Chapter 1170: Gold

Chapter 1170: Gold

It was Chinese New Year’s Eve, and the Su household was alive with warmth and tradition.

Crimson spring couplets had been affixed to the doorposts with meticulous care, the “prosperity” words hung upside down as per custom, signifying that happiness had arrived. Delicate paper cuttings adorned the windows, and the scent of chicken, duck, and fish wafted from the kitchen—offerings to their ancestors.

“And of course,” Gu Zi added with a playful smile, retrieving three thick red envelopes from her handbag, “Mommy and Daddy have your red envelopes ready.”

She handed them out one by one to the children, who each received their envelope with solemnity and delight, their little voices chirping “Thank you, Mommy. Thank you, Daddy,” in turn.

As the eldest, Su Bing took it upon himself to speak for the group. Standing upright like a young gentleman trained for a family banquet, he declared, “We wish Daddy and Mommy eternal youth and everlasting love. We also wish good health and safety for the baby in Mommy’s belly—and may our little family grow happier and stronger with each passing year!”

Gu Zi laughed, her face radiant. “We wish our precious darlings health and happiness, may you all grow tall and strong, and shine brightly in whichever field you choose. But most importantly—be joyful. Happy New Year, my darlings!”

Outside, a flurry of activity was already beginning—Su Shen had arranged the firecrackers by the door and lit the fuse before dashing back inside. The firecrackers snapped and popped with festive violence, sparks dancing across the concrete like tiny golden dragons.

Covering her ears dramatically, little Su Le shouted, “The firecrackers are going off—time for our reunion dinner!”

Su Li dashed to turn on the television. The Spring Festival Gala was just starting, its garish lights and enthusiastic hosts filling the room with that unmistakable sense of national celebration. Everyone gathered around the table once more, lifting glasses of soda and fruit juice for a toast before diving into the feast with joyful abandon.

Amid the clinking of bowls and the occasional slurp of noodles, Su Shen spoke up with a matter-of-fact tone, “Mommy gave you your red envelopes today, but you should all hand them over for safekeeping. If you need to use the money, Mommy can give it back to you.”

In this era, money was no small thing. A month’s salary for a regular worker barely scraped thirty yuan, and each of the children had received one hundred yuan in their envelope—an astonishing sum for children so young. It wouldn’t be safe just lying around.

Gu Zi nodded in agreement, her voice soft but firm. “If you trust Mommy, let me keep it for you. But it’s entirely up to you—I won’t force you.”

Su Bing, the efficient and obedient eldest, handed his envelope over without hesitation. So did Su Le, her tiny fingers folding the red paper precisely. Then it was Su Li’s turn.

He hesitated.

Clutching the envelope tightly in his hand, he looked up and mumbled, “Mommy… can I keep mine? I want to use it to buy milk powder, toys, little clothes and shoes… for the baby in your tummy.”

Gu Zi blinked. For a moment, she was speechless. Of all the children, she hadn’t expected Su Li to be the one thinking about the unborn child. Her heart melted a little at the thought.

Taking the envelope from his hand, she said gently, “Then let Mommy keep it safe for now. Once the baby’s here, whatever you want to buy, we’ll use the money for that—okay?”

Su Li nodded solemnly, satisfied with the arrangement.

Just then, Su Shen excused himself, disappearing briefly into the bedroom before returning with a velvet box in a deep imperial purple—a shade that hinted at wealth with no need for logos. He handed it to Gu Zi, saying, “Gu Zi, this is a full gold jewelry set—earrings, ring, bracelet, necklace—see if you like it.”

Now, Su Shen wasn’t exactly known for his creativity when it came to gifts. He had long given up on novelty; after all, how many variations of sentiment could you wrap in a red box? But Gu Zi liked practical things—money, gold, anything of intrinsic value. Jewelry, especially gold, could be worn, pawned, or stashed away as investment. The more he gave her, the more secure she felt.

She hadn’t expected a gift tonight, not at all. When she opened the box, she found not just a simple necklace but an entire five-piece set: earrings, ring, necklace, bracelet, bangle. Real gold, heavy in the hand—none of that hollowed-out lightweight stuff.

She picked up the bangle; it was solid, dense, and made the satisfying thud of real wealth. Not that she had any intention of cashing it in—gold was a treasure to be hoarded and watched as it appreciated quietly in value.𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

The necklace, she noted, had a surprisingly trendy design.

“I like it,” she said simply, handing it over. “Help me put it on?”

Su Shen let out a silent breath of relief—he’d worried she might think it was gaudy or old-fashioned. He stood, took the necklace in his hands, then paused. Her neck was always sensitive to cold metal. So he cupped the necklace in his palms, letting his body heat warm the gold before carefully placing it around her neck.

“It looks beautiful on you,” he murmured. “It really suits you.”

Gu Zi called Su Bing to fetch her a mirror. She examined her reflection carefully—the gold against her smooth skin, her elegant neck—she didn’t look old at all. In fact, she looked quite radiant. She decided she would wear this necklace for the next few days—let everyone see.

“Put the box back in the bedroom,” she told Su Shen.

The Gala was still in full swing when Su Li got restless. “I want to go out and light fireworks!” he cried.

Gu Zi, unwilling to let him run out alone, turned to Su Shen. “Why don’t you take the kids out? It’s New Year’s Eve—let them have some fun. I’ll stay in and watch the Gala.”

He didn’t really want to leave her alone, but seeing how serene she looked in that moment, he nodded. Maybe she did need a moment of peace to herself.

So out they went into the cold night, whooping and squealing with glee. By the time they returned, it was late—but Su Li was still brimming with energy.

“I want to stay up all night! Mommy, I’ll stay with you and watch TV until sunrise!”

The children piled around Gu Zi like puppies vying for her lap. Su Shen didn’t even have a chance to squeeze in beside her. But exhaustion soon claimed them—by ten o’clock, eyelids were drooping. Su Le fell asleep in Gu Zi’s arms, Su Li curled up against his older brother, and even Su Bing was nodding off in his seat.

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