Ning Shu smiled and said, “Okay, I’ll tell them. Happy New Year to you all, go on and visit others now.”

The kids happily left, still chatting as they went.

“Auntie Ning is so nice, she gave us White Rabbit candies and so many of them.”

“Yeah, Auntie Ning is really nice.”

Ning Shu chuckled and shook her head. These kids were so innocent and adorable.

Back in the kitchen, Ning Shu continued eating her breakfast, but just as she took a few sips of her fermented rice balls, more kids came to visit for New Year’s greetings.

So, amidst the waves of children coming one after another, Ning Shu’s fermented rice balls cooled down, and eventually, she decided not to eat them.

After tidying up the kitchen, Ning Shu left the house.

According to tradition, her sons had to go to their grandparents’ house to pay respects on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Ning Shu took two red envelopes and three cotton vests, two for Lin’s parents and one for Haicai.

Since the vests were empty, she had to carry them herself.

Ning Shu wasn’t afraid of others knowing. Her principle was that whether doing good deeds or showing filial piety, one should do so openly.

It’s best to let everyone know because people often judge by appearances. If you don’t say it, how would they know what you’ve done?

So, as Ning Shu walked to her in-laws’ house with the two vests, she encountered not only children running around for New Year’s greetings but also several adults.

Seeing Ning Shu holding two vests, some women couldn’t help but gossip, “Ning Zhiqing, are you going to your in-laws’ house for New Year’s?”

Ning Shu replied, “Yes.”

“What did you prepare for your in-laws’ house for New Year’s?” the woman asked again.

Ning Shu said, “I don’t know what to prepare, so I made a vest for my father-in-law and mother-in-law.”

“Oh, you’re so filial. Isn’t it difficult to work with cotton?” The woman looked at the vests in Ning Shu’s hands and exclaimed with belated surprise, “Ning Zhiqing, you can even make clothes?”

Ning Shu chuckled at her tone and asked jokingly, “Doesn’t Sister-in-law know how to make clothes?”

The woman replied, “Of course, I can make clothes. But Ning Zhiqing, you’re different. I thought you only wore clothes bought from the department stores in the county.”

“Not at all,” Ning Shu said. “I make many of my clothes myself. It’s just that Sister-in-law hasn’t seen me making clothes, so she probably thought I bought them from the department store.”

The woman thought for a moment and nodded, “That’s true. You don’t go out much, so we haven’t really seen it.”

Ning Shu smiled and said, “Take your time shopping around, I’m off to the old house.”

The woman replied, “Okay, go ahead.”

Ning Shu didn’t walk far before reaching the old house, where she saw Lin Guodong sitting in the yard drinking tea.

Seeing Ning Shu approaching, Lin Guodong instinctively stood up, “You… you’re up?” His voice sounded somewhat panicked.

Ning Shu felt embarrassed.

Although she didn’t care how others perceived her, being asked if she was awake in front of everyone might make them think she’s lazy.

Lin Guodong seemed to realize his words could be misinterpreted and quickly said, “Didn’t you have a headache from catching a cold? Why didn’t you sleep a bit longer?”

Ning Shu gave him a look that said ‘At least you have some sense’ and said, “Come on, let’s pay respects to Mom and Dad.”

Lin’s mother asked, “Did you have ginger tea for your cold? Do we have ginger at home?”

Ning Shu realized they didn’t have any ginger at home. “No, we don’t. Do you have any here?”

Lin’s mother replied, “We have some dried wild ginger. We don’t like fresh ginger, so we dried it to prevent it from spoiling. Making ginger tea should still be effective. Would you like some?”

“That would be great, thank you, Mom. By the way, Mom, these are New Year’s gifts for you.” Ning Shu handed over the two cotton vests. “Please try them on, they should fit well.” Ning Shu was confident about this.

Many had already noticed Ning Shu holding the cotton vests, but she hadn’t said anything, leaving them wondering what she was doing with them.

Now, hearing her explanation, they understood that she was giving them to Lin’s parents.

So, Qian Aifen and Zhang Qinfang were both very surprised.

It was the first time they had seen Ning Shu prepare New Year’s gifts for their in-laws.

Or perhaps, they had never prepared New Year’s gifts for their in-laws. But since they all lived together and hadn’t separated households yet, they didn’t have money and couldn’t afford to prepare gifts.

Normally, it wouldn’t be a big deal, but this year, Ning Shu had prepared gifts, making it seem like they weren’t filial compared to her.

Lin’s parents were also taken aback.

Then Lin’s mother said, “What are you preparing this for? Your dad and I have clothes to wear.” However, her voice sounded excited, showing she was actually happy.

Ning Shu stuffed the two cotton vests into Lin’s mother’s hands. “Didn’t I help out that clothing factory last year? Besides rewarding me with a job opportunity, they also gave me a few pounds of cotton. Fortunately, there was enough for everyone to make one. Although you have clothes to wear, old cotton can’t compare to new cotton for warmth.” She then handed the remaining smaller vest to Qian Aifen. “Sister-in-law, this one is for Haicai. When Yibao and Erbao are with Sanbao, Haicai always watches over them. This is his New Year’s gift.”

Just earlier, because the smaller vest was hidden under Lin’s parents’ larger vests, no one noticed it.

But even if they had seen it, they wouldn’t have thought it was for Haicai.

Everyone present was stunned.

Qian Aifen was particularly moved.

Yibao and Erbao were really good to Haicai.

To be honest, she hadn’t had any objections to Ning Shu before and had only focused on her own life.

After Ning Shu sold the job to her younger sister-in-law, she hadn’t said anything else, but she had always felt somewhat resentful, although she hadn’t shown it.

At this point, when she received the clothes Ning Shu prepared for her youngest son, Qian Aifen realized she had been petty.

Other people can give their things to whomever they want, so why should she make a big deal out of it? Thinking about it, she hadn’t given anything to Ning Shu’s three sons, not even a treat.

But Ning Shu was really good to Haicai, whether it was giving him food or clothes, it was like he was her own child.

Qian Aifen suddenly felt embarrassed. “Little Sister-in-law, there’s no need for this. Let’s keep it for Yibao and Erbao to wear.”

Since she hadn’t given anything to Ning Shu’s three sons, she naturally didn’t want to take too much advantage of Ning Shu.

She used to think that being friends with Haicai and the three sons might benefit her in the future.

Even now, she still had this idea. But this didn’t mean she was someone who liked to take advantage of others.

Ning Shu didn’t say much either.

She directly handed the small cotton vest to Qian Aifen. “This is for Haicai. You can’t decide for him.”

Zhang Qinfang felt a pang of jealousy.

Why did the third daughter-in-law give Haicai delicious food and even clothes, but didn’t give anything to their Haichuan? Even if it was just one for each family, Haichuan should have his share.

She felt sour inside but couldn’t find a reason to openly ask for it.

She worried that if she asked, Ning Shu would embarrass her.

Lin’s mother said, “Elder Daughter-in-law, since the Third Daughter-in-law gave it, just accept it. Haicai used to wear his brothers’ leftover clothes. Now, he can wear new clothes thanks to his Third Aunt’s generosity.”

Since her mother-in-law said so, Qian Aifen didn’t refuse anymore. “Then I’ll thank Little Sister-in-law on behalf of Haicai.”

Ning Shu replied, “You’re welcome.”

Qian Aifen

Turning to Lin’s parents, Ning Shu suggested, “Why don’t you try on the clothes Little Third Sister-in-law made first, so we can all see?”

Since the clothes were already made, Lin’s mother naturally accepted them.

She handed the larger one to Lin’s father and then spread out the clothes.

She found that there were embroidered flowers on them, done with black thread, which made them stand out and gave the whole outfit a high-end look. “Third Daughter-in-law, did you embroider these flowers on the clothes?”

Although Lin’s mother didn’t know about Ning Shu’s embroidery skills before, she had seen Ning Shu’s good craftsmanship as the three sons wore their new clothes.

But she didn’t know Ning Shu could embroider flowers.

“Yeah, I just outlined them simply.” Indeed, it was a simple outline, not a complex embroidery.

Ning Shu didn’t have any modesty at all.

But in Lin’s mother’s eyes, she was being modest. Not only was the Third Daughter-in-law modest, but she was also filial.

Now Lin’s mother completely forgot what her Third Daughter-in-law had been like half a year ago.

Under the gaze of the whole family, Lin’s father and mother took off their old cotton jackets, revealing the knitted sweaters underneath that had been worn for many years, with threads of different colors, black and gray.

In those days, multiple colors were used because one color wasn’t enough, so they were patched together.

But in later years, it became a kind of fashion statement.

The two elderly people happily put on Ning Shu’s cotton vests.

Although they didn’t have sleeves, they were much better than their old cotton jackets.

The cotton in the old jackets had clumped together and become hard, losing its softness.

But these vests, with enough cotton, were warm when worn.

“It looks really nice,” Qian Aifen praised. “Wearing this outfit makes Mom look ten years younger.”

This comment not only praised Lin’s mother but also praised Ning Shu.

Zhang Qinfang rolled her eyes.

The Eldest Sister-in-law was such a flatterer.

Before, she could shamelessly pursue a job, and now she could shamelessly accept someone else’s cotton vests.

She had lost all dignity.

Lin’s mother said, “Indeed, I do look younger. And this neckline is special, different from other cotton vests.”

Ning Shu had put some thought into the neckline of the cotton vest she made for Lin’s mother.

Unlike the usual V-neck, hers had a low round collar, somewhat similar to the collar of a qipao, which was suitable for elderly people to wear.

Even an ordinary old lady would look more tasteful wearing it.

And Lin’s father’s vest had a round collar, more conventional.

Ning Shu added, “If you like it, here are these two red envelopes as well. Wishing you both a prosperous New Year.” With that, she took out two red envelopes.

This… Lin’s mother was stunned.

While she could accept Ning Shu giving clothes, it was a daughter-in-law’s filial piety.

But giving red envelopes… traditionally, it was always the elders who gave to the younger generation.

How could the younger generation give to the elders?

Ning Shu explained frankly, “It’s a custom in our hometown. Children who have moved out or are already working should give their parents a red envelope every year, symbolizing filial piety.”

This… Lin’s mother felt embarrassed to accept it.

At this moment, Lin Guodong also spoke up, “Just accept it, Mom and Dad.”

With both her son and daughter-in-law saying so, Lin’s mother didn’t refuse anymore.

She thought to herself that she could use it to subsidize her grandsons in the future.

Just then, the 11 children from the Lin family came back.

“Wow… Grandma also got red envelopes for the New Year?” Erbao exclaimed in surprise. “We got them too!”

Indeed, all 11 children had red envelopes tied around their necks with red yarn strings, each carrying a red envelope!