The next day was the second day of the Lunar New Year, and they were going to visit Shens maternal family to pay their respects. When Zi Fu brought in Zi Lu and Zi Qing, who were all dressed up, Shen also got dressed up, changing into a 70% new silver-red satin jacket and a light green cotton skirt, which Zi Qing guessed was probably part of Shens dowry from her wedding day.

  "Daughter, you look really good today." Zi Qing leaned over next to Shen Shi.

  Shen tied up a bundle and couldnt help but laugh when she heard Zi Qings words. "What nonsense, mom is old now. Come, let mom comb your hair." After finishing, she took out two pink ribbons and tied them to the two buns on Zi Qings head, then touched her face and said: "Look at how pretty my daughter is."

  "Thats right, and dont even look at whose daughter?" Zi Qing had a smug face, provoking Zi Fu to pinch her cheek, saying: "Where did this Queen Wang come from, so good at boasting."

  "Thats right, and dont even look at whose sister it is." Zi Qings words made Zi Fu stunned, and he stretched out his hand to scratch Zi Qings armpit. "Good, youre getting bolder, daring to set up your brother too."

  Zi Rong hurried over to scratch Zi Qings itch, "Stinky Qing, I didnt offend you, why did you frame me too?" Several people made a fuss until Zeng Ruixiang came in and shouted for everyone to eat.

  When Zi Qing went to the front house to eat, she remembered her little chicken and hurriedly went to find Xiao Xiu Shui. Fortunately, she didnt have to go out, and Zi Qing entrusted it to her. When they arrived at Tian Shis place, they found that Zeng Rui Qing and others were also dressed up in new clothes. However, according to Zhou Shi, her mothers family was just in the same village, so she wasnt in a hurry to leave. Zeng Rui Qing and Zeng Rui Xiang discussed when to set off, and it turned out that they wanted to go to their uncles house to pay New Years greetings first, which was also Tian Shis mothers family, located in a nearby village. The family had two half-brothers, one stepmother, and was already over 70 years old.

  After dinner, they went back to the inner room to get things. Shens wife locked both doors. Zeng Rui-xiang carried Zi Xi all the way to the end of Chang Street and told Shens wife that he would rush to Bai Tang Village for dinner and bring the child back together. He also instructed Zi Fu a few words before turning around and leaving. Shens wife took five children and continued walking forward, passing through a village, and Zi Shou couldnt walk anymore. Zi Fu had no choice but to carry him on his back. On both sides of the road were mountains and fields, with rapeseed flowers in the fields about to bloom. When Zi Qing couldnt walk, Zi Fu asked Zi Lu to take a small pine branch and threatened to use the needles to poke her. Zi Qing was scared and hurried forward, not knowing if they had passed two or three villages. Finally, they heard Shens wife say that after crossing this mountain, they would arrive.

  The Shen familys house was obviously newer and better than the Zeng familys at first glance, with a uniform blue brick exterior, a shadow wall in front of the door, a small bamboo forest in front of the shadow wall, and a pair of half-length carved wooden doors on the threshold, followed by the large wooden gate. Grandma He was standing outside the door, looking out, and as soon as she saw her daughter and granddaughter, she tightly grasped Shens hand, and both of them shed tears. Zifeng hastily came forward to call someone, and the elderly couple one by one hugged the children, excitedly saying "Good, good, all good kids."

  Inside the house, there were only Second Uncle Shen Jian-shui and Second Aunt Zhao at home. The older cousins had all gone out to pay their New Years visits, and both of the older female cousins had gotten married and wouldnt be back until the afternoon. Before long, Shen brought them out through the back door, and they arrived at Eldest Uncle Shen Jian-shans house. After another round of greetings, just as the tea was being poured, various small pastries were brought out. Eldest Aunt-in-law Xu was busy calling for Eldest Female Cousin-in-law Yue to prepare lunch. The Shen family had four sons and one daughter; except for the youngest son, they were all married. The eldest son, Shen Da-fu, had opened a small pastry shop in Anzhou Prefecture, where he lived with his wife Yue and their four children. The second son, Shen Xiao-fu, was a minor official in Anzhou Prefecture, and his wife had just given birth to a son. The third son, Shen Wan-fu, had recently gotten married and farmed at home. What a big family! There were even more people than the Zeng family. Luckily, they had all gone out to pay their New Years visits. Shen Jian-shan said that normally only the third and fourth sons were at home, but during the New Years holiday, everyone was called back for a reunion.

  At mealtime, Mr. Xu called over the three people from Hes side. After dinner, the whole family gathered around the fire pit to chat, and Mrs. He and Shen took their son back to their room. Zhao also busied herself going back to prepare dinner, guessing that her two daughters and son-in-law should have arrived by now.

  Zi Qing only knew that the ancient times were divided into Zi, Chou, Yin, and Mao, but she couldnt recite any further. She wasnt clear about the specific corresponding time now and didnt bother to distinguish it. She just roughly looked at the sky color, and at this time, estimated it was not yet three oclock. This New Years visit to relatives was good, except for eating and drinking.

  Dinner was eaten at the Zhao familys place, and Zeng Rui-xiang rushed over before dinner. The two daughters of the Zhao family also returned with their husbands and children. Shen Jian-shan and his family came too. Two tables were set for the meal. He Shi, Shen Jian-shan and his wife, Shen Jian-shui and his wife, Zeng Rui-xiang, and Shen Shi, along with Shen Jian-shuis two sons-in-law, sat at one table. Shen Jian-shans two daughters-in-law and the children sat at another table. It was very lively. Zeng Rui-xiang couldnt hold his liquor and wanted to leave early. He was struggling with his two nephews-in-law when Shen Jian-ren and his family arrived. He Shi was overjoyed and ordered another round of wine and dishes. The clinking of cups and the commotion didnt need to be described in detail. Fortunately, everyone understood Zeng Rui-xiangs capacity for liquor and knew he had a long mountain road ahead of him to return home, so they didnt pressure him too much.

  The Qi family was on their way home when the sun was about to set. Shen Jianren had offered to send them with a donkey cart, but Zeng Ruiqi declined, as the donkey cart couldnt take the small mountain roads and would have to detour through Anzhou Prefecture, which would be slower than taking the shortcut. However, with Zeng Ruiqis help, their journey was faster than on the way there. Zi Shou didnt have to walk much, and Zi Qing was so excited that she didnt feel tired at all. The He family had given each of them five copper coins as a New Years gift, while the Xu and Zhao families gave two coins each. Later, Xiao Shi secretly gave each of them another five coins. Zi Qing decided to save the money her brothers received to buy chicks, while keeping her own for emergencies, as Zi Fu needed it for school.

  It was already dark when I returned home, Chunyu and his family had all arrived, and the younger daughter of Zengs family in the back house was also there with her family of four. Subao was really worried about how to squeeze so many people, and he truly hoped that his own family could move out early.

  Zi Qing watched as Tian Shi set up a simple bed in the room of Xia Yu and Qiu Yu using two long benches and several wooden boards, covering it with thick straw for Chun Yu to sleep on with her two daughters. He also added a wooden board next to Zi Pings original bed to accommodate Da Guniu Yan Ren Da and his three sons, listening to Zi Fu say that they would be staying until after the Lantern Festival, as they did every year.

  Ziying thought it was no wonder that Mr. Tian said there wasnt enough silver to spend, as there were just too many places that needed silver. At night, with so many people gathered together, some bragged, others played cards, and still, others watched the card games, while children played hide-and-seek, running wildly between two houses, with adults shouting and children crying loudly, it was almost like they were going to blow the roof off. Old Master Zeng said with a smile that during Chinese New Year, there should be many people, as only then can the family prosper.

  Only two days had passed since the chaotic days of the chicken flying and dog jumping, when Er Mao from Chun Yus family almost caused a big disaster.