He Zhilan and Lin Xiao, the couple, also stood up, and the family came to the door.
Chen Weizhong called out from outside, "After we finish our New Year's Eve dinner, shall we go to the village threshing ground to celebrate? Everyone has agreed to go and get together to celebrate, after all, this year's harvest is bountiful."
"So, I came here specifically to invite you over."
"I see." Lin Qixia smiled and turned to ask, "Brother, sister-in-law, what do you think?"
He Zhilan and Lin Xiao exchanged a glance, then both looked at Lin Qixia.
"Xia'er, do you want to go? It's still early anyway," He Zhilan asked her.
Lin Xiao said nonchalantly, "It's the New Year, we just want to be happy, we're fine with anything."
"Okay." Seeing that they didn't object, Lin Qixia simply replied to the village chief, "We're eating right now, we'll come over when we're almost done eating."
Chen Weizhong nodded happily, "That's good. Take your time eating, no rush."
Then he turned and left.
Lin Qixia gestured for them to sit down and continue eating.
There was a table full of food, and we hadn't even taken a few bites yet.
Lin Qixia picked up food with chopsticks, taking a sip of wine and a bite of meat, eating her New Year's Eve dinner with complete focus.
"It's really rare for the village chief to invite us this year," Lin Jiudong said in a low voice, tinged with sarcasm.
He Zhilan put a piece of meat on her plate and said, "Eat more and talk less."
She didn't want to disappoint Lin Jiudong.
Lin Qixia, however, was intrigued by Lin Jiudong's words. She glanced at Lin Jiudong and asked, "What? Didn't he invite us in previous years?"
“It wasn’t this formal in previous years, was it?” Lin Jiudong replied without hesitation.
She was actually being polite.
Lin Jiudong hesitated for a moment, trying to hold back, but couldn't help but reply, "Have you forgotten? The Lin family hasn't been very popular in the village in recent years, mainly because of your behavior in the village in the past, which made them avoid you like the plague?"
"Dong'er!" He Zhilan scolded Lin Jiudong.
But she still said it.
Lin Yi sat between her two sisters. When they suddenly fell silent, she looked up and left and right, her eyes filled with confusion and a little nervousness.
He Zhilan comforted Lin Qixia: "It's okay, things have changed now. Everyone likes you very much, Xia'er."
After a moment, Lin Qixia smiled and said, "Yes, I'm really sorry."
Lin Jiudong was disappointed.
Ultimately, while the original owner was indeed terrible, who was behind it all?
Seemingly catching the coldness in Lin Qixia's eyes, Lin Jiudong shivered.
"Ahem, anyway, everyone's attitude towards you has changed now, which is a good thing." Lin Jiudong changed the subject and gave Lin Qixia a fake smile.
Lin Qixia raised her hand and patted her face: "Third sister, you really know how to talk."
She then turned her head and continued eating. Lin Jiudong looked at her smug expression and pouted somewhat listlessly.
Never mind, it's more important to go find Brother Li Pei later.
The Li family will probably go too, right?
After finishing her New Year's Eve dinner, Lin Qixia stood up and stretched. "I'm going to change my clothes. We'll go over together later."
"Okay, Xia'er, you go ahead."
"It's cold outside, remember to wear warm clothes."
Lin Xiao and He Zhilan, the couple, gave her their instructions one by one.
Lin Qixia went back to her room to change her clothes, and soon came out wearing a light pink jacket and skirt, with a white fur-lined cloak over it.
He Zhilan then grabbed coats for herself and Lin Yi and wrapped them up, and the whole family came out dressed neatly.
Lin Qixia reached out and caught a snowflake falling from the sky, murmuring, "The snow is really heavy."
"A timely snowfall promises a good harvest; hopefully, there won't be a drought next year," He Zhilan said hopefully.
Lin Qixia smiled slightly upon hearing this, but inwardly she was bitter.
Even if the drought ends next year, people's lives will not be any better.
“Let’s go,” she said.
Lin Xiao and the others then left the courtyard with her and headed to the threshing ground deep in the village.
Logically, the Filling Granary Festival should be on the 20th day of the first lunar month, but the Lin family is not in Xiahe Village most of the time.
Presumably, Chen Weizhong chose this time to invite his family over for a get-together.
As for whether she had other plans, Lin Qixia had no idea.
However, she was also very curious about it.
"You've come!"
When they arrived at the gathering place, the huge venue was bustling with activity.
The village chief even ordered a lot of fireworks and a bonfire.
Seeing that the Li and Gu families had also arrived, Lin Qixia couldn't help but remark, "It's really lively here."
"Where is Brother Li Pei?" Lin Jiudong asked, scanning the room as soon as she arrived.
Then he simply disappeared into the crowd and left.
Lin Qixia shook her head as she watched her hurried back. What a spineless girl.
However, following the direction Lin Jiudong left, she soon saw Li Pei and a familiar figure beside him.
That person was Tong Xuewei.
Lin Qixia doubted that she was seeing things and followed after him.
As I got closer, I could vaguely hear Tong Xuewei and Li Pei talking.
"Brother Li Pei—" Lin Jiudong called out as if to call for help.
The next second, Lin Qixia pulled her to a corner and covered her mouth.
"Hmm!" Lin Jiudong stared at her in surprise.
Lin Qixia gave him a warning look: "Don't make a sound!"
Then, she looked at Tong Xuewei and Li Pei not far away and took the opportunity to eavesdrop on their conversation.
Dressed in white, Li Pei appeared even more humble and polite than usual, like a scholar. He whispered something to Tong Xuewei, "My lord, could it be that you've come to Huailiang Prefecture just to—"
Because of the distance and Li Pei's sudden lowering of his voice, Lin Qixia couldn't hear everything clearly.
Not long after, Tong Xuewei replied to him: "That's right, I've been frank with you too. The court is currently plagued by deep-seated problems and the situation is very bad."
"So, you know why I admire you."
"Your article was very well written. I look forward to you shining in the imperial examination next year."
Towards the end, Tong Xuewei's tone became somewhat excited, and she placed her hand on his shoulder and patted him.
"You flatter me, sir." Li Pei was surprised that Tong Xuewei would give him such a compliment.
He was also deeply moved and it took him a lot of effort to suppress his emotions and pretend to be calm.
The scene between the two was watched by the Lin sisters not far away.
Lin Jiudong heard everything too, and his emotions were even stronger than Lin Qixia's.
"Calm down!" Lin Qixia pressed her fingers hard into her shoulder.
Lin Jiudong was in pain, but he continued to struggle.
Just as she was about to rush out, Gu Ciyu suddenly appeared.
Lin Jiudong froze.
"Ayu, you're here." Li Pei greeted them with a smile and took the initiative to introduce Gu Ciyu and Tong Xuewei.
"Lord Tong, this is A Yu, she is... my friend." Li Pei said, a little embarrassed.
Then he turned to Gu Ciyu and said, "Ayu, this is Lord Tong Xuewei."
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