Chapter 163: New Year’s Celebration

Chapter 163: New Year's Celebration

With the year-end approaching, the business at Yujia Commercial Store became increasingly busy.

Yu Sanbao was too busy to focus on anything else. He had foresightedly stocked up on many festive ornaments suitable for the New Year, which were more exquisite and distinctive than the items available in all of Mapo County. Many wealthy families had specifically come to Yujia Commercial Store to place orders, resulting in a daily influx of substantial profits.

By the 20th of the La month, the schoolteacher had assigned a lot of homework and then let the students go on holiday.

Huai Ge'er started spending whole days on the mountain. Not only that, but he also dragged the younger Liu Ge'er and Gui Ge'er along, justifying this by saying that since he began practicing martial arts, his health had improved. The younger ones, having experienced several years of famine, had weaker bodies and needed extra exercise as well as nutritional supplements.

Although Liu Ge'er and Gui Ge'er didn't have much talent for martial arts, practicing some basic moves was still beneficial for their health.

As for Bai Ge'er, he had always been particularly interested in using the abacus and calculating numbers. This time, he stayed at the store to help Third Uncle and Fourth Uncle with selling goods. Bai Ge'er came up with a promotional idea: he used small items that had been sitting unsold in the warehouse as add-ons, which helped clear out the inventory. From the 21st of the La month, after his break ended, he remained busy through the 27th and 28th.

Despite this, Bai Ge'er showed no signs of fatigue and appeared full of energy. According to Yu Sanbao, he looked as if he could still run ten miles.

On the 29th of the La month, Yu Sanbao closed the store and returned to South Tuo Village with the prepared gifts for the New Year.

The small courtyard of the Yujia family was adorned with large red couplets on the wooden gate, and two brand-new red lanterns hung on either side of the door.

Everything in the courtyard was neatly arranged, making both the interior and exterior look refreshed. Over the past few days, Wei Pozi, along with Li Chunhua, Su Rouer, and Shuangyun, had been busy cleaning both the inside and outside.

Due to her pregnancy, Bai Xiaofeng couldn't do heavy chores, so she did what she could by making new clothes for the entire family.

Some villagers who came to visit were somewhat envious of how well the Yujia family worked together. Finding no room for criticism, one of them spoke in a sarcastic tone to Bai Xiaofeng, saying that pregnant women shouldn't use scissors, and yet she was constantly doing needlework.

Bai Xiaofeng chuckled lightly.

She used to enjoy speaking sarcastically, but as the family atmosphere improved, she found it tiresome.

Her elder sister-in-law was straightforward and wouldn't understand sarcasm; her third sister-in-law was a bit sensitive, and even if you didn't intend anything, she might overthink.

As for Mother-in-law Wei...

Bai Xiaofeng didn't dare to speak sarcastically to her mother-in-law.

So, when this person spoke, Bai Xiaofeng felt the familiar impulse to respond sarcastically.

"Oh," Bai Xiaofeng said with a smile, "Why shouldn't pregnant women use scissors? I've heard that it's good for pregnant women to use scissors; it can cut away the 'villains,' ensuring the baby in the womb is safe and sound. Isn't that right?"

Though she spoke of 'villains,' Bai Xiaofeng's gaze was fixed directly on the other person.

The visitor, feeling somewhat embarrassed, quickly left without saying much more.

Bai Xiaofeng gave a cold smile.

She was living a comfortable life and couldn't be bothered by those trying to stir up trouble.

By the 30th of the La month, the family was beaming with joy.

With Shuangyun and Shuanghe helping to prepare the dishes, Li Chunhua showcased her culinary skills, efficiently cooking twelve dishes that filled the table.

Bai Ge'er was indoors reviewing the accounts of Yujia Commercial Store, while Ju Ge'er in the courtyard was pestering Huai Ge'er to demonstrate some newly learned martial arts moves. Gui Ge'er enthusiastically pulled Liu Ge'er to practice together.

Xingxing happily carried a small stool and sat under the eaves, a warm hand warmer in her arms, watching her brothers play in the courtyard and occasionally cheering them on.

Wei Pozi, stepping out of the main room, paused briefly upon seeing this scene.

The aroma from the kitchen filled the air, and her children and grandchildren were laughing and playing before her. The sound of the children's joyful voices filled her ears... Wei Pozi felt her eyes becoming a bit teary.

She thought this must be because their ancestors were blessing them from the grave.

On the night of New Year's Eve, the family gathered around the big table at home and had a reunion dinner.

Outside, snowflakes were gently falling. The Yu family was in a warm room, eating and drinking, feeling extremely comfortable.

When they were full and content, Yu Sanbao took several children outside to set off fireworks.

The adults stayed inside, sitting on the warm kang (a heated brick bed), and started playing cards.

Amidst the laughter and cheerful voices, the year came to an end.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, close relatives in the village visited each other to exchange New Year greetings.

Xingxing received a whole bag full of lucky money and felt like a little rich girl. She promised Ju Geer that after the New Year, when they went to the county, she would definitely buy him the set of picture books he wanted so much!

Ju Geer realized that this little sister was worth spoiling and secretly decided to use his lucky money to buy her something nice.

The second day of the Lunar New Year was the traditional day for married women to return to their natal family.

Previously, Yu Sanbao had mentioned the troubles regarding the matchmaking of a cousin from Wei Sanniang's family in Zhoucheng. At that time, Wei Pozi had already planned to visit Zhoucheng during the New Year.

The first and second daughters-in-law were both returning to their natal families, and several boys were going with them.

The third daughter-in-law, Su Rouer, had no family to return to, as her natal family had encountered troubles earlier, and she had been looking somewhat down for the past two days.

Wei Pozi then took Yu Sanbao and his family along, and also brought Xingxing, leaving Yu Laotou at home to watch over the house. The large group headed towards Zhoucheng in quite a procession.

Yu Sanbao drove the carriage, which carried Wei Pozi, Su Rouer, Ju Geer, Xingxing, and the maid Shuangyun. With three adults and two children, the carriage was fairly comfortable.

At the back of the carriage were many New Year gifts that Wei Pozi had prepared for her relative, Wei Sanniang.

Zhoucheng was neither close to nor far from Nantuo Village. It took Yu Sanbao two days of driving to reach Zhoucheng.

By the time they entered the city, dusk had already fallen.

Wei Pozi had no intention of staying at Wei Sanniang's house, so she had Yu Sanbao find an inn where the group could temporarily settle.

The inn wasn't very crowded, and it was the first time Xingxing and Ju Geer had ventured outside of Mapo County. Their curiosity led them to wander around the inn, exploring up and down.

However, this nearly led to trouble. A family staying in one of the guest rooms, who looked fierce and menacing, accused Ju Geer and Xingxing, who were just little kids around four or five years old, of spying on them. This almost resulted in a quarrel with Su Rouer.

The matter was only settled when the innkeeper came out to mediate.

Xingxing and Ju Geer both found that family to be very strange. Wei Pozi also thought those people were acting strangely. How could two little children be spying on them?

Yu Sanbao, however, was more cautious. After dinner, instead of staying the night as originally planned, he went to find another inn to stay at.