Hard work after winning the lottery

The hall was resplendent with gold and jade, filled with the fragrance of fine clothes and elegant figures.

But everyone's attention was focused on the little one being held in Zhou Yanjin's arms.

Nuannuan, who just turned one year old, looks like a New Year's picture doll today.

She wore a custom-made red modified cheongsam with delicate cloud patterns embroidered on the collar, and her hair was tied in two small buns with red ribbons. Her big, black grape-like eyes darted around, smiling at everyone and revealing a few small white teeth, which was simply adorable.

"This must be Nianyun! She's so beautiful!"

"Those eyes look just like President Zhou's, and that mouth looks just like your sister-in-law's!"

The guests showered the guests with compliments as if they were free.

"Mother-in-law, come quickly!" Lin Yi was dressed elegantly today, and upon seeing Li Guifen, she was completely unpretentious, warmly taking her hand. "Nuannuan was just looking for her grandmother!"

Li Guifen's eyes felt a little hot.

She looked at her granddaughter, who was being fawned over by everyone, and felt both happy and a little bittersweet.

Such a wonderful day, such a grand display.

Are the things they brought presentable?

What gifts did the people around you give you?

A longevity lock made of pure gold, a jade ruyi as thick as a wrist, and someone even gave him a small abacus made of pure gold.

The light was so dazzling it made people dizzy.

Li Guifen squeezed the cloth bag in her hand, somewhat hesitant.

"Grandma!"

Just then, the little dumpling in Zhou Yanjin's arms spotted Li Guifen with sharp eyes.

A clear and loud "Grandma" instantly drowned out the noise in the hall.

Nuannuan struggled in Zhou Yanjin's arms, stretching out her two chubby little hands, her body almost reaching out, eagerly wanting to pounce on him.

Zhou Yanjin quickly carried her daughter over, a gentle smile on her face: "Mom, Dad, you're here. Nuannuan has been talking about seeing you all morning."

The way he called out "Dad, Mom" ​​was so natural that it sent a chill down the spines of the guests who had been listening intently to the gossip.

It seems the rumors were true; President Zhou has great respect for his wife's family, who come from a rural background.

Li Guifen quickly reached out and took the heavy little ball of flesh.

"Oh my goodness, it's sinking, it's sinking again!" Li Guifen kissed Nuannuan on the cheek, her face full of wrinkles beaming with joy.

Grandma Hua stepped forward and opened the cloth bag in her hand, somewhat embarrassed.

"Um... Yan Jin, this is what your mother and I made for Nuan Nuan."

The cloth bag was opened.

There was no glittering gold or dazzling jewels.

She only had a pair of tiger-head shoes and a set of pure cotton clothes.

Those were truly stitch by stitch.

The tiger-head shoes were exquisitely made; the tiger's eyes were sewn with black sequins, and its whiskers were embroidered with silk thread, making them both majestic and adorable. The little outfit felt soft to the touch, and the stitches were so dense that even machines couldn't match it—a skill only an old person who had spent their entire life doing needlework possessed.

There was a moment of silence.

After all, among a pile of priceless jewels, this thing looks too "plain".

"Wow……"

Just as Grandma Hua was feeling a little awkward, Nuannuan suddenly exclaimed in surprise.

The little guy no longer wants Zhou Yanjin's golden abacus, nor does he want Lin Yi's big red envelope.

She grabbed the tiger-head shoe, examined it from all angles, and then held it up to her feet with obvious delight.

"Shoes! Shoes!"

Nuannuan called out excitedly, her eyes sparkling.

"Beautiful! So beautiful!" Hua Yun's eyes reddened slightly as she walked over and stroked the exquisite embroidery. "Grandma, Mom, how much effort must have taken to make this? It's a hundred times better than any gold!"

Zhou Yanjin nodded, her eyes sincere: "Indeed, this skill can't be bought with money these days. Nuannuan, do you like it?"

"Yes! Yes!" Nuannuan nodded vigorously and stretched out her foot to indicate that she wanted to put it on.

When the bright red tiger-head shoes were put on the warm little feet, the little guy stomped his feet twice on the ground with a "thump thump" sound, and then giggled.

At that moment, all the guests applauded sincerely.

What does it mean that a thousand pieces of gold cannot buy what one truly desires?

This is!

The highlight of the first birthday celebration is the "grasping ceremony" or "selecting objects" (a traditional Chinese custom where the baby chooses

The huge red carpet was filled with all sorts of things.

The items included a seal, an abacus, books, a black card specially placed by Zhou Ye, and a small shovel placed by Hua Mutou (symbolizing being down-to-earth).

Nuannuan sat in the middle, looking at this and that.

Everyone held their breath.

What will this child grab?

Should one seize the family seal to inherit the business, or focus on books to become a top student?

Nuannuan crawled over using both her hands and feet.

She walked past the black card without even glancing at it.

It passed by the seal, paused briefly, and then crawled away.

At last.

She climbed straight up to the roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) that Hua An had suddenly put there.

Nuannuan grabbed the roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) and, without thinking, opened her mouth wide and took a big bite.

They ate until their mouths were greasy.

The entire venue fell silent for three seconds.

Then came a deafening burst of laughter.

"Hahahaha! Good! Food is the most important thing for people! This child will be blessed in the future!" Old Master Zhou Yinchuan laughed until tears streamed down his face.

Zhou Yanjin rubbed her forehead and smiled bitterly.

Fine.

The foodie persona remains unshaken.

After the grand celebration of the first birthday party, life returned to normal, and Hua Mutou's family didn't stay a few more days before returning to Baixi Village.

Nuannuan can now say "Dad" and "Mom" in simple terms.

Especially when he calls out "Dad," Zhou Yanjin's usually icy face can instantly turn into a wide smile, and he'll give her whatever she wants.

Si'an, Si'le, Si'tao.

These three brothers now do neither homework nor play games as the first thing they do when they get home from school every day.

Instead, they surrounded Nuannuan.

Everyone wants to be the first "brother" their younger sister calls out to.

Every morning, Si'an would hold a flashcard and stand in front of Nuannuan, who was still a little dazed after waking up.

The flashcard had the pinyin "gē ge" written in large letters.

"Nuan Nuan, watch my lips."

Si'an spoke clearly and in a standard broadcasting voice: "Brother—Brother—. Curl your tongue up, press it against the roof of your mouth, and exhale, Brother—."

Nuannuan sat in her crib, holding a teething toy, staring blankly at her older brother's opening and closing mouth.

then.

"cloth--"

He spit out a saliva bubble.

Si'an wasn't discouraged: "Great, even though the pronunciation was off, the airflow was good. Let's try again, bro—"

Sile practically bounced sparks off his ukulele.

Whenever Nuannuan is in the living room, she can hear his heartfelt singing.

Moreover, he changed the lyrics of all the children's songs.

"Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" has become: "Twinkle, twinkle, little star, the sky is full of people calling for their brother..."

The song "Two Tigers" has become: "Two older brothers, two older brothers, running fast..."

Even during meals, he can deliver a beautifully spoken version of: "Oh—my dear sister—please call me—brother—brother—"

Zhou Yanjin's temples throbbed with pain, and she nearly threw the ukulele away several times.

Nuannuan was very accommodating; every time her second brother sang, she would clap her hands randomly and make random "ah ah" sounds, but she would never say the correct word.