Today, we discovered that our previous fix for the identify issue was only partial and might not address the root cause. After discussions and testing various solutions, a late-day conversation with a colleague led me to identify and resolve the underlying problem, potentially improving related performance issues.
In the evening, Hamer called about purchasing a backpack she found on Taobao and reminded me of our planned shopping trip.
The second workday remained busy, with meetings, debugging, and issue reporting. Two new colleagues joined the Movie project, and I resolved the “identify” bug, preparing a minimal reproducible case for submission.
In the evening, I played badminton, expecting to struggle but feeling surprisingly at ease. Later, we had dinner at Hamer’s friend Liuliu’s house, where her parents served a delicious meal with hometown specialties. The lively conversation and good food made for a delightful evening.
Returning to Beijing marked the start of a new year.
The train ride felt short for Hamer, who hadn’t slept enough. My night was restless, waking up from station noises or checking on her.
The workday was packed—clearing emails, handling invoices, picking up my passport, and debugging an identify issue.
Hamer spent the day playing with her friend. In the evening, Hamer’s friend’s parents joined us for dinner, and we had a great time chatting over the meal.
The Last Day at Home: A Warm Farewell
This morning, the sun was shining brightly, and the weather felt perfect. I brought my uncle outside to walk and soak up the warmth.
After lunch, I took my mom and Hamer into town to buy groceries for dumplings and snacks for our train ride. In the afternoon, the sun gradually disappeared, and the air grew colder and colder.
In the evening, the whole family gathered to prepare dumplings, with the kids enthusiastically joining in.
I woke up late today after staying up watching Family Matters, making the day feel much shorter. In the morning, my dad kept calling for me repeatedly, which frustrated me.
In the afternoon, I napped while Hamer went to town with her aunt, returning happily with new toys. Later, I struggled while changing my uncle’s bandages and discussed adjustments with my dad.
The day ended warmly with a family dinner, bringing back a comforting sense of togetherness.
A Day of Exploration and Family Time
I took Hamer to explore the Xinjiang River, where she turned our walk through harvested fields into an obstacle course. At lunch, she enjoyed leftovers more than expected.
In the afternoon, we went shopping with her Grandma, played the claw machine, and stocked up on snacks and toys.
In the evening, Hamer helped make dumplings and experimented with adding firewood to the stove in my Grandma’s house.
Lunar New Year - Day 8: The Last Days of Celebration
My uncle’s wound still isn’t healing well, but he was more active and engaged with the family.
At noon, my sister and nephews came over, filling the house with laughter and games.
In the evening, we visited my eldest sister’s house and had meaningful conversations, strengthening our family bonds. Walking home through the dark village, Hamer reflected on the day, calling it “both happy and sad.”
Lunar New Year - Day 7, I decided to extend my stay instead of returning to Beijing as planned, so I could take care of my uncle and spend more time with family.
Hamer learned to ride a bigger bike, her joy radiating as she mastered it. I took the kids to the movies while also dropping Yaoyao off at school. The roads were congested, but I managed well.
I’ve been feeling incredibly sleepy at night, barely staying awake while writing my journal.
Lunar New Year - Day 6, we attended my cousin’s engagement ceremony, traveling as a family on a large bus, which felt like a fun group trip. At the groom’s house, we enjoyed a spread of local snacks before touring the area.
In the evening, we had dinner at my cousin’s place, where his daughter impressively prepared two full tables of delicious food. After dinner, I had a heartfelt conversation with my sister-in-law, realizing how valuable it is just to listen and connect.
Last night, Hamer had multiple vomiting episodes, showing signs of gastroenteritis. She remained calm, but it was a restless night for both of us. I consulted DeepSeek and ChatGPT, both confirming similar symptoms.
In the morning, I accompanied my brother to take our uncle to the hospital for his constipation issue, but the enema didn’t work as expected.
Despite the exhaustion, we continued our family visits, having lunch at my aunt’s and dinner at my second sister’s place. Driving all day was tiring, but the warmth of family gatherings made it all worthwhile.
