When I went home for Chinese New Year, I spent a million times more money on my foreign wife.

Chen Yang knew that Tie Niu must have something on his mind, and he would tell him when he wanted to. He invited Tie Niu to his house for dinner that evening.

The Chen family's bright red lanterns hung high, reflecting a crimson glow onto the snow in the courtyard.

Two large round tables were placed together in the center of the main room, and the table was filled with steaming hot dishes such as pork stew, chicken stew with mushrooms, and braised pork ribs.

Although it wasn't the official day, Chen Yang specially hosted this family banquet to celebrate the project's launch.

"Come on, fill it up!"

Old Chen, his face glowing, held a white porcelain bottle of fine wine without any labels and poured wine for the village secretary and several clan elders.

"This is a special supply of Moutai that County Chief Wang sent someone to deliver this afternoon. You can't buy it anywhere else." Old Chen's mouth was practically stretched to his ears. He had never been so smug in his life.

The village party secretary held the wine glass with both hands, his back ramrod straight, as if receiving an imperial edict.

"Yangzi has made something of himself! Even we old bones are getting a taste of the imperial wine!"

The atmosphere inside was lively, with the sounds of drinking games and clinking glasses rising and falling.

Chen Yang sat in the main seat, occasionally serving food to Katyusha beside him.

Katyusha held a braised pig's trotter in her left hand and a glass of beer in her right, eating with her mouth dripping with oil.

Chen Yang glanced around the table, his brows furrowing slightly.

Everyone at both tables was present, except for one person with a loud voice.

"Mom, where's Tie Niu?" Chen Yang turned to ask his mother, who was serving dishes. "I saw him at the village entrance during the day, so I told him to come over for drinks tonight."

Chen Ma wiped her hands on her apron and sighed, "Don't even mention it. That child has been acting like he's lost his soul these past few days. I just had your dad go and call him, and his blind old mother said that Tie Niu was taken away by some people from the neighboring village, saying they were going to collect a debt."

"Collecting debts?" Chen Yang paused for a moment with his chopsticks.

I knew Tie Niu was in trouble when I saw him by the roadside during the day, and now he's been called away by people from the neighboring village. There's definitely something fishy going on here.

"I understand." Chen Yang poured himself a glass of wine without making a sound, thinking he would ask Tie Niu what was going on when he returned.

Chen Yang picked up his wine glass and stood up.

The noisy main room fell silent instantly. Everyone put down their chopsticks and stared intently at the young man.

"Dear uncles and aunts," Chen Yang said in a low but steady voice, "since the project is going to be located in our village, I'll be frank with you."

"Construction of the ice and snow town will begin next spring."

"When it comes to workers, I will give priority to using the labor force from our Kaoshantun village."

"Salary will be double the county standard. Social insurance and housing fund will be fully paid."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the room erupted in chaos.

"Twice? And we have to pay that other fee too?" An older woman dropped her chopsticks on the table. "Yangzi, this is a huge favor!"

"I knew Yoko was a kind and righteous child!"

"From now on, if the Chen family points east, I will never go west!"

Several young men were so excited that their faces turned red, and they downed their drinks in one gulp.

This means that after the new year, they won't have to leave their hometowns to work in the south; they can earn big money right at their doorstep.

The old village chief was so excited that his beard trembled, and he held onto Old Chen's hand tightly, saying, "Brother, you've raised a fine son! You're a benefactor to our entire village!"

Chen Yang smiled and gestured for Katyusha to sit down and continue peeling shrimp for her.

For him now, this labor cost is nothing, but it can win the hearts of the whole village and a stable home base, so it's a worthwhile deal.

Katyusha didn't understand what Chen Yang said at all. She didn't know when he had brought the big white goose from the yard in and poured it some liquor.

"Hurrah!" Katyusha raised her glass.

"Gah!"

The goose, which had been given baijiu (Chinese liquor), flapped its wings in response, unable to stand steadily and swaying from side to side.

……

Meanwhile, on the county road 20 kilometers away from Kaoshantun.

A dilapidated taxi struggled to crawl through the snowstorm, black smoke billowing from its exhaust pipe.

In the back seat of the car, an elderly woman with high cheekbones, wearing a dark red cotton-padded jacket, was hugging a chubby boy of seven or eight years old.

This old lady was my second aunt's older sister, the eldest aunt known as "the devil's nightmare." The one in her arms was her eldest grandson, nicknamed Zhuangzhuang.

"Grandma, I'm hungry! I want to eat meat!" Zhuangzhuang kicked the back of the front seat, making the driver shudder.

"Oh, my dear grandson, bear with it, we'll be there soon." The great-aunt stroked Zhuangzhuang's head with a loving expression, but when she turned to look out the window, her eyes instantly turned greedy.

"My dear grandson, listen to Grandma. When we get to your second aunt's village, we'll go to the richest family's house."

"I heard that brat named Chen Yang has made a fortune, and his house is full of good stuff."

My aunt lowered her voice, a calculating glint in her wrinkled face: "Once you're inside, take whatever you like. If you dare refuse, lie on the floor and cry, roll around on the floor! Understand?"

"I won't cry, I want it!" Zhuangzhuang waved his fist, his eyes flashing with destructive light. "If you don't give it to me, I'll smash it!"

"Yes! That's the way to do it!" Auntie slapped her thigh, her face crinkling with laughter. "He's so rich, and a big boss, he's bound to care about his image. You're just a kid, he'll be too embarrassed to make you pay for what you break. Then Grandma can put in a few words of support, and the stuff will be ours!"

"If anyone dares to stop me..." Auntie sneered, spitting everywhere, "I'll say she's bullying a child! We'll extort money from her!"

She rushed over overnight to hear her sister's tearful complaints about how Chen Yang bullied people and how rich he was.

My second aunt is incompetent.

She was different. In her opinion, it was outrageous for Chen Yang to not share his wealth with his relatives.

Such heartless rich people need to be "educated" by elders like her.

"Grandma, I need to pee," Zhuangzhuang suddenly said.

"Pee! Just pee in the car!" Auntie didn't even lift her eyelids. "Anyway, this lousy car isn't ours."

The driver glanced at the bizarre grandmother and grandson pair in the rearview mirror, gritted his teeth, and didn't dare to utter a sound.

The old lady who got on the bus just now said she knew the county head and threatened to report him if they didn't give her a ride.

The car headlights pierced the darkness, and the large red lanterns of Kaoshantun in the distance were already faintly visible.

……

Chen Family Compound.

After a hearty meal, the villagers, carrying the New Year's gifts Chen Yang had given them in return, dispersed with profuse thanks.

Chen Ma was cleaning up the mess, humming a folk song, and was in a very good mood.

Chen Yang stood at the door and lit a cigarette.

The snow has stopped, and the air is crisp and refreshing.

The system panel suddenly flickered on my retina.

[Special Event Warning: An upgraded version of the "ultimate relative" is about to arrive on the battlefield. Host is advised to prepare.]

Chen Yang exhaled a smoke ring, a playful smile playing on his lips.

This is what Chinese New Year is all about.

With only a few difficult relatives coming to cause trouble, the year was indeed a little less enjoyable.

"Honey, the goose is asleep." Katyusha staggered over, leaning half her body on Chen Yang, her breath reeking of alcohol mixed with a pleasant milky scent. "I'm sleepy too."

Chen Yang wrapped his arms around her waist and stubbed out his cigarette in the snow.

"Go to sleep, we still have to watch the show tomorrow."

Just then, a screeching sound of brakes came from outside the courtyard, followed by a loud slamming of the door and a hoarse voice shouting curses.

"Which one is Chen Yang's house? Get your ass out here and greet us!"

Chen Yang raised an eyebrow. They arrived so quickly?