"Crackling and popping..." The sound of firecrackers filled the air. Lin Qinghuan listened to the deafening noise and looked at the red lanterns hanging high at the gate and the Spring Festival couplets pasted on the door. It was so festive and full of longing for the new year. She hoped that good luck would come and everything would go smoothly in the new year.

Lin Qinghuan's lips curled up slightly, her brows furrowed with a smile. She hoped that everything would go well for the people she cared about next year, that Wei Xiao would be safe and sound, and that she would always be the person he held dearest in his heart.

Lin Piaoxue looked at Qinghuan standing at the gate with a smile on her face. Her smile was refreshing and pleasant, like a spring breeze. Lin Qinghuan was becoming more and more beautiful and charming. It seemed that staying in the big city for a long time had improved her temperament.

Lin Piaoxue looked at Grandpa Lin standing under the eaves, a hint of resentment flashing across her eyes and face. They were both her own granddaughters, so why was she so biased towards Lin Qinghuan and so disliked her? Was it just because she didn't look like her grandmother?

Lin Piaoxue glanced at Lin Qinghuan's stunningly beautiful face, which was perfectly flawless. She secretly resented Lin Qinghuan for scratching her face last time without leaving a single scar. How lucky she was.

Lin Qinghuan turned her head and met Lin Piaoxue's eyes with jealousy. She frowned slightly and felt a little unhappy. Lin Piaoxue was crazy! She was watching her all the time, even during the New Year. She was so annoying!

Looking at the firecrackers scattered on the ground, Lin's father said cheerfully, "Time to get ready for the New Year's Eve dinner!"

Grandpa Lin stood in the main room, looking at the seven dishes and one soup laid out on the table, with chicken, duck, fish and meat all available, and said with a smile, "Turn on the TV, eat while watching the show."

Lin Feng smiled and turned on the TV. The picture was a bit blurry. He called out to Lin Qing, "Brother, the signal is bad. It's probably because of the wind that the antenna is bent. Can you turn the antenna around?"

"Okay!" Lin Qing replied with a smile.

As Lin Qing rotated the antenna mast, he asked loudly, "Second brother, is it working?"

"Brother, the signal is even worse than before, and there's no one in sight," Lin Feng shouted back.

Lin Qing rotated the antenna mast again and asked, "Second brother, is the picture clear now?"

“There are figures, but the image is still blurry,” Lin Feng replied.

Lin Qinghuan stood at the doorway of the main room, looking at the blurry black-and-white television screen. She walked over to Lin Qing and said, "Let me do it!"

Seeing Lin Qinghuan's disgusted expression, Lin Qing scratched his head sheepishly and stood aside with a dry laugh.

Lin Qinghuan gently turned the antenna mast and stopped. Then, Lin Feng inside the house said, "Brother, we can see the person clearly, but the image isn't clear enough."

Lin Qinghuan gently rotated the antenna mast again, and then heard Lin Feng shout loudly from inside the house: "It's good enough, clear enough."

Lin Qing ran back to the house excitedly to watch TV. Lin Qinghuan found a wire to fix the antenna pole, washed her hands, and prepared to eat.

The family sat down around the table. Looking at Grandpa Lin sitting at the head of the table, Father Lin said with deep emotion, "Dad, I used to resent you for abandoning us and making Mom face the strange looks from everyone and live a life of grievance for so many years."

“But after you came back, you gave us a good life and freed us from the suffering of poverty. I am grateful to you, but I also despise myself for forgetting the suffering my mother endured for the sake of money. I feel very unfilial. But you have given my children a good life and a good future, and I must thank you.”

As he spoke, Lin's father poured a glass of wine for Lin's grandfather, saying, "Dad, thank you for leading me out of poverty and allowing my family to live a happy and prosperous life."

As for his deceased mother, Lin's father plans to go to the underworld after his death to kowtow to her, confess his sins, and beg for her forgiveness.

Seeing her grandfather's face darken, Lin Qinghuan quickly said, "Grandpa, your original intention was to give Grandma a good life, and you haven't remarried all these years, showing you still care for her. If Grandma knew this in the afterlife, she would surely forgive you." Lin Qinghuan then changed the subject, "Grandpa, Wei Xiao said he'll come to propose after the New Year. We'll have to trouble you to entertain them then."

When Grandpa Lin heard Lin Qinghuan say that the Wei family was coming to propose marriage, his melancholy mood lessened a bit. "It's not hard work. If I can see that she won't marry Wei Xiao, I can die in peace."

"Grandpa, what nonsense are you talking about? You'll definitely live to be a hundred. When I have children, you'll help me take care of them, tell them about your heroic deeds fighting the Japanese, and teach them how to do business. When they grow up, they'll be like you, both scholarly and martial, and become someone who contributes to the country," Lin Qinghuan said.

Grandpa's mood immediately improved, and he said with a big smile, "Okay, okay, Grandpa will definitely take care of your child from now on."

A wave of bitterness washed over Lin's father and mother; Qinghuan had excluded them from their lives.

On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, the day Li Qiang went to the Lin family to propose marriage, a dozen or so strangers appeared at the entrance of Baiyun Village. Li Jian greeted them with a smile.