sister—Shandong sweet potatoes are very sweet." The warm, sweet aroma made Tan Yang swallow quietly. Bi Qingtang smiled and paid, and the old man wrapped one in old newspaper. As Tan Yang reached out to take it, the old man pulled back, "Child, let your brother carry it—fresh out of the oven, it's hot." Bi Qingtang took it with a smile and turned to Tan Yang, "Don't worry, I'll just hold it for you for a bit. Your brother won't steal it." Tan Yang wrinkled her nose and snorted.

After a while, Bi Qingtang handed the sweet potato to Tan Yang, the top half already peeled. She stood still for a moment before taking it, saying softly, "My father used to peel sweet potatoes for me just like this." Bi Qingtang smiled gently, "I know." "How do you know?" Bi Qingtang ignored her question and continued, "I bet this sweet potato isn't as good as the ones your father roasted, right?" Seeing Tan Yang's surprised look, Bi Qingtang burst out laughing, "Silly girl, did you think your father only roasted sweet potatoes for you?"

"By the way, why does everyone always think I'm your sister? The sweet potato seller said I was, and I remember the manager at the photo studio said the same thing the first time we went out." "That's because, when we walk together, we don't look like father and daughter, nor," he paused and looked Tan Yang up and down, clearing his throat, "nor do we look like a couple!" Seeing Tan Yang squint and smile, Bi Qingtang pondered for a moment. "Is it so bad to be my sister? From now on, call me big brother," he said, striding ahead, his voice now warm with laughter. "I'll call you little sister, alright?"

Tan Yang was startled, then stomped her foot and chased after him. "You—you know my childhood name is Little Sister, don't you?" Though it sounded like a challenge, there was an unmistakable hint of affection.

By afternoon, there were barely any cars on the road, and they gave up trying to call a rickshaw. Luckily, Shanghai's winter wasn't too cold, and the snow melted quickly, leaving only a thin layer on the ground.

"Little Sister, I'm sorry to make you walk home. It'll take at least an hour before you get back." "It's nothing, as long as I reach home before Uncle Feng returns from the opium den. By the way, why didn't you take a car today?" "It's New Year's, I gave the driver a holiday." "What about Uncle Chen?" "He went back to his hometown for New Year's." Tan Yang stopped in disbelief. "Ah? So there's no one at your house?" Bi Qingtang nodded, "It's been like this for the last couple of years. Everyone has family to go home to for New Year's, and I can't refuse them time off. Anyway, from the second day of the New Year, there'll be plenty of balls and banquets."

"But—but what about tonight and tomorrow?" Tan Yang murmured. Bi Qingtang pretended to be relaxed, "I'll just sleep for two days—never get a chance to rest properly otherwise." Tan Yang looked at him with pity. Seeing her genuine sympathy, Bi Qingtang was both amused and frustrated. He hurried ahead and suddenly said seriously, "Looks like next year, I need to take care of something supremely dull!" "Ah? What?" Tan Yang asked curiously. "Find a woman to marry, so I can spend New Year's with her!" He furrowed his brow, looking earnest. Tan Yang couldn't help but laugh. Bi Qingtang said, very seriously, "You don't believe me? Next year, I'll have your sister-in-law take you shopping for new clothes!"

On New Year's Eve, Tan Yang and Uncle Feng, nephew and uncle, followed northern custom and made dumplings together. It was a scene of kindness and harmony. Looking at her uncle, Tan Yang felt an overwhelming sense of warmth and gratitude. Orphaned by both parents, she still had someone to rely on—she was fortunate. She resolved to be a dutiful daughter, to bring joy and comfort to this pitiful, equally lonely elder.

That night, firecrackers exploded across the city, reaching a deafening crescendo at midnight. Who could sleep on such a night? she wondered.

Early the next morning, Tan Yang went to the telephone booth at the alley entrance. The queue was long, and she waited in the cold for quite some time before her turn came.

It was a long time before the other side picked up, the voice barely awake and lazy, "Hello, who's this?"

She smiled and switched the receiver to her other ear. "It's me, big brother. Little Sister wishes you a happy New Year!"

There was a long silence, then a cough, and he laughed, "Good girl. Next year, I'll have your sister-in-law give you a big red envelope for New Year's!"

"I'll remember that, big brother. You mustn't go back on your word!" she teased.

"Mm, hurry home, it's cold outside. I can hear the wind howling here."

"Alright, goodbye, big brother."

"By the way, when will you start going to the apartment again to study with Miss Zhao?"

"The fifth day of the New Year."

"Good, I'll bring your New Year's money then."