The wicked mother-in-law doesn't try to whitewash herself; she only abuses her awful children.

Chapter 816 The First New Year in Shengjing

After everyone went back inside, they began the most important part of New Year's Eve: staying up all night.

Tong Huaqiong didn't feel cold outside, but when she got inside, she found her feet were numb from the cold.

Tong Huaqiong stamped her foot and told the maid to fill the charcoal brazier with charcoal.

The room became even warmer.

Su Qing placed a few oranges on the charcoal fire, and the whole house was filled with the refreshing aroma of roasted orange peels.

Man'er, Yaozu, and Hua'er roasted peanuts and sweet potatoes on the stove.

The table was rearranged with fruit, dried fruit, and pastries, and everyone sat around it again to talk.

Except for Lu Zhaozhao, who was pregnant and taken to rest by Gu Jingzhe, everyone else was in high spirits for staying up all night and didn't feel sleepy at all.

Zhao suggested playing dominoes to pass the time.

Playing Pai Gow is an essential form of entertainment for the people of Qinghewan during the winter. From the Zhao family to the Hong family, everyone enjoys playing it. Even Gu Xiaoxue's eyes are shining with excitement, as she expresses her desire to win everyone's money to buy flowers to wear.

Zhao's suggestion was met with approval from everyone. Su Qing set up dominoes. Since Tong Huaqiong was not good at playing dominoes and would lose nine times out of ten, Tong Huaqiong pulled Su Qing to sit aside as her advisor.

With Su Qing as her advisor, Tong Huaqiong won two consecutive games and was overjoyed.

It doesn't matter how much you win, what matters is having a good start.

After a few rounds, Tong Huaqiong won in one go and let Su Qing play, while she sat on the sidelines watching.

"Mother, let's hire an opera troupe to perform next year. We're all in Shengjing now, and apart from playing dominoes, there's nothing new happening at home during the whole first month of the lunar year. We'd have to go to someone else's house to watch an opera," Gu Taohua suggested to Tong Huaqiong while sitting next to Gu Xiaoxue and watching the game.

During the Spring Festival, Tong Huaqiong received many invitations, asking her to bring the women of the Gu family to drink and watch operas in the first month of the lunar calendar.

Since Tong Huaqiong had just arrived in Shengjing this year and was only busy with business, there were no entertainment facilities at home during the first month of the lunar year, except for inviting friends and acquaintances to drink.

Gu Taohua, Liu Yue'e, and Chen Sufen were all opera enthusiasts. When Tong Huaqiong finished her business and went to invite an opera troupe to perform at her home during the first month of the lunar calendar, there were no opera troupes available in Shengjing for the entire month.

Now, if you want to listen to opera, you can only go to someone else's house for a banquet or go to the market to listen. It's nothing like the enjoyment of a performance performed at your own home, where you can choose whatever you want to hear.

Tong Huaqiong said, "We will definitely make arrangements as early as possible next year."

The cards on the table clattered loudly, and in one round, Su Qing and Gu Xiaoxue won the most.

Tong Huaqiong stayed up until midnight, but finally couldn't stay awake any longer and went back to her room to sleep.

After drinking some alcohol that evening, as she lay in bed, the effects of the alcohol began to take hold. In her hazy state, Tong Huaqiong sometimes felt as if she were back in her graduate student dormitory, and other times as if she were still in Qinghewan.

Having lived two lives, I have not wasted a single one, nor have I let myself down in any of them.

New Year's Eve is coming to an end, and a new year is about to begin.

This was also her first New Year in Shengjing.

Tong Huaqiong murmured, wishing herself a peaceful new year and also wishing her counterpart in another time and space all the best.

Amidst the crackling of firecrackers, Tong Huaqiong fell into a deep sleep.

When I woke up again, it was already the new year.

Tong Huaqiong got up and got dressed.

Although she now has a personal maid, she is still not used to being served when she gets up and dressed.

"Grandma, Happy New Year."

Happy New Year, Great-Aunt!

Just as I finished getting dressed, a clear, cheerful child's voice rang out at the door, wishing me a Happy New Year.

Even though she had been in this world for many years, Tong Huaqiong was still a little stunned when she heard this call that transcended generations, as if this body had nothing to do with her.

Before I could fully process what was happening, Man'er and Duo'er came in one after the other.

Then Duo'er pulled the swaying Ying'er in as well.

"Grandma, Happy New Year!" Man'er said. The children, dressed in brand-new clothes and with their hair in double buns, looked just like the dragon maidens in the paintings.

Especially now that Man'er has grown another year older, she's become incredibly beautiful, showing more and more of a future beauty.

Tong Huaqiong reached out and hugged Man'er, giving her a kiss.

Thinking back to when she first came into this world, Man'er was a thin, yellow bean sprout, her small face so thin that only her big eyes were visible.

As the female protagonist in the world of Tong Dajiao, Man'er's fate was tragic before the age of seventeen. In this life, Man'er is the beloved granddaughter of the Tong family business.

Even the emperor would occasionally summon her to the palace to accompany the crown prince in his studies.

Thinking about this, Tong Huaqiong didn't know whether it was good or bad for Man'er.

Since Man'er's fate is still tied to the Crown Prince and she is destined to enter the palace in the future, there is no need for her to stop her now.

Let everything take its course.

After all, what is poison to one is honey to another.

For Tong Huaqiong, the imperial harem was not a place of freedom, but for Man'er, perhaps power was more important than anything else.

Then Tong Huaqiong, Gu Jingzhe, and others will become Man'er's strongest supporters.

Whether it's using money to bribe or elevating someone to a high position to provide support.

"Grandma, what's wrong?" Man'er looked up and asked when she saw Tong Huaqiong hugging her and staring blankly.

Tong Huaqiong smiled and said, "Nothing much, I'm just happy to see Man'er growing up."

"Grandma, hug me."

Seeing that Tong Huaqiong was holding her sister tightly, Ying'er wobbled over to Tong Huaqiong and Man'er, reached out her chubby little hands to pull Man'er away, and squeezed into Tong Huaqiong's arms.

Tong Huaqiong was amused by Ying'er's fierce and cute appearance. She hugged her granddaughter tightly and pinched Ying'er's chubby pink cheeks.

Ying'er planted a kiss on Tong Huaqiong's cheek.

Happy New Year, Great-Aunt!

Duo'er taught Hua'er to clasp her hands together and offer a New Year's greeting to Tong Huaqiong.

Tong Huaqiong released Ying'er and Man'er, and hugged Duo'er and Hua'er.

"Here's your New Year's money, take it."

Tong Huaqiong took out the New Year's money she had prepared beforehand from under her pillow and handed it to the four girls.

"Keep it safe and don't give it to your parents," Tong Huaqiong instructed.

The four children thanked them with smiles.

Su Qing came in and helped Tong Huaqiong comb her hair.

"Mother, let me help you comb your hair."

Liu Yue'e was dressed like a nouveau riche, covered in silks and satins, and adorned with pearls and gold hairpins. She peeked in through Tong Huaqiong's door and almost blinded Tong Huaqiong with her dazzling appearance.

Tong Huaqiong waved her hand and said, "I don't need you to serve me."

Given Liu Yue'e's taste, Tong Huaqiong was afraid of being served by her. So, on the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, she wore a matchmaker's makeup to receive everyone's New Year's greetings, and for the whole year, she looked like a nouveau riche.

Liu Yue'e saw the four children in the room, turned to the maid and said, "Go see if Yaozu is up yet, and quickly tell him to come and wish his grandmother a Happy New Year."

Tong Huaqiong knew Liu Yue'e's little scheme. She saw Man'er, Hua'er, and the others come in to wish Tong Huaqiong a Happy New Year and was afraid that Tong Huaqiong would give them good things and leave Yaozu out of it.

However, Tong Huaqiong didn't expose Liu Yue'e during the Chinese New Year.

Liu Yue'e had petty thoughts, but dared not harbor any major evil intentions.

After washing up, Tong Huaqiong went to the main room.

Chen Sufeng, Lu Zhaozhao, and others were already waiting in the main room to wish her a Happy New Year.