For Yan Runzhi, nobody coming to catch her for work, eating when she wanted, sleeping when she wanted, being able to embroider her favorite flowers, raise her favorite plants—what could be more comfortable than this?

Now, with the family gathered together, it’s like living the life of immortals; that’s why she doesn’t care much about money.

A strong wind blew, chillingly cold.

Jiang Lin quickly called Cheng Yunzhi and the children into the house, where the whole family gathered around the kang to listen to the radio.

Jiang Lin said to Jiang Xinglei, “Take a break for a couple of days. When your brother-in-law returns, you can go back to the city.”

Jiang Xinglei looked at her in surprise. “Sister Jiang, are you really letting me go?”

Jiang Lin replied, “Do you think you’re so beautiful that I can’t bear to let you go?”

Jiang Xinglei chuckled, “I actually feel a bit reluctant to leave now.”

To be honest, he used to be a real slacker, aimlessly passing his school days and after graduating, just wanting to make quick money through shady means.

After being brought here by his sister, at first, he felt really bitter, thinking he might be worked to death, even considering running away secretly, even if it meant walking back home.

Later, Shang Zonghui encouraged him cheerfully every day, Da Bao and Xiao Bao told jokes to cheer him up at night, Cheng Yunzhi and Yan Runzhi took good care of him, and he felt… he couldn’t run away.

Wouldn’t that make people look down on him?

He couldn’t let his sister look down on him! And he couldn’t let her be mocked by others!

Slowly, he managed to stick it out.

Now, with his strength, if he didn’t make at least 700 bricks a day, he felt itchy all over.

Jiang Lin said, “You’re such a stubborn one. If you still want to, come back in February or March.”

Jiang Xinglei replied, “Alright, I’ll wait until brother-in-law returns before I leave.”

Jiang Lin took out the account book, did some calculations, and gave Jiang Xinglei thirty-five yuan. “After deducting your food and meat expenses, this is what you’ve earned.”

Jiang Xinglei couldn’t believe he was holding that pile of money, some coins, some bills. “Did I really earn this much?”

In the city, even formal workers earned around 30 yuan at the lowest, but that money had to cover all expenses, including food, drink, and everything else.

He actually received 35 yuan in cash.

He had to admire himself.

How could he be so capable!

Seeing the genuine happiness and gratitude radiating from him, Cheng Yunzhi told herself that this was exactly what she wanted to see from the siblings, sincere gratitude from the bottom of their hearts.

Jiang Xinglei lived here without making unreasonable demands or meddling in family matters, and sometimes even when he acted spoiled, Jiang Lin didn’t spoil him.

Moreover, his gratitude towards himself and Yan Runzhi came from the heart.

With him as a benchmark, Cheng Yunzhi felt that Cheng Ruhai and Cheng Xianglan couldn’t be inferior to a child.

Jiang Xinglei, happy with his earnings, bounced around in front of the kang for a while, then gave one yuan to Da Bao, one yuan to Xiao Bao, one yuan…

Jiang Lin’s face darkened. “Are you showing off?”

Jiang Xinglei quickly withdrew his hand from Wensheng’s, “I’m just giving New Year’s money early.”

Da Bao and Xiao Bao immediately pocketed the money as if nothing had happened, so their mother wouldn’t take it back.

Jiang Xinglei reluctantly put the money away.

Going from poor to suddenly having money made it hard not to show off, but just as his heart started to race, Jiang Lin slapped him down, making him behave.

Jiang Lin said, “I was thinking of buying you a train ticket, but you can buy it yourself.”

Jiang Xinglei hurriedly bowed, “Forgive me, dear sister, I won’t do it again.”

Only then did Jiang Lin relax her stance.

After chatting for a while, they each went to rest.

Since Cheng Rushan wasn’t at home, Da Bao and Xiao Bao stayed with their mother, quickly soaking their feet and going to bed.

Having listened to the radio, there was no need for bedtime stories; the comforting scent of their mother put Da Bao and Xiao Bao to sleep in seconds.

As night fell, the wind grew stronger, becoming completely quiet by midnight, followed by a heavy snowfall.

By daybreak, the snow was still falling, blanketing the earth in white.

Upon hearing from Wensheng that it was snowing, Da Bao jumped out of bed with a shout, quickly putting on his padded jacket and pants, fastening his suspenders, slipping on his cotton shoes, and darting outside like the wind.

“What a beautiful silver world!” Da Bao exclaimed.

Xiao Bao added, “It’s like heaven’s raining white sugar, so much white sugar would be wonderful.”

Wensheng lifted the thick grass curtain covering the window, whispering into the dark room, “Mom, are we going to build snowmen?”

Jiang Lin replied, “Let’s go.”

She quickly got dressed and went outside.

Stepping outside, they were greeted by the crisp, cold air, which invigorated them.

The trees in the courtyard were bare, their branches coated in white snow, with birds flitting about, searching for food and leaving small imprints on the snowy ground.

Da Bao and Xiao Bao immediately launched a siege operation, chasing after the birds with excitement, but ended up tumbling into the snow themselves, starting a snowball fight with each other.

Soon, Jiang Xinglei and Wensheng joined in too, having snowball fights and building snowmen.

Cheng Yunzhi suggested using a sieve to catch sparrows, Yan Runzhi went to gather millet, and early in the morning, the whole family was happily playing in the courtyard, not in a rush to clear the snow.

At that moment, Jiang Lin heard the roar of an engine outside and shouted, “Dad’s back!”

She dashed outside, and Da Bao and Xiao Bao immediately popped out of the snow and followed her.

They ran to the intersection and indeed saw a large truck turning into the village.

Xiao Bao clapped his hands together with excitement, “Dad’s back from his winter travels with candy beans!”

Da Bao, with a serious expression, retorted, “I bet there’s no candy beans today. Last time, Chief Linlin told Dad not to buy them, so Dad definitely won’t buy any.”

Xiao Bao widened his eyes, “Is Linlin really that scary?”

Hearing the two brothers whispering, Jiang Lin couldn’t help but bend down, scoop up loose snow into a ball, and throw it at them before running to greet Cheng Rushan.

Da Bao and Xiao Bao immediately teamed up to retaliate, with Jiang Xinglei flanking, while Wensheng offered assistance to Jiang Lin.

As they went to meet Cheng Rushan and his companions on the street, everyone found cover and had a delightful time playing.

Cheng Rushan sat in the passenger seat, with Duan Chang’an driving.

This time, Dai Guohua didn’t join them.

Duan Chang’an looked amazed, “Bro, isn’t playing snowball fights more fun than this?” Imagine coming back and not rushing to greet them, but playing here. Haha.

Cheng Rushan’s eyes softened with tenderness, a departure from his previous cold demeanor.

He smiled faintly, “You take the car to the intersection to unload the things, I’ll be there shortly.”

He jumped out of the car, closed the door behind him, and strode quickly towards Jiang Lin.

Jiang Lin was teasing Jiang Xinglei when she saw him approaching.

She playfully threw a loose snowball at him.

However, the road was a bit slippery at that moment.

Feeling a bit too proud of herself, she slipped and fell forward.

Cheng Rushan swiftly rushed over, lending his chest for her to cling onto, preventing her from falling directly to the ground.

Cheng Rushan chuckled warmly, “My dear, you’re quite enthusiastic.”

Jiang Lin hurriedly clung to his chest, still slipping a bit.

She quickly climbed up, saying, “Quick, help me up!”

Cheng Rushan laughed and lifted her up, now becoming a bigger target.

Da Bao, Xiao Bao, and Jiang Xinglei started throwing snowballs at them.

Cheng Rushan turned around, shielding them from the snowballs, and said with a smile, “Cease fire!”

Wensheng waved his hand, “Cease fire!”

Jiang Xinglei quickly stopped, not wanting retaliation from his brother-in-law.

Da Bao and Xiao Bao ran over and hugged their father’s legs.

Normally, their father would pick them up first when he returned.

Why did he lift Mom first today?

Cheng Rushan explained, “Mom sprained her ankle.”

Da Bao burst into laughter, not quite believing it.

Xiao Bao gently touched Jiang Lin’s ankle with concern, “Linlin, does it hurt?”

Jiang Lin quickly had Cheng Rushan put her down. It was broad daylight, and she didn’t want people gossiping.

Cheng Rushan ran towards the house while carrying her, prompting Jiang Lin to quickly hook her arms around his neck. “Put me down quickly, I’m heavy!”

She didn’t want to risk being dropped.

Once at the truck, he set Jiang Lin down without breaking a sweat, and touched her icy cold cheeks gently. “Carrying both of you is no problem.”

Duan Chang’an got down from the truck and greeted Jiang Xinglei, Wensheng, and the others.

He then took down the gifts for Da Bao and Xiao Bao—candy beans that he had bought.

Da Bao and Xiao Bao burst into joyful laughter upon seeing them.

“Hahaha,” they exclaimed, extremely pleased.

Looks like Linlin miscalculated!

They brought back various New Year’s goods in baskets: cured meats, smoked fish, cured chickens and ducks, frozen fish and shrimp, and some seasonal fruits and vegetables such as apples, pears, and oranges.

They bought quite a bit of supplies, dividing them among the three families.

Duan Chang’an insisted on taking less since he hadn’t contributed much money, but Cheng Rushan persuaded him to take some cured meats and seafood, which he cherished.

Cheng Rushan had Jiang Xinglei and Wensheng carry their portion back home, leaving the rest for Duan Chang’an to deliver to Dai Guohua’s house.

The truck would be parked at Dai Guohua’s place.

Jiang Lin called out, “Chang’an, come have breakfast.”

Even though she hadn’t prepared for the two of them, she could quickly make some noodles now.

The children ran ahead to the house, leaving Jiang Lin and Cheng Rushan walking behind.

Cheng Rushan held her hand, fingers intertwined.

Her hand felt icy from playing in the snow, while his hand remained warm throughout the year.

At that moment, Cheng Xianglan heard the commotion and came out.

She had spent the night at Cheng Ruhai’s place, unable to bear Liu Honghua’s sarcasm and mockery.

She had planned to leave early without caring about breakfast.

Upon hearing the truck, she hurried out to see what was happening as Cheng Rushan returned.

She watched as Jiang Lin and a few others were frolicking carelessly on the road, and observed how Cheng Rushan indulged his wife.

It left her feeling particularly uneasy.

At first, she was angry and wanted to leave directly, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

She had never felt much for this younger brother before; after all, he wasn’t born of the same mother, and he had been stubborn and aloof as a child, treating everyone as if they owed him something, like he was owed money.

But still, he was her younger brother. Now that he had prospered, she felt as though something that rightfully belonged to her had been taken away.

These things, this care, should have been hers.

When he was poor, it was she, his elder sister, who tirelessly supported the family.

Now that he had succeeded, shouldn’t he repay her kindness?

She couldn’t help but call out, “Dongsheng.”

Cheng Rushan was holding Jiang Lin’s hand and talking to her affectionately.

His eyes and smile were filled with a warmth that could melt ice, especially when her snow-white cheeks were flushed from exercise, her big watery eyes brimming with affection.

He teased her with some flirtatious words, and she playfully glared at him with eyes that were indescribably seductive.

His heart was stirred, and despite his usual composure, seeing her now made him react like boiling water, unexpected and uncontrollable.

Furrowing his brows slightly, he couldn’t help feeling a bit awkward.

Just then, Cheng Xianglan called out to him.

He turned to look, finding Cheng Xianglan standing there with a stern expression on her face.

Cheng Rushan: “Who are you?”

“Who are you?”

Those words were more cutting than anything else.

Cheng Xianglan couldn’t believe it—her own father didn’t care for her, and now her own younger brother didn’t recognize her!

“Who are you?”

Who else could call him Dongsheng besides his sister?

He was truly heartless.

No wonder she used to call him a ruthless little monster when they were young.

If someone wrongly accused him of stealing a chicken, he’d go and kill the chicken just to prove them right.

When she tried to stop him, he’d turn around and ask her whose side she was on.

Wasn’t she doing it for his own good?

She always felt he was capable of doing something like killing someone, just like that gangster from Ruzhou.

If it happened, he’d either get shot or go crazy.

She couldn’t let him drag her down!

She got married right away because she was afraid her brother wouldn’t be able to find a wife due to his bad background and harsh temperament.

Yan Runzhi would force her to find a wife for her brother, and she would end up marrying someone like a fool, a cripple, a mute, or an old man.

She couldn’t ruin herself or be burdened by him.

So, she left.

Jiang Lin whispered to Cheng Rushan, “That’s your sister.”

Cheng Rushan raised an eyebrow slightly, looked over, felt unfamiliar, squinted his eyes, “Sister?”

Cheng Xianglan snorted, “Now you have prospects, naturally you don’t see me as your sister.” She turned away in a huff.

After a few steps, she realized that Cheng Rushan hadn’t followed her.

She became even more annoyed.

Sure enough, this family is not surnamed Cheng, and men have no right to speak.

Cheng Rushan looked at her turning away angrily and was a little puzzled.

He lowered his head and looked at Jiang Lin, “What’s wrong with her?”