Let me begin with a few words. Today, ah, is an occasion of double happiness. And what, ah, are the two happy events? First, today is the second day of the Lunar New Year, and our extended family has had the rare opportunity, ah, to gather under one roof. Second, today, ah, is also my birthday. I am twelve years old. My zodiac year. One full cycle. Now, a cycle of twelve years is not especially long, nor is it especially short. Isn't that right, Grandma? Over the course of this past cycle, the family has done far too much for me. I have seen it all with my own eyes and kept it in my heart, ah! I especially want to thank Grandma: taking me to and from school every morning and evening, keeping me well fed, and of course making this enormous table of food today. Come! Grandma, let me drink to you first! Don't stand up. Sit, sit!

And so, first of all, I would like to take this exceptionally auspicious day to make everyone a promise, ah: in the next cycle, I will turn guest into host. I will look after, protect, and keep happy Grandpa and Grandma, Mum and Dad! Ah! I also wish everyone the roaring vigour of the tiger in this Year of the Tiger, and success the moment the tiger arrives! Come! I have milk in place of liquor. Bottoms up!

Hoo-ah—(gulp, gulp)—hiss. I've finished mine. Everyone else, drink as you please! Sit, sit! Grandma, sit down! Oh, it's only one glass. One glass won't hurt. We are family, ah. We don't engage in formalism.

Now let me say a few more words. Over the past year, ah, enormous changes have taken place in both our internal and external environments. Tremendous changes, ah. Why do I say this? First, internally, as everyone knows, I will be moving from primary to middle school this year. Looking at the overall situation, the outlook is extremely severe, ah. From an objective point of view, the pressure on our studies has increased. It has risen. It has grown. Second, externally, many Western media outlets and politicians on the international stage, acting with ulterior motives, have smeared and distorted our country's pandemic-control policy and damaged our national image—while making no mention, ah, of the death tolls in their own countries! So, in summary, when confronting a complex internal and external situation, we must maintain vigilance.

In the new year, apart from Grandpa and Dad, the rest of us are members of the masses, ah. But! We too must impose strict requirements upon ourselves and unwaveringly uphold the Three Towards. Ah. Which three? Let me tell you. Towards the heart, towards depth, and towards reality. Ah! Isn't that right, Grandma? Ladle me a bowl of those sweet fermented-rice dumplings. Towards the heart means holding gratitude in our hearts, remembering the kindness of our elders. Towards depth means thinking one step further in all things, not arguing with Mum and Dad or going through some rebellious phase. Right? Ha ha. Towards reality—come on, Grandma, you tell us what it means. No, that's wrong. Towards reality means studying hard and making progress every day, striving, ah, to enter the very best middle school.

And finally, ah, let me drink another toast to everyone. Mum, fill my glass. Come on, have a little. Well then, good fortune to everyone in the Year of the Tiger! I will finish mine; everyone else, as you please. Hoo-ah—(gulp, gulp)—tsk.

Today, as a son and a grandson, I am very happy, very reassured, and very much at peace. Dad, Grandpa—perhaps the two of you would like to say a few words next?