"Being a widow without the awareness of one, why did you run out instead of staying home? Could it be you’re feeling lonely?" Beisisi teased. Beisitian looked at her still youthful face, which wore an expression of frivolity, disdain, and contempt, much like the unrestrained words she uttered. "No wonder your mother quickly found someone else after my father died. Seems like they were ready while my dad was still alive," Beisitian sneered. She wasn’t incapable of being sharp-tongued; in fact, when she was, she could not only enrage her opponent but also saddle them with several metaphorical mud-slinging bowls. Beisisi, only about thirteen or fourteen years old, was no match for Beisitian. With just a sentence, Beisitian had labeled her mother as someone who cheated. "You’re talking nonsense! My mother didn’t; Mr. Yan was someone she met later!" Beisisi retorted with a flushed face. Seeing Beisisi get so furious from a single sentence, Beisitian secretly shook her head. If it weren’t for the things Beisisi had done to the original host, she wouldn’t have bothered to pick on a child. "You’ve even started calling him ’Dad.’ Just a question—do you still go by the surname Bei?" Beisitian smirked sarcastically, curling the corners of her mouth. Beisisi’s breathing became unsteady. This damned widow, she really wanted to claw her face! ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novel※fire.net But remembering her boyfriend was still in the shop behind them, she held back. Her mother had said never to let a man see you lose your temper—it ruins your image. Beisisi took a deep breath, sneered at Beisitian, and said, "What are you so smug about? Your husband is dead, and you’re prepared to be a lifelong celibate spinster!" After speaking, as if fearing Beisitian’s counterattack, she quickly turned around and entered the store. Beisitian watched her go in and walk straight to a man who looked over twenty, much older than Beisisi. She thought about going in to embarrass Beisisi, but after taking just one step, she stopped. Even if she was going to avenge the original host, it shouldn’t be over something so trivial. That would be letting Beisisi off too easily! A ten-year-old girl speaking so venomously needed a good lesson; otherwise, she would have been her big sister for years in vain. With this thought, Beisitian turned and left. The time wasn’t right yet, so let Beisisi be carefree for a while longer. Time flew by, and before they knew it, New Year’s was fast approaching. Every household was filled with a sense of festive joy. Recently, more and more people had returned to Kao Village, with many of the young men and women who worked away from home coming back for the New Year, and even some couples returning together. Their arrival brought much more joy to many families, who suddenly had more smiles on their faces. This year, Luo Er’s family was also full of joy, not just because of the abundant New Year’s goods but also because Mrs. Qin’s eyes had recovered! In the past, when every household celebrated with firecrackers, Luo Er’s family would shrink inside, eating a meal of white bread and cabbage stew with meaty crumbs, and that was their New Year. Now, Luo Anping stood on a stool, leaning over the cupboard to look at the New Year’s goods Beisitian had bought, overwhelmed with excitement. This year, his mother said they’d finally be able to eat a big pot-sticker dumpling meal! In Luo Anping’s memory, he’d only ever had dumplings once, and they were so, so delicious. He hadn’t eaten them again since. Fiddling with a paper package sealed in red, Luo Anping glanced back at Mrs. Qin, surely thinking there must be food inside. Mrs. Qin had a constant smile on her face, sitting on the kang as she cut paper window decorations. Her eyes had been bad, causing her not to have any red decorations on the windows for years, compounded by poverty and an inability to afford a couplet. Other homes were so joyously decorated, amplifying their own family’s bleakness. The curtain lifted as Beisitian entered, raising the spring couplets in her hand and saying to Luo Anguo, "Dad, how does this look?" "A treasure land glowing with prosperity and fortune, with favorable times and advantages for a grand and mighty home!" "Excellent, Little Tian’er’s calligraphy really is exceptional!" Luo Anguo praised the spring couplets genuinely. "Isn’t it? Little Tian’er writes excellently~!" Just then, Zhang Qiao Niang walked in with a radiant smile. "Aunt Qiao," Beisitian smiled, setting the spring couplets down on a cupboard to let them dry, so they could be posted. Looking at the spring couplets, Zhang Qiao Niang liked them more and more, saying to Beisitian, "Little Tian’er, could you write a pair for me too? You write so well, much better than the ones outside!" Zhang Qiao Niang wasn’t asking to take advantage; she’d actually already bought spring couplets, but the content was cliché, even though it was auspicious, and the handwriting wasn’t as good as Beisitian’s. She just wanted to have a pair from her. "Sure, I’ll write them this afternoon, and you can pick them up then." "Thank you so much!" Zhang Qiao Niang laughed, her joy almost too much to hide. Beisitian left to prepare a meal. Zhang Qiao Niang turned her head to see Mrs. Qin cutting window decorations on the kang and sat down next to her. Mrs. Qin’s paper-cutting skills were excellent, and she was there to watch and learn. Every year at New Year, Zhang Qiao Niang would cut some simple window decorations herself, having learned from Mrs. Qin. When Mrs. Qin’s eyes were no longer up to the task, Zhang had stopped progressing. Now she could follow along and learn again. In village craftsmanship, Mrs. Qin had nothing to hide. She also taught Zhang Qiao Niang a lot about embroidery and sewing work. Seeing no one paying attention to him, Luo Anping grabbed the red-sealed package and ran to the outer room, saying to Beisitian, "Sister, I want to eat peach crisp." Seeing his pitiful look, Beisitian smiled and patted his head, "Go ahead and eat; I bought two packs." Upon hearing this, Luo Anping immediately became happy, holding the packages and running to the west room. Peanuts, melon seeds, candies, and fruits were indispensable. The custom here was to put them all on plates on New Year’s Eve, placed on the table or cupboard to entertain guests. Besides these, Beisitian bought pork and beef, and Zhou Jiren had specially given her a rack of ribs when she returned. There was also a roast duck he said was brought from Beijing, and two prepared whole chickens. These items weren’t cheap, with that rack of ribs alone costing over ten Yuan, and it was said that the Beijing roast duck was also pricey. Judging by the packaging on those two whole chickens, they weren’t cheap either. The main thing was that besides the ribs, she’d never seen roast duck or chicken in Qingzhou Town. They were likely bought from Beijing. These New Year gifts were quite substantial. She couldn’t reciprocate with such lavish gifts, but sending back New Year’s gifts wasn’t right either. Seemingly aware of her dilemma, Zhou Jiren had said with a smile that she could write a piece for him when the time came, using that Flower-Pinning Small楷! Beisitian could only agree. Besides Zhou Jiren, Feng Yunzhang had also sent New Year’s gifts. Because Beisitian was ultimately a woman, and rural areas valued this tradition, it was considered a reciprocation. Still troubled about how to return gifts, Beisitian thought she couldn’t really just write a word back to Zhou Jiren alone.