Chapter 112 Wait, Take This Thing Back

Chapter 112 Wait, Take This Thing Back

"Shen Que, quick, check if the couplet is crooked."

Meng Ci was wearing a bright red cotton jacket, his face beaming with joy, and even his tone when calling Shen Que was cheerful.

Shen Que took two steps back and directed, "A little higher on the left!"

"Okay!" Meng Ci turned around and adjusted it.

"Good, it's fine now!" Shen Que promptly spoke, stopping Meng Ci from adjusting it further.

At this moment, the two were pasting couplets outside the iron gate.

The alcohol stove on the ground was still emitting a faint glow.

The pot of paste was giving off wisps of blue smoke.

After pasting the left side, then the right, Meng Ci encountered a dilemma when it came to the character for "blessing."

"Shen Que, should I paste this blessing character upside down or right side up?"

Before Meng Ci entered the book, he worked every day to earn money, and during holidays, wages were much higher than usual.

So, Meng Ci never had time to celebrate festivals.

During the New Year, when Meng Ci passed by other people's doors, he saw the blessings pasted upright, but he also heard that they should be pasted upside down.

Thus, Meng Ci held the blessing character in confusion.

Shen Que said, "Paste it however you like."

"Just do what makes you happy."

Although Shen Que usually didn't say much, his words always enlightened Meng Ci.

That's right; the New Year is about happiness. Pasting these things is meant to please oneself.

Why overthink it?

After some thought, Meng Ci decided to paste it upside down.

Since no other residents had pasted the blessing character, wouldn't all the good fortune come to his home?

After pasting the blessing character, Meng Ci took two steps back, rubbing his chin, feeling that the character was still a bit crooked!

"Why didn't you remind me earlier, Shen Que!" Meng Ci placed his hands on his hips, pouting in frustration.

Shen Que thought for a moment and comforted him, "It's okay."

"The blessing character is leaning towards your home, so more good fortune will come to you!"

Meng Ci was immediately comforted by Shen Que and stopped worrying about it.

Picking up the alcohol stove, the two were about to return to continue pasting the couplets.

Tap, tap, tap!

"Meng classmate, Shen classmate!"

Hearing the voice behind them, Meng Ci and Shen Que turned around and saw Duan Yan and Cheng Yu.

"Happy New Year!" Duan Yan greeted them with a gentle smile.

"Teacher Duan, Teacher Cheng," Meng Ci greeted them.

"Happy New Year."

Duan Yan handed a plastic bag to Meng Ci, "This is a small New Year gift we prepared. We hope you'll accept it."

Since it was a New Year gift, Meng Ci had no reason to refuse and accepted it.

But he wondered what he could give in return.

Thinking about Yun Jingcen's previous injury, Meng Ci felt he needed to show concern.

"Teacher Duan, how is Teacher Yun doing?"

Duan Yan replied, "My senior is fine now, don't worry."

While Yun Jingcen was recovering, Mao Xinyu regained her spirits and joined the security team with Fang Shurui.

In recent days, everyone had been very cautious about safety and hadn't suffered any injuries.

Meng Ci nodded.

After pasting the couplets, Meng Ci looked into the bag and found several canned rats and spiders, a palm-sized piece of cured meat, a bag of rice, and some vegetables.

Meng Ci understood that these must be the best things Duan Yan and the others could offer.

To not reciprocate would be impolite.

So, upon returning, Meng Ci thought about it and gathered some items to send to Yun Jingcen and the others.

Two dried fish, a five-pound block of frozen meat, five sausages, and a bag of sugar.

These items were all obtained openly, and if Yun Jingcen asked, he could say they were brought back from the White Tiger Hall and they hadn't finished them yet.

Meng Ci showed Shen Que the items and, after getting his nod, gave them to Yun Jingcen and the others.

The door was opened by Mao Xinyu.

In Meng Ci's memory, Mao Xinyu always wore exquisite makeup, with her chestnut-colored curly hair neatly styled, and she always wore high heels regardless of what she was doing.

But now, Mao Xinyu had no makeup on, and her long curly hair that reached her waist had been cut into a short bob. Her hair was uneven and looked messy.

Mao Xinyu's change was so drastic that Meng Ci almost didn't recognize her.

"Mao Teacher, Happy New Year," Meng Ci said first.

"Meng Student, Happy New Year." Mao Xinyu stepped aside to let Meng Ci into the house.

Meng Ci shook his head. "Mao Teacher, I won't come in."

At this moment, Yun Jingcen and Ruan Qing, who were inside the house, heard the voices and came out as well.

"Meng Student, come in and sit down."

"Brother!"

Meng Ci greeted them and then handed over the things he was carrying to Mao Xinyu.

"I won't come in to sit. Shen Que is waiting for me to have dinner!"

"This is our New Year gift. We hope you teachers will accept it."

Seeing that Meng Ci insisted on not coming in, Mao Xinyu did not insist further.

However, when Mao Xinyu saw what was inside the plastic bag, she was extremely surprised.

"Meng Student, take this back; we can't accept it!"

Saying this, Mao Xinyu tried to hand the plastic bag back to Meng Ci.

Meng Ci shook his head and took two steps back.

"Mao Teacher, please keep it."

"This is something Shen Que and I got from White Tiger Hall before. It will go bad if we keep it too long!"

"It's not a waste to eat it before it expires."

"Yun Teacher, Mao Teacher, please convey my New Year greetings to Teacher Fang."

When Yun Jingcen saw what was inside the bag, she also refused to accept it.

"Meng Student, these things won't go bad. Please take them back."

"Besides, we are now part of the security team and earn daily wages, so we can support ourselves."

Meng Ci did not take the items back and simply said, "Please accept them."

"Consider it a small token of appreciation from Shen Que and me."

At this point, Yun Jingcen and Mao Xinyu came out one after another, trying to force the plastic bag back into Meng Ci's hands.

Meng Ci, with great strength, easily broke free.

"It's cold outside. Please go back inside, both of you."

With that, Meng Ci was about to leave.

"Brother!"

Ruan Qing emerged from the house at this moment, holding a plastic container filled neatly with dumplings.

"Brother, these dumplings are made by me. They're for you."

"Happy New Year."

After handing the plastic container to Meng Ci, Ruan Qing bowed deeply and then retreated back inside.

Yun Jingcen explained on Ruan Qing's behalf, "The filling for these dumplings is a mix of leeks and potatoes."

"Ruan Ruan prepared them yesterday but didn't have the courage to give them to you."

"You should take them back and eat them."

Meng Ci nodded.

Feeling the plastic container, he sighed inwardly.

He was no longer the original person and thus had no memories of the original self, so he naturally didn't know when the original self had saved Ruan Qing.

However, since Ruan Qing had put in the effort, it would be impolite not to accept it.

"Then please convey my thanks to Ruan Qing for the dumplings, Yun Teacher."