New Year

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Chapter 41: New Year

Today is a new day.

At the same time, it is also a new year!

"Hmm~~~"

Dressed in new clothes, Xiao Yan opened the window of his room and breathed in the fresh morning air, feeling exceptionally refreshed in his heart.

(Today is... New Year's Day.)

The voice of Yao Chen in the ring spoke softly. Xiao Yan smiled and responded.

"Teacher, you must have been curious all this time, right? New Year's is so much fun~"

(I can tell.)

Yao Chen's voice became somewhat helpless. Xiao Yan's attitude today has finally returned to the personality of someone his age. Before, he acted too mature, like an adult.

No.

Yao Chen paused and corrected herself in her heart.

Perhaps, it's only today that Xiao Yan is like this.

Only today, Xiao Yan has completely discarded the responsibilities of the past and the pursuits of the future, happily living without any burdens, returning to being a child of the Xiao family.

"Hey! Cousin Xiao Yan! Are you up?"

At that moment, Xiao Ning's voice came from the door. Xiao Yan immediately responded.

"I'm coming!"

Xiao Yan opened the door and saw Xiao Ning standing outside with his hands on his hips, giving him a slight nod of greeting.

"Let's go, older sister and the others have already gone to help."

"Oh!"

Xiao Yan closed the door and walked with Xiao Ning towards the Xiao family's courtyard.

As soon as they entered the Xiao family's courtyard, they saw that it was already filled with stoves and tables. The Xiao family elders, both men and women, who knew how to cook were helping with the ingredients and preparing food. Xiao Yu and Qing Lin were also helping, while those who couldn't cook were carrying things and setting up the yard.

The elderly of the Xiao family were sitting together in a corner, chatting about the fun things from the past year, laughing and watching the busy scene in the Xiao family's courtyard.

"Xiao Yan, good morning~"

Hearing this greeting, Xiao Yan turned his head and saw Nalan Yanran walking toward him, holding a bundle of firewood. Xiao Yan smiled at her.

"Little foodie, you're here to help too?"

"Don't call me little foodie!" Nalan Yanran instinctively growled, then replied, "Although I'm a guest, I'll be marrying into the Xiao family eventually. Since this is your family's tradition, I should get used to it sooner or later."

At that moment, a voice came from the other side.

"Hey! We're running low on firewood! Who's going to bring more?"

"Coming!" Nalan Yanran immediately responded, "I'll talk to you later!"

Leaving those words, Nalan Yanran rushed towards the firewood.

Watching Nalan Yanran's back, Xiao Yan pressed his neck and chuckled to himself.

So even the future little sect master of Yun Lan Sect is coming to do chores for the Xiao family.

Normally, Xiao Yan would never let a guest like Nalan Yanran help.

But today, Xiao Yan didn't care about formalities as long as the other party was willing to help.

"Little brother Xiao Yan! Xiao Ning!"

Suddenly, Xiao Li'er 's voice came over. Xiao Yan and Xiao Ning looked up and saw Xiao Li'er, dressed in an apron and holding a cleaver, shouting from a stove in the distance.

"We're short on meat! Go buy two cows from the street! And get about ten big fish!"

"Got it!"

Xiao Yan and Xiao Ning answered in unison and turned to leave the Xiao family, heading towards the market.

On the way, Xiao Ning couldn't help but comment after seeing Xiao Li'er 's attire.

"To be honest, with Sister Xiao Li'er 's personality, I really didn't expect her to be the best cook in the Xiao family."

"That's true."

Xiao Yan softly agreed.

Although Xiao Li'er 's personality was carefree and bold, more like a man than a woman, unexpectedly, she was an excellent cook, even comparable to the best restaurants in Wu Tan City.

In contrast, Xiao Yan's elder sister, Xiao Jing' er, though looking gentle and elegant, was a disaster in the kitchen, with no talent whatsoever, and if she didn't blow up the kitchen, it was a miracle.

This, perhaps, was the so-called contrast.

As soon as Xiao Yan and Xiao Ning arrived at the market, they bumped into Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Mei. Both were carrying a large bag filled with various vegetables.

"Cousin Xiao Yan!"

Upon seeing Xiao Yan, Xiao Mei's eyes lit up instantly. She ignored Xiao Ning and was about to rush towards Xiao Yan, but Xiao Xun'er immediately called her.

"Mei'er! We need to bring the vegetables home!"

"Oh! Almost forgot!" Xiao Mei suddenly realized, then hugged the large bag of vegetables and bypassed Xiao Yan, "Then, Cousin Xiao Yan! We'll head back first!"

"Xiao Yan ge ge, see you later."

After Xiao Xun'er said goodbye to Xiao Yan, she followed Xiao Mei as they headed back to the Xiao family.

Inside the ring, Yao Chen saw this scene and couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia.

Yao Chen had been watching for a while now, and the one who was most attached to Xiao Yan in the entire Xiao family was Xiao Mei. Every time they met, she would always rush to throw herself at Xiao Yan, as if it had already become a habit for her.

It seems today is a special day for everyone in the Xiao family, even Xiao Mei, who would usually cling to Xiao Yan, has turned around and left.

"Let's hurry up too."

Xiao Ning smiled lightly at Xiao Yan, who nodded.

The two quickly made their way to the meat market, beginning to pick the things they needed in the crowded streets.

After about ten minutes, Xiao Yan and Xiao Ning each carried a cow on their shoulders, with ten large fish hanging from their arms. Amidst the curious gazes of passersby, they hurried back towards the Xiao family.

At first, the residents of Wu Tan City were puzzled by this scene, but after years of seeing the Xiao family celebrate the New Year, they had grown used to it.

In fact, influenced by the Xiao family, some residents had started to enjoy the New Year tradition. Every year, they would gather their family together on this day, which was why there were so many people at the meat market. Thanks to this, the meat and vegetable merchants in Wu Tan City had a significant increase in business every year.

Xiao Yan and Xiao Ning returned to the Xiao family and threw the cows they were carrying onto the ground. Xiao Yan then shouted at Xiao Li'er, who was busy flipping a large black iron pot at the stove.

"Second sister! We got the stuff!"

"I'm busy here!!!"

Perhaps the heat from the stove had made her irritable, or the noise was too much, Xiao Li'er couldn't help but shout loudly.

Upon hearing Xiao Li'er 's reply, Xiao Yan and Xiao Ning exchanged glances, then shrugged in unison.

No choice, we'll do it ourselves.

Luckily, after spending three months cooking on the mountain, Xiao Yan and Xiao Ning were now adept at handling beef.

Xiao Yan went to the kitchen and found two knives, handing one to Xiao Ning. The two of them crouched down and began to skillfully butcher the cow.

Inside the ring, Yao Chen, watching the bustling scene in the Xiao family's courtyard, did not find it noisy. Instead, she was filled with deep warmth and envy, and she couldn't help but sigh in her heart.

How lively it is. The scale of this event could not compare to any banquet Yao Chen had seen before, and the preparations were messy and lacked elegance.

But somehow, it deeply attracted her, making her want to participate.

At that moment, Yao Chen suddenly had a thought in her heart.

When I return, I'll make our place celebrate the New Year too.

(End of Chapter)

Review please

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