The next morning, the new daughter-in-law got up early to prepare a table of breakfast, and paid respects to all the elders. Shen Jian-shan's three brothers still gave her a gift, just like Tong Zi-fu. After dinner, He Shi followed Shen Jian-shan back to Bai Tang Village, and Shen Shi sent many things with them.

  Send off all the guests, Shen and Zi Qing were busy cleaning up things, Zeng Rui Xiang took Zi Fu to return the tables and chairs, and sweep the floor. The new wife, Chen, also changed into a casual outfit to come over and help, only then did Zi Qing have the opportunity to take a good look at her. After all, she had been wearing makeup yesterday, plus a dress and hair accessories, so it was hard to see her eyebrows and eyes clearly. At this moment, when she looked up, her hair was styled in a neat bun, with a bright golden hairpin inserted, and a circle of golden leaf-shaped hairpins on the front end of the bun, her eyebrows were thicker, curved like willow leaves, big double eyelids, shining brightly, looking at people without shyness. The only flaw is that her skin was not delicate enough, there were a few small freckles on the wings of her nose, showing that she had been working hard for years and didn't take good care of herself.

  "Mrs. Chen saw that Ziying was looking at her with some curiosity, so she smiled and said: "Sister-in-law is a villager, who has been used to being outside since childhood, while sister is elegant and refined. In the future, if sister-in-law does something wrong, I hope you can remind me for your brother's sake."

  Ziying didn't expect her to say such things suddenly, and she felt a bit embarrassed herself, so she smiled and said: "Sister-in-law is really polite, who isn't a villager? After getting along for a long time and becoming familiar with each other, don't laugh at me when the time comes."

  Today, the house was almost cleaned up. The old man came over to play mahjong. Zi Qing had just set up the table when Zi Xi carried a small wooden box and said pitifully: "I'm begging for alms! I'm penniless now, which kind-hearted brother or sister can take pity on me? Please donate a little, one cent is not too little, one dollar is not too much. There's no upper limit, and I'll definitely repay you generously in the future."

  Everyone saw his appearance and burst out laughing. Shen's wife pointed at him, laughing so hard she couldn't speak. Zifeng was the first to say: "Come on, little fourth brother, big brother will give you a copper coin."

  "Brother, although one coin is not too little, I also don't mind having more. You're the big brother after all. Why don't you go to the capital and see the world? We won't laugh at you."

  Liu smiled and panted, then pushed Zi Fu and said: "That's right, you're too stingy."

  Zi Rong smiled and said, "That's right, big brother is too stingy. Second brother will give you two copper coins instead. Here, take it, second brother is more generous." This earned him a white eye from Zi Xi.

  Chen watched all this with curiosity and couldn't help but purse her lips in amusement, only she was too embarrassed to say anything.

  Zi Qing also laughed enough and said: "Look at Xiao Si's pitiful appearance, sister will spare you, give four copper coins."

  Lin Kangping was about to take the copper plate from Zi Qing's purse, when Zi Xi said: "Brother-in-law, brother-in-law, you'd better think carefully, if you give too little, next year when you marry my sister, I won't open the door for you, I'll make you anxious outside."

  Lin Kangping smiled and handed over the entire purse. This brought another burst of laughter from everyone, and Liu said: "Brother-in-law is really a down-to-earth person, afraid that he can't marry his elder sister, now you have been caught by us, anyone can knock on your bamboo pole, think quickly, if there are any requirements, just mention them."

  It's Zi Shou's turn now. Zi Xi said, "Third Brother, I know you and I are both poor people. Tomorrow we'll still sell couplets to make some money for playing mahjong. In this world, brothers and sisters can't be relied on; it's better to rely on a few coins."

  Zi Shou said seriously: "I think it's okay."

  Zi Qing heard that and pinched Zi Xi, "Stinky little four, I gave you my entire purse, but you still complain about the world being unfair and your sister being unreliable?"

  Zi Xi dodged while counterattacking and shouted: "Brother-in-law, brother-in-law, quickly take your family's mistress back home. If anything goes wrong, I won't be responsible."

  Lin Kangping, fearing that Ziqing would get hurt, hastily pulled Ziqing to a stop. Everyone had had enough fun and sat down at the card table. Liu Shi was holding the child and sitting with Chen Shi, the two of them whispering something to each other.

  The next day, Zishou and Zixi went to buy red paper to write couplets. Chen Shi got up early to cook, with Shen Shi carefully instructing her on the side. After lunch, Chen Shi and Zi Rong wanted to return home, Lin Kangping sent them off and then headed straight to Orange Garden. He had originally wanted to invite Ziqing along, but she was afraid of displeasing Shen Shi, so she declined and asked him to bring the monthly allowance and red envelopes instead. The fruit trees in Orange Garden were still short by three or four hundred, but the number of chickens had increased to over 3,000. However, they laid very few eggs during this winter period.

  On the twenty-sixth day of the twelfth lunar month, Zishou and his family went out to give New Year's gifts. Zifu and Liu Shi were also going back to their hometown to send New Year's gifts and visit Ziping, so they all set off together. Here, Shen Shi also sent Zilu and others back to send New Year's gifts. In addition to pastries and wine, the family also gave a sheep that had been slaughtered.

  This year's New Year's Eve dinner, the old man meant that Zeng Ruiqing and his family hadn't come back for five years. Now it's good to finally understand, they came home, why not just have everyone gather at Zeng Ruixiang's place together? It wouldn't be bad for those three people either, and it would be lively. Moreover, everyone is in one place, and the words of these few years can be spoken out loud.

  Zeng Ruixiang was taken aback, thought for a moment and decided to agree. He turned back to Shen Shi and discussed it with her, but she seemed unhappy about it. Zeng Ruixiang said, "I have some things I want to say to them, don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

  Shen's family had no choice but to agree, and after counting, there were eleven people in their own household, not including Xiaobudian Yonglian. Adding them together made a total of sixteen people, which was just enough for two tables.

  The Shens had the two daughters-in-law, Liu and Chen, discuss and decide on the menu. After a year of tempering, Liu's work became more organized. The Shens told Chen to learn from her, and Chen must have already known the rules of the Zeng family, so she learned with great diligence, plus her strong personality made her pick up things quickly.

  On the thirtieth day, Old Master and his family came over quite early. Zeng Ruiqing still had a stern face on, while Zhou Shi glanced at Shen Shi with a hint of criticism. Liu Shi and Chen Shi, the head chef, were chatting and laughing together. A sour air rose up, and she said: "Younger brother's luck is indeed good, now you have wives serving you, and you've become a master who doesn't lift a finger. As for me, I'll have to wait till who-knows-when to see this day?"

  "What's the point of serving or not serving, Eldest Brother's family moved out early and has been gone for a year now. They just came back home, and after the New Year, I'll let Second Brother's family move out too. We've lived together for so many years, can't you see which daughter-in-law is willing to set rules in front of her mother-in-law? Who doesn't want to move out and live separately? It's their own life, they can do as they please, each person eats according to their abilities, no one needs to cling to anyone else. During the New Year, we'll all gather together, and our relationships will still be harmonious."

  At this time, Lin Kangping came in. He had just returned from pasting couplets at the Orange Garden and the Sunny Garden with Zixi. Zhou Shi said: "This is the young man that Ziqing spoke of as a matchmaker, I saw him on the day of Zilu's wedding, he really is a good young man. Tall, capable, and spirited in appearance, and good to Ziqing, unfortunately my daughter Ziping didn't have such good fortune."

  Shen let Lin Kangping greet him, and Lin Kangping was busy going out to hang lanterns. Zi Fu and the others had just finished pasting up the couplets. Seeing something new and interesting, Ziquan wanted to follow them out, but Zhou Shi was worried and also followed them out to take a look.

  The New Year's Eve dinner was still set up with a large round table, symbolizing the joy of reunion. The old man stood up with his wine glass and said: "I've been waiting for this day for five years, finally our family is reunited today! I'm really happy now. Let me say one thing, from now on, no matter who was right or wrong in the past, we won't mention it again. Whoever brings it up will have to deal with me. I'm already sixty years old, and you two are my only sons. I can still watch over you for a few more years, and your mother and I can live a few more years if you two brothers get along well."

  "Dad, it's New Year's Day, we shouldn't talk about these things. Big brother is back, that's a happy event, let's drink and eat first." Zeng Rui Xiang hastily said.

  Zhou saw many unfamiliar dishes on the table, and asked one by one. Shen answered them one by one. After listening, Zhou said: "It's been a few years since we met, and your family is getting richer and richer. You can even eat mountain delicacies and seafood. Poor us, we rarely even get to eat meat in these past few years."

  "Just eat what's given to you, what's the use of putting on that extra air?" Zeng Ruiqing said with a sideways glance at Zhou Shi.

  "It's nothing, these are all brought by Kangping from Guangzhou, he goes there twice a year, we're just borrowing the light." Shen Shi hastily explained.

  "By the way, it's Kangping, right? I heard that your younger brother-in-law followed you for a year and earned over ten taels of silver. He can still take care of his family, which is better than when he was in Xinzhou. Your sister also made some embroidered pouches and sent them to you, which can earn several taels of silver per year. If not, I'll make some too - it's better than just idling around, at least I can help out a bit. Would you like that?" asked Zhou Shi.

  "Go ahead, as long as the embroidered pouches made by Dàniáng are exquisite and delicate, I'll take them. The embroidery done by Little Sister is not bad either, but if they're too coarse, they won't do, because I'm going to sell them to foreigners, who can be quite particular." Lin Kangping said.

  "Hey, I'm not as useless as your little aunt. When she was at her parents' house, she didn't do anything all day, just making those things. I haven't practiced for years, my hands are clumsy, that's it, don't make you uncomfortable."

  The Tian family listened to Zhou's words and stared at her, just as Liu brought over a small bowl of abalone for each person. Zhou tasted a small mouthful, but couldn't bear to eat it all, so she gave the rest to Ziquan. Ziquan loved to eat spicy stir-fried squid and scallion-braised sea cucumber, and Zhou kept putting food into his bowl. Ziquan kept asking for this and that, and Old Master Tian said, "Next year the child will be seven years old, can't he start school? He should learn some discipline. In my opinion, it would be fine to send him to Old Second's school. Not only would it save money, but also Old Eldest Daughter-in-law wouldn't have anything to do, and she could take care of the child at home and grow some vegetables, which would also save on renting a house in the city. Everything costs money. Ziquan is growing up too, and there will be even more expenses."

  Zeng Ruiqing nodded and said: "It's also okay to study at home for two years first. In recent years, I've been away from home and haven't taken good care of my parents, so this time I'll make up for it."

  Zeng Ruixiang listened and stood up saying: "Brother, what you said is absolutely right, it just so happens that I have something to say."