Chapter 345 - 343: A Bustling New Year

In the end, drawing on what little brotherly affection they had left, they all worked together to rescue Yun Xiao Liu.

The moment he was out, they scrammed. ’Dealing with these adults is a job for other adults,’ they thought.

"Jiaojiao, there’s snow over here."

"Let me see, let me see!"

Yun Jiao ran over with her two dogs, but the dogs were faster. They charged ahead, huffing and puffing, and quickly covered the patch of clean snow with a messy jumble of paw prints.

They were a complete mess.

"Aaargh... couldn’t you have let me step on it first?!"

The kids chased after the two silly dogs, frolicking about.

The return of Grandpa and Granny Yun caused quite a stir in the village.

For the next few days, people were constantly coming to their house to chat with the two elders.

One could only say that the allure of the Capital was just too great.

Even Yun Jiao’s maternal grandparents came over.

The two old folks were a bit fond of showing off, too. Every day, Grandpa Yun would stroll around the village with the pipe he bought in the Capital.

Yun Jiao would occasionally follow behind them with her two dogs, watching them show off to the other villagers.

The villagers were truly envious. They wanted to see the Capital, too.

Amidst these peaceful days, the New Year soon arrived.

Butchering the New Year pigs was a lively event at their home this year. Thanks to everyone’s efforts, the two pigs had been raised to be plump and healthy.

They had hired the village butcher the day before, and early the next morning, just as Yun Jiao was getting out of bed, things were already getting lively outside.

With her two pigtails askew, Yun Jiao ran outside to see the village’s able-bodied young men hauling two pigs onto the butchering table.

"Your family is butchering two New Year pigs this year?"

What kind of family was this? For most, butchering even one was a huge deal, yet the Yun Linhai household was doing two at once.

"That’s right. We have a big family, and we need to send some to the two eldest as well."

"Sigh, the two eldest won’t get to eat this year’s dumplings again."

The two New Year pigs were quickly dispatched, and everyone began to process the meat.

Even Yun Jiao wasn’t idle; she went over to the stove to help tend the fire.

It was also a chance to listen to Granny Yun and a few of the aunties and grannies chat and gossip as they prepared the vegetables.

"Our village’s Yun Sui, Yun Zhaodi, and that Ah Lai kid are all being sent to school after the New Year."

"With Yun Sui being the way he is, can he even study?"

Granny Yun was worried too. "I’m not so much worried about whether he can study. I’m just afraid he’ll get bullied at school, being the way he is."

That Yun Sui kid gets bullied even in the village, let alone at school.

Yun Jiao started to worry too. Resting her chin on her hands, she thought, ’Maybe it’s better if Yun Sui doesn’t go.’

’He’d be better off learning a trade.’

’But what could Yun Sui learn?’

’Yun Sui is a village guardian, a village guardian...’

Yun Jiao’s eyes lit up.

If she remembered correctly, Yun Sui did seem to possess some strange abilities, and his heart was pure.

’I wonder if he could guard the village temple.’

’I’ll ask the village chief about it later.’

Yun Jiao and her family were on good terms with Yun Sui now, so naturally, they didn’t want to see him get bullied.

The pork feast was ready, filling a large table with its fragrant aroma.

Yun Jiao, her older brothers, and Yun Sui all sat together at one table.

They all ate and chatted.

Yun Jiao then remembered what she had been thinking about earlier.

"Yun Sui, do you want to go to school?"

Yun Sui looked at her with a silly grin. "School? Grandpa wants me to go to school."

He probably didn’t even understand the significance of schooling himself; he was only going because his grandpa wanted him to.

Yun Jiao said, "Alright then. If anyone in your class bullies you, you have to tell my brothers, okay?"

Yun Xiaowu, stuffing a piece of meat into his mouth, heard this and patted his chest.

"Yeah, tell me. I’ll protect you."

Yun Sui nodded. "Okay."

’Then I’ll just wait and see how things go after he’s been in school for a while.’

The New Year was the liveliest time of year, and also the kids’ favorite.

Especially now that their family had firecrackers to set off!

Yun Xiaowu and the other boys held a few firecrackers, a crowd of village kids trailing behind them, their eyes filled with envy.

Yun Xiaowu and his group couldn’t have been more smug.

With firecrackers in hand, the boys’ courage grew exponentially.

One moment they were blowing up a dog bowl, the next they were blowing up cowpats, and they even threw a firecracker into someone’s outhouse.

When the outhouse exploded, the owner came out cursing and chasing after them, and the whole pack of kids took off running for their lives.

Then, in a moment of carelessness, they threw a firecracker into the house.

And then, Yun Xiaowu and his brothers faced their punishment.

Shen Yunlian and Wang Mei stood with clothes hangers in hand, glaring furiously at the young culprits.

"Get writing! Stop picking your nails and digging in your ears. Think of how many words you could have written in the time you’ve spent fiddling around."

That’s right. Not only were their firecrackers confiscated, but they were also forced to do their homework.

Yun Jiao, who hadn’t joined in because she disliked the sound of firecrackers, was now snacking and gloating at their misfortune.

Once the cured meat and sausages were smoked, the family got busy packing them up to be sent out.

Packages went out to Yun Chendong and Yun Chenxi, as well as to folks in the Capital. There were also gifts for Yun Xiao Liu’s master, Grandpa Wu, Fu Mingyu, and Yun Jiao’s godfather and godmother. They also sent a package to Aunt Wu Lan—the woman they met on the train who kept sending Yun Jiao clothes. In her last letter, she mentioned she was expecting a baby.

They also had to deliver some to people nearby: Yun Jiao’s master and teacher, Yun Chenbei, and Yun Xiaoqi’s master.

Although they weren’t valuable items, they were New Year’s gifts exchanged between friends and family, just a way to stay close.

That’s how relationships were maintained. If you didn’t stay in touch for a long time, the connection would naturally fade.

By the time they were done, more than half a pig’s worth of pork was gone.

They had a large family, and the remaining pork would be enough for them.

After the New Year pig was butchered, it was suddenly time for the Spring Festival, when everyone visited each other’s homes.

Grandpa and Granny Yun held down the fort at home, so that any friends or relatives who came to visit wouldn’t find the house empty and have made the trip for nothing.

Yun Jiao, her parents, and her brothers went to their maternal grandmother’s house for a day.

The next day, she had to go with her Little Uncle and Little Aunt to her great-aunt’s house.

She couldn’t help it; she was just too popular. Her cousin-uncle had specifically invited her over when he came to visit.

After that, it was off to her master’s house, her teacher’s house, Grandpa Gu’s house, Uncle Wang’s house, and Grandpa Mu’s house...

It was truly exhausting, but Yun Jiao also received so many red envelopes that her hands grew tired.

This year, Yun Xiao Ba also received red envelopes, and the kid was so happy he ran around showing them off to everyone.

Yun Xiaoqi snorted. "What’s so great about that? I’m going to make my own fortune in the future!"

He suddenly remembered what Uncle Qin He had said to him when he left.

He hadn’t told his family about it.

Because Uncle Qin He had said that if he decided to do it, he would have to go live with him by the sea in Shanghai, as there were many things he needed to teach him in person.

He had told Yun Xiaoqi to go home, discuss it with his family, and make a decision after careful consideration.

Yun Xiaoqi wanted to learn how to make money, but he couldn’t bear to leave his family even more.

’Oh, forget it. I’ll think about it after the New Year.’

Yun Jiao opened her red envelopes. There was even more money this year; in total, it added up to almost two thousand yuan.

This year, her grandpa, grandma, and parents had all given her red envelopes.

"And this."

Shen Yunlian took out a box. Opening it, she revealed several small and beautiful longevity locks made of gold.