Li Luo Ran was in her bedroom, staring blankly into space, wearing the A-line skirt her aunt had specially bought for her. The skirt really made her legs look good, accentuating their length to an almost absurd degree.
She hadn't been very happy lately. Her parents had returned her jewelry, but her mother kept her under tight watch at home.
This wasn't the main reason for her low spirits, though. Su Ping Nan was too busy, barely calling. The young girl missed him.
It was New Year's Eve, and she had been waiting for a call all day, but none had come.
“Ring ring ring.”
Li Luo Ran dashed towards the phone, grabbing it before her mother could.
Li Mu glared at her. Seeing her daughter's sullen expression suddenly blossom into a radiant smile, she instantly knew who was on the other end.
“What's the use of having a daughter? All she does is favor outsiders.” Li Mu grumbled at Li Luo Yan, who pouted in response.
“Mhm, mhm.” Li Luo Ran nodded, covering her mouth with her hand, her face beaming with delight and obedience. This only earned her another sharp glare from Li Mu, who said, “You're going to be a heartless one when you grow up.”
Looking at her sister, radiating joy, and then at her mother, Li Luo Yan felt a pang of the world's cruelty for the first time.
Li Luo Ran hung up the phone, a smile spreading across her face as she stood up. Ignoring her mother’s frowning expression, she bounced towards her sister like a cheerful bird, dragging Li Luo Yan towards their balcony. Her eyes sparkled like stars. “Sister, come watch the fireworks.”
The Li family lived in a housing complex for government employees. At this time, there were only a handful of buildings with elevators in Xiangnan. Li Fu held a decent position, so they were assigned an apartment on the fourth floor, offering a great view.
Zhang Tong, accompanied by a group of people, had been busy setting everything up for the past afternoon. He had volunteered to stay behind and not go home for the New Year, choosing instead to come to Xiangnan.
He hadn’t reacted fast enough the last time Du Jiu appeared, and it had gnawed at him for days. This time, he was determined to be there.
Before leaving, Su Ping Nan had given him one instruction: “Go big.” Zhang Tong took his words to heart, sparing no expense on the fireworks. After an afternoon of tireless work, they had finally filled the small square in front of Li Luo Ran’s home with an impressive display.
They didn’t have professional fireworks companies like those of later generations, so Su Ping Nan had sent over dozens of men. These strong men, all in uniform, held lit cigarettes in their mouths, waiting for Zhang Tong’s command.
Zhang Tong waited, his eyes fixed on Li Luo Ran’s balcony. When Li Luo Ran and her sister appeared, Zhang Tong was immediately struck by her delicate features. He realized then and there that this was the lady of the hour, the reason for this grand pyrotechnic show.
He was about to wave his hand, but a sudden inspiration struck him. He bowed deeply towards the balcony where Li Luo Ran stood, and shouted, “Happy New Year, Sister-in-law!”
The men below were taken aback, but they quickly followed suit, bowing and yelling in unison, “Happy New Year, Sister-in-law!”
The chorus of voices from the dozens of men was deafening. For a moment, many people rushed out onto their balconies to see what was happening.
Li Luo Ran first blushed, then burst into a radiant smile. Even Li Luo Yan thought her sister looked incredibly beautiful against the backdrop of the dazzling fireworks.
“Boom boom boom!” Countless fireworks exploded in the sky, instantly filling the entire horizon. On the last day of 1992, Xiangnan witnessed its biggest fireworks display, all for Li Luo Ran.
Li Mu’s anger subsided, and she pinched Li Fu’s arm playfully as he gazed at the fireworks from the window, chuckling, “Old Li, you’re done for. With this kind of romance, our daughter is beyond saving.”
As everyone was shouting, Li Rao just pulled her car into a parking spot below Li Luo Ran’s apartment. She was single and used to spending the New Year with her older brother. Hearing the deafening roar and watching the fireworks illuminate the sky, she suddenly remembered something Su Ping Nan had said at dinner: “I’ll take her to see the world’s wonders.”
For some reason, Li Rao felt a pang of envy for her niece. She watched the fireworks for a while, then turned and slowly made her way upstairs.
Even the most beautiful scenery can grow tiresome. Zhang Tong had emptied the Xiangnan fireworks factory’s entire warehouse, and it had been going on for an hour without stopping.
Li Fu and Li Mu were starting to feel weary and began clearing the table to prepare for dinner. Only Li Luo Ran continued to stare intently at the sky, her face filled with sweet delight.
“How much did all of this cost?”
Li Mu’s mood had calmed down, and she looked at the fireworks painting the sky in vibrant colors, feeling a pang of concern for the cost.
“Those kids, they’re so wasteful.”
Looking at her sister-in-law, who was still mentally calculating the cost, Li Rao said, “Remember that fortune-teller who read Luo Ran’s fortune when she was a kid?”
Li Fu, with a cup of strong tea in hand, sat down and nodded, “Yes, he said Luo Ran had a great destiny.”
Li Rao nodded. “I probably made all the money I’ll earn in a year, and your future son-in-law just blew it all on one night.”
Li Fu knew his sister’s earning potential, and was a little shocked to hear this.
“So, there’s a saying,” Li Rao looked at Li Luo Ran, still captivated by the sky, and spoke softly, “People of fortune don’t have to work hard.”
Li Fu, a cultured man, blew on the tea leaves floating in his cup and said calmly, “Our daughter, we don’t wish for them to be rich and powerful for eternity, we only wish that after they’ve seen everything the world has to offer, they can still hold hands and be happy.”
(I’m writing on my phone, so I can’t add a chapter title. I just wanted to thank everyone for your tips and support. I’ll keep working hard)