The Transmigrated Farm Girl's Journey to Wealth

“There’s still a bag of snacks Xiao Ning gave us. Old woman, go and get it. One piece for each child.”

"Ai!"

He took a puff of his pipe. "This year may be a little tough, but next year will be better. Fourth brother has been studying for so many years, there's nothing he can't get through, don't you all agree?"

"Yes, Father is right," Fang Laosan quickly chimed in, only to be glared at fiercely by his wife. He shrank back, lowered his head, and dared not utter another word.

The old woman distributed the pastries, and the children had something to eat, making the atmosphere a bit more lively. Actually, we had bought a pound of melon seeds, but we were saving them for guests and definitely couldn't take them out to eat now.

In the past, after the New Year's Eve dinner, everyone would chat and laugh. After the eldest son's family left, we would have a small feast and a few drinks. This year, however, things were really meager, so it's no wonder the children felt uncomfortable.

Fang Laosi didn't stay long before pulling his wife back to their room. Staying up to welcome the New Year was less appealing than reading in his room. At least his wife had bought some snacks for them.

One after another, the second son was also taken away by his wife, as was the third son's family. The once crowded main room felt as empty as a snow cave, leaving only the two old people, looking desolate and forlorn.

"Old man?"

Old Fang's face was ashen as he puffed on his pipe. "They're all so selfish, only thinking about the immediate benefits. They don't even know how to think about the future. They're so short-sighted, they're not even as good as a woman."

"It's no wonder they suffer. They work hard all year, only to end up with nothing to eat or see, and their wives and children have to suffer along with them."

Old Fang glared at her. That old hag always spoiled his fun; she would say whatever he didn't want to hear.

"Old man, shall we go back inside? Everyone's gone, let's go back inside too. Three braziers are going to waste a lot of firewood."

Old Fang: ...

He snorted coldly, picked up his pipe, put his hands behind his back, and strolled into the inner room. He didn't say a word to his wife; he wouldn't stoop to the level of a woman with long hair.

This year's New Year was the quietest one for the Fang family; everyone felt a tightness in their chest.

You can't stay in bed on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

"Wife, it's time to get up."

Fang Xiaoning opened her eyes drowsily, her eyes bloodshot. Song Feng touched her face tenderly, "Why don't you sleep a little longer? No one should be coming to our house."

"That was before. The families who helped us with the chores today will definitely come." With that, he got up. No matter how tired he was, he couldn't stay in bed on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

"I'll go call Mom. Xiao An is up too. Breakfast is ready. Let's eat dumplings."

"Go ahead," Fang Xiaoning waved her hand.

After breakfast, I took out some melon seeds and candies. The water, which had been kept warm since yesterday, was still piping hot, so that guests would have something to drink.

They actually get up a little later than other families because they don't have to pay New Year's visits to their elders.

Old Master Song, dressed in his finest clothes, sat in the main seat of the hall early in the morning, receiving the kowtows of his children and grandchildren. Looking at the people below, he could be considered to have a large family. Yet, he was seething with anger because his third son's family hadn't brought their son or daughter-in-law to kowtow and wish him a Happy New Year. They really didn't care about him at all, disregarding even the most basic sense of dignity.

Even though they've separated their households, he's still an elder. Shouldn't they, as the younger generation, come and wish him a Happy New Year? Their complete disregard for him infuriated him. What he resented even more was his repeated defeats.

There wasn't much time for him to be angry. After his family finished paying their New Year's visits, guests began to arrive. Children from the village, and those who were close to his grandson, came one after another to offer their greetings, making the house even more lively. The old man's face was all smiles, and he instantly transformed into a kind and gentle old man.

"Big sister, big sister!"

"Coming!"

Tie Zhu and Gou Dan were the first to arrive. Fang Xiaoning gave each of them a handful of candy, two pieces of fruit, and two red envelopes containing ten coins each. In the morning, she and Song Feng each gave Song An a red envelope containing ten coins. During the New Year's greetings in the morning, Madam Su gave all three of them red envelopes, with fifty coins in Fang Xiaoning's.

"Xiao An, go and play with them."

Today, children can visit each household to offer New Year's greetings, and at each household they visit, they can receive some candy, melon seeds, fruit, or other small snacks.

Song An refused to go out; he didn't need snacks, and he didn't want to go. Seeing that he wouldn't leave, Gou Dan and Tie Zhu stayed inside to play with him. Anyway, running all over the village wouldn't yield as much as at their eldest sister's house, so why bother running around in this cold weather?

“I’m going to the ancestral hall. You and Mother can stay at home.” Actually, he was a little nervous. It had been several years since the family had separated, and this was the first time he had gone to the ancestral hall, and he was going as the head of the family.

"Go."

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the head of each family must go to the clan to worship their ancestors and chat with them.