Preface:
TheLunarNewYearisthemostimportantfestivalinChina.Itisatimeforfamilyreunions,feasting,andcelebration.However,in2020,theCOVID-19pandemichadsweptacrossthecountry,affectingmillionsoflives.Thisvirushadforcedmanypeopletostayindoors,avoidlargegatherings,andwearmasks.Withthisinmind,theLunarNewYearof2021wasboundtobedifferent.Howwouldpeoplecelebrateunderthesecircumstances?Wouldtheybeabletofeelthesamejoyandhappinessthattheydidinpreviousyears?ThisstoryfollowsthelifeofayoungwomannamedMeiandherfamilyastheytrytomakethemostoutofauniqueandchallengingLunarNewYear.
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MeihadalwayslookedforwardtotheLunarNewYear.Sheenjoyedthefestiveatmosphere,theredlanterns,andthefoodthathermotherprepared.Thisyearwasdifferent,though.Thepandemichadputadamperonthings,andMei'sparentshadaskedhertostayhometoavoidcrowds.Meiwasdisappointedbutunderstoodwhyitwasnecessary.
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Asshesatinherroom,Meilistenedtothesoundsoffirecrackersexplodingoutside.Sheheardlaughterandcheering,butitwasdifferentfrompreviousyears.Itwasquieter,moresubdued.Shewonderedwhatherfriendsweredoingandwhethertheywerehavingfun.Shemissedthem.
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Mei'sparentshadorderedfoodfromalocalrestaurant,sotheydidn'thavetocook.Theyatedumplings,fish,andothertraditionaldishes.Mei'smotherhadalsopreparedsomesnacks,suchasdriedfruitsandnuts.Althoughitwasn'taselaborateasinpreviousyears,itwasstilldelicious.
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Afterdinner,Mei'sparentsinvitedhertowatchtheLunarNewYearGalaonTV.Itwasatraditionformanyfamiliestowatchthisevent,whichfeaturedmusic,dance,andcomedyperformances.Meiagreed,andtheysatdowninfrontofthetelevision.
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Meifoundherselfenjoyingtheshow.Theperformersweretalentedandfunny,andshelaughedattheirjokes.Sheevensangalongtosomeofthesongs.TheTVbroadcastmadeherfeelasifshewerepartofalargercommunity,eventhoughshewasaloneinherroom.
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Asthenightworeon,Mei'sparentsstartedtogettired.Theysaidtheirgoodnightsandwenttobed.Meistayedupforawhilelonger,lookingoutofherwindowatthestreetsbelow.Shecouldseepeoplewalkingaround,carryinglanternsandtakingphotos.Shefeltapangoflonelinessbutalsoasenseofprideinhercountry.
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Thenextmorning,Meiwokeupearly.Sherememberedthatitwascustomarytogreetherparentswithabowandwishesforgoodhealthandprosperity.Shegotdressedandwenttoherparents'room.
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Mei'sparentsweresurprisedbutdelightedtoseeher.Theysmiledandhuggedher,andMeifeltawarmthinherheart.Shebowedandwishedthemhappiness,success,andgoodhealth.Herparentsthankedherandgaveheraredenvelopewithsomemoneyinside.Thiswasanothertradition,whereolderfamilymemberswouldgiveyoungeronesredenvelopesasasignofblessings.
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Meiwentbacktoherroomandopenedtheenvelope.Inside,therewasanotefromherparents,tellingherhowproudtheywereofherandhowmuchtheylovedher.Meifeltasurgeofemotionsasshereadthewords.Sherealizedthateventhoughtheycouldn'tcelebratetheLunarNewYearlikebefore,theywerestillafamilyandstillhadeachother.
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Meispenttherestofthedaydoingsomecleaningandorganizingherroom.Shefoundsomeoldphotosandalbumsandlookedthroughthem.Theybroughtbackmemoriesofherchildhood,ofwhensheusedtoplaywithhercousinsandgrandparentsduringtheLunarNewYear.Shefeltasenseofnostalgiabutalsoasenseofgratitudeforthosehappytimes.
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Intheafternoon,Meidecidedtogoforawalkoutside.Sheputonhermaskandwalkedaroundherneighborhood.Shesawsomedecorationsonthestreets,suchasredlanternsandbannerswithauspicioussayings.Shealsosawsomevendorssellingsnacksandtoys.Itwasn'tascrowdedasbefore,buttherewerestillsomepeoplearound.
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Meistoppedbyaparkandsawsomechildrenplayingwithkites.Shewatchedthemforawhileandfeltasenseofjoy.Sherealizedthateventhoughthepandemichadcausedmuchsuffering,therewerestillmomentsofbeautyandhappinessinlife.
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Asshewalkedbackhome,Meidecidedtocallherfriends.Shemissedthemandwantedtoknowhowtheyweredoing.Shedialedtheirnumbersandtalkedtothemonthephone.TheytoldherabouttheirownLunarNewYearcelebrations,whichwerealsodifferentbutstillenjoyable.Theylaughedandchatted,andMeifeltasenseofconnectionwiththem.
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Thatnight,Mei'sparentscookedahotpotfordinner.Theyhadboughtsomefreshvegetablesandmeatfromanearbymarket.Meihelpedthemsetupthepotandboilthesoup.Theysataroundthetable,dippingvariousingredientsintothehotbroth.Itwaswarmandcomforting,likeafamilymealshouldbe.
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Afterdinner,Mei'sparentssuggestedthattheydosomethingtogether.Meithoughtforamomentandrememberedthatshehadaboardgameinhercloset.Itwasanoldgamethathergrandparentsusedtoplaywithher.Shetookitoutandshowedittoherparents.
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Mei'sparentswereskepticalatfirst,butMeiconvincedthemtogiveitatry.Theystartedtoplaythegame,whichinvolvedrollingdiceandmovingpiecesaroundaboard.Meiexplainedtherulestoherparents,wholistenedattentively.Theystartedtogetintothegame,laughingandstrategizing.
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Astheyplayed,Meifeltasenseofjoyandcontentment.Sherealizedthateventhoughtheywerestuckathome,theywerestillhavingfunasafamily.Thegamebroughtbackmemoriesofhergrandparents,whohadpassedawayyearsago.Meimissedthem,butshealsofelttheirpresenceintheroom.
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Asmidnightapproached,Mei'sparentssuggestedthattheywatchthefireworksoutside.ItwasanothertraditionformanypeopletosetofffireworksontheLunarNewYear'sEve.Meiagreed,andtheywenttotherooftopoftheirbuilding.
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Fromthere,theycouldseetheentirecityskyline.Theysawflashesoflightandheardtheboomsofexplosions.Theskywasfilledwithsmokeandsparks,creatingadazzlingdisplayofcolors.Meifeltasenseofaweandwonderasshewatchedthefireworks.Sherealizedthateventhoughshehadseenthembefore,theywerestillmagicalandbeautiful.
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Asthelastfireworkfadedaway,Mei'sparentshuggedherandwishedherahappynewyear.Meihuggedthembackandthankedthemforamemorablecelebration.Sherealizedthateventhoughthisyear'sLunarNewYearwasdifferentfrompreviousyears,itwasstillspecialinitsownway.
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Meiwenttobedthatnightfeelinggratefulandcontent.Sheknewthatthepandemicwasn'toveryet,butshealsoknewthatshehadherfamilyandfriendstosupporther.Shefellasleepwithasmileonherface,dreamingofabrighterfuture.
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TheLunarNewYearof2021wasadifferentoneformanypeopleinChina.Itwasatimeofuncertaintyandanxiety,butitwasalsoatimeofresilienceandhope.Meiandherfamilyhadfoundwaystocelebrate,eveninthemidstofapandemic.Theyhadshownthateventhoughlifecouldbechallenging,itwasstillworthlivingandcherishing.
