Reborn in '77, I have a job panel!

Hou Yufen said, "Mom knows you're angry, and I'm angry too, but it's the New Year, so let's not stoop to their level. We'll just cut ties with them from now on."

"Okay, I'll listen to Mom."

Hou Yufen smiled and continued sewing.

Qian Cheng leaned against the kang (a heated brick bed) and looked out the window.

Fireworks rose in the distance, exploding in the night sky in a riot of colors.

The new year is coming.

He closed his eyes, silently calculating in his mind.

After the New Year, I need to get back to studying; the college entrance exam is just around the corner.

The carpentry work can't be neglected either; the master craftsman instructed him to teach him how to make cabinets after the New Year.

There's also fishing, a chef, and newly unlocked vendors.

With more and more careers unlocked, life becomes more and more hopeful.

Outside the window, another cluster of fireworks exploded.

Inside the room, Hou Yufen finished sewing the last stitch and handed the things to Qian Cheng.

"I made this for you to wear during the Chinese New Year."

It was a new cotton-padded jacket, made of blue cloth, thick and sturdy, with fine stitches.

Qian Cheng took it, put it on and tried it on. It fit perfectly and felt warm and cozy.

"Thank you, Mom."

Hou Yufen looked at him with a smile, her eyes full of happiness.

Late at night.

The sound of firecrackers gradually subsided.

Qian Cheng's family had a good New Year.

After eating dumplings, stewing meat, and putting on new clothes, the whole family gathered around the kang (a heated brick bed) chatting and laughing.

Qian Lu and his sister-in-law will come to pay their respects on the first day of the Lunar New Year. Hou Yufen has already prepared red envelopes, two yuan each, for good luck.

On the other hand, Qian Gaofei's family had a terrible New Year.

On New Year's Eve, before dawn, Qian Gaofei woke Liu Fang up.

"Get up, get up," he shouted in a low voice.

Liu Fang groggily opened her eyes: "What? It's not even dawn yet."

"Wake up, hurry up and pack your things," Qian Gaofei said, already sitting up and getting dressed. "We have to go."

Liu Fang was stunned for a moment, then she understood.

The thirty yuan from the Sun family.

These past few days she's been on tenterhooks, fearing that Sun Xinghua will come knocking on her door.

Yesterday was the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, and she didn't dare to go out all day, for fear of running into the Sun family.

I can't sleep well at night and have had several nightmares.

"Yes, yes, we have to go." Liu Fang jumped up and hurriedly put on her clothes. "Where to?"

"Go to your mom's house," Qian Gaofei said. "Let's hide there for a few days first."

Liu Fang hesitated for a moment: "Would it be okay at my mom's house?"

"It has to work out, even if it doesn't work out. It's better than staying at home and waiting for the Sun family to come knocking on our door."

Liu Fang fell silent.

The couple woke up their two children.

Qian Fugui and Qian Fusheng were sound asleep when they were woken up, and they were very unhappy, grumbling and complaining.

"What are you doing? It's still dark."

"Stop talking nonsense and get dressed quickly," Qian Gaofei said irritably.

The two children reluctantly got up and dressed.

Liu Fang tidied up the valuables in the house and stuffed a few changes of clothes into the bundle.

Qian Gaofei locked the door, and the family of four quietly left before dawn.

After walking more than 20 miles, we arrived at Liu Fang's parents' home.

The Liu family lives in Kaoshantun, which is even more remote than Laowozi Village.

Liu Fang's parents are still alive. She has two older brothers who are married and live in the same courtyard as her parents.

When Qian Gaofei and his family of four arrived, it was already afternoon.

Liu Fang's mother opened the door, and upon seeing them, she paused in surprise: "What brings you here?"

"Mom, Happy New Year." Liu Fang forced a smile. "We've come to see you."

Liu Fang's mother glanced at the four of them, then at their hands. They weren't holding anything, and the smile on her face faded.

"Come in," Liu Fang's mother said in a nonchalant tone.

Qian Gaofei and his family of four were admitted to the hospital.

In the courtyard, Liu Fang's eldest brother Liu Dashan and second brother Liu Erhe were putting up couplets with their wives and children. When they saw them, they were all stunned for a moment.

"Oh, you're here?" Liu Dashan greeted him casually.

Liu Erhe remained silent and continued pasting his couplets.

Liu Fang's smile faltered slightly, but she still forced a smile: "Big brother, second brother, Happy New Year."

"Hmm," Liu Dashan responded without saying anything more.

Liu Fang's mother led them into the house and arranged for them to sit down.

The fire in the stove was burning brightly, but Qian Gaofei and his family of four sat there for half a day without anyone offering them a bowl of water.

Liu Fang's two sisters-in-law were busy in the kitchen, and the aroma of stewed meat wafted out. Liu Fang's nephews and nieces were setting off firecrackers in the yard, laughing happily.

Liu Fang's father sat on the kang (a heated brick bed), smoking a pipe. When he saw them come in, he didn't even lift his eyelids.

"Father," Liu Fang called out.

"Hmm," Old Liu replied, still without looking up.

Qian Gaofei smiled ingratiatingly: "Dad, how are you feeling?"

"Okay." Old Liu said just one word.

Qian Fugui and Qian Fusheng sat there, not daring to utter a sound.

They weren't stupid; they could tell that their grandparents didn't like them.

Liu Fang's mother brought in a pot of water and poured a bowl for each of them. The water was cold, and there was limescale at the bottom of the bowl.

"Drink it."

Liu Fang picked up the bowl and took a sip; it was so cold it hurt her teeth.

At dinner time, the Liu family set up two tables, one for adults and one for children.

The meal was quite plentiful, including stewed meat, scrambled eggs, cabbage and vermicelli, tofu soup, and a plate of fried dough sticks.

However, Qian Gaofei's family of four was seated at the same table as the children.

Liu Fang's face turned pale immediately.

She looked at Qian Gaofei, who kept his head down and didn't dare to say a word.

She glanced at her mother, who was busy greeting her two older brothers and their wives and wasn't even looking in her direction.

At the children's table, there were only half the dishes, a few slices of meat, and a handful of fried dough sticks. Liu Fang's nephews and nieces were scrambling to eat them, completely ignoring the children.

Qian Fugui and Qian Fusheng watched longingly, not daring to touch their chopsticks.

Liu Fang couldn't hold back any longer. She stood up, walked to the adults' table, and said with a forced smile, "Mom, it's not appropriate for us adults to sit at the same table as the kids, how about..."

"What's inappropriate?" Liu Fang's mother asked without looking up. "There's enough room for the children at that table."

Liu Fang opened her mouth, but couldn't say a word.

Liu Dashan said from the side, "Girl, just make do for one night. The place is small, so it'll have to be alright."

Liu Fang had no choice but to go back and sit down.

The meal was tasteless and unappetizing.

After the meal, Liu Fang's mother cleared away the dishes and chopsticks, and the family sat inside.

Old Liu, puffing on his cigarette, suddenly spoke up: "Liu Fang, I heard your husband accepted thirty yuan from the Sun family?"

Qian Gaofei turned pale upon hearing this.

Liu Fang was also stunned, not expecting the news to spread so quickly.

"Dad, about that matter..." Liu Fang tried to explain.

"Don't explain to me," Old Liu interrupted her. "I can't be bothered to listen to your petty squabbles. I just want to ask one question: has the money been returned?"

Liu Fang opened her mouth, but couldn't say a word.

Old Liu looked at her and sneered, "Haven't paid it back, have you? Can't pay it back, can you? You spent it?"

Liu Fang lowered her head and dared not utter a sound.

Old Liu slammed his pipe on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed): "Thirty yuan, not a lot, not a little."

You took their money, but didn't get the job done. Do you think they'll let you off the hook?

Qian Gaofei quickly said, "Dad, we're just here to hide for a few days, until after the New Year..."