After being jilted, the entire neighboring village was filled with deep regret.

Chapter 97 The Hard-Earned Harvest

She loves cleanliness and usually takes a hot bath every three days. Shen Yi doesn't want to waste hot water, so he always waits until she finishes her bath before taking his. The man who used to not take a bath even once a month has now become more frequent in his bathing and loves cleanliness.

The water used for bathing isn't wasted; it's perfect for washing clothes in the dead of winter.

Shen Yi pushed open the bathroom door, and a wave of heat hit him, making him feel as if every pore on his body had opened up.

After closing the door, he quickly took off his clothes, rinsed himself in the shower, then used soap to thoroughly wash himself from head to toe. Only after rinsing off the foam did he step into the bathtub.

Su Tai was cooking in the kitchen next door. Hearing the sound of water, she couldn't help but smile and chatted with him, "You made two trips today, how much did you earn in total?"

"I estimate it's about twelve or thirteen taels. Honey, in just two or three months, we should have earned about two hundred taels, right?" Shen Yi opened his eyes, anticipating Su Tai's reply.

Su Tai chuckled, her voice tinged with amusement, "Guess boldly! We made over 180 taels from selling fireworks and firecrackers, and with the fabric and fish, how could it only be 200 taels? A conservative estimate is over 250 taels!"

Shen Yi splashed water excitedly, "Great! I can rest for two months now and get back to work in the spring."

Having trusted family members by my side and not having to worry about making a living feels like a dream.

After he had taken a nice hot shower, changed into clean clothes, and stepped out of the bathroom, he realized it was almost dusk.

Thousands of families always exchange new peaches for old ones.

He couldn't see what was happening in other homes outside the high walls, but the wisps of smoke rising from the chimneys above the village vividly demonstrated the lively family reunions of every household.

Shen Yi took a deep breath, picked up the clothes from the laundry bucket by the door, and washed them with water from the bathtub while Su Tai was cooking. He didn't need to hang them outside; he just hung them on the wooden pole in the bathroom, and they would freeze by tomorrow. He could then break off the frost and shake them off to dry them.

After he finished doing all that, Su Tai also set out the New Year's Eve dinner for tonight.

Braised pork belly, braised chicken, steamed fish, mushroom and pork rib soup, stir-fried greens, fragrant scallion pancakes with meat, and a large plate of pork and cabbage dumplings.

To ensure auspiciousness, Su Tai specially made two bowls of noodles, along with large steamed buns and dumplings that Han had given her.

Shen Yi's eyes widened in amazement. "Wife, you're amazing! This is the first time in my life I've ever had such a lavish New Year's feast!"

Su Tai smiled, her eyes crinkling. "How did you celebrate the New Year in the past?"

Shen Yi sat down with a thud and said as if nothing had happened, "When I was little, my mother and I depended on each other for survival. We had nothing but that little bit of land. My mother was very frugal. During the New Year, she would cook me a bowl of thick dumplings and an egg. She had saved up for a long time and couldn't bear to eat it."

Later, after my mother passed away, my second uncle and aunt invited me to come and eat with them. However, my second uncle's family was not well-off, and he had two younger cousins ​​to support. It was already a blessing if they could eat some meat during the New Year.

I remember the best meal I ever had was a pheasant, which my two cousins ​​and I found at the foot of the mountain. Later, as I grew older, I didn't want to trouble my uncle and aunt, so I ate at home by myself, usually just a bowl of dumpling soup with an egg, like before.

Su Tai felt heartbroken upon hearing this and quickly went over to hug Shen Yi. "Don't worry, I'll be here for you. Every year during the Spring Festival, we'll cook a big feast and have a happy time together."

"Okay!" Shen Yi nodded heavily and said, "I'll go get the firecrackers. Let's set off a string of firecrackers before we eat."

"it is good!"

Perhaps because their family started it, the rest of the village gradually began setting off firecrackers.

Su Tai and Shen Yi exchanged a glance, then picked up their soup bowls. "Others raise their glasses, we raise our bowls! To celebrate our first New Year together, may this day come again every year!"

"Okay! We'll grow old together and celebrate every New Year together!" Shen Yi picked up his bowl, clinked it against his glass, and drank it all in one gulp. He had just taken a bite of braised pork when the three puppies, drawn by the aroma, came sidling up to him.

Su Tai tried to get them some meat scraps, and seeing the puppies eating happily, she smiled wryly and said, "It looks like it will cost a lot of money to feed them meat in the future!"

Shen Yi didn't take it seriously. "Don't worry, the village dogs are all running around in the mountains when they get older. I'll take them into the mountains in the spring and let them find their own food. That's how you raise dogs that are strong. Otherwise, how can they guard the house?"

"That makes sense." Su Tai breathed a sigh of relief and stopped worrying about it.

After the New Year's Eve dinner, the young couple set off fireworks in the yard, big and small, one after another, as if they were free.

Many families in the village bought small fireworks, but few bought large ones, since they were too expensive and most families couldn't afford them.

Shen Yi and Su Tai setting off fireworks can be considered a benefit to the villagers.

While the young couple were having a great time, the atmosphere in Dongmen Village was a bit off.

The Su Chunlin family had just finished their reunion dinner when the Su Chunsen family returned home, looking travel-worn.

Not only did Su Chunsen and Su Chuan come this time, but Wan Shi and Su Chuan's wife Cuilan also came along.

When Han noticed Cuilan's slightly protruding belly, she immediately congratulated Wan, "Sister-in-law, you'll be holding your grandson next year! Congratulations! It's cold outside, come in quickly, I'll go get you some more food."

As she spoke, Han rushed into the kitchen.

The three members of the Wan family were all carrying things, except for Cuilan, who entered empty-handed. She barely looked at anyone and only asked Su Chuan with dissatisfaction, "Where are we staying tonight? I'm exhausted after traveling all day!"

Su Chunlin's expression changed slightly.

Ruan Xiaoyu hurriedly stepped forward to help them with their things, saying, "The houses have just been cleaned, and the bedding is all new. There are rooms in both the front and back yards, so you can stay wherever you want, sister-in-law."

Cuilan finally gave Ruan Xiaoyu a condescending look, and continued to act high and mighty, "The front yard is so noisy, so of course I'll live in the back yard! Oh, right, I serve the young mistress in the manor, and I have the best food, clothing and other necessities among all the maids. I can't sleep in a bad bed!"
Also, there needs to be charcoal in the room; it's so cold, I can't afford to catch a chill!

Ruan Xiaoyu looked completely bewildered.

Madam Wan glared at Cuilan, then smiled gently at Ruan Xiaoyu and said, "Just lead us to the backyard, and we'll handle the rest ourselves."

“Okay.” Ruan Xiaoyu quickly led them away.

As soon as the person left, Su Zhan couldn't help but complain, "Dad, what kind of people did my cousin marry? Anyone who didn't know better would think she was a young lady from a wealthy family!"

Su Ming nodded frantically.

Su Chunlin kept glancing towards the backyard, his brows furrowed, lost in thought.

A short while later, Ruan Xiaoyu returned alone.

Su Zhan quickly asked, "Did that woman look down on our family?"

Ruan Xiaoyu sighed in frustration, but before she could say anything, everyone heard a commotion coming from the backyard.

"This place is so shabby, it has nothing at all. I just don't understand why you came back? Are you bored?" Cuilan cursed at Su Chuan.