Zhong Qingqing didn't have time to change her clothes before dragging her tired body to kill a chicken.

She had a vague feeling that things shouldn't be like this.

She's been having the same dream lately, in which she's living a very good life. She's being pampered by her daughter-in-law, who even lets her scold and beat her, and the whole family is living in harmony.

In the end, her son became a professor, and her daughter-in-law's career also flourished.

She became the matriarch and was the envy of everyone.

She and her mother-in-law never had a serious argument in their entire lives.

That dream felt so real.

When it came to reality, Zhong Qingqing thought it was real.

But the stinging pain all over her body told her that it was all a dream.

Lu Family

People in northern China need to fry things before the Lunar New Year.

Qiao Wanyue went home, washed up, took a nap, and woke up in the afternoon.

She came out of the house, and Panpan and Lu Hui were playing in the yard. Panpan didn't call Lu Rong "Grandma". She often played with Lu Hui at home and called Lu Rong "Grandma Lu" like everyone else.

Lu Rong was once on the verge of a heart attack, but no matter how she called Panpan, Panpan wouldn't change her way of addressing her.

She couldn't handle even a small child.

"Wanyue, get up. Try the vegetarian meatballs I fried." Sister-in-law Lu pinched a carrot meatball and stuffed it into her mouth.

Qiao Wanyue swallowed a few times.

"It's delicious."

Sister-in-law Lu continued what she was doing with a smile.

Lu Rong started the fire.

Lu Yunqi and his two little ones put up Spring Festival couplets at home. The couplets were written by an elderly man in the village who could read, and they cost one cent per pair. Lu Yunqi bought several pairs and pasted them on the door frame at home.

The extra plan is to stick it on the door for my younger sister.

This year, we'll use paper-cut window decorations on the windows.

As Xiahe Village has developed, the lives of every household have improved.

"Sister-in-law, let's go to the supply and marketing cooperative and buy some more melon seeds and peanuts." She had been very busy lately, and Lu Rong and her sister-in-law had taken care of everything at home, even preparing the New Year's goods together.

Lu Rong was used to being frugal, so he only bought enough for his own family.

This year, there might be people visiting to pay New Year's visits. The younger generation will give a red envelope, and the older generation will have to bring some gifts to maintain the relationship. So they will have to go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy something presentable.

"Okay, I'll be right there." Even before she had money, Sister-in-law Lu liked to shop.

Anyway, you can earn money back after spending it.

The two invited Lu Xingxing along. Lu's sister-in-law had also learned to ride a bicycle. A while ago, she asked Qiao Wanyue to buy her a bicycle ticket and bought one for herself. The Lu family now has two bicycles.

The three of them originally planned to go to the county town, but the road was only half-built and the road from the town to the county town was very difficult to travel.

They had no choice but to settle for the town's supply and marketing cooperative.

The town's supply and marketing cooperative offers a wide variety of products.

Perhaps because it was Chinese New Year, many boxes were wrapped in red silk.

The entrance to the supply and marketing cooperative was crowded with people queuing up in an orderly fashion. When it was Qiao Wanyue and Sister-in-law Lu's turn, the store had already been restocked, and stacks of pastries were prominently displayed on the shelves.

Sister-in-law Lu pointed excitedly, "Wanyue, our pastries."

The sales clerk at the supply and marketing cooperative also recognized Qiao Wanyue.

"Director Qiao, you're here to buy things too?" Qiao Wanyue recognized her; she was Yunying's daughter.

"Happy Chinese New Year! I'm here to buy some gifts."

Yun Chu thought for a moment, then bent down and took out a few crimson boxes from the cabinet, saying, "This is newly arrived wine. It's a bit pricey, but it tastes very good. Would you like some?"

The person behind him was dissatisfied. "You little girl, I asked you earlier if you had any boxed liquor, and you told me no. Now you're giving it to someone else. If you don't give me an explanation, I'll..."