On New Year's Day, Ziqing got up and wore a bright red long-sleeved flower-patterned cotton-padded jacket with a matching colored cotton skirt. Ziqing's long cotton-padded jackets are usually nipped at the waist, making her figure look slender. She also inserted a agate hairpin and an agate flower hair clip on her head, which made her face even more delicate and radiant. Lin Kangping hugged Ziqing for half a day before reluctantly letting go of her.

  Lin Kongping himself was also dressed in new clothes, a dark red velvet gown with black trousers, and both of them wore sheepskin boots. When they brought out Zi Qing, everyone who saw her was stunned, probably unable to associate the person in front of them with the rustic girl who had just arrived a few days ago. The sisters-in-law were envious, saying that Zi Qing's outfit made her look like a new bride, even more beautiful than the people in paintings.

  Lin's eldest son, Lin Kangjian, led the family members to kowtow to Lin Yaoyu and Yu Shi, each with a red envelope containing two cents. Then several children followed the family elders to kowtow, and Zi Qing also gave each child two cents in a red envelope, thinking of giving more but not wanting to exceed what Yu Shi had given, which would look bad.

  After paying respects to the elders, the men went to the ancestral hall to worship their ancestors, while the women stayed home to cook breakfast. The breakfast was simple, with a few pots of dumplings. The first day's breakfast is dumplings, which is different from Zi Qing's hometown, where they don't have to eat vegetarian food and there are no other taboos.

  The kids in the village are running around everywhere, going from door to door in groups to pay New Year's visits, with pockets full of peanuts and melon seeds. Whenever they see someone setting off firecrackers, they rush over to pick up the scattered remains, take them home to play with or scare passersby. The Lin family's older kids are all dressed up in new clothes today and have already gone out to show off.

  After worshiping the ancestors and returning home, they had just eaten a few dumplings when villagers came in one after another to pay their respects for the new year. They were all men, and Lin Yaizu and Yu Shi stayed at home to entertain the guests. A few women gathered around Zi Qing's kang, cracking melon seeds and chatting idly. One moment they praised Zi Qing for being beautiful, the next they praised her for being skilled with her hands, making good clothes. Another moment they praised Zi Qing's headdress as beautiful, but Zi Qing just smiled.

  "Sister, no wonder Third Brother is fond of you. You're good-looking, handy with your hands, gentle in nature and pleasant to talk to. If I were a man, I'd marry a daughter-in-law like you and hide her at home every day, not letting anyone else see her." said Hu Shi.

  "Why is that, sister-in-law? Such a beautiful wife, which man wouldn't want to take her out and show off, letting others praise?" Jiang asked.

  "You're silly, with Third Sister's looks, figure, and skin, tsk, tsk. What if some wealthy landowner takes a liking to her and whisks her away to be a concubine? How would Third Brother compete with that? I've seen the several concubines of Liu Da, the wealthy landowner from next door's Liu Village. None of them are as good-looking as Third Sister," said Mrs. Ma.

  "Indeed, Third Brother and Sister, I heard you're going to the capital for the Lantern Festival. You should be careful, or else if some noble or official takes a liking to you, it'll be trouble for our Third Brother." said Hu Shi.

  Ziying saw that they were getting more and more unbearable, so she hurriedly said: "I'm not as good as you guys say, there are many beautiful girls in this capital city, can't they all come out to stroll? I'm a southerner, a bit petite. My skin is fairer, I believe that, where did you guys get such nonsense?"

  "Third sister, I think you're really beautiful, I like you, it's better to be careful when going out." Lin Hongxia said. Unfortunately, Zi Qing didn't take it to heart.

  This was when Zi Qing heard the sound of gongs and drums outside, Hu Shi said it was the village's twisted song and dance, just about to pull Zi Qing down from the kang, Lin Kangping came in and said he wanted to take Zi Qing to watch the twisted song and dance and stilt walking.

  "Third brother is really good at making people feel bad, we just wanted to take third sister out and you came over, it's clear that in your eyes there's a daughter-in-law, are you afraid that we'll lose her? We're not that lucky, we're all unwanted and unloved." Ma said with a tinge of bitterness as she saw Lin Kang remind Zi Qing to wear a thick down jacket before going out.

  "Second brother and sister are really joking, if the second child heard this, he would be heartbroken. He's not good enough for you? If you want to go east, he absolutely won't dare go west. You want to eat something that we don't have at home, the second child will find a way to get it for you. You should be content. I'm the one who no one cares about." Hu said.

  "Sister-in-law, second sister-in-law, if you don't leave now, the lantern dance will be over." Lin Kangping pushed Zi Qing out while she was putting on her gloves.

  The threshing ground in the village is surrounded by people, men and women, young and old, as long as they are happy, can come down and twist a few times. Most of the women wear bright red tops and green pants, with red makeup on their faces, holding two red feather fans, and there are also those who perform the high-stilted twisting and singing of rice seedlings. This is different from the dragon and lion dances in the south, this one can be participated by everyone, as long as you're happy, willing to twist and jump however you want, it's up to your own will.

  Yu's family also changed into a new set of clothes, took a fan and went downstairs. Hu's family and Ma's family wanted to drag Zi Qing to jump a few times. Zi Qing didn't pretend, looked at it a few times, the steps of the rice seedling dance were still relatively simple, just followed behind them to join in the fun. Yu's family, although old in age, had very agile footsteps, and many tricks. This old lady was indeed capable of doing anything, no wonder this whole family was being manipulated by her. Unfortunately, if she could have shared some of that heart with Lin Kangping, Lin Kangping wouldn't have been sold, and his childhood wouldn't have been so miserable. But then again, if it were like that, I wouldn't have gotten to know him either. Everything is predetermined in the grand scheme of things.

  Lin Kangping saw Zi Qing happy and couldn't help but smile, having a great time. He also let her have her way, accompanying her in her mischief for half a day.

  On the second day of the Chinese New Year, after breakfast, Hu Shi, Ma Shi and Jiang Shi all took their husbands and children back to their maternal homes. Lin Hongying's family also came over. Zi Qing helped Yu Shi with the meal preparations and chatted idly about things like Lin Kangping's childhood, his birthday, and his maternal relatives. Only then did Zi Qing learn that Lin Kangping's maternal relatives were not from around here; his mother had fled to this place years ago, and Yu Shi knew nothing about their current situation either. Zi Qing guessed there probably wasn't anyone left.

  The local custom is to invite the maternal uncle on the second day of the Lunar New Year, the nephew on the third day, and the younger brother-in-law on the fourth day. Young daughters-in-law usually do not go out to pay respects or accompany guests, except when returning to their parents' home. So on the third day, several sons of the elderly aunts in the family brought their grandsons over, Lin Kangping accompanied them drinking tea and chatting, while Zi Qing could only help Yu Shi with cooking in the kitchen, and there were no female relatives to keep her company, so she lay down on her own kang. Lin Kangping was afraid she would be bored, so from time to time he came over to steal a kiss.

  Lin Kangping still followed his brothers to visit their two aunts on the fourth and fifth days of the new year. When he returned, his expression was as usual, so Zi Qing didn't ask much. In the following days, Lin Kangping basically didn't go out. Every day, except for accompanying his grandfather and uncle to drink some wine, chat, and occasionally roll dice to gamble for small amounts of money, he spent most of his time with Zi Qing. On sunny days, they would take a walk around the neighborhood. The winter in the north looked more desolate than in the south, and as far as the eye could see, there was no greenery at all. After walking several times, it didn't seem very interesting, mainly because it was too cold outside. Therefore, Zi Qing mostly preferred to lie on the kang (heated bed).

  On the thirteenth day, Lin Kangping bid farewell to Lin Yaoyu and Yu Shi, saying that he would leave the next day to take Zi Qing on a trip to Beijing, and return before Qingming Festival to pay respects to his parents. Lin Yaoyu tried his best to persuade them to stay until after the Lantern Festival.

  "Oh, old man, in my opinion, the Lantern Festival in Beijing is much more lively than our countryside. Not only are there temple fairs, but I've also heard that there are flower lanterns, food and fun, which are all better than what we have here. And it's so crowded! It's a pity that I don't have the chance to go see the world. Old Third's wife is lucky to come once in a while, and Old Third is someone who dotes on his wife, why wouldn't he take her to experience it? Anyway, they'll be back for Qingming Festival, so don't make things difficult for the children." said Yu Shi.

  "It's just, I'd say that you, my younger brother and sister, are lucky. Although we live on the outskirts of the capital, I've only been to the capital once in my life. I've heard that there are many fun and delicious things at the temple fair, and they say that the lanterns on Lantern Festival are particularly beautiful. I've also heard that on this night, the Emperor will sneak out with the palace ladies for a private visit, and who knows, maybe even the princes and princesses will secretly slip out to join in the fun. You never know, you might be standing right next to a prince or princess, so be careful what you say."

  "Alright, stop spouting nonsense, that's all you're capable of discussing, hurry up and shut your mouth." Lin Yaizu shouted.

  Lin Yaozu turned back and reminded Lin Kangping: "Child, since you've decided to go, I won't stop you. They're right, though - outside, it's still best to be careful. I know you often run around outside, seeing more of the world than me, and Wen's family is in the capital, so there's no need to worry. I'm just reminding you for nothing. In the future, remember to come back home often, that's all I ask. Now that I see you like this, I know you've grown up, and in the future, I can go see your parents too." By the end, Lin Yaozu's eyes were also red.

  Lin Kangping hastily helped Lin Yaogu respond.

  "Look at what I'm saying, I'm almost in tears. I know that these years, Kangping has been a heart disease for you. But we didn't have any other choice back then, did we? Now this child has finally achieved happiness after suffering, and not only has he escaped his slave status, but also married such a good wife. I heard that he's even set up a business in the south, which is also his good fortune. You should put your mind at ease now and wait for Kangping to take good care of you for a few years." Yu Shi said, wiping away her tears.

  On the morning of the fourteenth, Lin Kangping took Zi Qing to the tomb first, and after returning, he was busy packing his things. The Yu family knew that Lin Kangping would not return to divide the property, so they were relieved. In addition, in these days, they saw that Lin Kangping was generous with his expenses, and for more than half a month, the food and drink were basically all paid by Lin Kangping. Of course, they didn't know how much money Lin Kangping had at home, so they were very satisfied and sincerely welcomed them to come again next time.

  Lin An arrived at three quarters to noon, and Lin Kangping didn't dare to delay either, fearing that they wouldn't be able to enter the city if they were late. He hastily bid farewell to everyone and took Zi Qing onto the carriage. The Lin family hadn't expected a carriage to come pick them up and looked on in puzzlement as they walked away.