On New Year's Eve, the Shen family got up early to steam, cook, fry and stew, busy beyond recognition. Zifu brought Zilu and Ziqing to clean the house again, then set up a ladder to paste couplets on the outer gate of the courtyard, the inner gate, and the main hall. They also hung a pair of bright red lanterns on the outer gate, looking particularly festive.

  "Brother, how is it? Isn't it good-looking? Why doesn't anyone praise me?" Zi Qing looked at Zi Fu with a hint of resentment.

  Zi Fu couldn't stop smiling and rubbed Zi Qing's head, saying: "Wow, whose little sister is so smart and capable?"

  "Exactly, I also want to ask whose sister is this? Not only smart, but also beautiful." Zi Lu also chimed in.

  The child was just about to go forward and scold them, but the old master brought everyone from the old house, so they had no choice but to stand up straight. Zilu was standing aside, making eyes at Ziqing. A few people stood outside the gate and took a look, saying: "Hanging lanterns really adds to the festive atmosphere and makes it more auspicious, why didn't anyone think of this before?"

  Zeng Ruiqing and Zeng Ruixiang also nodded in agreement.

  The old man still took the boy to pay respects to their ancestors, and this time as soon as they entered the house, Zhou Shi rushed straight into the kitchen to help Shen Shi prepare food. Autumn Jade was going to get married next year, so Tian Shi had her learn some household chores too, so she was also in the kitchen watching and learning. The two sisters-in-law were kind enough to teach her wholeheartedly.

  After the ancestor worship, the old man and his two sons, Tian Shi and several others were drinking tea in the hall, discussing some family affairs. Last year, because of the discussion about inheritance, the two sons had a falling out, but unexpectedly this year they could sit together for New Year's Eve dinner again, the old man's mood was exceptionally good.

  In the kitchen, Shen had just handed a carp to Zhou, who took the plate and smelled it, feeling a wave of nausea, and quickly put down the fish plate and started dry heaving. Autumn Jade and Zi Ping were shocked and shouted out in alarm, but Shen was laughing happily, finally able to put down the weight that had been pressing on her heart. Zi Ping looked unhappy and asked: "Aunt, why did you see my mother feeling unwell and yet you're still happy?"

  Shen was just about to explain when Zeng Ruiqing and others came in, asking what was going on. Upon hearing Zhou's dry heaving, both Zeng Ruiqing and Tian were excitedly asking: "Really? Zi Ping's mother, are you really...?"

  "I don't know either, it's just that smelling the fishy smell makes me want to vomit. Unfortunately, today is New Year's Day and I shouldn't disturb the doctor." Mrs. Zhou replied weakly.

  "It's all settled then. The Bodhisattva is indeed protecting us." After saying that, Mrs. Tian joined her palms together and repeatedly chanted, "Thank you, Bodhisattva, thank you, merciful and compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva." She also asked Zi Fu to find three incense sticks, lit them up, and with great piety, she knocked her head three times against the long table in the hall, then put the incense into the incense burner.

  On this side, Zeng Ruiqing hurriedly supported Zhou Shi onto the bed, serving tea and pouring water, asking with concern. He was so happy that he didn't know what to do anymore, Zhou Shi's tears were wet again and again, dry again and again. Only Zi Ping was still standing foolishly in the kitchen. Autumn Jade teased her: "Zi Ping, your mother is finally going to give birth to a little brother for you, why aren't you happy?"

  "What's there to be so happy about? Look at Auntie, she has so many children. When Zifeng and Ziqing were young, they often didn't have enough food to eat. And their clothes were all tattered and worn out. Ziqing even wore my old clothes. In the future, when we have a little brother, I won't be able to wear new clothes again." Zi Ping said as she continued to pull up the oilseed rape stalks with her hands.

  "Silly child, you have a little brother now, so you'll have someone to rely on in the future. You must be good to him and take care of him, do you understand?" Madam Shen said, stroking Zi Ping's head.

  "What's the big deal? My aunt is also my father's own sister, but he still looks down on her and despises her. What if my brother treats me the same way in the future?" Zi Ping continued to pull on the thing in her hand.

  This problem is too complicated and can't be explained in a few words. Shen didn't know how to explain it to the child either.

  At this time, Zi Qing stepped forward: "Ping Jie, why don't you think about it? When your mother was treating her leg injury in the city, wasn't it your uncle who went to the city to send rice, flour, and vegetables for you? And what about our family? At the beginning of the separation, not only did we eat food from the land, but also my uncles helped with the work. If it weren't for my father and your father giving those silver coins every year, could my eldest aunt's family have stayed in Grandma's house for so long, eating and living there? How can you say it wasn't dependent on them?" Zi Qing only said these words after seeing Autumn Jade leave.

  Zi Ping listened for a moment and still didn't understand, but fortunately the New Year's Eve dinner was ready, everyone sat down in their chairs, and the old man raised his wine cup and said: "Today is truly a great joyous occasion, although I'm an old man with no capacity for wine, I must drink two cups to celebrate. Rui Qing, you're not allowed to drink too much, if you do your wife won't be able to take care of you." Zeng Rui Qing happily agreed.

  The whole family was eating happily, Shen's wife took a bite of fish and put it in her mouth, suddenly she felt nauseous too, drank a sip of soup, still couldn't hold back, and instead started dry heaving. This made Old Master Zeng even more delighted, "I didn't expect the Zeng family to have good fortune one after another this year, great, great, great." The old master said three "greats" in a row, it's clear that he was truly happy.

  Who would have thought that Tian's family would be so unhappy and say: "What's good about it? Those who don't want to give birth will have children, while those who want to give birth can't get pregnant."

  "Who doesn't want to live? My second sister-in-law is not what she used to be, now there's plenty of money, a big house too, and even the mountain has been bought. What's there to fear about raising her? Besides, my older sister-in-law already has one, what more could you ask for?"

  Tian glared at his younger daughter and said, "You don't know what you're talking about. I'm saying that your older sister is pregnant again. With so many children in the family, we can't afford to raise them all. Your second aunt has four sons now, and with so many kids, the house is chaotic every day. What's good about that? Now, if you want to marry a daughter-in-law, do you know how much silver it'll cost? Zifu will have to take the imperial exam in the future, can he go empty-handed? Your second sister has been married for almost a year now, and after taking so many medicines, she still can't get pregnant. Isn't that because she wants to get pregnant but can't?"

  Zi Qing saw Mrs. Tian and said with a smile, "Auntie, my family is not messy at all. The silver for my eldest brother's exam was prepared by my mother long ago. Not only my eldest brother, but also my second brother will go to the county town to study in a year or two. In the future, my younger brothers will also go out one by one to study, and our family will be left with just me and my mother. It's too quiet, so my mother wants to have a little sister to accompany us."

  "That's right, Lao Er's family is doing well today, no need for your wife to worry, my grandsons will all make something of themselves in the future." The old man echoed.

  Tian's family glared at Ziying and said: "Adults are talking, what are you kids interrupting for? You don't even have any home training. Look at yourself, then look at your brother, which one of you looks like a child?"

  At this time, Mrs. Zhou slowly said: "What's the point of arguing with a child? Ziqing is still young, isn't she? I'm just worried that Ermei's family doesn't have any children, so let Dajie's family give one to Ermei's family. Last year, didn't Dajie say they wanted to give us Si Mao? Now it's just right to give him to Ermei's family, otherwise, waiting for a new baby to be born and then giving him away is the same."

  Zi Qing listened with a pleased smile, it seems that the six taels of silver were not given in vain. Zhou Shi unexpectedly helped herself out of trouble. Today's dinner party doesn't seem to be peaceful after all. Zi Qing made up her mind not to speak again and become cannon fodder, but instead wait and watch the excitement.