Chapter 515: Chapter 515

Everything was finally settled. The family curiously admired the bright, warm, and clean house, gaining a deeper understanding of Jing Shu’s financial capabilities. Living in such a clean house, they felt they couldn’t be too dirty themselves, so the elder aunt enthusiastically asked Wei Chang to fetch several kettles of boiling water for everyone to clean up properly. Jing Shu was also happy.

However, it was Second Aunt’s husband who said slyly, "Jing Shu, now that we’re all settled, when are we visiting Lady Jingzhao at the villa? We haven’t seen her in ages; the old folks must be missing me."

Jing Shu laughed. "Whether they miss you, I wouldn’t know. But when Uncle went over earlier, Grandpa and Grandma were quite pleased. They mentioned he brought half a pig from so far away and that he knew Grandpa enjoys pig ears with his drink, so he thoughtfully saved some. That was very filial of him. Second Uncle, Grandpa and Grandma think highly of you too. What did you bring to honor them?"

Second Aunt’s husband hemmed and hawed. "Well, if it were before, and my tobacco and liquor store hadn’t been closed, I’d have definitely brought some fine wine."

"Tsk, tsk. So why didn’t you bring good wine for New Year’s before the apocalypse? Every year you’d just bring that cheap liquor worth two and a half yuan, even though Grandpa and Grandma would give you a thousand yuan in lucky money."

Second Aunt lowered her head. She had always felt her mother favored sons over daughters, treating her unfairly. Because of this, she had remained silent for years about Li Zhu’s various behaviors towards her family. But when the apocalypse truly struck, she realized her parents’ home was the only reliable support; her husband’s family was completely undependable!

But the mistake was made. She had successfully drifted apart from her own family and knew she could never return to how things once were.

The plan had been decided long ago: they would spend New Year’s at Grandpa and Grandma’s house this year and naturally wouldn’t go to the villa at all, not even to step inside. Li Dazhu, who had been hoping to gain something, was utterly dumbfounded.

Once Mr. Jing finished his own tasks, he came over, beaming, carrying the Spring Festival couplets he had written himself, handmade Chinese knots, door god posters, and various other New Year’s decorations.

In the old days, there were strict customs: a specific day for spring cleaning, another for hanging couplets, and yet another for stewing meats. Now, such particularities were overlooked. Everything was done at once, and the Jing family home gradually filled with a festive atmosphere.

Mrs. Jing and Mr. Jing returned from work. Wu You’ai also came back, eyelids drooping, and sighed, "I might have to take some time off. My advisor went home for the New Year."

That was a bit of a pity. Jing Shu thought.

"This is a good chance for you to get some rest," Jing Shu said.

Third Aunt, after finishing her duties at the canteen and her chores at home, set out sunflower seeds, dried fruits, and nougat. Then, she went to the villa’s kitchen to help. Everyone praised the delicious nougat, only learning upon asking that Jing Shu had whipped it up in the past two days. Second Uncle tried to sneak a few pieces, but Second Aunt warned him sternly, "You can eat them, but if you dare take even one piece away, you can just get lost and go back where you came from."

"Stingy," Li Dazhu muttered. He didn’t actually want to take them either, but if he didn’t bring something back, his own mother would verbally skin him alive.

"Anyway, we’re eating here tonight. There should be some leftovers, right? I’ll just take those over," Li Zhu was still scheming.

Jing Shu, Grandma Jing, and Third Aunt were busy in the villa preparing the New Year’s Eve dinner. Well, actually, Grandma Jing and Third Aunt were the busy ones. Jing Shu mostly snacked as they cooked; by the time a dish was ready, half of it had already found its way into her stomach.

She had nearly drunk all the broth from the glutinous rice-stuffed lotus root that had simmered all afternoon. If Third Aunt hadn’t mentioned they needed the sauce for other dishes, Jing Shu wouldn’t have stopped.

Jing Shu let out a contented belch. This was such a rare feeling; she hadn’t known what it was like to be truly full for a very long time.

"Grandma, there are too many of us this year. One table won’t be enough, and we don’t have space for two. Why don’t we serve individual portions?"

Grandma Jing hesitated. "That doesn’t seem right. Who serves individual portions for New Year’s?"

It wasn’t like she could just spell out the real, awkward reason, could she?

Jing Shu coughed, her eyes lighting up. "Grandma, you have no idea how shameless Second Uncle can be! He’s always trying to grab extra to hoard for his own family." Of course, Grandma Jing already knew about Second Uncle’s tendencies.

"Fine, we’ll serve individual portions! I’d like to see if that scoundrel still dares to snatch food from others’ bowls!"

There were indeed many people that evening, not just from Mr. Jing’s side of the family, but also Mrs. Jing’s Uncle and his family.

When everyone crowded into Grandpa and Grandma’s house, which was just over a hundred square meters, even two tables wouldn’t have seated them all. Fortunately, they had decided on individual portions beforehand. The food was packed into personal containers, and Jing Shu, carrying them in an insulated box, made a few trips to distribute a small bucket to each person.

Upon opening the small buckets, a rich aroma wafted out. The top layer was generously filled with meat: cured meat, ribs, Wanzi, chicken, and lamb. Beneath that were stir-fried dishes made with dried goods. At the very bottom lay a mound of rice, sprinkled with sesame seeds. Although fresh vegetables were scarce, for families whose living standards meant that simply having rice was a luxury, this meal was undoubtedly top-tier.

This was the liveliest New Year Jing Shu had experienced since her rebirth.

In the bedroom, the children were chattering excitedly. Outside, people filled the sofas, chairs, balcony, and even the kitchen.

The television broadcast the Spring Festival Gala, which included a year-end summary and words of encouragement for the populace. Google seaʀᴄh 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩⟡𝘧𝙞𝙧𝙚⟡𝘯𝘦𝘵

No one left any food in their bucket. The members of the Jing Family, whose diets were supplemented by the Spiritual Spring, generally had large appetites. Elder Aunt’s family, Second Aunt’s family, and Uncle’s (Mrs. Jing’s brother’s) family rarely had the chance to eat such fine food, so wasting any was out of the question. Consequently, all the buckets were scraped clean.

Third Aunt then poured everyone a rich rose milk tea, which contained small Wanzi made from pumpkin, sweet potato, and other ingredients, making it delightfully chewy.

The meal was delicious to the core. Even Second Uncle, who was always scheming to take more, didn’t manage to do so and, without realizing it, ate his entire portion clean.

"Let’s mark everyone’s bowl," Elder Aunt said. "We’ll use these bowls for the next few days, and then we’ll take them home and use them until they break."

Are they being a bit over the top? Jing Shu, who disliked hassle, wondered.

Getting up to exercise after eating was out of the question. Now, everyone was focused on gaining weight, so the various family groups slumped onto the sofas, trying to move as little as possible. Mr. Jing, however, conscientiously got up to clear the table and clean up the mess.

After mulling it over for a long time, Second Uncle said, "After the New Year, Li Yun will be almost thirty. Time really flies."

"Yes, it really does," someone agreed.

"I’m thinking of getting Li Yun a job in the city, even temporary work would do," Second Uncle continued.

Mr. Jing took out his smoking pipe—to ’disperse the smell,’ as he euphemistically called it—and then nodded. "Go ahead and arrange it."

After another long pause, Second Uncle added, "We’ve prepared some grain as a gift, but we don’t know who to approach. Father-in-law, do you have any connections?"

Mr. Jing shook his head. "No, our children all found their own jobs. We wouldn’t know about such things."

"Could you perhaps pull some strings for us then?"

Mr. Jing then gestured towards Jing Shu. "Granddaughter, why don’t you explain the procedures to your Second Uncle and cousin?"