Chapter 345: New Year's Day, the whole village came to pay New Year's greetings
Brick and tile houses are fine, but many people in the village still live in thatched houses, which cannot withstand much pressure.
If it is not cleaned in time, it is likely to collapse.
"Yes, ma'am, I'll go right away."
He Changgui immediately dropped the work in his hands and turned to leave the house.
In the village, every household is busy preparing for the New Year. Smiling faces are everywhere, and the aroma of food wafts from their homes.
When they found it snowing, some people danced with joy.
The children, in particular, were running around in the village, chasing and playing, looking so happy.
This was definitely the most abundant and happiest year they had ever had. Every household had stored a lot of food, even meat.
Not to mention anything else, the reward that Madam Xiao gave them a few days ago was enough for the whole family to eat for several days.
In addition, many people earned more money this year, so they bought new clothes, new cotton-padded jackets, and new shoes, which were warm and festive.
Even the disaster victims who were relocated this year were all smiling.
In the past few months, they have made some money in the county town and Xiao Ying's workshop, and are even richer than in previous Chinese New Years.
Although the crops in the fields are not yet ripe, everyone is full of hope when they think about the potato yield.
And all of this was brought to them by Madam Xiao.
In the evening, every household starts to eat the New Year’s Eve dinner.
Xiao Ying's house was the most lively place, with dozens of people gathered together, regardless of their status.
"Mom, you've worked hard this year. I want to toast you."
During the dinner, Chen Xinghai and others took turns toasting Xiao Ying, their eyes filled with gratitude and respect.
This past year has been like a dream for them, as they have gone from being penniless to where they are now.
Not only did I have enough food and drink, I also made a lot of money and learned a lot.
In the past, they would not even dare to imagine such a day.
This is all because of mother. The arrival of this mother changed their lives.
"Tonight is New Year's Eve. I hope we can all get rid of the old and welcome the new. Next year will definitely be better."
Xiao Ying did not refuse. He picked up the wine glass and drank it all, his eyes full of smiles.
“Next year will definitely be better!”
The children smiled at each other, feeling warm and happy in their hearts.
"Yiren, I'd like to toast you as well. Thank you for inviting us to celebrate the New Year and for preparing such a sumptuous meal for us."
Ouyang Xun and others also came over and toasted Xiao Ying one by one.
"With so many of you, one glass each, are you planning to get me drunk?"
Xiao Ying joked that he wouldn't get drunk no matter how much he drank.
"Hahahaha...we did it, just be casual."
Then Kang Ruolan and others came to toast her, and she could only take a small sip each time.
Even so, everyone was very happy.
That night, many people were drunk and had to be helped back home by others.
The people in the house were not drunk. After cleaning up, they gathered together to keep watch, eating melon seeds and candies.
Xiao Ying took out a deck of cards from somewhere and taught everyone how to play poker. Everyone was quickly attracted by this novel form of entertainment.
From time to time there were noises coming from the house, it was quite lively.
Chen Xinghe, Chen Xingyue and a few others who were not interested in poker went to set off fireworks, attracting many people from the village to come and watch.
It was not until midnight that the new year finally arrived.
After everyone finished celebrating the New Year, they went back to rest.
Little did they know that just when the people of Yue Kingdom were happily celebrating the New Year, Jing Kingdom suddenly launched an attack on Beizhou!
The 200,000-strong army approached the city, but was blocked by the high and huge city walls, and even the ladders were useless.
The arrows could not penetrate and could not even leave a mark on the city wall.
Yu Qianli and Zhenyuan Hou Han Ce led several generals to the city wall to personally supervise the battle with solemn expressions.
Compared with the Jing army attacking from below, the Yue soldiers have a much more obvious advantage.
Being on high ground, arrows and other weapons were more powerful, so the battle became more and more fierce.
Yu Qianli nodded slightly, thinking that the cement was delivered just in time, otherwise the war would never have ended up like this.
The siege lasted for most of the night, and many soldiers of the Jing Kingdom died. The city walls were filled with corpses, emitting a bloody smell.
Just when everyone thought this was a provocation from Jingguo, they found out it was just a cover-up for another purpose.
Nangong Jingyan took this opportunity to sneak into Beizhou and headed towards Xizhou.
…
New Year's Day.
Early in the morning, the servants lined up to wish Xiao Ying, Chen Xinghai and others a happy new year.
Xiao Ying was not stingy either. He gave each person a red envelope containing a silver coin.
After the servants finished their greetings, Chen Xinghai and others also wished Xiao Ying a happy new year.
The New Year gifts Xiao Ying gave them were even better, giving them different things according to their respective preferences.
The gift given to Chen Xinghai was a pill formula, and the gift given to Chen Xingyun was a jade abacus.
The gift given to Chen Xinghe was a set of four treasures of the study, and the gifts given to Chen Xingyue and Meng Qingying were top-grade flying swords.
Several people were very happy to receive the gifts and couldn't let them go. This was definitely the best New Year's gift for them!
Of course, several children also gave Xiao Ying gifts, all of which were made by them.
Regardless of whether it could be used or not, Xiao Ying carefully kept it.
Just as the children finished their New Year greetings, He Changgui suddenly came to report.
"Madam, the whole village has come to wish you a happy new year. There's a long line outside."
Xiao Ying was stunned. The whole village came to pay New Year's greetings? Was He Changgui exaggerating?
However, when I opened the door of the house, I realized that it was not an exaggeration. There was indeed a long queue outside the door, and I couldn't see the end at a glance.
Xiao Ying felt both helpless and warm in her heart, and truly felt everyone's enthusiasm.
So this morning passed in the atmosphere of receiving everyone's New Year greetings.
The villagers came to pay New Year's greetings and brought gifts. Some were too expensive for Xiao Ying to accept, but if they were just vegetables or eggs grown at home, she would accept them symbolically.
In return, she also gave each person a red envelope, and if there was not enough, Kang Ruolan and others would seal it on the spot in the house.
There was only half a dollar in the red envelope, just for the sake of celebration, and someone also brought candies to distribute to the children in the village.
Near noon, Ning Yuanze and Lin Wan also arrived.
"It's really lively here, cousin. It shows how much the villagers love you."
Ning Yuanze smiled and joked.
As soon as they entered the village, they found a long queue, so they had no choice but to join the queue and only got in now.
"How come you, the dignified county magistrate, are acting so recklessly? You're lining up here. If word gets out, people will think I'm joking with you."
Xiao Ying was speechless. She really didn't expect that Ning Yuanze was also queuing outside.
Ning Yuanze was quite happy about it and said with a smile: "Everyone is here to wish my cousin a happy new year, so of course I can't cut in line."
Xiao Ying laughed and shook his head: "Since you are here to wish us a happy new year, I have to give you a red envelope."
As he spoke, he took Lin Wan's hand and stuffed a purse into her hand, which contained a bottle of Peiyuan Dan.
"Wait, my sister-in-law's pulse..."
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