After a hearty meal, Qi Tongwei and his wife went upstairs, the room filled with the warmth of their intimacy. Downstairs, however, the atmosphere was mundane; they finished their chores and went to bed, turning their backs to one another. Wu Huifang wanted to ask, but decided against it—to ask was to admit to the exhaustion that hung in the air.
February 19, 1992, the Lantern Festival. The cinema was screening *The Ten Billion Legend*, starring Xingzai. The film was a massive success, a box-office hit. It was meant to be an inspirational story, but with Xingzai in the lead, the tone shifted entirely. His unique comedic style turned the prototype character, Qi Tongwei, into a bit of a joke in the public eye. In particular, several scenes of Xingzai ravenously devouring shepherd's purse made the nickname "Qi Shepherd's Purse" stick, making the real-life Qi Tongwei feel even more relatable to the masses.
The Lantern Festival is a time for reunions. That evening, the Qi and Liang families sat down for a celebratory dinner together.
Chapter 614