The Beginning of the New Year

The beginning of the new year ——Fang Yuan's autobiography My name is Fang Yuan. I am thirty-nine years old. I work as a shopping guide at the clothing counter in a shopping mall. I have made a living with this job for many years. Others are always curious about how I, a struggling single mother with two children, could get together with Shen Yun. One is working at the counter to make a living, and the other is sitting in a company and holding a high position. It sounds like a deliberately arranged idol drama. But life has never been as vigorous as in the script. There is no vigorous romance between me and him, only the reality of two people covered with scars, supporting each other in the world of fireworks. My ex-husband Su Guoliang was seriously injured in an accident at a construction site ten years ago and became paralyzed and bedridden, which completely crushed our little family. At that time, my son Su Yu was only ten years old and my daughter Su Tang was four years old. All the heavy burdens fell on me. Working odd jobs, standing at the counter, staying up late and working overtime, I experienced the ups and downs. I didn't dare to get sick, I didn't dare to go on strike, and I didn't dare to show any vulnerability in front of my children. Every time during the Chinese New Year, when thousands of families get together, I work overtime in the shopping mall just to earn three times more salary to support my family. I never blame my fate. I have survived this journey step by step. At the end of last year, my neighbor Aunt Wang contacted me and told me that there was a thirty-seven-year-old man who wanted to meet me. He was an industrial boss. I didn't take it to heart at first. I've had numerous blind dates over the years, but whenever the other person learned that I had to take care of my paralyzed ex-husband and raise two children, they would either leave perfunctorily or cut off contact. As time went by, I no longer had any expectations. Until that afternoon, I saw Shen Yun at the entrance of the shopping mall. Wearing a dark gray coat, he stood quietly in the cold wind, with a tall and straight figure, as silent as a pine and cypress that would not bend. He spoke very little, his words were concise, and he was never frivolous or polite. When we met, he handed over two cheap scarves worth 98 yuan, specially chosen for me and Su Tang. Then he turned around and prepared a guitar worth more than 3,000 yuan for Su Yu. Such a contrast made me instantly realize that he was completely different from the previous blind dates. When we got along later, he frankly confessed to me that he was born with a defect and could not have children of his own. When he said this, he looked out the window, his tone as calm as if he were chatting about the weather, but the fingers on his knees curled up unconsciously. How could I not understand that it was impossible for him to have no emotions in his heart? He was just used to hiding all his grievances and regrets, never showing any vulnerability. Later, I went with him to meet his family. His biological mother and stepmother got along harmoniously, as close as sisters, and there was no estrangement or dispute. His father was equally taciturn, looking at Shen Yun with deep and restrained love in his eyes. At that moment, I finally understood him: he was not indifferent by nature, but he was naturally not good at expressing emotions. All his thoughts were never expressed in words, but were all reflected in real actions. He left the south-facing room with the best lighting in his home to Su Yu, saying that the boy would feel better if he spent more time in the sun. Su Tang wanted a complete set of reading materials, and he did not hesitate to buy the book worth thousands of dollars. His own life is rigid and simple. He gets up on time at 6:15 every morning with a cup of black coffee and stands by the window for a long time, as if he has been trapped in boundless loneliness for a long time, waiting for a piece of human fireworks. I often ask myself, is the relationship between me and him considered love? It's hard for me to define exactly. But we have a bond that is thicker and more reliable than love: he has been alone all year round, longing for the warmth of ordinary people; I have been carrying the burden alone for many years, hoping that someone can share the wind and rain with me and provide my children with stability and support. We seem to each have something to ask for, but it goes far beyond the exchange of interests. He silently wrote down everyone's likes and dislikes: Su Yu hated kelp, Su Tang didn't like shrimp, and I avoided lotus root slices and tripe. He drives me to work every morning. When Su Yu suffers from depression or feels unwell, he is always the first person to drive me to the hospital. He has never said his likes or love directly, but every little thing he does is silently telling a promise: "From now on, I will carry all of you." This silent responsibility is better than all the sweet words in the world. Tomorrow is New Year's Eve, and the Spring Festival couplets specially customized by him have been pasted on the door of his house. They have ink characters on a red background and have five simple words - Family and everything will be prosperous. He said that he specially found someone to write it by hand. It was not expensive but had the most meaningful meaning. Looking at the couplets on the door, I suddenly realized that after thirty-nine years of bumpy and bitter life, a truly new beginning had just arrived. Title Definition The title of the book is "The Beginning of the New Year", and the first encounter in the story takes place at the end of the year and the New Year. For Fang Yuan, the New Year is not only a change of time, but also a new starting point in her life: in the past, she endured hardships alone and was trapped in the muddy years. Now she has a silent and gentle Shen Yun beside her, who is willing to fully accept her family. This belated warmth and dependence was a new beginning for her to overcome all the hardships and restart her life. Mission: Everyone deserves to be treated well