Hard work after winning the lottery

The Zhou Group is, after all, a business tycoon.

As the current president, Zhou Yanjin's wedding is not only a family matter, but also a major event for the entire business community.

Those partners, business tycoons, and political figures are all watching.

If the event is simply concluded in the countryside, there will likely be various unfavorable speculations from the outside world.

Some people might even look down on Hua Yun because of her background.

This is something Zhou Ye would never allow to happen.

Zhou Yanjin had clearly considered this point long ago.

He looked calmly at his father, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

"Dad, don't worry."

Zhou Yanjin explained that the explanation was clear, logical, and watertight.

"I understand that City A is where the Zhou family's foundation is located, and there are many business partners and friends there who need to be entertained."

He turned to look at Hua Yun, his eyes overflowing with tenderness.

"After the wedding in Baixi Village, we plan to take a short break and then hold another wedding in City A."

This is a win-win solution.

The former acted out of loyalty and affection, while the latter acted out of a sense of responsibility.

"I want to formally introduce Huayun and the children to everyone in City A with the grandest ceremony."

Zhou Yanjin's voice was not loud, but it was firm and resounding.

"I want everyone to know that Hua Yun is not only the pride of Baixi Village, but also my lawfully wedded wife, and the rightful mistress of the Zhou family."

This statement is not just a plan, but a promise.

A promise to support Huayun and give the Hua family confidence.

Hua Shu, listening intently, was filled with excitement. He scratched his head sheepishly and said, "This is what they call... what's that phrase again? Double happiness?"

"Yes! Double happiness!" Li Guifen exclaimed, slapping her thigh with joy.

This solution perfectly balances the needs of both families and takes into account everyone's feelings, both appearance and substance.

The elders on both sides exchanged a glance, and both saw satisfaction in each other's eyes.

Grandpa Zhou Yinchuan was so happy that his beard stood on end.

"Good! Good lad! You've thought of everything!"

The old man slammed his hand on the table, setting the tone.

"Now that the general plan has been set, let's quickly find a date!"

Hua Mutou quickly got up, took some unsteady but urgent steps, and turned to go into the inner room.

A short while later, he came out carrying a yellowed old almanac.

The edges of the almanac were worn, indicating that it had been frequently looked at.

"Come, come, father-in-law, you're a cultured man, come and take a look."

Hua Mutou handed the almanac to Zhou Yinchuan.

Zhou Yinchuan did not refuse, took the calendar, and took out his reading glasses from his pocket and put them on.

Under the dim light, two elderly people with white hair huddled together, their fingers sliding across the dense red and black characters.

"This is a good day; it's auspicious for weddings and betrothal..."

"No, no, the date is too close, I'm afraid there won't be enough time to prepare."

"What about this one? This day is an auspicious day, suitable for all activities."

"Hmm... What a beautiful day! The work in the fields was finished long ago, and the villagers are all free now. It's lively!"

Zhou Yanjin and Hua Yun sat to the side, watching their elders discuss the matter enthusiastically, and a warm feeling welled up in their hearts.

It feels so good to be cherished and valued by the whole family.

Finally, after a heated discussion and considering Zhou Yanjin's busy work schedule, the date was set.

Zhou Yinchuan took off his glasses, pointed to a date on the almanac, and made the final decision.

"It's set for three months from now!"

The old man's face was radiant, as if he had become ten years younger.

The specific arrangement is that the banquet in Baixi Village will be held on a weekend three months from now.

The grand wedding in City A was postponed for a week.

With the major decision settled, everyone felt relieved.

It was like a suspended stone finally falling to the ground, bringing a sense of relief and joy.

Li Guifen has already started planning how many kilograms of pork and how many sheep she needs to prepare.

"We need to have this banquet so that relatives from all around can come and have a drink at our wedding!"

Lin Yi excitedly grabbed Hua Yun's hand, "Yunyun, Auntie will contact the designer tomorrow. We need to have several dresses custom-made, both Chinese and Western styles!"

"And the flower girl and page boy outfits—I had a designer design them personally!"

Laughter and conversation mingled together in the courtyard.

Zhou Yanjin watched all of this quietly, watching Hua Yun, who was surrounded by her family and smiling radiantly.

He squeezed her hand again.

Hua Yun turned her head and gave him a bright smile.

At this moment, life is peaceful and serene, and the future is promising.

Baixi Village is awakened by the crowing of roosters in the early morning.

As dawn broke, Hua Mutou habitually put on his coat and picked up his pipe.

Before I even stepped out of the courtyard gate, two people followed behind me.

One was the energetic Zhou Yinchuan, and the other was the sleepy-eyed but excited Zhou Ye.

"Father-in-law, are you going to the sheep farm so early?"

Zhou Ye quickened his pace and caught up with the two old men in front of him.

Hua Mutou turned around with some surprise, "The sheep have been hungry all night, so I need to check on the fodder and clean the sheepfold while I'm at it. It's filthy. You should stay home and rest, my dear in-law."

"That's our family business, how could I not care?"

Zhou Ye retorted seriously, showing no airs of being the chairman of the group.

This was probably the first time in his life that he had shown such a strong interest in a flock of sheep.

The three of them walked through the morning dew toward the automated sheep farm in the western mountains.

When Zhou Ye arrived at the sheep farm, he discovered that the "dirt" there was completely different from what he had imagined.

The modern equipment hummed, the ventilation system was good, and apart from a faint smell of grass and mutton, there was no unpleasant odor.

A group of plump and strong black goats were crowding around the feeding trough, bleating.

"This one has really shiny fur."

Zhou Ye pointed to a leading sheep and couldn't help but admire it.

Zhou Yinchuan skillfully grabbed a handful of prepared feed and scattered it into the trough, his movements fluid and efficient, still displaying the competence of a veteran.

"Old Hua, shouldn't this batch of sheep be ready for market?"

Zhou Yinchuan asked while working.

Hua Mutou nodded, holding a broom in his hand, clearing away the weeds in the passageway.

"Yes, it just so happens that the children are having a wedding banquet. We'll keep the best sheep for ourselves."

Zhou Ye watched from the side, feeling a strong urge to join in.

He rolled up his sleeves, revealing a priceless watch on his wrist, and went to help.

"I'll give it a try too."

As soon as he reached out, the lead sheep, probably because he was a stranger, snorted loudly and pawed at the ground with its hooves.

Zhou Ye was startled and instinctively took a step back, stepping right into a small puddle.

The leather shoes were instantly soaked, and mud splashed onto the trouser legs.

"Ouch!"

Zhou Ye exclaimed in surprise, looking somewhat embarrassed.

Hua Mutou and Zhou Yinchuan exchanged a glance, then burst into hearty laughter.

"My dear in-law, this sheep is wary of strangers. It seems you'll have to come back a few more times!"

Zhou Ye looked at the mud spots on his trousers, but instead of being annoyed, he laughed along.

"Fine! I'll just stick with these sheep then, I'll come every day for the next few days!"

In the morning light, the laughter of three men echoed across the empty sheep pasture, full of vitality.

Meanwhile, in the Zhou family kitchen, the fire in the stove was burning brightly, casting a red glow on the faces of the people gathered around the stove.

The air was filled with the sweet aroma of glutinous rice flour and brown sugar.

Lin Yi was wearing a floral apron and was clumsily kneading a dough ball in her hand.

This was probably the first time in decades that this noblewoman had entered a kitchen with a traditional earthen stove.

"Mother-in-law, why...why can't this mouth be sealed?"

Lin Yi looked at the exposed candy packet in her hand, feeling somewhat at a loss.

On ordinary days, her well-maintained hands are either holding wine glasses or signing checks.

Covered in flour, it looked incredibly down-to-earth.

Li Guifen smiled as she took it, and with a nimble twist and pinch of her fingers, a beautiful pleat appeared.

"See, like this, gently lift it up."

As Li Guifen taught, she smiled and said, "When Yunyun was little, she was really capable."

Upon hearing Hua Yun mentioned, Lin Yi's ears immediately perked up, and she stopped what she was doing.

Was Yunyun particularly well-behaved when she was little?

Grandma Hua sat under the stove adding fuel to the fire, the firelight illuminating her kind face.

"She's obedient, but stubborn by nature."

The old lady recalled the past with eyes full of affection.

"Back then, her family was poor. She was only six or seven years old, and she would stand on a stool to cook on the stove."

"He's not even as tall as the stove; he has to stand on tiptoe to cook."

Lin Yi felt a sudden pang of sadness upon hearing this.

She thought of that scene.

In the small Huayun kitchen, amidst the smoke and flames, they strive to make a living.

"Once, she went to the back mountain to cut pig feed and encountered a large snake."

Li Guifen picked up the conversation, her tone carrying a mix of lingering fear and pride.

"Other girls would have cried in fear long ago, but she was different; she picked up a sickle and confronted the snake."

"When we came back, the basket was full of grass, and we didn't say a word. It wasn't until we gave her a bath that night that we found many cuts on her legs from thorns."

Lin Yi's eyes reddened as she listened.