On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Canghe Village was bustling with activity. Regardless of whether they had money or not, everyone would cut off a piece of meat to treat themselves and improve their lives.
Wealthy families might even buy some candy and pastries, or buy two feet of floral fabric to make clothes for their children.
Younger generations also visit their elders in the village to offer New Year's greetings, a custom that Yan Qingqing finds quite admirable.
However, now that she's a grandmother, she doesn't need to go door-to-door to offer New Year's greetings anymore. Instead, many younger people from the same village come to wish her a Happy New Year.
Yan Qingqing was generous, often giving them a handful of roasted nuts or candy, and even giving children a couple of coins as New Year's money. So everyone who came out of Yan Qingqing's house was all smiles.
Li Xiangbao also came to wish Yan Qingqing a Happy New Year. Yan Qingqing gave him a big red envelope with two taels of silver in it, which made Li Xiangbao very happy.
But when he came out of Yan Qingqing's house, he ran into Old Mrs. Li, who was peeking around. Li Xiangbao quickly stuffed the red envelope that Yan Qingqing had given him into his pocket.
Grandma Li glanced at him and said, "What are you hiding? I saw it all. Yan gave you New Year's money. How much did she give you? Show it to Grandma."
Li Xiangbao shook his head and said, "This was given to me by my second aunt. Grandma can't possibly be eyeing a child's money."
Grandma Li really wanted to say that she didn't care about her meager earnings, but when she thought about how Li Daniu had brought Li Xiangjin and Li Xiangyin to her to complain during the New Year, she had to put on a stern face and say to Li Xiangbao, "Look at what you're saying."
I'm your own mother, so what's wrong with me keeping it safe for you?
Your father and mother have earned a lot of money from your second aunt, so they've never shortchanged you.
Grandma will keep this money for you for now, and give it back to you when you get married.
Li Xiangbao pouted. His grandma really thought he was a three-year-old, so he refused and replied, "No need, Grandma. Let my mother keep it for me."
After all, my mother only has me as her son, but Grandma, it's different; you have several grandsons.
After saying that, Li Xiangbao clutched the silver in his pocket and ran away, leaving an angry old lady stamping her feet in frustration. But she didn't dare to go to Yan Qingqing's house to make a scene.
Yan Qingqing was unaware of what was happening outside the door, but even if she did, she wouldn't care. She would only be disappointed if Li Xiangbao actually gave the money to Old Madam Li.
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Yan Qingqing decided to go back to her parents' home. She had been here for more than half a year. Although she had met Old Mrs. Yan and the three Yan brothers, she had not yet met Old Mr. Yan.
So, both morally and logically, she should go back to Yanjiacun. Fortunately, Yuan Huiniang had prepared the New Year's gifts long ago, and she saw that everything was prepared and there was nothing she needed to add.
Because Li Xiangping was accompanying Yuan Huiniang back to her parents' home, everyone except Li Xiangping and his family of three accompanied Yan Qingqing back to Yanjia Village.
Li Xiang'an and Li Xiangjian sat outside driving the carriage, which, along with the gifts, could barely fit everyone.
The mother and her children chatted and laughed all the way. Xiao Mochen was also infected by the atmosphere and he and Li Xiangkang leaned their little heads together, talking about something.
They quickly arrived at Yanjiacun by horse-drawn carriage.
Grandma Yan was strolling back and forth at the village entrance, looking on with envy at the people coming and going to visit their parents. Her daughter hadn't come back for several years. Although they had visited more often this year, her daughter had a lot of things to do at home and had just given birth not long ago, so she wasn't sure if Yan Qingqing would be able to come back.
An old woman who didn't get along with Grandma Yan was also waiting for her daughter. She said sarcastically, "Sigh, some people's daughters are just a waste of money. They don't come back to their parents' home for years. I don't know if they're too poor to come back."
They were all neighbors from the surrounding area. Although Yan Qingqing hadn't returned to her parents' home in recent years, people in the village still knew a little about her life in the Li family a few years ago.
Who was Old Mrs. Yan? How could she let others take advantage of her? She immediately cursed, "Old Mrs. Yan, don't think everyone is like you, raising a daughter and thinking that the whole family can leech off her."
"A perfectly good young woman, instead of being a proper wife, insists on becoming someone's concubine."
Old Mrs. Yan was embarrassed by what Old Mrs. Yan said, her face turning red and then pale as she said, "My daughter married into the town. Although she was a concubine, she had servants to take care of her. Unlike your daughter, who was destined to be a widow."
Upon hearing this, Old Mrs. Yan's anger flared up, and she stepped forward to scratch Old Mrs. Yan.
The old woman screamed in fright, and the onlookers quickly stopped her, constantly trying to comfort her and tell her not to stoop to the old woman's level.
Just then, Li Xiangjian and his men drove their horse-drawn carriage into the village.
After more than half a year of training, the two of them appeared more mature and composed than the average teenager. In addition, since they were twins, they wore identical robes.
Even if the fabric is incredibly luxurious, it's still something that most people can't afford.
Besides, the two of them are quite good-looking; from this distance, they both look like handsome young men.
The fact that the two were riding tall horses left the villagers of Yanjiacun stunned. Someone exclaimed, "Good heavens! Whose relatives are these? They're so impressive and handsome!"
When Grandma Yan saw them, her old face lit up with a smile like a chrysanthemum. Weren't these her two good grandsons? They really came. This really made her proud.
The two men drove the carriage to Old Madam Yan, jumped off the carriage with surprising speed and unison, bowed to Old Madam Yan, and called out, "Grandma!"
Grandma Yan was immediately overjoyed. She sighed and pulled her two eldest grandsons to look at them from left to right.
He had clearly forgotten to ask Yan Qingqing, his daughter.
Yan Qingqing had already finished class and was standing next to Old Madam Yan at the train station, but Old Madam Yan didn't even see her.
Yan Qingqing called out helplessly, "Mother!"
Grandma Yan then came to her senses and looked at Yan Qingqing happily, saying, "Oh my, my daughter, you really came! I was just wondering if I could come today."
Seeing how excited Grandma Yan was, Yan Qingqing felt a little uncomfortable, but she still smiled and helped Grandma Yan up, saying, "Mother, I'm not too late, am I?"
Grandma Yan smiled and said, "It's not late, it's not late. Your father and the others are waiting at home. Come on, let's go home."
After saying that, she pulled Yan Qingqing and headed home. Li Xiang'an and Li Xiangjian shook their heads when they saw this. Sure enough, their grandmother couldn't tolerate anyone else once she saw her mother.
The two returned to the carriage, which slowly followed behind them.
As Yan Qingqing walked, she looked around Yan Family Village. It was just like the original owner's memory, without much change. Soon they arrived home.
Before even entering the door, Old Mrs. Yan excitedly called out, "Old man, come out quickly and see who's here!"
As soon as Old Mrs. Yan finished speaking, an old man in his fifties or sixties came out of the house. He was holding a large pipe that was still smoking. He had a kind face, and his eyes reddened when he saw Yan Qingqing.
He quickly put out the cigarette and muttered to himself, "My daughter has always been weak and can't stand the smell of smoke. I'm getting old and I've completely forgotten about it."
Just a few simple words moved Yan Qingqing once again. What wonderful parents they were! What a lucky original owner of this body! Of course, she was lucky too.
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