Chapter 26

“Since we’re back, let’s all get some rest. Tomorrow will be a busy day.”

But in reality, it wouldn’t be busy at all.

—-

In places like theirs, where neighbors were close-knit and supportive, it was an unspoken rule that whenever someone had something going on, others would pitch in to help. Today, it might be one family needing assistance; tomorrow, it could be another. Every household would at least send one person to lend a hand, forming a strong sense of community.

The children, on the other hand, were more of a hindrance than a help.

Still, neither of them argued with Father Lin. They simply washed their feet and went to bed early.

Just as they lay down, they heard the wind howling outside. Within moments, the rain began to pour heavily, the sound of raindrops hitting the ground creating a soothing rhythm. Soon, Lin Nanzhi drifted off to sleep.

At six in the morning, she stirred awake upon hearing Father Lin moving downstairs. Still groggy, she got up, got dressed, and woke up Lin Nanxun before heading down.

Downstairs, Father Lin was tending to the fire. Hearing them, he said, “Wash your face and start steaming the rice. Steam plenty—fill the pots to the brim.”

Lin Nanzhi knew that a housewarming feast required meticulous preparation. Everything had to be done properly. For instance, the stove fire had to be burning brightly before being brought into the new home. It was a bit of a superstition, rooted in the belief that each home had a Kitchen God. Moving the stove symbolized informing the Kitchen God of the relocation, ensuring that he would move with them and bring prosperity.

The rice had to be steamed to the fullest, symbolizing completeness and continuous growth.

After the rice was ready, Lin Nanxun was up, and even Grandpa Lin and Grandma Lin had risen. The siblings took a red cloth and tied small knots around the items that needed to be brought to the new house.

—-

By 8:30 AM, people had begun arriving to help. Most of them headed straight to the new house, but since it wasn’t time to open the doors yet, they set up a temporary cooking area under a makeshift tent in the open space outside.

Uncle Lin’s family had also returned and joined in to help. As the auspicious hour of 9 AM approached, the family and some newly arrived relatives carried their belongings to the new house.

They walked along while setting off firecrackers.

Each item brought into the house had to be accompanied by an auspicious phrase.

The stove and rice went in first, followed by a ladder, symbolizing steady progress. Apples represented peace, while raw rice, oil, and new clothes signified abundance. Oranges meant wishes coming true, candies brought sweetness to life, fish symbolized prosperity, wine represented longevity, an electronic scale stood for satisfaction, and a new broom symbolized a fresh start. Bowls and chopsticks were for doubling good fortune, a bucket filled with three parts water signified smooth sailing, and a stack of red envelopes welcomed wealth. Finally, there were new bedding sets.

Once everything was moved in, the entire family—including Lin Nanxuan and little Qingqing—stepped over a small fire pit at the entrance and used the new broom to sweep inside, signifying a fresh beginning.

With that, the housewarming ceremony was complete. After a meal to “warm the house,” the event was officially over.

As soon as the last item entered, curious neighbors who had been peeking in started to wander inside, eager to see what the new house looked like.

Seeing the interior decor, many clicked their tongues in admiration, cracking open sunflower seeds while discussing the house’s layout.

Some couldn’t help but ask Father Lin, “How much did you spend on this house, sir?”

Father Lin had anticipated the question. He had already decided on a response and stuck to it. “Everyone who has built a house knows the costs. Including renovations, about 460,000 yuan.”

They had hired villagers for the labor, and the bare structure alone had cost a little over 200,000, nearly 300,000. The real expense came from the renovations, and with the addition of the surrounding walls and furniture, the total cost reached 600,000.

They had purchased only the finest furniture, and even the tiles were top-quality.

“Over 400,000? That’s not too bad,” some people mused, mentally calculating their own savings.

Most villagers had worked outside the area in previous years but had started returning recently. Many had accumulated savings over time and had recently received additional income.

Years ago, they had benefited from a favorable government policy that allowed each household to draw lots for forested land. While officially termed “contracted land,” in reality, it was more like a purchase—just phrased differently for appearances.

Across from the Lin family home was a vast expanse of forested land, spanning over 30 mountain peaks and jointly owned by several villages. The government had introduced the policy to both support afforestation and improve villagers’ livelihoods, so land was distributed through a lottery system.

The Lin family had received a piece of forested land, about seven or eight acres in size, with four or five acres of wasteland. While they had attempted to cultivate it, Mother Lin later found it too difficult to manage alone and let it go wild again. The forest, mostly pine trees, yielded nothing but mushrooms each year. It generated no income, yet they had to guard it against illegal logging.

As a result, even today, the value of mountain land and wasteland remained low. The current price was 1,500 yuan per acre for forested land and 600 yuan per acre for wasteland. Larger landholders with seven or eight acres could make around 6,900 yuan from it, while smaller ones had at least one or two acres.

Although many had contracted land, most of it was forested. Since large-scale greenhouses were not allowed, they had to purchase farmland instead. Farmland was significantly more expensive—100 yuan per square meter. At 666.6 square meters per acre, each acre generated nearly 70,000 yuan in earnings. Some had sold multiple acres, adding to their savings, which now totaled in the hundreds of thousands.

“Sir, I heard your wife’s embroidery is worth a lot. Can we do the same?” one of the village women asked.

“Of course, but they only accept top-quality work. If you can achieve my mother’s level of craftsmanship, they’ll definitely want it,” Lin Nanzhi replied with a smile.

The woman was speechless.

Did she have to be so discouraging?

They could never match Mother Lin’s skill.

“How can you talk like that?” another neighbor chided.

Lin Nanzhi chuckled but didn’t take it to heart. She grabbed a broom and headed upstairs.

The staircase, installed beside the dining room, was a spiral design.

—-

On the first floor, there were three rooms. The master bedroom belonged to Father Lin. One room was for Lin Nanxun, with a small balcony added at the back for him. The second floor had only one occupant—her. She stayed in the rooftop room directly above Father Lin’s.

She started sweeping from her room, carefully cleaning every corner. The effort soon exhausted her, and she thought to herself that she should buy a few robotic vacuum cleaners.

Downstairs, people were busy cooking, chatting, and exploring the house. It was lively and bustling. Lin Nanzhi glanced down, then took a small stool to sit on the balcony of the upstairs lounge. Basking in the sunlight, she pulled out her phone and started online shopping—ordering four of the latest robotic vacuums, two vacuum cleaners, and a set of cleaning tools.

Just as she finished placing her order, she suddenly heard a commotion.

Pushing open the glass door, she walked inside, only to find the entire living room in chaos. Cushions were strewn across the floor; the sofa covers and blankets were covered in muddy footprints.

A few children were rolling around on the couch, their hands also covered in mud. They must have just returned from playing in the dirt, leaving smudges all over the furniture.

Lin Nanzhi’s face darkened, and just as she was about to speak, she suddenly heard a voice—