Although Yang Haiyan was present, she was a woman, and Yang Dahua was there too, so he didn’t stay too long.

Instead, he headed over to the kitchen, where everyone was busy, and found it quite interesting after having been occupied for several days.

Before long, Han Zhen arrived. “Are they slaughtering pigs?” he asked.

Qin Fang nodded.

Seeing him, Yang Dahua stood up and approached: “Husband.”

Han Zhen hadn’t seen her for several days and missed her quite a bit.

She was two months pregnant; although her belly didn’t show much yet, at this stage, the fetus wasn’t stable, and that was the most concerning time.

Yang Haiyan also came over: “We’re having a roasted pig feast tomorrow for the New Year’s Eve. Let’s all enjoy ourselves! Brother Han and Sister Dahua should come over for dinner tomorrow and celebrate the New Year together.”

She called them over not just because of her relationship with Yang Dahua; primarily, it was because of the relationship between Qin Fang and Han Zhen.

They were from the same place and shared a good bond.

Having company during the New Year would surely make Qin Fang happier.

Han Zhen didn’t refuse: “Then I won’t be polite.”

Once the pig was processed in the morning, they would naturally eat fresh meat at noon, so Qin Fang and Yang Dahua planned to have their meal there as well.

After finishing lunch, they would return home.

After they left, Yang Haiyan began to ask Qin Fang about the events of the past few days.

Qin Fang explained everything in detail: “… Luckily, the bandits were traveling in the dark; otherwise, even if Han Zhen had disguised himself, he might not have been able to fool the bandits’ eyes.”

Han Zhen had worn the bandits’ clothes and had rubbed dust on his face.

Additionally, the bandits had been under great pressure, so when they saw someone from their side, they believed him without verification.

It was safe to say they had good luck.

Yang Haiyan, upon hearing this, disagreed with his perspective.

While some parts of the plot had indeed changed, Han Zhen was still the male lead in her eyes.

She believed that Han Zhen’s encounter with the bandits and successfully rescuing the young master was partly due to the halo of the male lead.

Moreover, Han Zhen’s appearance in front of the heir had given him a chance to gain recognition, which was also provided by Qin Fang.

Thus, the male lead would eventually have his chance, albeit a little late.

However, regardless of how it was viewed, the one who truly performed brilliantly and garnered the heir’s gratitude was Qin Fang.

Without his plan, things would not have turned out so successfully.

Yang Haiyan praised, “My husband is truly impressive; he could come up with such a plan. I don’t even understand the psychological pressure involved.”

Qin Fang felt somewhat shy from the praise, his ears turning slightly red, yet he didn’t take credit for himself.

He replied honestly, “It’s not just my idea; it’s discussed in military texts about using psychological tactics in warfare, and I applied it to come up with this plan.”

Yang Haiyan replied, “That still makes you impressive.”

Feeling the urge to escape from the compliments, Qin Fang said, “… then I… I’ll go back to studying military texts.”

Yang Haiyan said, “That’s a good idea. By the way, it’s almost New Year; you should write some couplets.”

Qin Fang hurriedly refused, “That won’t do; I don’t write well.”

Although he spent quite a bit of time reading, he didn’t practice his calligraphy much since it wasn’t convenient in the military.

Yang Haiyan insisted, “What does that matter? The more you write, the better you’ll become. Besides, you have model couplets to reference. You should know that as the head of the household, writing the couplets holds a lot of significance.”

Hearing Yang Haiyan say this, Qin Fang reluctantly agreed.

The couple returned to the study—one grinding ink, the other writing.

Naturally, Qin Fang’s handwriting wasn’t good; if he had to compare it, it was like that of a beginner learning to write, but much better than a novice.

In ancient times, beginners were usually just kids starting to learn, and their wrist strength was limited, resulting in soft, unsteady characters.

But Qin Fang was different; he had strong wrists, so his writing came out much firmer.

After writing a few characters, Qin Fang felt disheartened: “My handwriting really isn’t good; it would make people laugh. You should write it instead.”

Yang Haiyan reassured him, “It won’t be like that. This year you write it, next year again, year after year, and everyone will see your handwriting improving every year.”

With no choice, Qin Fang blushed and continued to write the couplets under Yang Haiyan’s encouragement.

While the couple worked on their couplets in the study, the servants were busy as well.

In the kitchen, Granny Lian, Aunt Fan, Aunt Hong, and Aunt Yu were all making buns and steamed buns.

The sheer quantity was astonishing—several types of buns, some with meat and some with vegetables.

From the afternoon until midnight, the four women managed to make over two thousand buns and another two thousand plain steamed buns.

By afternoon, Uncle Hong led a convoy to deliver these four thousand buns and steamed buns to the military camp.

Upon hearing the news, over a thousand soldiers came to the back gate of the camp.

The soldiers asked, “Uncle Hong, did Mrs. Qin send these to us?”

Uncle Hong replied, “Yes, each person gets one meat bun, one vegetable bun, and two steamed buns. Madam said this is to celebrate the New Year with you.”

The soldiers expressed their gratitude: “Uncle Hong, please come again tomorrow. We will gather firewood to send to the Chief’s family; please thank Madam on our behalf.”

Uncle Hong hurriedly said, “No need, no need. Madam mentioned that the over a thousand bundles of firewood you sent earlier sold for over ten taels of silver.

So these buns and steamed buns were actually bought with the money from the firewood you gathered yourselves.

You don’t owe Madam anything, so please don’t feel burdened. If you bring more firewood, it would make Madam embarrassed to accept it.”

How could Yang Haiyan take advantage of them?

If this word got out, it wouldn’t reflect well on Qin Fang.

Soon, news of this spread to the family quarters.

Those who originally planned to take advantage of the situation immediately dismissed the idea. If they couldn’t profit from it, why bother making something to send?

Uncle Hong returned to the Chief’s residence just in time for the New Year’s Eve dinner.

The highlight of the dinner was roasted pig, cooked over an open fire, so they didn’t eat inside but outside, making it feel a bit like a bonfire party.

The pig was split in half—one side for the servants and the other for the masters.

After all, if the masters and servants ate together, it would be awkward and uncomfortable.

Moreover, some customs had to be maintained; otherwise, if masters and servants ate together regularly, it would become a habit.

In this distinctly hierarchical ancient society, it wouldn’t be a good thing for the servants.

Yang Haiyan, Qin Fang, Han Zhen, Yang Dahu, and Kun Shi sat together, with the three men in charge of cutting the meat while the two women focused on eating.

There was also soup beside the roasted pig, and everyone could serve themselves if they wanted.

Kun Shi remarked, “I’ve lived this long, and today is the happiest I’ve ever been.”

Of course, Kun Shi wasn’t very old himself, just twenty-six, a few years older than Qin Fang and Han Zhen.

Han Zhen added, “That’s right. I never imagined life could be this good.”

Luckily, he had left that old household and now had his own family.

Qin Fang didn’t speak but took a small knife to cut the meat for Yang Haiyan.

She liked the crispy edges of the meat, which made it particularly delicious, so Qin Fang made sure to serve her the well-done pieces.

Yang Haiyan took the plate and used chopsticks to feed Qin Fang a piece: “Darling.”

Qin Fang opened his mouth and ate it.

Yang Dahua sat beside Yang Haiyan.

She had a good relationship with Han Zhen and had never quarreled since they got married, but she felt a bit shy about feeding her husband like Yang Haiyan did.

She glanced at Han Zhen, who was busy cutting the meat, wondering if she should feed him once he finished.

Thinking this way, when Han Zhen handed her the cut meat, she tugged at his sleeve and said, “Husband, let’s eat together.”

She couldn’t dare to feed him directly; it felt too embarrassing. Yet, watching Yang Haiyan, she felt a twinge of envy.

Han Zhen naturally wouldn’t be polite: “Sure.”

Not long after the roasted pig feast began, neighbors dropped by to visit.

However, it was only the soldiers; the ladies didn’t come.

All were soldiers under General Ao, familiar with Qin Fang.

Smelling the delicious aroma, they came over to take a look, which was nothing unusual.

Yang Haiyan asked Aunt Fan to prepare two sets of utensils to host the neighboring soldiers.

With more men present, Yang Haiyan and Yang Dahua felt it was inappropriate to sit there, but they had small appetites, having eaten their fill, so they moved over to sit by the fire where the soup was cooking.

With their men there and no other men nearby, it wouldn’t tarnish their reputation if word got out.

Suddenly, Yang Dahua remembered something: “By the way, Haiyan, did your husband say we’re going to the Yonghe Marquis’s residence in the county on the third day of the New Year?”

Yang Haiyan already knew from Qin Fang: “Yes, sister Dahua, let’s go together then; it’ll be convenient since we have a donkey cart.”

Yang Dahu readily agreed: “That sounds great. But Haiyan, what should we prepare for the visit?”

Since she had no experience in this area, she felt uncertain.

Well, if it were just Yang Haiyan, she could simply prepare some snacks.

They didn’t need to bring anything extravagant to the marquis’s residence.

But with Yang Dahu joining, she had to consider Yang Dahu’s situation.

Yang Dahu couldn’t make snacks, and if Yang Haiyan prepared some, even without any intention of comparing, if Yang Dahu couldn’t provide something suitable, she would feel embarrassed.

It was like when there were banquets at relatives’ homes, where sisters-in-law would discuss what to bring.

Yang Haiyan thought for a moment and had an idea: “Sister Dahua, what are you best at?”

After a moment of silence, Yang Dahu admitted, “I don’t have anything I’m particularly good at.”

Yang Haiyan seemed to understand her silence: “Sister Dahua, your needlework is quite good now. How about making some toys for the marquis’s son and daughter?”

Yang Dahu asked, “What kind of toys? How do we make them?”

Yang Haiyan explained, “Just use cloth and cotton to make a cute little animal or flower. First, use the cloth to embroider the animal or flower shape on both sides, then sew the two sides together and stuff it with cotton.”

Yang Dahua understood and felt more confident: “I can’t embroider animals, but I can manage flowers.”

Yang Haiyan proposed, “The marquis has a son and a daughter; the girl is eight this year, and the boy is four. I can embroider animals for the boy, and sister Dahua can embroider flowers for the girl. How does that sound?”

Yang Dahu felt it was a great idea: “Thank you for considering me, Haiyan.”

Flowers suited the girl, and animals suited the boy; it was indeed perfect.

The Next Day

Today is the first day of the New Year.

Unlike Qin Fang’s hometown and certainly not like modern times, there was no need to visit everywhere to pay New Year’s greetings.

Therefore, Qin Fang and Yang Haiyan got up a bit later.

Mainly because it was cold outside, lying in a warm bed was the most comfortable.

Yang Haiyan, with a warm stove beside her, didn’t want him to get up, while Qin Fang, holding his delicate wife in his arms, also didn’t want to rise.

So, the two lay in bed, enjoying their comfort, stealing kisses and touches.