Country Love: Xie Dajiao, 37, is pregnant!

Lin Chen laughed as he tossed out a card, saying with a smile:

"My older brother plays steadily and thinks things through carefully. You, sir, are just too impatient. Playing cards during the New Year is just for fun. Winning or losing doesn't matter. Just have fun."

Just then, a skit came on TV, and the group paused their card game to watch it for a while. It was performed by Huang Hong and Niu Li, and everyone in the room burst into laughter. Wang Dana laughed along, and after laughing, he didn't forget to scold Wang Musheng.

"Look at the people on TV, how eloquent they are. And look at you, all you can do is argue."

Wang Musheng immediately retorted, unconvinced:

"Why can't I do it? Once the Kaichun Mountain Villa is built, I'll take good care of it for you. Then you'll see how capable I am."

Wang Dana waved his hand, his face full of disbelief:

"Stop bragging, I'm tired of hearing it. I'll be content as long as you don't cause me any trouble. I don't expect you to accomplish anything. Once the villa is built, let Big Head come over, and Xiao Chen can help supervise it."

The father and son exchanged barbs, going back and forth for several rounds of cards, which only made the festive atmosphere in the house stronger.

At this moment, Wang Yun shouted in this direction:

"Don't play for too long, the dumplings will be ready soon. Play two more rounds and then wash your hands and eat dumplings."

Wang Dana picked up his teacup, took a sip, and turned to chat with Lin Chen:

"Alright, that's enough playing. This pickled cabbage smells so fresh, let's eat more of it later."

Lin Chen smiled and replied:

"Of course, during the Lunar New Year, you have to eat your fill to truly celebrate."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Xie Dajiao's voice came from the kitchen:

"The water's boiling, time to cook the dumplings!"

Xie Dajiao held the lid and slowly slid the dumplings into the water along the edge of the pot. Wang Yun held a slotted spoon and gently pushed the dumplings along the edge of the pot to prevent them from sticking to the bottom and breaking.

After the water boils, ladle in a spoonful of cold water and repeat three times. This way, the dumplings will have a chewy texture and be cooked evenly inside and out.

After several rounds of cold water, the dumplings in the pot all puffed up, becoming white and plump, floating on the surface of the water, looking exceptionally appetizing.

Chen Yannan stood by and watched, occasionally asking questions.

Two large plates of steaming dumplings were served, with white steam rising from them. The refreshing aroma of pickled cabbage mixed with the savory fragrance of pork wafted over. Everyone took their seats in turn, and Lin Chen brought over some white wine and poured it for everyone.

"Huh? Bro, still drinking? I'm still hungover from what I had this afternoon," Wang Musheng said with a bitter face.

"Just let it all out. The more you drink dumplings and wine, the better. Go for it!"

Lin Chen sat down, picked up a dumpling, and took a bite. The dough was chewy, the pickled cabbage was refreshing and helped cut through the greasiness, and the meat filling was fresh, fragrant, and juicy. Paired with garlic sauce, it was the familiar taste.

Wang Musheng ate with great relish, taking one bite after another, and talking as he ate:

"Homemade dumplings are still the best; store-bought ones can't compare."

While he was eating, Wang Dana suddenly cried out "Ouch!" and spat out a coin from his mouth.

He stared at the coin for a moment, then burst into laughter:

"Okay, I got money! This is a good omen; my luck is sure to be good next year!"

Everyone in the room burst into laughter, and Xie Xiaomei congratulated them with a smile:

"I specially packed two coins in this dish for good luck in the New Year. If you're the first one to find one, your business will definitely boom next year. This resort is sure to be a success!"

Chang Gui picked up his glass and continued the conversation:

"Thank you for Xiaomei's auspicious words! I wish the villa a successful opening and booming business, so that the whole village of Ivory Mountain can benefit from it!"

Everyone clinked glasses and took a sip. After eating only a few, Lin Chen found a coin in his food. He smiled and handed the coin to Xie Xiaomei to see.

"Look at my luck!"

Xie Xiaomei smiled gently and placed a plump dumpling on his plate:

"Yes, you're the luckiest; you married a wonderful wife."

"Hmm? To me, it sounds like a compliment?"

"Hahaha……"

After finishing one plate, they ordered another. The pot was still boiling, and Xie Dajiao kept shaking the plate to prevent the dumplings from sticking together.

The group ate and chatted, talking non-stop, until they were all too full to eat anymore.

Around 11 p.m., the dining table was cleared away, and sunflower seeds, fruit, and candy were placed in the living room.

The Spring Festival Gala was still being broadcast in a lively and bustling manner, and everyone was watching it with great interest.

"A rooster that lays eggs, the best of the best among roosters! Oh yeah!"

"Hahaha……"

"This skit is hilarious!"

After the skit ended, Wang Dana took out a thick stack of red envelopes and handed them out to the younger generation one by one. When he handed one to Chen Yannan, she quickly declined, but Wang Dana stuffed it directly into her pocket.

"Take it, it's a lucky money gift for the New Year. You can celebrate the New Year with us here, just like at home, don't be shy." With outsiders present, Wang Dana couldn't be too direct.

Xie Dajiao also chimed in with advice:

"That's right, how can you not receive red envelopes during the Chinese New Year? Hurry up and accept them."

Chen Yannan clutched the red envelope tightly, feeling a warm glow in her heart. The loneliness she felt while spending the New Year away from home had long since vanished.

Lin Chen whispered in Chen Yannan's ear:

"You can't just take the red envelope for nothing. Come to my room tonight..."

Chen Yannan nodded, blushing. Xie Xiaomei crossed her arms with a mischievous grin, her expression saying: You're doomed tonight.

As midnight approached, the sound of firecrackers outside the window grew louder and louder, one after another, immersing the entire village in the joyous atmosphere of welcoming the New Year.

Lin Chen stood up, took out the firecrackers and fireworks he had prepared in advance, and said:

"New Year's Eve is almost here, let's go out and set off firecrackers to welcome the new year!"

"Sure, I'll join in the fun!"

Everyone got up, dressed, and went out. Despite the low temperature, everyone's hearts were warm.

At exactly twelve o'clock, firecrackers exploded, fireworks shot into the night sky, bursting into brilliant bursts of light against the night backdrop.

Wang Musheng took a lighter and lit the firecracker. He immediately prepared to run back, but the snow on the ground was too slippery. He squinted several times but couldn't move. When he had no other choice and saw that it was about to explode, he started rolling on the ground.

He had only rolled two meters when the firecracker shot into the air, scaring him so much that he never fired it again.

Wang Dana stood on the steps, watching the fireworks fill the sky, smoking and sighing:

"Celebrating the New Year in the village is much more fun; it's so cold and quiet in the city, it's not interesting at all."

Chang Gui nodded in agreement:

"You should come back every year for Chinese New Year from now on. It'll be more lively with the whole family together."

"That's exactly what I think too!"

The two looked at each other and burst into laughter...

……

Wang Dana and his son returned home on the second day of the Lunar New Year, and Wang Xiaomeng also returned to the villa on the evening of the second day. This time, Wang Changgui and his wife were not there, and the reunion dinner at Lin Chen's family officially began.

Time flies, and it's already the thirteenth day of the first lunar month.

The weather here in Ivory Mountain is unbelievably warm.

In previous years, it was still incredibly cold at this time of year. The ground was frozen solid, and you could fit your fingers into the cracks in the ground. The wind felt like it was cutting your face with a knife, and any exposed part of your head would freeze.

In the entire Xiangyashan area, nobody took "January Snow" seriously; they had all forgotten about it, or perhaps they simply didn't care about it at all—it was just a common saying.

The village elders sat under the wall, basking in the sun, chatting with their sleeves tucked in. They all said that this year was good, with a mild winter ending, and that planting crops in the spring would surely go smoothly.

Young people are even more diligent, putting away their thick cotton-padded coats early and going out in light jackets, feeling relaxed all over.

With the Lantern Festival just around the corner, the whole village is filled with festive cheer. Every household is busy preparing food for the festival and discussing whether to go to the city to watch fireworks.

Every household's stove was busy, steaming sticky rice dumplings, grinding glutinous rice flour, and cutting red lantern paper. The sweet aroma of millet flour wafted through the courtyard.

Groups of teenagers walked the streets, their pockets tucked with small firecrackers, setting them off as they went, creating a constant crackling sound.

Even Liu Neng, the stingiest man in the village, was generous today. He specially bought two jin of white sugar at Dajiao Supermarket, saying that he would invite his in-laws over for dinner on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month to make it a lively occasion.

I wonder how much of a commotion two pounds of white sugar will cause.

No one in the entire village, from top to bottom, noticed that a blizzard, the worst in fifty years, was quietly brewing in the clouds, about to crash down on this peaceful mountain village...