In the blink of an eye, time has passed amidst everyone's busy schedules, and the New Year has arrived.
On New Year's Eve, the entire Zhou family gathered at the Zhou residence to celebrate their first New Year in town.
The mansion was decorated in a lively and festive manner.
Zhuzhu and Zhou Lei were the two happiest children. Dressed in bright red, they ran around the mansion setting off firecrackers, hanging red lanterns with the adults, and watching their fathers and uncles put up couplets.
Just as everyone was busy and having a great time, Lu Qian arrived with several people, carrying several large boxes of things. He said they were New Year's goods made by his family, specially made for the Zhou family, in case they were too busy with business to make enough New Year's goods.
Li Mai was about to refuse, but Lu Qian quickly said that Brother Yun had also made one for him, and he had just delivered it. Brother Yun had happily accepted it and invited him to drink with him on the second day of the Lunar New Year, since he would be leaving town on the third day.
Hearing this, Li Mai couldn't refuse any longer, so he accepted the gift and invited him to stay for lunch. Lu Qian naturally agreed happily, sent the man back, and told his parents that he would be going home that evening.
Anyway, the Lu family's annual reunion dinner is only eaten in the evening.
Lu Qian was very happy to be invited to stay for dinner. He wanted to see Xiao Tao but didn't dare to bring it up, so he could only roll up his sleeves and quickly help Zhou Lin and the others put up the couplets.
Upon hearing that it was time to put up the stickers for Zhou Tao's yard, Lu Qian asked Zhou Lin in a low voice, "Second Brother, may I go and put up the stickers for Xiao Tao's yard?"
Zhou Lin glanced at him, wanting to refuse, but thinking of his sister's change in attitude towards Lu Qian over the past two months, he could only nod silently, "Let Xiao Lei go with you."
"Okay, thank you, Second Brother!" Lu Qian was happy. He picked up a few couplets, called Zhou Lei to take the paste, and ran towards Zhou Tao's courtyard.
She knew which courtyard Zhou Tao lived in.
He was busy wrapping up year-end work and had even gone on a trip to another city. He hadn't seen Xiao Tao for over ten days.
Today, when his mother told him that she had also prepared New Year's gifts for the Zhou family, he personally delivered them, just so he could see Zhou Tao.
During the meal, he didn't know if the Zhou family would separate men and women when they sat down. When he heard that he had the chance to put up couplets for Xiao Tao, he naturally went eagerly.
As for getting close to her, he dared not even think about it. He would be happy just to see Xiao Tao on this last day of the year.
After Lu Qian left with Zhou Lei, Li Mai and Zhou Quan came to Zhou Lin's side, shaking their heads with a wry smile as they watched Lu Qian's departing figure.
Young Master Lu, what kind of girl wouldn't you marry? Why do you have to keep your eyes on Xiao Tao? It seems this marriage is truly inevitable.
"Xiao Tao asked me yesterday if I'd seen Lu Qian recently," Zhou Lin whispered to his elder brother and sister-in-law.
The three of them exchanged a glance and smiled helplessly. This little disguise was starting to fall apart.
"Let nature take its course. Lu Qian is not bad. If he dares to upset Xiao Tao in the future, the three of us brothers will not be trifled with. If our sister is hurt by him in the future, we can afford to support her. But he will have to break both his legs." Zhou Quan said calmly as he watched Lu Qian's departing figure.
"Yes, that's what I think too," Zhou Lin said softly.
Fate is a truly wondrous thing. Zhou Lin never thought he would marry into a wealthy family and become their son-in-law; he felt it would be an insult to his dignity.
He didn't think he would love a girl so much that he would be willing to give her all the good things he saw, want to see her every day, and feel happy and joyful just seeing her.
After Lu Qian told him, he realized that Lu Qian felt the same way about his own sister.
The important thing is that, judging from Xiao Tao's expression, she doesn't seem to dislike Lu Qian. So let's give them a chance. What if Lu Qian really can make Xiao Tao happy for the rest of her life?
And he will do his best to ensure that his Yue'er is happy for the rest of her life.
Zhou Tao got up early in the morning and she and Qin'er busied themselves tidying up the inside and outside of their small courtyard. Zhu Qiang helped them fetch hot water and pour out dirty water in the yard.
Li Mai and Zhou Quan had told them a few days ago that once they finished their own tasks, everyone would work together to tidy up their own yards before putting up Spring Festival couplets and hanging lanterns.
Although these tasks still need to be done by servants, today is different. Everyone does it themselves, which gives them a sense of participation and the happiness of celebrating the New Year.
The servants usually take care of everyone's daily needs, so let them relax a bit today. Let's finish our work early and have our New Year's reunion dinner sooner.
Moreover, in the Zhou family, masters and servants ate the same food. There was no rule that they had to eat lavish meals, and the servants did not have to eat bland food every day. Everyone ate the same simple home-cooked meals.
This is also one of the reasons why the servants working in the Zhou family felt happy and at peace. Although they knew that the Zhou family had moved from the countryside to make their fortune, not a single servant looked down on anyone in the family.
"Qin'er, let's quickly clean the doors and windows. My brother and the others will probably come over to put up the couplets soon."
"Yes, Second Miss!" Qin'er replied with a smile and quickly went to wipe the dust off the doors and windows.
Zhu Qiang went to empty the dirty water.
At home, Li Mai instructed the servants to call Zhou Tao the Second Miss, Zhu Zhu the Younger Miss, and Zhou Xing the Eldest Miss when she returned.
Old Master Zhou and Madam Zhao are the master and mistress, and the Zhou brothers can address each other as the eldest, second, and third young masters.
"Second sister, we've come to put up the couplets for you." Lu Qian and Zhou Lei had just stepped into the courtyard when Zhou Lei glanced at Lu Qian without saying a word, so he was the one who called out.
"Hey, I'll finish dusting soon. Are you cold? Come inside and warm up for a bit." Zhou Tao was standing on a stool wiping the dust off the door frame when she replied and glanced back at them.
To her surprise, when she turned around, she saw Lu Qian walking towards her.
"Ah..." Zhou Tao was so frightened that her legs went weak, and she started swaying on the stool, about to fall off.
Lu Qian originally intended to help Zhou Tao down so he could help her clean up, but Zhou Tao suddenly fell off the stool, scaring him half to death. He hurriedly called out "Xiao Tao" and rushed over to save her.
Fortunately, he wasn't too far from Zhou Tao. He used his light footwork to rush over and kneel down to catch Zhou Tao just as she fell off the stool.
"Phew, you scared me to death." Lu Qian was so frightened that a layer of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.
Zhou Tao looked in disbelief at Lu Qian, who was kneeling on the ground, holding her tightly as if afraid she would fall.
His eyes held fear and panic, worry and apprehension.
Qin'er quickly jumped down from the windowsill, glanced quickly at the door, and thankfully no one was there. She rushed forward, helped Zhou Tao up from Lu Qian's arms, and whispered, "Miss, get up quickly."
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