Chapter 412: Chapter 412: As Stupid as a Pig!
In the blink of an eye, it was the night before Little New Year.
Huo Tingdong was reading in the study.
Lin Qi had somehow entered the study without him noticing, resting her head on his shoulder, her face lit up with excitement, her eyes sparkling: “Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve already!”
If Momo hadn’t reminded her, and if she hadn’t checked the calendar herself, Lin Qi wouldn’t have realized that tomorrow night was Lunar New Year’s Eve.
She could never keep track of the lunar calendar dates.
Huo Tingdong remarked, “Is this your first time celebrating New Year? Why are you so excited?”
Lin Qi replied, “Because this is our very first New Year spent together! Of course, I’m thrilled.”
Huo Tingdong chuckled, remaining unmoved, casually responding with an “Oh,” then gently patting her on the head as he flipped to the next page in his book.
“Oh?”
Lin Qi was highly dissatisfied with his indifferent attitude. She snatched his book away and turned his chin toward her, demanding, “New Year is just around the corner, why are you acting so cold? Aren’t you looking forward to it?”
Huo Tingdong smiled faintly, “Looking forward to what?”
Lin Qi replied, “To New Year, of course! Don’t you like celebrating the New Year?”
Huo Tingdong responded, “To me, New Year doesn’t feel any different from any ordinary day.”
This year was special.
Ordinarily, he would spend years working through New Year’s at the office.
Lin Qi sighed upon hearing this, “Huace is way too competitive! You, the boss, are leading the charge in this grind culture—no wonder your employees are all just as competitive as you.”
Suddenly, she asked, “Huo Tingdong, tell me, you’ve earned so much money, can you even spend it all? Isn’t the point of making money to live a better life?”
Huo Tingdong replied, “I can’t spend it all.”
Lin Qi advised, “Then you should just retire.”
Huo Tingdong countered, “I’m only thirty. A man should establish himself by thirty. Should I retire this early?”
Lin Qi didn’t quite understand the saying “It’s lonely at the top.”
The position he held now was one that countless people could only dream of reaching.
His position signified wealth and power.
The realm of capital was merciless.
There were so many people who wished to pull him down. If he were ever toppled, everything he possessed would vanish in an instant.
He couldn’t stop, and he wouldn’t dare stop.
Otherwise, the countless hands clawing beneath him would ruthlessly drag him into the abyss.
Seeing Lin Qi’s slightly downcast expression, Huo Tingdong recognized her anticipation for the New Year. Closing his book, he gently wrapped his arms around her: “What are Momo and Han up to?”
Lin Qi replied, “Momo’s directing Han to do a big clean-up.”
Tomorrow was Lunar New Year’s Eve.
Momo had already begun bustling about.
New Year’s customs were elaborate. On the night before Little New Year, the first order of business is dust-sweeping—essentially spring cleaning—because during the three days of New Year, sweeping is prohibited, lest you sweep away good fortune and blessings.
Thus, Momo started cleaning ahead of Little New Year night, symbolizing bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new.
A 400-square-meter house wasn’t easy to clean, but fortunately, there were plenty of smart appliances around.
The sweeping and mopping robot, the floor cleaner—just these two gadgets alone took care of a significant portion of the work.
When Huo Tingdong and Lin Qi walked into the living room, they found Momo had set up ink, paper, and an ink stone. Holding a brush, he was preparing to write New Year couplets.
Lin Qi walked over and asked, “Momo, what are you doing?”
Momo replied, “Writing couplets, of course!”
Feeling playful, Lin Qi immediately chimed in, “Let me try!”
She sat down at the desk, holding the brush, deep in thought as though in some meditative state.
Huo Tingdong teased, “Do you think your calligraphy will be remotely presentable?”
Han confidently declared from the side, “Of course! Mommy’s calligraphy is definitely going to look great!”
Huo Tingdong countered, “Then why isn’t she putting the brush to paper yet?”
Lin Qi’s mind went completely blank—she didn’t know what to write: “What should I write?”
Momo quipped from the side, “Mommy’s a science and math student, not a humanities one. Her brain has zero ink in it.”
He walked over to Lin Qi and suggested, “Write a couplet for the front door first. How about: ‘As heaven adds years, people grow in longevity; As spring fills homes, blessings overflow the doors.'”
Having said that, he turned to tinker with the recently purchased Door God images.
Han, curious, walked over and saw Momo holding images of Yuchi Gong and Qin Qiong. Intrigued, he asked, “What are these?”
Momo answered, “Door Gods!”
Han tilted his little head, “Door Gods?”
Momo explained, “Yuchi Gong and Qin Qiong, of course. You didn’t know that?”
Han asked, puzzled, “Why hang them on the door?”
Momo elaborated, “Because these two are famous marshals and generals! People stick their images on the door to ward off evil spirits or misfortune that might try to enter. Look, these two generals are decked out in full battle armor, wielding weapons, their angry eyes sending chills—total deterrence!”
Han patted his chest, “Then why don’t you draw me and stick me on the door? I want to be a Door God too!”
Momo poked his soft little arm and teased, “You? Don’t take offense, but with your scrawny arms and legs? A Door God? Yuchi Gong and Qin Qiong were marshals under Emperor Li Shimin! This tradition started because, after Li Shimin claimed the throne, he couldn’t sleep at night due to killing too many people—he was haunted by nightmares. So, ministers proposed making Yuchi Gong and Qin Qiong stand guard at the door. With them guarding, he finally slept soundly. Later, palace artists painted their images and stuck them on the palace doors.”
Han looked astonished: “Momo, are you a walking encyclopedia? How do you know so much?”
Momo replied, “What, did you think I am like you? Only ever playing with Lego sets all day?”
Fair enough.
Momo was very much like Daddy in this regard—always having a book in hand during his free time.
As the two little ones bickered, Lin Qi proudly raised her hand and announced, “Done writing!”
Huo Tingdong glanced over, a bit surprised.
He had thought Lin Qi’s calligraphy would be a disaster, but to his astonishment, her handwriting was refined and elegant—truly beautiful.
Though she wasn’t a humanities student, she had practiced calligraphy for a while back in middle school.
Lin Qi asked, “What couplet should go in the bedroom?”
Momo suggested, “Write: ‘Under the vast skies, joyous lovebirds soar; Across the great earth, bound hearts blossom.'”
Lin Qi and Huo Tingdong exchanged awkward glances, both bowing their heads in shame.
Combined, the couple’s cultural knowledge couldn’t measure up to their eight-year-old son’s.
Embarrassing.
Once the Spring Festival couplets were finished, they could be hung up tomorrow, on Lunar New Year’s Eve.
Momo then brought out a stack of red paper and two pairs of scissors to start cutting window decorations.
Han hadn’t expected Momo would know how to cut window decorations too and excitedly asked Momo to teach him.
Momo had always been skilled at crafts from a young age. Every year during New Year’s, he cut the window decorations himself, and they were just as good as the ones sold outside.
Huo Tingdong watched as Momo patiently taught Han step by step. Momo, holding scissors, skillfully snipped away, while Huo Tingdong took a piece of red paper and started fiddling around. After bustling for quite a while, he unfolded his creation, only to find it a mess.
Lin Qi laughed uproariously from the side, “Momo, hurry and look at Daddy’s window decoration—it’s awful!”