At 8 o'clock in the evening, Micai finally helped those customers take personal photos that represent the new year and new atmosphere. We also really got rid of the busy day. Micai clicked the rewards she received for taking photos, and took 900 yuan from them, handed them to Xiaonuo, who has always acted as her photography assistant, and said with a smile: "Xiaonuo, this is the New Year red envelope I have given you. I hope you can realize your dreams in this city next year! I also hope that our friendship will last forever."

Xiaonuo looked at Mi Cai with some surprise. Maybe she knew that Mi Cai had a prominent life experience and never thought of having a friendship with Mi Cai, but Mi Cai did treat her sincerely. Her eyes were moved, so she said to Mi Cai with a choked sobbing: "Sister, thank you!... I am a child from the countryside. When I first came to the city, I couldn't dress myself up and had no high education. Because I have always been a waiter, I am always scolded and looked down upon by those arrogant customers. I have been under these reprimanding voices and the pressure of society, and I dare not think about my dreams... Thank you for telling me that little people can also have dreams. I will definitely stay in Brother Zhaoyang's coffee shop and slowly realize my dreams!"

Mi Cai gently put her shoulder, put the money in her pocket, and said to me: "Zhaoyang, it's almost the Chinese New Year. Can you be more generous and give Xiaonuo a red envelope?"

I smiled. Actually, after the coffee shop opened, I saw the changes in Xiaonuo. At first, she was slacking off. She had been infected with some bad habits in society. So when the coffee shop had no business, she was full of complaints and doubts, and she lacked a firm and down-to-earth heart. Mi Cai must have had a long talk with her... Therefore, now she will patiently learn to debug coffee with Qin Yan, carefully clean up the coffee shop in an orderly manner, and look at the prospects of the coffee shop optimistically... In terms of hard work, these days, she is the hardest to work in the middle and outside. Of course, I would not be stingy with a red envelope. I immediately counted 1,800 yuan from my wallet and handed it to her, and said some encouragement words to make her believe that everything will gradually get better next year.

Xiaonuo was so happy that she insisted on giving me and Micai a red envelope of 999 yuan, wishing us a long-lasting life. Micai was hard to refuse, but she understood that it was difficult for her to make money. She just took over 99 yuan of it and said to her with a smile: "Xiaonuo, long-lasting, two 9 yuan is enough. Thank you for your blessings. Next year, we will have the same dream as you, run this coffee shop well and run our family."

"Well, Sister Mi Cai, Brother Zhaoyang, you must work hard, because I have put my dreams into this coffee shop, and I am waiting for you to use your big dreams to illuminate my little dreams!"

Mi Cai smiled, but said to me: "Zhaoyang, have you heard that? Xiaonuo's words and behaviors are very literary. I once again worship your ability to infect!"

I was in a great mood and immediately hugged Mi Cai and Xiao Nuo and laughed in the brightness of the house... And we, who are in the dream of building, have enough emotions to look forward to bringing us more surprises next year... Yes, I want a surprise. I hope that Mi Cai, who has stabilized her work next year, will quietly tell me one day that she already has our children!!

I think: By then, our family will have a more atmosphere, and the whole family will live around this child and be full of expectations...

......

At 9 o'clock in the night, we finally bid farewell to this tired day and left the coffee shop. I drove with Micai and walked through the interweaving of the city lights and fireworks again. I was already fantasizing about: I could have some midnight snacks after I got home and take a hot shower, but Micai seemed to have endless energy and had to take me to the mall. I used the extra money I just earned to help my father and mother buy New Year's gifts. When I got home, it was already 11 o'clock late at night.

When I opened the door, my father and mother had not yet rested. They sat on the sofa and waited. The smell of late-night snacks floating from the kitchen made them look so amiable. If the city itself has no feelings, the family affection waiting in the lights of thousands of families softened the entire city... And these are something I have never experienced in Suzhou, so if I like to stay in, it may have nothing to do with the scenery of the city. So, I prefer Xuzhou, a city where coal mines and industrial construction can be seen everywhere, while Suzhou's beautiful gardens and rivers are always engraved in my memory and corrode the mood!...I really don't want to go back!

In the living room, Mi Cai and I surrounded the dining table and ate the midnight snack cooked by my mother. Dad Ban and Mom sat opposite us and chatted with us. I said to my mother: "Mom, when you and Dad Ban are free, give me the list of guests you will invite at the wedding. We should go and make an invitation!"

My mother replied, "The list has been prepared long ago, and you will ask your dad to give it to you tomorrow..." After stopping, she said seriously again: "Zhaoyang, you are about to marry Xiaomi. According to the rules, the woman's bride price cannot be careless. Are you ready for it yourself?"

I subconsciously looked at Mi Cai around me. I understood: This traditional rule that cannot be broken is a pain between us, because Mi Cai, who cannot talk about family affection, will not be able to deal with this bride price... Her family is always a lingering shadow for us!

My mother also realized her tongue and quickly explained: "The bride price must be given, but what I mean is: the bride price can be handed over to Xiaomi first, and then handed it to her family if you have the chance..." After a brief silence, my mother smiled bitterly and said: "As elders, we sincerely hope that there is no infarction in your marriage and that you can live your future life openly... I also hope that Xiaomi's mother can understand your marriage, so the bride price must be prepared for her. In the future, it will be a family. It is best not to have these barriers!"

Mi Cai and I finally nodded together, acknowledging my mother's proposal to hand over the bride price to her for custody...

......

After dinner, Mi Cai and I returned to our residence. After washing up, they lay on the bed and talked about the trivialities of our experiences these days. We were a little expectant and worried because of this. Especially for me, I always felt uneasy: what Yan Zhuomei gave us was definitely not just a verbal warning. If we did not think of going to the United States with her, but got married in Xuzhou without authorization, it would definitely anger her. My troubles stem from my ignorance of the result of angering her. To be precise, it was not just a trouble, but a kind of fear from the deepest part of my heart! Although I only met her, her style of doing what she said had left a deep impression on me!

After a moment, Micai, who had done more than I did in this day, fell asleep due to extreme fatigue. I was worried, and I kept looking at the ceiling in a dim light emitted by the night light... I was still imagining what might happen in the future...

I don’t know how long it took, Mi Cai, who had already had a sleep, woke up in a vague state and went to the bathroom vaguely. Until she came back and lay beside me, she found that I was still awake. She plucked her hair, woke up a little, and asked, “Did I wake you up?”

"No, I'm a little insomnia!"

Mi Cai turned sideways, she looked at me with her chin and asked, "Then are you worried?"

I didn't want to spread this distressing emotion to her, which would affect her sleep, so I denied, "What can I worry about? I'm just a little excited..."

Mi Cai asked with concern again: "Do you drink too much coffee during the day?... Try not to drink it in the future. Your nerves are too sensitive and it is not suitable to drink this kind of irritating thing."

I smiled and replied, "Of course not... I just miss you very much, but seeing you falling asleep, I feel embarrassed to disturb you!" I pretended to be shy and continued, "But without your cooperation, I can't do this by myself... You know, we didn't have to be together last night, and the small separation is better than the desire to get married. The desire began to work in my heart again!"

"If you want to be a hooligan, just say it directly. Do you need to give subjective reasons and objective reasons? It seems that if I don't cooperate with you, it's a very cruel thing!"

"I just want to be a well-founded man in front of you... Besides, this is the sacred duty given to you by God. You have no reason to refuse me!" As I said, I turned over and pressed her under me... But she was still rational at the critical moment and took out a condom from the cabinet beside the bed in time. I was not disgusted. After all, I got pregnant unexpectedly and didn't want children for the time being. In the end, she was still a woman who would not be dominated by impulsive emotions. Since we started living a life of men and women, we would take strict contraceptive measures even during the safety period. The only exception was in Suzhou a few days ago... However, the chance of getting pregnant was almost non-existent.

......

Time passed quickly in the busyness that had not stopped, and soon arrived at the last day of this year, which is New Year's Eve!

On this day, Mi Cai and I got up early, started cleaning the house amid the sound of firecrackers, and posted couplets that could create the atmosphere of the New Year. At this time, there were only 16 days left before our wedding. We habitually talked about those friends who would come to attend the wedding.

After chatting for a while, Mi Cai thought of something and said to me again: "By the way, let me tell you a good news... Zhang Yixi has found Mr. An in Tibet. They are planning to stay in Tibet for the New Year this year, but they will definitely not miss our wedding."

Suddenly hearing this news, I seemed to have been given a cardiotropic injection. After all, Zhang Yixi and the woman in red have been much more twists and turns than Mi Cai and me, but they can still reunite, which has increased us a lot of confidence in overcoming difficulties. I smiled from the bottom of my heart and asked Mi Cai with concern: "What about them? After attending our wedding, it is time to consider getting married?"

Mi Cai replied without any hesitation: "You guessed it right this time. Their wedding may be a few days later than us. You must take time to accompany me to their wedding!"

"Of course, this is a matter of reciprocity!" I agreed immediately.

Mi Cai nodded and continued to wipe the originally bright window brighter. In this brightness, I finally saw some light about the future... I am looking forward to my wedding with Mi Cai, and I am waiting for that day to meet with friends who have said goodbye for a long time, such as Robben,... Maybe there are Yan Yan and Jian Wei, and it is also possible that Yan Yan came alone to congratulate him. Jian Wei has waited for the result of her parents' verdict, and then let go of everything and start life in the United States. We finally cut off all connections... At this moment, this is what I imagined!

............
Chapter completed!