The lucky girl in the village has a good way of making money.

Chapter 529 Another Reunion Dinner
Looking around, next to the Qinghe workshop, there were tables lined up from the front to the end, and every table was full of people, men, women, old and young, happily waiting for the meal to begin.

At the village temple, head of the village, Liu, head of the clan, Li, head of the clan, Sun, and several heads of various families, as well as Shi Liu, the only woman, entered the temple together. The young and old men from other families stood in the courtyard and outside the temple, filling up the space. Following the leaders, they knelt down to worship the imperial edict and offer sacrifices to the tablets of the heroes who died to protect Xiahe Village enshrined in the temple.

The same process as last year was followed one by one. Everyone returned to their tables and the women served the dishes in an orderly manner.

Shi Liu sat at the main table, right in front of the entrance to the village temple. At the table were Clan Leader Li, Village Chief Liu, Clan Leader Sun, Li Xinguang, Li Yishan, Old Man Li, Li Jihe and others.

"Shi Liu, uncle is repeating the same old thing again. Our Xiahe Village can be in its current situation thanks to you, Shi Liu. Come, uncle will toast you a glass!" Village Chief Liu raised the wine bowl and said to Shi Liu with a smile.

How could an elder toast to oneself? Shi Liu hurriedly stood up and raised her glass to match the bowl of Village Chief Liu, but not higher than his bowl. She said hurriedly, "You are embarrassing me by saying that. It should be Shi Liu who toasts to you, Village Chief Uncle. You have been busy running around for the village this year and have worked hard."

Shi Liu was not lying when he said this. Just talking about the construction of the school in the second half of the year, Village Chief Liu wished he could live at the foot of Nanshan Mountain every day. His dedication is obvious to all.

Shi Liu knew that even though the food workshop had been open for three years, even now, headman Liu still had to gather all the Liu clan families every month to give them instructions on how to work hard. He would also visit other families. In short, he would always remind them to work hard in the workshop, not to be lazy, to work as if they were working for their own family, to do their best, and to cherish the present days.

So, Shi Liu was sincerely grateful to him. Having such a good village chief in charge saved her a lot of worries.

"This is what uncle should do!" Village Chief Liu was so moved by Shi Liu's words that his face flushed and he excitedly raised his head and took a big sip of wine.

Shi Liu then toasted to Chief Li, Chief Sun and other elders - the atmosphere at the main table was very lively, and the other tables were also very lively.

The women were chatting and laughing, talking about their children's marriages, how many delicious dishes they had prepared for the New Year, and how new clothes had been made for everyone in the family, young and old.

The old people laughed so hard that their teeth disappeared, and they also sighed about the past years and looked forward to the coming year.

The young boys were either talking about their studies or about this or that fun thing.

The children at each table were making a lot of noise as if they were marching to a war, eating their food with big mouthfuls.

Table after table, the hustle and bustle of Xiahe Village can be heard clearly from Shanghe Village across the street.

Patriarch Fan stood at the threshold of the main hall, looking far across the direction and listening to the noise. He couldn't help but feel a little envious. The prosperity of Xiahe Village was truly beyond words.

Perhaps, their village should also have a reunion dinner on this day every year?
Although the whole village will worship their ancestors together tomorrow, each family will eat separately, so it can't be as lively as this.

The more Chief Fan listened, the more envious he became, and he immediately decided to do the same in his village next year.

Facing the Fan family on the river bank, Mrs. Lu and Fan Jin were also having lunch. Listening to the hustle and bustle across the street, Mrs. Lu was envious, "More people means more hustle and bustle." Fan Jin listened and couldn't help but say, "I'm going to school again in a few days, and I can't stay at home with my mother. I'll go to the pawnshop tomorrow to buy a few more people to accompany my mother."

Hearing this, Mrs. Lu scolded him, "What do we need so many people for? I'm now in charge of the workshop, and every day is interesting and not boring. This loneliness is not about the number of people in the family, nor is it about whether you accompany them or not—"

After a pause, he continued, "Is it fun to go to the city with Shi Liu? Have you told her about it? Is she willing to get married soon?
I would be happy if you could marry me soon after you get the pomegranate and live happily together and give me a granddaughter or grandson soon."

Thinking of the scene at the temple fair, Fan Jin's ears turned red subconsciously and he coughed unnaturally, "Mom, the pomegranates will only be sixteen next year. Didn't we agree on this long ago? No rush, just wait another year or two."

Mrs. Lu sighed, "I know that Shi Liu is still young and can't come in a hurry, but I really like her so much that I am looking forward to her coming in sooner. If I have her to eat with me, I feel like I can eat half a bowl more."

Fan Jin said, "Mother, even if Shi Liu gets married in the future, I may not be able to eat and talk with you every day. I want to try my luck in the provincial examination next year, just in case I win..."

Mrs. Lu listened, paused, and said, "Mother doesn't understand this imperial examination. You are so concerned about it. Mother hopes that you can get what you want. If you really pass the imperial examination, it will be your good fortune to seek a position as a chief clerk and county magistrate like your uncle. At that time, Shi Liu will definitely go with you. I won't agree if you don't take her with you."

Naturally, the young couple have to be together all the time. Their brother-in-law and sister-in-law are by their side, and they have concubines all over the place. Wouldn't it be even more terrible if there was no one around them?

"As for mother, don't worry about me. I have good arms and legs and can take care of myself. Sister Zhu and Qiu Tong are with me."

"Mom, won't you go with me?" Fan Jin asked.

"Mom is used to living in the village. I don't know where you are going. It's so far away. I'm not used to traveling far away. You don't have to worry about me. If anything happens, your uncle and aunt will take care of me."

Fan Jin knew that Lu was of this character and didn't like to go out. Even if he didn't get married, she probably wouldn't go out with him. But he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Although it was a bit unfilial, he tried hard to find a way out early, one so that he could make a career, and the other so that he could leave home when he married Shi Liu.

After all, his marriage to Shi Liu was fake, and if they really lived under Lu's nose, the truth would surely be revealed within a month.

But it's different when they are far away. He has already thought it through. If he can't win Shi Liu's heart in two or three years, and his family wonders why they don't have children yet, he will say that he is born with weak sperm and has difficulty in fertility. He will just keep talking and continue to impress Shi Liu.

If eight or ten years still don't work, he will probably give up completely and become a fake couple with Shi Liu for the rest of his life. Seeing her often and being with her will be his greatest comfort in this world. By then, he will simply announce that he cannot have children, and then adopt one from the clan to get away with it.

But all this is really unfair to the Lu family.

Therefore, he has to work harder to impress Shi Liu as soon as possible and turn the fake into real.

Only then will everyone be happy.