Zhou Qiang ran home in one breath, and his wife sat in the kitchen, her face downcast, chopping pig fodder.

Zhouqiang told the woman the good news, and a look of surprise immediately appeared on her face.

"My lord, is that really true?" she asked.

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

Zhou Qiang gave the woman a withering look. "What are you talking about? My words are as solid as iron, when have I ever said something unreliable?"

>

The woman was suddenly excited. "Oh, actually I had this idea a few days ago but was afraid you wouldn't want to go. Now that you thought of it yourself, this year our family will be able to celebrate the New Year in style."

Zhou Qiang was also extremely happy, calculating in his mind: "Strength, I have plenty of it. In the past, I worked as a laborer for eighty wen a day, and over forty days, that would be more than three taels of silver."

“All three children have new cotton-padded clothes and shoes for the New Year, and there’s even a new outfit for your grandfather.”

"Let's get our mother a new big bed quilt, and buy a few more kilograms of pork and some more wine for her parents."

During the first month of the year, we visit relatives and friends, and the menu also has more dishes. There is some money left over, which will be saved to buy two piglets when spring comes next year, and send our two sons to school in Mengshan.

Upon hearing Zhou Qiang's plan, the woman's mouth was already stretched wide, and she seemed to see copper coins raining down before her eyes.

“I was still sad about the loss of that lotus chicken, thinking about how our children would be without their two daily bowls of egg custard soup now,”

"Why should our family have to pay for the mess she made?"

“I never expected this! Though it seems like we've lost money, there's even greater wealth waiting for us behind the scenes. This is truly a blessing in disguise! Wonderful, wonderful!” The woman exclaimed repeatedly.

When Phoenix Branch was mentioned, Zhou Qiang's face didn't look good.

"Let's not talk about her, she's too much trouble, it's embarrassing!" Zhou Qiang said.

“Get me a pair of sturdy work shoes. I’m heading out, don’t cook my rice for lunch. I’ll be home in the evening after work.” He ordered.

“Okay!” The woman stood up and went to find Zhou Qiang’s shoes.

Of course, one should earn money if they can. In this countryside where there's nothing but the sky above us, having a way to make a living is truly rare.

Zhou Shengjia.

Fengzhi woke up and had another argument with Zhou Sheng.

Then, Fengzhi took back a few pieces of clothing to her natal home.

Under everyone's concerted efforts, Yang Huazhou's new house is being built in an orderly manner.

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Although Xiao Qin and Yu Zhi were hired to cook in the kitchen, Bao Su Yun was a restless person who spent her days in the kitchen, helping with washing vegetables and cooking.

While Yang Huaizhou couldn't work with his hands, he was still around the construction site.

Please let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

Food and drinks are shared with the workers, allowing for constant communication about construction progress.

All the other men in Lao Yang's family, besides Yang Yongxian who taught school and Yang Yongjin who managed a wine shop in the county town, came over to help, except for those who were studying.

Good things come in pairs.

At the end of October or early November on the lunar calendar, good news came from the yamen.

Da An passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi.

When the news reached Changping Village, it truly caused an uproar.

Yang Huazhong and his wife were so excited they didn't know what to do. Yang Ruqing and the others were all thrilled as well.

"Your father said that when the official list is released, we'll have ten tables set up in the village for a free feast and wine party," Sun shi told Yang Ruqing excitedly.

“Your father also said that when the time comes, he'll invite a theater troupe to the village and have a grand celebration for three days and three nights.”

Hearing these words from Mrs. Sun, Yang Ruqing laughed, her eyes crinkling at the corners.

>

"Okay, okay! Whatever Father says, we'll do. We'll make it a grand celebration then, invite everyone from ten miles around who knows our family and has ever visited us for a feast!"

“A free opera for three days and three nights! Let’s have a good time!” said Yang Ruocheng.

Please note that I have only translated the content within the <<<>>>tags. The HTML tags themselves remain unchanged.

"Mother, sister, can I say a few words?" Dā'ān asked.

Yang Ruqing said, "You are the protagonist, of course you can say it! Not just two sentences, a hundred sentences would be fine!"

Sun Shi also looked at Da'an with a loving face, waiting for Da'an to continue.

Da An smiled and said, "Let's hold off on the banquet for now. I'm leaving for the capital in a few days to take the palace examination."

“I want to wait until the palace exam is over before hosting a banquet. That way, I’ll feel more at ease. Mother, elder sister, what do you think?” Dahan asked.

Yang Ruoqing and Sun exchanged a glance. Yang Ruoqing said, "I think it's doable."

Sun said, “I think that’s a good idea. I’ll go talk to your father about it. He probably won’t have any objections.”

Indeed, when Yang Ruqing and Mrs. Sun discussed this matter with Yang Huazhong, Yang Huazhong readily agreed.

Let me know if you have other text you'd like me to translate!

A winter night.

A north wind howled outside.

Although there was a brazier burning in the room, it was still somewhat cold.

Because of the windows and doors, they all kept a certain gap according to Yang Ruqing's instructions so that the air could circulate.

“Big An, it’s getting late and it’s cold outside. Why don’t you wash your feet and go to bed early? Don’t catch a cold.”

Xiaohua held up a basin of wash water, intending to pour it outside. As she passed the desk, she couldn't help but say to Dahan, who was sitting there.

Dayan's gaze fell upon the scroll in his hand, he softly hummed in response.

Xiaohua said again, "You have to go to the capital tomorrow morning. Get some rest early."

This time, Dayan didn't say a word.

Please provide me with the text you would like me to translate. I can help with that! ?

Xiao Hua waited for a while but received no response from Da An. She let out a sigh and picked up the basin, turning to leave the room.

Da An's gaze shifted from the scroll in his hand to the slender figure passing by outside the window. In his eyes, there was a surge of suppressed emotions.

There are some things that are not yet time to speak of.

Just wait a little longer, it's almost time, soon she will have a stable and happy life.

Xiaohua returned to her own house reluctantly, finding Xiaodu sitting on the bed, still not asleep.

She was holding a piece of embroidery and humming a little tune as she worked.

"Xiao Hua, who are you making embroidery for? Why did you embroider a pair of mandarin ducks?" Xiao Hua sat down and asked.

Xiaoduo laughed and said, "It's embroidery for my aunt. You see, after the New Year, Big Jie will be getting married to Huangmao jie. My aunt asked me to help make some embroidery."

"Oh, I see." Xiaohua said, and also picked up the other embroidered head from the basket beside Xiaoduo and began to embroider it.

Xiaoduo lightly nudged Xiaohua's arm with her elbow.

>

"Xiao Hua, that day I overheard Third Aunt, Big Aunt-in-law, and Fifth Aunt chatting. They were talking about all of our marriage matters." Xiao Duo suddenly said.

"What do you mean by 'all of us'?" Xiaohua asked.

Xia Duo said, "It's not because Big Jie ge is about to get married. Aunt Wu asked Aunt San about Brother Da An's marriage."

"What did Aunt San say?" Xiaohua asked, her heart pounding a little faster.

Xia Duo said, "Auntie San said that when it comes to Big An's marriage, we should listen to Big An's own wishes. She and Uncle San won't interfere, they just want to keep an eye on things."

"That's how it is..." Xiaohua sighed.

Xia Duo said, "They all say that the reason Uncle Three and Aunt Three haven't settled Big An's marriage yet is because they want him to focus on his studies."

"Secondly, I also want to keep this opportunity for myself. After all, he's retiring soon, and his future wife will at least be from a prominent family, which would be helpful for Da An's career..."