Reborn in the 90s, I traded my ex-husband for eight apartments.

"Pearl is back."

Li Zhonghua smiled憨厚ly:

"Come sit down for a while."

Bai Zhenzhu smiled and said:

"I can't sit here any longer, Second Uncle. I have to go to my Eldest Uncle's house. I have to go back to work later. You must come over tonight. My parents are always talking about you."

As soon as he finished speaking, a loud "thump" came from the kitchen.

I don't know what Feng Cui broke in the house.

Then Li Zhonghua's eldest son and his family of three came out from the other room.

Miao Qiong was quite enthusiastic when she saw Bai Zhenzhu:

"Oh, Pearl's back? When did she get back? We didn't hear a thing!"

Now that you've said that, the whole village probably knows the Bai family is back for the New Year.

Moreover, Li Zhongguo and Zhang Yufang have passed by their house several times in the past two days, how could they not know?

However, since that's what they said, Bai Zhenzhu pretended they didn't know.

He smiled and said:

"I just got back yesterday, so I came to invite my second uncle over for drinks tonight."

"Is your sister-in-law preparing the New Year's Eve dinner? I can smell the delicious aroma."

Miao Qiong's smile faded slightly. Bai Zhenzhu had only called for the old man and didn't intend to call for anyone else.

"Preparations are almost complete."

Miao Qiong poked the girl next to her on the head:

"You brat, don't you know how to greet people? Don't you recognize your Aunt Pearl, who makes so much money outside?"

The little girl's name was Li Nannan. She glanced timidly at Bai Zhenzhu:

"aunt."

Bai Zhenzhu smiled and replied:

“Nannan has grown a lot taller. Your brother Wenbin and the others are back. Go visit them and play.”

"No, no." Li Nannan shook her head, but her eyes were fixed on Bai Zhenzhu.

She also wanted to go to her great-aunt's house to play with her brothers, but her mother wouldn't allow it.

Miao Qiong suddenly slapped Li Nannan on the back:

"You idiot, your aunt is being kind to you and you still refuse to go."

"Your aunt is a city dweller now. If you win her over, she'll take you to the city someday..."

"sister in law!"

Bai Zhenzhu's expression was enigmatic, a half-smile playing on her lips.

Knowing that the couple were somewhat superstitious, she deliberately said:

“The child is very sensible. Why did you hit the child during the New Year? You’ve ruined all the good fortune for the year.”

Li Jian, who was standing next to him, glared at him as expected:

"Can't you just shut up for once during the Chinese New Year?"

Bai Zhenzhu glanced at Li Nannan, who dared not cry, her eyes brimming with tears.

Because he wasn't a boy, Miao Qiong and Feng Cui didn't particularly like Li Nannan.

Miao Qiong, in particular, felt uneasy seeing that the Bai family had so many sons.

Li Nannan is quite cute; she's a fair-skinned, clean-cut girl with a quiet and well-behaved personality.

If she were in the Bai family, she would be spoiled rotten by her family.

Bai Zhenzhu greeted him with a smile:

"Nannan, come with Grandpa to your great-aunt's house to play with your brothers later."

After she finished speaking, she didn't say anything more and went to Li Zhong's house next door.

Li Jian then entered the house with a sullen face, clearly also dissatisfied with Bai Zhenzhu's family.

Zhang Yufang, who was in her kitchen next door, heard the commotion in the yard. Bai Zhenzhu was already waiting at the door when she went over.

Zhang Yufang didn't treat Bai Zhenzhu like an outsider, and asked her as soon as they met:

"I heard that voice just now, calling for your second uncle?"

White Pearl nodded:

"Yes, I only called my second uncle and aunt. You'll be over in a bit. We'll have dinner at my house tonight. Where are my eldest uncle and Xiaojun?"

"They were helping the elderly Liu family, who are on welfare, to build a drainage ditch. They didn't finish in the morning, so they went over after lunch. It should be done soon."

Da Liu was an old bachelor in the village. His parents and brothers had all died, leaving him the only one with intellectual disabilities.

Bai Zhenzhu remembers when she was a child, she was playing outside and encountered a snake blocking her way on her way home. She was so scared that she didn't dare to move.

It was that silly Uncle Liu who chased the snake away with a stone.

Zhang Yufang sighed and began to speak of Li Zhonghua:

“It’s right for you to call him your second uncle. Feng Cui may not acknowledge him, but she still has to acknowledge him as her second uncle.”

"Most of the vegetables in front of your house were planted with the help of your second uncle."

"Also, there was a lot of rain this summer, and your house was leaking. It was your second uncle and eldest uncle who renovated the roof together."

"He's just too honest. He's been suppressed by that wicked woman Feng Cui his whole life and can't hold his head up high."

Bai Zhenzhu smiled and said:

“My mom and the others understand too; it was my mom who told me to call him Second Uncle.”

Zhang Yufang nodded:

“That’s just the kind of person your mother is—tough on the outside but soft on the inside. I heard Principal Zhang is coming down too? That’s great! We’ll go over there once your uncle and the others get back. Xiao Jun is still thinking about visiting him during the New Year.”

Li Jun's college application was chosen and filled out by Principal Zhang and Bai Jingsi; Zhang Yufang and Li Zhongguo didn't understand these things.

Li Jun can only come back during the Chinese New Year now. During the summer vacation, the school will arrange activities, and he is willing to participate in the school's activities to gain experience.

Last night, Li Jun discussed with his parents about visiting Principal Zhang before returning to school.

Bai Zhenzhu didn't stay at Li Zhonghua's house for long before returning. As she passed by Li Zhonghua's courtyard, she called out again:

"Second Uncle, don't forget to bring Nannan along too."

Li Zhonghua chuckled:

"Okay, okay, take it with you."

There was another "bang" in the kitchen.

Bai Zhenzhu pretended not to hear and went home.

The house was bustling with activity. Bai Chenglei and Li Xiufen were the head chefs, each in charge of a kitchen.

When Bai Zhenzhu went back, there was no place for her anymore.

She found a clean bag and filled it with fried meatballs, crispy pork, dried tofu, braised pig's head, braised chicken, and other ingredients.

It was handed over to Bai Jingsi, who was to deliver it to Uncle Liu.

Bai Jingsi smiled and left with her things.

When he arrived at Da Liu's house, Li Zhongguo and Li Jun were still working on the drainage ditch. He put down his things, rolled up his sleeves, and joined in for a while.

Before it got dark, Li Zhongguo and his family of three, along with Li Zhonghua and Li Nannan, arrived.

The little girl was clearly very happy when she arrived at her great-aunt's house, and she smiled sweetly when she greeted people.

Bai Zhenzhu grabbed a handful of candy for her, then went back to her room to find a pink bow hair clip and a white wool scarf to put on her.

They dressed her up nicely before letting her go to play with Bai Wenjie and the others.

"Thank you, Auntie." The little girl's ponytail swung back and forth as she ran, she was so adorable.

We ate our New Year's Eve dinner quite early.

Two large round tables were set up in the main room, and both tables were full of people.

The head chef is Bai Chenglei, and he cooked all of his signature dishes.

Big plate chicken, braised fish, boiled beef, braised duck with young ginger, spicy rabbit cubes, as well as a platter of braised meat, steamed pork belly with red bean paste, glutinous rice, longan pulp, sausage, and a few light vegetarian dishes were also stir-fried, along with fried crispy pork and glutinous rice cakes, filling two tables to the brim.

It was even more lavish than the banquet at a hotel.

Old Man Bai was genuinely pleased and had Bai Jingsi open a bottle of fine wine.

However, he didn't drink much, just a token amount. He mainly let Principal Zhang, Li Zhongguo, and Li Zhonghua drink, with the three Bai brothers keeping him company.

The whole family had a lively and joyous New Year celebration.