A song from Chengdu revived a closed-down pub.

Pan Lei took the list and went from house to house calling out names.

The accountant checked the records, and each time a family was called, someone would stand up with a smile, walk to the table, sign for their money, and receive their payment.

The dividends this year were quite substantial.

Su Fan alone received 30,000 yuan.

For families with four or five members, the total comes to over ten thousand.

When he received the money, he couldn't stop smiling.

Someone counted them carefully once, then handed them to his wife beside him: "Count them again and see if they're correct."

His wife complained that he was being slow, but after taking the money, she counted it carefully.

Seeing this, someone waiting to receive their money couldn't help but joke, "Old Liu, count slowly, don't get so excited you can't even count anymore."

"Don't worry, I can forget everything else, but I won't forget counting money!"

A burst of laughter immediately erupted around them.

The brigade's courtyard was bustling with activity until nearly noon before the money was distributed to each household.

Some people carefully put their money into their pockets, while couples huddled together, quietly discussing their plans for the new spring.

Several children circled around the adults, already asking if they could buy some things they had been wanting for a long time.

Just as Su Fan put away his red envelope, someone grabbed his arm.

"Xiao Fan, come to my house for lunch. I specifically told you this morning to have your aunt cook a couple more dishes."

Before she could finish speaking, someone else chimed in, "Wait a minute. I already told Xiaofan yesterday, Xiaofan, come on, let's go to my house. Your aunt stewed mutton today, and she hasn't left the pot unattended."

Another older woman smiled and joined in, "You all have delicious food, and mine isn't bad either! Xiao Fan, let me make you some noodles. Didn't you love my minced meat noodles when you were little?"

Before Su Fan could answer, someone called out to him from behind, "Come to my house, it's close by, just a short walk. After dinner, you can sit down and have a couple of cups of tea."

Seeing that several people were about to reach out to pull him, Su Fan quickly said, "Thank you, uncles and aunts. The yard prepared a meal today. I told Aunt Liu this morning that I would go back to eat, so I won't bother you any longer."

Upon hearing that it was Aunt Liu waiting, everyone stopped trying to pull him away.

The middle-aged man who spoke first was still somewhat unwilling: "What about tomorrow? Surely you'll come to my house tomorrow?"

Su Fan was both amused and exasperated: "You've arranged this way too tightly."

The older woman laughed and said, "Isn't it because you rarely come back? Since you've come all the way to the village, we should at least treat you to a meal."

Su Fan smiled and said, "I remember everyone's kindness. Whenever I come back in the future, I will definitely come over for a visit if I have time."

Everyone laughed and let him go, reminding him to give Aunt Liu their regards before he left.

After the dividend distribution was over, Su Fan stopped going out and spent most of his remaining time in the orphanage.

During the day, she plays with the children and helps them with their homework. When it's time to eat, she stands at the kitchen door and asks Aunt Liu what delicious food she's making today.

Zhao Jie and Fang Cheng were also there, so the group sat together and chatted. Before they knew it, an afternoon had passed.

Time flies when you're like that.

Before we knew it, it was the eighth day of the first lunar month.

Early that morning, Su Fan drove to the orphanage gate, ready to pick up Yuan Shanshan, Xiao Ran, and Xiang Hong and return to Kyoto together.

Before the group had even put their luggage away, Aunt Liu brought out two large bags from the house.

Su Fan quickly stepped forward to take it: "Aunt Liu, what is this?"

"I have some homemade cured pork and some dried vegetables," Aunt Liu said, then turned and walked into the house. "Put them in first, there's more inside."

Upon hearing this, Su Fan couldn't help but glance into the trunk.

When Aunt Liu came out again, she had two more large bags in her hands.

Zhao Jie followed behind, carrying a sealed cardboard box.

Su Fan quickly said, "Aunt Liu, that's enough, that's enough. There are four of us, and we still have luggage."

"It can fit." Aunt Liu walked to the car, looked at it carefully, and pointed to direct, "This bag is soft, just put it to the side. Put the box at the bottom, so it won't crush the food."

Yuan Shanshan also came over for a look, and said with a mix of amusement and exasperation, "Are you planning to stuff all of us in here as luggage?"

Aunt Liu glanced at her with a smile: "These aren't just for Xiao Fan, there's a share for you too. You'll all be busy at work when you get back, so you can just heat them up and eat them."

Hearing this, the group could no longer refuse and could only rearrange the trunk.

Xiao Ran turned the suitcase around, and Xiang Hong helped gather the bags together, while Su Fan and Zhao Jie were responsible for stuffing things into the gaps.

After fiddling around for a while, I finally managed to put it in.

Aunt Liu was still worried. Pointing to one of the individually tied bags, she instructed Su Fan, "Take this to your parents. It's nothing valuable, just something homemade. Let them try it."

Su Fan glanced down at it and nodded, saying, "Okay, I'll send it over when I get back."

"You brought so many things back with you, I didn't know what to give you as a gift," Aunt Liu said, pressing the bag opening again. "These are all freshly packed and clean, so you can eat them without worry."

Su Fan smiled: "They'll definitely like it."

After everything was loaded, he looked at the trunk, which was now completely full, and finally couldn't help but sigh: "I've figured it out, this car can't be empty. It came full when we came, and it's full when we go back, not a bit less."

Yuan Shanshan said, "Let's get in the car quickly. If we stand for a while longer, Aunt Liu will remember what else is in the house, and we'll really have to carry our things all the way."

Everyone laughed.

The children also ran to the door, surrounded Aunt Liu, and said goodbye to them all at once.

Su Fan got into the car, rolled down the window, and waved to everyone.

Aunt Liu stood by the car and gave her one last reminder: "Drive carefully, rest when you're tired, and call me when you arrive, no matter how late it is."

Su Fan nodded: "I understand, you can go back now, it's cold outside."

The car slowly drove out of the courtyard gate.

Even after turning the corner, Su Fan could still see Aunt Liu standing there with the children in his rearview mirror.

Yuan Shanshan looked back for a while before sitting up straight and letting out a soft breath.

It was already evening when we arrived in Kyoto.

Su Fan first took Yuan Shanshan and Xiao Ran back to their residence, and then took a detour to take Xiang Hong there.

After the three of them had collected their luggage and the things Aunt Liu had prepared, he drove back to his residence.

Upon entering, Su Fan didn't bother to tidy up; he immediately made a phone call to Aunt Liu.

The phone was answered almost as soon as it rang.

"arrive?"

"I'm here, I just got home too," Su Fan said with a smile as he changed his shoes.

"I've been waiting for your call. Have you moved your things inside? Don't keep the food in the car."

"I know, you should get some rest too, you have to take care of those little ones tomorrow."

Aunt Liu gave a few more instructions before hanging up the phone.

Su Fan carried his things into the house, put the items that needed to be refrigerated into the refrigerator, and after a quick wash, went to bed to rest.