Divorced by her husband's family and rejected by her own! She defiantly turned her life around

Liu Siyue smiled at Qingling, "Qingling, now that you've said that, I know what to do. To be honest, I do want to do this business, but I'm afraid people will call me a heretic."

This business is extremely beneficial for women; it's a blessing.

"Master, you're absolutely right. This is so much better than a bellyband. It makes you look much more elegant." Two married women were discussing women's topics in this small space.

Lunchtime! Two tables were laden with food. "Mom, today's meal is so delicious! Is it almost New Year's?"

"Yes, starting today, our family begins celebrating the Lunar New Year. Just like you said, we'll eat and drink happily."

"This is great, this is great! Everyone can relax, play and eat to their heart's content without having to work."

The family sat at one table, and the servants sat at another. The food was the same for everyone. Liu Dawang and Feng Shi took the first bites of food before everyone else started eating.

"In April, what did you buy that iron trough for? It's too tall to use for feeding chicken legs. Besides, it's a waste to use such good iron to feed chickens."

Liu Siyue chuckled, "Mom, that's not for feeding chickens, that's a barbecue grill, it's for cooking."

"Make food? How do you do that?"

"I'll keep this a secret for now. I'll teach everyone how to make it on New Year's Eve."

That night, the sky suddenly changed again. It was pitch black, rained in the first half of the night, and then it started snowing in the second half, accompanied by howling north winds.

The two guards who were secretly watching found a house closest to Liu Dawang's house and hid inside. They stayed hidden until New Year's Eve before quietly leaving despite the wind and snow.

"Master, they've left."

"Hmm, don't worry about it, let's have a happy New Year."

On New Year's Eve, the whole family got busy. The couplets and the square characters on the horse-drawn carriage and oxcart were all written by Liu Siyue, the square characters in the courtyard were written by Ruyue and Ruxing, and the square characters in their own rooms and on the doors were all written by themselves. If they didn't know how to write, they would ask Ruyue and Ruxing to write them.

The couplet on the gate reads: "May fortune, wealth, and luck abound; may the family prosper, people thrive, and career flourish." The horizontal scroll reads: "Joy fills the door."

After lunch, Liu Dawang started putting up couplets. After he finished, he read them out word by word: "May fortune, wealth, and luck abound; may the family prosper, people thrive, and career flourish; may joy fill the door."

It's so good to be literate now; I can even read couplets myself. The couplets I wrote in April are really good; their family and their lives will only get better and better.

"Dad, are the couplets up yet? What are you laughing at here? We've finished up all the square couplets in the house."

"Ru Xue, your father can read couplets now. He recognizes all the characters on these. He's not blind anymore."

"Dad is amazing!"

"Dad, read it again for me."

Liu Dawang read it again. "How about it? Did Dad read it correctly?"

"Dad, you're amazing! You got everything right. You can't say you're stupid anymore. Study hard and keep it up. You're the pillar of our family. You're going to be a big landowner someday."

"You naughty girl, still making fun of your father." The father and daughter laughed and went back to the yard.

On the afternoon of Lunar New Year's Eve, villagers carried offerings to their family graves to pay respects to their ancestors and relatives, and to bring them home for the New Year. Liu Dawang's family did not need to do this, as he had severed ties with the old family home. He was the ancestor of their lineage, and if he died in the future, his lineage would also end.

His daughters are all very sensible and filial, and he is very content, but he still has some regrets.

Madam Feng knew what he was thinking, but she didn't want to expose him. This was their fate, and no one could change it. After their daughters got married, they would leave, and their daughters would have no family to rely on. Thinking of this, Madam Feng felt bad.

Liu Dawang and Feng Shi sat in the main room. The children told them to rest, and that they would cook the New Year's Eve dinner. This year's New Year's Eve dinner was not only plentiful, but also had a wide variety of dishes, many of which they had never seen before.

Even a high-ranking official's wife like Qingling couldn't help but admire how good the masters' lives were, and how they, as servants, were also benefiting from it.

Although Qingling comes from a noble family, she is a person with courage and the ability to judge situations. She never looks down on others because of her former high status, nor does she try to please others or lose her dignity because of her current low status.

"Mom, Second Uncle, what do you think of tonight's New Year's Eve dinner? It contains everyone's heartfelt wishes and blessings."

"Cousin, you're going to own a restaurant someday, can you tell us about these dishes?"

Tonight is Lunar New Year's Eve, and Mr. Feng suggested that everyone eat at the same table to make it more lively.

Their dining table is a rotating table, and it's big enough that more than a dozen people can sit comfortably together.

Liu Ruyun stood up and introduced the dishes on the table to everyone one by one: This plate is salt and pepper shrimp, this plate is spicy shrimp, this plate is sweet and sour fish, this plate is…

There were 24 dishes on the table, both hot and cold, and they were a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate.

Everyone's mouths watered at the sight of the table full of food.

"Qingwu, bring out the drinks I prepared for everyone."

Qingwu brought out two jars filled with orange juice. She opened the jars and poured a glass for everyone.

"Second Uncle, you are the head of the family, please say a few words to everyone."

"What did you want your second uncle to say in April?"

"Tell me your hopes and wishes for the future?"

"I hope my family will be safe and sound, have food to eat, money to spend, and land to cultivate."

Liu Siyue led the applause, and the others followed suit. Among the dozen or so people, Liu Dawang was the only man, and he actually felt a little uncomfortable.

"Mom, say a few words to us too!"

"Mother doesn't have any big wishes. She just hopes that our family can live in peace and harmony, and that all of you sisters can find good husbands and love each other for a lifetime."

"Anyone else have something to say? If no one, can we start eating now?"

Ruyue and Ruxing eagerly declared, "I have something to say, I have something to say!"

"We hope that every year will be like this day, and that every year will be like this morning, that there will be delicious food every day, that Mom will never get sick, and that Dad will be happy every day."

Everyone is having a good time.

Liu Dawang and Madam Feng laughed heartily, "Our Yue'er and Xing'er have really grown up, thank you, Mom and Dad."

"Dad, can we eat now?"

Liu Dawang said with a smile, "Let's eat."

Liu Siyue picked up her glass and stood up. "Let's all have a toast to celebrate the arrival of the New Year. I wish everyone a happy New Year and all the best!"

Cheers. "

The others joined in, saying, "Happy New Year to everyone, and may all your wishes come true."

Everyone took a sip and discovered that the drink was actually warm. "April, this drink is so delicious, sweet and with a very unique flavor."

"Yes, I like drinking it too."

"We like it too."

"Second Uncle, I've also prepared a jar of wine for you. You can drink it yourself, and we women will just have some soft drinks."

"Okay, Uncle, have a drink."

"Don't drink too much, we need to go to the ancestral hall to offer sacrifices tomorrow morning!"

"I know, I'll just have a couple of sips."

The family gathered together, eating and drinking, and the New Year's Eve dinner lasted for more than an hour.

"This food is so delicious, I can't even move after eating it."

"Then get up and digest your food, we still have the second half to go."

"The second half? What's the second half?"

"The second half was also all about eating and drinking, staying up late to celebrate the New Year."

Seeing this scene, Liu Yiyue couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, "These days are truly wonderful! My second sister is really capable."