The Transmigrated Farm Girl's Journey to Wealth

"We'll use half of the remaining piece to make dumplings and keep the other half for stewing. We've already saved enough meat for entertaining guests during the New Year. As for this piece, I find it crispy and fragrant, so I'll put it in the main room for the children. There's also a meatball; we'll make a cabbage and meatball soup tomorrow."

Everyone was very satisfied with the distribution. My father-in-law didn't think about giving any away; he ate it all himself. There was so much food for the New Year this year! It was really good!

Aunt Zhao took everything out and looked at it all, then put it away. She was impressed by the Song family's kindness; with all this, she and her child would have enough for the New Year's shopping this year.

………………

Wang family.

Cui Hehua sat on the edge of the bed, looking at Wang Defa with a resentful expression. "Husband, this is my first year married into the family. We're supposed to go back to my parents' home on the second day of the new year. Can't you really get me some new clothes?"

Wang Defa refused without even looking up: "You know we don't have any money at home. I'm going to the county town after the New Year."

Only one person in the family made new clothes this year—him. They're not for the New Year; they're for when he goes to the county town for an exam.

“But I’ll be laughed at to death by the villagers. A newlywed bride who doesn’t even have a new dress.” Cui Hehua was very unwilling. She heard that Fang Xiaoning went to the county town to buy the most fashionable floral cotton fabric to make clothes. Why is it that she doesn’t even have a piece of coarse cloth?

Cui Hehua teetered on the edge of rage. "No new clothes? Did Mother say what we should bring back for our homecoming this year?" She wasn't particularly close to her family; they were just from the same village as Fang Xiaoning, whose family lived in the same village. And since Fang Xiaoning had stolen her man, everyone in the village compared the two of them. With Song Feng's current wealth, his homecoming this time would definitely be extremely dignified.

"Look at what our family has right now?"

Cui Hehua choked, and once the novelty wore off, Wang Defa had no intention of indulging her at all.

"Give more if you have more, less if you don't. Lotus, we're just trying to live a down-to-earth life, there's no need to put on a show."

Since all the family's money had been spent on him, what else could she possibly complain about?

"Just do your best with the homecoming gift. You know how much money I spend on my studies. Be patient, and once I pass the exam, your good days will begin."

She's been holding back for so long, she's practically turning into a turtle!

I thought the Wang family was living a good life, but look what happened! Not only did they eat almost the same food as her family, but she also had to work every day. With the New Year just around the corner, they slaughtered a pig, but only kept five jin of meat. With so many people and guests to entertain, how were they going to eat?

She only bought two jin of melon seeds and peanuts, and two jin of steamed rice cakes, saying they would only take them out when guests arrived, and maybe a tiny bit would be given out for New Year's Eve vigil. With so many people and so little food, it was simply not enough to go around. Their stingy behavior made her feel nauseous.

Anyone with a brain knows that her mother-in-law hadn't prepared anything for her trip back to her parents' home. She's absolutely nauseous right now.

Also, lately when she goes out, the villagers ask her about her belly, which annoys her to no end. Her in-laws are the same; every now and then they mention that they want to have a grandchild and tell her to be more assertive.

She was also worried. During the winter, she had caused Wang Defa a lot of trouble; sometimes he couldn't even get out of bed to eat because of her constant nagging, and she had to bring him food from his bedside. Logically, after watering the soil for so long, the seedlings should have sprouted, so why was her belly still empty? Was there really something wrong with her?

No, no, no, it must be Wang Defa who has a problem. She's in great shape. It's just that he doesn't have the strength of an old bachelor, nor does he have the looks. The seed was planted too shallowly, and it scattered with a gust of wind, unable to sprout.

If she still hasn't recovered by the end of the year, she plans to go to the county town to see a doctor, so she definitely has to go with him for this exam.

………………

Lunar New Year's Eve, a night for family reunion.

Fang Xiaoning started preparing after lunch, having put a lot of thought into the dinner.

"Brother Feng, Mother and I are busy here. You go and help Xiao An put up the couplets and the paper-cut window decorations. Xiao An, keep an eye on things for your brother and make sure they're neat."

"I know, sister-in-law!"

She had already planned out the dishes for the New Year's Eve dinner. Eight-treasure rice with red dates, shredded pork with sweet bean sauce, garlic ribs, braised carp, blanched mutton, clear chicken soup, braised pork belly, sweet and sour pork, and finally a large plate of dumplings.

Each dish was prepared and placed near the stove to keep it warm.

Looking at the steaming iron pot, Song Feng's family realized that they would no longer have to spend the Lunar New Year with just a pot of coarse rice porridge.

Meanwhile, every household in Zaoshu Village is preparing for the New Year's Eve dinner. Even the poorest families will try their best to make sure the whole family eats well today, even if it means spending a little extra money.