A song from Chengdu revived a closed-down pub.

After sitting in the orphanage for a while, seeing that the little ones were starting to get sleepy, Su Fan got up and went home.

Pushing open the gate, the courtyard was spotless, with hardly any fallen leaves even in the corners.

Upon entering the room and turning on the lights, I noticed that the tables and chairs were free of dust, the bedding was neatly made, and a pair of slippers were placed on the bedside table.

Although I haven't been back for a long time, this place doesn't feel like a house that's been empty for a long time at all.

At first, Aunt Liu would come over every few days to help him tidy up.

Later, nearby villagers saw this and took over the task, allowing her to take care of the children in the yard without worry.

Later on, the neighbors developed a tacit understanding.

Whoever has free time can come over and take a look, open the windows to let in some fresh air, sweep the yard, and wipe down the house while they're at it.

Hearing that he was coming back, Aunt Liu took the bedding out to air it in advance.

Therefore, Su Fan never had to worry about having nowhere to stay when he was away from home.

He reached out and touched the clean sheets, smiled, put his luggage against the wall, and didn't rush to unpack.

After driving all day and playing with the kids for half the day, I'm really tired now.

After a quick wash, he lay down and went to sleep.

The next morning, Su Fan got up, got ready, and went out.

As soon as he reached his neighbor's door, an auntie who was sweeping the yard saw him.

"Xiao Fan, did you come back last night?"

Su Fan smiled and nodded, "You're back, Auntie! Happy New Year!"

"Okay, okay, come in and sit down."

Su Fan said, "I've kept my room so clean, thank you for your help again."

Auntie waved her hand: "What trouble is this? It's just a wall away, it's a small matter. Your Aunt Liu came over yesterday to air out the quilts, saying that you drove so far and you should sleep comfortably when you get back."

Su Fan smiled and agreed, chatted with them for a few more minutes, and then got up to go to the next place.

As we walked along, we were greeted continuously.

Someone was having breakfast at the door. When they saw him, they came out with their bowls and started talking.

Someone simply pulled him into the house and stuffed peanuts and candy into his hands.

When he arrived at Pan Lei's house, before he even entered, he heard someone inside shout, "Old Pan, your village chief is back!"

Pan Lei came out of the house, saw Su Fan, and immediately smiled: "Oh, you still know to come back and wish me a Happy New Year?"

Su Fan said, "Uncle Pan, Happy New Year! I just got back and went door-to-door to make up for it, didn't I?"

"It's good to see you back. On New Year's Eve, everyone in the brigade watched you sing, it was so lively."

"I heard about it, and I also heard that you almost called everyone from the next village over."

"Why did I have to call him? He came on his own," Pan Lei said smugly, then pulled him into the house. "Come in and sit down. Don't leave for lunch; eat here with me."

After chatting for a while, the two turned to the topic of village dividends.

Pan Lei refilled Su Fan's tea and casually asked, "How long do you plan to stay this time?"

"Let's go back around the eighth day of the lunar new year."

"So early? I was thinking of waiting until after the fifteenth to call everyone together to share the profits. Couldn't you stay a few more days?"

Su Fan shook his head: "I drove back this time. Sister Shan and the others came with me. They have to rush back to work. I can't keep them waiting for me."

"That's true, we can't let important matters get in the way."

Pan Lei thought for a moment and quickly changed his mind: "Let's move it forward. After the fifth day of the new year, everyone will have visited most of their relatives. We'll gather everyone together on the sixth day and distribute the dividends."

Su Fan laughed and said, "Didn't you say before that everyone was waiting to get their share of the money? How come it's really been until after the New Year?"

Pan Lei leaned back in his chair, a hint of smugness in his expression: "This year is different from previous years. Let me tell you, everyone has made a lot of money this year, so no one is in a hurry to push. In previous years, as soon as they knew there was some money in the village account, people would have come to ask if it could be distributed before the end of the year."

Su Fan nodded: "It seems everyone is better off financially this year."

"Absolutely," Pan Lei laughed. "Some open small restaurants, some sell local specialties, and some even turn their own yards into guesthouses. Don't underestimate these small businesses; they earn more in a month than they did working outside before."

Pan Lei counted several families on his fingers, becoming more and more energetic as he spoke: "Let me tell you, there are also a few kids who finished college outside and have come back. Before, when they came back for the New Year, they would only stay for a few days before leaving in a hurry. Now, some of them have come back to help their families run guesthouses, and some are thinking about selling things online, and they've actually made a name for themselves."

"That's a good thing! With a family business, the young people will have something to do, and life will gradually improve."

"It's definitely a good thing. In the end, it's all thanks to you."

Su Fan waved his hand: "Don't pin everything on me. I just came up with an idea; everything after that was done by you and everyone else together."

"Now you're being modest with me. Alright, no need to refuse. Everyone knows who put in the effort, and they all appreciate your kindness."

"I appreciate your kindness, but if you really want to thank me, then just focus on doing your business well. If tourists come and eat well and stay comfortably, they'll be willing to come back next time. That's how you make a stable life."

Pan Lei nodded: "I've said that to them too. We've finally managed to get them here, we can't ruin the village's reputation just to earn a few extra dollars."

"I feel relieved with you watching over things."

"Don't just relax, you still have to show up on the sixth day of the new year and say a few words to everyone."

"Okay, then it'll be the sixth day of the lunar month. I'll be there on time."

Just as Pan Lei was about to pick up his phone to notify everyone, he suddenly remembered something: "By the way, do you think it's better to transfer the money through a bank or distribute it in cash directly?"

Su Fan thought for a moment and said with a smile, "I think cash is better. Although bank transfers are convenient, receiving a notification on your phone is not the same as receiving a stack of money in person. Everyone has worked hard all year, and when it's time to distribute the money, people should be able to genuinely feel that their hard work has paid off."

Pan Lei nodded in agreement: "That makes sense, especially for the elderly in the village. They may not feel much difference in the amount of money in their accounts until they actually hold it in their hands and count it. That's when they feel at ease."

"Moreover, it's lively to see everyone sitting together and watching each household receive their money. In the past, when people talked about how well the village was developing and how much money someone had earned, it was always just hearsay. But this time, with the money laid out, everyone can see it with their own eyes and hold it themselves, which will give them more energy to work next year."

Pan Lei slapped his thigh: "Alright, let's split the cash!"

He picked up his phone and thought for a moment, "I've made an appointment with the bank in advance to arrange everything for withdrawing and collecting the money. When the time comes, I'll have the accountant divide the money according to each household's amount, check it on the spot, and have them sign and collect the money. I don't want any mistakes in the rush."

Su Fan nodded: "Okay, let's invite the bank staff too, so everyone can deposit their money on the spot."

Pan Lei hesitated, "Will this work? Is the bank willing to make a special trip just for us?"

Su Fan smiled: "Uncle Pan, think about it, how much money will our whole village get this time? Everyone can't just keep it all at home. If the bank could take over the deposit business, making this trip wouldn't be a loss, right?"

Pan Lei was taken aback for a moment, then realized: "You mean, we're giving them business opportunities?"

"Yes, and it's not just this dividend distribution. More and more people in the village are opening homestays and running restaurants, and they also need to collect payments and deposit money regularly. The fact that the bank is willing to come here means we can have more dealings with everyone in the future."

Upon hearing this, Pan Lei immediately felt more confident: "Then I'll talk to their manager."

Su Fan continued, "Tell them the time, number of people, and approximate amount of the dividends, and then ask if they can arrange door-to-door service, and what specific steps they can take, so that the bank can come up with a plan."

Pan Lei nodded with a smile: "That's good. Everyone can receive the money in person, which adds to the fun. After receiving it, they can save it. It also saves the older folks from carrying around a big bag of money and not knowing where to hide it."

Su Fan said, "So you should ask first; maybe the banks will be more proactive than we are."

……