"daughter in law!"

As soon as he entered the Mo Garden, Ling Chuan ran straight to Shao Mo excitedly. When he saw Ling Jiang and his daughter and Wei Qiaolan sitting in the living room, he was subconsciously stunned.

When Ling Chuan learned from Shao Mo that it was Mrs. Shao who invited the father and daughter to come to her house for New Year's Eve dinner, he seemed particularly happy.

After being happy, Ling Chuan immediately handed over all the money he won today to Shao Mo.

In addition to the two stacks of cash, there were also several cash checks with denominations ranging from five hundred to five thousand, totaling more than ten thousand yuan.

"Don't you know how to play cards? How did you win so much?"

Ling Chuan nodded happily, "Dad is lucky, I followed him to buy horses, these are what I won today, you can use them to buy clothes and bags."

In front of Ling Jiang and the others, Shao Mo didn't say much and just took the money.

At around 6 o'clock, the servant came over and told us to go to the East Courtyard for the New Year's Eve dinner.

Every year, the Shao family eats the New Year’s Eve dinner together. The main courtyard, the east courtyard, and the west courtyard take turns to prepare it. This year it is the east courtyard’s turn.

There were three large round tables, and Ling Jiang and the other two were just enough to fill them.

After eating the New Year’s Eve dinner, another highlight comes - giving out lucky money.

All the younger generations of the Shao family, including Ling Chunhua, Shao Mo and Ling Chuan, kowtowed to Mrs. Shao one by one to wish her a happy new year and receive big red envelopes, even Ling Jiang.

After Mrs. Shao has given out all the red envelopes, it will be the turn of the elders of Shao Lin's generation to give out red envelopes.

In just one night, Ling Chunhua received more than a dozen big red envelopes, each worth at least fifty yuan and at most one hundred yuan. In that one night, she received more than a thousand yuan in red envelopes, not counting the greeting gifts from the East and West Academy.

All in all, Ling Chunhua made a lot of money during this trip to the capital, which was equivalent to what Ling Jiang earned from three years of selling small accessories.

However, Shao Mo did not suffer any loss. In addition to the red envelopes of New Year's money given by the elders of the Shao family, Mrs. Shao and Shao Lin each gave her a large red envelope in private.

Mrs. Shao gave 5,000 yuan, Shao Lin gave 10,000 yuan, plus the money Lingchuan won from playing cards, and the red envelopes given by the elders, Shao Mo's income this Spring Festival was nearly 40,000 yuan.

After watching the fireworks in the evening, everyone went back to their own yards to celebrate New Year’s Eve.

When the clock struck 12, Shao Mo quietly put a black jade Buddha bracelet on Ling Chuan's hand.

Looking at the smooth and transparent jade necklace in his hand, Lingchuan was very surprised.

"I bought New Year gifts for my dad and grandma some time ago. I saw this and thought it would suit you, so I bought it. It has been blessed by a master. Wearing it can keep you safe. Don't take it off unless necessary."

"Um!"

After accepting her gift, Ling Chuan took out a heavy gold bracelet from his pocket and put it on her hand.

"Wife, this is a New Year gift for you. May you be safe and sound for years to come."

"Thank you, husband."

Under the man's delighted gaze, she leaned over and kissed him on the face.

Ling Jiang on the opposite side saw this and was so happy that he couldn't stop smiling.

After the New Year comes the first day of the new year.

Shao Mo hadn't returned home yet early in the morning, but Wen Qingsheng, Zuo Xiaotang and others came to her house to wish her a happy new year.

After the New Year's greetings, everyone did not leave, but gathered in the small courtyard to eat, drink, have fun and play cards. Shao Mo could not do anything about them, so she asked Ling Jiang and his daughter and Wei Qiaolan to greet them. She and Ling Chuan had to follow Mrs. Shao to visit relatives and old friends.

It took three whole days to finish the New Year's greetings, and Shao Mo's legs had become thinner.

On the fourth day of the New Year, Shao Mo planned to have a good rest at home, but Wen Qingsheng came to her house again.

"That's great! What publisher is it?"

"Xinhua."

Xinhua Publishing House is a well-established publishing house in China, and Shao Mo agreed immediately.

"No problem. When can we discuss the signing?"

"On the eighth day of the first lunar month, they don't go back to work until the eighth day. I know your Chunhua has to go back to Jiang City to study, so I specially arranged the earliest day."

Shao Mo was somewhat happy, "Brother Wen, if this works out, I'll give you a big red envelope."

"How old are you when you talk about this among friends?"

Shao Mo smiled and asked, "What size do you think is appropriate?"

"There's no need for eight hundred. It doesn't suit your style as a rich woman. Two thousand is enough."

"Go to bed early tonight, you can dream about anything."

“…”

Ling Jiang originally planned to return to Jiang City on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year. The jewelry store would open on the eighth day. He would go back on the sixth day, clean and make preparations on the seventh day, and it would be just right to open on the eighth day.

But the signing of the contract on Ling Chunhua's side was equally important. After discussion, they had to let Wei Qiaolan go back to take care of the store first, and then return to Jiang City after the father and daughter had finished discussing the signing of the contract.

In the blink of an eye, it was the eighth day of the New Year.

Early in the morning, the father and daughter sat in the living room ready to go. After Shao Mo got up, she felt a little amused.

"Brother, it's still early before the appointment. Relax and don't be so nervous."

Ling Jiang covered his chest and said, "My heart has been beating non-stop since yesterday. I never thought that Chunhua would have such good fortune. May the ancestors of the Ling family bless us, and the signing of the contract will be smooth."

Shao Mo laughed, "Yes, don't worry, the other party took the initiative to ask for a talk, which is enough to show Chunhua's excellence."

With Shao Mo's encouragement, Ling Jiang's nervous mood relaxed a little.

Ling Chunhua, who was sitting next to him, had a confused look on her face and obviously didn't understand what signing a contract with a publishing house meant.

It was not until Shao Mo took out a book and told her that after signing the contract, all the short essays she wrote would be printed in the book for children from all over the country to read and study that Ling Chunhua realized the importance of signing the contract.

The contract talks went smoothly, especially when the other party learned that Ling Chunhua was not yet 8 years old and that her writing depended entirely on imagination and talent, without any guidance from famous teachers. They immediately decided to select five short essays by Ling Chunhua to be published in this year's "Selected Children's Prose".

In the author industry, Ling Chunhua is a newcomer, and her royalties are relatively low, only 5 yuan for publishing an essay, and 25 yuan for five essays.

But this is only temporary. As Ling Chunhua becomes more famous in the future, her royalties will increase accordingly.

After signing the contract, the editor-in-chief in charge of the contract saw that Ling Chunhua's contact address was in Jiang City, and casually said, "The child is so talented, why didn't she stay in Beijing to study? Find a famous teacher to guide her well, and she will definitely become a great writer in the future."

The speaker may not have intended it, but the listener may have taken it to heart. Looking at Ling Chunhua's lovely face, which was as delicate as a piece of jade, Shao Mo's heart moved slightly.

After returning home, Shao Mo let Ling Chunhua go and play by herself, while she talked to Ling Jiang about staying in the capital.

"Brother, the editor-in-chief is right. Chunhua is a gifted child. It's OK if we didn't have the conditions before, but now we have the conditions. We can't bury her gift and talent."

Ling Jiang took out his cigarette box and subconsciously wanted to smoke a cigarette, but after looking at Shao Mo, he put the cigarette box back.

Times are changing, Ling Jiang no longer smokes leaf tobacco, but instead smokes cigarettes.

(End of this chapter)