“Maybe some people really can’t bear to part with it,” Sister Huang said. “This kind of food is good enough for the New Year; you don’t usually get this opportunity without a reason.”

The following evening, Lai Zizai carefully inspected the road and, finding no major problems, said, "There's nothing wrong with the official road. The higher-ups will be coming to inspect in five days. Be careful these next few days and don't let anything go wrong."

After Lai Zi finished speaking, he left with an air of aloofness.

Upon hearing this, people of all ages in Huangjiakou smiled.

"The spring corvée labor is finally over, and we no longer have to live in fear."

"The corvée labor was so heavy this year, yet not a single person died or was injured. It's truly a blessing from our ancestors."

"Why do I feel like this year's corvée labor is much easier than in previous years?"

"That's right. A whole group of people help with the work, and we can eat meat every day. What a wonderful life! This isn't corvée labor; it's clearly enjoying life."

"Now that the corvée labor is over, will we never be able to eat meat again?"

"Of course not. Nobody's food comes from thin air. You think you can eat meat without working? You're dreaming."

"Sigh, I really hope the autumn corvée labor comes soon."

"Why are you thinking such good things? Don't you even consider how much money this will cost? Even landlords and rich people can't afford to spend like this."

"That's right, we also need to build a school and repair roads in the village, which is another expense. I think it will be difficult to find such an opportunity again in the future!"

"That's right, who would be a sucker? It just so happens that the Huang family's son is here this time. Their family never performs corvée labor; they were only forced to do so this year."

"Oh, what a pity!"

"That's such a pity!"

The villagers' prediction was correct; for the next hundred years, Huangjiakou never encountered such a good thing again.

This story has been passed down in Huangjiakou for a long time, and even a hundred years later, people in Huangjiakou still proudly talk about it.

Jiang Nuan heard these comments but remained silent.

“Mother,” Madam Xie said, “as expected, someone is reluctant to part with her.”

“I wouldn’t want to give it up either,” Huang Lao Er said frankly. “These past few days, repairing the official road has been easier than working in the fields. We work for an hour and rest for two hours, and meals are served on time. You can’t find such a good thing even with a lantern.”

"Alright," Jiang Nuan said, "Hurry up and pack your things and go home. You can't rest for now. Your grandma's place isn't finished yet. Go help her out tomorrow."

"Didn't my elder brother already leave?"

"If he goes, why can't you go?" Jiang Nuan tapped her son. "You're just sitting around doing nothing anyway, so do some work as a form of exercise."

“Mother,” Xie’s eyes flashed with excitement, “Why don’t we all go visit Grandma tomorrow? We still have some free time now, because we’ll be busy again in a few days.”

"Visiting relatives?" Jiang Nuan paused for a moment. "Let's discuss it as a family later. If there are no objections, we'll go to your maternal grandmother's house."

She's been here for so long, but she's never been back to her parents' home. It would be good for her to go and visit.

During dinner, Jiang Nuan mentioned this matter, and the whole family approved it; no one objected.

As night fell, Jiang Nuan called her three daughters-in-law to her side.

"I've been so busy lately that I've neglected you all. I forgot to ask if any of you wanted to go back to your parents' home?"

“Mother,” Madam Xie smiled somewhat reluctantly, “Why did you suddenly bring this up?”

She didn't want to go back to her parents' home at all.

“You haven’t been back to your parents’ home for quite some time, it’s time to go back,” Jiang Nuan explained. “If you want to go back, just let me know in advance and I’ll prepare things for you.”

“No need, I just went back before the New Year, not long ago,” Xie shook her head repeatedly, “Besides, going back during the New Year or other holidays would easily attract gossip.”