Chapter 185: Happy New Year
Chapter 185: Happy New Year
The night sky tonight was exceptionally clear.
Not a single cloud could be seen, nor was there a star in sight.
The silver full moon hung high in the heavens, casting endless radiance upon the Great Wilderness, an extraordinarily beautiful sight.
This was the biggest and brightest that the Silver Moon, symbolizing good fortune and luck, appeared all year.
It was also the final day of the thirty-one thousand seven hundred and fifty-fifth year of the Great Wilderness Calendar.
A roaring bonfire blazed once more atop the Training Ground of Shan Yue Village.
Every Giant in the entire tribe who could still move gathered here.
They encircled the bonfire, honoring their ancestors and celebrating the arrival of the New Year.
This was the most important day for the Great Wilderness Giants.
Drums boomed, war songs rang out, and young men and women danced ancient dances.
Everyone sang praises and remembered the ancestors who forged the path, while praying for a bountiful year of gathering and hunting!
Three black bears, stripped of their fur, cleaned of their innards, and with paws removed, were skewered over the bonfire, roasting and turning. Giants nearby constantly basted them with prepared sauce.
The air filled with the rich scent of roasting meat.
These three unfortunate creatures had been “dragged out” of their dens while hibernating in the mountains by Shan Yue Warriors.
All the fat they had worked so hard to build up during the autumn was now transformed into mouth-watering deliciousness!
“Time for the fireworks!”
The village children, led by Shan Guoer, scampered excitedly onto the village fort walls.
In every hand was a bundle of clustered rocket tubes!
These were fireworks Gao Jing had bought in the Primary World.
Two-meter-long, fifty-shot large clustered rocket tubes, bundled ten together. He’d test-fired some yesterday, leaving the children utterly amazed and desperately envious – they’d never seen anything like it before!
Tonight, the children finally got their wish.
Besides the clustered rockets, Gao Jing had also prepared several extra-large fireworks, all packed in the basket strapped to Shan Guoer’s back.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Clustered shells shot skyward one after another, bursting in crackling explosions.
The children were ecstatic, shrieking and yelling with such excitement they nearly deafened Gao Jing.
But compared to the huge fireworks Shan Guoer would set off next, these clustered rockets were nothing.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Huge clouds of fireworks bloomed one after another high in the sky, brilliantly colourful and extremely dazzling.
Red, purple, white, green, and blue flames illuminated the children’s faces as they gazed upwards, their eyes reflecting the sparkling bursts that flashed bright and then faded.
It wasn’t only the children; the Giants by the bonfire also admired the brilliant fireworks.
This was undoubtedly a beautiful spectacle they would never forget in their lifetimes!
Shan Yan chuckled, pulling out his pipe. He stuffed it with tobacco and lit it, taking a few satisfying puffs.
The Elder Shaman watched the fireworks in the sky, the wrinkles on his face smoothing out completely.
At this time last year, he had worried about the tribe’s future; now, he felt full of hope for what lay ahead.
Just like all the Shan Yue Giants!
“Gao Jing.”
Up on the village wall, Shan Guoer secretly spoke to Gao Jing, who sat on her shoulder. “Next year, I want to set off the fireworks again.”
“Okay.”
Gao Jing nodded. “Next year, I’ll bring back even more and even bigger fireworks for you to set off.”
The little girl’s eyes curved into crescent moons, revealing a joyful and happy smile.
Gao Jing thought her smile shone even brighter than the fireworks in the sky!
Amidst the air of joy and celebration.
A year passed.
On the first morning of the New Year, the weather outside was exceptionally clear. The chirping of birds in the forest carried into the wooden house.
“Happy New Year!”
The little girl, sound asleep on her bed, rolled over, ignoring the voice shouting beside her ear.
She kept on snoring contentedly.
“Shan Guoer!”
Gao Jing sighed, hopping to the other side of the bed. “Hurry and get up! The sun is warming your bum!”
“Not warming my bum.”
Shan Guoer murmured sleepily, eyes shut. “You’re fibbing again. I want more sleepy-sleep.”
Snore! Snore!
Gao Jing laughed. “Well then, don’t you want your New Year gift? If you don’t get up now, I’ll give it to someone else!”
“I want it!”
Instantly, the little girl’s eyes snapped open, and she scrambled out of bed. “What gift?”
That trick always worked!
Gao Jing smiled and pointed to the nearby table. “Over there.”
His New Year gift for Shan Guoer was a padded jacket.
A Chinese-style children’s jacket, made from blazing red fabric adorned with golden phoenix embroidery – festive, warm, and adorable.
Gao Jing had gone to considerable effort for this piece of clothing.
He’d first taken Shan Guoer’s measurements.
Though just six years old this year,
She was already 11.5 meters tall. Finding a ready-made garment for her in the Primary World was impossible.
So it had to be custom-made.
Gao Jing found a company specializing in prop and costume clothing and paid a high price to have it specially ordered.
He’d deliberately saved it to give to Shan Guoer today.
“Ah!”
The little girl instantly bounded over, grabbed the red jacket, and happily tried to pull it on.
“Not like that.”
Gao Jing was truly afraid her innate immense strength would shred the jacket instantly. He quickly explained the proper way to put it on.
Shan Guoer was very smart!
Following Gao Jing’s instructions, she soon had the jacket on neatly, her movements both swift and gentle.
“Beautiful!”
Laughing, Gao Jing gave Shan Guoer two thumbs up.
The little girl was already very cute, and this red cotton coat made her adorableness level increase by 100.
She looked just like a huge lucky doll from Great Xia!
Shan Guoer wrinkled her nose and showed a sweet smile.
“Here.”
Gao Jing took out a big red envelope from his Storage Space—it was already prepared.
It was truly a “big” red envelope.
Shan Guoer asked curiously, “What is this?”
Gao Jing replied, “It’s New Year money for you.”
Shan Guoer blinked, “What is New Year money?”
“New Year money is…”
Gao Jing had to tell her a story about New Year money: “A very long time ago, there was a Monster Beast called Sui. It liked to come out during the New Year to harm children…”
Actually, according to the custom in the Primary World, this New Year money should have been given to the little girl last night.
But in the Great World, it didn’t matter because there was no same custom.
Gao Jing could say it however he liked.
Shan Guoer listened with great interest and didn’t feel scared at all of the legendary Sui Monster Beast.
She even had the idea of wanting to fight this Sui Monster Beast that hurt children!
After hearing the story, she opened Gao Jing’s red envelope.
Inside were six Copper Coins—matching her age.
Shan Guoer was very happy for the first time receiving New Year money: “Gao Jing, thank you!”
“Then, then…”
She asked again, “Does that mean every year from now on, I will get New Year money?”
“Yes.”
Gao Jing smiled as he said, “As long as you haven’t grown up, you will always get New Year money.”
“Oh.”
Shan Guoer suddenly hoped she would grow up slowly.
That way she could get more New Year money!
Of course, she kept this thought inside and didn’t tell Gao Jing.
Holding the Copper Coins in her palm, Shan Guoer asked quietly, “Gao Jing, will you always be this good to me?”
Even though the time together wasn’t very long.
She had found warmth and happiness like never before with Gao Jing.
The past six months were the happiest and most joyful time for the little girl.
She was always very afraid that this happiness and beauty would suddenly leave her and she could never have it again!
Gao Jing felt the unease in the little girl’s heart at that moment.
He jumped onto the wooden table, stood on the edge, and reached his hand out to Shan Guoer.
The little girl moved her face closer and pressed it tightly against his palm.
Gao Jing’s hand was small but full of warmth, making her feel peaceful and content.
She didn’t want to separate.
“I will.”
Gao Jing said, “I promise.”
Deep in his heart, he had already treated Shan Guoer as his own daughter.
In this world, the little girl was now his deepest bond!
“Mm!”
With Gao Jing’s assurance, Shan Guoer smiled again.
Even though she had asked almost the same question before and got the same answer.
But this time, the little girl who lacked inner security really stopped feeling worry and fear.
She believed Gao Jing wouldn’t abandon her.
So even if there had to be short separations, she wouldn’t feel panic or unease!
Woof! Woof!
Ah Huang ran in at some point, wagging its tail and barking at Shan Guoer.
The little girl giggled happily, squatted down, and hugged its neck: “Ah Huang, Happy New Year!”
Ah Huang: Woof woof woof?