February 10th, 2022, the day of resuming work, the factory was already filled with a lively atmosphere wrapped in the flavor of the New Year.
Director Feng arrived early in the morning, with a smile on his face, directing everyone to arrange the sacrificial items neatly. On the offering table, apples were bright red, pastries were stacked like small hills, and after the newly inserted tall incense in the censer was lit, the green smoke swirled upward, weaving a thin layer of mist in the morning light. Director Feng stood in front of the offering table, bowing respectfully three times, with the hope for the new year shining in the laugh lines at the corners of his eyes.
As soon as the sacrifice was over, the string of firecrackers coiled in the corner was picked up. The red silk-wrapped firecrackers swayed gently in the wind. The moment the fuse was lit, it "crackled" and burst into golden-red sparks, and then the "crackling" explosion rolled into a ball. Thousands of red paper scraps, like awakened butterflies, soared into the air with a whoosh and then fluttered down, sticking to everyone's hair and shoulders. Even the air was filled with a pungent yet festive smell of sulfur.
The line for red envelopes was neat, and everyone's eyes were shining. The red envelopes in Director Feng's hands were thick and bulging. When he handed one to Senior Employee Sister Li, her lips stretched to her ears as soon as her fingertips touched the red paper. When she opened it, her eyes suddenly widened, and then she covered her mouth and laughed, with joy filling the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes: "Director Feng is so generous!" When it was Young Zhang's turn, he pressed the red envelope into his palm, his cheeks turning red. When he looked up and met Director Feng's gaze, he hurriedly lowered his head and giggled, his ear tips as red as firecracker scraps. Master Wang, at the front of the line, put the red envelope into his work clothes pocket on the spot, patted the bulging place, and cupped his hands to Director Feng: "This year will be as prosperous as this red envelope!"
Director Feng stood in front of the line, looking at the smiling faces in front of him, and his own eyes crinkled with laughter. The sunlight passed through the floating firecracker smoke, casting warm spots on everyone's faces. The motivation for the new year, along with the sound of laughter and the warmth of the embers, quietly crept into everyone's hearts.
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