Mental Illness Evolution Manual - Chapter 114

The city’s construction was fast, especially since, in addition to getting paid, they also had a property certificate dangling above their heads. Working for someone else and working for yourself were completely different.

Moreover, it wasn’t the kind of backbreaking work that went on day and night. With the help of machines, these physical tasks weren’t very difficult.

By the time of the New Year, the repairs were mostly finished.

These cities hadn’t been severely damaged in the first place. The most serious damage was to Gaoshan City. It was destroyed by missiles, leaving nothing but rubble. And there was no need to rebuild this city.

Gaoshan City and its surrounding areas had been affected by the war. These refugees had nowhere to go. It was better to send them to the rebuilt cities, assign them nearby. It was just the right time, as there were fewer people now.

The newly appointed mayor couldn’t wait for more people to come.

As the New Year approached, the festive atmosphere wasn’t very strong.

Although the streets were decorated with festive ornaments and colorful lights, there was no New Year atmosphere, although everyone had the day off.

But Yan Xianchuan didn’t need to work anyway. Every day was a holiday for her.

New Year’s Eve should be spent with family, but these people from the Resistance didn’t have any family. They were basically alone, and their companions were their closest family.

Yan Xianchuan washed her hands and went to the kitchen to make dumplings with Lu Mingqiu.

The latter didn’t care what they ate for New Year’s Eve. According to their family tradition, they should thank their ancestors on New Year’s Eve and not forget the history of the Polov family’s rise to power. They usually ate fish, all kinds of seafood, both raw and cooked.

And there was always a dish of raw squid. Lu Mingqiu didn’t like it, but everyone had to eat one because it was the old ancestor’s favorite dish.

Every year, she would pinch her nose and force herself to eat it.

Yan Xianchuan hadn’t celebrated New Year’s Eve in a long time. Now that she had found her family, she wanted to have a good time for her first New Year.

So, she volunteered to make dumplings several days in advance.

She kneaded the dough herself. To be honest, even with the recipe, she ruined several dough balls before she finally got a decent product.

Lu Mingqiu rolled out the dumpling wrappers. Her hands were more dexterous. With a slight twist of her wrist, the dough would automatically rotate under the rolling pin. With a few back and forth movements, a round dumpling wrapper was ready.

Yan Xianchuan couldn’t manage that kind of dexterity. She either pressed the dough too flat or made it into a strange shape, so she went to mix the filling.

Beef filling.

And mushroom, corn, and chicken filling.

Even before they were cooked, the aroma filled her nostrils. They must be delicious when they were cooked.

Yan Xianchuan knew how to make dumplings, but Lu Mingqiu didn’t. She held a dumpling wrapper and carefully slowed down her movements, teaching her step by step.

The room was quiet, only illuminated by warm lights. Yan Xianchuan seemed to recall the scene of her first time making dumplings as a child.

Her father was the one who rolled out the dumpling wrappers. He would roll out one, and her mother would wrap one. Her mother was very fast. Her hands, which weren’t smooth, were incredibly dexterous. With a few pinches, a small ingot would land on the table.

Because of her illness, her family didn’t treat her like a child. They would talk to her as an equal. Seeing her sitting there, her mother asked, “Cui Cui, do you want to try making one?”

Her father immediately looked up, his eyes full of anticipation. Yan Xianchuan went to wash her hands and sat down at the table. She learned from her mother, picking up a dumpling wrapper and placing it in the palm of her left hand.

Everyone’s dumplings had different shapes. She learned from her mother’s technique, and hers looked very similar to her mother’s. Her father’s were different, long and with a few wheat ears.

When they were cooked and ready to eat, he deliberately picked the one his daughter had made because she happened to find a coin in it. He laughed so hard he couldn’t close his mouth.

Yan Xianchuan came back to her senses. Lu Mingqiu had already wrapped her own dumpling. Although it was her first time, she was quick-witted and learned quickly. It was exactly the same as Yan Xianchuan’s.

The two small white ingots were placed side by side. Was this a kind of emotional flow and connection? From her mother, to herself, to Lu Mingqiu.

Yan Xianchuan suddenly understood what “connection” meant and felt.

“I love you so much.”

She suddenly blurted out.

Perhaps in her previous life, there weren’t many people who would express their feelings and thoughts so freely at any time. But this society valued self-expression. Her sudden declaration of love wasn’t surprising at all.

On the contrary, it was Lu Mingqiu who often had “surprising words.” Yan Xianchuan had learned many new things from her mouth… and her actions.

So when she said this, the other person naturally replied, “I love you too,” and then kissed her.

Yan Xianchuan was no longer the same as before. She wouldn’t blush at this level of intimacy!

Not only that, she turned her other cheek and boldly demanded, “This side too.”

Of course, she got her way.

They worked side-by-side, wrapping dumplings, their movements intimate and easy. They hadn’t cooked the meal themselves; it was New Year’s Eve, after all, and they weren’t going to stint on a good meal.

There were many restaurants still open, and as long as they paid, even if it was a holiday, what was wrong with working overtime?

They ordered ready-made dishes, all of which were dishes they liked. Yan Xianchuan also ordered a whole fish, braised.

“This means ‘surplus every year,’” she said, “I hope we have a surplus every year.”

But it seemed like they had already escaped from worrying about money. Not to mention a surplus, their savings were enough to last them several lifetimes.

The two of them ate happily together, washed the dishes together, and then decided to go out to watch the fireworks.

Fireworks were now banned, but there was a rule that each city could designate a location for official fireworks displays. People could go watch them, but they couldn’t set them off privately.

Not only were the two of them going, but Gray Rabbit was also taking Duo Duo with them. The little girl hadn’t seen fireworks before. It was a good opportunity to show her.

The fireworks display was at the East Gate. When they arrived, there were already many people in the square. New Year, new beginnings. Too much had happened in the past year. They needed some excitement.

The two of them had changed to clean faces. Yan Xianchuan had good eyesight. She found a place with relatively few people and squeezed in with them.

Duo Duo was short, so Gray Rabbit held her in his arms. Now, she was half a head taller than everyone else, giving her the best view.

The crowd was noisy, but a sound broke through the air, so loud that it drowned out all the voices.

Everyone looked up. A bright light streaked across the sky and exploded with a bang. The dazzling golden light was like a sun exploding from above.

Then, one by one, one after another, red and purple, forming various patterns, like fire trees and silver flowers, dazzling and eye-catching.

A look of trance appeared on Yan Xianchuan’s face.

The last time she saw fireworks was indeed in her previous life.

Amidst the cheers celebrating the New Year, Duo Duo’s voice was still clear.

“I smell that smell, the one Uncle told me to remember.”