Lin Kangping returned home on the twentieth day of the twelfth lunar month, bringing a whole carload of New Year's gifts. Zi Qing also changed into a pair of colorful butterfly hairpins, dazzling Tian Shi's eyes. At this moment, she finally admitted that Lin Kangping was not just a little bit better than Da Mao.

  The next day, the two of them went to the orange garden together, brought some food for Wang Tieshan, and Zi Qing also brought a string of money and two red envelopes. Since they didn't have time to come over during the New Year, it's better to give him the wages today, and also gave each child 50 cents as lucky money.

  In just three months, apart from their wages, Zi Qing also gave them about two taels of silver for the tree pits and chicken coops. Lin Kangping looked at the large expanse of neatly planted saplings in front of him, hugged Zi Qing tightly, lifted her up, caught her again, spun around once more, and exclaimed: "My Qianger is really capable, planting so many saplings and even building a chicken coop, it's starting to look like something!"

  Zi Qing was startled and let out a loud shriek, feeling as if she had lived two lifetimes. Who has ever been thrown into mid-air before? This dizzying sensation is really unbearable.

  Wang Tieshan and his wife both turned red in the face and turned their heads away.

  Lin Kangping saw Zi Qing's face turn white, and he quickly supported her to stand up, repeatedly saying: "It's all my fault, I got too excited and forgot myself. We used to play around together before, have you ever experienced this? Are you scared?"

  Ziying shook her head, and soon calmed down. Lin Kangping finally put his mind at ease, took Ziying's hand and walked a circle in the woods. "Qinger, this is our first family business. Later, when I come back, we'll buy a few more fields and become landlords too. What do you think?"

  "Alright, from now on I won't do anything else, just stay at home and count my silver."

  "Then I'll make more money in the future, I like seeing you smile."

  The two of them chatted nonsense for a long time, and before they knew it, the time had passed. Zi Qing urged her to head back home, "Good Qing, stay with me for a while longer. It's not easy to find an excuse to bring you out, there are always many people at home. I want to talk to you about something but it's inconvenient, and I also want to hold your hand but have to check if anyone is around."

  Ziying thought about the two of them, and how people in love always regret not being able to stay together all the time. In reality, there were many serious things they wanted to say to each other. But what they really hoped for was just to have each other's company, even if they didn't do anything, it would still feel sweet like honey in their hearts. Wait a minute, Ziying suddenly thought, how did she subconsciously put him in the category of lover? Could it be that she had actually fallen in love? This feeling of both dependence and longing to be together, wasn't it just like her past relationship with Liu Cen? The difference was that back then, Ziying's heart was filled with uncertainty and worry about her feelings for Liu Cen, which outweighed the sweetness of their time together. But now, Kangping made Ziying trust him 100%. Moreover, Kangping always put Ziying first in everything he did, making it hard for Ziying not to feel moved. Perhaps, without realizing it, Ziying had also given her true heart to him.

  Thinking of this, Zi Qing's heart was filled with gratitude. Although Lin Kangping's background was a bit different, it was rare to find someone who was wholeheartedly devoted to her and whom she was also willing to devote herself to. The road ahead was still long, but looking at the development over the past two years, Zi Qing was confident that they could create a prosperous family business together.

  The menu for the New Year's Eve dinner was planned by Liu. Of course, it was impossible to let her do it alone, after all, there were too many people at home, and some things she had never done before, such as mutton pot, mutton soup, dried seafood, etc., Shen was always guiding her carefully beside her. Zi Qing was also busy helping out, making his own signature dishes.

  After dinner, there will be entertainment and fireworks. No need to elaborate.

  On the second day of the New Year, the Zeng family invited their aunt as usual. Zi Qing stayed at home to help Shen Shi entertain guests, and Lin Kangping also wanted to stay behind, but was dragged away by Zi Fu. Eldest sister Chunyu's family came without any surprise, entering together with Old Master and his wife. Zeng Rui Xiang and Shen Shi frowned upon seeing them. Looking at Old Master sitting in the hall, he remembered what Old Master had said that day, so Zeng Rui Xiang could only hold himself back. Besides, Da Mao's new daughter-in-law also came over, and if this matter were to be exposed, it wouldn't do any good for Zi Qing either.

  Damao's new daughter-in-law looked around the house with her eyes, and Ziqing also thought she was not a good match. Originally, after lunch, Damao wanted to take her back to her natal home, but after lunch, everyone was drinking tea in the hall, and when Damao asked his wife to get up, she whispered: "My natal family doesn't have such food, I've never seen it before, why not eat dinner here first and then go back to my natal family? Anyway, we will be staying at my natal family's house tonight." She also asked Chunyu: "Mother, do we need to build a house as big as this one?"

  Chun Yu glanced at her sideways, sneered and said: "Our family is not as lucky as others. Da Mao is now just an apprentice, earning only 400 yuan a month. If it weren't for Er Mao's hard work outside this year, we wouldn't have even gotten back the 30 taels of silver. And you're still pointing fingers at others? Our family wants to move into a new house, but who knows when that'll happen?"

  Zeng Ruixiang and Shen's family listened but didn't respond. On the day they returned from Yan Village, Yan Renda and Chunyu tried to persuade them to stay, saying let the two of them eat the new wife's breakfast again before leaving. It was clear that they saw Zeng Ruixiang's gift money was less, wanting to find a balance in the meeting gift. Unexpectedly, Zeng Ruixiang didn't even pay attention to them and left with his family.

  Zi Qing saw that his parents hadn't spoken to him since they entered the house, but he was able to sit still and eat calmly. This composure is really admirable, this person's shamelessness must be so thick-skinned that even knives and guns can't penetrate it.

  At this time, Autumn Jade suddenly said: "Zi Qing, I don't want your uncle to go to Xin Zhou anymore. He doesn't earn much, and the children are too young. As a woman, I can barely manage our two mu of paddy fields at home. I heard that you bought a large piece of land in your old uncle's village, hired a family to create an orchard to grow fruit trees. Can you also find something for your uncle to do? Let him earn some money to build a new house too. Your eldest aunt's family is going to build a new house soon. It doesn't make sense that I'm the only one still living in that old and broken house."

  "Little sister, are you kidding me? After all these years, you still haven't saved up enough money for a house? What kind of house do you plan on building?" Zi Qing asked.

  "It can't be compared to your family's, but it should be similar to your second aunt's house, with a big courtyard and its own well. I don't have much money on hand, and Mu Mu is still young, there will be many places to spend money in the future. I also can't finish building the house without any money left. You're just trying to fool me, you can always find some work to give to your younger uncle, right?" Qiu Yu asked.

  "Little sister, the job I'm doing is tough and your brother-in-law can't handle it. Besides, I've already made arrangements and can't fire someone now. So, this is what I can do - if there's a suitable opportunity, I'll definitely think of him," said Zi Qing.

  "What's the big deal, whether to resign or not is up to you anyway. Such a good thing and you don't even think of your own family members, why hire outsiders? Your elder sister's whole family is still idle, who wouldn't use them?" Tian Shi said.

  "It's just that, our family's San Mao has become a good young man, he has the ability, as long as you tell him what to do, it will be done well." Yan Renda said with a smile.

  Ziying didn't respond, but thought that after the Lantern Festival, Zifeng would be leaving, and this tree sapling really needed someone to help with planting. She couldn't possibly run around alone, Shen Shi and Lin Kangping wouldn't agree to it either. If something happened, they'd regret it forever. Anyway, she had to find someone to do things for her, and Zhou Yunjiang seemed like a reliable person, so why not ask him?

  Zi Qing said, "Uncle, I have a small job for you after the Lantern Festival. It'll take about an hour every day, in the afternoon. Come here and help me dig up 20 saplings and send them to the orange garden. Then, help Wang Tieshan plant them and water them. He's already dug the holes. How about 20 cents a day?"

  "Can you earn twenty cents in an hour? Planting tree saplings isn't tiring at all. It doesn't matter if it's early or late in the afternoon, and it won't delay your other tasks. You promised, didn't you? Later on, we can slowly find a suitable one. You stay home, Mu Mu has someone to take care of her, and I can do more embroidery work. I think about Zi Qing getting married in two years, maybe even opening a shop in the city or something, how could we not keep you as an accountant then?" Autumn Jade said to her husband.

  "Don't get me wrong, I'm not thinking of going to the city to open a shop, there's still a long way to go in the future, let's just talk about the present." Zi Qing said hastily.

  "Brother-in-law can't be willing to do this, it's a bit of a waste of talent. I think your sister can go too, it's just planting a few saplings, no need to dig holes, Guiying can stay behind and do it well. Let brother-in-law go later when there's a suitable opportunity." Yan Renda said hastily.

  "What are you rushing for? Can't we talk about it anymore? This isn't a job I begged Zi Qing to give me, if you're capable then go ask Zi Qing yourself!" Qiu Yu glared at Yan Ren Da.

  "If Little Uncle doesn't go, I'll find someone else. Third Uncle will do too." Zi Qing said with a smile. Autumn Jade is still the most formidable after all, idolizing her, if only Dad and Mom had half of her strength, they wouldn't have ended up in this situation. But on second thought, if it were really like that, Little Zi Qing wouldn't be locked in the pigpen either, and she might not even have a job now.

  "This is such a good thing, how can I not go? Let me know when you're ready to start. How long will it take?" Zhou Yunjiang said.

  "It's almost March, it's too hot, and the seedlings are not easy to transplant, with a low survival rate."

  Yan Renda's face turned red with anger, but Zi Qing didn't mind and was secretly pleased.

  Zi Qing flatly refused Yan Renda's request, and the Tian family also knew that the relationship between the two families could only be like this. Last time, Da Mao got married and had a big fight, but Zeng Ruixiang's attitude was tough, saying nothing would work.

  Tian sighed and didn't say anything else, which was somewhat unexpected by Zi Qing. She naturally didn't know that Tian was afraid of offending her, and if he did, his son-in-law's job would be lost, and his eldest daughter's family was already like this, so he couldn't afford to offend his youngest daughter's family again, and he was still counting on borrowing some money from them to buy land and build a house.

  After dinner, they sat for a while. Seeing that Chunyu's family was still ignored by others, the old man took them back to their old house. Zilu and Lin Kangping also entered the house.

  Time flies when having fun, and before we know it, the Lantern Festival has arrived. After dinner, after lighting the candles, Zeng Rui Xiang called Zi Fu into the study for a long time before coming out, then gathered everyone in the hall, saying he wanted to hold a family meeting.