Meng Zhao had originally planned to just take a nap and wait for her parents to have dinner together, but she slept very soundly. When she opened her eyes again, it was already bright outside.

"How long have I been asleep..." Meng Zhao rubbed her eyes, and her stomach suddenly growled. She realized that it was probably already the next day.

She threw off the covers, stretched, and felt all her fatigue dissipate after the nap. When she went out, she saw that Su Meng was already up and helping her mother serve the dishes.

Hearing the noise, Xu Yunrong turned around and saw Meng Zhao standing at the door. She greeted him with a smile, "Awake? I was just about to call you. Did you sleep well?"

Meng Zhao nodded, a satisfied smile on her face: "It's so comfortable. The bed at home is so comfortable to sleep in. My back doesn't ache and my legs don't hurt when I get up."

Meng Dashan also came out of the kitchen, carrying a plate of freshly fried dumplings. "Then hurry up and wash up, then come and have breakfast. Today's dishes are all your favorites."

After washing up, Meng Zhao sat down at the table and saw a sumptuous breakfast laid out on it. The rice, cooked for a long time, was very soft and could be easily crushed with the slightest touch of the tongue. It was sprinkled with sesame seeds, which smelled delicious. Paired with the savory chicken fat rolls, each bite was fragrant and not greasy at all. There were also fried dumplings, steamed buns, lotus root starch cakes, bean curd rolls, a bowl of black chicken soup, and several dishes of pickles. The abundance of food made her very hungry.

"Father, you've prepared such a lavish meal. Even if a few more people came, we probably wouldn't be able to finish it all."

"I was just worried you'd be hungry after sleeping for so long. Eat more and see if your father's cooking has improved."

Meng Zhao picked up a fried dumpling and put it in her mouth. It was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and her mouth was full of fragrance. She nodded repeatedly and said indistinctly, "Delicious, even better than the ones sold in the shops outside!"

Hearing this, Meng Dashan laughed even more heartily, constantly piling food onto Meng Zhao's plate as if he wanted to make up for all the food he had missed during this time. Meng Zhao ate with grease dripping from his mouth until he could no longer hold on, at which point he waved his hand repeatedly and said, "Dad, I really can't eat anymore, I'll get sick if I eat any more."

After the meal, Meng Zhao strolled around the courtyard for a while to digest his food before returning to the house to look at the account books.

A few days later, news of her return from outside spread, and the village head, He Jianxia, ​​Meng Jianqiu, Qionghua, Qin Niangzi, Aunt Feng'e and others came with their respective accounts. Even Xu Ping, who was far away in Hongnong County, made a special trip back to bring the accounts from Hongnong County.

Although Meng Zhao returned home, he still had little free time. He spent every day working on the account books of various shops and checking the accounts in the shops. It wasn't until the end of the year that he finally finished all the things he needed to do.

Before the New Year, Meng Dashan arranged a marriage for Fang Muyun. The girl was from a nearby village and often came to their butcher shop to buy things. The two hit it off after a while. The girl was the youngest in her family, and her parents were reluctant to let her get married. Later, when they heard that Fang Muyun was an orphan, they immediately had their eyes on her.

Meng Dashan was initially reluctant. He had raised his eldest disciple with great care, and it was one thing if he couldn't use him, but how could he let him benefit someone else for nothing? However, Fang Muyun was willing, so Meng Dashan had no choice. The two exchanged birth charts and prepared to get married after the New Year.

The end of the year is the busiest time for butcher shops, and Fang Muyun had no free time at all. It wasn't until the afternoon of New Year's Eve, when the shop started to close, that he finally had some free time. Meng Dashan saw that he looked like he had something to say, and he knew what Fang Muyun was thinking. He said with a stern face, "Hurry up and go. Otherwise, all those New Year's gifts you bought will be useless after the New Year."

Upon hearing this, Fang Muyun's face immediately lit up with joy, and he quickly said, "Thank you, Master! I'll deliver the things and be right back!"

No sooner had Fang Muyun left than Meng Dashan muttered to himself in the courtyard, “Why did he come back? He should have just stayed. He’s really forgotten his master now that he’s married. He doesn’t even spend the New Year with his master. He’s always thinking about other people’s business.”

Hearing this from the side, Xu Yunrong laughed and teased, "Isn't Xiao Fang's apprentice good enough? Ever since he became a skilled worker, when has he ever asked you to do any heavy work? And you're still not satisfied?"

"I'm content, I'm content. I'm just a little unaccustomed to my apprentice, whom I've raised for so long, suddenly becoming someone else's." He paused, then added, "Besides, you can't rush things. He's already sending all sorts of gifts to that family before the marriage is even over. How will he assert his authority as a husband after the wedding?"

Meng Zhao, who had been silent, couldn't help but burst out laughing when she heard this. She teased, "Father, this is what they call 'like teacher, like student.' He watches you all day long, so naturally he'll imitate you."

Xu Yunrong looked at Meng Dashan with a thoughtful expression on her face. "What, from what you're saying, you want to assert your authority as husband?"

Upon hearing this, Meng Dashan quickly waved his hand, "Oh, my wife, what are you thinking? I was just joking."

Meng Zhao added from the side, "I'm afraid it's just that what you think about during the day is what you dream about at night."

Meng Dashan immediately became anxious and pointed at Meng Zhao, saying, "You little brat, why don't you wish your father well during the New Year?" As he spoke, he pretended to grab her, and Meng Zhao quickly ran away, causing the courtyard to erupt in laughter and commotion.

This year, during the Spring Festival, there was no one else around, just the three of them. They helped each other cook a few simple dishes, nothing complicated, but all of which were their favorite dishes.

Meng Dashan picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and smiled contentedly: "Although we've spent little time together this year, it's the end of the year, so we're finally reunited. Come on, let's have a drink and wish each other a safe and smooth year ahead."

Meng Zhao also raised her glass and said with a smile, "Wishing my parents good health and our family business booming!" She then downed the glass in one gulp. The person she trusted most was beside her, so it didn't matter if she got drunk.

Xu Yunrong also raised her glass, her eyes full of tenderness: "I hope that every year from now on, our family can celebrate the New Year together."

The three cups clinked together, making a crisp sound. The charcoal fire in the stove was burning brightly, casting a rosy glow on everyone's faces. Outside, the cold wind howled, but inside, it was warm and cozy. The family gathered around the stove, joking and laughing. Before they knew it, a year had passed.