Madam Luo placed the bracelet in her hand as if Xiao Yunying were stuffing a purse into someone else's hand, and looked at it meaningfully: "Now that you have accepted Sheng'er, I am the happiest. He is my only son now. Everything in the mansion will be yours in the future. What is there that you cannot take?"

Xiao Yunying was both shy and surprised. The Luo family was so casual, saying such things without any taboos.

"Then... thank you, Madam Luo."

"Will you still call me Madam Luo, Yun Ying? You should call me Mother now."

Xiao Yunying first glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention before quietly calling out, "Mother."

"Why……"

Madam Luo was delighted by the call and responded in a drawn-out voice: "Good child, you're not young anymore. You'll be nineteen after the New Year. Can we talk about giving me a grandson or granddaughter to hold?"

Mentioning this made Xiao Yunying's face burn even hotter, and she quickly made up an excuse to hide in the kitchen.

Madam Luo knew she was just shy, not unwilling, and chuckled as she joked with Granny Chang.

Luo Sheng, hiding in the corner outside the door, overheard the conversation between his two closest and most beloved people, and the smile on his lips grew wider and wider.

He swore it was the best New Year's gift he had ever received.

Xiao Yunying calmed down in the kitchen for a while before remembering what she was supposed to do when she came in.

She took several large bamboo baskets and filled them with all kinds of candies. Another small basket contained red envelopes with two copper coins each, which she would give to the children who came to pay their respects later.

Although Luo Sheng has returned this year, he is an outsider and his roots are not here.

As a son-in-law, he didn't need to accompany his parents to pay New Year's visits to the Xiao family (only men who marry into the family do so), so he stayed at home.

Just like last year, the children only visited their parents' home once before returning. Afterward, they ate snacks and played with the cats and dogs in the living room.

Perhaps because of his rising status, coupled with his recent grain sales and Luo Yong's help to those whose houses collapsed under the weight of snow, he has received quite a few New Year's greetings from adults this year.

Xiao Yunying hadn't expected so many adults to come and wish her a Happy New Year. Without any preparation, she could only come up with some auspicious words to exchange with these people.

As noon approached and lunchtime drew near, she finally breathed a sigh of relief after seeing off the last group of people.

Luo Li sat at the table and said to Luo Yang, "Mother has said 'No way, it's just luck and she guessed it' more than a dozen times."

Luo Chen peeled pine nuts for Luo Xin: "Mother isn't good at being polite to people. It's already quite an achievement that she's been able to put on a smile and deal with so many people for so long."

Xiao Yunying, who had just stepped inside, overheard this. She sat down on the stool, rubbing her cheeks which were almost frozen from laughing, and said, "Boss is right. It took me a lot of courage not to hide in the house and not come out. Don't ask too much of me."

During the Lunar New Year, people come to offer their greetings out of kindness. How could she hide and avoid them? That would be too impolite. She had no choice but to bite the bullet and go.

Luo Yang brought over a cup of tea: "Mother, have some tea to soothe your throat. It's almost noon, so I doubt anyone will come."

Xiao Yunying took the cup and drank it all in one gulp, then pursed her lips: "By the way, Luo Sheng, are you going back to the capital to pay respects to your ancestors? When are you leaving?"

Luo Sheng poured her some tea: "According to the local custom, shouldn't I go back to your parents' home for a meal on the second day of the Lunar New Year? My mother and I have already discussed it and we'll set off on the third day."

Xiao Yunying glanced at the children: "Children, shouldn't you go back too?"

Upon hearing this, Luo Chen was the first to frown slightly.

Perhaps realizing that what he was doing was wrong, his brow relaxed again after a moment, though his expression lost its previous cheerfulness and became slightly gloomy.

Even Xiao Yunying noticed the change in Luo Chen's expression, so Luo Sheng naturally did as well.

However, he did not elaborate on the matter, but simply said in a calm tone, as if explaining to Xiao Yunying, "This is the first year that the Luo family has been exonerated, so the children will naturally go back together to kowtow to their ancestors. We will not stay long and will return immediately after the ancestral worship ceremony."

In fact, everyone in Luo Chen's family knew that Luo Chen's furrowed brows were not because he was unwilling to return to the capital to pay respects to his ancestors, but because he was unwilling to return to the capital.

That place was not a place filled with fond memories for them. Their home was ransacked and they were exiled when they were young. They were abandoned by their biological mother, and their biological father died as a result. They also suffered for many years...

They were too young when the Luo family suffered their sudden misfortune; they had barely been able to remember what had happened when those events occurred, and the painful memories completely overshadowed the beautiful ones.

Besides, as Luo Yang had said before, their biological mother was still in the capital, and they didn't want to go back because they didn't want to see that woman.

Xiao Yunying asked, "Should I come along too?"

Logically speaking, now that she is a daughter-in-law of the Luo family, she should go back with them to pay respects to their ancestors.

However, women are not allowed to enter the ancestral hall, so she was unsure whether to go or not.

Madam Luo said from the side, "The weather is very changeable this year. Since you are weak, you don't need to go. It would be better if it snowed halfway and you got stuck on the road. It would be tiring and cold."

Xin'er is too young to go, so just send the three boys along. The sentiment is enough. When Sheng'er returns, have him lead you to kowtow a few times towards the east.

Hearing Madam Luo say this, Xiao Yunying was naturally happy to have some peace and quiet, without having to work hard.

She was really not used to the carriage. It was fine for a short time, but after a while, she felt that it was bumpy and slow, and her waist and buttocks became stiff and numb.

"Then I'll prepare some extra food for you to eat on the road."

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!