I'm dressed up as the timid eldest daughter, and the whole family has to listen to me!

Su Banxia thought she should make some fancy steamed buns and large steamed bread for the New Year, so she prepared a lot of dough. She also planned to fry some twisted dough sticks and dough fish, as well as some small chess pieces and triangular pieces to eat as snacks.

Since the oil was already frying, Su Banxia thought that she might as well prepare some four-happiness meatballs, fried vegetable meatballs, and fried meatballs. They would be good for making soup or stir-fries. She also decided to fry two carp and some crispy pork in advance so that it would be more convenient when cooking.

Wang Guihua suggested making some more steamed buns, since there would be many people during the Lunar New Year and they could eat them all. Su Banxia prepared both vegetarian and meat fillings so everyone could have different flavors to choose from.

After everyone finished their work, it was already past midnight. Seeing that it was getting late, Su Banxia hurriedly urged everyone to pack up and go back to sleep.

the next morning,

Su Banxia thought she could sleep in today, but she didn't expect Wang Guihua to get up early and wake everyone up.

"We have important guests coming today. How can you still be sleeping? Get up quickly and tidy up the house. Boil water if you need to, and start a fire if you need to. Make sure the charcoal fire in the house is burning well, so that the guests won't get cold when they come."

Seeing Wang Guihua bustling around taking care of him, Wei Kezhi felt a little jealous. But then he thought that he had been staying at her house for so many days without showing any appreciation, so Wang Guihua must consider him family and therefore wasn't being too polite to him.

After thinking it over, Wei Kezhi took out a silver note, walked up to Wang Guihua, and said with a smile:

“Auntie, I’ve been staying at your house for so many days now, and I’m really troubling you. The New Year is almost here, and I haven’t prepared any gifts for you. Please accept these bank notes. If you need anything, go and buy it yourself. I’m afraid I won’t be able to buy what you like, so it’s better if you pick it out yourselves.”

Wang Guihua never expected that Wei Kezhi could produce so many silver notes. She thought Wei Kezhi was just a poor boy. Although his family was in the capital, he must not have been well received by his elders. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to live alone in Sujia Village for so many years.

Wang Guihua glanced at the silver note in Wei Kezhi's hand, then at Wei Kezhi himself, and waved her hand with a somewhat complicated expression.

"No, that won't do. How can your aunt accept your banknote? I can't accept a gift without doing anything in return. Besides, you've been staying with us and helped us move. You've been quite helpful. Just keep the banknote and don't make things difficult for your aunt."

When Wei Kezhi saw that Wang Guihua refused to accept the money, he forcibly stuffed the silver note into her hand. Wei Kezhi was afraid that if he didn't show his appreciation, Wang Guihua might actually stop Su Banxia from leaving with him, which would be a loss.

After all, anyone with eyes can see that Lou Wangyue comes from a prestigious family, while Wei Kezhi is a poor boy of unknown origin. Anyone would choose Lou Wangyue.

Therefore, Wei Kezhi genuinely wanted to give Wang Guihua some money so she could buy things she liked, and also wanted Wang Guihua to know that she wasn't someone to be trifled with and could provide Su Banxia with a good life.

“Auntie, you must accept this banknote. If you don’t, I won’t feel at ease staying in your house. Also, I don’t know what you and Uncle have thought about regarding my marriage to Banxia. I was thinking that if you think it’s okay, I’ll find a respected person in the village to act as matchmaker and arrange the betrothal. That way, when Banxia goes with me, we’ll have a proper status and won’t have people in the village gossiping.”

Wang Guihua didn't expect Wei Kezhi to bring this up again. Actually, she knew that Su Banxia had feelings for Wei Kezhi, but Wang Guihua felt that Lou Wangyue was better than Wei Kezhi. It wasn't about family background, but Wang Guihua naturally felt that she was closer to Lou Wangyue.

So Wang Guihua shook her head.

"I haven't discussed this with your uncle yet. Let's talk about it after the New Year. There are a lot of things to do before the New Year, and I don't have the mind to think about these things."

Seeing Wang Guihua's response, Wei Kezhi didn't press the matter too hard and could only nod.

"No matter what, you have to accept this banknote. Otherwise, I haven't prepared any gifts, and I'll feel even more embarrassed to stay at your house. If you don't accept it, it means you want to kick me out."

Seeing that Wei Kezhi had already said this, Wang Guihua had no choice but to accept the silver note.

"Alright, I'll keep this banknote for you. Just tell me when you need money."

Wei Kezhi smiled.

"Okay, Auntie, please accept it. I'll feel more at ease then. I'll go help Banxia cook now."

Just as the two were talking, they heard Cuihua run in and say to Wang Guihua:

"Auntie, Young Master Lou's carriage has arrived."

Upon hearing this, Wang Guihua immediately nodded happily, straightened her clothes, and then pulled Su Hanzhang, who was wiping the table nearby, to run out and greet them.

Seeing Wang Guihua's excitement, Wei Kezhi couldn't help but sigh. She looked like she was going to pick up her new son-in-law. Su Banxia, ​​hearing the commotion from the backyard, also ran over.

"Wei Kezhi, has Lou Wangyue arrived?"

Wei Kezhi nodded.

"Your parents are already waiting outside, so you don't need to go out. Let's go to the backyard to cook first."

After saying that, Wei Kezhi didn't wait for Su Banxia to react, and directly grabbed Su Banxia's arm and walked to the back.

Upon seeing this, Su Banxia immediately slapped Wei Kezhi's hand.

"Why are you in such a hurry to cook? We have guests, how can I not go out and greet them?"

Wei Kezhi said impatiently:

"What's there to welcome him for? Didn't your parents personally go out to greet him? Besides, he's just here for a meal. It's like he's some big shot."

Seeing Wei Kezhi's expression, Su Banxia sighed helplessly.

"Alright, alright, I still have fish cooking in the pot anyway. Let's go to the backyard and keep an eye on the pot, so we don't burn the fish, that would be terrible."

Wei Kezhi nodded.

"That's right, just focus on cooking. Besides, Lou Wangyue came today specifically to see your parents, not you. Why are you always trying to get closer?"

Su Banxia glared at Wei Kezhi helplessly. How could she not know Wei Kezhi's little thoughts? This Wei Kezhi was simply both lovable and hateful. She only had Wei Kezhi in her heart, and her relationship with Lou Wangyue was just that of friends. Why was he so jealous?

While scooping fish from the pot, Su Banxia directed Wei Kezhi to help.

Lou Wangyue had already been welcomed inside by Wang Guihua and Su Hanzhang.

"Uncle and Aunt, I had some free time today to come and visit you both. I brought you some things, please don't mind them."

When Wang Guihua saw the cartload of things behind, she immediately burst out laughing.

“Look at Young Master Lou, he’s so generous and open-minded. We’re already very happy that you could come to our house for a meal, how could we let you spend so much? Besides, you brought so many things, we don’t know how to reciprocate, so there’s no reason for us to complain.”