Chapter 52: Sici's New Year Wish

Jade fish, according to the memories of the wealthy playboy, were extremely popular during the Shang and Zhou dynasties.

In the hearts of the ancients, fish were the embodiment of mountains and rivers, capable of communicating with heaven and earth, warding off evil spirits, and bringing blessings to people.

In many cultures, fish were endowed with symbolic meaning, representing restraint and self-discipline, the power of faith, and the continuation of life. They implied auspiciousness and abundance, and were even regarded as sacred by some sects.

Liu Jing giving Zhang Min a jade fish had no hidden meaning; it was simply the approaching New Year, symbolizing a surplus year after year.

He had made six Lubin locks: one for Zhang Min, one for his maternal aunt, and shares for Sister Li, Teacher An, and Qianqian.

As for the sixth one, Liu Jing gave it to his foreign apprentice.

As the foundational formal disciple, Scarlett naturally received preferential treatment, but the Lubin lock was completely empty inside, holding nothing at all.

The young foreign girl was thrilled, finding it a truly magical gift, even more interesting than a Rubik's cube.

Most importantly, she had watched with her own eyes how a pile of wood gradually transformed into a Lubin lock in her little master's hands.

The gift for Sister Li was a jade Buddha, Teacher An's Lubin lock contained a pine wood Bodhisattva, and the locks for Zhang Min, his aunt, and Qianqian all held jade fish.

The three jade fish varied in color and differed in shape.

Zhang Min's was blue, shaped like a fish-dragon. His aunt's was a red carp, and Qianqian's was a purple guppy.

Whether it was the Bodhisattva, the jade Buddha, or these jade fish, every single one of them had been personally carved by Liu Jing.

The carving skills came from the wealthy playboy, and Liu Jing had already mastered them proficiently.

The playboy had learned these skills purely for picking up girls, but now the benefit fell to Liu Jing.

"Clumsy hands and feet. I've never seen anyone so reckless. Do you want to smash all the rest too?" Liu Jing said with utter disdain.

Jade fish were inherently fragile items, and with no padding inside, Zhang Min's violent disassembly had broken off a few pieces.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know," Zhang Min said, holding the jade pendant in her hands, looking extremely embarrassed.

"A broken piece brings peace. Later I'll find a piece of good jade and carve a large one for you," Liu Jing couldn't bear to see the beauty sad, so he began to comfort her.

"You carved this? When did you learn this trick?" Zhang Min asked in shock.

"There are plenty of skills I possess. If you can think of it, there's nothing I can't do," Liu Jing said smugly.

Holding the jade pendant, Zhang Min brought it close to her eyes to examine it carefully.

In the eyes of the jade fish, she saw her own name.

A sudden emotion welled up in Zhang Min's heart, as if she could see the sight of Liu Jing carving it with intense concentration.

Her expression turned guilty, like a child who had done something wrong, "Wood, I'm sorry, I..."

"It's just a jade fish, why are you crying about it? There's no need for that, really no need."

"Such a pretty jade pendant, and my heart is broken too. I'll be responsible for buying the jade, you carve another one for me."

"I suggest you go to sleep."

"I slept on the plane, I'm not tired now."

"Once you're asleep, anything is possible."

"Pfft! You dead piece of wood, you wish."

While bickering with Liu Jing, Zhang Min took out a jewelry box from her suitcase, carefully wrapped the jade pendant, and placed it inside.

She picked up the Lubin lock and handed it to Liu Jing, "Wood, teach me now, how do you open this box?"

"Call me Master." Liu Jing was lying on the sofa at the moment. With the indoor heating on, after reading for a few pages, he was starting to feel sleepy.

"Heh, I think you're the one who needs to go to sleep," Zhang Min sneered.

Liu Jing yawned, "My aunt will be back later, you can sleep with her tonight."

"Her snoring is too loud. You sleep with her, I'm staying in this room."

"Snort... snort... snort..."

Her only response was Liu Jing's light snoring.

This day was the Little New Year of the lunar calendar. Zhang Min had traveled from China to Chicago to spend the New Year with Liu Jing.

This year, his aunt had not returned to Jiangcheng, choosing instead to stay in Chicago.

Liu Jing had thought this New Year would just pass quietly like that.

On New Year's Eve, however, another wave of people arrived.

On New Year's Eve, America had no Spring Festival, and naturally no New Year's Eve in the traditional sense.

"Cut!" the director shouted.

Liu Jing glanced out the window. A world of pristine white snow, earth and sky blending into one, with a hazy grayness in the distance.

Several thugs were undergoing torture—freezing, electric shocks, traps...

"Uncle, hurry inside to warm up. Sorry about just now," Liu Jing quickly stepped forward to help them up one by one.

These gentlemen had suffered quite a bit earlier because of his traps.

Hong Kong actors were dedicated to their action films, and Hollywood actors were no different; all scenes were done personally. Just watching made Liu Jing feel cold.

Sometimes Liu Jing felt this movie shouldn't be called *Home Alone*, but rather *The Chronicle of a Poor Bastard's Suffering*.

"Luvei, I hope your traps work the first time so we can suffer a little less."

"Shit! It's so warm inside. I think I'm starting to thaw."

"My God! I really shouldn't have listened to the makeup artist's advice. The thicker the clothes, the more solidly you freeze."

"Achoo! I think I've caught a cold."

"Darling, drop the 'think'—your snot just ran into your mouth."

...

Props and makeup staff crowded around, some providing warmth, others removing makeup.

"Director, why are we wrapping up so early today? It seems to be only four o'clock," someone questioned.

"We have a little friend from China in our crew, and for them, today is only half a day. Temporary notice: tomorrow is a day off," the director smiled.

"Oh, I suddenly love China. If we could have two more days off, I think I'd love it even more," Oleg Krupa was covered in ice crystals; he was practically frozen stiff.

"Chinese people are so lucky. They actually get to celebrate their New Year, while we only get Christmas. I love the New Year, Chinatown is so lively, but unfortunately I can't go this year," another actor said.

"Luvei, Happy New Year. See you the day after tomorrow, you'll be a year older. Let me think, ah, nine years old. When I was nine, I had already stolen my neighbor's daughter's first kiss," Oleg Krupa joked.

"Shouldn't it be you whose first kiss was stolen?"

"No, my first kiss was stolen when I was six. That was a traumatic memory."

"We'd all love to hear about it..."

...

Listening to the playful banter inside the room, Liu Jing walked back to the car, stepping heavily in the deep snow.

He thought about his own first kiss, which had been stolen by that shrew Zhang Min when he was six years old.

Guarded against everything, yet failing to guard against that...

"Surprise!" A loud shout rang in his ear the moment he opened the door.

Liu Jing was startled and, out of reflex, almost threw a punch.

His fist stopped right in front of Qianqian's eyes. "You almost got hit."

Qianqian wasn't scared at all and let out a light snort. "Go ahead and try hitting me?"

Naturally, she hadn't come alone. There was Teacher An, Sister Li, and the grandpa and grandma as well.

When Liu Jing returned to his residence, Grandma, Sister Li, and Zhang Min were gathered together wrapping dumplings, chatting and laughing lively.

Teacher An was pasting Spring Festival couplets, and Grandpa was personally cooking in the kitchen, eager to showcase skills he hadn't displayed in a long time.

"You guys really know how to keep a secret," Liu Jing stood at the doorway, looking gloomily at his aunt.

"Don't look at me, Qianqian wouldn't let me tell you, she wanted to give you a surprise," his aunt shrugged, refusing to take the blame.

"That was a fright," Liu Jing looked at the little girl frolicking in the snow. A carefree childhood truly was wonderful.

Earth and sky were a sheet of pure white. Looking up, the sky was a blanket of blank white.

As the snowflakes drifted down and the firecrackers rang out, in this foreign land, the atmosphere of the New Year had finally arrived.

The firecrackers weren't set off by them, but by neighbors not far away.

There was no Spring Festival Gala on television, so Zhang Min played *Home Alone*.

Grandpa's culinary skills were quite mediocre, far inferior to his medical expertise.

"Haha, I bit into a coin! I bit into a coin!" Qianqian pulled a coin out of her mouth, showing it off proudly.

Liu Jing frowned with maximum disgust. "Get away from me, looking at that makes me want to vomit."

"The bathroom is over there," Qianqian pointed toward the bathroom with her other little hand.

"Hmph!" Liu Jing didn't reply. This brat's tongue was getting sharper by the day.

Qianqian slapped the coin onto the table. "I want to make a wish."

"Then you better hurry. Once the dumplings get cold, the wish won't come true anymore," his aunt joked.

"In the new year, I don't want to go to the same school as Wood," Qianqian slanted a glance at Liu Jing, her eyes full of disdain.

"You can transfer schools, I didn't stop you. There are so many elementary schools in Jiangcheng, transfer wherever you like. If those aren't enough for you to choose from, you can go to Modu, Yandu, or even abroad," Liu Jing's expression turned sour. I was ordered to protect you, and now I'm being treated like an obstacle.

"You don't understand!" Qianqian said with a haughty air.