Wang Shuyi glanced at the old house, her eyes filled with deep reluctance.

When they learned in advance of the impending chaos in the country and decided to go abroad, they did a lot of work to save the house.

Unexpectedly, even after ten years of national turmoil, their house remained untouched, yet a group of unworthy descendants forced them to leave.

After moving out of the old Western-style house, Xia Yuntao and Wang Shuyi decided to move to a semi-new, semi-old house in the suburbs.

When Huo Beixiao and Yang Qiaoqiao were helping the two elderly people move, Yang Qiaoqiao looked at the poorly lit and damp house and couldn't help but persuade the two elderly people, "Grandpa Xia, Grandma Xia, why don't we clean up this place first and not move here for the time being?"

"If they come back, you can move in then."

Xia Yuntao shook his head. "Qiaoqiao, you don't understand them. When I returned to China, the assets I left them were probably almost all squandered by them."

At that point, if anyone told them I still had money, they would pounce on me like dogs smelling the scent.

Yang Qiaoqiao didn't say anything more.

It was only when the transport team members helped unload the goods from the truck that Xia Yuntao and Wang Shuyi discovered that many of these items did not belong to them.

At first, the two thought that Huo Beixiao and Yang Qiaoqiao had added some new furniture for them without permission. But when they saw the baby cradle, they realized that Huo Beixiao and Yang Qiaoqiao wanted to live with them.

Xia Yuntao and Wang Shuyi exchanged a glance, both seeing relief and emotion in each other's eyes.

Although they didn't raise their descendants well, they were still quite lucky.

After returning to China, they met two such kind young comrades who not only saved their lives but also took good care of them in every way.

After exchanging a glance, the two understood each other's meaning.

Huo Beixiao and Yang Qiaoqiao were willing to stay in this kind of place with them, which was a kind gesture from the two young comrades, but they couldn't feel at ease dragging them down with them.

Xia Yuntao stopped the workers who were unloading things from the truck, saying, "Take the rest of the things back to where they came from."

Upon hearing this, Huo Beixiao and Yang Qiaoqiao knew that Grandpa Xia didn't want to implicate them.

Yang Qiaoqiao stepped forward and helped Wang Shuyi up, "Grandma Xia..."

Just as she was about to offer some advice to the old lady, the old lady patted her hand and said first, "Qiaoqiao, your and Beixiao's good intentions are clear to both of us."

The fact that we failed to educate our children and grandchildren is a consequence of the seeds we sowed in the first half of our lives, and now it's time for us to reap the rewards.

We don't want to involve you in this matter.

Moreover, if you move here with us and they find out, they'll guess we're putting on an act, and then all the effort your Grandpa Xia and I put in will be for nothing.

If you really want to help us, when our unworthy descendants come back and we can't find a single capable one, you can help us take over the little business we've run for most of our lives.

If we can manage to find even one competent one among them, we'll have to trouble you and Beixiao to keep an eye on them.

Since Grandma Xia had already said so much, Yang Qiaoqiao naturally couldn't say anything, so she nodded and said, "Okay, Grandma Xia, I promise you."

“Grandma Xia, we’re not coming to live with you, and you can’t stay here today either,” Yang Qiaoqiao said.

Wang Shuyi chuckled kindly and patted Yang Qiaoqiao's hand. "Don't worry, even if you didn't say anything, Grandma didn't plan to stay here today."

"We'll definitely be having our New Year's Eve dinner at your place."

*

Huo Beixiao and Yang Qiaoqiao helped Xia Yuntao and his wife settle into their new house. When they returned to the old villa, Su Pan was already waiting for them at the door.

Yue Rongzheng, Yue Jinchen, Zhou Yang, and Guo Tao have also arrived.

The four of them had barely reached the living room door when they could smell the rich aroma wafting from inside.

Aunt Zhang and the aunt from Su Pan's family have already put all the food on the table.

In addition to local Haicheng dishes such as braised pork, smoked fish, braised pork, eight-treasure duck, and four-happiness roasted gluten, Su Pan also specially asked her aunt to make traditional Sichuan dishes such as spicy chicken, Mapo tofu, and spicy fish.

The family enjoyed a lively New Year's Eve dinner together.

The young girl, Zhou Ling'er, raised her wine glass and toasted each of the elders with a clear and crisp voice.

The two little ones, An'an and Lele, who had been hanging out with Zhou Ling'er for the past few days, rolled their big, bright black eyes around when they saw her, and, imitating Zhou Ling'er, raised their milk bottles.

He was making "ee-yah-yah" sounds.

This immediately made all the adults at the table burst into laughter.

Seeing that the adults were laughing, the two little ones grinned and laughed heartily, their little mouths now bearing their first two teeth.

This made everyone even happier.

Xia Yuntao and Wang Shuyi were both affected by the atmosphere before them, and their eyes unconsciously became a little sore.

After raising a glass with everyone, Xia Yuntao's eyes reddened slightly.

He never imagined that he would be able to experience such a peaceful and joyous New Year in his lifetime.

Back when we lived abroad, celebrating the Lunar New Year together as a large family was quite lively.

However, his children and grandchildren each had their own ulterior motives, and their words to each other were full of veiled insults and barbs, which only annoyed him.

After they returned to China, it was just the two of them every year for the Spring Festival. They had some peace and quiet, but it was also inevitably lonely.

During this New Year's Eve dinner, the men drank and chatted, eating almost until midnight.

The women didn't drink alcohol. After finishing their meal, they all sat in front of the TV, waiting for the Spring Festival Gala to start.

When the joyful and festive sounds of the Spring Festival Gala came on TV, even the two little ones, An'an and Lele, got excited.

The two little ones can sit up now.

They sat on the sofa with the adults, but Yang Qiaoqiao was worried that watching TV at such a young age would damage their eyes, so she had them sit with their backs to the TV.

Two little bundles of joy, dressed in festive red cotton-padded jackets and looking like lucky dolls, huddled together next to Zhou Ling'er. They heard lively noises coming from behind, but couldn't see anything, and were so anxious that they started babbling incoherently.

Later, Zhou Ling'er held the two little ones' hands and watched TV while telling them what was happening on TV.

The two little ones quieted down and listened to Zhou Ling'er speak with their big, round eyes.

The two little ones sensed the festive atmosphere and were very excited, but their small bodies had limited energy.

Around ten o'clock, the two little ones fell asleep one after the other.

Yang Qiaoqiao carried the two little ones upstairs and put them in their own little beds to sleep.

She went downstairs to keep the elders company while they stayed up to welcome the New Year.

Midnight.

A lively burst of firecrackers went off outside.

Then, "Bang, bang, bang!"

A series of fireworks sounds rang out.