Night fell, and the streets began to echo with the rhythmic crackle of firecrackers. One after another, bursts of fireworks bloomed across the night sky. It was finally the Lunar New Year.
My mom hadn’t made it back for New Year’s Eve, so my aunt and uncle brought me over to stay with them. My cousin, who was away for college, had also come home, bringing along a massive Golden Retriever. The house was bursting with holiday cheer.
I had never met this cousin of mine before, but she was stunning…big, bright eyes, sharp brows, and two deeply endearing dimples whenever she smiled. Her voice was incredibly sweet; she looked like an absolute goddess.
“Wen Ling! You’re finally here! It’s been so long, I’ve missed you to death!”
Before I could even blink, my cousin rushed over and swept me into a massive hug.
Caught completely off guard, I was still debating whether or not to hug her back when she let go. I just stood there, eyes wide, staring at her blankly. To my surprise, a mischievous smirk suddenly spread across her face, and she began rummaging through her pockets. “Ah, I get it. Say less, your sister is already prepared.”
With that, she pulled out a thick red envelope and waved it right in front of my face.
Just as I reached out to grab it, she snatched it back.
“Hey, we haven’t even finished the protocol yet, and you’re already eyeing the money?” She gave me a heavy, hinting wink.
I caught on instantly. Straightening up, I cupped my hands together in a formal greeting and flashed a brilliant, beaming smile. “Happy New Year, Cousin! Wishing you smooth sailing, soaring success, peace through all seasons, good fortune at your door, everything going your way, stars aligning in your favor, wealth pouring in from all directions, everlasting health, and absolute perfection in the New Year!”
“Bravo! Well said!” Before my cousin could even react, my uncle and aunt were already clapping from the sidelines.
My cousin beamed, laughing so hard she could barely close her mouth. She happily handed over the cash. “Not bad at all! Here, take your red envelope!”
I grinned from ear to ear as I took the packet, secretly celebrating inside.
Thank goodness I came prepared! I had spent the entire previous night memorizing New Year’s blessings, and looking at this thick stack of lucky money, my hard work had definitely paid off.
“Hotpot, get over here.”
My cousin called out toward the backyard. A second later, a chubby dog with drool flying everywhere came barreling into the house.
The moment Hotpot got inside, he started rubbing against her pants, leaving a trail of slobber. Wincing slightly, she wiped her pants with a tissue, grabbed the Golden Retriever by the head to clean up his snout, and issued her next command: “Go on, give your sister Wen Ling a New Year’s greeting.”
Hotpot barked once in understanding, skidded to a halt right in front of me, wagged his tail furiously, and stood up on his hind legs. He pressed his front paws together, bowing to me in a perfect New Year’s salute.
Wow. I never thought I’d live to see the day a dog bowed to me.
“Happy New Year, Happy New Year… Do I… need to give you a red envelope?” I stammered, stepping forward to pat Hotpot, my voice growing unsure.
Should I split my lucky money half-and-half with him?
My cousin burst out laughing. “Oh, stop it! He’s not a human, he doesn’t need money. He’s just doing it to make you happy.”
“Oh, right,” I chuckled awkwardly. “Well… thank you then?”
My uncle chimed in from the side. “Your sister is something else. Before the holidays, she promised she was bringing a companion home this year. I thought she meant a boyfriend, but who knew she’d bring back this thing.”
My cousin pouted, immediately jumping to Hotpot’s defense. “What’s that supposed to mean? Are you looking down on my Hotpot? Let me tell you, he’s an angel. He never barks blindly. Besides, a companion is a companion! He keeps me company at school, and he’s here for you guys during the holidays. Don’t tell me you don’t love him!”
“Woof!” Hotpot chimed in, agreeing completely.
“What are you barking for? Think you’re human or something?” My uncle pointed a finger at Hotpot, grumbling with mock disgust. “Let me make this clear: if I catch this dog anywhere above the first floor over the next two days, I am throwing both of you out of the house.”
“Alright, alright, it’s New Year’s Eve, stop bickering,” my aunt interrupted. “Song Jinsu, go wash your hands…they’re covered in dog spit…and bring your sister over to eat.”
My cousin huffed, muttering reluctantly, “Got it, so annoying.”
Watching the whole drama unfold from the side, I couldn’t hold back a snort. My cousin caught me laughing, stomped her foot, and glared at me. “Wen Ling! Stop laughing at me!”
“Woof!” Hotpot echoed her.
“And what are you barking for, you copycat!” My cousin snapped, pointing at the dog.
“Woof!” Hotpot barked back, getting even more excited.
Unable to take it anymore, my uncle stepped in and pushed her toward the sink. “Alright, that’s enough. You’re literally arguing with a dog. Go wash your hands, you elementary schooler.”
The New Year’s Eve dinner was an absolute feast. There was chicken, duck, fish, pork, and an overwhelming variety of seafood that made my head spin.
Our family gathered around the table. My uncle poured freshly brewed rice wine for everyone, making sure to set down a bottle of orange juice specifically for me. There were also sodas and yogurt tucked under the table, ready to be brought up the moment I asked.
With a wide smile, my uncle raised his glass to us. “Come on, a toast to the family. May the New Year bring us smooth paths, safety, and happiness.”
I raised my glass of orange juice, happily soaking in everyone’s blessings, and swallowed a gulp of pure happiness.
Right in the middle of our delicious meal, my uncle’s phone rang. He picked it up, and my mom’s voice immediately echoed through the speaker.
“Brother, Sister-in-law, Happy New Year!”
“Oh, Sister! Happy New Year! Have you eaten yet?” My aunt leaned into the screen, asking warmly.
There was a slight delay before my mom’s voice came through. “I’m eating right now. There’s just too much going on at the police bureau, I couldn’t get away. I’m so sorry to trouble you guys with taking care of Lingling again during the holidays.”
My uncle clicked his tongue. “Look at you, talking like an outsider again. Lingling is family, you’re family, there’s no such thing as ‘trouble.’ But look at you…always buried in work, probably not eating right. You’ve lost weight again, your face looks so small.”
“Oh, you’re always nagging like an old mother hen,” my mom teased, though she sounded incredibly happy. “Alright, I’m done looking at you. Give the phone to my Lingling, let me see my baby girl.”
I was right in the middle of gnawing on a chicken wing and didn’t react fast enough before the phone was shoved into my face. I hastily wiped my hands and took the phone.
“Mom, Happy New Year!”
“Happy New Year, my baby Lingling! What delicious food did your uncle and aunt make for you? Look at you, your mouth is covered in oil.”
I quickly wiped my mouth with a tissue. “I can’t help it, Auntie’s cola chicken wings are amazing. I can’t stop eating!”
Mom laughed, looking genuinely relaxed. “Is that so? Eat up then, and make sure to thank your uncle and aunt, okay?”
“Mm! I know!”
Just as we were wrapping up, my cousin’s head popped into the camera frame. “Auntie, Happy New Year!”
Mom seemed surprised to see her. “Jinsu is back too! Wow, I haven’t seen you in years, you’ve grown so beautiful.”
“Really? I feel like I’ve gained so much weight, don’t tease me, Auntie.” Though she tried to play it down, my cousin couldn’t hide her massive grin.
“Gained weight? Where? You look perfect. Our Jinsu has always been a beauty. Tell you what, Auntie will send you a big red envelope in a bit.”
Catching the keyword, my cousin reacted with lightning speed. Before my uncle could even try to stop it, she had already accepted. “Yay! Thank you, Auntie! Wishing you wealth, prosperity, and may everything go your way!”
My aunt laughed and pointed at her, shaking her head. “You kid, your tongue is too quick for your own good.”
Mom wanted to chat longer, but a second later, a colleague burst into her room. I could only catch fragments of words…something about “a new case” and “updates.” My mom’s expression instantly turned serious. Throwing out a rushed “I have to get back to work,” she hurriedly hung up the call.
Well, beautiful moments are always fleeting.
Before we could even finish dinner, my aunt’s phone rang too. An emergency patient had just arrived at the hospital, and they were short on hands. She frantically threw on her coat, getting ready to rush out into the night.
Seeing this, my uncle stopped her. “Hold on, it’s freezing outside. Let me grab a jacket and drive you. It’ll be faster.”
My cousin and I followed them to the front door. Slipping into his shoes, my uncle glanced back at her. “Jinsu, I might not be back anytime soon. Just leave the dishes in the sink when you’re done. Your mom and I bought fireworks…they’re in the red bag inside the storage room. Take your sister out to light some later, alright?”
“Oh, wait, but—”
Before my cousin could finish her sentence, the front door clicked shut.
“Seriously, even on New Year’s Eve,” my cousin sighed, her mood visibly dropping as she walked back to the dining table.
Adhering to the sacred rule that sadness should never compromise a good appetite, the two of us tacitly sat right back down and continued to feast like nothing had happened.
With my uncle and aunt gone, Hotpot grew incredibly bold. He trotted over with his food bowl clamped firmly in his jaws, begging my cousin for a treat.
My cousin knocked him lightly on the head, exasperated. “Eat, eat, eat, all you do is eat! You’re turning into a pig. We might as well skip the New Year’s ham; you’re fatter than any pig out there.”
Hotpot clearly understood. He let out a low, resentful growl, but a swift, playful swat from my cousin brought him right back in line.
“Growl at me again and see if you get any extras.”
Hotpot shut up instantly. He sat down like a perfect gentleman, placed his bowl nicely, and flashed a goofy, tongue-out smile at her.
“That’s more like it,” my cousin said, tossing a piece of meat into his bowl.
For the rest of the meal, a good portion of the leftovers ended up disappearing into Hotpot’s stomach.
The dog ate until his face was glistening with grease, whining happily. My cousin clapped the dust off her hands, looking accomplished. “There, leftovers taken care of. No wasting food.”
With that sorted, she looked over at me. “Come on, Wen Ling, let’s go set off some fireworks.”
We followed my uncle’s directions to the storage room to look for the fireworks. We expected a small bag, but instead…
“Holy crap, did my dad buy an entire sack of these?!”
Muttering curses under her breath, my cousin helped me hoist the massive sack out.
There was no way we could finish them all in one night, so we picked out a few that looked interesting. Since we didn’t recognize any of them, it felt exactly like opening a mystery box.
As we walked out to the yard, Hotpot caught our scent and came bounding after us. He trotted right behind, his long tongue hanging out, drooling with a completely dim-witted smile.
“Hey, Sis… aren’t Golden Retrievers supposed to be really smart? How come yours is…”
“His mom is a Husky.”
I took one look at Hotpot’s vacant, chaotic stare and completely believed her.
My cousin looked at him too, before averting her eyes with utter disdain. “If it wasn’t for that shady dog breeder, I would never have ended up raising this goofy, mixed-breed idiot.”
“Woof!” Hotpot barked in protest.
“Quiet! Shut it, or I’m feeding you a firecracker!”
“Woof!”
“Song Hotpot! Protest denied!”
Hotpot finally went quiet, though his face remained entirely unresigned.
We picked a wide, open space and chose the largest firework box to kick off the night.
I didn’t dare touch the lighter, and we obviously couldn’t let the goofy dog do it, so my cousin braced herself to brave the front lines.
Holding her ear with one hand and extending the lighter with the other, her legs were already coiled into a sprinting position. The very instant the fuse sparked, she bolted.
“Ahhhh! Wen Ling, run! Dummy dog, don’t get curious, you’re gonna get blasted!” she screamed as she ran.
A second later, a brilliant streak shot into the sky, exploding into a dazzling bloom of color that painted the entire night.
It was stunning…a breathtaking visual that left me completely awestruck.