These red lanterns were Youniang's idea. She thought red represented joy and prosperity, so she persuaded her parents to buy the pair of lanterns to decorate the house.

Just as Xu Liyun was about to take the rope to help, Wu Niang volunteered to step forward.

She lifted the lantern lightly, and tapped the small stool on the doorstep with her toes. Then she stretched her body and hung the lantern lightly on both sides of the porch. Her movements were so graceful that it was almost impossible to catch the whole process. When she looked again, the lanterns were already hanging steadily under the eaves.

"Wow! It seems like my sister can fly!" Xiao Youniang was the first to react. She clapped and cheered, and her admiration for Wu Niang was beyond words, causing a shy blush on the latter's cheeks.

Xu Liyun smiled silently, her eyes flashing with relief and meaning, and didn't say much.

In the kitchen, Zhang Siwa slowly put the carefully selected ribs into the boiling soup, and simmered them over a slow fire so that every piece of meat could absorb the juice and become extremely tender.

At this time, Zhang Liuwa from the third room came to invite everyone to visit the ancestral tomb to pay homage according to his parents' instructions.

When Zhang Laoer learned about it, he told his nephew to wait for a while and went back into the house. He took out the backpack that he had prepared long ago, which was filled with the finest incense, candles and paper money, ready to offer to the ancestors.

During this period of time, Zhang Liuwa has become more sensible and self-disciplined under the strict teaching of Zhang Laosan and his wife, as well as the majesty that his second sister occasionally displays.

Especially after witnessing Wu Niang's extraordinary skills with his own eyes, he began to think about learning martial arts, fantasizing that one day he would also be able to possess enviable skills like Wu Niang.

But how could Wu Niang forget that time when he always enjoyed teasing his sister. Every prank he played made Wu Niang shed tears of grievance in her eyes.

Now, whenever Zhang Liuwa's eyes accidentally met Xiao Youniang's, his heart would beat as fast as a drum. The insulting words that he had once spoken unscrupulously had long been sealed deep in his throat by fear, and he dared never utter them easily again.

Li Guifen was initially reserved about Wu Niang's strictness. After all, even she herself, as a mother, couldn't bear to lay hands on her children, so how could she bear to watch her daughter play the role of a strict teacher?

But under Zhang Laosan's gentle persuasion and Zhang Erniang's rational analysis, and as she increasingly realized that Zhang Liuwa's bad habits were gradually fading away under Wu Niang's "training", her dissatisfaction gradually turned into support, and she would even occasionally encourage Wu Niang to use her free time to "take care" of Zhang Liuwa a few more times.

With his mother's silent permission, Zhang Liuwa became more cautious in his behavior. Even when playing with children in the village, he always kept a distance, for fear that one careless mistake would lead to a scolding from Wu Niang.

The spring sunshine filled the path. According to ancient customs, Zhang Laoer solemnly filled bowls with meat and wine needed for sacrifice and led the children on a solemn journey to sweep the tombs.

Xu Liyun chose to stay at home due to poor health.

The ancestors of the Zhang family are buried in the ancestral land surrounded by green pines and cypresses. The families of the second and third branches had arrived early, but Zhang Fu came slowly with his son and grandson, looking a little slow.

As soon as he stepped into the cemetery, Zhang Fu's attention was immediately attracted by Zhang Er Niang, Wu Niang and the well-behaved Xiao You Niang standing in front of the graves, and a look of displeasure gathered on his face.

Zhang Lao Da was impatient and criticized directly: "Second and third brothers, what you did violated the rules of our ancestors. How can you let women set foot here during worship?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhang Laoer and Zhang Laosan's faces instantly turned gloomy, and the atmosphere froze for a moment.

They seemed to ignore the dissatisfaction of the Zhang family father and son, and instead nagged even more: "If a woman's body is not clean, bringing her into the ancestral tomb will destroy the Feng Shui dragon vein of the Zhang family? Dad, you have to use the authority of an elder to discipline her, otherwise the family's fortune will be damaged, and it will affect the eldest son's career. How can he shoulder the responsibility of bringing honor to the family in the future?"

Zhang Lao Da's words became more and more intense. When Zhang Dawa heard the words "damaged fortune", his heart suddenly tightened and he quickly urged: "Grandpa, quickly drive those two unlucky girls away! They are the ones who have ruined my good fortune, I will never let them off easily!"

Zhang Fu took a deep breath, the kindness in his eyes seemed to be temporarily covered by anger, and he was about to take action.

At this time, Zhang Laoer's patience reached its limit, but a sneer appeared on his face. Before his father could make a move, he quickly grabbed Zhang Laoda's collar and threw him into the cold ditch next to him, intending to sober him up.

There was only a thin layer of ice water left in the ditch, which was bone-chillingly cold. Even if it was not completely frozen, it was enough to make people shiver all over.

Boss Zhang fell into the water with a "plop". The heavy cotton coat stuck to his body like a sponge soaked with water, making him shiver with cold.

What's worse is that the mud from the river bottom was all over his cheeks. The mud mixed with the smell of corruption rushed into his nose, making Zhang nauseous and almost vomiting his breakfast.

When Zhang Fu saw this scene, he no longer cared about the scolding he had just done. He groaned "Ouch, ouch" and hurriedly pulled Zhang Dawa towards the edge of the ditch, trying to rescue his eldest son from the ice hole.

At first, Zhang Dawa responded positively out of filial piety. However, when the pungent smell hit him, his brows were furrowed, and he backed away repeatedly, refusing to get close to the ditch again.

Finally, the elderly Zhang Fu had to take on this arduous task alone. He used all his strength to drag his eldest son, who was soaking wet, out of the icy river. At that moment, he felt as if a thousand pounds of weight were pressing on his waist, and the pain was so severe that he could hardly breathe.

Boss Zhang struggled to climb out of the muddy and slippery ditch, his body covered with mud. He planned to have some fun with his brothers who were waiting nearby to lighten the heavy atmosphere.

However, when he staggered to a stop and looked up hopefully, he saw that the two brothers who usually loved to play around had already hurriedly completed the worship ceremony. Even the ashes of the paper money had been almost carried away by the cold wind, leaving only two piles of cooled ashes lying quietly in front of the grave.

The figures of the two people had long disappeared at the end of the winding path, leaving only wisps of light blue smoke hovering over the desolate grave.

An indescribable complex emotion suddenly surged in Boss Zhang's heart, including anger for being fooled, sadness for being left alone, and a hint of discomfort from the cold and muddy smell emanating from his body.

The cold winter wind mercilessly penetrated his clothes, making the smell of mud seem even more pungent and could not be shaken off.

A feeling of anger involuntarily surged in his chest. He didn't even have the mood to say hello to his father Zhang Fu and his son. He just hurried home with chattering teeth.

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