Hard work after winning the lottery

"Alright, alright, stop standing there and hurry up and wash your hands and eat!"

"Make this family reunion dinner something to be happy about!"

The slightly somber atmosphere was instantly broken by this shout.

Li Guifen came out carrying steaming hot dishes.

Stir-fried cured pork, braised free-range chicken, steamed fish, and fried crispy pork, which is a favorite among children.

The table was piled high with food.

The aroma is wonderful; it's the smell of home.

The family sat down together.

The three little ones were already hungry, and they sat on the specially made high chairs, staring longingly at the chicken legs on the table.

Zhou Yanjin skillfully rolled up her sleeves and served meals to the three children with elegant and natural movements.

He doesn't act like a big CEO at all; he's more like a dutiful and responsible dad.

The conversation at the dinner table naturally turned to the itinerary for the day after tomorrow.

Hua Yun took a sip of her homemade rice wine, her cheeks flushing slightly.

"Dad, Mom, Grandpa and Grandma."

"We'll fly there the day after tomorrow; it'll only take about two hours to get to City A."

"After we arrive in City A, let's rest at the hotel for a day."

"The thank-you banquet, which is also our wedding in City A, is the day after tomorrow."

As she spoke, she observed the expressions of the elders.

"The process is roughly like this: there's a simple ceremony in the morning."

"The main banquet will be held at noon at a hotel owned by the Zhou family."

"There are a lot of relatives and friends over there, so it might be a little noisy. If you get tired, you can go to the rest room anytime."

Hua Yun explained in great detail, worried that the elders might feel awkward in an unfamiliar environment.

Grandma Hua listened, completely stunned.

The old man had never traveled far in his life; the farthest he had ever been was to the city.

The thought of going to a big city and attending such a grand event inevitably made me a little nervous.

She put down her chopsticks and asked with some concern:

"Yunyun, so many of us went this time."

"Has your accommodation been arranged?"

"I've heard hotels in big cities are really expensive. With so many of us, won't it be too much of a burden on our in-laws?"

"How about we just find a cheap guesthouse nearby and squeeze in?"

The elderly are used to being frugal and are most afraid of owing favors and wasting money.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yanjin immediately put down her chopsticks.

He gently wiped his mouth with a napkin, sat up straight, and looked at Grandma Hua with gentle eyes.

"Grandma, don't worry, everything is arranged."

His voice was steady and powerful, carrying a convincing strength.

"The hotel is owned by the family, so we don't need to spend any money."

"I've already had the rooms reserved; they're right above the hotel where the wedding is being held."

"The elevator goes directly there, so if you get tired, you can go back to your room and lie down in just a few minutes."

"Furthermore, my parents said they are really looking forward to your visit."

"They even had the hotel menu changed, adding a lot of our local dishes, just in case you don't like them."

These words were spoken flawlessly.

This not only relieved the elderly person's worries but also demonstrated the Zhou family's emphasis on this marriage.

After hearing this, Grandma Hua's wrinkles smoothed out.

"Oh, that's great, that's great!"

"Our in-laws are so thoughtful; we've really met some good people."

Li Guifen smiled and placed a piece of the fattest cured meat on Zhou Yanjin's plate.

"Yan Jin, eat more. You've lost weight these past few days."

"Thank you, Mom." Zhou Yanjin smiled as she accepted the gift and ate it without hesitation.

They didn't find the piece of meat too fatty at all.

After drinking two cups of wine, Old Master Hua's face was flushed.

He looked at his three great-grandchildren, who were gnawing on chicken legs with their mouths full of oil, and tapped his chopsticks on the table.

"Sile, Si'an, Sitao".

As soon as the old man spoke, the three little ones immediately stopped what they were doing and looked over with their big eyes.

"Great-grandfather is telling you something."

Hua Mu put on a stern face and adopted a serious expression.

"Go to the big cities, those are right under the emperor's nose."

"You must listen to your parents and not run around, okay?"

"That's a big place, with lots of cars and people. If you get lost, your great-grandfather won't know where to look for you."

"When you meet your elders, you must be polite and greet them. You can't bring shame to our Hua family."

This set of old-fashioned teachings felt especially heartwarming in this setting.

The three children nodded as if they understood, their mouths still smeared with sauce, looking both comical and adorable.

Sile swallowed the meat in her mouth and said loudly, "Great-Grandpa, don't worry, I'm the older brother, I'll watch over my younger brother!"

Si'an nodded seriously with a cool expression: "I won't run around."

Only the most mischievous Sitao raised his little hand, which was covered in oil.

He bounced on the chair, his face flushed with excitement.

"Great-Grandpa, I'll be good!"

"I won't run around recklessly, but I still want to ride in big airplanes!"

"Dad said that big airplanes can fly above the clouds!"

"I'm going to catch clouds for Great-Grandpa to eat!"

Children's innocent remarks caused everyone at the table to burst into laughter.

"Alright, alright, let's catch some clouds for Great-Grandpa to eat. Our Tao Tao is the most filial."

Hua Mutou grinned from ear to ear, his eyes crinkling with laughter.

This dinner took an unusually long time.

The night outside the window grew darker, with the occasional chirping of crickets drifting in.

Inside, however, the lights were on and the room was warm and inviting.

Everyone is deliberately avoiding the word "other".

Instead, there is anticipation for the journey ahead.

Li Guifen kept putting food on Hua Yun's plate, nagging her to take care of herself when she got to City A.

Hua Shu pulled Hua An aside and whispered instructions to take good care of which sheep in the sheepfold was about to give birth.

Zhou Yanjin reached out and quietly took Hua Yun's hand under the table.

Hua Yun turned her head and smiled gently at him.

Needless to say.

The crowing of roosters broke the tranquility of Baixi Village.

As dawn broke and the first light of day appeared in the east, the thin mist in the mountains had not yet completely dissipated, like a light veil wrapped around the mountainside.

There was already some activity in the Hua family's courtyard.

The sound of well water being pumped out was a "splashing" sound, carrying a refreshing coolness.

Li Guifen was the first to get up; wisps of smoke were already rising from the kitchen chimney.

The flames in the stove licked the bottom of the pot, making a crackling sound.

She cooked a big pot of sweet potato porridge, along with homemade pickled radishes and leftover fried pork from last night.

A simple breakfast, yet it offers the most comforting warmth.

One by one, everyone got up and washed up.

The three little ones were still rubbing their sleepy eyes when Zhou Yanjin picked them up one by one and put them on the bench.

"Wash your face first."

Zhou Yanjin wrung out a hot towel and gently wiped Sile's face.

Sile obediently tilted her head back, letting her father do as he pleased.

Sitao, meanwhile, was fidgeting, swinging her short legs and muttering that she wanted to eat meat.

As Hua Yun watched this scene, a gentle smile unconsciously curved her lips.

Breakfast was eaten quickly, and everyone was a little absent-minded, their minds already wandering to the journey that was about to begin.

After the meal, Hua An wiped his mouth and stood up.

"Sis, I'll go get the luggage."

A black minivan, which had been arranged the night before, was parked at the entrance of the courtyard.

The driver, a middle-aged man in his forties, was leaning against the car door smoking. When he saw people getting out, he quickly put out his cigarette.

Hua An picked up the two largest suitcases, his arm muscles taut, showing the strength of a young man.

The boy who used to need his older sister's protection can now shoulder heavy responsibilities.

Zhou Yanjin wanted to step forward to help, but Hua An stopped her.

"Brother-in-law, I can handle this heavy work. You take good care of the elderly and the children."

Hua An grinned, revealing a set of white teeth, his eyes showing a stubbornness.

One by one, the boxes were stuffed into the trunk with a dull thud.

Hua Mutou and Grandma Hua put on their newest clothes, which they had kept hidden away in their trunk.

Hua Yun bought it for them last Chinese New Year. The elderly couple couldn't bear to wear it and kept it neatly folded in the deepest part of the closet.

Now, even though there are some creases, it makes me look exceptionally energetic when I wear it.

Hua Shu and Li Guifen also changed into presentable clothes and carried several cloth bags in their hands.

It contained local specialties for my in-laws: walnuts, dried bamboo shoots, and homemade honey.

That was the most sincere sentiment of rural people, and the only return gift they could offer.

Everything is ready.