When it was time for the family reunion dinner, Xu Zhi took out the food she had prepared. If it weren't for the fact that needlework was forbidden during the first month of the lunar year, Xu Zhi wouldn't have rushed to prepare it like this.

Zhang Zhaoci touched the exquisite embroidery on the headband, feeling both happy and sad. She said, "You must have stayed up all night to make this. Look at you, your eyes are so red. Don't do this again. If you ruin your eyes, it will be a lifelong problem."

Xu Zhi smiled and said, "Mother, I didn't stay up too late. I just wanted to finish making the things and send them to you before the New Year. Father, I made these clothes according to your current size, so I think they should fit you without any problems."

The two pairs of socks that Xu Zhi made for Granny Lu were not only exquisitely stitched, but she also embroidered a delicate pattern around the cuffs, making them look very refined.

Granny Lu held the two pairs of socks, admiring them with obvious delight, and said, "How could I bear to wear such fine socks that Ninth Miss made for me?"

Xu Zhi said, "My socks and shoes have always been made by my nanny since I was little. Now that I can make them myself, I want to make them for my nanny. Nanny, I want to make shoes for you in the future, lots and lots of them."

Granny Lu's eyes welled up with tears of emotion. She nodded repeatedly and said, "Thank you, Granny. You're going to do great things in the future, so you don't need to do these things like making shoes and socks anymore. Even if I can't do them anymore, someone will make them for me. Ninth Miss, you must take good care of yourself from now on, and I'll be at ease."

The reunion dinner featured dishes that Xu Zhi loved. Zhang Zhaoci kept piling food onto her plate, and Xu Zhi, understanding her mother's feelings, kept smiling and saying things that made people happy while eating.

After the meal, Zhang Zhaoci set up a cutting board on the round table in his room. Every year, his family would personally make some dumplings. They would cook the dumplings as soon as the New Year arrived to pay respects to heaven, earth, and the spirits, and then eat the dumplings. This was considered the first reunion meal of the New Year.

However, Xu Di, his new wife, and Xu Bai were not present this year, mainly because none of the family members expected Xu Zhi's wedding to happen so soon.

Xu Zhi was capable of handling all these household chores. Xu Rao rolled out the dumpling wrappers, Zhang Zhaoci and Xu Zhi filled them, and Granny Lu went outside to watch the servants fill them. The first meal of the new year was dumplings for the whole family. There were quite a few servants staying at home for the New Year, plus the pair of guards who always followed the Xu family. They needed to fill a lot of dumplings, and someone needed to lead the family in making arrangements.

The bamboo tray was filled with plump, white dumplings. Zhang Zhaoci said, "Our little Jiu loves dumplings with cabbage, pork, and scallion filling the most. This filling is specially made by me. When it comes out, little Jiu, eat more. After this New Year, little Jiu will be a year older."

Xu Rao said, "Yes, Xiao Jiu is all grown up now."

Zhang Zhaoci's eyes welled up with tears again as she thought about how Xu Zhi wouldn't be able to spend the New Year at home anymore. Seeing this, Xu Zhi quickly put down the dumpling wrappers she was making, took out a handkerchief from her sleeve, and said, "Mother, look at you, why are you like this again? Don't worry, even if I can't be home for the New Year, I can still come back whenever I want. Even if I marry into the family, I'll be able to take charge of the household immediately. As the mistress of the house, how can I not have my own say?"

Zhang Zhaoci wiped away her tears and said, "What are you saying? Other girls don't have such rules. Although I, your mother, don't care much about those rules, I don't want my daughter to be talked about because of them. Xiao Jiu, you must behave well from now on, okay?"

Xu Zhi was also quite sad, but she gritted her teeth and forced herself to swallow the bitterness in her heart, and continued to coax, "Mother, I will support you. If you tell me to come back, I will come back; if you don't tell me to come back, I won't come back."

Zhang Zhaoci said, "Don't try to coax me like that. I'm just not used to it. A girl has to find a husband and get married eventually, otherwise your father and I will have to worry about what you'll do in the future."

Xu Zhi said, "Mother, didn't you say that even if I don't get married, you, my father, my brother, and my younger brother can support me for the rest of my life?"

Zhang Zhaoci sighed and said, "That's true, but we always hope that you can find someone who is compatible with you to spend your life with, have a few children, and when you get old, have your loved one by your side and your children and grandchildren to take care of you. Only such a life can be considered a complete life."

Xu Zhi said, "Mother, don't worry, I can take good care of myself wherever I am."

Xu Rao nodded after hearing Xu Zhi's words and said, "I'm relieved that you think this way. Life is what you make of it. How you live your life is up to you. If you have a good mindset, even hard times can be sweeter than honey. If you have a bad mindset, even if you're soaking in honey water, your heart will still be full of bitterness."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhaoci said, "Look at you, we should be saying auspicious things during the New Year, why are you saying such bitter and bitter things?"

Xu Rao smiled and said, "I'm just reasoning with you, Xiao Jiu. Your mother and I have lived together for so many years, we've seen all kinds of things. As long as you have hope and something to look forward to, you can always get through life. Don't be afraid when you encounter difficulties, and don't be too embarrassed to come back and talk to us. For a girl, finding a family isn't just about finding your own family, it's also about having a strong support system. As long as you don't create a huge mess, I can make up for anything I can."

Xu Zhi's eyes reddened. She lowered her head, holding a dumpling wrapper in her hand. She wanted to raise her hand to wipe away the tears in her eyes, but she was afraid that her parents would feel uncomfortable if they saw her. So she could only nod repeatedly and blink her eyes a few times to let the tears go. Only then did she raise her head and give her father a big smile.