CHAPTER 65: CHAPTER 65: IT’S NOT LIKE YOU WON’T GET MARRIED, RIGHT?

Zhao Xiaohua was very excited, "Mom, you’re bound to earn a lot of silver this year."

Calmly, Meng Yao set the copper coins aside, realizing that once again she would be the one supporting the family. She didn’t really want to; she just wanted to relax.

It seems fate wouldn’t give her that chance.

Meng Yao ate the first dumpling, and soon everyone else started eating too.

Unfortunately, aside from Meng Yao, no one else found anything in their first dumpling.

Even the usually composed Zhao Xiaoshu was now showing his childish nature, focusing intently on his dumplings.

Zhao Xiaohua filled a big bowl with dumplings, bit into one, found nothing, put it down, and then bit into another.

Persistence paid off, eventually, she found a copper coin in the last dumpling.

Zhao Xiaohua wanted to get more dumplings, but Meng Yao gave her a stern look, "Finish what’s in your bowl first before getting more."

Zhao Xiaohua pulled back her chopsticks, knowing she could finish the dumplings with her appetite.

But finishing them would make her full.

"Mom~" Zhao Xiaohua pouted, "Can I save some for my noon meal?"

"No leftovers." Meng Yao insisted.

Some bad habits are unacceptable.

What Zhao Xiaohua suggested seemed fine, but in reality? By lunchtime, she’d be eating something else, and then she’d feel uncomfortable again. A bit of pouting, more likely, would end up wasting food.

Though there’s no shortage now, Meng Yao didn’t want to give her a chance to waste food.

In the end, Zhao Xiaohua obediently ate all the dumplings she had bitten into.

Everyone else also put down their chopsticks.

Zhao Xiaoshu didn’t find a copper coin, but he ate several dumplings stuffed with sugar chunks. The sweet and salty mix wasn’t actually pleasant, but he squinted with satisfaction as he ate them.

Because Meng Yao told him that finding a dumpling with sugar meant the year would be sweet and happy.

Song Xiu’er found apricot chunks, dates, and longans.

The implication being the wish for fertility.

Meng Yao knew Song Xiu’er’s inner pain and calmly said, "Xiu’er, you’ll definitely have a happy and fulfilling year."

Zhao Dajiang always echoed Meng Yao’s sentiments, "Right, Mom’s right, you’ll definitely have a happy and fulfilling year."

Song Xiu’er felt moved and grateful, secretly deciding to be good to Meng Yao.

Zhao Dahe and Qin Zheng both found peanuts.

Meng Yao explained that it meant good things were coming.

Whether it was Zhao Dahe’s upcoming exam or the Qin Family’s situation, a bit of good fortune was very fitting.

Overall, the dumpling meal was enjoyed by everyone.

After tidying up the dishes, the family went out together; it was New Year’s Day, and visiting people was a must.

Qin Zheng stayed home to watch the house.

The first visit, naturally, was to the Meng Family.

Meng Zhu was right, regardless of personal feelings, to maintain a good reputation, one had to do what should be done on the surface.

This year, everyone had new clothes for the celebrations, and standing together was visually impressive.

Especially Zhao Xiaohua’s short jacket and skirt edged with rabbit fur.

The jacket was very short, with a high waistline.

The already growing girl’s waist looked slender enough to hold.

The skirt was embroidered with peach blossoms, from buds to full bloom.

As she walked, the peach blossoms evolved from buds to blossoms, creating a dynamic scene.

It was prettier than the skirt Tao Hua once wore.

It was the New Year gift Meng Yao had specially given to Zhao Xiaohua.

As imagined, Zhao Xiaohua attracted much attention along the way.

The villagers praised how Zhao Xiaohua was growing more and more beautiful.

Arriving at the Meng Family, besides Meng Cheng and Sun, everyone else maintained a pretty good demeanor.

With a friendly attitude, Meng Qingshan encouraged Meng Yao to bring her children to visit more often, and asked Zhao Dahe about his studies, advising him to study hard and such.

Lastly, he gave the children some New Year money, though it was quite little, it was enough not to be criticized.

Sun looked grim, but Meng Yao ignored her.

As long as she didn’t provoke, Meng Yao could completely overlook her, even if she cried and wailed.

As for Meng Cheng, he hadn’t healed properly yet, and felt too ashamed to go out for New Year visits.

Seeing the instigator who got him beaten up at the moment, there was no chance he’d have a pleasant outlook.

Meng Yao also gave Meng Ruyu some New Year money, returning exactly as much as Lin had given their children.

Though Lin used red paper to wrap them, Meng Yao, equipped with cheats, wouldn’t fail to know the amount.

Lin was mortified looking at the three unwrapped copper coins.

Why use red paper? One reason was to make it auspicious, and second was to conceal the amount.

Meng Yao maintained a calm expression, that was precisely the desired effect.

Meng Qingshan wanted to leave Meng Yao’s group for lunch at home, but Meng Yao declined politely. Pretend for a while is fine, but pretending for too long was truly exhausting, why bother?

Afterward, the group went to the village chief’s place for New Year greetings, where he chatted with Zhao Dahe, leaving Meng Yao to exchange pleasantries with the chief’s wife.

Previously, the chief’s wife seldom interacted with Meng Yao’s original self, especially since the original self caused quite a stir with the adoption issue, the chief’s wife had a somewhat negative impression.

Now speaking, the chief’s wife felt the current Meng Yao was different from what she’d imagined.

Anyway, by the time the chief finished chatting with Zhao Dahe, the chief’s wife was already holding Meng Yao’s hand, suggesting they should visit more often.

Upon leaving, the chief gifted Zhao Dahe a book he’d treasured since his youth.

Meng Yao glanced at it and noticed two words, "Mountain Retreat."

The rest were blocked, hidden behind Zhao Dahe.

Both Zhao Xiaohua and Zhao Xiaoshu had their pockets stuffed with sunflower seeds, peanuts, and candies.

They had indeed gained quite a bit.

Later, they stopped by the doctor’s home; habitually, the doctor praised Song Xiu’er’s improved complexion, suggesting continued care will gradually help her recover, bringing hope to Song Xiu’er.

Song Xiu’er was younger by one year than Zhao Dajiang, only turning seventeen after the New Year. To Meng Yao, at such an age, as long as it wasn’t terminal, proper care would lead to recovery.

After receiving a barrage of instructions, they finally managed to leave the doctor’s place.

No doubt, the doctor truly was a dedicated practitioner.

Aside from this, most of the villagers didn’t require special home visits for New Year greetings; most exchanges were brief greetings upon coincidental encounters on the road.

The group headed home.

What Meng Yao didn’t expect was finding Meng Ruyu at their doorstep.

"Ruyu, is it your grandma or mom needing something?" Meng Yao asked.

"Aunt, I’m here to play with Xiaohua." Meng Ruyu openly responded.

"Never hit a smiling face," especially on New Year’s Day, Meng Yao couldn’t outright shut her out, so she led her inside and left her to Zhao Xiaohua.

"Xiaohua, treat your cousin well."

Though Zhao Xiaohua wasn’t willing, her mom had instructed, what could she do?

Zhao Xiaohua took her to her room and bluntly said, "Cousin, don’t bother targeting my brother, I’m telling you, there’s no chance! Rather than wasting time on my brother, you’d be better off asking your mom to find someone else. You’re two years older than me but you’re not too old anyway. Why is your mom so eager? Even if you’re not exceptionally pretty, it shouldn’t mean you can’t marry, right?"