Two days before the Lunar New Year, Dean Zhou finally had a change of heart: "Dr. Xiao, you can rest for the next few days of the Lunar New Year and come back to work on the fourth day!"

Xiao Yan, who thought she would have to work all the time, jumped up with joy: "Really, I can rest?"

Dean Zhou chuckled: "Yes, you can rest. I'll be on duty with your director these next few days!"

As Xiao Yan packed her things, she asked, "Aren't you going home for the New Year?"

Dean Zhou's smile vanished: "I'm not going back. There's no point in going back!"

Xiao Yan heard that Dean Zhou's tone was not very good, so she looked up. At this moment, Yue Ling walked over and said, "We two lonely people are spending the New Year together! If you have family, go back home. Anyway, there are usually not many patients during the New Year."

While we can't really call it superstition these days, older generations still have certain beliefs. They generally don't take medicine during the Lunar New Year, because if they do, they expect bad luck for the whole year.

Xiao Yan didn't mince words: "I'll bring you dumplings during the Chinese New Year!"

"Really? I haven't had dumplings in ages. How about this, I'll give you my food coupons and meat coupons, and you can make us a plate of dumplings!"

Dean Zhou looked at Xiao Yan with obvious interest, but Xiao Yan shook her head: "I'll treat you to the meal, no need to give me a ticket!"

"Yes, yes, we'll do it for you. We're already very grateful. How can we let you put in the effort and pay us?"

Dean Zhou took out his grain coupons and meat coupons, and then pulled out 5 yuan: "Dr. Xiao, could you please cook this and bring it to us? We've been eating in the canteen all the time, and we don't even have a stove!"

"You don't even have a stove? How are you going to get water?"

"Everything is taken care of here in the department. The dorms are freezing cold, and I don't want to go back. At least there's charcoal fire here!"

"It seems you all treat the department as your home. Don't worry, we'll bring you food on New Year's Eve. You can't go hungry for New Year's Eve dinner!"

Upon hearing this, the two men took out money and stamps and stuffed them into Xiao Yan's hands. Judging from their gesture, it seemed they were going to cover all her meals for the next few days of the Lunar New Year.

It's so cold, and I'll have to come over to deliver food. I'm starting to regret it: Is it too late for me to regret this now?

Seeing the two grown men staring intently at Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan softened and said, "Okay, I'll bring you food later. It's just that it's too cold, so you can heat it up if it gets cold!"

"This is easy, this is easy! I haven't had a home-cooked meal in so long, I really miss it!" Yue Ling made a drooling face.

What could Xiao Yan say? Of course, she could only guarantee, "Someone in my family is a very good cook. I guarantee you'll be satisfied. I'll be going now!"

Braving the wind and snow, Xiao Yan returned home and received a thoughtful snow-shoveling service from Yao Yanxin: "Aunt Xue asked someone to deliver vegetables today!"

"Send it through someone? Who would come to the county on a snowy day like this?"

"She must be some kind of relative of Aunt Xue. I don't think I know her very well, but you'll probably recognize her once you see her."

"Speaking of which, the Lunar New Year is approaching, shouldn't we go back to pay our respects to them? But the weather is too cold, how will we get back?"

"Let's wait until the snowstorm subsides before going back!"

The next day, Xiao Yan slept in late. Since she started working, she hadn't missed a single day and had to go to work early every day. It was even harder than being a village doctor.

When she was a village doctor, although the work was very mundane, she didn't have to rush to work every day. Everyone knew where she lived, and if there was a real emergency, they would go directly to her door to call for help.

When Xiao Yan got up, she was surprised to see three children gesturing in the courtyard: "What are they doing?"

Yao Yanxin handed her a glass of water: "Be careful, the water's hot. They're practicing boxing!"

"Practicing boxing? Why would you suddenly want to practice boxing?" Xiao Yan naturally took the cup.

Yao Yanxin poured herself a glass of water and shook her head: "They've been practicing for several days now, it seems like they started practicing right after the holiday. You've been at work, so they always eat breakfast, rest for a while, and then practice!"

Xiao Yan held a cup of hot water in her hand and drank it while looking at the two attractive people. Yao Tongjia did it first, and before Xiao Yan could see it clearly, she saw her son repeat the action.

This brat looks like he's putting on a pretty good show. God is so unfair, didn't He close any doors for him?

Xiao Gengwu: "..." This is undoubtedly her biological mother!

After Xiao Yan finished breakfast and came out, Xiao Gengwu's movements became more and more skilled. In less than half an hour, he gradually became more powerful. Looking at Yao Tongxu next to him, he looked utterly hopeless.

The contrast was too obvious, and Xiao Yan couldn't bear it: "Ah Xu, come here and let me wipe your sweat. We're not comparing ourselves to madmen, it's too tiring!"

Everyone: "......" Who exactly is your biological son?

In the afternoon, someone suddenly knocked on the door of the courtyard. The lively Yao Tongxu ran out to open the door and welcomed in a person carrying a load on a shoulder pole.

Xiao Yan exclaimed in surprise, "Uncle Xue, what brings you here? And you even brought a load of radishes! Didn't you just deliver some this morning?"

The man called Uncle Xue put down his load: "Your Aunt Xue was worried that you wouldn't have any radishes to eat, so she asked me to bring you another load since I came to the county with the tractor."

It's so nice to be remembered, Xiao Yan felt a warmth in her heart: "Come in and have a cup of ginger tea!"

Uncle Xue only realized it had sugar added after taking a sip: "Why is there sugar added? That's too precious. You don't need to give it to me; it would be better to give it to the children!"

"In this freezing weather, you brought us a load of radishes, and all we got was a cup of tea. Uncle Xue, have you eaten? I'll go make something in a bit."

Uncle Xue quickly stood up: "No need, no need, I still have to go sell things. I brought some dry food with me, I'll be going now!"

Xiao Yan quickly grabbed him: "I haven't given you the money yet, so don't go!"

Uncle Xue, afraid of wasting the tea, downed the ginger tea in one gulp and strode out of the courtyard: "As for the money, you can go back and ask when you have time. I don't know anything about your business; I'm just responsible for delivering it."

"By the way, your Aunt Xue and Aunt Xu left some food for you. They originally wanted me to bring it over, but the tractor was carrying other things today and couldn't bring it all! Remember to go and get it back!"

After Uncle Xue left, the whole family felt a warm glow in their hearts. Life is always happy when someone remembers you.

"Why don't we go back tomorrow and move all the grain over? Uncle Xue said that Aunt Xue and Aunt Xu left it for us, so they must have taken responsibility."

"Let's go buy the grain as soon as possible so we can get it into the accounts before the New Year!"

Yao Yanxin: "How about I go back with you?"

Yao Tongjia shook her head: "Mom, you're not as strong as me. Master will take me and Brother Xiao with you. You stay at home with Ah Xu. The military camp might come to pick up some goods tomorrow."

Yao Yanxin has been in charge of the recent shipments: "Okay, Ah Xu and I will wait at home for them to come and pick up the goods. This time, there are twice as many as before."