Koi baby helps his mother farm and becomes the richest man

An An thought it was fun, so she discussed making ice lanterns with Qin Ying.

Qin Ying thought for a moment and asked Aunt Zhao, "Mom, can we freeze it in a square wooden box?"

"Isn't that leaking?"

"Don't worry," Qin Ying said with a smile, "Let's take it out at night when it's coldest. Pour some water on it first. Once it freezes a layer, it won't leak, right?"

Aunt Zhao immediately laughed: "Right, right, right, young people are smart after all! Just do what you want to do, just don't mind the cold."

The Zhou sisters were also very interested. Zhou Mian even said, "But wouldn't the ice lanterns made this way be too plain?"

Zhou Qi started thinking: "Well... don't we have red paper ready-made? Cut out a few patterns, and after the outermost layer of soldiers is frozen, stick the patterns on top and then pour a layer of water on it. Wouldn't that make it stick?"

An An clapped his hands and cheered, and then the four of them took action.

An An's eyes rolled around for a while, and he ran out when the adults weren't paying attention.

Of course, her every move was seen by Qin Ying. As a mother, she was worried and followed her out.

An An greeted Zhao Hu, who was doing carpentry work in the front yard, and went straight to the gate.

Qin Ying heard her tell Zhao Hu that she was going to look for Uncle Zhou. Although they were only separated by a wall, the wall had become much higher after the new house was built, and even if one stood on tiptoe, one could not see what was happening next door.

So Qin Ying asked Zhao Hu to chase after him.

An An didn't do anything else, nor did she look for Zhou Yu. Instead, she went directly to Zhang Jinzhi and asked him to borrow some paint.

Zhang Jinzhi first asked her if she was cold, poured her a cup of hot water, and then asked her what she wanted the paint for.

An An's eyes were bright and lively: "Grandpa Zhang, my mother wants to make ice lanterns, but Aunt Mian said it was too plain, so Aunt Qi suggested we stick some red paper on it.

"I was wondering if red paper alone is too monotonous. Wouldn't it look better if it had more colors?"

Zhang Jinzhi looked at Zhao Hu who followed.

Zhao Hu saluted him and said with a smile, "Our family does want to make ice lanterns, but I haven't heard of these fancy designs. I'm just making wooden boards in the front yard as instructed."

Zhang Jinzhi smiled and said, "It's not a big deal, but I'm just curious. An'an, when you finish making the ice lanterns, can you let Grandpa Zhang take a look?"

"No problem!" An An promised, patting her chest. "I guarantee it will amaze you!"

Zhang Jinzhi smiled even more and stroked An An's hair, "The little girl is getting more and more talkative!"

"Of course!" An An shook his head. "I studied with my mom every day, and I memorized it all!"

Zhang Jinzhi laughed heartily, quickly found the paint, paint dish, and brush, packed them up, and handed them to Zhao Hu.

The uncle and nephew returned home.

Zhou Yu also heard the news and said to Xu Xia excitedly, "How about we make some ice lanterns too?"

"I can't do that," Xu Xia shook his head. "Besides, it's so cold, my hands will get cold if I do that!"

Zhou Yu disagreed: "Don't be such a spoiler!"

He sent Xu Xia to the next door to inquire about how ice lanterns were made, and began to conceive the patterns of the ice lanterns in his mind. When they were done, An An would like them, and Miss Qin would also be very happy.

Xu Xia returned quickly and told Zhou Yu everything he had learned. Zhou Yu smiled and said, "That sounds great. Besides, ice lanterns are better than paper lanterns and won't cause fires.

“You’re good with a knife, so carve some wood and nail out the frame, and I’ll draw the picture.

"We don't have to be rigid and make it a square. The more unique, the better."

After all, Xu Xia was young and playful, so he readily agreed.

By the time their ice lanterns were finished, it was already the morning of the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

Like last year, the village prepared three bonfires in the small central square. Every household hung a lantern woven from sorghum straw at the door, with a shallow, coarse earthenware dish inside, holding a homemade candle.

This kind of candle is made of pine torch as the main material. It produces a lot of smoke and has average lighting effect. It will not last very long and is just for setting the atmosphere. But if it is not the Lantern Festival, I would not be willing to use it.

The coarse earthenware plate can be washed and used again.

Anyway, it's cold and the evening party will last about half an hour before it ends, so these few candles are enough.

At night, the lanterns in the village were lit up one after another, and the villagers called their friends and headed towards the center of the village.

Zhou Yu waited until the Zhao family was about to go out and then went with them, asking them to take care of his two younger sisters.

This year, it was the Zhou sisters who took the initiative to go. They changed into new clothes and each held a small lantern they had made themselves.

Each member of the Zhao family also had a lantern, each one was different, and of course Zhou Yu had one too.

As soon as they appeared, they attracted everyone's attention. Qin Ying pulled Aunt Zhao and quietly moved to the side while holding An An. Zhou Yu was soon surrounded by the villagers.

Zhou Yu had no choice but to say a few auspicious words in public and let everyone have fun.

An An was already held on Zhao Hu's neck. The uncle and nephew handed the lantern to Aunt Zhao and Qin Ying, and started running around the field.

Qin Ying and Aunt Zhao protected the Zhou sisters in the middle and watched the villagers singing and dancing around the fire.

Zhou Mian whispered to her sister, "I think this is more interesting than those musical instruments, singing and dancing performances.

“The smiles on everyone’s faces were genuine.”

Zhou Qi nodded in agreement and added, "In a few years, when the conditions are better, maybe some acrobats will come here, and that would be even more spectacular."

"That's true," Zhou Mian said with a nostalgic look, "I still remember when we were little, we went to the temple fair..."

As he spoke, his voice gradually lowered. Back then, they were a happy and harmonious family, but now...

Zhou Qi hugged her sister's shoulders and comforted her, "It will get better and better in the future."

"I heard there's a temple fair in our village," Aunt Zhao said suddenly. "It's just the first time in ages, so it probably won't be that great. Let's go and see it on March 3rd. It should be much better."

Qin Ying hurriedly asked, "Who told you that?"

"Many people in the village are talking about it," Aunt Zhao said. "When I went to exchange tofu the other day, I heard your Aunt Zhang say that her cousin told her when she came to see her.

"Her cousin lives in the countryside. It's funny, but when we were starving to death, I never heard that your eldest aunt had such a relative.

"Now that things are better, relatives come to visit us on their own initiative."

As he spoke, a sarcastic smile appeared on his face.

Qin Ying sighed, "This is human nature. When disaster strikes, who wouldn't take care of themselves first? If I can't even survive myself, how can I have the energy to take care of my relatives?"

Aunt Zhao also sighed, the indignation on her face gradually dissipated, "Alas, there is nothing we can do!"

Of course, Zhou Mian was most concerned about the temple fair: "Aunt, Sister Qin, are we really going to the temple fair?"

"Let's go," Aunt Zhao said. "It's not far anyway. We can go for a walk during the day and come back before dark. Nothing will happen."

Lord Zhou will definitely send someone to protect you, so what are you afraid of!

Qin Ying hesitated and said, "How about we ask Mr. Zhou what he thinks?"

It’s easy for their own family members, after all, they have to be careful when taking care of the Zhou sisters.