My humble days in ancient times

After the performance, everyone finally relaxed and began to eat and drink. For a while, the cups and plates were clinking and the laughter and joy were endless.

At this time, the four brothers and sisters began to give them red envelopes with smiles on their faces, and everyone who saw one got one.

Xu Ruyi said with a smile: "Not much, just twenty coins each, just for the sake of festivity and fun."

That night, everyone's face was filled with smiles of happiness and satisfaction. Everyone was immersed in the joyful atmosphere and was extremely happy.

The yard is brightly lit, reflecting people's rosy faces, as if all worries have disappeared at this moment, leaving only the strong New Year atmosphere and warm friendship.

After the banquet, the villagers went home together.

Everyone was smiling.

Jiang said, "Oh, I had a really happy night. Today is the happiest day of my life."

Aunt Li joked, "Isn't your happiest day the day you got married?"

Everyone laughed.

Mrs. Zhou said, "Today's meal was plentiful, but I couldn't even blink while watching the show. I didn't even eat anything. I only ate a little after the show. Oh, I'm still not full!"

Mrs. Li said, "Who said it wasn't? I just ate a few mouthfuls of it quickly. Otherwise, I would have to cook more when I get home, which would have been too much trouble."

Zhang San and the others just smiled.

Li Hehua was holding the child and Zhuzi, and Aunt Zhang and her family were walking at the back.

Da Niu and Da Hu were also amazed tonight.

Daniel said, "I didn't expect these four brothers and sisters to become more and more outstanding."

"They are learning every day and making progress every day," said Dahu.

"Oh, Dahu, you still understand these things. They are learning and making progress. I heard that learning to play musical instruments is very expensive. Didn't I ask them before? Two flutes, a guzheng and a pipa cost eighty taels. You can build a good house with them." Aunt Li said with a smile.

Jiang looked at Aunt Li and said, "Yes, when I saw Miss Xu dancing on the stage, I wished I could do it too. To be honest, I just don't have the money. Now I don't want to spend money to learn it!"

Jiang was still thinking about the scene when Xu Ruyi and the others were dancing just now. The graceful dance moves, light steps, and the skirts flying with the dance were like a dreamlike picture that appeared in her mind over and over again.

Her eyes became a little blurry, and the corners of her mouth rose unconsciously, as if she was on that gorgeous stage, dancing with them.

"Oh, I had such a great time tonight. I won't be able to sleep when I go back later." Jiang's face was flushed with excitement, and her voice was filled with uncontrollable joy.

Zhou smiled and said, "If you can't sleep, you can keep watch. Then you can be the first to set off firecrackers."

Jiang's eyes lit up, and she added, "That's right. I'll go back and talk to Erdan about tonight's performance and dishes. I definitely won't be able to sleep, so I'll keep watch."

Xu Dachuan and Li chatted warmly for a while, their words full of concern and family matters, and then left with Tian Yuhe and Dachun.

The cook was busy clearing the table, cleaning up the leftovers, and stacking the dishes neatly for washing.

Xu Ruyi, Xu Qinghe, Xu Ruyuan and Li sat together and played cards with great interest.

Xu Qingyan and Xu Dafu were leisurely eating melon seeds on the side, and occasionally commenting on the people playing cards.

Jiang Jingchen and the other six people quickly arrived at the chicken coop.

Big Bear, Little Bear, and Yuan Dongming each had their own room. Yuan Dongming left after dinner; his home wasn't far away. Guo Huai kindly walked him home.

Seeing his wife here, Xiong Da simply went straight to Yuan Dongming's room.

Xiong Da, Jiang Jingchen, Zhou Yifan and Meng Xiaotian sat at the same table.

Xiong Er, Meng Xiaole, Wang Xiaoqing, and Yang Mingxuan sat at the same table.

Xiong Da laughed and said, "How can your bodies handle not getting enough sleep, kids?" His tone was both teasing and concerned.

Jiang Jingchen looked firmly into Xiong Da's eyes and said, "We'll stay up all night. I'm afraid you can't hold on."

Big Xiong raised his head and laughed heartily: "Okay, let's get started."

Jiang Jingchen shuffled the cards skillfully and said confidently, "Prepare more silver!"

They played all night, the room filled with smoke and the atmosphere was lively. Only when they heard the crowing of roosters in the distance did they stop, still unsatisfied.

Jiang Jingchen and the others dragged their exhausted bodies back home and fell asleep immediately. Xiong Da and Xiong Er had to force themselves to stay awake until they returned from the ancestral hall before they could fall asleep.

Xu Ruyi and the others were so excited and focused on playing cards that they soon arrived at midnight.

Xu Qinghe and Xu Qingyan hurried to set off firecrackers. The firecrackers crackled and deafened, and brilliant sparks bloomed in the night sky.

Xu Ruyi praised Xu Qingyan with a smile on her face, saying, "This year you finally stayed until midnight. It's really not easy." Her eyes were full of satisfaction and love.

"Hehe, from now on, I will stay up until midnight every year and then set off firecrackers." Xu Qingyan raised his little face, with a look of determination and pride.

"Okay, then we'll set off firecrackers together again next year." Xu Qinghe gently touched Xu Qingyan's head.

Xu Qingyan excitedly hooked his pinky finger with Xu Qinghe's pinky finger and said, "Let's make a pinky promise and never change it for a hundred years." After saying that, he shook his hooked fingers, looking very adorable.

Then they each went back to sleep feeling tired.

Xu Ruyi lay comfortably on the bed, looking at the ceiling, and said softly: "Happy New Year! I am thirteen now."

Her voice was soft and emotional, with a faint smile on her face and her eyes showing her longing and expectation for the new year.

When Xu Dafu saw how engrossed Li was when playing cards, he couldn't help but feel angry: "You have learned to stay up late now, but you never stayed up late before." He frowned, his face full of dissatisfaction.

"Oh, I can just sleep a little longer after lunch and make up for it. Anyway, I have nothing to do every day, just eating and sleeping." Li said disapprovingly, his eyes still fixed on the cards in his hand.

Xu Dafu shook his head helplessly: "The routine of having a good rest has been broken."

Li looked at him impatiently and said, "Go to sleep! You have to get up early to go to the ancestral hall tomorrow morning." After that, she ignored Xu Dafu and continued to immerse herself in the world of cards.

After Jiang returned, she was so excited that she didn't even bother to take off her shoes. She pulled Wang Erdan aside and talked incessantly about tonight's banquet.

Wang Erdan was so fascinated by what he heard that his eyes were wide open without blinking, as if he wanted to see the lively scene with his own eyes from Jiang's description.

Wang Erdan couldn't wait to ask, "Did all four of them perform?"

Jiang nodded hurriedly: "Yes, but Xu Ruyi can sing, dance and play the piano."

"What did you sing? Was it good?" Wang Erdan asked curiously.

"It's so beautiful. No one is eating anymore and just watching her sing." Jiang described it with her hands and feet gesticulating, her face full of ecstasy.

"What did you eat?" Wang Erdan's eyes were full of anticipation.

"Anyway, there's a table full of dishes, including chicken, duck, fish, meat, and so on. I counted them specifically, and there are sixteen dishes in total." Jiang counted them carefully with her fingers.

Wang Erdan kept wondering in his heart: There really is money!

Jiang was indeed too excited and could not calm down for a long time, so she stayed up until midnight.

Then Jiang excitedly went to the yard to set off firecrackers. Amid the crackling sound of firecrackers, she made a New Year's wish: she hoped she could have a child soon.

Jiang was still a little romantic and childlike. She clasped her hands together and looked up at the sky devoutly, as if her wish would come true.

She looked a bit like a teenage girl at this moment.