As a child, I used to dread the New Year's visits to relatives' homes, but now that I'm older, it feels different. Especially for Zhou You, being in the village isn't so bad. So he doesn't mind showing his face; instead, he feels like an angler who's caught a big fish and passed his own home three times without entering. There's also a subtle urge to show off, though thinking about it carefully, it's a bit ridiculous. But humans are such shallow creatures—like wearing fine clothes in the dark, it's pointless if no one sees. Zhou You often ponders his own mindset and finds it quite amusing sometimes.
The whole Zhou family carries a different spirit when they go out for New Year's visits. With a shared goal and no need to leave their hometown, even though nothing is set in stone yet, at least the future looks promising. Are there other ways to make money in the countryside? Of course, there are plenty, but many aren't exactly legal or proper—like digging river sand, making bricks from mud, or running a kiln. Can ordinary people do those things?
During the New Year, when the eldest uncle went to the village chief's house to pay respects, he briefly mentioned the plan to contract the hills. The village chief was all smiles, fully supportive, and encouraged signing the longest possible contract. Paying an annual fee to the village would be an extra source of income. Village officials today are different from the past. Back then, they held power over levies, family planning, and such, strutting around the village with authority. But as policies shifted to service-oriented governance, they no longer collected money from villagers. With more young people leaving for work, the village is nearly empty, left with only the elderly, sick, and disabled. The village chief's role has become almost redundant, yet he still has to deal with endless meetings and inspections, making his life miserable. If he weren't too old to find work elsewhere, he might have left long ago. Now that someone in the village is willing to contract land and start farming, he's thrilled. If it succeeds, he'll share in the glory; if it fails, he'll still collect rent every year. Why wouldn't he be happy?
One household after another, on the second day of the New Year, Zhou You followed his beaming mother, Li Fengying, to his grandmother's house. Over the past couple of days, his parents had gradually come to terms with his sudden wealth. After the initial fear and worry—first that he had no money, now that he had too much—they no longer fretted. In their eyes, with so much money, as long as he didn't squander it, it would last a lifetime. They felt as if a huge burden had been lifted, and they began to radiate vitality. Once the pressure was gone, their spirits transformed, and they truly looked alive.
Zhou You left his Wrangler at home and rode in his father's car. There was no need for two cars with just the three of them. Since Zhou You came into money, his mother had stopped being stingy. Besides the cigarettes and alcohol Zhou You brought, she bought a pile of odds and ends at the market until the trunk was stuffed full.
"Mom, anyone would think you're stocking up for a convenience store," Zhou You teased her. Li Fengying didn't get mad—why would she? Her son had made her proud; what was wrong with a little happiness? "Next time, bring your car and fill that up too. You can treat your old folks, and I'll treat mine," she shot back. His father, seeing her so cheerful, couldn't help but chuckle. Though Zhou You's grandparents had never looked down on him, he had always felt like a failure. Now, thanks to his son, he was finally turning things around.
As soon as they arrived at his grandmother's doorstep, they saw his uncle waiting at the gate. His mother was surprised: "Why aren't you at your wife's family today?" "I knew you were coming. Haven't seen Zhou You in a while, wanted to chat," his uncle replied. Normally, he'd be at his in-laws' place by now, and if he didn't go, his wife would be unhappy. But ever since his uncle followed Zhou You's stock advice, his family's assets had doubled. With his in-laws so close, he could visit anytime, but seeing Zhou You was rare. Today, his eldest aunt, second aunt, and their families had also come, filling the house with lively chatter. Scenes like this would become harder to come by as everyone grew older and busier with life. Seeing family gather together was precious, and it brought immense joy.
Guo Jing was thrilled to see Zhou You. She had done well in her exams last year, and Zhou You had advised her not to apply to his school but to Nanjing University instead, majoring in law. The girl loved it. No matter what, finding a job after graduation would be easy. With Zhou You's growing influence, she could join any law firm, and if she wanted to take the civil service exam, this major was a good fit.
"Go call the kids out," Zhou You said to Guo Jing. Smart as she was, she knew something good was coming. A crowd of children swarmed over, some calling him "brother," others "uncle." During New Year's, red envelopes are customary, but since Zhou You wasn't married, he wasn't expected to give them. Last year, his parents had handled it, and he had just started working, so keeping a low profile was wise. This year, he didn't care. He pulled a stack of cash from his bag. For the little ones, he gave 1,000 yuan each, plus an extra 100, with strict instructions: "If your parents ask, say it's only 1,000. Keep the extra 100 for yourselves." Kids these days are clever—they know pocket money won't last. They immediately ran to their mothers, saying, "Uncle just gave me 1,000!" Then they dashed off to the village store. Every bit counts!
Once the kids were gone, he handed Guo Jing 10,000 yuan separately. "I missed your start of school last year, so this is a makeup gift. Study hard, have fun, and if you run out of money, come to me." Zhou You and Guo Jing were the only two college students in the family. Honestly, Zhou You liked Guo Jing—she was smart, sensible, and well-behaved. She never asked for money, only took what was given, and figured things out on her own if it wasn't enough.
"Thanks, bro. Should I tell Mom and Dad about this?" Guo Jing hesitated. "It's fine. If they ask, say it's for a new computer. Give me your school bank card number later. Aim for grad school—more learning never hurts." He almost told her to study hard so she could help him later, but he held back, afraid she'd take it too literally and study herself into a stupor. With that, he sent her off to play with the kids.
Li Fengying saw Zhou You calling the children over and knew what he was up to, but she didn't stop him. Her son was making her look good in front of her family—she was overjoyed, not about to interfere. The others, seeing the trunk full of gifts, were equally envious. But more than that, they were genuinely happy. In a rural clan, having one capable person benefits everyone. After all, those with bad morals, lazy habits, or a fondness for idleness are the exception, not the rule.
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