After Being Blackened All Over the Internet, I Ruled the Military Variety
Chapter 734 - 724: Durian-Filled Dumplings, Setting Off Fireworks

Chapter 734: Chapter 724: Durian-Filled Dumplings, Setting Off Fireworks

The New Year’s Eve dinner lasted for more than two hours.

The final dish was dumplings.

Jiang Lingxu looked at one of the plates of dumplings on the table that seemed a bit unusual.

Even with a layer of skin wrapped outside, a particularly distinct aroma still wafted out.

"What, what’s in these?"

Even though he had his suspicions, he was still a bit incredulous.

What was his mother thinking to make dumplings with this filling?

"Durian filling. If you don’t want to eat it, don’t take it. Your sister likes it, and we didn’t make a lot anyway," Jiang Wenhu said, as she pushed the plate of durian dumplings closer to her daughter.

Jiang Lingxu widened his eyes at his sister, opening his mouth, "Sis, you really have quite the taste!"

Jiang Lingxi took a durian-filled dumpling and tasted it, nodding, "It’s actually pretty good."

Jiang Lingxu was immediately tempted, "Really?"

"You’ll know once you try it yourself," Jiang Lingxi said, then looked at Shen Yunqing sitting nearby, "Wanna try? It’s quite unique."

Shen Yunqing: "...Alright."

Jiang Lingxu skeptically picked one up, closed his eyes, and stuffed it into his mouth, "Um!"

The durian was already sweet, and cooking it like this made it overwhelmingly sweet. The experience of drinking bubble tea the previous night was replayed, and just one dumpling was enough for him.

He couldn’t spit it out. Facing amused gazes, he practically swallowed it whole.

Among the others dining, only a few sampled the last plate of durian dumplings, with Jiang Lingxi and Shen Yunqing finishing off the rest.

After finishing the dumplings, the New Year’s Eve dinner came to an end.

Everyone pitched in to clean up, and the freshly wiped table was refilled with nuts and snacks.

Next up was staying up late to welcome the New Year.

The Spring Festival Gala wasn’t over yet, but Jiang Lingxu and others were getting restless.

Just then, Xia Zhi brought out a bunch of pre-prepared fireworks, and Jiang Lingxu enthusiastically helped carry them into the courtyard, volunteering to set them off for everyone.

Xia Zhi happily entrusted this important task to him.

Jiang Lingxi pulled Shen Yunqing to the courtyard, looking up at the fireworks blooming in the sky.

Fireworks have been around since ancient times. Although they were far less varied and colorful than today, regardless of the era, people’s feelings while watching fireworks remain the same.

These dazzling fireworks symbolize humanity’s beautiful wishes.

"Sis, here!"

Jiang Lingxi took a small handheld firework handed to her by Xu Ling’an, quickly sharing one with Shen Yunqing, and then started lighting them one by one.

No amount was ever enough!

This little thing looks ordinary, but once you start playing, it becomes addictive.

Shen Yunqing held the small firework placed in his hand, standing by to watch the face illuminated by the fireworks, the bright glow reflected in his eyes, allowing him to clearly feel: today, His Majesty is very happy.

He sincerely wished that every year, it would be like this!

Once they set off all the fireworks, big and small, the courtyard was filled with the scent of fireworks.

As it neared midnight, the night breeze started up unnoticed, gently swaying the lanterns hanging from the eaves and corners, and only then did everyone reluctantly return indoors.

Seeing the little ones had played enough and returned, Jiang Wenhu took the prepared red envelopes from her pocket.

"Time to give out New Year’s money!"

For such an occasion, Jiang Lingxu was equally enthusiastic.

Jiang Lingxi took the red envelope handed to her, "I get one too?"

She thought that now she was married, she wouldn’t receive New Year’s money anymore.

"As long as you’re mom and dad’s child, you’ll always have one."

Not only Jiang Lingxi, but Shen Yunqing, being the son-in-law, also received one.

Jiang Lingxi turned to see him looking a bit dazed holding the red envelope.

After Jiang Wenhu finished giving them out, Jiang Runcheng and Gao Lan each gave out another round.

Then Jiang Lingxi, as the sister, gave Jiang Lingxu and Xu Ling’an each one and also gave one to Xia Zhi.

Shen Yunqing waited for her to finish before he started distributing the ones he had prepared himself.

Jiang Lingxu was so happy he was practically floating.

He and An’an had received the most out of everyone there!

And his sister and brother-in-law’s red envelopes were super thick!

But, "Sis, next New Year, I’ll probably have to give New Year’s money to a little nephew or niece, right?"

After all, seeing how inseparable his sister and brother-in-law were, having a baby was only a matter of time. By then, he wouldn’t just be receiving, he’d have to start giving, preparing New Year’s money as an uncle.

Jiang Lingxi patted him calmly on the shoulder, "No rush on that, just wait."

Becoming an uncle isn’t something that happens when you want it to.

Jiang Wenhu and Jiang Runcheng exchanged a glance at the words, thinking that their daughter was still young, her career was on the rise, and not wanting a child so soon was normal.

Moreover, late marriage and childbearing are more common now than before, so they swallowed the words of urging for grandchildren they had planned to say.

In the TV, the clock struck midnight, bringing with it one new year greeting after another on their phones.

Jiang Lingxi didn’t rush to reply but reached out to hold Shen Yunqing’s hand beside her, "Yunqing, Happy New Year!"

Shen Yunqing replied by holding back, "Happy New Year!"

Your Majesty!

*

Although Xiyuan was in a slightly secluded location, they could still hear the intermittent sound of fireworks and firecrackers nearby, continuing until dawn.

Once the surroundings fell silent, Jiang Lingxi found it unfamiliar and woke up briefly, opening her eyes to quietly gaze at the face asleep close by, instinctively leaning over to plant a gentle kiss, and after rubbing her ear, she turned over and went back to sleep.

Shen Yunqing waited until the person beside him fell asleep again, then cautiously scooted close, giving a gentle, cherished kiss in return.

The two of them fell asleep embraced again.

On the first day of the New Year, no one in Xiyuan urged anyone to wake up early, and everyone slept in until they naturally woke up.

When they finally woke up, it was almost noon, so breakfast and lunch were combined into one.

"Isn’t Xixi going to visit the in-laws with Yunqing tomorrow?"

Jiang Lingxi looked at Shen Yunqing.

She already knew that Shen Yunqing’s parents in this lifetime were no longer around.

Fortunately, the elders of the other three branches were still there.

"Yes, tomorrow we plan to visit the old house."

When only Jiang Lingxi and Shen Yunqing were left in the room, Shen Yunqing explained in detail: "The second to fourth branches of the Shen Family are now spread out, and they’re all busy people. I’m closest to my second uncle, who is Shen Qingzhou’s father, and the second branch is the one that stays at the old house the most. The third branch is settled in Shanghai, the lineage of Shen Chuyue and Shen Huchen. I mentioned it to Your Majesty before. However, this year, my third uncle’s family has also specially come over from Shanghai."

"For me?"

"Yes, after visiting the old house tomorrow, Your Majesty will gain another identity."

Jiang Lingxi pondered over this and raised an eyebrow, "The Family Head’s wife of the Shen Family in the Imperial City?"

Hearing this, Shen Yunqing felt his heart skip a few beats, barely keeping his composure, "Yes."

"Doesn’t sound too bad. What about the fourth branch?"

"Fourth uncle went overseas to study back then, married a classmate, and settled abroad, rarely coming back, and we don’t have much contact."

Jiang Lingxi nodded. Compared to the illustrious Shen clan of a thousand years ago, the Shen Family now was very simple, to say the least.

"I remember I mentioned wanting to see your Shen Family genealogy before."

"You’ll be able to see it this time when we visit the old house."

"Then do I also get recorded in your Shen Family genealogy?"

It wouldn’t look good to say that the Family Head of this generation never married. It’d be a bit sad, really.

"Does Your Majesty wish it so?"

"Then I want to write it myself."

"Of course, it would be an honor to have it written in Your Majesty’s own hand!"