Chapter 119: Celebrating New Year’s Eve – Claw Machine
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Squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak
Five-year-old Xie Shiyu walked down the road in his squeaky shoes after a recent rain. This year’s Chinese New Year didn’t bring snow; the rain was colder than snowflakes. The ground was wet, littered with red firecracker remnants that resembled withered impatiens petals floating in the puddles.
Little Shiyu walked alone, surrounded by the red reflections of the firecracker fragments. The street was decorated with red, but there was no sign of life. The shops on both sides were tightly shut, displaying only the gray iron teeth of their rolling shutters.
Cold wind mixed with cold rain created a chilly atmosphere. The entire long street was devoid of any people, yet Little Shiyu wasn’t afraid. He continued walking deeper into the street with his squeaky shoes, fully aware that having people around was often more frightening than being alone. Solitude was safer.
At the end of the street, Little Shiyu looked up at the glass doors in front of him. They were a dark, murky green with no lights on inside. The door handles were tightly bound with iron chains.
This arcade was closed too.
Only yellow and pink plastic toy cars stood outside, with cold rain droplets condensing on their surfaces. Little Shiyu exhaled a breath of white mist, feeling somewhat unhappy. Several arcades in the area had numerous claw machines, and the owners were all unscrupulous businessmen. Each claw machine boldly displayed: “2 coins per game.”
In reality, one coin was enough to play a game. Often, honest customers would insert two coins and, failing to win a toy, would dejectedly leave the joystick, thinking they couldn’t play another game. After a short while, the machine would surreptitiously start a second game, earning the owner an extra coin if no one played.
After discovering this, Little Shiyu frequently visited these arcades to take advantage of this oversight and play the claw machine. He didn’t have spare money to spend, but his repeated visits honed his skills, ensuring he won every time. He even began earning pocket money. If a customer got frustrated with the claw machine, Little Shiyu would help them win, charging one yuan for his services.
Last weekend, he earned over ten yuan by helping others win toys. During the New Year, more customers were expected, giving him a chance to make even more money.
His squeaky shoes splashed in the water, breaking the silence of the street. Little Shiyu pulled up his hood, put it on, and ventured into a nearby alley, continuing his search for an open arcade.
***
“D*mn it!”
The department store was adorned with red banners celebrating the New Year. In a brand-new arcade on the top floor, a frustrated voice erupted:
“I still didn’t get it! This claw is useless. Let’s try another one!”
Pink and blue laser lights illuminated the hall. Several children crowded around another claw machine, asking, “Got any more coins? Let’s try again!”
Little Chu Feng, dressed in a thick white down jacket with his little hands, feet, and face exposed, peeked curiously, wanting to join in, but the older kids pushed him aside.
Little Chu Feng frowned with displeasure. He didn’t like his distant cousins at all. Every New Year, they came to visit, and his parents always insisted they play together. His cousins would engross themselves in their own games, leaving him out.
Chu Feng held a red plate filled with silver game coins, a gift from his parents. His cousins shamelessly reached into his plate and took a few coins:
“Little Feng, watch and learn how your older brothers play. Otherwise, you’ll waste coins when it’s your turn!”
“Exactly! Learn from us first. Not to brag, but back home, there isn’t a single claw machine I can’t win from within a ten-mile radius! Even the arcade owners fear me—they’re scared I’ll put them out of business, haha!”
Little Chu Feng responded with a cold expression on his exposed face.
Clang, clang.
Coins were inserted, and the claw machine, labeled “2 coins per game,” sprang to life with cheerful cartoon music.
“Move it this way. No, that angle’s not right. Lower it. No, go up again. To the left. No, I mean my left! Forget it, let me do it!”
The cousins argued over the joystick, hesitating and bickering without deciding where to drop the claw. Little Chu Feng glanced at the countdown timer beside the joystick, watching it drop from 60 to just 15… 14…
Finally, his second cousin decided and pressed the confirm button. The claw slowly descended towards the pile of toys.
“Hey, hey! This one looks good! We’ve got it! Hold on, hold on—ah!”
As the claw ascended, it wobbled, causing the captured Pikachu to drop back into the pile, grinning alongside the other yellow Pikachus, seemingly mocking the frustrated cousins.
Little Chu Feng silently observed everything. After yet another loss, his cousins looked embarrassed, unable to hide their shame. Having played numerous rounds without winning a single toy, they unanimously sighed:
“This arcade sucks! It’s just a money pit!”
“The claw is too loose. It’s impossible to win anything! Forget it, let’s play something else!”
They started to leave. Little Chu Feng stood there, still holding the plate of coins. He wanted to play the claw machine; he hadn’t had a turn yet.
“Wow!”
At that moment, the adjacent claw machine rang out with a cheerful chime as a plush penguin dropped into the prize slot. Several girls squealed with excitement:
“We got it! We got it!”
His cousins looked over in disbelief.
Little Chu Feng looked over too, seeing a girl crouch to retrieve the toy from the machine and say:
“You’re really good!”
Chu Feng then noticed another child about his age standing among the girls, previously hidden by their height. The boy wore all black—a black down jacket and a black hood, with raindrops clinging to it, suggesting he had just run in from the rain, looking slightly disheveled.
His black down jacket seemed a bit short. With the hood up, the jacket rode up, exposing a strip of light yellow sweater underneath, making him look out of place amidst the joyful, well-dressed New Year’s crowd in the arcade.
Xie Shiyu sensed someone watching him almost instantly and turned around warily.
Little Chu Feng was momentarily stunned, recognizing the face under the hood.
It was him—the kid from the neighboring class with the water gun.
Xie Shiyu was also taken aback; he hadn’t expected to encounter Chu Feng here.
Little Chu Feng, wrapped in a white down jacket and wearing a fluffy white scarf, had his small face flushed red from the warm air, looking like a cute snowball, very pinchable. Snowball Chu Feng was staring intently at Xie Shiyu’s black clothes.
Xie Shiyu immediately realized something, his whole body stiffening. He was wearing last year’s old padded jacket, and he had grown taller this year, so it didn’t fit well anymore. With the hood on, it looked even shorter, probably exposing the clothes underneath.
Quickly, Xie Shiyu pulled down his hood, shaking off the raindrops, and stuffed his hands into his pockets to look cool. Then, he discreetly tugged his jacket down bit by bit, trying to cover the exposed sweater.
“Here, little friend, this is for you.”
A big sister squatted down and handed Xie Shiyu a 1-yuan coin.
Xie Shiyu thanked her, starting the new year by earning money from the claw machine. He put the coin back into his pocket and walked towards Chu Feng.
One of Chu Feng’s cousins asked, “You know each other?”
Chu Feng nodded, feeling a bit happy. Running into a kindergarten classmate during the boring New Year celebrations was a pleasant surprise. Although they were in different classes and he couldn’t remember his name, playing with him was much more fun than with his cousins.
Xie Shiyu glanced at the Pikachu claw machine, which hadn’t produced any prizes yet:
“Didn’t get any?”
Chu Feng didn’t answer, just looked up at his cousins.
They fell silent, their expressions uncomfortable. The second cousin, frustrated from failing to get any toys, grumbled:
“This machine is terrible! Unlike the one you just used. Those plush penguins aren’t popular, so they’re easier to grab. Pikachu is in high demand and impossible to win!”
Xie Shiyu said nothing.
The second cousin then took two coins from Chu Feng’s plate and, in a challenging manner, held them out to Xie Shiyu:
“Wanna give it a try?”
Xie Shiyu didn’t reach out. He noticed Chu Feng watching him with those wet black eyes. Pausing, Xie Shiyu asked:
“You’ve been using two coins each time?”
Second cousin: “Yeah, that’s what it says—2 coins per game.”
Xie Shiyu: “…”
Without wasting time, Xie Shiyu turned and grabbed the joystick of the Pikachu machine, giving it a quick shake. Instantly, the machine started playing its cheerful music again.
Cousin: “No way! Is it actually just one coin per game?”
Xie Shiyu: “Yes.”
Second cousin: “What the heck?!!”
The eldest cousin glanced at the countdown timer—now only 10 seconds… 9 seconds… left. He shook his head:
“There’s no way he’ll make it in time!”
Little Chu Feng, frowning, watched anxiously. The countdown was almost up. His cousins always took forever to decide on an angle, often using up 40-50 seconds. In this situation, they’d definitely miss. Chu Feng sighed inwardly.
Smack!
In less than a second, Xie Shiyu had set the angle and pressed the confirm button.
The cousins chuckled, thinking that with such a rushed attempt, the kid was sure to fail.
They stopped watching Xie Shiyu, believing the outcome was obvious. Only little Chu Feng continued to watch the claw machine intently. He saw the claw, gleaming silver, slowly descend and grab a Pikachu!
The claw wobbled as it lifted the toy…
Chu Feng’s heart followed the claw’s movements.
Xie Shiyu stood calmly before the machine, knowing the outcome was certain. He didn’t even watch the machine, instead glancing at Chu Feng beside him. This guy was extremely nervous, his little hands clenched tightly, eyelashes fluttering, too afraid to blink.
The claw reached the top, and Chu Feng’s heart pounded faster. He knew the claw would shake now—his cousins always failed at this point, the toys falling back down.
Ding ding, the machine still sang its happy tune. Chu Feng saw the claw sway!
But the Pikachu remained stuck to the claw.
Chu Feng looked closer and realized Pikachu’s lightning-shaped tail was caught in the claw! No matter how much it wobbled, the toy wouldn’t fall.
“Wow—”
Little Chu Feng couldn’t help but cheer, his cousins looking over to see the claw machine steadily move the prize to the drop zone and release it—
Thunk! Pikachu fell into the prize hole!
The machine erupted in celebratory sounds. Little Chu Feng, excited, reached to grab his Pikachu, while his cousins were shocked:
“Wow! He really got it!”
The second cousin stepped forward to snatch the toy, but Xie Shiyu was quicker, retrieving it from the machine first. Holding Pikachu by its ear, he said coolly:
“I don’t help for free.”
The second cousin paused, cursed, and dug out a one-yuan coin from his pocket, ready to toss it dismissively.
“Ten yuan,” Xie Shiyu said, extending his hand with an innocent smile. “After all, Pikachu is in high demand.”
Second cousin: “…You!!”
Little Chu Feng pulled his face into his scarf, secretly giggling.
“Hey, you’re being unreasonable.” The second cousin loomed over Xie Shiyu, using his height to intimidate. “You used my game coin. I didn’t ask for your help! Hand it over!”
Xie Shiyu repeated calmly:
“Your game coin?”
Little Chu Feng, holding the plate of coins, stood next to the claw machine. The cousins fell silent.
“This is for you,” Xie Shiyu handed Pikachu to Chu Feng.
Little Chu Feng happily petted the ragdoll Pikachu, then remembered something and reached into his pocket for money…
Xie Shiyu gently took hold of Chu Feng’s small hand:
“No need. It’s free for you.”
“Oh.” Little Chu Feng said, “Th-thank you.”
Xie Shiyu nodded, releasing Chu Feng’s hand: “Now you have a turn.”
Finally, it was his turn to play. Little Chu Feng excitedly inserted a game coin with a clang—
His cousins, feeling awkward, tried to salvage their pride:
“Chu Feng, you play here. We’re going to the racing games.”
Little Chu Feng nodded without looking back.
Despite his words, the second cousin lingered, eyeing Chu Feng’s plate of coins, tempted to take a few.
Standing before the claw machine, little Chu Feng wasn’t tall enough and had to stand on tiptoe, holding the joystick in one hand and the coin plate in the other, looking up at the claw, struggling to find the right angle.
The second cousin, with his long arms, reached towards the plate filled with silver coins…
“Let me hold that for you.”
At that moment, Xie Shiyu effortlessly took the game coin tray from little Chu Feng. He held it in one hand and spread the fingers of his other hand, naturally covering the tray like a little dragon guarding its treasure, preventing anyone from getting close.
“Tch!” The second cousin angrily gritted his teeth, and the oldest cousin patted him: “Let’s go, buy some coins yourself!”
Another bright yellow Pikachu was captured.
Little Chu Feng, now holding one Pikachu in each arm, was overjoyed. Xie Shiyu silently pushed a small cart over: “Let’s go. I’ll take you over there; the Black Cat claw machine is easier.”
“Okay!” Little Chu Feng followed Xie Shiyu like a little snowball.
Da-da-la-la!
The claw machines in the arcade kept emitting congratulatory sounds one after another. Everyone in the arcade turned to look, seeing two kids pushing a small cart filled to the brim with captured ragdoll toys!
At five o’clock, a young, beautiful lady walked into the arcade, looking around. Through the reflection in the claw machine glass, little Chu Feng saw his mom! He quickly squatted down and hid behind the small cart.
Xie Shiyu: “What’s wrong?”
Little Chu Feng: “M-my mom is here.”
Xie Shiyu: “Oh, are you going home?”
“Mm.” Little Chu Feng felt a bit reluctant, but he had no choice.
Xie Shiyu let go of the cart handle, nodding: “Take these home with you.”
“Wait a minute…” Little Chu Feng grabbed Xie Shiyu’s black hood, “This…”
Little Chu Feng pulled out a small black cat plush from the cart. This little cat was the prize he had captured himself, without anyone’s help, all by himself.
“This is for you.” Little Chu Feng shoved the small black cat into Xie Shiyu’s arms: “Thank you for today!”
“Chu Feng—Chu Feng—” His mom was calling for him.
Little Chu Feng didn’t have time to see what expression was on Xie Shiyu’s face. He hurriedly waved as he pushed the cart away: “I’m going now, bye-bye!”
***
Xie Shiyu looked down at the little black cat plush nestled in his arms, its cute eyes gazing up at him.
Xie Shiyu smiled, waved at little Chu Feng’s departing figure, and softly said to himself: “Bye-bye.”
***
Outside the arcade: “Oh my, you caught so many ragdoll toys!” Chu Feng’s mom exclaimed, “Did your cousins help you?”
“No way!” Little Chu Feng proudly smiled: “It was a boy from the next class…”
…Oops! He forgot to ask his name.
Little Chu Feng pouted, unable to say anything more. Just then, his cousins also walked out of the arcade, cheerfully greeting his aunt! Chu Feng’s mom didn’t ask any further.
As they prepared to leave, little Chu Feng turned back, reluctant, hoping to find that familiar figure and ask his name…
“Chu Feng, what are you dawdling for? Let’s go.” His mom urged, and little Chu Feng had to turn around and stop looking. He thought, it’s okay, I’ll ask him when school starts.
Xie Shiyu walked out of the department store, looking up at the lead-gray sky, feeling the cold wind. He walked straight out, crossing the alley, retracing his steps.
On both sides of the street, the red remnants of firecrackers laid scattered. At the end of the long street, Xie Shiyu’s mom was waiting for him with an umbrella.
“Mom—”
“Zhi zhi.” The sound of little shoes came closer and closer. Five-year-old Xie Shiyu ran towards his mother.
She glanced at the little black cat in his arms and asked with a smile, “Did you catch that toy?”
Xie Shiyu shook his head proudly, “Chu Feng caught it and gave it to me!”
“The Chu Feng from the next class?”
Xie Shiyu’s mom was a bit surprised. She had heard of Chu Feng—a famous name for being an exceptionally outstanding child. He didn’t seem like the type who would play with her own son.
Moreover, she had never seen Xie Shiyu play with other children. His kindergarten teachers mentioned he was somewhat unsociable and showed signs of being a bit introverted.
His mom didn’t think too much about it and instead said, “By the way, Yu Yu, Mom has something to tell you.”
Xie Shiyu looked up and saw his mom hesitate for a moment before finally saying, “After the New Year, you might not be able to go to kindergarten anymore…”
The family had run out of money.
At that moment, Xie Shiyu’s face remained calm, showing no surprise. He had known for a while.
Before winter break, when other kids went home empty-handed, his teacher reminded him to take all his belongings home from kindergarten. Considering the family’s finances, it was easy to guess that he wouldn’t be able to go back to school.
Xie Shiyu stayed silent for a second, then cheerfully exclaimed, “Wow, great! I don’t have to go to school anymore.”
His mom was stunned, wanting to say more but finally just smiling helplessly.
Holding his mother’s hand in one hand and squeezing the plush black cat’s paw with the other, Xie Shiyu thought today was probably the last time he would play with Chu Feng.
But it was okay; he had a little black cat as a memento. It wasn’t really a regret.
Zhi, zhi, zhi, zhi.
The small boy walked down the long street, holding the little black cat. His shoes splashed in the water, creating tiny splashes. The sound of firecrackers echoed in the distance, crackling and popping in celebration.
***
“Dang dang——! Happy drums announce the festive joy of each year…”
The brightly decorated Wanda Golden Street was playing “A Good Day.” New Year celebration posters were displayed at the entrance of each store. Amidst the crowd were people in new clothes and smiling faces. Occasionally, girls in hanfu or Lolita dresses passed by, their beautiful new year outfits attracting attention. They walked in groups, children laughing and running around, filling the place with lively New Year’s cheer and laughter.
Xie Shiyu and Chu Feng, wearing snug black masks, stood in front of a black cat claw machine on the street.
Some children who wanted to play stared blankly at the two tall men blocking the machine, silently lining up behind them.
Chu Feng glanced down and saw the bright eyes of the five-year-olds. Feeling a bit guilty, he tugged on Xie Shiyu’s sleeve, “Let them go first.”
Xie Shiyu wasn’t inclined to be considerate, “We were here first. Why should we let them go first? Kids shouldn’t be spoiled.”
Chu Feng leaned in and whispered, “We’re already in our thirties, still playing with claw machines. The kids are all watching you.”
“Let them watch.” Xie Shiyu didn’t care. He reached out and moved the joystick a bit. With a few simple maneuvers, the claw machine burst into a congratulatory cheer—he had caught a little black cat!
Chu Feng squatted down, retrieved the black cat plush from the machine, and smiled, “Not bad, still got it.”
Xie Shiyu handed the joystick to Chu Feng. “Want to give it a try?”
The impatient children behind them had already run off to play with the claw machine across the way.
“Sure.” Chu Feng grasped the joystick and started operating it…
Plop! The little black cat fell back into the pile of toys, and the claw machine mockingly played its cruel tune: “L-O-S-E-R!”
Chu Feng sighed, “…”
He patted Xie Shiyu, “Go get some more game tokens.”
Xie Shiyu leaned in close to his ear and chuckled softly, “We’re in our thirties, and you’re still getting hooked on claw machines?”
Chu Feng replied, “Go. Get. Tokens.”
Xie Shiyu laughed heartily and soon returned with a full tray of game tokens. “Here, if this isn’t enough, we’ll buy out this game arcade in a couple of days.”
After two more tries, Chu Feng regained his childhood knack for claw machines. On the third attempt: “Da-da-la-la!” Joyful music played as the claw released, and the little black cat dropped precisely into the hole—they caught it!
Xie Shiyu crouched down and retrieved the toy Chu Feng had caught.
The fluffy little black cat, tiny and snug in Xie Shiyu’s large hand, gazed up at him with its cute eyes. Xie Shiyu paused for a moment.
Chu Feng asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Xie Shiyu smiled and stood up, placing the little black cat into Chu Feng’s arms. “I just remembered that you caught a little black cat just like this one when we were kids.”
But this time, there would be no goodbyes.
As night fell and the lights of the city began to shine, the New Year’s fireworks burst into the sky behind them, crackling and blooming in dazzling brilliance.
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