The Koi Wife of the Prime Minister

She nodded with satisfaction. "Sister, it's delicious! The pig's head is really well stewed, and the vermicelli is cooked just right."

When Shen Yan heard Wang Lin's praise, she was secretly happy. She knew that her cooking skills were good, but her younger brothers and sisters' happiness was more important to her.

After cooking these dishes, Shen Yan put out the firewood at the bottom of the pot, washed her hands, and prepared to clean up dinner.

When she arrived at the main room, Shen Yan discovered that Wang Jun had tidied the place very well and kept it in perfect order.

She and her brother and sister put the food on the table, estimating that Aunt Wang Er and Song Yunfeng and the others would be here soon.

In the main room, Shen Yan had hung up the family tree in advance. Before she had time to offer sacrifices, she heard a noise in the yard.

Song Yunfeng came back and walked hurriedly into the main room.

"Ma'am, I'm so sorry. I had a case tonight, so I came back a little late. Did you miss the auspicious time?"

"It's not a wedding ceremony, why do we need an auspicious time? It's never too late to pay respects to our ancestors." Shen Yan greeted him with a smile, and pulled Song Yunfeng to the front of the family hall, "Husband, come, pay New Year's greetings to our ancestors first."

The two kids Wang Jun and Wang Lin behind them didn't understand, so they followed Sister Shen Yan and knelt down in front of the ancestors, which made people laugh.

Shen Yan took out a pair of incense sticks and placed them in front of the ancestors.

She gently lit the incense and candles, and the fragrance gradually filled the main room, making up for the coldness of the winter.

Song Yunfeng stood beside Shen Yan. The two of them clasped their hands together and looked at the ancestral tablet reverently. They were silent for a moment to express their respect and longing for their ancestors.

Shen Yan picked up a flower and slowly knelt before the ancestral tablet, saying solemnly: "Ancestors, at this time of the New Year, I come to pay tribute to you and pray for your protection and blessing, so that our family can be safe, happy and healthy."

Song Yunfeng also followed Shen Yan's actions and knelt down beside him: "Ancestors, your descendant Song Yunfeng is here. If you know about this in the afterlife, I hope everything is well."

The two of them kowtowed repeatedly, worshipping their ancestors with a pious heart, praying for their ancestors to bless their family with peace and happiness.

In the main hall, Wang Jun and Wang Lin imitated the actions of Shen Yan and Song Yunfeng. Although they did not quite understand the meaning, seeing the adults being so respectful, they also followed suit and knelt down, creating a solemn and dignified atmosphere.

After paying homage to the ancestors, Shen Yan and Song Yunfeng placed the flowers in their hands in front of the incense table. The incense and candles continued to burn, illuminating the main room and creating a solemn and sacred atmosphere.

"Let's go."

Shen Yan spoke softly, stood up and left the ancestral hall. Song Yunfeng also stood up and returned to the dining table with emotion.

"It's too cold. You guys eat first. I'll get some charcoal to warm you up." Song Yunfeng just sat down and got up and left.

Song Yunfeng walked into the yard and took out a few pieces of dry charcoal from the pile of weeds. He gently patted the charcoal to brush off the attached weeds and dust, making sure the surface of the charcoal was clean.

Then Song Yunfeng lit a handful of hay with a match and carefully placed the flame next to the charcoal pile. The hay quickly ignited the charcoal, and a warm flame rose slowly, illuminating a corner of the yard.

Song Yunfeng picked up a long pair of tongs and carefully moved the burning charcoal into a ceramic stove. He carefully adjusted the position of the charcoal to ensure that the fire was stable and a warm feeling gradually rose in the stove.

The firelight reflected on Song Yunfeng's face, illuminating his vicissitudes of life and making him look more kind and warm. He stood silently by the fire, enjoying the warm feeling, his heart full of love and responsibility for his family.

When the fire stabilized, Song Yunfeng gently blew out the torch and put the tongs back to their original place. Then, he walked back into the house and saw Shen Yan busy arranging the food on the table, and a warm feeling surged in his heart.

"The fire is ready, it should keep you warm."

Song Yunfeng spoke gently, walked to Shen Yan, made her a cup of hot tea, and looked at her with concern.

Shen Yan felt Song Yunfeng's concern, took the teacup with a smile, her heart filled with gratitude and warmth for her husband.

On this cold winter night, his company and care made her feel extremely happy and at ease.

The two little ones lifted their feet and felt a lot warmer. Smelling the delicious rice, they couldn't help but start eating.

Just then, Aunt Wang and Uncle Wang finally came back. Before Shen Yan even started eating, she stood up to continue.

"Second Aunt, Second Uncle, you are finally back. Why did you come so late? Did the master of the house make things difficult for you?"

Shen Yan was a little worried and thought that they would not come back tonight, so she stayed at the host's house for dinner.

"Dad, Mom." Wang Jun and Wang Lin ran over and hugged Aunt Wang and Uncle Wang's thighs, saying affectionately, "Sister Shen has prepared a lot of delicious food. Come in and eat."

"Don't mention it." Aunt Wang entered the house while chatting with Shen Yan, "The master's family has a lot of work to do today. We have been busy until now. We can only come back after preparing the New Year's Eve dinner for them."

"Have you been paid?" Song Yunfeng asked suddenly, because he was working in the county government, and what annoyed him most was the fact that the gentry in the town bullied the poor people and did not pay them all year round.

"Sir." After seeing Song Yunfeng, the couple was in awe. He was indeed a parent official who was still worried about the livelihood of ordinary people like them. "The wages have been paid. Don't worry, sir. Although the boss has a lot of things to do, he is also reasonable."

Song Yunfeng nodded: "That's fine, let's eat quickly, the food will get cold soon."

He was a very nice person, until Aunt Wang and the others in the backyard were busy and hadn't prepared the New Year's Eve dinner. So he followed Shen Yan's suggestion and asked them to come over to eat together, so that the whole family could celebrate the New Year together. Otherwise, it would be a bit lonely for him and Shen Yan alone.

"Today is New Year's Eve, everyone is eating to their heart's content." Shen Yan said.

Aunt Wang and her family had just sat down and felt a little awkward looking at the table full of delicious food.

The table was filled with all kinds of delicious food, including pork stewed with vermicelli, cabbage with vinegar, braised pork, stir-fried seasonal vegetables and other tempting dishes, the aroma was fragrant.

Aunt Wang and Uncle Wang were both tactful people. Seeing the rich food on the table, they praised repeatedly: "Oh, Miss Shen's cooking skills are really good! This is even more sumptuous than our host's New Year's Eve dinner."

Song Yunfeng couldn't help but smile after hearing this: "Yes, Madam's cooking skills have always been outstanding. We are so lucky."

Everyone sat around the table, having a great time.

Shen Yan would pick up the bowl and chopsticks from time to time to pick up food for everyone, showing the warm and harmonious atmosphere of the family.

While eating delicious food, everyone talked about the interesting things and insights of the past year, and laughter filled the whole house.

"You must come more often next year, otherwise my Yan'er will be lonely."

Song Yunfeng said this half-jokingly, but with a hint of anticipation.

Aunt Wang smiled and said, "Needless to say, even if we don't come often next year, we should come a few times during the New Year and other holidays. We are a family after all."

The family sat together, enjoying the moment of reunion, and before they knew it,