Chapter 256 Getting Better Every Year

Yao Shula took Yao Shuli to buy a lot of things, including eight pieces of Funing rice cake.

I also bought sesame oil ground by the small mill itself, three catties of vermicelli, and two catties of dried bean curd sheets.

Yao Shula also saw Yao Chunnian at the free market; she had also set up a stall there.

"Sister Chun Nian, what are you doing here setting up a stall? Is the shop closed today?" Yao Shuli immediately went over to greet her.

Yao Chunian quickly put a bag of spiced peanuts into Yao Shula's basket.

"There are a lot of people here today, so I'm selling here. The shop is open, and my mom is watching over it for me!"

Business is good before the Lunar New Year, so I'll definitely go to places with lots of people!

People are now out on the streets buying New Year's goods, and there are so many more items being sold than before!

I'm worried that the stock I prepared in the first half of the month won't be enough to sell in the days leading up to the Lunar New Year.

Shura, don't worry, I'll send over the things I prepared for you the day after tomorrow. They're all at home, I've got them all ready. Here, take this bag of peanuts and eat them first.

Seeing that Yao Chunian was busy weighing peanuts and melon seeds for others without stopping for a moment, Yao Shula quickly said a few words and left.

"Big sister, Chun Nian is different from before. She looks quite feisty and capable!" Yao Shuli said.

"How about this?" Yao Shula asked.

“Great! Excellent! We won’t be bullied, we can make money, and we can raise Qiangqiang very well! It’s great as it is now!” Yao Shuli said immediately.

"Yes, life is made by people, and the road is made by people. Life will get better day by day."

"Shuli, your path now is to study hard!" Yao Shula seized every opportunity to lecture Yao Shuli.

Yao Shuli, who wanted to tell Yao Shula that he had been selling some things at the train station these past few days, had to shut up.

Okay! The older sister must have her reasons.

Yao Shuli had originally planned to sell some chicken cakes and peanuts at the train station, and he had already been selling them for a day.

Everything was sold out, and I made quite a bit of money; I earned almost three yuan in one day.

But after only one day of selling, Yao Shuli was called home by Yao Shula.

"As long as you know how to sell things, that's enough! The family doesn't need the little money you earn."

Yao Shuli had no choice but to obediently part ways with the Wang Changsheng brothers for the time being.

...

After buying their things, Yao Shula and Yao Shuli returned to Yao Shuxin's egg stall.

In just a short while, almost all of the eggs in the basket had been sold.

Yao Shuxin was helping Lin Qiaoqiao pack up her stall.

"Don't forget what I just said, if you have any young roosters or old hens that haven't opened yet, please keep them for us."

My two younger brothers, my sister definitely wants to buy food for them.

There are also old hens, which are best for making soup. You and your grandma should ask them to save a few for us!

"Keep the money from selling eggs close to your body, don't put it in your pocket, it'll easily fall out when you ride your bike," Yao Shuxin reminded Lin Qiaoqiao.

Lin Qiaoqiao quickly put the money away and then tied the basket of eggs to the bicycle.

"Don't worry, I'll come again tomorrow, but I won't be selling eggs. I still have a lot of old hens that haven't laid eggs for more than three years, so I'll bring them to sell."

"I'll save the young roosters and old hens that haven't opened yet for you," Lin Qin said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Yao Shula realized that Yao Shuxin had managed to chat quite well with her classmate in such a short time!

“Okay, save us three hens for tomorrow, and a few roosters that haven’t hatched yet,” Yao Shula quickly added.

Lin Qiaoqiao smiled sweetly.

"Don't worry, sister, I'll deliver it to your house tomorrow."

"Yao Shuxin, I'm going back now! Goodbye, sister and brother!" Lin Qiaoqiao said happily as she rode her bike back home.

If I go back now, I should be able to get home before lunchtime and even help cook for Grandma!

After watching Lin Qiaoqiao leave, Yao Shuxin picked up her basket and went to Yao Shula's side.

"Sister, Lin Qiaoqiao told me that her grandma saved all the money from selling eggs for her to go to school."

I just bought forty eggs from her and gave her four yuan.

She also gave me ten free eggs, and she absolutely refused to take any money from them.” Yao Shuxin showed Yao Shula the eggs in her basket.

Yao Shula laughed when she saw the egg, which was noticeably smaller.

"These eggs are good, I'll save them all for you to steam eggs with."

...

The preparations for the New Year are almost complete, and Yao Shula still bought the pork from Director Wang.

This year, I didn't give Director Wang anything else for the New Year, just a basket of apples. Director Wang was overjoyed with that and even saved a seat for Yao Shula in the back.

Aside from the meat used to make steamed buns, all the other meat was sent by Yao Shula to Zhong Xiaochun's place.

The next day, Zhong Xiaochun delivered the fried meat chunks and also sent two lunchboxes of egg dumplings.

"I just put two eggs in, and the meat I used was all from your restaurant. Our restaurant was closed from New Year's Eve until the eighth day of the Lunar New Year."

During the Lunar New Year, no family is short of food, so we can take a couple of days off.

Oh, Grandma said you shouldn't forget to have New Year's Eve dinner with us this year!

Yao Shula quickly agreed.

Grandma Yao told Yao Shula ten days ago that she must go to the old house for the Spring Festival this year.

Come back after you've finished eating.

Yao Shula agreed.

...

On the 28th, Yao Shula delivered New Year's gifts to Uncle Shu's family in the morning.

Two bottles of wine, two packs of cigarettes, two packets of peanuts and melon seeds, an old hen, and two cans of food—Uncle Shu and his wife also brought back quite a few things.

At noon, Yao Shula delivered peanuts, melon seeds, and candy to Master Sun's family, along with a can of malted milk powder and a bag of milk powder, since Master Sun's youngest daughter-in-law had given birth.

Master Sun brought back quite a few things, and even had his son ride a tricycle to take Yao Shula and Yao Shuli back.

In the afternoon, Yao Shula delivered gifts to the Yao family's old residence.

A hen and a rooster, canned malted milk powder, various candies and snacks—the three siblings almost couldn't move them.

Aunt Yao was not home; she had gone to help Yao Chunian at the shop.

Grandma Yao, along with her granddaughter-in-law and grandsons, do all the New Year's preparations for the Yao family.

Grandma Yao was very happy. After chatting with Yao Shula for a while, she told Yao Shula, "Come over early on the 30th so we can all have a reunion dinner together."

Our family reunion dinner was early, around 2 or 3 pm. We finished eating before it got dark, so you could go back to keep vigil for the New Year!

Then come early on the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Yao Shula happily agreed.

...

After returning home, Yao Shuli stayed in the house alone for a while before running out.

"Big sister, do you miss us since you're spending the New Year in Shanghai every day?" Yao Shuli asked.

“He definitely thought about it! Maybe he still remembers wanting to take a picture with us!” Yao Shula said with certainty.

...

In Shanghai, Xiao Tiantian was being affectionate with Grandpa Lei.

"Grandpa, you have no idea how wonderful my eldest sister is. She specifically told me to go back home early so she could take me to take a family photo!"