The aroma of cooking filled the house: I sent my eldest brother to become the Grand Secretary.

It was already the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month, and there were fewer and fewer people on the streets. Every household began to clean and prepare for the New Year.

Shen Cao simply opened the restaurant in the morning and closed it in the afternoon.

The whole family started cleaning the house thoroughly in preparation for the new year.

People are in high spirits when they have good news. These days, Shen's mother can't stop smiling. Her eldest son has also come back for the New Year. Now that the family has money, they no longer worry about the New Year like before.

In previous years, at this time, the family would have to borrow money to buy meat for the New Year, and new clothes were out of the question.

Now, the kitchen's ice cellar contains not only pork, chicken, duck, and fish, but even lamb and beef.

She went to the ice cellar several times a day for the past two days to confirm that these things were real.

She never dared to dream of such a life before.

The Shen family has undergone tremendous changes in the past year.

These days she feels like she's floating, and she's never looked forward to the New Year as much as she does now.

"Brother Shen!" A familiar voice came from the front hall.

Mr. Shen responded, "That voice sounds like the village chief's?"

Sure enough, as soon as Shen's father got up, he saw the village chief walking in.

Mr. and Mrs. Shen's faces lit up with joy. "Village Chief, what brings you here?"

"Quick, quick, let's go sit in the main room, it's cold outside."

Mr. and Mrs. Shen invited the village chief to the main room to warm himself by the fire, while Shen Cao went to make tea.

After serving the tea to the village chief, Shen Cao sat down as well.

Shen Chen also heard the commotion and came to the main room.

"When did Shen Dalang return?"

"A few days ago."

"You look much stronger; your parents are truly blessed."

"This capital city really nurtures people. If I saw this on the street, I definitely wouldn't recognize him."

"Where is the composure of us country folk? He looks like some rich kid!"

"Brother Shi is joking, how could that be?"

"No, no, no, in a few years, things will be completely different."

Shen Chen smiled and exchanged a few polite words with his father.

"By the way, Brother Shi, the New Year is just around the corner. Did you come to Xin'an County to buy New Year's goods?"

The village chief nodded. "Preparing for the New Year is one thing, but tomorrow my family is slaughtering a pig for the New Year, and I'd like to invite you to the pig-slaughtering feast."

"A pig-slaughtering feast?" Shen Cao immediately became interested.

“In the past, my family couldn’t even afford to support ourselves, let alone raise pigs.”

"This year, thanks to your help, I was able to grow some chili peppers and sell dried bamboo shoots, which made me some money."

"My wife started raising a pig, but it was too late."

"Fortunately, there is no shortage of food and drink here, and there is nearly 200 jin of food."

"I might as well kill it during the Chinese New Year this year."

Originally, Shen's father was not interested in eating the pig-slaughtering feast, but seeing that Shen Cao liked it, he simply agreed on behalf of the children.

"Let Shen Chen lead these kids to join in the fun tomorrow."

“Yu Niang and I won’t go. First, the carriage can’t fit so many people. Second, it’s almost New Year’s, and we need to sell goods in the morning and clean the house in the afternoon.”

“When the New Year comes, Yu Niang and I will definitely take the children to visit Brother Shi’s house to wish him a Happy New Year.”

When Shi Yong heard that Shen's father was going to visit his family for the New Year, he happily agreed.

“Then let the kids go tomorrow. My two boys keep asking me when Shen Qing and the others are going to play again.”

"They're so happy now."

"Then I'll head back today, but you must come back tomorrow!" The village chief said to Shen Cao with great enthusiasm.

Shen Cao nodded, "Uncle Village Chief, I will definitely go tomorrow."

After seeing the village chief off, Shen Cao went to Wan'an Hall and borrowed a carriage from the shopkeeper.

The next morning, after breakfast, Shen Cao made a mysterious announcement.

"Little brothers and sisters, I have good news for you. We're going out to play today."

“Yesterday, the village chief said that his family was slaughtering a pig today and invited us to a pig-slaughtering feast.”

"Yay!" The children cheered immediately upon hearing the news.

These days, Shen Chen has been forcing them to read in the study every day, and they've long since become too restless to sit still.

"Uncle Village Chief came yesterday, why didn't you say so last night?" Shen Qing asked.

"I told you not to say it. If you had said it yesterday, would you have been able to concentrate on your studies last night?"

Shen Qing looked at his older brother and pouted.

My older brother really knows him.

"By the way, Xiaoyu and Xiaoqiao, you two can come with us today to have some fun."

"I've already spoken to Grandma Zhang about this."

"The Chinese New Year is just around the corner, so it's time to give you all a holiday."

The group quickly cleaned up the table.

Shen Cao went to the kitchen and packed some fried and braised foods she had made for the village chief to take with him.

"Cao'er, Chen'er, when you go, take good care of your younger siblings. Don't be rude."

"Have you packed everything for the village chief?"

"Mom, it's all fake, don't worry."

"Be careful on the road, and come back soon."

"I understand, Mother. You should go back now. My brother and I will definitely be able to keep an eye on them."

Perhaps because they were happy about going out, Shen Qing and the others sat obediently in the carriage, greeting Shen's mother along with Shen Cao, telling her to hurry back, and that they would be good.

Along the way, the children were happy, but with Shen Chen watching over them, they became much more well-behaved.

Once you leave the city gates, the number of houses decreases.

Now that winter has arrived, the mountains are bare.

Shen Qing originally wanted to introduce the scenery to Xiao Qi, but there was nothing beautiful to see, and the cold wind stung his face.

"When we get to Stone Village, I'll take you to our secret base."

After walking for less than an hour, Stone Village came into view.

When Shen Chen saw Stone Village again, his thoughts flooded back.

He had been studying away from home for many years and didn't have much affection for Stone Village. Besides, apart from the village chief's family, his family didn't have much interaction with anyone else in Stone Village.

But passing by the original Shen family thatched cottage, he was still filled with emotion.

Having lived here for several years, seeing that dilapidated thatched hut again brought back vivid memories of the past.

Looking at my younger siblings now, with their rosy complexions, it's hard to believe they used to be so thin and malnourished.

Time flies! It's already a new year again.

Things will definitely get better and better in the future.

When he arrived at the village chief's house, he was somewhat dazed. The village chief's house had changed a lot and was not at all like the one he remembered.

The newly built houses have had their dilapidated walls renovated and the yards kept clean and tidy.

"Uncle Village Chief, we've arrived."

Upon hearing Shen Cao's voice, the village chief quickly put down what he was doing and came out with his two sons and wife.

Shen Cao handed the things she had prepared to the village chief, "Uncle Village Chief, these are some cooked foods that my family made ourselves. Please try them. It's almost Chinese New Year, so you won't have to make them yourself."

"You, just come, why did you bring anything?"

"Quickly, let's go to the main room. It's cold outside."

The village chief's two sons also welcomed them into the main room.

"Uncle Village Chief, wait a minute, there's someone else here. Let's go in first."