The items that weren't moved from the old house were mainly things that weren't used often, such as old bedding and tools used for growing vegetables.

Bai Jiaojiao and Shen Heng took out the old bedding to air it out. Although they no longer used these bedding, they wanted to shake and air it out in case they ever needed it.

After a thorough cleaning, cook a pot of paste, paste up new couplets and paper-cut window decorations, and the festive atmosphere of the New Year is instantly there.

On New Year's Eve, the village would organize a procession, with gongs and drums beating loudly at the front, followed by people performing donkey tricks, clowns, and stilt walkers, all wearing colorful cloths. It was very lively, with many people following the procession both in front and behind.

This year, every household in Shili Village has become much wealthier by working for the net rope factory. Some men, who were really idle at home during the winter, applied to help with the net weaving.

If you're willing to work hard, you can save up several tens of dollars over these few months, enough to sew a new cotton-padded jacket for your child.

With money at home, there was no need to sell grain anymore; the grain distributed by the brigade was enough to eat, and the villagers were content.

Bai Jiaojiao watched outside for a while, then felt cold and went home with Shen Heng.

"Everything is great here, except the wind is too strong in winter. I always feel like no matter how thick my cotton-padded coat is, the wind will still blow it through."

Bai Jiaojiao took off her cotton-padded coat and curled up like a kitten in the warmest spot on the kang (heated brick bed).

Shen Heng took the cotton-padded coat she had taken off, dusted off the snow, and hung it aside. He then took off his own coat and sat down next to Bai Jiaojiao, saying, "Come here, let me warm you up."

Shen Heng laughed heartily, while Bai Jiaojiao huddled further into the kang (heated brick bed): "Stop fooling around, we still have to make dumplings later."

Dumplings are a must for New Year's Eve. Shen Heng lay down next to Bai Jiaojiao and said, "No rush. We haven't digested what we ate during the day yet. Let's lie down for a while."

While the villagers outside were still having a lively procession with torches, their home seemed quiet and peaceful. Shen Heng lay nestled against Bai Jiaojiao, feeling incredibly content.

This was the best year he had ever had since he could remember.

As Shen Heng was enjoying himself, his hands started to wander: "We have to stay up all night anyway, and there's still a long time to go, so let's do something to pass the time."

"Heng-ge!" Bai Jiaojiao tried to push Shen Heng with both hands but couldn't budge him. She could only glare at him. "We have to get up early tomorrow morning to make steamed buns! Don't move!"

Shen Heng kissed Bai Jiaojiao's neck haphazardly: "Who says we have to get up early? We don't need to go to the grave. Let go, hurry up."

Bai Jiaojiao kicked him: "I'll get angry if you keep doing this."

"Then bite me a couple more times later, it's okay."

"You filthy scoundrel!"

Shen Heng disliked the title, tilted his head back and kissed Bai Jiaojiao's lips, preventing her from speaking again.

Although they had just returned from outside, Shen Heng's hands were as hot as burning coals. He reached inside Bai Jiaojiao's clothes and wrapped his arms around her waist, as if he wanted to brand her with his own.

Bai Jiaojiao's eyes welled up with tears from Shen Heng's kiss, but today was Lunar New Year's Eve, and every family was celebrating together, so no one would disturb them.

While cleaning, Bai Jiaojiao found the red candles they hadn't finished using on their wedding day from the bottom of a box. Today, for the New Year, she lit them for good luck. The flickering flames of the red candles made the room warm and cozy.

Because of Shen Heng's interference, Bai Jiaojiao was unable to go to the fields to make dumplings for dinner.

It's fine to ask Shen Heng to cook a simple meal, but asking him to make dumplings is like a pipe dream.

Shen Heng shamelessly went to the kitchen and brought all the utensils to the kang (a heated brick bed). Under Bai Jiaojiao's direction, he chopped the filling and kneaded the dough. After Bai Jiaojiao had rested, he got off the kang to roll out dumpling wrappers and make dumplings.

Although there were only two of them, Shen Heng ate a lot, so Bai Jiaojiao made fifty dumplings. Because they were small, Shen Heng urged her to make two more.

Bai Jiaojiao glared at Chen Heng: "I think I shouldn't have let you eat your fill." If he's full, he has nowhere to expend his energy and all he does is torment her!

Shen Heng chuckled and said shamelessly, "If you don't feed me properly, I'll go eat at your mother's house. See if you're not ashamed of yourself then."

Bai Jiaojiao knew that Shen Heng was never shameless. She looked annoyed and snatched the dumplings, carrying them to the kitchen: "Come and boil some water right now!"

"Why!"

Shen Heng tidied up the panel and other things behind Bai Jiaojiao, leaving his teeth out to dry in the wind.

Six months ago, he was a rich bachelor with nowhere to spend his money. Now, he's been with Bai Jiaojiao for so long.

The thought of having such good days for the next few decades filled Shen Heng's heart with joy.

.

After New Year's Eve, on the first day of the Lunar New Year, the men of Shili Village went up the mountain to worship their ancestors, while the women stayed at home making dumplings.

Shen Heng never went to the Shen family ancestral graves, so he and Bai Jiaojiao stayed at home.

"What are you taking home with you tomorrow, the second day of the Lunar New Year?"

"Braised pig heart and braised pig liver, didn't I tell you?"

Because Bai Jiaojiao's braised dishes were so delicious, if he wasn't stopped, Shen Heng planned to stuff them all into his stomach.

Bai Jiaojiao stopped him, telling him that he planned to take half of it with him when he visited his parents' home.

"You only brought that little bit of stuff?"

"So little stuff?" Bai Jiaojiao almost laughed. These days, it's considered a great honor for someone to bring back a load of meat when visiting their parents' home.

It wasn't that she was reluctant to part with the money in her hands, but mainly because she only went back to her parents' home every three to five days, there was really no need to bring back large bags and small packages.

When Bai Jiaojiao asked him a question, Shen Heng laughed at himself: "I've really become a live-in son-in-law now."

It started snowing around noon on the first day of the lunar new year. The snow got heavier and heavier. Shen Heng went out to sweep the snow once in the afternoon and again before going to bed. He even brushed the snow off the roof.

"It looks like this snow won't stop all night. If we don't shovel it, the roof might collapse. Our roof tiles are sturdy, so it'll be fine. I'm just worried about those two thatched huts next door."

"It's collapsed, there's nothing inside anyway, and no one will live there anymore."

They say a timely snowfall promises a good harvest, so maybe this year's wheat harvest will be just as bountiful.

The wind was quite strong outside. Bai Jiaojiao lay on the warm kang (a heated brick bed), and just listening to the howling north wind made her feel cold.

She dreams that she has fallen into a snow hole and is freezing cold.

Bai Jiaojiao was woken up by the cold. When she opened her eyes, she found that she had kicked off the blanket and Shen Heng was nowhere to be seen.

The window is covered with frost patterns, which are very beautiful, but you can't see outside the yard clearly.

However, Bai Jiaojiao heard the "swish swish" sound of snow being swept in the yard and knew that Shen Heng was sweeping snow outside, so she wrapped herself in the quilt again and planned to take a nap.

By the time the two of them arrived at the Bai family's house, it was already eleven o'clock.

"Hey, look at these two. I told you they were here to wait for dinner," Bai Shiqing joked when she saw Bai Jiaojiao pop up.

"Second sister, I brought some food with me."

Bai Jiaojiao held up the braised pig's heart in her hand.