Later, my mother went to prepare the dishes to be used for a while, which were nothing more than braised fish, braised pork, and a little wine.

It was all ready at about five o'clock, and my mother took out my father's portrait and put it on the table, and then lit incense.

When I kowtowed, I bowed to the end and secretly silently said: Dad, another year has passed, you come back to spend Chinese New Year's Eve with us.

When I got up, my mother also knelt down, but looked at the photo and whispered: "Lao Jia, it's the New Year, I bought you the crucian carp you like to eat, be careful with some fish bones." You pick and eat braised pork with thin and weak, and it is easy to gain weight if you eat too much fatty meat. Are you doing well over there? I'll burn you more paper money this year, and don't save too much, if it's not enough, give me your dreams. ”

I've listened to these words for four years, and this is the fifth year, and each year roughly means the same, except that on Chinese New Year's Eve in the first year, we said it in tears.

I kowtowed to my dad a few more times, and my mom poured the wine.

After three rounds, the worship ceremony is over. After I helped my mother clean up, I went downstairs with the folded paper money ingots, and my mother drew a circle on the ground with lime powder, and I lit the fire.

In fact, getting these every year is just to apply psychological comfort, and it feels as if Dad is still there on Chinese New Year's Eve.

In the past few years, I always felt bleak at this time, but this year, my mother and I have become much calmer. At least I watched the flames gradually burn the paper to ashes, and my heart was calm.

My mother went upstairs to get a broom, she belongs to the neighborhood committee, and she supervises the sanitation of the community, so she must start from herself.

I straightened up and waited for my mother to come down, when suddenly a voice of doubt came from behind me: "Jia Ru? ”

Hesitantly turned around, and saw Wu Mi standing not far away, and I was surprised to see it. He looked at the paper ashes on the ground and asked suspiciously, "What are you doing here to burn paper money?" ”

I was silent and said, "My house is upstairs." ”

Wu Mi was surprised, subconsciously glanced up, and then his eyes became complicated.

I didn't quite understand the meaning of that look, but I was surprised how he came here. This is an ordinary community, and there are no shopping malls or other places, is there a relative here?

But I heard Wu Mi suddenly ask: "Do you know where the boss spent last year's Chinese New Year's Eve?" ”

I was stunned, and I didn't realize why his topic suddenly came to Zhou Yu. When he had an argument with Zhou Yu during the day, he told me that he had gone to the United States to be with his family a few years ago, and he stayed in China with his friends last year.

So I asked, "Are you having Chinese New Year's Eve dinner with you and Qian Xiaobao?" ”

Wu Mi lowered his eyes and laughed, "Sure enough, the boss didn't tell you." ”

I frowned and looked at him puzzled.

But Wu Mi was not in a hurry to speak, he touched a cigarette from his body, and he lit it directly without asking.

It had been a few days since he left the court, and although he didn't see any embarrassment or depression from him, his whole person seemed very depressed. This is the feeling that goodbye Wu Mi gave me.

Because, in love, marriage, and family, he is a loser.

Wu Mi took two puffs of cigarette before slowly speaking: "Last year's Chinese New Year's Eve, our group of people got together to drink, and the boss was drunk and talking something, and we all thought he was talking nonsense at that time. I didn't drink that day because I had to go back early, so the boss took my car when I was gone, but as soon as he got in the car, he pulled my collar and asked me to drive here. ”

I looked at him in disbelief.

Wu Mi didn't perceive my emotions, it should be said that he was immersed in past memories: "That night, I parked the car outside the community. The boss went straight here, and I couldn't have left him alone, so I came in with him. He stretched out his hand and pointed to the flower stand not far away, "Well, the boss went straight here and sat there, looking up at this building." I've been brothers with the eldest for so many years, and I've never heard of him having relatives or friends living here, so I asked him what he was looking at. ”

Wu Mi paused here, but I couldn't help but ask, "Did he reply to you?" ”

When he returned, he said, "I have seen her." I asked him who he saw, but he was silent. The night breeze was cool that night, and the two of us spent midnight downstairs in the cold wind. ”

I was touched to the heart.

I never thought that Zhou Yu would be downstairs on Chinese New Year's Eve last year. I still remember that last year's winter was very cold, and it had to be minus 10 degrees on Chinese New Year's Eve, and my mother and I didn't even burn paper money, so we took a big iron pot to burn at home.

So Zhou Yu actually met me a long time ago, but I didn't notice it?

I heard Wu Mi say again: "Later, when I sent the boss back, he said a drunken word inexplicably when he got out of the car." ”

"What did he say?"

"No matter how beautiful the spring breeze is, it can't compare to your smile, and those who haven't seen you won't understand."

My nose was sour, and my eyes were wet.

Wu Mi smiled, "Before today, I was only the boss who was crazy last night, and he was drunk, but now I understand that he is here to accompany you for the holiday, and the person he saw is also you, the person who smiles more beautifully than the spring breeze, or you." ”

My mother came downstairs at this time, and when she saw Wu Mi, she was stunned and asked me, "Xiaoyue, is it your friend?" ”

I nodded, I guess so.

From junior high school to high school, to college, and then to the recent past, our intersection is not less, because of Zhou Yu.

Wu Mi greeted gently: "Auntie, hello, my name is Wu Mi." Don't bother you, I'll go back first. ”

When my mother heard this, she immediately said, "Is it so urgent?" I'd like to invite you upstairs for dinner. ”

Wu Mi smiled and said, "No, the family also made a Chinese New Year's Eve dinner." ”

"Then Xiaoyue, you can send it, and I'll come back to play at the beginning of the year."

I nodded in response, and Wu Mi didn't refuse. The two walked out side by side, and after a moment of silence, I asked, "Then why are you here tonight?" He said, "Nowhere to go." ”

Hearing this inexplicably desolate, he turned his eyes to look at him, "Don't you hold a Chinese New Year's Eve dinner at home?" And what about your son? ”

"My parents took Xiaoxuan to Thailand for a trip to relax."

"Then why don't you go along?"

Wu Mi: "It's boring, and I'm not in the mood." ”

He confessed, that is, he was alone in City A tonight. I asked why he didn't find Qian Xiaobao and them for the holiday like last year, but I heard him say that Qian Xiaobao had found a girlfriend and made an appointment to watch a movie together in the evening, and as for other people, he couldn't play with them.

I didn't ask any more questions, and watched him drive away.

When I walked back, I couldn't help but think that compared to me, Wu Mi was even more unsatisfactory than me, at least I had my mother to spend Chinese New Year's Eve together, but he could only drive to the place where he stayed last year in a daze, and he had to leave because he met me.

Where can he go this night?

After we went back to help my mother clean up, we went upstairs, and my mother brought the dishes that had been prepared long ago to the table, and turned on the TV and waited for the Spring Festival party. It was a good mood tonight, and we were talking about it while watching TV.

Suddenly the doorbell rang, and I turned around in surprise, who would be coming at this time? On Chinese New Year's Eve, basically no one will come to the door. My heart jumped, could it be that Zhou Yu was back?

My mother drank a little wine, and when she was a little drunk, she told me to open the door.

When I opened the door, I couldn't help but be stunned when I saw Wu Mi standing outside the door, why did he come back again?

The expression on Wu Mi's face was a little awkward, he kicked a big box at his feet and said, "I passed by a fireworks and firecracker shop just now, and I bought a box for you to send here." ”

I was a little surprised, but it soon dawned on me that he really had nowhere to go.

"Have you eaten?" I asked.

He lowered his eyes a little weakly, "I've eaten it." ”

My mother had already heard the sound and walked over, and when she heard this, she smiled and said, "It's okay to eat it, it's okay to come in and sit." ”

Wu Mi looked at her mother and came to see me again, and asked nervously, "Is it okay?" ”

I directly got out of the door, found slippers and came out for him, "Come in, I'll go add a pair of dishes and chopsticks for you." ”

When I came out with the dishes and chopsticks, I saw that Wu Mi had already sat down, slightly restrained, afraid that I felt very embarrassed. However, my mother deserves to be from the neighborhood committee, and after three or two sentences, Wu Mi relaxed, and gradually there was a topic.

After my mother learned that Wu Mi was Zhou Yu's brother, her attitude became even more eager, and she frequently served him vegetables.

I sat next to me and laughed, thinking that tonight's Chinese New Year's Eve was a bit strange, and there was an extra person in the room who couldn't hit one place, but it was much more lively. And I also learned from Wu Mi about Zhou Yu on Chinese New Year's Eve last year, so Wu Mi is very good.

The Chinese New Year's Eve dinner didn't end until nearly nine o'clock, and Wu Mi asked me if I would go downstairs to set off fireworks? I looked out the window, and the fireworks didn't stop all night. My mother also urged: "Go down, what are you doing at home?" ”

So Wu Mi went downstairs with the big box, I asked my mother for two sticks of incense, and saw that there were people around me with children setting off fireworks. When Wu Mi put out a large firework, it immediately attracted children and excitedly asked how loud it was. When they heard Wu Mi say 100 rings, they all exclaimed.

The fuse was lit, and there was a thud of firelight that flew into the sky, spreading out into flowers at the highest point.

It is said that fireworks are easy to get cold, but the beauty at the highest point is indeed engraved in people's hearts.

This night, I watched Wu Mi like a child, lighting fireworks to the children around him, and then giving them a little bit of it, and laughing again. There was a mobile phone vibrating in my pocket, and I found out that it was Zhou Yu calling.

Without hesitation, he answered, and his voice came from the other end: "What are you doing?" ”

I said, "Set off fireworks." ”

"Bought fireworks? Do you dare to put? ”

"Who wouldn't dare to let go?"

He chuckled at the other end, and I couldn't help but tug at the corners of my mouth. It felt as if the previous unhappiness, conflicts, and disputes had not happened, and I talked to him on the phone as usual, talking about small things.