FID – Chapter 670

Chapter 670: She is a Very Good Person

After staying up for New Year’s Eve, it was time for the New Year.

Before dawn, the sounds of firecrackers filled the air throughout Xinghua Village, and the smell of sulfur from the fireworks lingered in the air.

On this day, the village children woke up the earliest.

After washing up, they donned their new clothes and gathered together, laughing and playing as they went from house to house in the village, collecting red envelopes and snacking on treats. When they left, they made sure their pockets were full.

Liu Yusheng loved it the most when the children came over, especially when the house was bustling with excitement. This year, their family had one more little one. Though only a little over a month old, the atmosphere at home felt different—warmer, with more laughter.

The grandparents, parents, and in-laws all had a new favorite, and naturally, the younger generation was left somewhat neglected. They looked on enviously and had to amuse themselves.

Liu Zhiqiu sighed. “From now on, my pocket will only be losing money and not gaining any.”

“You’re an adult now, yet you’re still thinking about getting red envelopes for the New Year?” Grandma Liu teased him as she played with the baby, casually scolding him.

“I’ve worked hard all year, and the only time I get to enjoy myself is when I get red envelopes for the New Year. Plus, I’m still unmarried, so I’m still a child.”

Du Juan nodded, “Yes, you’re still a child—one that’s stronger than an ox.”

“……”

Liu Yusheng and Liu Muqiu sat to the side, listening and stifling their laughter with their hands over their mouths.

Finally, Liu Yusheng asked Liu Muqiu, “So, how about it? You must have gotten quite a few red envelopes this year, right?”

“Eight.” Liu Muqiu smiled, her eyes curving into crescent shapes as she patted the red envelopes in her pocket. 

To her surprise, even Liu Zhixia and Fu Yuzheng each gave her a red envelope, saying that this was her first time spending the New Year at home, so they wanted to add to the festive cheer and good luck.

Thinking about it made her feel warm inside, and then she quietly asked the little girl, “Nannan, how many red envelopes did you get?”

“I also got eight, but I gave away more than I received.” Liu Yusheng’s face was serious.

She had given red envelopes to every village chief and every worker at the brewery—at least several hundred.

“You’re the boss, giving red envelopes to the workers helps increase their goodwill and sense of belonging. The winery will definitely keep getting better.”

“Little White Lotus, did you learn business? Your mind is so sharp!”

“I never learned any of this, it’s just that wealthy and influential families often use the same methods in their households.”

The difference was that Nannan was rewarding the workers who worked hard at the winery.

In the backyards of wealthy families, the masters use this method to win the hearts of their servants, offering small favors to later reap more benefits in return.

But the principle was the same.

Liu Yusheng propped up her chin, increasingly impressed by Liu Muqiu. With such a clever and sharp mind, if properly guided, she could become a valuable right-hand in the future.

Then, she could be a carefree manager.

On the second day of the New Year, Liu Dalin and Liu Erlin again accompanied their wives to visit their family members and relatives.

Xinghua Village had invited a troupe of actors to set up a stage in the village’s small square. The performance was meant to bring some joy to the village’s women, children, and elders. People from the surrounding villages also came to watch.

The money for the performance was raised by the entire village, with the Liu family contributing the largest portion.

Over the years, the villagers had worked diligently at the winery, and this was a small gesture of gratitude in return.

When the play began, the small square was packed with people, so crowded that no one could move. Even the walls of the nearby homes and the old trees around the square were covered with people.

Liu Yusheng didn’t leave the house until the play had already started.

The rest of the family had already gone ahead to join the fun, while she had been busy organizing her medicinal furnace and had taken a bit longer.

As soon as she stepped outside, Liu Yusheng noticed a boy around twelve or thirteen years old hiding in the corner of the family’s vegetable garden, peeking around. When he saw her, his face quickly turned red, and he turned to run but then stopped and turned back.

“Who are you? What are you hiding here for?” Liu Yusheng smiled at him and asked.

He was a stranger, not from the village. His clothes were decent but looked a bit worn, not brand new.

He was a handsome boy, with delicate features.

“I… I was just passing by.” The boy pressed his lips together, his eyes lowered and slightly flickering. “I’ll leave now.”

“My house is at the far end of the village, and the exit is over there. You’ve gone the wrong way.” Liu Yusheng chuckled as she noticed the boy about to pass by her.

The boy immediately turned around.

“Actually, I’m going to the village square to watch a play. We’re both headed in the same direction, so you can follow me.”

“…Thank you.” The boy hesitated for a long time before finally mustering up the courage to speak again. “I know you. You’re Little Divine Doctor, Sister Liu.”

“Yes, the courtyard just now is my home, the Liu family courtyard.” Liu Yusheng smiled. “But there’s no one at home right now. Everyone went over to the play stage to join the fun.”

The last part of her sentence was unclear whether it was intentional or not. The boy secretly raised his eyes behind her and stole a glance at her back.

When they reached the vicinity of the small square, they could already hear the noisy chatter and excitement.

Villagers from various surrounding villages had gathered, all watching the play with great interest, and occasionally bursts of applause erupted.

The boy stopped walking, as if wanting to leave but unable to take the next step.

Liu Yusheng turned around and smiled while asking, “My family is over there. Would you like to go watch the play with us?”

“You must know who I am, right?” The boy asked, his face flushing as he tried to build up some courage.

“I know Muqiu used to have a younger brother.”

At her words, the boy, who had been holding his composure, slumped his shoulders as if his awkwardness had been exposed, but at the same time, he seemed to let out a sigh of relief, as if his identity had been revealed. “So you really know.”

He then took out a small silk pouch from his chest and handed it to Liu Yusheng. “Could you help me give this to my sister?”

Liu Yusheng took the silk pouch and heard a faint sound from inside, slightly surprising her. “Silver?”

“This is what I’ve saved up. It’s not much, but you can give it to her and ask her to keep it for herself,” the boy paused before bowing to Liu Yusheng. “I know your family is kind-hearted. She didn’t have a good life before, but she’s really a good person. Please treat her well! When I become successful, I will definitely repay you!”

After saying this, the boy turned and ran off, his back slightly swaying as if he was trying to suppress some discomfort in his body.

Liu Yusheng furrowed her brow, looking at the silk pouch in her hand, which also appeared worn out. Finally, she turned and walked in the direction of her family.

When Liu Muqiu received the pouch, she was momentarily stunned. Upon hearing Liu Yusheng mention that a young boy had come, she suddenly got up and hurried in the direction the boy had gone. However, by the time she reached the village entrance, she couldn’t find the familiar figure.

Standing under the ancient pagoda tree at the village entrance, Liu Muqiu looked ahead at the road buried under the snow, where there was a trail of disordered footprints. Her eyes slightly reddened.

Nannan had passed on his words to her.

The boy said she was a very good person.

But the truth was, she wasn’t a good person. She wasn’t good at all.

After severing ties with the Li family, she hadn’t thought about them again, including the boy who always used to call her ‘sister’ in a soft voice.