The same situation also occurred in Zhou Qing's family. Zhou Qing's family was relatively wealthy in the village, and his two older brothers were both capable. However, the nine taels of silver Zhou Qing brought back this time also surprised his family.

After asking, they found out that his monthly salary was eight hundred wen. Eight hundred wen, a man working in the town would only earn five or six hundred wen. In addition, there was the design fee she mentioned for making new styles of clothes. Although they didn't understand what the design fee was, they knew that this fee was worth five taels of silver. They didn't expect that their brother had this ability.

After hearing this, the two sisters-in-law saw the clothes, cakes and other things she brought back, and they wanted to do it themselves. However, their embroidery skills were not good. They could do some mending at home, but they were afraid that they could not embroider anything.

Aunt Zhou was very happy. She touched the clothes Zhou Qing brought back and said, "Okay, save this money and use it as a dowry. You will be seventeen next year, and I will try my best to find a good marriage for you."

Although there is some spare money at home, there is still a large family to support, and the money has to be saved for future use. I had previously thought about preparing a better dowry after the engagement, but there is not much money left. Now that my brother has earned his own money, I will take it with me, so that I will have more confidence when he goes to her husband's house in the future.

Zhou Qing felt a little shy when his mother talked about his marriage, "Mom!"

Aunt Zhou smiled and said, "Why are you shy? I'm serious about what I'm saying to you. My brother is so capable. We'll have to see him next year."

Zhou Qing could only blush and remain silent, while his two sisters-in-law also chatted and complimented him.

However, they both had some complaints about Aunt Zhou asking Zhou Qing to keep all the money brought back, but seeing that everyone was happy at the moment, they didn't dare to say anything to spoil the fun.

That night, Zhou's eldest sister-in-law told her eldest brother about the money Zhou Qing had brought back. Zhou's eldest brother said, "This is my own money. What's wrong with him taking it?"

Hearing his tone, the eldest sister-in-law of the Zhou family explained, "Look, we have to pay the public money every month. Why don't you pay? It was fine before when you didn't make any money, but now that you make money, you won't pay?"

"In the past, my younger brother's food and expenses were all paid for by my parents. He never used public funds. He will get married in the future. As long as my parents are willing, there's nothing wrong with him using his own money. If he wants to honor my parents, that's his business. He brought things for the two little ones today, isn't that enough? Don't think too much. You don't need food or clothes. Go to bed early." After saying that, he turned over and went to sleep.

In addition to the things she brought for her parents, Zhou Qing also brought a piece of clothing for her son. It was made of fine cotton and embroidered, and it looked very expensive. There were also snacks and other things, all for them. Zhou's eldest sister-in-law was not an ungrateful person, but she had her own little thoughts when she thought about money.

This is how it is in a farming family. When there are more people in the family, they will all have their own little ideas, but they are all harmless. Just do what you should do, and your parents are in charge.

When he got up the next day, it was all white outside. It was actually snowing. No wonder he felt a little cold after the brazier went out in the second half of the night. Then he lit the brazier in the house again, and after a while Cheng Chen felt warm when he woke up.

In fact, Cheng Chen woke up when Wang Yu got up, but she was a little cold and didn't move. Then she heard the sound of the brazier and sat up, "Husband?"

"Achen is awake. It's still early. You should lie down for a while. It's snowing outside. Wait until the brazier warms up before you get up."

After Wang Yu finished lighting the brazier, he washed his hands, walked over and kissed him on the forehead, "Sleep a little longer."

Cheng Chen nodded and lay down obediently.

Wang's father was sweeping the snow in the yard. After Wang Yu finished washing up, he also helped to sweep. Zheng Shu was sweeping the snow outside the door. Every household did the same thing when they got up early. At least they had to sweep the snow in their own yard, otherwise the yard would be muddy once the snow melted and it would be impossible to walk. There was not much snow last night, so there was no need to sweep the roof.

In previous years, when the snow was heavy, we had to get up in the middle of the night to sweep the snow. The utility room and kitchen of the house we lived in before were not tiled, and the heavy snow could easily collapse the roof. When winter was approaching, every household would repair the roof. It was okay for those who lived in brick and tile houses, but those who lived in thatched houses had to repair them every year.

Moreover, every family raises some poultry and livestock, and the shed must be secured on snowy days, otherwise the poultry will easily die if they collapse. It is not easy for farmers to take care of them all year round. The eggs laid by the chickens and ducks can be sold for money, and it would be a big loss if they were crushed to death by the snow.

After sweeping the snow, Wang Yu stood at the door of his house and saw people who got up early also sweeping the snow in front of their doors. Looking at the falling snow, the whole mountain village was wrapped in white. The smoke from the cooking stove rose up and intertwined with the snowflakes, like a light ink painting, quiet and beautiful.

After the room warmed up, Cheng Chen also got up and made breakfast with Wang's mother. They cooked some porridge and fried two plates of soft pancakes in the morning, and took a bowl of crispy radish from the jar to eat with it. This jar of crispy radish was specially sent by Aunt Li yesterday when she knew they were back. Their family was in the provincial capital, and they didn't have this at home, and Wang's father didn't know how to make it.

"This crispy radish is good, crispy and refreshing, perfect with this porridge."

The Queen Mother also picked one for herself and said, "Your Aunt Li is very good at pickling crispy radishes."

Wang Yu nodded after hearing this.

It snowed for two days in a row and the weather was gloomy. Wang Yuchengchen stayed at home for two days. The house was warm and comfortable for practicing calligraphy and writing.

The 24th is the Kitchen God Festival. Today we start worshiping the Kitchen God, sweeping the house, and cutting window flowers. There are only a few people in our family, and this year there is a new kid, Zheng Shu, so we let him join us for meals. The whole family is busy and bustling.

The house was newly built and there was no dust to clean. Wang Yu and Cheng Chen were cutting paper-cuts, but actually Cheng Chen was the only one doing it. Wang Yu's paper-cutting skills had not improved at all in the past two years. After cutting a failed one, Wang Yu read a book by himself.

The 24th year of the twelfth lunar month begins, and the villagers begin to prepare for the New Year, sweeping the house, making tofu, stewing pork, slaughtering New Year chickens, and steaming buns. These days, the aroma wafts from every household's kitchen: fried tofu, fried meatballs, fried twisted dough sticks, and pressed candies.

Children’s favorite thing is to stay in the kitchen and steal one or two meatballs or twisted dough sticks to eat. Adults won’t say anything. It’s the New Year after all, so people should be happy.

Time flies and it is New Year's Eve. The sound of firecrackers outside is so lively. After their family set off the firecrackers, the New Year's Eve dinner officially began. Wang Mu and Cheng Chen carefully arranged a table of dishes.

In the first year in the new house, life got better and better, and everyone's face was filled with smiles. Several people drank some wine, but today they had to stay up all night. Cheng Chen made some sobering soup for them, and they stayed up all night until midnight when firecrackers were heard outside. The new year had arrived, and Wang Yu and Cheng Chen smiled at each other.

"Achen, Happy New Year!"

"Happy New Year, my husband!"