Hearing Ning Huan's encouragement, Da Bao hesitated for a moment, then took the firecracker and lit it.
As the crackling sounds rang out, Da Bao excitedly looked at Ning Huan: "Mommy, I set off firecrackers. I really did!"
Ning Huan said with a smile, "I told you, you can definitely do it."
The two younger children looked at the eldest child with envy: "Big Brother Da Bao is so amazing, we want to do it too when we grow up."
Ning Huan comforted her, "When you grow up, your mother will let you set off firecrackers too."
After Da Bao set off the last firecracker, the four little ones played in the snow in the yard for a while.
Ning Huan watched Zhou Jing'an sitting in his wheelchair, quietly looking at the four little ones, seemingly lost in thought.
Perhaps it was the festive atmosphere of the New Year that made Ning Huan forget the awkward scene between the two of them a few days ago. She smiled and walked up to Zhou Jing'an and said, "Happy New Year's Eve. I wish you and our family peace, health and all the best in the new year."
Looking at Ning Huan like this, Zhou Jing'an was slightly lost in thought. After regaining his composure, he looked at her and said, "You're the same."
Hearing their parents' voices, the four little ones came over and said, "Dad, Mom, Happy New Year's Eve."
That night, the whole family gathered together to stay up all night and talked for a long time. They didn't go back to their rooms to rest until dawn was almost breaking.
The next morning, villagers began to come to pay their respects one after another.
Ning Huan politely took out the food she had prepared beforehand and distributed it to everyone, also offering them some brewed ginger and jujube tea.
"Happy New Year, Jing'an's wife!"
“Jing’an’s wife, please sit down and let’s talk together.”
Ning Huan smiled and sat down. Some villagers even brought their children to the door, and Ning Huan grabbed a large handful of candy, walnuts, and almonds to share with them.
Little Peach, dressed in bright red, smiled and thanked Ning Huan, "Thank you, Auntie! Happy New Year, Auntie!"
Yang Xiaoshu, standing to the side, was trying hard to remember the auspicious words his parents had taught him: "Happy New Year, Uncle and Aunt! Wishing you prosperity, good fortune, and many children!"
Upon hearing this, Ning Huan's face flushed red.
A villager nearby joked, "Oh, if Jing'an's wife gives birth to a son soon, then Jing'an will have to work hard to recover his health."
Then everyone around started laughing.
Xiao Taozi and Yang Xiaoshu usually hang out with the four little ones, and Ning Huan has watched them grow up. She's a bit biased towards these two.
When distributing the candy, she deliberately grabbed extra treats and also took out the walnut shortbread and jujube cake she had bought in town to share with the two of them.
Little Peach and Yang Xiaoshu obediently thanked Ning Huan, saying, "Thank you, Auntie."
The two children looked at each other. Little Peach was very puzzled. How could Aunt Zhou's third wife have become so beautiful?
She remembered that when she visited the four little dumplings' house before, her third aunt looked like an ugly monster, and her face was quite frightening.
How did you become so beautiful? You look like a fairy in a painting.
Just in case she was seeing things, Xiao Taozi looked up at Ning Huan again.
That's right, Aunt Zhou's third wife has become beautiful!
The bumps and pustules on my aunt's face are gone now, and her face is clean and white.
Her smile is so beautiful.
Seeing Xiao Taozi and Yang Xiaoshu secretly watching her, Ning Huan smiled helplessly.
Many villagers came to pay their respects throughout the day. The four little ones sat on chairs, panting heavily, saying, "Mommy, we're so tired."
Ning Huan patted the little ones' heads: "You can't say you're tired during the New Year, otherwise you'll be tired all year round. Mommy will go to the kitchen now to make you something delicious, you can rest for a while."
Hearing Ning Huan say this, the little ones were so startled that they quickly sat up, looking energetic: "Mommy, we're not tired."
"Mommy, I feel so energetic! I have so much strength now!"
On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, Ning Huan and Zhou Jing'an began packing up their belongings in preparation for moving to the town in a while.
Based on the layout of the houses in that town, Ning Huan personally drew several furniture blueprints, planning to find someone in town to make them and then place them inside.
As for renovating the house, Zhou Jing'an and Ning Huan discussed waiting until after the New Year to ask the villagers to come and help with the work.
No matter what, we can't make people work during the Lunar New Year.
After hearing about this, the village chief brought the villagers to visit Jing'an right after the Lunar New Year: "Jing'an, I've brought everyone to see you. Your house is being renovated, and everyone wants to help."
Because Zhou Jing'an and Ning Huan gave a considerable amount of money, many villagers volunteered to help, listening with smiles as they listened to Ning Huan and Zhou Jing'an's arrangements.
Hearing that Zhou Jing'an and Ning Huan had decided to build a brick house, they exclaimed in surprise, "Wow, Jing'an's family is really going all out this time, building a brick house!"
"Yes, these brick houses are not affordable for most people!"
"We still need to build a brick house, which will cost a lot of money!"
The woman who said this was indeed an old woman. A brick house does cost a lot of money. She and her husband had worked hard for most of their lives, but they still couldn't afford a brick house. Their house still had mud walls.
The news quickly reached Zhou Dashan's ears. When he heard that the house his son had built was actually a brick house, he was stunned.
Then they set their sights on Zhou Jing'an's house: "The third brother's house is being renovated, and I heard he's also going to expand his own house. Isn't that house huge?"
Liu Feng naturally understood Zhou Dashan's meaning and chimed in, "Dashan, why don't we go over there later to see what's going on, and then talk to Lao San about building a new house?"
Zhou Yan asked from the side, "What do you mean?"
Liu Feng chuckled lightly: "Second girl, it's not that I'm criticizing you, but you really can't figure out your father's thoughts."
"This child renovated the house and built a brick house. Shouldn't he take his own father over to enjoy a comfortable life?"
Looking at Liu Feng's smug expression, Zhou Yan felt that this woman's good days were about to end.
Even she now understands that Zhou Jing'an's family is not to be trifled with, yet she insists on provoking them in order to please Zhou Dashan.
Sure enough, in the afternoon Liu Feng took Zhou Dashan to see Zhou Jing'an.
In front of the villagers, she said softly, "Jing'an, as your stepmother, I have to remind you. Look, you've renovated and expanded this house. Shouldn't you at least show some respect to your father?"
Zhou Dashan wrapped his clothes tighter to the side without saying a word.
Zhou Jing'an and Ning Huan exchanged a glance and immediately understood what the two meant.
Zhou Jing'an looked coldly at Liu Feng. He didn't expect that Liu Feng would be so stupid as to provoke him.
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