On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, the entire family gathered for dumplings.
Plump, white dumplings sat steaming on the dining table. A single bite released a burst of delicious flavor from the different fillings, captivating the palate.
The entire old Qin family, along with Ye Meiyun and her daughter, were gathered to enjoy their first meal of the year 2000.
After staying up past midnight the previous evening, Ye Meiyun and her daughter hadn't returned home. They stayed over, as the newly purchased courtyard was vast and contained multiple rooms.
Dumplings held an extraordinary significance for the entire nation of Huaxia, especially in the north. They were an indispensable staple during festivals, symbolizing joy, auspiciousness, good fortune, and togetherness.
However, before the family could finish their meal, many familiar faces appeared at the entrance of the courtyard. Visitors had come to offer New Year greetings!
Zheng Chengdao, Bai Xiaoguang, Yao Dong, and a group of their friends, along with their city companions, had arrived early to collect their New Year's red envelopes, each carrying generous gifts.
Faced with these brazen individuals, Qin Chuan could only offer a wry smile, unsure of what to say.
At their age, how could they still ask for red envelopes?
Of course, it was all in good jest. Qin Chuan produced the red envelopes he had prepared and distributed them one by one.
"Thank you, boss!!"
"Boss, wish you prosperity!"
Qin Chuan glared. "No one leaves after this. Let's play mahjong! We have to win back these red envelopes!"
Ye Meiyun also gave each person a large red envelope. She knew that these were Qin Chuan's close brothers, and their relationship was significant.
"Thank you, Ms. Ye!"
"Wishing Ms. Ye eternal beauty and loveliness!"
Upon receiving the red envelopes, they all grinned cheekily, their flattery flowing endlessly, much to Ye Meiyun's delight.
However, when they noticed Ye Meiyun's daughter, they were equally astute. They quickly reached into their pockets, pulling out red envelopes and placing them in Niuniu's hand.
In just a short while, Niuniu's arms were piled high with red envelopes. Tao Tao, the son of Qin Chuan's elder brother Qin Yang, also received many.
Qin Shuren and Jiang Cuihua warmly invited everyone to sit down, offering fruit and tea.
This wave of visitors hadn't even finished when there was another stir outside in the courtyard. This time, it was a contingent from the Xinhua Electronics Factory, led by Ge Lan and Meng Qing!
They too had come to offer New Year greetings. It was unclear how these individuals had found their way here.
"Well, it seems these dumplings won't be enough to fill us up!"
Seeing this, Qin Chuan couldn't help but mutter.
"Go, quickly clear the dining table. No more eating!"
Qin Shuren even instructed his wife.
The eldest sister-in-law, Wu Yanyan, stood up and quickly assisted. Ye Meiyun also moved to help but was stopped.
In a short period, the house was already crowded, with more and more people arriving.
It wasn't just Qin Chuan and Ye Meiyun's acquaintances who came to offer New Year greetings; many prominent businessmen from Yongnan County had also arrived.
It was unclear how they had learned of Qin Chuan's return for the New Year, but they all rushed over early on the first day of the Lunar New Year.
Finally, leaders from various government departments also arrived, including officials from the County Committee, the Bureau of Industry and Commerce, the Ministry of Health, the Tax Bureau, the Police Department, and the Bank. The arrivals were almost exclusively the top leaders.
Qin Chuan saw Shang Honglian accompanying Shang Bingrong. After not seeing her for a while, the young girl had blossomed into a graceful and captivating young woman.
Beneath her fashionable, bright red woolen coat, her figure was slender and upright. Her legs, encased in black boots, were straight and alluring. She had truly matured, like an autumn fruit ripe for the picking.
Just as she had messaged last night, Shang Honglian had indeed come to visit the Qin family today.
Her large, clear eyes fell on Qin Chuan's face, making it difficult to resist.
Qin Chuan merely glanced at her before daring to look away, afraid of causing any further misunderstandings.
He deliberately engaged in conversation and laughter with the group of leaders, receiving various compliments and praise.
Qin Chuan had never anticipated such a grand turnout. He didn't even recognize many of the people present, but guests were guests, and he couldn't possibly turn them away!
Throughout this time, Shang Honglian sat obediently beside her father, Shang Bingrong. However, occasionally, her beautiful eyes would drift towards Qin Chuan's face, and she would sometimes appear lost in thought.
As the New Year's visitors continued to pour in, Qin Chuan quickly conscripted Zheng Chengdao, Ge Lan, and the others to help entertain them.
Someone was assigned to boil water, someone to pour tea, someone to offer cigarettes, and someone to specifically manage the snacks and fruits.
The five spacious and brightly lit rooms were eventually insufficient, and the courtyard was packed with people. Each of these individuals was considered a 'great official' in the eyes of the common folk, an unattainable presence.
This was Qin Chuan's current reputation!
With his current standing, it wasn't just the county leadership that would be stirred; even the municipal party secretary would treat him with utmost respect and hospitality!
The entire day, the old Qin family's courtyard was bustling. Visitors came and went, and everyone understood the purpose behind their visit.
It wasn't until dusk that the lively old Qin family finally regained its tranquility.
Everyone felt as if they had fought a battle, utterly exhausted.
It wasn't just Qin Chuan who was tired; everyone was worn out. There were too many guests, especially after not having a substantial meal in the morning, and their stomachs were filled with only fruit and tea.
"Qin Chuan, I'm going back to my place tonight. I dare not stay here again!"
"This is more tiring than working a full day!"
Ye Meiyun rubbed her sore cheeks, which ached and felt numb from smiling all day.
"Boss, we originally planned to go out and have some fun today, but we were roped into being servers for the entire day."
Ge Lan said with a pouty expression.
Her words immediately resonated with others. Yao Dong and Bai Xiaoguang chimed in, complaining that they were tired from the day and hadn't even eaten lunch, leaving them ravenously hungry.
"Call the restaurant. Tonight, I'm treating everyone to a big feast!"
Qin Chuan's decisive command dispelled all their grievances, and everyone cheered in unison.
Later that night, past eleven o'clock.
In a familiar two-story building in the county town, a man and a woman were passionately entwined on a soft, large bed.
After breaking a sweat, Qin Chuan lit a cigarette, while Ye Meiyun rested her head gently on his chest, her face flushed with contentment.
"Xiao Chuan, the person who came with Director Shang this year was his beloved daughter, wasn't it?"
Suddenly, Ye Meiyun, still resting on his chest, asked.
Qin Chuan let out an "Mm." "Yes, that's Uncle Shang's daughter, Shang Honglian. You probably don't know her because she hasn't been in the county for a long time."
"I heard Shang Honglian is also in Jingcheng. You go to Jingcheng often, do you keep in touch frequently?"
Ye Meiyun continued. Qin Chuan's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly extinguished his cigarette. "What do you mean by that?"
Ye Meiyun sat up, unconcerned about her exposed state, and gazed directly into Qin Chuan's eyes. "What I mean is, there's something going on between you and Shang Honglian!"
"Ever since that girl arrived today, you've been acting guilty, afraid to meet her eyes."
"On the other hand, that girl is very bold, her gaze towards you is full of admiration and affection."
"You don't need to deny it. My eyes are very sharp. You'd better confess honestly, don't tell me you two are having an affair?"
Qin Chuan raised his hands in protest. "Sister, you're really framing me! Shang Honglian and I are completely innocent. You can't suspect us of having an affair just because a girl looks at me with admiration and worship!"
"If that were the case, with my current fame, wouldn't I have a harem of three thousand beauties?"
Ye Meiyun rolled her eyes. "Look at you showing off, a harem of three thousand beauties. Aren't you afraid of shortening your lifespan!"
"Why did those ancient emperors all have such short lives? Wasn't it because they had too many women, draining themselves dry!"
"In short, I'm warning you, don't mess with any more women. Otherwise, I won't let you off the hook, understand?"
Qin Chuan nodded vigorously, indicating that he understood!