"Publicize it, extend the processing by another day, and send more manpower. There are not enough earthen stoves. Use all the earthen stoves in nearby people's homes to speed up the process."

"In addition, we need to strengthen pickets and ask the villagers to voluntarily report and expose those bastards who are causing trouble and destruction. They must be found out, embarrassed in public and punished. We must not let a few mouse droppings spoil our pot of soup!"

"Okay! I'll do it right away."

"Don't worry, you're in charge!"

Wu Laosan, Ahua, Lin Gen and others nodded and made arrangements respectively.

Sure enough, these measures were timely and effective, and the situation was immediately under control.

The dissatisfaction grew over time, and after a number of troublemakers were discovered and punished, the villagers in Xibutou gradually regained their balance and the scene became orderly.

This vigorous charity event, which affected the whole village and even surrounding villages, started in a hurry, panic and suspicion, and finally ended in order, success and praise.

In the evening when the charity activities ended, it was already the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, and the New Year would be ushered in one day later. Everyone had to go home and work in preparation for the New Year.

Chen Tianhua ordered all the earth stoves to boil hot water, and at the rice cake processing site, in the straw bathhouse surrounded by coarse cloth, he asked the twenty new and old employees present to take a hot bath and welcome the New Year cleanly.

After four days of hard work, everyone was still in high spirits, laughing happily, and Chen Tianhua also felt warm in his heart, sighing that the power of this organization is powerful.

After taking a bath, before leaving, I took out a brand new envelope of silver, a total of one hundred silver dollars.

"Brothers from the commercial bank, everyone has worked hard these days. Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. Everyone should go home and celebrate the New Year with their families. In the new year, we will work together to create a better future. Here, I would like to give you New Year's greetings first.

I wish you all a happy new year, a harmonious family, good weather and lots of wealth in the coming year!"

"Consider these silver dollars as red envelopes that I, Tugen, give to everyone. Each person has five dollars of silver dollars. Regardless of age, please take them back and share them with your family. But you can't gamble, let alone smoke. Otherwise, you will be expelled.

This is the rule when leaving a trading house, please remember it! This money will be distributed to everyone by Wu Laosan and Lin Gen later, okay!"

"good!"

"Thank you, Young Master!"

"..."

The dozens of new members present were of course extremely happy. After working for four days, they earned five dollars, which was enough to cover the family's household expenses for half a year. This was a good thing that they had never imagined.

Everyone thanks Chen Tianhua from the bottom of their hearts for this young and promising young master.

Wu Laosan, Lin Gen and Ahua have participated in aquatic products for the past two months, each earning more than 20 yuan, and their family has also received a few big fish. Compared with previous years, these days are far different.

The elderly, wife and children in the family were all very happy, and they all felt that saving Tugen this time had brought about such a huge change in their lives.

As the Bodhisattva said: saving one life is better than building a seven-level pagoda.

This time it finally worked.

…

Finally, after countless anxious waits, people looked forward to New Year's Eve.

On the afternoon of New Year's Eve, Chen Tianhua and Youjuan accompanied their mother, bringing some rice cakes and new year's goods, to visit the last few lonely elderly people. It was almost evening when they returned home.

The sky was gray and hazy. There was obviously no moon or stars on this New Year's Eve, and it was even less likely that there were any street lights in the countryside during the late Qing Dynasty.

At this time, lanterns were hung in front of every house, each one made of bamboo baskets and made of red paper.

Lanterns of various shapes, peach-shaped, cylindrical...

The lanterns are lit with candles or kerosene.

After a while, the surrounding world was already a fiery red world, with lanterns in front of every house lighting up the New Year's Eve in the countryside.

Under the illumination of the door lights of every house, the first thing that catches the eye is the red Spring Festival couplets posted on the door of every house.

"Well, look, grandma, these are the Spring Festival couplets written by my brother and the others. They are so beautiful. I also participated."

Youjuan looked very proud and supported Xue Wanzhen, but she did not forget to act coquettishly in her mother's arms.

"Okay, haha... haha! You have all saved face for mother this year. Every time you go out these days, the neighbors all praise you."

Xue Wanzhen smiled happily, almost grinning from ear to ear. This was the happiest New Year's Eve she had ever had.

At this time, firewood and dancing flames are burning in the earth stoves of every household. The sounds of washing, chopping, cooking and shoveling the vegetables are mixed with the laughter and laughter of the family, which is a symphony of the countryside in the late Qing Dynasty. .

It’s the New Year, it’s hot, the flames are red, and I feel the warmth of family reunions.

When the three mothers returned home, Tingjuan began to take out the dishes simmering in the steamer one by one and arrange them neatly on the long dining table.

The steamed Jinhua ham is fragrant.

White chopped chicken chopped into strips, with tender white and yellow skin.

Pieces of braised Dongpo pork, oily but not greasy.

The drunken shrimps are jumping around one after another, seemingly drunk but not drunk.

The big pot of braised herring pieces is always available every year.

A steamed mandarin fish, colorful.

…

Mother first paid homage to the Bodhisattvas and ancestors, and after they had had their meal, the four members of the family sat down to eat.

During the New Year's Eve dinner, everyone had to drink some wine. Chen Tianhua poured wine into bowls for the whole family.

He first picked up a soup bowl full of wine and stood up to greet his mother very respectfully, "Mommy, it's been another hard year. We, the three brothers and sisters, here to greet you and wish you a happy new year and good health!"

Sisters Tingjuan and Youjuan also raised their bowls together. They just took a sip, while Chen Tianhua drank the wine in the bowl.

"Okay! You are all my sweethearts, good children. Eat some food during the Chinese New Year...eat more. It will be the best and happiest New Year's Eve dinner this year."

My mother laughed and the family happily ate all kinds of delicious dishes.

"Brother, let me toast you! Hey...what are you talking about..." Youjuan picked up a small wine bowl. She looked a little excited and nervous when toasting for the first time, forgetting the words she had just thought of.

"Oh, my silly sister, why are you toasting if you don't think of a good word to say? Sit down and eat the food, think about it before making a toast."

Chen Tianhua smiled and glared at Youjuan, then stuffed a piece of white chopped chicken into his mouth.

"I remember, you want me to find a beautiful sister-in-law to come into the house, hehe..." Youjuan said with a silly smile.

It can be seen that her smile is very sweet, sincere and looking forward to it.

"Tonight is New Year's Eve, why are you talking about this? What kind of toast is this? Silly girl, it seems that after the New Year, I will have to send you to study in the countryside." Chen Tianhua said angrily.

"Studying? Brother...you really sent me to study? You can't make me happy, right?"

After hearing this, Youjuan put down the wine bowl in her hand with a bang and stared at her brother Chen Tugen sitting opposite in surprise.

Reading was the thing she longed for most in her childhood.
Chapter completed!