On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the Tang family got up early to clean the house, cook dumplings, and set off firecrackers—this was their ancestral tradition. The children went to kowtow to their matriarch early and returned with red envelopes. When Qin Xiaoyu saw Hanhan's red envelope, her eyes widened. What was this hard, heavy thing? She quickly opened it and found two gold bars.

"It's alright, your wife isn't confused. If she gives it to you, just accept it," said the cousin-in-law, who happened to walk in and saw it.

"This is way too expensive," Qin Xiaoyu thought, still feeling uneasy.

"Just keep it. Don't you know how much you've given?" My sister-in-law sighed.

Qin Xiaoyu still went upstairs to thank his wife.

"Don't try to be all high and mighty with me. I'm a straightforward person. I can see what kind of person someone is. I'm not blind." The wife was still being unreasonable and rude, but Qin Xiaoyu was used to it and didn't take it to heart.

"Come here." The lady beckoned, and Qin Xiaoyu walked over. The lady grabbed her hand and slipped a jade bracelet onto her wrist, still warm from the lady's touch.

"This won't do!" Qin Xiaoyu exclaimed anxiously, trying to pick it off.

"If you dare to take it, I'll smash it!" the wife glared at him.

"You naughty child, you've made your mother anxious so early in the morning. Here, take this and go eat dumplings with the child. You're being disobedient." Grandma Hanhan rushed in, pulling Qin Xiaoyu out, as if she was afraid that her mother would change her mind and take the bracelet back.

"Mom, this is too expensive..." Qin Xiaoyu wanted to explain to her.

"Take it if I give it to you, it's yours, do you understand?" Grandma Hanhan said sternly, adopting the demeanor of a mother-in-law.

"What are you doing? What's wrong with the child? Why are you glaring at her like that!" Hanhan's grandfather happened to come out from the inner room. Not knowing what had happened, he thought that Hanhan's grandmother had lashed out at Qin Xiaoyu, so he rushed over to protect his daughter-in-law.

"Dad, it's okay, Mom is just helping me." Qin Xiaoyu was amused by them and had no choice but to accept it. This bracelet would be worth seven figures in the 21st century. His wife was too generous.

"Oh dear, I'm late. I came to wish the old lady a Happy New Year." It was Director Fan of the committee who spoke, carrying a bag of snacks, and went straight upstairs.

In those days, it was customary to pay New Year's visits, with relatives going to visit their elders. Neighbors would also visit each other's older relatives. However, the Tang family had declined over the years and had long been forgotten. Who would come to pay New Year's visits to the lady of the house?

As soon as eight o'clock passed, the Tang family's door opened like a floodgate, with a steady stream of people coming to offer New Year's greetings. First came a group of nearby neighbors, followed by acquaintances. Qin Xiaoyu had expected that Master Wang would come to offer New Year's greetings, but it was a bit unusual that she brought Da Liu along.

"Senior sister, you're so busy, why did you still come over?" Qin Xiaoyu knew that Da Liu had a wide network of connections and many families to visit during the New Year, all of which were more important than hers.

"Don't be so formal with me. I felt really bad for not visiting the elders before the New Year. What kind of person would I be if I didn't come to wish them a Happy New Year?" Da Liu took Qin Xiaoyu's arm and led her into the house.

Dongfeng Barbershop was already well-known in the city, and Da Liu was even more famous. Now, he came to pay his respects for the New Year with such a humble attitude, which made the Tang family look at Qin Xiaoyu with even greater respect.

The next group was from my cousin's factory, led by the factory manager. They were originally going to visit my cousin's parents, but he took them straight into his wife's room. The factory manager showered my cousin with praise, making his wife beam with joy.

After the factory manager left, some more workers arrived. One reason was that my cousin had just been promoted to workshop director, and the other was that he had helped everyone make money.

"If it weren't for Director Tang, our family would have barely been able to afford food for the New Year." An old worker held his wife's hand, tears welling up in his eyes.

"Oh dear, you can't say that. What ability does he have?" The wife glanced at her cousin, her eyes filled with an arrogant smugness.

The strangest guests were Uncle Tang Long's family. They seemed determined to sever ties with their family. They would always make excuses to come over after the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, deliver a bag of snacks, and then leave in a hurry, without even touching a bite of food.

Not only did they arrive early this time, but they also brought two tin boxes of pastries and two cans of food—things that ordinary people wouldn't have. Putting them on the coffee table made quite a show; who wouldn't take a second look?

They still didn't stay for dinner, and pulled Qin Xiaoyu aside when they were leaving.

“My mom said we should thank you properly, sister-in-law. My sister is learning a trade, getting a salary, and even receiving a big red envelope. I really don’t know how to thank you!” Ding Xiaojie smiled brightly, stuffed a bag into Qin Xiaoyu’s hand, and whispered, “These are all good things. My comrade bought them in Hong Kong. They’re magazines with trendy hairstyles. You can take a look and learn from them.”

"Thank you, sister-in-law, that's so kind of you!" Qin Xiaoyu wasn't interested in these publications, but she hadn't expected her to be so grateful, which was truly commendable.

"Brother, Tang Long is about to take the college entrance exam. As his uncle, you should do your part. I have limited resources regarding schools, so I hope you can help him get some study guides. What do you say?"

Qin Xiaoyu emphasized the words "college entrance exam," and Uncle Tang Long's expression darkened. Ding Xiaojie, however, smiled broadly and agreed first. It seemed she was unaware of the matter of taking the college entrance exam in place of someone else.

After seeing them off, Qin Xiaoyu had just entered the courtyard when she saw a figure flash in the east room, followed by a gloomy gaze. She knew it was her aunt spying on her; her beloved son had returned without saying a word to her, and her aunt would definitely hold Qin Xiaoyu responsible.

Qin Xiaoyu didn't like having a time bomb in the house, but she couldn't think of a way to eliminate it completely. Her uncle was too cowardly and useless, so she had to think about it more carefully.

As noon approached, fewer people came to pay their respects for the New Year. Qin Xiaoyu, worried that his wife was tired, told Hanhan's grandmother to let her rest.

"Understood. Let her rest after lunch. Should lunch be served in Madam's room?" Grandma Hanhan now consults Qin Xiaoyu on everything.

"I'll take a look. If the lady is in good spirits, I'll put it in her room."

As soon as Qin Xiaoyu entered the main room, she heard laughter all around. Her family was all there, crowding the room, creating a festive atmosphere.

"Little Fish, sit down for a while. You've been walking all morning." Her cousin-in-law pulled her over and pushed her towards the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed).

"I'm not tired. You who prepare the food are the ones who are tired. I'm just greeting the guests."

"The customers have been coming in non-stop since this morning. Your mouth must be dry from talking so much."

"Sigh, this is what the New Year should be like, with people coming and going, so grand and beautiful. It's a pity your grandfather can't see it." The lady raised her hand and wiped the corner of her eye.

"Mom, Dad saw it, he saw it a long time ago. He said years ago that one day it would happen." Grandpa Hanhan, who was usually quiet, suddenly started talking.

"You silly boy, you said exactly what I wanted to hear today. Who would have thought that in the end we'd get help from our second son, and your wife would suffer too?" The wife rarely praised her second son.

"Mom, please don't say that." Grandpa Hanhan glanced at his uncle beside him with a sense of unease.

"Mom is right, let's not even talk about my situation, sigh." The uncle's eyes were also full of tears. Since yesterday, his aunt had been pretending to be sick and hadn't left the house, let alone done any physical labor.