My Taoist nun girlfriend is from the Republic of China era, 1942.

Chapter 86 Bet
After seeing Lü Xin off, Lu Yuan turned around and saw Chen Xiaomiao standing behind him with a worried look on her face.

She stepped forward and whispered, "Lu Yuan, am I going to hurt Boss Dong?"

Lu Yuan smiled calmly: "Don't worry, Boss Dong has earned so much money thanks to you, he'll definitely have a good New Year."

As for whether anyone would come to settle scores after the New Year, Lu Yuan didn't care at all...

After working for more than an hour, Chen Xiaomiao finally finished writing the Spring Festival couplets and laid them out to dry on the living room floor. The bright red couplets covered the floor, and Lu Yuan was helping her tidy them up when the doorbell rang again.

"Who?"

Chen Xiaomiao wiped her hands and ran to open the door.

This time, it was their upstairs neighbors, Zheng Zhifeng and Gao Rong, who came.

They had both changed quite a bit in the few months since they last saw each other.

Gao Rong's belly was already noticeably protruding, and the pink cashmere coat she was wearing made her pregnant belly even more obvious.

Her makeup was still exquisite, but there was a hint of barely perceptible irritation in the corners of her eyes and brows.

But Zheng Zhifeng, who was standing next to her, seemed to have aged ten years out of nowhere.

The once worrying hairline is now visibly thinning, with large patches of gray hair mixed in with the black hair, and the face is full of fatigue from being repeatedly battered by life.

"Brother Lu Yuan, Little Miao, are you home?"

Zheng Zhifeng handed over a huge styrofoam box: "I went fishing at the reservoir a couple of days ago and caught a few big grass carp, each weighing twenty or thirty pounds. The two of us can't finish them all."

"It's almost Chinese New Year, so I brought these to you to try. Don't be picky!"

"Oh dear, I can't accept this..."

Lu Yuan readily accepted it. Although he didn't have a good impression of Gao Rong, he wouldn't hit someone who was smiling.

Besides, it's normal for neighbors to give and take.

He turned around and took out the couplet he had left over from the pile of Spring Festival couplets, which read "May your journey be smooth and your year be prosperous," and handed it to Zheng Zhifeng.

"Perfect timing, I've also prepared some things for the New Year, Brother Zheng, you can take them and share in the joy."

Zheng Zhifeng unfolded it and took a look. Whether he really understood it or not, he immediately started praising it.

"Beautiful calligraphy! Beautiful calligraphy indeed! This is clearly the work of a master!"

Lu Yuan mimicked Lü Xin's tone and boasted earnestly, "That's right, it's the work of a famous master. A single piece like that would cost tens of thousands on the market!"

"..."

Chen Xiaomiao, who was standing to the side, blushed and wished she could disappear into the ground.

Gao Rong leaned over for a couple of glances, then muttered dismissively, "Really? Tens of thousands of yuan for one? The landscape painting hanging in my best friend's living room, that's a master's work, I heard it was bought at an auction..."

"Xiao Rong!"

Zheng Zhifeng interrupted Gao Rong sharply, smiled awkwardly at Lu Yuan, and quickly rolled up the Spring Festival couplets.

"Thank you, brother... I won't bother you any longer. Have a happy new year!"

Even after closing the door, Lu Yuan could still hear the couple arguing outside, Zheng Zhifeng's tone full of helplessness.

"Xiao Rong, can you please be mindful of the occasion? All you do is keep talking about your best friend, is that really necessary...?"

"What did I do wrong? I'm just telling the truth! Why are you yelling at me? Do you think I'm embarrassing you?"

“I’m not saying you’re shameful. We’re neighbors, whether it’s true or not doesn’t matter. Why do you have to embarrass someone? A close neighbor is worse than a distant relative. We might need their help in the future.”

Zheng Zhifeng patiently tried to persuade Gao Rong with kind words, but Gao Rong wouldn't listen at all, and her voice became increasingly shrill.

"Zheng Zhifeng, let me tell you, I'm pregnant right now. You dare to say another harsh word to me!"

"I……"

The sounds outside the door gradually faded away, replaced by the soft sound of the elevator doors opening and closing.

Lu Yuan and Chen Xiaomiao stood behind the door, looking at each other in bewilderment.

"My goodness..."

Chen Xiaomiao clicked her tongue and couldn't help but complain, "Brother Zheng, this year's New Year is probably going to be tough for you."

She crossed her arms, looking like a little adult, and began to comment.

"Why is Gao Rong so insensible? She's already married and pregnant, and she doesn't act like a proper matriarch at all."

How can she live like this, making her man lose face in front of outsiders?
Sister Xiaozhi used to say that men should be strong and upright outside the home, but when they come home, women should be like a bowl of hot soup to warm their hearts.

She's like a bowl of ice crystals; anyone who gets on her is doomed! Brother Zheng seems like a really honest guy, how did he end up marrying such a wife? He really made a huge mistake!" Lu Yuan reached out and pinched her nose.

"Alright, let's not worry about other people's business. It's the New Year, let's take care of our own home first."

"middle!"

Chen Xiaomiao enthusiastically carried her bowl of flour paste, stepped onto a stool, and began to gesture on the clean French windows.

More than an hour later, the whole house was transformed.

The doors, windows, and walls were all covered in eye-catching red. It might have looked a bit rustic, but the lively and vibrant festive atmosphere of the New Year was palpable.

The two stood side by side in the center of the living room, admiring the fruits of their labor with satisfaction.

Looking at the faint stains of paste spreading on the white wall and the crooked "福" (fortune) character on the window, Lu Yuan didn't find them ugly at all. Instead, he felt an unprecedented sense of peace.

This is probably... what home feels like?
Chen Xiaomiao didn't have as much time for sentimentality as Lu Yuan. She turned around, changed the water in the bluefish that Zheng Zhifeng had brought, placed it on the balcony, and squatted down to examine it carefully.

The idiot followed her over and circled around her feet, reaching out his paws to poke at the fish in the box.

"Go away, you stupid dog, you're already thinking about eating fish."

Lu Yuan stepped forward and kicked the idiot away, then squatted down next to Chen Xiaomiao: "Xiaomiao, what's so interesting about a fish?"

Chen Xiaomiao reached out and poked the fish's belly, then gestured to indicate the length of the fish's body, her brows furrowed.

"Lu Yuan, what should we do with this fish?"

"Steamed, braised... whatever you think is best."

Lu Yuan shooed the idiot away from the box and casually replied.

"There's no room for any pots at home!"

Chen Xiaomiao looked worried: "Such a big fish, how big of a pot do we need to steam it? How many pieces do we need to chop it into for braising? We can't finish it, it's such a waste!"

Lu Yuan spread his hands: "Then what do you suggest? We can't just keep it as a statue, can we?"

"I've got it!" Chen Xiaomiao's eyes lit up, and she clapped her hands: "Let's cut it into pieces and make it into preserved fish!"

"Salted fish?" Lu Yuan asked worriedly, "Is it too late to make it now? It's almost Chinese New Year."

"It's okay, we can always eat it on the fifteenth."

"I still think it's unreliable... You're from the North, do you really think you can do that?"

Making preserved fish from a fish weighing 20 to 30 pounds is a gamble, and while the flavor is top-notch if successful, it is also a huge test of skill and whether the weather will cooperate.

Moreover, dried fish is not as common or produced on a large scale in the north as it is in the south, so Lu Yuan had extreme distrust of Chen Xiaomiao's technical skills.

If the fish is ruined, the girl will probably be depressed for several days.

"Who do you think you are!"

Chen Xiaomiao put her hands on her hips: "Even if I haven't eaten pork, I've seen pigs run. I have a cell phone, so why can't I learn how to use it..."

She got more and more excited as she talked, as if she could already see the glistening, salty, and fragrant cured fish hanging on her own balcony.

"Okay, okay, you're amazing."

Lu Yuan smiled and raised his hands in surrender. When this girl was serious, her lively appearance was truly endearing.

"Xiao Miao, how about we make a bet?"

"What are you gambling?"

"If you make this big bluefish into preserved fish before the Lantern Festival, I'll grant you a request; otherwise, you grant me one."

What requests do you want?

"You can move into my room to warm the bed."

Lu Yuan rubbed his hands together, a mischievous grin on his face: "Don't worry, it's just to warm up the bed and save on electricity..."

Chen Xiaomiao hadn't figured out what she could ask of Lu Yuan, but seeing Lu Yuan's confident demeanor, she couldn't help but admire him.

Gritting his teeth and stamping his feet.

"Fine, let's bet! You just wait!"

　The first chapter released is just a character introduction, so don't worry... there won't be similar plots later on.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)