This year, some villagers in Dashui Village are facing a penniless Chinese New Year.
While the village's harvest was decent, it only benefited those who were diligent.
Yan Dajun, however, was the type to be never satisfied, always chasing after fleeting opportunities and losing sight of the bigger picture.
As soon as there was a bit more carpentry work, he would abandon farming, grab his tools, and head off to his trade. By the time the off-season arrived, it was too late to return to farming; even the cucumbers had gone bad.
In the end, he did a lot of "favors" for relatives, earning little money and accumulating a substantial debt, leaving him without even enough to buy New Year's goods.
Arriving at the gate, Yan Dajun looked up to see Old Man Yun leading Sweet Baby, with the big wolfdog squatting beside Little Xitian, its tongue lolling out as if asking for a chestnut.
"Oh, Brother Yun, why have you come?" Yan Dajun's dejected face turned, and a smile squeezed onto his lips. "Sweet Baby is here too! Look at you, you've grown taller again since I last saw you!~"
Little Xitian: "......"
She hadn't grown taller at all, but rather gained quite a bit of weight.
"Hello, Uncle Yan!~" Little Xitian greeted with a smile.
Yan Dajun's eyes lit up, and he rubbed his hands together, stepping forward to ruffle Little Xitian's head. "Good, good! With you, our village's lucky charm, we're guaranteed good weather every year!~"
Little Xitian: "......"
Lucky charm? Her name was Yun Xitian, and she didn't like the villagers treating her like a little immortal.
Old Man Yun, holding his tobacco pipe, coughed lightly. "Dajun, my family is having a banquet in a couple of days. You must come and have a drink!~"
"What's happening? Is there some good news in your family?" Yan Dajun asked with a smile.
Little Xitian pouted. "It's my third nephew's engagement! Uncle Yan, my mother said she's making stuffed meat for the engagement banquet. You must come and try it...~"
The so-called stuffed meat was made by wrapping minced lamb inside a sheep's stomach and boiling it.
The method was simple, but it required precise control of the heat to prevent the stomach from bursting.
Yan Dajun couldn't help but swallow at the mention of it, his curiosity piqued. "You mean Jingde from the third family? How old is he, and who is he getting engaged to?"
Old Man Yun puffed a smoke ring with pride and said calmly, "No one special, just the county magistrate's daughter, Chen Xiaoran...~"
Yan Dajun blinked, stunned. After a few seconds, he finally processed the information.
He quickly pinched Little Xitian's cheek and then took her little hand, rubbing it as if to absorb some good fortune.
"Haha, see? I told you, Sweet Baby is a lucky charm! As long as she's around, your family is bound to have good luck!~" Yan Dajun exclaimed.
Little Xitian: "......"
Here we go again.
Seeing that the pleasantries were over, Old Man Yun turned to the main business.
Yan Dajun's family was in an even worse state than Zhuang Lao Er's. With the New Year approaching, everyone wanted to earn some money.
After Old Man Yun explained, and Little Xitian promised more benefits, Yan Dajun agreed without much thought.
"Dajun, then it's settled. Tomorrow, you and Zhuang Lao Er will go to the county town. No slacking! Tell me what you want to eat, and I'll have Damman buy it for you!~" Old Man Yun instructed.
Yan Dajun nodded repeatedly. "Alright, alright! Since Sweet Baby is opening a shop, I'll definitely have to show my best skills!~"
The matter was settled, and the two happily went home.
Yun Sanman returned from the county town with many firecrackers and red silk. He was currently decorating the courtyard with Jingde.
Er Longzi and Qinglan, having nothing else to do, also came to help.
"Alas, seeing others getting engaged and married makes my heart feel so heavy!~" Er Longzi sighed softly as he hung a large red flower on the doorframe.
Qinglan, sweeping the steps with a broom, heard Er Longzi's quiet complaint and rolled her eyes. "What's heavy about your heart? If you want a wife, go chase a girl! Why are you complaining here...~"
Er Longzi jumped down from the ladder and glared at Qinglan. "Are your eyes bubbling? Can't you see this village is full of old women and grandmothers? There isn't a single young girl! Do you expect me to chase the air? Honestly, you just open your mouth and speak without thinking, it's so frustrating!~"
Qinglan: "......"
With your attitude, it's best you remain a bachelor for life.
Your voice is worse than a monkey's screech.
"Miss Qinglan, who are you glaring at? Are you not satisfied?~" Er Longzi put his hands on his hips, puffing himself up with pride.
Qinglan closed her eyes and held up three fingers. "I'll count to three. If you don't scram quickly, I'll break your arms and legs...~"
"Three!"
"No, who are you trying to scare?~"
"Two!"
"I'm telling you, I've practiced Iron Sand Palm! I'm impervious to blades and spears, want to try?~"
"One!"
A sudden scream echoed from the Yun family courtyard, startling everyone to crane their necks and look over.
"Aow, aow! Ahhh! My arm, my arm is going to break!~"
Xiao Jinfeng, who was reading in the guest room, rushed out abruptly and shouted sternly, "Who's fighting outside?~"
Gu Mingyan also pushed open his door, cast a casual glance in their direction, and a mocking smile played on his lips.
Serves him right.
In the main hall.
Old Man Yun was picking small stones out of red beans with Gu Shi, planning to make red bean paste buns for the evening.
Hearing the commotion, Old Man Yun glanced outside. "What's going on? Chased by a wolf? Always making such a racket!~"
Gu Shi chuckled softly. "Perhaps those two are fighting again!~"
Ever since Xiao Jinfeng and Gu Mingyan arrived at the Yun family, the courtyard was filled with sounds of arguments and bickering almost every day. At best, they would exchange a few insults; at worst, they would resort to physical altercations.
Initially, Old Man Yun would intervene to break up fights, but later he simply stopped caring.
Especially Er Longzi, that troublesome fellow, with his equally troublesome mouth and hands, deserved whatever he got.
Just then, Shangguan Fang'er walked in from outside.
She was in much better spirits today, her eyes less vacant, and she had even changed into clean, fresh clothes.
Gu Shi saw her and beckoned. "Fang'er, you're awake. You haven't had breakfast yet. I'll have Huaihua heat up some food for you later, have a bite, okay!~"
Gu Shi expected Shangguan Fang'er to run over as usual, grab her hand, and act spoiled and silly. But today, she was acting very strangely.
Not only did she not move, but she stared coldly at Old Man Yun and Gu Shi, as if looking at strangers.
Old Man Yun blinked and "tsk"-ed. "Fang'er, your mother is talking to you. Why are you standing at the doorway? Come in quickly!~"
Since Shangguan Fang'er always called Gu Shi "Mother," Old Man Yun had gradually come to regard her as his daughter, or rather, daughter-in-law.
"I'm not hungry!"
A moment later, Shangguan Fang'er replied coldly, then turned and walked out of the main hall.
Old Man Yun and Gu Shi, utterly bewildered: "......"