Love in the Fast Lane - Chapter 63 - No Place Like Home

This year, it’s all about the excitement, whether you’re in the Northern region or the Southern region. If the New Year isn’t filled with excitement, then what’s the point of celebrating? After all, we spend over three hundred days a year rushing around, working tirelessly to make a living. Saving up money isn’t easy, buying good food isn’t easy, and nothing we do is easy. What’s it all for? It’s for those moments when we can forget about all these worries, enjoy ourselves wholeheartedly, and not worry too much about spending money.

Mo Zihan always thought this way. She believed that if you calculate life by the number of days, ninety percent of the time is spent rushing and toiling. But if you count it by the years, the quantity might be less, but the quality makes up for it. Take last year, for example. The New Year celebration wasn’t great, but this year, we’re celebrating joyfully, which means this year’s New Year is a success and filled with happiness. No matter what storms lie ahead, at least there will always be fond memories of this joyful celebration. Otherwise, what would we look back on? What would we think about?

This year, the Mo Family saw a rare moment of complete reunion thanks to Mo Zihan’s return and Tang Ning’s arrival. Her grandparents had never seemed so old to her, until she saw how their faces lit up as if they had become ten years younger upon seeing their children and grandchildren gathered at home. Her parents, too, were getting older and constantly worried about their daughter’s happiness and her future.

Except for some relatives who constantly chirped like sparrows, always looking for faults, Mo Zihan felt that Tang Ning’s performance deserved a near-perfect score, a beautiful comma rather than a full stop. Life doesn’t have full stops, so Tang Ning’s efforts could never truly come to an end.

Right after the Spring Festival, he would stroll around the town with her father, listening to him talk about the town’s history and the history of the Mo Family. Mo Zihan herself didn’t enjoy listening to these stories, since she grew up here, matured here, and might even have a grand wedding here in the future. This town had become an inseparable and unforgettable part of her life, and thus she didn’t feel the need to explicitly pay attention to its history-much like how you don’t need to consciously notice your heartbeat. But it was different for others-especially for someone she cared deeply about, yet who knew almost nothing about this place. She hoped that this person would listen to her growth journey, listen to the tales of this town’s many seasons.

No one prompted or hinted to Tang Ning on what he should do, and this was what Mo Zihan liked. His instinct, coupled with the respect he had for her and his own interest, led him to willingly listen to the town’s history and to the stories of her maturation and the hometown she cherished.

Everything about her was etched in this place. To truly enter her heart, he would first need to step into this town, into its flowing waters, and into its households.

Tang Ning did just that, and he did so willingly.

This made her father, who was particularly sensitive to culture, extremely pleased. He even went out and invited Tang Ning for a drink of the town’s special rice wine¹. According to Tang Ning, he felt compelled to comply, but the sight of him returning home drunk, with muddy legs from carrying her father, and standing at the door being scolded by her mother, struck Mo Zihan as an adorably silly scene-like a child who had done something wrong, a bit anxious and uneasy, while his eyes darted around seeking an excuse.

Mo Zihan found great joy in this. Tang Ning was a very vigilant person, meaning his sense of alertness was particularly strong. In front of outsiders, he would never exhibit such behavior. In the company of strangers, he would remain silent, waiting for the situation to end and for his chance to counter.

However, once he had determined that a place and the people were safe and trusted, he would become playful, seeking excuses for his actions like a child. In front of his parents, this was exactly how he behaved.

Her father, drunk and adorably clumsy, leaned on Tang Ning’s back, receiving a scolding from her mother. Despite this, he dared to mumble, “Xiao Tang, next time I’ll treat you again. I’ve secretly stashed some money,” which instantly escalated her mother’s anger. She redirected her fury solely at her father, giving Tang Ning a respite.

However, Tang Ning, wanting to help, quickly signaled to Mo Zihan for support and then tried to explain, “Actually, it was my fault today. I caught a whiff of the rice wine and Xiaohan mentioned it smelled great, so I wanted to try it. Uncle didn’t want to at first, and then…”

Her mother coldly interrupted, “So, you both got drunk out of your minds. The old one complaining about being under strict control and hiding money, while the young one is so intoxicated he had to stumble and ask for directions to make it home by dusk, is that it?”

Uh oh, Mo Zihan was sure that Tang Ning was about to suffer the consequences. Her mother wasn’t actually mad about them secretly drinking but was worried because they didn’t have their phones with them, which worried everyone at home. Plus, it was embarrassing-coming home with the son-in-law carrying the father-in-law while asking for directions. The real culprit, her father, was too drunk to be scolded. So, the son-in-law would have to take the fall.

Thankfully, her grandmother intervened, brewing sour soup and saying to her mother, “Let these two drunks sleep it off first. It’s cold outside, and if they catch a chill, you’ll be the one taking care of them. No matter how mad you are, wait until they wake up.”

Mo Zihan chuckled quietly. By the time these two drunks woke up, her mother’s anger would have dissipated, and any thought of punishment would be dismissed.

Sure enough, after about an hour of sleeping, both of them woke up, having had plenty of rest over the past few days. Her father sneakily went upstairs and found Mo Zihan scolding Tang Ning for tempting him to drink. With a sense of camaraderie, her father quickly defended his son-in-law, “I was the one who made Xiao Tang drink. Now, go downstairs and put in a good word for me with your mother.”

Mo Zihan made a funny face, thinking, “Put in a good word? It’s clear you both are trying to get your stories straight.”

Mo Zihan knew very well that her father had blurted out everything after coming back drunk. There was no need for him to concoct a story now. So, she didn’t say anything more, just waved her small fist at Tang Ning, slipped out the door, and then pressed her ear against it to eavesdrop.

She could hear her father hurriedly asking, “Xiao Tang, was it you who carried me back? Did I say anything I shouldn’t have while drunk?”

Tang Ning hesitated for a moment, but decided to be honest, “Well, you did let slip that you had some secret money stashed away…”

Her father let out a wail, “Oh no, this is bad, really bad.”

Tang Ning whispered, “Um, Uncle, let’s not panic. You could just say there is no secret money. I’ll explain it to Auntie. From what I’ve heard, the aftermath of situations like this is usually quite grim.”

Mo Zihan laughed so hard she could barely stand. These two were simply Unique. This was the perfect example of regret when it’s too late. But she made a mental note to remember her mother’s technique. In the future… hmm, she should definitely use this method to ensure that any punishment post-incident would be well understood.

After some giggling, the father-in-law and son-in-law came out with somber faces. Tang Ning gave Mo Zihan a look but said nothing. Her father had initially thought he could use his fatherly authority to threaten them, but then reconsidered. If Mo Zihan and her mother teamed up because of this, he might actually be digging his own grave.

So, he forced a smile, with a bit of a conciliatory tone, and stepped aside to let Zihan walk down the stairs with an air of pride, her hands behind her back. He then half-joked to Tang Ning, “Xiao Tang, remember this, it’s crucial to hold the financial reins at home. Otherwise, it just doesn’t feel right.”

Tang Ning nodded, “Yes, I’ll learn from you and my dad.”

Her father was puzzled, “Learn from me? Learn what?”

Tang Ning replied, “I see that you bear it sweetly. Going out into the world, yet having someone at home to keep you in check, must be really comforting. I actually think you’re quite happy about it inside.”

Her father was silent for a moment, then patted Tang Ning’s shoulder and said, “You’re a good kid. At thirty, a person should have a family, and at seventy, a person should still have someone looking out for them. Understanding this now shows that you are indeed a wise person.”

The days passed by amidst such hustle and bustle. Before they knew it, it was nearly time to return to work. Mo Zihan’s parents would be staying a little longer-they wanted to spend more time with the grandparents and would leave after the Lantern Festival².

Meanwhile, Zihan’s mother was still grumbling, cursing the employers who wouldn’t let their daughter stay home until after the festival. Whether Murong Feng had sneezed while being talked about was unknown, but Mo Zihan wholeheartedly agreed with her mother, feeling quite reluctant about going back to work herself.

Wouldn’t it be great not to work?

While waiting for the bus, Mo Zihan went to buy some water. Her mother chatted with Tang Ning, giving him some family advice, “Xiao Tang, over these days, there have been some unreliable relatives talking about how you two don’t have established careers yet. Don’t take it to heart. As long as you’re good people and live a steady, stable life, that’s what matters most, understand? Don’t feel burdened. You’re still young; as long as you work together and aim for the same goals, you’ll have good days ahead, got it?”

Tang Ning replied, “Auntie, don’t worry. I understand. We can’t ignore others’ opinions, but we can’t follow them blindly either. Our life must be led by our own decisions. If we always listen to others, it won’t be our life anymore.”

Her father stood nearby, saying nothing. In his opinion, Xiao Tang was a decisive young man with a great personality. He had his own plans and didn’t need to worry about being swayed by others.

…

After a day and a night on the train, the couple returned to their familiar little apartment. Opening the windows, they took a deep breath of the city’s familiar yet unique air. Mo Zihan lay back on the bed, facing the ceiling, and sighed comfortably, “Our little nest is still the coziest. No one to boss us around, no thinking about how to avoid spilling secrets. It’s great.”

Tang Ning, crouching on the floor and cleaning the trash bin, lifted his head at her comment, “Huh? Did we ever need to pretend about anything these past few days?”

Mo Zihan thought for a moment and realized he was right. They hadn’t really pretended or concealed anything the entire time.

Footnote:

1. Rice Wine(米酒):A traditional alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice, widely popular in Asian cultures. The rice wine mentioned in the text is a local specialty of the town, featuring unique brewing methods or flavors that highlight the cultural characteristics of the area.
2. The Lantern Festival:(元宵节):Celebrated on the 15th day of the first month in the lunar calendar, it marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations. People traditionally light and release lanterns, solving riddles written on them, and enjoy eating tangyuan (sweet glutinous rice balls), symbolizing family unity and happiness.