On the 2nd day, Qu Jing took annual leave and returned to Shan City in advance.

Everyone knew that she was going back to pay New Year visits.

That evening, Qin Huai saw a photo of Qu Jing with Chen Tingting's family in her Moments. Both Mr. and Mrs. Chen were already white-haired, smiling very kindly.

The photo was taken in the living room, with a small table in the corner of the picture holding a photo frame, inside which was an old photo.

In the photo, the young Mr. and Mrs. Chen were holding a little girl, who stood in the middle wearing a beautiful dress, smiling brightly.

At the bottom of the photo, there was a line of small text: Wishing little Shen Ai a happy 10th birthday!

Qin Huai silently gave this Moment a thumbs-up.

Qin Huai thought, from this New Year onwards, the plain Mr. Chen would have a former student he taught many years ago come to visit with a fruit gift box every year. This student would appear in various aspects of her life, participate with her adoptive parents in free clinics at the nursing home, occasionally meet her, chat, and visit her home.

There is now one more person in this world who can understand the photos in her family's living room.

With Qu Jing's early return, more and more elderly people were pressured by the New Year to take the high-speed train back home.

At night, fewer and fewer people came to taste test.

Qin Huai, however, did not reduce the quantity of Four Happiness glutinous rice he made. He made this many Four Happiness glutinous rice balls every day in the first place to diligently practice skill for improvement, hoping to create A-Level Four Happiness glutinous rice balls before Han Youxin's birthday, so that his father, Han Guishan, could shine at his son's birthday banquet, thereby completing Cheng Gong's side mission.

Although Qin Huai hadn't seen Assistant Chen for a long time, he always had him in his heart.

He also continuously liked Assistant Chen's Moments.

If he reduced the production of Four Happiness glutinous rice balls because of fewer tasters, it would be rather counterproductive. Moreover, fewer people does not mean less consumption. The remaining elderly folks were still very vigorous eaters. If they couldn't finish them, they would just be frozen in the fridge to be eaten tomorrow, with more made for Ouyang to take back as New Year's gifts for his parents.

Having spent so many days in Gusu, Ouyang drank a bellyful of freshly squeezed lemon tea and researched a bunch of entirely unnecessary recipes. It was about time to take some Gusu specialties back to honor his parents.

What? You say Four Happiness glutinous rice balls are Changzhou specialties, not Gusu specialties?

No worries, once Ouyang's parents tasted the Four Happiness glutinous rice balls, they would naturally know what the real Gusu specialty is.

After all, many office workers near Yunzhong Restaurant were steadfast in believing that Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns and Five Fillings Bun were Shan City's specialties. Whenever friends visited Shan City, they would recommend Yunzhong Restaurant for these two specialties.

If they weren't close friends, they wouldn't share. This was indeed the good stuff hidden at the bottom of the chest!

In the New Year atmosphere, the number of elderly tasters each day dwindled increasingly.

Xu Tuqiang held out until the twenty-first, Grandma Ding until the twenty-second, and compared to these two, Grandpa Qian persevered until the twenty-fourth.

Chen Huihong only managed until the twenty-sixth.

The little New Year's celebration had passed, and it was time to return home. If she didn't go back, it would indeed be unreasonable. She couldn't let her younger brother's family in the countryside eat their mother's awful Buckwheat Bun alone. The Chen family always believed in sharing both fortunes and hardships together, enjoying the good food and enduring the bad together.

Chen Yingjun was still waiting in the countryside, waiting for his dear sister to bring back 40 pounds of flaky pastry for him.

Chen Huihong directly overachieved her task.

Qin Huai spoke up and helped Chen Huihong request 60 pounds of flaky pastry from Zheng Siyuan.

Well, actually it was 120 pounds, because Qin Huai also needed 60 pounds, though he didn't need them until the twenty-ninth.

Zheng Siyuan was making the flaky pastry to the point of doubting life, and as he was making it, he kept asking Qin Huai if he really only wanted flaky pastry. Was flaky pastry really his best snack? Why didn't anyone want fresh meat mooncakes?

Qin Huai told Zheng Siyuan that flaky pastry lasts longer, and fresh meat mooncakes don't taste as good when reheated. If Zheng Siyuan was willing to accompany either Chen Huihong or himself back to the countryside, he could make fresh meat mooncakes as long as he liked, even for eighteen hours a day.

The village was full of hungry villagers.

In response, Zheng Siyuan replied to Qin Huai with six dots.

Apart from 60 pounds of flaky pastry, Chen Huihong also took 60 pounds of glutinous rice balls, 30 guo'er, 20 pounds of Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns, and 20 pounds of Three Meat Buns.

These were to be distributed to Luo Jun, Qu Jing, and the orphanage after returning to Shan City.

The Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns and Three Meat Buns were something Qu Jing specifically requested from Qin Huai. Although Mr. Chen's family all lived in Shan City, they had never heard of Yunzhong Restaurant nor tasted Three Meat Buns or Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns. Qu Jing wanted to let her past life's parents enjoy something good, and it was a rare occasion for her to ask Qin Huai for snacks.

It wasn't a tough request, so Qin Huai made them with ease.

Because she had so much to bring, Chen Huihong didn't take the high-speed train, but instead had Chen Yingjun's assistant drive over to pick up the snacks.

"Xiao Qin, Luoluo, see you in Shan City after the New Year," said Chen Huihong, sitting in the front passenger seat, waving as she passed a red envelope through the car window to Qin Luo. "Luoluo, Happy New Year."

Qin Luo did not expect to receive a red envelope so soon and was so surprised she nearly jumped with joy, happily saying, "Thank you, Aunt Chen, Happy New Year to you and Huihui!"

Watching as Chen Huihong's Maybach drove away, Qin Luo excitedly opened the red envelope and exclaimed.

Qin Huai glanced over and saw six red banknotes, quite a bit.

Chen Huihong, who was the sort to squeeze apple juice at home and would borrow a couple of apples from Luo Jun's house when she ran out halfway, always planned for all her inheritance to eventually go to Huihui.

Now, giving such a large red envelope to Qin Luo in advance was already considered very generous.

Qin Luo was thrilled as she had never received such a large red envelope before. During the New Year, the red envelopes from family were a little more generous, while ordinary relatives gave only five to ten yuan, and getting a 20-yuan red envelope was quite exciting.

"Brother, can I spend half of this red envelope money myself, and use the other half to repay you?" Qin Luo looked at Qin Huai eagerly.

"You've worked hard with your tutoring lately; you should spend all this money on yourself," Qin Huai said grandly, securing his status as the big brother.

.

On the twenty-seventh, fearing that if he waited any longer his grandfather might break his leg, Ouyang dragged a suitcase full of Four Happiness glutinous rice balls and boarded the high-speed train back home.

Up till now, everyone in the tasting group except for Qin Huai and Qin Luo had gone home for the New Year.

Qin Huai had no tasting events planned, leaving his evenings free. By contrast, the always laid-back Zheng Da was as busy as ever.

This year, Huang Ji launched New Year's pastry gift boxes, with Zheng Da in full charge, alongside the assistance of Zheng Siyuan.

Starting from the day commonly known as "Little New Year," Zheng Da seemed to be perpetually dwelling in the kitchen, waking up to make snacks and drifting into dreams of making snacks. He clocked in punctually at 8:30 AM and left, weary, precisely at 8 PM, leading a 996 work-life, reminiscent of alternative lifestyles usually associated with financial freedom.

After a day's rest, Qin Huai surprisingly found himself a bit restless.

On the night of the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, while playing on his phone, he felt empty and bored, wanting to make some snacks.

After two months at Huang Ji, he'd unknowingly become quite the workaholic.

On his last day working at Huang Ji, Qin Huai resolved firmly to persist at his post until the very end, working a bit of overtime to give his colleagues a welcome surprise.

On the twenty-eighth of the twelfth lunar month, Qin Huai made a full 80 pounds of Four Happiness Glutinous Rice Dumplings, significantly boosting his skill level for making fillings. He distributed the dumplings among everyone at Huang Ji, a small gesture of his goodwill.

After all, he was heading home the next day and wouldn't be returning; his learning exchange at Huang Ji had come to an end.

Dong Shi was so moved upon receiving the dumplings that he almost cried, exclaiming that Qin Huai didn't give him prior notice about preparing such little surprises. Had he known, he surely would have prepared... prepared... prepared...

He certainly would have prepared something.

But now, it seemed like the only thing he could present to Qin Huai on the spot was a plate of translucent radish slices.

"Qin Huai, rest assured, I'll save these Four Happiness Glutinous Rice Dumplings to eat during New Year's Eve dinner, choosing them over a couple of bites of my mentor's dishes!" Dong Shi vowed.

"That's not necessary, though," Qin Huai sincerely advised. "The New Year's Eve dinner is important; eating them on New Year's Day is just as good."

Although Dong Shi was Huang Shengli's closed-door disciple, he didn't get to enjoy many meals personally cooked by Huang Shengli throughout the year, so skipping a few bites for B-level Four Happiness Dumplings wasn't worth it.

Next New Year's Eve, save your appetite for A-level ones.

Or go wild and aim for S-level ones!

Although it's probable the S-level ones would only appear in dreams, it's okay; it's New Year's—dreaming a little shouldn't hurt, right?

At 10 PM, Qin Huai finished work late for the first time, marking the end of his exchange life at Huang Ji.

He bought a high-speed train ticket for the next day at 10 AM, planning to take the train to Qiu County and then a bus back to his village.

His luggage was packed, with nothing much to bring along. There were changeable clothes already prepared at home, mostly he carried some kitchenware newly purchased in Gusu and homework left by Qin Luo's home tutors.

The tutors didn't assign much homework; each left just two test sheets, ensuring that amid the New Year's happiness, Qin Luo wouldn't play too much and forget all her make-up lessons.

On February 6, the twenty-ninth of the twelfth lunar month, Huang Shengli, Zheng Da, and Gong Liang escorted Qin Huai and Qin Luo to the train station.

"Have a good rest once you return. Send a message to confirm your safe arrival," Huang Shengli said with a smile, pulling out a thick red envelope from his pocket. "This envelope was meant to be given on New Year's Eve, but since you're leaving early, I'm giving it early too."

"Happy New Year."

Qin Huai replied, "Happy New Year."

After saying this, Huang Shengli took out a slightly thinner envelope from another pocket and handed it to Qin Luo: "This is Luoluo's envelope. Happy New Year!"

"Wow, thank you, Uncle Huang. Happy New Year!" Qin Luo thought this was the happiest New Year she'd ever had.

Not wanting to be outdone, Zheng Da also pulled out two red envelopes from his pocket, one for Qin Huai and one for Qin Luo.

"Here you go, Luoluo. Here's a red envelope from Uncle Zheng as well!"

"Thank you, Uncle Zheng! Happy New Year!"

Moved, Zheng Da said, "Xiao Qin, there's nothing much more to say; you know my feelings, and I understand your thoughts. I still say this: Although you haven't formally become my apprentice, in my heart, there's no difference. Your New Year's envelope is definitely the thickest and fullest. It's a small token from Master Zheng!"

"Thank you, Master Zheng." Qin Huai also accepted the envelope.

"Alright, alright, getting emotional over handing out red envelopes," Gong Liang smiled as he walked between Qin Huai and Zheng Da, taking out a stack of red envelopes from his bag.

"Master Qin, you know, my hobby is giving out red envelopes during New Year; it's not my style to give out just a few. Take these first."

"I also prepared some New Year gifts, which it's inconvenient to send to your hometown now, so I'll have them sent to Shan City after New Year."

Qin Huai was amazed at the sight of a pile of red envelopes, having never received such a bounty before.

Dong Shi's reference to Gong Liang relieving tension through envelope-giving seemed to materialize during this 5-minute event.

Qin Luo was equally stunned.

Noticing Qin Luo beside him, Gong Liang waved his large hand and retrieved another stack of envelopes from his bag: "Here you go, Luoluo, these are yours."

Qin Luo gasped, seemingly overwhelmed with joy.

She pinched her arm fiercely, grimacing in pain, then happily exclaimed, "My goodness, it's not a dream!"

Qin Huai: …

Sorry, my younger sister has watched too many dramas, please excuse us.

"Alright, let's disperse from the train station entrance. The departure time is near, we don't want Xiao Qin missing his train," Gong Liang waved his hand. "Bye-bye, Happy New Year!"

"Happy New Year!"

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