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

After a brief chat, Bai Zhenzhu gave Guo Yongliang's twelve-year-old son a red envelope before driving home.

Ge Minjing opened the package that Bai Zhenzhu had brought and looked inside. In addition to cured meat and sausages, there were also many expensive canned biscuits and milk powder.

She had visited Jixiang Trading Company and knew that the items there were not cheap.

"This pearl is too kind."

Guo Yongliang said, "She's an honest person. I'd feel at ease if you became friends with her."

Ge Minjing rolled her eyes at him, annoyed.

"Do you think I'm so useless and easily bullied?"

Guo Yongliang dared not say anything, he just chuckled.

When Bai Zhenzhu returned to the restaurant, bowls of sweet rice cakes were already steamed.

That bowl is the same bowl used in restaurants; you just slice it and steam it before eating.

Bai Zhenzhu delivered six bowls of rice cakes and some glutinous rice cakes to Zhang Hongying's family. Zhang Hongying reciprocated with four pieces of konjac, a large piece of tofu, and several dried tofu.

This konjac is made from fresh konjac grown in the field, and it's absolutely delicious when used to braise chicken.

There was a lot of cured meat cooking in the pot.

A pig's head and tail symbolize a complete and whole process, with a beginning and an end.

There are also sausages, pork belly, dried tofu, etc.

The fishmonger gave me two grass carp this morning as a New Year's greeting, and he didn't charge me.

Mei Xiulian sent over fresh pea shoots.

The butcher brought over a piece of high-quality pork belly.

The owner of the chicken and duck shop also brought over a large, already slaughtered rooster.

Everyone was very polite, dropping off their things and running away as if someone was chasing them.

I just had a quick lunch, and in the afternoon I'll continue frying crispy pork and meatballs.

The braised meat shop has also closed down. Apart from the braised meat they keep for their own consumption, all other braised products have been sold out.

In the afternoon, Zhang Minmin called and said apologetically that she couldn't spend the Spring Festival with the elderly this year.

Li Xiufen was quite insightful. Principal Zhang's family only has one daughter, Zhang Minmin. It's only right that she spends the New Year at the Zhang family's house this year and then at the Bai family's house next year.

"Mom, Jingsi and I are going to visit you in the city in a few days. Is there anything you need to bring?"

"You don't need to bring anything, just come over."

Liu Fang chimed in:

"Minmin, if it's convenient, could you please bring our bicycles over? Yinyin's bicycle is fine to stay at home."

It's inconvenient to go anywhere in the city without a bicycle.

Zhang Minmin: "No problem, sister-in-law. Jingsi and I were just about to go back to our hometown to wish my uncle a Happy New Year."

When Li Xiufen heard that they were going to visit their uncle's family for the New Year, she quickly took the microphone and said:

"Going to my eldest uncle's house is enough; there's no need to go to the other one."

Zhang Minmin smiled and said:

"I know, Mom. I heard about your argument last time. I haven't told you about her telling Old Lady Cao about it yet."

Li Xiufen was furious:

“I used to think she was just competitive and ambitious, and I tolerated her for so many years. I thought I was afraid of her. None of you are allowed to acknowledge her.”

"Forget it, let's not talk about her anymore. It makes me angry to even mention those people during the New Year."

The New Year's Eve dinner was quite lavish.

I steamed pork belly with red bean paste, steamed spare ribs with rice flour, steamed glutinous rice, braised fish, taro chicken, meatball soup, brown sugar glutinous rice cake, a large platter of braised dishes, rice cake, stir-fried pork with sugar, crispy pork, and also stir-fried a few refreshing vegetarian dishes, and a large plate of kimchi to cut through the richness.

The whole family sat at the table.

This is the most affluent Spring Festival the Bai family has ever had.

But everyone knows in their hearts that their lives will definitely get better and better.

The elderly couple had initially felt sorry for their daughter's divorce.

But look at them now, Pearl has left the wolf's den and is living a rich and good life. She has also changed a lot. This is better than anything else.

The family ate their New Year's Eve dinner while watching the Spring Festival Gala. After finishing their meal and cleaning up the kitchen, some played cards while others watched TV.

The Bai family was enjoying a harmonious and happy time.

The atmosphere was somewhat tense on Xia He's side.

Xia He cleaned her house in the morning and ate lunch before going home.

She didn't come empty-handed either. She bought a braised chicken and a pig's head from a braised meat shop, a rack of ribs from a butcher shop, and also brought snacks and toys from Jixiang Trading Company.

When she knocked on the door with these things in hand, her sister-in-law gave her the cold shoulder.

Xia He didn't go in either, but stood at the door carrying her things:

"What's with that expression, sister-in-law? Don't you welcome me back?"

"Then I'll go?"

He turned and left as he spoke.

Xu Liyun was taken aback by her action.

Xia Feng, the nephew, had been eagerly awaiting his aunt's return. Finally, when she arrived, he rushed out and grabbed her arm.

"Auntie, why are you only coming back now? I've been waiting for you for ages."

He then questioned Xu Liyun with dissatisfaction:

"Mom, why are you blocking the door and not letting Auntie in?"

After saying that, he ignored his mother and took Xia He's hand as they went inside.

Xia He gave the snacks and toy cars she brought to Xia Feng.

Xia Feng was ecstatic:

"Wow, a toy car! I have a toy car!"

He was about to show off his toy car to the other kids in the yard.

Xia He grabbed his collar:

"You haven't thanked me yet."

"Thank you, Auntie. You're the best, Auntie."

Xia He then let go, put candy in his pockets, and released him.

The kid ran off in a flash.

Xu Liyun inspected the things Xia He brought back.

This gift was quite substantial, but she still felt uneasy about it.

None of it was specifically for her.

Xia He didn't care whether Wen Fengqin felt comfortable or not; she hugged Wen Fengqin and slipped a gold ring onto her finger.

Xu Liyun's eyes lit up instantly.

At the same time, she also noticed the gold ring on Xia He's finger. Comparing the two rings, it was obvious that Xia He's ring was more attractive.

His face immediately fell; it seemed he had deliberately not bought it for her.

Wen Fengqin laughed and scolded:

"You earn money with difficulty, save it properly, why buy this? You just know how to waste money."

He complained, but his eyes were glued to the gold ring; he clearly liked it very much.

Xia He hugged Wen Fengqin's arm:

“My mom helps me look after the shop. This is a special gift for you. Wear it carefully and don’t give it to anyone else.”

He said this very loudly, deliberately so that Xu Liyun could hear it.

Xu Liyun was in the kitchen when she broke a basin or something, making a loud crash.

Wen Fengqin knew her daughter-in-law's character and couldn't be bothered to pay her any attention.

If she doesn't feel comfortable living in this house, she will move in with her daughter.

However, the old woman was conservative and wanted to stay here. She didn't want her children to become estranged, and she was also afraid that Xia He would really have no family to visit in the future.

"What do you want to eat for New Year's Eve dinner? Mom will make it for you."

Xia He immediately said:

"I want to eat braised pork ribs and spicy rabbit meat."

Xia Jun heard this and said with a smile:

"I just happened to snag a rabbit at the market this morning. Have your sister-in-law cook it for you."

Xia He dared not eat what Xu Liyun made; what if she spat in it?

"I want to eat what Mom makes."

Wen Fengqin naturally complied with her:

"Okay, Mom will make it for you. You watch TV and eat some sunflower seeds first. Mom will go buy some soy sauce."

There's no shortage of soy sauce at home; she's probably just showing off her gold ring to her old friend.

These days, only a minority of people are truly wealthy. City dwellers earn a fixed salary and have some savings, but they can't compare to business people like Xia He.