Ding Yushu, who had just finished her confinement, brought her second baby to the family. They all sat in the main room with the door closed. A brazier warmed them as they enjoyed the food prepared for them. Ding Yushu didn’t speak much, but with the baby around, everyone was happy.

Tian Jiao and Zhang Yanran both received good New Year’s money, but Dabao got less because he almost failed the final exam. Erbao also received some, and judging by Ding Yushu’s happy expression, it must have been a lot.

After getting her money, Tian Jiao immediately handed it to Zhang Rui: “Dad, this is for you.” 

Zhang Rui took it with a smile and put it in his pocket.

Li Mizhen wanted to hit him and said, “She is in her second year of high school. Why are you still taking her money? We should give her money for the New Year.” 

Zhang Rui laughed and didn’t explain: “I can’t help it. My daughter is kind and will give me her earnings in the future.”

Li Mizhen finally hit Zhang Rui and then pulled Tian Jiao, giving her a yuan: “Your father is not fair. This grandma is giving this to you, don’t give it to him.” 

Tian Jiao accepted with a smile: “Thank you, grandma.”

She was grateful her father took the blame. Otherwise, she wouldn’t know how to explain her strange luck.

Zhang Rui winked at her.

Li Mizhen glared at him in anger.

On the first day of the new year, Tian Jiao woke up, and Zhang Rui went to visit neighbors to wish them a happy new year. When he returned and put the food or cigarettes on the table, he saw Tian Jiao coming out. He handed her a candy and asked, “Are there any left?” 

Tian Jiao understood immediately. This was their secret. She pouted and said, “No more.”

She had put a yuan under her pillow before sleeping. She slept well, and when she woke up, her quilt was neat. But the money was gone.

Zhang Rui laughed: “Forget it; consider it as gathering blessings. Go wash up and let’s wish everyone a happy new year. Those aunts were wondering where my beautiful daughter was.”

Tian Jiao’s face turned red, and she hurried to wash up. After a few steps, she realized something was wrong and slowed down again.

She was now an adult and couldn’t act so lively anymore.

…

“What? We are visiting everyone to wish them a happy new year?” Zhang Yanran was shocked. So this was a tradition?

Xu Qiu was confused too: “Why?”

Tian Jiao shook her head, also a bit puzzled: “I don’t know, but we do this every year. There are so many yummy foods prepared. Let’s take some bags.”

Zhang Yanran’s face twisted, and she asked with difficulty: “You want another bag?” 

This smart girl understood that even though she had adapted for six years, recovering her memory was still a bit awkward. But this tradition was quite fun.

Dabao was curious about this tradition since he grew up here. He had already gotten his bag and was waiting: “Sister, hurry up! It will be too late if we don’t go now.” 

The whole family woke up early today. Actually, everyone in the village woke up early. People probably started setting off firecrackers before six o’clock. They were considered late. While Tian Jiao was still asleep, visitors came to the Zhang family to wish them a happy new year.

If you go to pay New Year’s greetings too late, someone might feel uncomfortable.

Zhang Yanran was reluctant to go and didn’t want to move. Even when Dabao pushed the bag into her hands, she stayed still.

Zhang Dong, who had gotten up early, smiled at his usually calm daughter: “Go ahead; your brothers and sisters are waiting.” 

Xu Qiu encouraged her too: “Go ahead; it’s a good chance to see local customs.” 

Zhang Yanran gritted her teeth.

Tian Jiao watched and laughed for a long time, then took Zhang Yanran’s hand and said, “Let’s go, let’s go together.”

With no choice, Zhang Yanran followed, each of the three children clutching a bag in their hands.

When they reached the yard, they spotted Xiao He standing there with his pockets full. Li Mizhen smiled and patted his head, saying, “Oh, Jiaojiao has finally come out. Xiao He has been waiting for you for a long time. Hurry up and take him to pay New Year’s greetings. He can talk now. You should go out more and meet more people.”

Xiao He looked a little awkward, clearly not used to such social interactions. He had only come to pay New Year’s greetings to the Zhang family as he usually did. When he saw Tian Jiao coming out, his face lit up with a sense of “liberation.”

Tian Jiao let go of Zhang Yanran’s hand, ran to him playfully, and exclaimed, “Happy New Year to you! May you make a fortune! Give me the red envelope!”

Xiao He pursed his lips and smiled, then handed her the red envelope he had prepared: “Happy New Year!”

He spoke each word slowly, emphasizing the formality of the greeting.

Tian Jiao’s smile deepened as she accepted the red envelope. However, upon peeking inside, she immediately handed it to Zhang Yanran: “This is for the food expenses for the next semester.”

Zhang Yanran’s eyes widened in surprise. “What? This is for you!” she exclaimed. How could this be possible?

“Are kids nowadays so good at dating?” she thought, bemused. 

Tian Jiao, only twelve, had already developed a sense of responsibility, while Xiao He, being a year older, was equally mature in his own way. 

Fortunately, they didn’t linger in the yard but quickly set off to pay New Year’s greetings around the village. Xiao He didn’t join them; after Song Zhen and Li Mu paid their respects, he stayed behind. 

Lanshan Village wasn’t large, with less than fifty households. Everyone knew each other well, and Tian Jiao was particularly favored in the village. Whenever she visited, the aunts would always bring out their best treats, like the rare candies, fried fish, rice bubbles, and other delightful snacks. By the time they had visited half the village, Tian Jiao’s bag was already full.

Zhang Yanran was pretty too, and while she didn’t gather as much as Tian Jiao, her bag was still quite substantial. Dabao, however, was left with only half of his bag.

Feeling a bit disgruntled, Dabao followed them back to get another bag and complained to his grandmother with a sad and angry expression: “Grandma, didn’t everyone say that everyone likes boys?”

Li Mizhen looked puzzled. “Who told you that? Obviously, everyone likes girls. Girls are so good—they’re well-behaved, sensible, obedient, and excel in their studies.”

“But I heard that everyone wants a boy!” Dabao protested, feeling that his grandmother was trying to fool him.

Li Mizhen explained patiently, “That’s because boys are needed to carry on the family line. If that weren’t the case, I believe everyone would be more than happy to have girls.”

Dabao fell silent, processing this information.

This year, he was particularly unhappy. In previous years, he could understand why his sister received more food, but now, with a cousin in the mix, he was puzzled about why she was getting more than he was.

Tian Jiao snorted proudly and continued to the next house.

This morning, the first thing she did was wish a happy New Year to Tian Dao’s father. Tian Dao was different; he just hoped to lose less money today.

As they talked, the three of them arrived at the Qian family’s home. Aunt Qian was known to be one of the most stingy people in the village. On this New Year’s Day, the food spread on their table was just a bowl of plain peanuts, unlike other families that had generous offerings of melon seeds and various snacks.

However, when Tian Jiao, along with Zhang Yanran and Dabao, entered, Aunt Qian’s demeanor changed instantly: “Jiaojiao is here!”

Tian Jiao smiled sweetly, her voice tender as she wished, “Happy New Year, Auntie! We are here to wish you good fortune and prosperity. May every year be better than the last.”

“Happy New Year, Auntie!” Zhang Yanran and Dabao chimed in, following suit with their own simple auspicious phrases.

Aunt Qian nodded with a smile: “Okay, all is well.” 

She pulled Tian Jiao into the room, saying, “I’ve been waiting for you for a long time. You haven’t been out much since you started high school. I saved some good things for you.”

Then she reached into her cupboard and pulled out several bags of milk. “My son brought this back during the Chinese New Year. He said it’s very delicious and nutritious. You’re growing up, so it’s good for you to drink some.”

Tian Jiao gratefully replied, “Thank you, Auntie.”

“Make sure to go out and play more in the future. Don’t read too much or you’ll become stupid,” Aunt Qian mumbled as she fussed over them.

Looking at the two remaining children, she reluctantly handed Zhang Yanran a bag of milk as well. This girl was also likable. But as for Dabao? “Why would a boy drink milk?” she thought, handing him only a handful of peanuts as she sent him on his way.

When Qian Cheng, Aunt Qian’s son, returned home and noticed that half of the milk he brought back was gone, his eyes widened in shock. “Mom, you gave the milk to someone else?” he asked incredulously.

Aunt Qian nodded, her smile unwavering. “Yes, Jiaojiao just arrived.”

“Oh,” Qian Cheng replied, understanding the reason behind it.

Aunt Qian smiled and said, “That girl is getting prettier and prettier. She really doesn’t look like a country girl at all. But the daughter of the Zhang family’s elder daughter is also quite pretty. The Zhang family will definitely enjoy the blessings of these two daughters in the future.”

As she spoke, she began tidying up the room. As soon as she picked up the box of milk, something inside caught her eye. Upon closer inspection, she found ten yuan tucked away in the box.

_

Paying New Year’s greetings truly allowed Zhang Yanran to experience the local customs. Initially awkward and embarrassed, she soon began to enjoy it. On their way, she encountered other children from the village also out paying New Year’s greetings, and they compared their bags to see who had received more gifts before going their separate ways.

The treats they gathered for New Year’s greetings wouldn’t be finished in a single day, allowing them to continue enjoying them on the following day.

The joyful first day of the Lunar New Year came to an end, and the second day arrived.

As juniors, Zhang Yanran and Tian Jiao were expected to follow their elders to pay New Year’s greetings. Their first stop would be Li Mizhen’s parents’ home since they had no grandmother to visit.

Zhang Yanran’s maternal family, the Xu family, is well-respected in the novel. The two sisters had to join the army because their family did not want to raise two more daughters. This is why Xu Qiu has always stayed close to Zhang Dong. Before, her sister took care of her, but now she has changed her mind and has just returned from the army, following him. As long as she does not make trouble, she can enjoy herself by being with the heroine.

Because of this, Zhang Yanran feels no connection to her maternal family, which is too far away to visit easily.

With no Tian Jiao around, they only had to go to Li Mizhen’s parents’ home.

…

Tian Jiao woke up early in the morning, washed up with Zhang Yanran, and set off with Zhang Rui and Zhang Dong, still feeling sleepy.

It was a long walk, and Tian Jiao had no idea how far it was. When they were younger, Li Mizhen took them along, and Zhang Rui would carry her when she got tired. They left while it was still dark, and it was just dawn when they arrived. Tian Jiao could have slept several times during the trip.

In later years, Zhang Rui bought a bicycle, making trips easier. But today, they had two more people, and since Zhang Dong had to take his daughter, they could only walk.

Zhang Yanran and Tian Jiao could not ride the bicycle because their legs were too short, and the wheelchair needed someone to push it.

They planned to rest for a day at Li Mizhen’s place. Her family was large, but most of them were kind and easy to talk to. When they heard that Zhang Dong was injured while serving his country, they treated them very well.

Tian Jiao liked this place a lot.

Every New Year, they would try to visit their friends before leaving. In her past life, Tian Jiao remembered that a cousin was sad to see them go and hid her mother’s bag, making them stay another day.

This warm welcome was joyful but also a bit overwhelming and noisy.

Watching the lively crowd argue, Tian Jiao and Zhang Yanran exchanged glances, sharing a smile that expressed both helplessness and happiness.

After the New Year greetings, they walked back.

In those days, there were no cars, and bicycles were not practical, so Zhang Dong pushed the wheelchair. He smiled and said if the girls got tired, they could sit down for a bit. After all, his legs did not feel any pain.

Tian Jiao and Zhang Yanran immediately shook their heads. Tian Jiao comforted him, saying, “You will be fine. You’ll be able to walk normally soon.”

“Haha.” Zhang Dong laughed heartily, feeling quite positive. His brother was doing well, and the government was supporting him, so he did not need to worry about food or clothes. Even if his leg did not heal, it was not a big deal.

They chatted and laughed all the way back to the village.

By the time they returned, it was already dark.

The house was empty, and the yard was locked. Zhang Rui and Zhang Dong looked worried. Zhang Rui said, “You wait here. I’ll go ask…”

Before he could finish, Uncle Zhuzi shouted, “Zhang Rui, you’re back. Something happened at your house!”

Uncle Zhuzi ran over and said, “Mrs. Zhang Zhi has run away. I just found out today. It seems she took all the money and no one knows where she went. Your family has gone to look for her, trying to bring her back!”

Tian Jiao hid her shock, but Ding Yushu could not resist her curiosity.

Zhang Yanran was confused. The Zhang family was the best off in the village, and Zhang Zhi was a good-looking man who seemed weak under her. Why would she want to leave him?