Chapter 470 - 447: Returning Home

After coming here to see the play, it was only about two weeks until winter break.

So, they decided to just take some time off and stay in the Capital.

As for the pigs back home, Grandpa Yun called a fellow villager and asked them to sell them. He also arranged for someone to look after the chickens, ducks, geese, and dogs.

The horses on the island were being looked after by Yun Jiao’s third senior brother.

The whole family spent the New Year in the Capital.

It was their first time celebrating the New Year in the house they had just bought. They went out and purchased red paper and materials for making lanterns.

The family sat together, cheerfully making red lanterns. They pasted characters for "good fortune" on them and hung them under the eaves.

They also had to write several more "good fortune" characters to put on the windows and doors.

Granny Yun led her two daughters-in-law in cutting traditional paper window decorations.

Meanwhile, Yun Xiao Ba was writing the New Year’s couplets.

His brush calligraphy had become quite good. Even someone who couldn’t read the characters would have to clap and praise how beautiful the script was.

They also had to make candied hawthorns on a stick and roast peanuts and melon seeds.

The family’s lively celebration attracted Mr. Hu and Elder Wu over.

"Jiaojiao, your maternal grandmother sent over some dried persimmons."

It was a huge box of them. When opened, they were a beautiful color and had a unique, sweet aroma.

They kept some for themselves and planned to package the rest to give to friends and family when they went visiting for the New Year.

The snow in the north started early and fell heavily. Everyone was bundled up in thick clothes. Yun Jiao was once again dressed up like a pretty little good-luck doll, complete with a fluffy hat, and went around with her brothers to make New Year’s visits.

Every time she went out, she came back with her pockets stuffed full.

Red envelopes, and all sorts of little snacks.

Pretty people always get a little extra special treatment wherever they go, and the elderly especially adored cute, soft, fair-skinned children like Yun Jiao.

"Our Jiaojiao really is popular everywhere she goes."

Shen Yunlian was especially proud of this.

In their old alleyway, the days of the New Year were always accompanied by the CRACKLE and POP of firecrackers and the laughter of children. It was incredibly lively.

Yun Jiao and her brothers quickly befriended the other children their age in the neighborhood.

After the New Year, the festive atmosphere gradually died down.

Her family began discussing their return home.

The Capital was nice, but they felt their hometown, where they were born and raised, was still better.

Yun Jiao also preferred her hometown, because it was right by the sea.

She loved the ocean.

Yun Xiao Liu and Yun Xiaowu had to stay behind, and they were very reluctant to see everyone leave.

Yun Xiaowu said, "Just stay a few more days. Things at home are being looked after anyway, a little more time won’t hurt."

Yun Xiao Liu nodded in agreement.

"You two are about to start school again, and Xiao Wu, you have to get back to training. There’s no reason for us to stay any longer."

Shen Yunlian poked Yun Xiaowu on the forehead. "When you finally compete in the Olympics, we’ll definitely be there to support you."

Yun Xiaowu quickly replied, "You said it! In that case, I’ll definitely make it."

However, the Olympics were held every four years, and the last games hadn’t been that long ago. The next one was still about three years away.

Before school started, they returned to Bailong Village in Hai City.

"It’s still most comfortable at home."

As they neared the entrance to the village, they saw two dogs keeping watch. They were their dogs.

There was also a cat lounging on a tree branch, looking rather inconspicuous.

"Aren’t those our dogs? How did they know we were coming back today?"

The two dogs spotted them too and came running over, tails wagging and whimpering.

They sounded surprisingly pitiful.

"Aww, Tang Yuan, Baozi, we’re back!"

Everyone laughed cheerfully, taking turns petting their two dogs.

Grandpa Yun remarked with a sigh, "They must have known we were coming back today. They were probably waiting here every single day."

Dogs are such intuitive creatures.

When they reached the tree, Yun Jiao held out her arms.

"Cat Boss, come on down."

The tabby cat glanced at her, leaped directly from the tree into her arms, and Yun Jiao caught him securely.

When the villagers saw they had returned, the village immediately became lively again.

Bailong Village was still bustling with activity, as many people were going up the mountain to burn incense and pray at the temple.

Many of the villagers had made food or handicrafts to sell at the foot of the mountain.

The next day, Yun Jiao and her family also climbed the mountain to the temple to burn incense and pray.

"Yun Sui, look what I brought for you! Beijing roast duck. I heated it up at home before bringing it, but it’s not as tasty as when it’s fresh out of the oven."

Yun Sui had grown taller and leaner. He was wearing a Daoist robe, his eyes were clear and bright, and his medium-length hair was tied up in a Daoist topknot.

Daoist Qingfeng was raising him well.

Although he sometimes still had a slightly dazed expression, on him it only conveyed a rustic innocence, which fit the atmosphere of the temple perfectly.

Yun Jiao thought, ’The immortals would surely love someone so pure and innocent.’

"Jiaojiao, it’s delicious! You have some too."

The young boy spoke with a childish innocence, and just like before, he wanted to share what he found delicious with Yun Jiao.

"I’ve already eaten. You go ahead and finish it."

"Daoist Qingfeng is so busy."

Now, besides Daoist Qingfeng and Yun Sui, he had also taken on two more disciples at the temple.

Otherwise, he would have been completely overwhelmed.

Those two disciples were also good-natured and treated Yun Sui well.

Just as Yun Sui was finishing his food, Daoist Qingfeng walked over and gave him a light tap with a paddle.

"Slacking off, are we? Hurry up and get to your lesson."

Yun Sui ducked his head and mumbled, "Master, I wasn’t slacking. Jiaojiao came to see me."

Yun Jiao nodded. "Master Qingfeng, I just wanted to bring Yun Sui something to eat. And here, you have some too."

Daoist Qingfeng said, "You can join him for the lesson."

Yun Jiao pouted. "Okay, fine."

Daoist Qingfeng’s so-called "lesson" was simply chanting scriptures.

Thanks to his unyielding efforts, Yun Sui was finally able to read the characters in the scriptures.