The Second Sister of a Farmer's Family's Path to Imperial Destiny

On New Year's Eve, Guo Zhi and Guo Xi had already returned home.

There is no red festive atmosphere in the clean blue brick house. It is covered with white couplets and window decorations, which contrasts with the lively atmosphere of the village and looks particularly deserted.

Since the new house is located some distance away from where the villagers live, it is basically difficult to hear the villagers talking and laughing, and the only sound is the continuous sound of firecrackers.

The four of them gathered in the kitchen, chatting and laughing as they prepared the meal for New Year's Eve, seemingly not bothered at all by the white atmosphere in the room.

Soon it was the hour of Shu. Guo Xin had planned to bring a table full of dishes to the living room lobby, but was rejected by Guo Zhi and Guo Xi. They insisted on going back to their original shabby house to eat, saying that it was much warmer there.

However, since they moved to the new blue brick house, the original small house had been piled with a lot of sundries. When the four people brought the food in, it was so crowded that there was no place to stand.

After more than a quarter of an hour of effort, they finally cleared a small space and the four of them sat down around the shaky old table.

"Second sister, the feeling of us living in a small shabby house some time ago is back again." Guo Xi sighed.

Guo Ruo smiled and shook his head, saying, "You only know how to make trouble for your second sister. There is so much space in the blue brick house, why do you have to squeeze in here?"

Guo Xin looked at the table full of hot dishes and said quickly, "Eat quickly. It's so cold. If you don't eat quickly, the food will get cold."

While talking, he picked up a piece of braised pork with chopsticks and gave it to Guo Xi, and then gave each of them to Guo Ruo and Guo Zhi.

Guo Zhi, who had been silent the whole time, couldn't help but shed a string of crystal clear tears from the corners of her eyes while eating. In order not to be discovered and break this rare joy, she hurriedly picked up the food in the bowl and almost buried her head in the bowl.

Seeing this, Guo Ruo knocked on Guo Zhi's bowl with the other end of his chopsticks and said, "Don't eat like this. Eat well if you want to. Don't eat like a dog."

Guo Zhi didn't say anything. She swallowed the food in her mouth along with the tears and snot on her face, then raised her head.

Guo Ruo saw it and quickly stood up and said gently, "What's wrong? I didn't mean to say that to you just now. I don't mean to blame you. I just wanted to remind you."

Guo Zhi choked up and said, "No, no, no, I miss my parents, wuwaa ...

After saying that, he could no longer bear it and burst into tears.

The four of them hugged each other, Guo Xin stood on the outside. To be honest, she had no feelings for her original parents, but for some reason she felt a little sad and even wanted to cry.

Perhaps that is the remaining will of the original body.

A few tears flowed down my cheeks, and I thought to myself, don't worry, you are doing well now, your family is doing well, and they will burn some paper money for you in a few days...

I don’t know how long I cried, the sound of firecrackers in the village became louder and louder, one after another.

The four of them had lost their appetite and didn't care about the cold food on the table. They moved their small stools and sat in a row across the courtyard, with a big fire burning in front of them to keep warm in this cold winter.

Guo Xin said: "It's almost midnight, let's make a wish. I'll go first. I hope our family will be safe and sound in the coming year, and everything will go well."

"I hope I can be accepted as a student by Fang Tairu, and become a good official loved by the people in the future."

"I hope I can achieve success in my studies and live up to the expectations of my parents and myself."

Guo Ruo didn't say anything, and Guo Xin looked at her in confusion.

Guo Ruo looked at them gently and said, "I don't have anything to wish for. I have already got everything I wanted."

She prayed to God many times, and God helped her every time. Everything she had now was happiness enough. Although her parents had passed away, the rest of her family was still there, safe and happy.

What's more, God doesn't owe them anything. If they keep asking God for help, it would seem as if the gods in heaven owe them something and that's why they have to fulfill their wishes.

The passing of their parents and the hardships they had suffered in the past few years were not owed to them by God. Working with Guo Xin these days, she had gained a lot of enlightenment. Behind every tragedy there are little things that push people and things forward. What should she blame?

Perhaps it was the inaction and flattery of officials of this dynasty?

Or is it just my bad luck?

She didn't want to complain anymore. At least she was living a happy life now, which was good enough. She wouldn't dare ask for more from the gods.

After hearing this, Guo Xin smiled and turned around to take out a firecracker from the bedroom of the blue brick house, and said mysteriously: "It's almost the second year, I'll show you something very nice."

Put it far away, ignite the fire, and sparks will spray everywhere.

"Squeak...Bang", brilliant fireworks bloomed in the sky, lighting up the night.

"Wow! Sister! It's so beautiful. Where did you get this? I heard from my classmates that only the rich and powerful can get some of this." Guo Zhi said.

"The shopkeeper of Rufangzhai gave it to me, but there is only this one."

Guo Xin happened to meet Qingluan when she was shopping in that small shop. She told her about the latest developments of the hot pot restaurant and took her to Rufangzhai in the county town. She gave her a firework and said it was an early New Year's gift from Mo Feifei.

At the same time, Uncle Liu's family, including Liu Tiezhu, were standing outside the door. He had originally planned to celebrate the holiday in the tavern, but Guo Xin insisted that he go home to celebrate the holiday. He let Mrs. Hu's shopkeeper take over temporarily and then went home to stay for a few days.

"Guo Ruo, Guo Xin, Guo Zhi, Guo Xi, we're here to see you." Uncle Liu and Aunt Liu Guo walked in carrying a basket of things.

"Uncle, aunt, why are you here?" Guo Ruo said.

"I just wanted to come and have some fun with you because I thought your family would be less lonely. You won't feel lonely when you have a group of people around you. And didn't you insist on following the rules and refuse to celebrate the holiday with us?"

"Then I will come to your place. We are not afraid!" Aunt Liu Guo said with full energy.

……

"Zhi'er, I saw the fireworks your family set off when I was at the door just now. They were so beautiful!"

While my parents were greeting Guo Ruo and others, Liu Tiezhu pulled Guo Zhi and others aside.

Guo Zhi smiled and said, "That was brought back by my second sister. She said there was only one. I think it's very pretty."

"How are you doing in the academy? I've been working as the shopkeeper at Sister Guo Xin's wine shop lately. I've learned a lot of new things. Sister Guo Xin also praised me for my talent in accounting. Now she's letting me try to manage more accounts. I guess she wants to train me to be the shopkeeper of a new store in the capital city!"

Liu Tiezhu shared his recent achievements with Guo Zhi all at once, just like a peacock spreading its feathers.

He thought that if he could become the manager of a hot pot restaurant in the capital, he would be much closer to Guo Zhi, and it would be convenient to send her gifts.

"I, I've recently...