A lucky little peasant girl is reborn and brings prosperity to her entire family.

With a pout, Song Yanyan explained the situation with a wronged expression.

Of course, Song Yanyan hesitated for a moment and did not say that it was a dream. She only said that she had accidentally met a notorious bandit and found him very suspicious, so she secretly went to the county government to report him. She also said how Xie Youchang discovered it and that he promised to keep the money bag a secret as a reward for helping the soldiers catch the notorious bandit.

Upon hearing this, Tian Denghua felt both terrified and relieved.

What I'm worried about is that my daughter handled such a big matter without saying a word. What if something went wrong?

Fortunately, although my daughter seems silly, she's actually quite meticulous. If she hadn't encountered that petty official with a nose like a dog, her actions wouldn't have been exposed.

Tian Denghua was speechless for a moment.

Seeing her mother's expression, Song Yanyan immediately seized the opportunity, grabbing Tian Denghua's arm and gently shaking it: "Mother, don't be angry. I know I was reckless this time. I was thinking that if I secretly reported it, and the other party was a bad person, the yamen would arrest him, and we would be safe; if I was wrong, it wouldn't matter, since no one else would know that I was the one who reported it... Who would have thought that official had such a keen sense of smell. I will never dare to do it again next time. Mother, please don't be angry."

Tian Denghua was already feeling a mix of emotions, and now that her most beloved little girl was so softly apologizing and coaxing her, Tian Denghua was no longer angry.

She sighed, rubbed the spot where Song Yanyan had been hit with the rolling pin, and complained, "You child, you're usually so clever, why didn't you dodge when I hit you?"

Song Yanyan thought to herself, "Your moves are as swift as the wind, how could I possibly dodge them?"

Of course, these words still cannot be said aloud.

Otherwise, it might easily anger her mother again, and she might get hit a couple more times.

I still vividly remember the scene last night when her second brother came back from Shuiwanggou and was beaten by her mother with a rolling pin, running around the yard screaming in pain!

Song Yanyan put on an extremely obedient face: "Mother, I won't dodge. You're hitting me for my own good, to teach me a lesson."

Hearing that her youngest daughter was so well-behaved and sensible, Tian Denghua felt both comforted and guilty.

"This silver is probably worth more than ten taels. I'll keep it for you for now. After the New Year, I'll take you to the county to get some jewelry made." Tian Denghua's voice softened a bit.

Song Yanyan shook her head: "Mother, my eldest and second brothers work outside and earn money, which all has to be handed over to the public treasury. It's not right for me to keep the money I've earned by trickery. Mother, you should keep it... Mother, didn't you say you wanted to see what kind of small business you wanted to do after the New Year? And my second brother should get married soon, there are so many things that will cost money. I'm still young, I don't need jewelry."

Seeing her daughter so understanding, Tian Denghua's eyes welled up with tears. She turned her head away and quickly wiped away her tears.

When she turned around again, it was that same spirited and straightforward woman, laughing, "Alright. My daughter's become so sensible!...Go out and play! I'll cook you something delicious tonight!"

Song Yanyan responded cheerfully and poured another basin of hot water: "I just saw my sister-in-law wiping the cabinets, so I'm going to help."

Song Yanyan diligently carried the basin out, while Tian Denghua watched her daughter's retreating figure with a gentle smile on her lips.

Song Yanyan brought water into the main room, where Qi Lian was diligently wiping the furniture.

Song Yanyan changed the basin of hot water and said, "Sister-in-law, you rest for a while, I'll do it."

Qi Lian wiped the sweat from her brow and laughed, "It's not that precious. You can't stay still all the time while pregnant. They all say you should move around more."

As she spoke, Qi Lian dipped the handkerchief in the hot water that Song Yanyan had just brought over, a smile playing on her lips, clearly indicating that she was in a very good mood.

Seeing her sister-in-law so happy, Song Yanyan was also happy. The two women chatted as they cleaned the house until it looked brand new.

Outside the courtyard, it was bustling with activity. When they went to the market earlier, Tian Denghua gritted her teeth and bought red paper. Song Xingming wrote several Spring Festival couplets. After the ink dried, Song Risheng stood on a stool and used paste to paste the couplets onto the windows and doors.

Song Yueping was severely beaten by Tian Denghua with a rolling pin yesterday, and his back is burning hot right now, so he can't run to Shuiwanggou anymore and is staying home obediently.

The three brothers were noisily putting up Spring Festival couplets in the yard. One of them said that the couplets were crooked, and the other said that it would look better if they were hung with a string of corn cobs.

Although it was a bit noisy, it was really lively.

Even Song Xingming, who is usually mature beyond his years, showed a rare childlike temper, raising his voice considerably when he was annoyed by his two older brothers.

Song Yanyan and Qi Lian exchanged a smile.

On New Year's Eve, Tian Denghua prepared a table full of delicious dishes, including chicken, fish, and meat.

Snow began to fall again outside, and firecrackers crackled and popped.

Inside, a heated kang (a traditional heated brick bed) was burning, filling the room with steam and the aroma of food.

There was a smile on everyone's face.

Song Risheng even solemnly took out half a jar of local liquor.

It was a gift from the shopkeeper when he was doing odd jobs. The shopkeeper saw that he worked hard and was down-to-earth, and appreciated him.

"Let's have a good drink together, brothers," Song Risheng said cheerfully.

Tian Denghua glared at him: "You brat, why didn't you bring your mother? Fill her up too!"

“Maybe my eldest brother is afraid that if Mom gets drunk, she’ll hit someone with the rolling pin again,” Song Xingming said with a smile. “My second brother just got beaten up, and I’ve always been sensible. If Mom wants to hit someone, only my eldest brother is left. He must be afraid.”

Everyone couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Tian Denghua laughed and scolded, "You brat, don't worry about your older brother. If I'm going to beat someone up, I'll only beat you up!"

The laughter grew louder and louder.

Tian Denghua suddenly remembered something and slapped her forehead: "Oh, right!"

Tian Denghua took a bowl, with her fried tofu underneath, and picked out a few untouched pieces of chicken and fish on top of the tofu. The bowl looked overflowing with food.

"Yan Yan will do. Yan Yan, take this to your third uncle's house and give it to your grandma," Tian Denghua instructed. "No need to go inside, just shout loudly at the courtyard gate, 'Grandma, I've brought you chicken and fish!'"

Song Yanyan pouted, wanting to say something, but when Tian Denghua glared at her, she still agreed.

She knew that her mother was doing this for her reputation.

We need to give her a reputation for being filial.

"Fine." Song Yanyan reluctantly got up.

Tian Denghua then said, "Third brother, you go too, take your sister there."

Song Xingming responded.

"Wear something warmer," Tian Denghua told Song Yanyan, then added to Song Xingming, "If your sister is too shy to shout, then shout louder."

Song Xingming nodded: "I understand, Mother."

After the brother and sister got dressed, Song Xingming took a bamboo cover and used it to lightly cover the bowl piled high with chicken and fish, shielding it from the falling snow. Song Yanyan carried it steadily, and the brother and sister went out like this.

As snowflakes drifted down, the brother and sister slowly walked away into the distance.

Along the way, adults and children who had just finished celebrating the New Year and were out setting off firecrackers would see Song Xingming and Song Yanyan carrying food and ask, "Where are you two going?"

Song Yanyan wasn't embarrassed at all and said loudly, "Auntie, my mother made some delicious food tonight and asked us to take some to Grandma."

The villagers peeked out and saw a bowl full of chicken and fish. Even though there were other dishes underneath, the bowl looked quite substantial.

Although it was common knowledge in the village that Old Mrs. Song favored her youngest son and treated them badly, Song Lao Er's wife and children were all extremely filial.

What an excellent family tradition!