It was after three in the afternoon on New Year's Eve when Jiang Cheng's car began driving into his grandfather's Courtyard House.
In previous years at this time, some places in Chengdu would already be filled with the smell of sulfur from firecrackers drifting in the air.
However, within the Fifth Ring Road of the capital, firecrackers were explicitly prohibited.
Furthermore, due to the holiday,
it even felt a bit deserted along the way.
After all, most of the "Beijing drifters" had already returned to their hometowns.
As Jiang Cheng's private car passed through the third checkpoint,
among the pine trees outside the car window, four plainclothes guards stood at attention and saluted, the miniature communicators pinned to their collars glinting with a cold light.
The alleys were already hung with red lanterns; although there was no sound of firecrackers, the Spring Festival couplets and "Fu" characters on every door still exuded a strong atmosphere of the Lunar New Year.
The guard at the courtyard entrance nodded in greeting upon seeing the license plate, then stepped aside.
The newly pasted Spring Festival couplets at the courtyard entrance exuded the atmosphere of the New Year...
"Heaven adds years and people add longevity; Spring fills the universe and blessings fill the home."
The brushwork was powerful and vigorous, written by his own grandfather.
He walked into the courtyard of the Courtyard House.
The snow in the courtyard had been swept just right,
leaving a thin layer to symbolize good fortune without hindering walking.
His mother, Li Yan, stood under the festooned gate, leading people in decorating the house with lanterns and streamers.
The deep purple cheongsam she wore looked simple, but as she moved, subtle patterns on the cuffs seemed to flow.
This cheongsam appeared low-key, but upon closer inspection,
it was made with the same silk thread used for the 2008 Olympic formal wear.
The embroidered subtle patterns were of the starry sky design from the dome of the Great Hall of the People.
Jiang Cheng knew about this dress; it was handmade by a time-honored brand designated by the State Guest Protocol Department, commissioned by his grandfather a while ago.
"Mom."
Li Yan replied with a smile, "Oh, you're finally back! Your grandfather has been talking about you for ages."
Seeing Li Yan holding out her hands and looking at him,
Jiang Cheng praised with a smile, "Wow, Mom, you look very young in this outfit."
Hearing this, Li Yan gritted her teeth and reached out to slap Jiang Cheng's arm, "You brat, your mother was already young, okay?"
Jiang Cheng dodged with a laugh, his gaze sweeping across the yard.
The Courtyard House was decorated with lanterns and streamers; red silk lanterns hung under the eaves, and exquisite paper-cuts were pasted on the window frames, full of New Year's atmosphere.
"Do you need help?"
Li Yan shook her head, "No need, it's enough once these are hung up."
"Where's Dad?"
"Playing chess with your grandfather," Li Yan lowered her voice, "Your dad has already lost his third game. When I came out, he was acting shamelessly and trying to take back a move."
Hearing this, Jiang Cheng immediately burst into laughter.
Hearing this, Jiang Cheng walked toward the main hall.
Pushing open the carved mahogany door, the scent of tea mixed with a faint aroma of sandalwood wafted out.
His grandfather was sitting in a grandmaster's chair, holding an old-fashioned enamel cup.
Opposite him sat Second Grandfather, frowning at the chessboard.
Jiang Jianming stood to the side, shaking his head helplessly, "Dad, this move of yours... it's against the rules, isn't it?"
"Grandfather, Second Grandfather, Dad."
After Jiang Cheng called out, all three of them turned around at the same time.
His grandfather looked up with a smile.
Seeing Jiang Cheng, his eyes lit up, "Oh, my dear grandson is back! Come, come, take a look at this game for me. Your Second Grandfather is about to lose, and just like your father, he's trying to back out of it."
Second Grandfather snorted, "Big brother, your sportsmanship... back then at that meeting, you weren't this shameless."
The old man laughed heartily, "How can that be the same? Receiving foreign friends is official business, but playing chess is family business. In family business, a little cheating doesn't hurt."
Jiang Cheng shook his head with a smile and glanced at the chessboard, "Second Grandfather, if you jump your Knight here, Grandfather's Rook won't be saved."
Second Grandfather's eyes lit up, and he immediately made his move, "Check!"
The old man glared, "Hey, you brat, why are you siding with the outsider?"
Jiang Cheng shrugged innocently, "Grandfather, a gentleman doesn't speak while watching a game, but you were the one who asked me to look."
Everyone in the room burst into laughter.
The old man shook his head and put down the chess piece, "Alright, no more playing. Jiang Cheng, go change your clothes. We'll offer sacrifices to the ancestors later and take a family reunion photo."
After changing into a Chinese-style suit embroidered with dark patterns, Jiang Cheng walked toward the interior of the ancestral hall.
On the Phoebe zhennan plaque in front of the ancestral hall were four large characters: "Serving the Country with Absolute Loyalty."
According to Grandfather, these four characters were personally written by his former superior.
Seeing Jiang Cheng approach, the eight plainclothes guards from the Security Bureau standing at the door silently stepped aside.
Grandfather, Second Grandfather, and his father were standing in front of the ancestral tablets, talking.
"Your grandparents and your elder brothers are all here. Before long, I'll be able to see them too."
"Dad, what are you talking about? Your health is so good."
"When I was young, I didn't fear life or death. In middle age, for a while, I actually started to worry. This worry was simply about what would happen to you children if I died. But every time I see the tablets of your brothers and the others, I lose my fear of death again..."
In the ancestral hall, eight hot dishes were laid out on the offering table.
Seeing Jiang Cheng enter, Grandfather walked to the offering table and was whispering something to the ancestral tablets.
"Grandfather," Jiang Cheng called softly.
Grandfather turned back with a gentle smile, "Come, offer a stick of incense to the ancestors."
Jiang Cheng knelt respectfully, performed three kowtows, and then stood up.
Grandfather looked at him with kind eyes, "If your grandmother were still here and saw you like this, she would definitely be very happy."
Second Grandfather stood to the side and patted the old man's shoulder, "Sister-in-law doted on Jianmin the most. When he stole sugar as a kid, she could never bear to scold him. Now, seeing Jianmin's child grown taller than us, she would surely be very happy."
Jiang Jianming laughed, "Exactly. Mom said back then that this boy of mine would definitely be successful in the future."
Grandfather shook his head with a smile, "Whether he's successful or not, peace and joy are enough."
At exactly six o'clock, the family banquet officially began.
Uncle Lin, the housekeeper, greeted people to serve the dishes, introducing them as they were brought out.
"Today's menu was arranged by the old master. There are four cold dishes: Zhenjiang Jellied Pork, Shaoxing Drunken Chicken, Honey-Glazed Ham, and Old Beijing Mustard Cabbage Mounds."
"The eight hot dishes in the middle are Braised Yellow River Carp—by tradition, the fish head shouldn't be touched—Fresh Poached Shrimp, Crab Meat Lion's Head Meatballs, Steamed Cured Meats, Braised Winter Bamboo Shoots, Family-Recipe Braised Pork, Eight-Treasure Duck, and Clear Stewed Songrong Mushrooms. There's also Cabbage in Consommé (prepared in the state banquet style), and of course, the dumplings that must be eaten for New Year's Eve dinner."
"And these two are desserts: Jujube Paste Yam Cake and Three-Delicacy Shaomai."
After Uncle Lin finished the introduction, he asked for instructions, "Old Master, the TV station has requested to film a New Year greeting segment..."
The old man waved his hand, "Tell them that a retired old man's Spring Festival shouldn't take up national resources."