I couldn't take it anymore; when I went home for Chinese New Year, the family genealogy book ha

On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, the first snow cleared.

The blizzard that had lasted for several days finally stopped, the cold air dissipated, and the long-awaited winter sun tore through the clouds, shining brightly on the bluestone slabs of Jiangjia Village.

The temperature control system in the bedroom of the large apartment is functioning well.

Jiang Chen leaned against the headboard, his fingers lifting the silk strap of Su Qing's pajamas.

Su Qing playfully slapped his hand away, turned over, and buried her face in the blanket.

"Aren't you tired so early in the morning? You had a meeting that went on so late yesterday." Su Qing's voice was still languid from just waking up.

Jiang Chen lowered his head and kissed the back of her fair neck, his tone tinged with amusement.

"I just wanted to take you out for some fresh air because the sun is out."

Su Qing turned over, reached out and pinched Jiang Chen's cheek, tugging at it.

"Stop making excuses. I can hear the commotion outside. Did you cause some big disturbance again?"

Jiang Chen took her mischievous little hand in his hand and kissed it.

"The manufacturer has delivered the goods; five hundred cars have been brought to the village entrance. Come on, let's change clothes, and your husband will take you to see a real rural auto show."

Ten minutes later, the two, dressed neatly, walked out of the courtyard gate.

Outside the grand archway of Jiangjia Village, the roar of engines was deafening.

Five hundred drivers, specially hired by the car factory, dressed in uniform blue overalls, drove five hundred brand-new, high-spec Wuling Hongguang vans in a long line, traversing the snow-covered road and entering Jiangjia Village.

This scene is truly visually stunning.

Hundreds of cars were lined up in several columns, stretching as far as the eye could see.

The top-of-the-line Wuling Hongguang has undergone special paint treatment, and its silver body reflects a dazzling light under the sun.

The spacious village square was simply too crowded to stop.

Designated drivers can only park their cars along both sides of the main road, filling even the gaps next to the flower beds.

Wang Dagou, with his bald head, was shouting as he directed the reversing of cars in the square.

"Turn the wheel to the left! Straighten it back! Yes! Stop here!"

Li Qiang ran up to Jiang Chen and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Brother Chen, you're ruthless! You drove that Wuling van like an armored unit marching into the city! I've never seen hundreds of cars with their hazard lights on at the same time in my life, it was blinding!"

Jiang Chen straightened the collar of his coat.

"Durable and spacious, even when you bring a pig to visit relatives during the New Year, it's not crowded at all. That's the real style of our Jiangjia Village."

The loudspeaker blared.

Upon hearing the commotion, everyone in the village, young and old, dropped their brooms and shovels, not even bothering to take off their aprons, and rushed towards the square in a dense mass.

Thousands of people crowded the steps and flower beds around the square.

Everyone stared in disbelief at the gleaming array of steel vehicles.

Jiang Youfu was holding a large iron ladle stained with oil, and he slapped his thigh excitedly.

"Good heavens! This isn't a car, it's like they've brought a mountain of silver into the village!"

Zhang Guifang, wearing high heels, craned her neck to peer into the car.

"Wow, these seats are genuine leather! And there's a big screen inside! It's way more impressive than Jianye's beat-up old car!"

The villagers chattered and whispered among themselves, their breathing becoming rapid.

The old village chief, Uncle Baoguo, wearing a thick cotton-padded coat, walked up to the high platform with a long list of names in red.

In the very center of the platform, several long tables covered with red velvet had already been set up.

Jiang Chen pulled Su Qing to the front of the stage.

He turned to face the thousands of villagers below and raised his hand to press them down.

The entire room fell silent, save for the heavy breathing of the crowd.

Jiang Chen turned his head and raised his chin at Li Qiang.

Li Qiang immediately understood and waved his hand.

A dozen or so security guards in black uniforms, in pairs, carried five huge black metal briefcases up to the platform.

"Open the box!" Li Qiang shouted at the top of his lungs.

The security guards pressed the latches in unison.

The lid of the box was opened.

At Jiang Chen's command, the men grabbed the base of the box and turned it upside down.

"Splash—"

The crisp metallic clanging sound echoed throughout the square through the microphone.

Five hundred brand-new car keys, each tied with a bright red ribbon, were laid out on a long red velvet table.

A large, bright red, sparkling mass was piled up, forming an extremely impressive little mountain of keys.

The villagers below the stage stared in disbelief.

Several young people with poor self-control couldn't help but swallow hard.

Jiang Chen picked up the megaphone and rang his voice loudly across the square.

"Everyone, look carefully!"

"These 500 vehicles are our Jiangjia Village's special year-end bonus this year!"

The pot below exploded.

Jiang Mancang was so excited that he trembled all over, and the pipe in his hand fell to the ground.

Wang Dagou started howling and wailing at the top of his lungs.

Jiang Chen continued to speak through the megaphone.

"Our village doesn't stand on ceremony; the cars are right here, everyone gets a share!"

"but!"

Jiang Chen spoke in an extremely domineering tone, setting the rules without any mercy.

"I don't care what big bosses you've been outside, or what your seniority is in the village!"

"I only consider your labor points and contributions over the past six months in our village!"

"The more you do, the bigger the pay! Those who try to cheat and slack off won't even get to touch a tire!"

The villagers were filled with righteous indignation upon hearing this.

Everyone was so excited that they slapped their thighs loudly.

That's a real, large car!

For farmers who have spent most of their lives toiling in the fields, even if it's not a luxury car worth millions, any four-wheeled vehicle is a symbol of status and prestige.

Being able to drive your own car in the village and visit relatives is such a prestigious thing!

If a family owns a car, they're more assertive when it comes to finding a wife.

Jiang Chen handed the loudspeaker to the old village chief next to him.

"Uncle Baoguo, begin reading the list."

The old village chief held the official document in both hands, his hands trembling like a leaf.

He cleared his throat, leaned closer to the microphone, and shouted out the first name at the top of his lungs.

"Number one in annual contribution points!"

"Jiang Shitou! Come up and get the car!"

As soon as the name was announced, thunderous applause erupted from the crowd.

Jiang Shitou was carrying feed on the back mountain with his shirt off when he heard the loudspeaker calling him. He grabbed a jacket, put it on, and ran over.

His towering figure forcefully pushed through the crowd and strode onto the platform.

The two-meter-tall, burly man's face was as red as a monkey's bottom, and he didn't even know where to put his hands and feet.

Jiang Chen randomly picked up a car key tied with a red ribbon from the mountain of keys.

He strode over and slammed the key heavily into Jiang Shitou's palm.

"Chen...Brother Chen...I..."

Jiang Shitou stammered, his eyes red-rimmed, too excited to utter a coherent sentence.

Jiang Chen patted Jiang Shitou's broad, sturdy shoulder forcefully.

"Take it!"

"This is what you achieved by getting up early and working late, cleaning the pigsty and carrying sacks every day!"

"Whoever puts in the effort deserves the reward!"

Jiang Shitou gripped the car keys tightly, turned around, bowed deeply to the villagers below the stage, and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"I'll dedicate my life to this village from now on!"

Another burst of enthusiastic cheers erupted from the audience.

The launch ceremony proceeded smoothly.

The old village chief read out the names one by one.

The able-bodied young men who got the keys all ran off the platform and into the car array to press the unlock button.

After finding their new car, they walked around it, touching and looking at it from all angles, even trying to wipe the mud off the wheels with their sleeves; they were absolutely enamored with it.

The people below craned their necks to listen.

Everyone secretly figured that the first few dozen cars must have been given to department heads or strong laborers like Shi Tou who did heavy physical work.

Just then, the old village chief pushed up his reading glasses, looked at the next name on the list, and shouted it out loud.

"Li Cuihua, come up and get the car!"

The previously enthusiastic atmosphere in the audience fell silent for a couple of seconds.

Jiang Youfu picked at his ear and turned to look at Zhang Guifang beside him.

"Who is Uncle Baoguo calling? Li Cuihua? The widow from our village who collects waste paper at the logistics park?"

Zhang Guifang was also stunned.

"No way? A cleaning lady can get a car?"

On the high platform, the old village chief repeated himself into the microphone.

"Li Cuihua! Come up here quickly and get the car!"