Chapter 246: It’s Chinese New Year! Benefits By The Bagful!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
A familiar moon in the heavens and familiar loess under one’s feet—in this world, this would be the Huaxians’ first grand celebration of the eve of Chinese New Year.
Su Mo had been so busy that the season had completely slipped his mind, but it had crept up slowly on him.
Dumplings, Chinese New Year’s Eve, and now it was already Chinese New Year?
Su Mo absent-mindedly took stock of the circle of hunched-over refugees, looking at the perpetual fatigue on their faces as well as their intent expressions. He then slowly came forward.
Yes, it was definitely Chinese New Year’s Eve.
It just so happened that this fell right on the first day of the welfare disaster—the day when everyone gathered in the harvest.
They could eat their fill and have a restful sleep, then wash off all the difficulties experienced over the last year. When the new year arrived, it would be the first year of an era of hope!
After using the system appraisal to make sure there was nothing wrong with the contents of the bowl, Su Mo swept a glance around the refugees, who were so excited they could barely hold it in. He then carefully accepted the big bowl that Chen Shen was holding.
The bowl was fired porcelain, and there were even pale green patterns on its edge. Such utensils could only be obtained from treasure chests and were worth a fortune on the market.
The soup stock in the bowl was of a rich color and crystal clear.
Red oil chili oil was drizzled over the vinegar soup. Even though there was no psychic energy water to improve its flavor, or psychic energy cabbage to enhance its aroma, this was a traditional bowl of home-cooked food that every family would eat during the Chinese New Year back in civilized times. It made tears well up suddenly in Su Mo’s eyes.
He took up the chopsticks. As everyone watched intently, he carefully picked up a large, odd-shaped dumpling that did not match the others and put it in his mouth.
“Mmm… it tastes good!”
The wild vegetable dumpling was filled with minced beef. When paired with a soup like this, the taste was surprisingly aromatic and sweet.
Before the others even began to cheer, Moore, who was standing in front, became extremely excited, especially after Su Mo’s compliment about the food. He even launched into a belly dance that he had picked up from goodness knows where.
“The first dumpling Master ate was the dumpling Moore wrapped. It turns out Master likes Moore’s cooking!”
Moore swayed to and fro, dancing and gyrating his body around coquettishly.
Moore’s funny antics immediately broke the ice in the hitherto rather solemn atmosphere. Most of the refugees joined in the laughter one after the other.
“Alright. It’s almost Chinese New Year, why is everyone still so solemn? Since it’s Chinese New Year, all supplies consumed tonight…
“Will be on me!”
Su Mo glanced at the happy Moore and felt something stir in his heart slightly. Then he looked at the refugees below and made his declaration.
Wow!
It would not have mattered if he had said nothing at all, but after Su Mo announced this, all the refugees—who had been suppressing their emotions thus far—could hold it in no longer. A loud, boisterous roar of joy abruptly rose from their midst.
There were burly men in their forties and fifties as well as teenagers of seventeen or eighteen years old, all following Moose’s dancing moves and gyrating happily together.
Following this, the cooks who had made preparations earlier began to hand out bowls of dumplings from the kitchen. The Chinese New Year’s Eve revelries…
Now began in earnest!
Eating alone was no fun. It had to be dozens, even a hundred people eating together to make it an experience.
The more people involved in such a big, grand festival, the more they could feel that festive mood.
Today, on this special day of New Year’s Eve…
There was no “conventional” spring festival evening. There was no need to make requests or scan here and there before they could get the five blessings—longevity, wealth, health, kindness, and peace—for one yuan and a few cents.
There were also no good friends to help one get a bargain price or collect a selection of miscellaneous cards to get just that meager reward.
There was no ma.s.s messaging or any “fake” celebratory wishes sent between superiors and subordinates. In fact, it was completely dark after coming out of the village.
Still, despite the circ.u.mstances in the wasteland on this special day, regardless of how large or small the shelters were, as long as there were people gathered together, everyone could truly feel that “festive vibe” within their hearts.
It was Chinese New Year, which was also time for the harvest.
It was Chinese New Year, which was also a time for revelry.
It was time to set aside all weariness, feast well, and sleep well. The next day, they would resume living their difficult, but full lives.
“Let us live this life together! Live without restraint!
“Wildly racing our horses and enjoying the world’s bustle
“Serenading wine with the joy in our hearts
“Here’s to the splendor and vigor of seizing our youth.”
“…”
The refugees brought out a rechargeable speaker from somewhere. As the background music played, the merrier things became, and the mood turned even more festive.
The celebration became even more carefree. A tape with only eight songs was played continuously on loop.
The sound of songs, cheers, and noisy festivity spread like wildfire through every corner of this apocalyptic wasteland.
Su Mo, the one who had initiated all of this, sat alone on the highest point of the Candlelight Shelter’s roof on this busy night. He cleared his mind after not having done so for a while.
He brought out a bottle of sake that had been in the shelter for goodness knows how long. From time to time, he took a small swig and nibbled on a fried snack.
Su Mo knew that these people could only truly celebrate freely if he were not present. They would revel with wild abandon and enjoy their hard-earned harvest.
“Sis, oh sis, I wonder how you’re celebrating over on your end!”
He lay down on the roof, gazing up at the night sky, and gently stroked Oreo, who was lying docilely beside him like a large furry ball.
At this moment, no one was more alone than Su Mo, yet no one was more fulfilled than he!
What people feared most was an unclear vision of the way ahead—living in this world, and not knowing what to do tomorrow, what they were pursuing, or what they wished to protect!
Su Mo was very glad because, in this wasteland, he had found a path that he could persevere on. Furthermore, he had a clear-cut vision of how he should proceed and how to successfully achieve his goal!
“All I want is really just some tranquillity and peace of mind!
‘Since this world can’t fulfill even this small desire, then I, Su Mo, will do everything in my power to safeguard everything that I want!”
The wine caused him to be self-absorbed. The alcohol percentage was not high, but it was enough to cause slight light-headedness. Su Mo was now in an unprecedentedly dauntless mood, ready to conquer all obstacles on the rocky path ahead.
‘It doesn’t matter even if it’s ten thousand miles!
‘This is the road that I, Su Mo, will walk!
‘If heaven is a round dome covering a square earth, there’s nothing to be afraid of in a world wreathed in mist!
‘Sooner or later, I’ll break through the heavens!’
After further conceptualizing the outline of the future that he had in mind, Su Mo glanced down at the lively crowd and hopped up from the roof.
Without disturbing anyone, Su Mo, bearing Moore—who had fallen asleep after eating his fill—began the return journey in the car with Oreo as well!
Chinese New Year was something one should return home to celebrate!
For these people, the Candlelight Shelter was their home. However, as far as Su Mo was concerned, the Underground Shelter…
Was his real home!
He rolled down the car window, letting the cool breeze flow in. The short period of oxygen increase that the plants provided not only released a trace of moisture into the air, but it even felt somewhat comfortable.
Su Mo took a deep breath, looking at how much the wasteland had changed. The closer he got to the Underground Shelter, the more excited he became.
Finally…
The Deep-sea Shelter hove into view!
Su Mo glanced at the place where he had excavated his first bucket of gold and stopped the car. He poured out the remaining sake that he had not finished in front of the Deep-sea Shelter’s entrance.
“Big Brother Magoo, it’s Chinese New Year. May you rest in peace here. Earth… we’ll be able to return to Earth one day, sooner or later!”
The gra.s.s stirred a little as if Magoo were answering him.
After another deep bow of respect, Su Mo put away the bottle of sake and glanced at the Deep-sea Shelter, now overgrown with weeds. He then got into the car and floored the accelerator.
The distance between both places was not far. Given Earth Tiger’s power, it took only less than two to three minutes for him to reach the Underground Shelter at lightning speed.
A mere welfare disaster had drastically changed the appearance of the low-lying lands.
The Gobi, where nothing grew before, had now sprouted a considerable number of colorful plants.
The hills around the Underground Shelter were covered in a carpet of fresh, vibrant green.
After going just a day without seeing them, eight of the ten psychic energy fruit tree saplings were now full-grown.
What was more, this momentous growth was far more frightening than the forest in the Talisman World!
Of all the energy fruit tree saplings that had absorbed the psychic energy water, the most slender was half a meter thick, and the shortest was at least eight or nine meters high.
Su Mo sat in front of the Underground Shelter. The branches of the trees swayed gently in the cool night breeze, wafting forth the scent of plants in nature.
After a check of his surroundings to make sure that no dangerous changes had occurred nearby, he opened the door and parked the car.
A long-lost feeling of “coming home” welled up in Su Mo’s heart when he saw Big Spark and Little Spark clucking noisily and running out to welcome him back.
“Alright, alright, alright. This is my home. Good chickens, you must have been waiting frantically. I’ll make dinner for you now!”
Currently, Big Spark’s wingspan already measured one meter, while Little Spark’s was around seventy centimeters.
The two “giant creatures” that had the natural ability to understand humans pounced on Su Mo, behaving in a coquettish manner. After he had soothed them, they stopped and settled down, following behind him like puppies.
Moore, who had slept all the way home in the car, was now rubbing his bleary eyes. He opened the door on the pa.s.senger’s side, rolled out of the car immediately, then sprawled onto the floor and resumed slumbering soundly.
Oreo barked in amus.e.m.e.nt when she saw the state Moore was in.
Su Mo hauled the three bags of freshly ground flour out of Earth Tiger. Hurrying because of the late hour, he used the remaining supplies in the base and made a lavish supper.
After supper, he shut the door securely. After checking on all the facilities, Su Mo returned to his small bed.
All three of them had been exhausted for the last two days. Now that they were full and had nothing to do the next day, everyone had an extremely comfortable night’s sleep, from Su Mo in the top bunk down to Oreo and Moore below.
Other places were partying and celebrating. In his small Underground Shelter, however, Su Mo felt relaxed and comfortable instead—something that had not happened in a long while.
Everyone slept until past eight o’clock in the morning. After their fatigue had completely dissipated, they greeted the early morning light and the fresh air.
On the three-tier bunk bed in the Underground Shelter, Su Mo slowly opened his eyes.
“Even the system wants to join in the fun this Chinese New Year!”
At this hour, given how tired he had been yesterday, Su Mo could still have slept on.
However, the system notifications that were pitter-pattering in his head meant he had to wake up a bit earlier.
A few days ago, the system would only pay in a set amount of points every day at a set time, occasionally adding in something small worth several dozen points. Compared to expenses nowadays that could easily rack up a few thousand points, the rate of acc.u.mulation was entirely too slow.
The first day after New Year’s Eve, which was also the first day of the Chinese New Year, the system underwent an unusual change, which had not happened in quite a while.
Right after the daily system announcements, the system emitted rapid bursts of firecracker explosions as if it was celebrating Chinese New Year.
Su Mo sat up, stretching his stiff neck slightly, and drank a big gulp of the psychic energy water on the bedside. After that, he used his mind to call up the familiar system interface.
At the same time, the daily survival points tally popped up—it was completely unlike the plain one from before.
“Oh, wow. It used to be some high-end pretentious light blue color. Today the system even knows how to follow local customs and changed everything to such a festive red!
“From the looks of it, this system appears to have been created by Huaxians—it even knows what it is to celebrate Chinese New Year, haha!”
The bright red interface was extremely eye-catching, and Su Mo smiled as he scrolled straight down to the lowest part of the panel. From force of habit, he first checked on how much he had acc.u.mulated today for his harvest.
However, just a quick check and he could not help feeling ecstatic, even if he was normally able to preserve his calm.
“There’s another chance for a lucky draw!”
“The system is actually sending out benefits for Chinese New Year. That’s so ridiculous but it’s great!”