School Beauty's Invincible Martial Expert

Although today is Chinese New Year's Eve, Hanmen Restaurant did not cease its operations. On the contrary, business at Hanmen Restaurant was booming today. A month prior, Hanmen Restaurant had already started taking reservations for the New Year's Eve dinner, and all the private rooms, including every single table in the main hall, had been booked. Today was arguably the busiest day for Hanmen Restaurant since its opening, and all the staff members, instead of taking the day off, immersed themselves in even busier work.

However, all their hard work was rewarded.

Today was not originally a holiday, as the national holidays start from the first day of the Lunar New Year. There was no rest on New Year's Eve. Nevertheless, to offer some consolation, Liu Xiaolei announced that employees at Hanmen Restaurant would receive triple wages on New Year's Eve, which inspired everyone to work with enthusiasm.

The salary at Hanmen Restaurant was already considered high, and with the triple holiday wages, everyone could anticipate a significant raise this month. They were all filled with motivation.

Xiao Han, returning from the TV station, did not go straight home but made a detour to Hanmen Restaurant. By this time, many citizens were already enjoying their New Year's Eve dinner there in the restaurant at the city center.

The private rooms in the restaurant were equipped with mahjong tables, where people were either playing mahjong or cards. It was New Year's after all, and a bit of gambling was not objectionable. Moreover, the stakes were not high, as it was all in good fun.

The Hanmen Restaurant across from Fuxing Community was also fully booked for the New Year's Eve dinner, and inside the kitchen, more than a dozen chefs were frantically busy. Liu Xiaolei personally oversaw the main hall, coordinating the work between the kitchen and the restaurant. Everyone on both sides seemed very anxious. Although Hanmen Restaurant had hosted New Year's Eve dinners before, this time, the demand was at its peak, with all the private rooms and tables in the main hall fully occupied, and all staff present. Although everything seemed normal, everyone understood the importance of their responsibility this time.

A failure in the New Year's Eve dinner was absolutely unacceptable, as it would inevitably lead to customer dissatisfaction.

Hanmen Restaurant had a good reputation, which could not be tarnished by this single event. This was simply not allowed.

"Xiao Han, what are you doing here!" Liu Xiaolei glanced at Xiao Han.

"Mm!" Xiao Han nodded and said, "I'm here to see if I can help."

"You better go home for New Year's Eve dinner," said Liu Xiaolei, who was too busy to attend to Xiao Han.

"Xiao Lei, are you sure you don't need help?" Xiao Han asked doubtfully.

"No need!" Liu Xiaolei shook her head, then said, "You'd better go now. Later, sis will come and find you to give you a big red envelope, okay?"

"Ah?!" Xiao Han was startled and asked, "Really?"

"Of course, it's true!" Liu Xiaolei nodded hurriedly, then said, "When have I ever lied to you?"

"Alright, since I'm not needed here, I'll head out." Xiao Han saw that the restaurant was in order and there was nothing he needed to help with. Moreover, he guessed that his family was probably preparing the New Year's Eve dinner by now, so Xiao Han decided to head home for dinner.

As he was leaving, Xiao Han looked at Liu Xiaolei and said, "Xiao Lei, you've worked hard."

"It's not hard!" Liu Xiaolei shook her head.

"Then... Happy New Year in advance!" Xiao Han hurriedly said.

Liu Xiaolei was helping with serving dishes when suddenly she heard Xiao Han, and lifted her head, looking at him with twinkling eyes, and said, "Little ancestor, Happy New Year. Go home quickly. Your mom is waiting for you to have New Year's Eve dinner. I still have to work until late before I can go back. I'll come find you later."

Having said that, Liu Xiaolei once again immersed herself in the busy work.

Watching Liu Xiaolei's busy figure, Xiao Han felt a bit grateful in his heart.

This girl, no matter how he troubled her, never resented him; regardless of how much he neglected her, she never forgot him; looking at her, Xiao Han felt a slight touch of emotion. That emotion was somewhat painfully heartfelt.

"Silly girl." Xiao Han sighed and said, "I really don't want you to work so hard!"

Liu Xiaolei was a very good girl, highly responsible and meticulous at work. In life, she paid attention to detail and had her own thoughts and ideas.

If Yang Lu was a woman with strong work capabilities, then Liu Xiaolei was definitely a woman with her own ideas and conviction in life. By comparison, Yang Lu's character was much softer. Yang Lu was a woman very suitable to be a wife, especially for a man with a strong sense of male chauvinism. Because she was compliant and had a gentle nature.

But Xiao Lei was different; having lived in the coastal city for many years, she had her own thoughts, decisions, and ideology. Therefore, she definitely was not someone whose mind could easily be controlled by others.

Xiao Han turned and left the Hanmen Restaurant, then walked towards the community.

The house was filled with delicious aromas, and the scent of the food from the kitchen had wafted to the doorstep. After Xiao Han arrived home, he called out, "Mom, I'm back!"

"Hurry and wash your hands, we're about to eat," Mother Xiao couldn't hide a smile in her voice.

"Right away!" Xiao Han immediately nodded.

Soon, Mother Xiao carried the dishes out from the kitchen. There were eight dishes in total, each with a meaningful implication. Looking at these eight dishes, Xiao Han felt much comfort inside. During the New Year celebrations of past years, his mother would symbolically stir-fry a few dishes. But this year was different, this year's New Year's Eve dinner at home was indeed a feast, with a whole chicken, a whole duck, and a big pot of lamb…

These dishes were something he wouldn't even dare to dream of in previous New Year's Eve dinners. And now, his mother was willing to splurge.

One could sense the household's economic situation from the daily meals. A mischievous smile curled up the corners of Xiao Han's mouth as he said, "Mom, why is today's feast so lavish?"

"Of course!" Mother Xiao nodded and said, "Today is the New Year's Eve dinner. How could it not be lavish?"

"Right!" Xiao Han eagerly nodded.

"Go wash your hands quickly!" Mother Xiao hurriedly instructed.

"Alright!" Xiao Han immediately nodded.

After saying that, Xiao Han dashed into the kitchen to wash his hands.

The meal was ready, and Mother Xiao had untied her apron. The kitchen was cleaned up, all that was left was to eat the meal. Everything was set to continue, just waiting to set off firecrackers.

As soon as Xiao Han came out of the kitchen, Mother Xiao immediately said, "Xiao Han, set off the firecrackers at the door."

"Ah?" Xiao Han was momentarily stunned.

Because in previous years, it was always his mother who set them off. When his father was alive, it was always his father who personally lit the firecrackers. Traditionally, the person who ignited firecrackers at the door on New Year's Eve was a central figure of the household. It had always been his father, then later his mother, and now it had become him. This change symbolized a shift in the core roles within the family, indicating that Xiao Han's status in the home was gradually changing.

Xiao Han nodded, "Okay, I got it!"

From that moment, Xiao Han realized there had been a change in his identity. His mother had always been a strong-willed woman, and now, she was willing to let Xiao Han take on the responsibility of this family's central figure. This also showed that his mother had acknowledged the fact that Xiao Han had grown up.

Xiao Han walked out, and a string of firecrackers that could let off ten thousand bangs was already placed at the door. Xiao Han hurried over to unwrap the firecrackers and, following the local customs, arranged the long string of firecrackers into the shape of the number '8'.

Crackle, pop...

The firecrackers were soon lit. With thunderous blasts, Xiao Han quickly ran away as the red fragments flew all over the sky, a sight that was particularly amusing. Standing at the door, Xiao Han watched the dense shower of firecracker scraps with a smile on his face.

At that moment, he seemed to see something different. In his mind, he seemed to recall the way his father used to set off firecrackers.

During the New Year's Eves of his childhood, it was his father who shouldered the responsibility of setting off the firecrackers. Back then, he was still young, but he would bravely follow his father outside to set them off. Although his father had encouraged him to try many times, he never quite mustered the courage. Every time he watched his father's silhouette setting off firecrackers, Xiao Han always felt a sense of awe, sensing his father's figure as incredibly majestic and tall.

In the light and fire of the firecrackers, Xiao Han felt as if he once again saw his father's shadow. This time, his father's shadow seemed so real and vivid, as if it were right in front of him, within sight and touch.

"Dad!" Xiao Han called out hastily.

The sound of the firecrackers became increasingly loud, as if each firecracker blast was exploding. Xiao Han quickly ducked back inside the house. When he looked outside again, the scene he had seen was no longer there, only the burst of sparks remained.

"Dad, happy New Year," Xiao Han said somberly as he watched the firecrackers going off at the door.

"Xiao Han, it's time for dinner," Mother Xiao urgently called out.

"Okay!" Xiao Han nodded.

After entering the house, Xiao Han's mood brightened again. The sight of delicious food made all difficulties and troubles fade away; it was time to eat a hearty meal first. Xiao Han appeared very joyful. He quickly served his mother a bowl of rice. Mother Xiao said excitedly, "Xiao Han, you've grown up."

"Mom, I'm still young!" Xiao Han chuckled with a 'hehe'.

"Silly boy, you're not young anymore," Mother Xiao shook her head, then said, "Look at yourself… you're now a boss worth tens of millions, with so many people under you."

"Mom, that's nothing!" Xiao Han hurriedly shook his head, then said, "At home, I'll always just be your son, so I'm still young, you can't say I've grown up."

"Of course, you'll always be my son!" Mother Xiao nodded, then laughed, "This time, I'm proud of you."

"Hehe…" Xiao Han chuckled, saying, "Mom, let's eat!"

"Not so fast!" Mother Xiao shook her head, "It's New Year's Eve, you've forgotten something very important."