Chapter 1: The Office's Unspoken Rules...

  It turned out that this was Yang Tianming's goal.

  "What did Shen Rou say?" The old lady was a sharp person and immediately reacted.

  "It's all right, we're family after all." Yang Tianming helped Shen Rou up.

  "Phoenix should also teach her what it means to be a good wife and mother. The woman I've taught can become an excellent mistress in any household, so you'd better forget about Shen Rou. If Phoenix can't wholeheartedly treat Zong Bao well, then you know she can always get something in return. The eldest daughter of the Yang family is worth a lot of money."

  Old Lady Yang's face turned gloomy: "As for you, wasn't the woman you loved most in the past surnamed Zhou? Don't forget."

  The old lady's last sentence made Yang Tianming immediately turn serious: "Those are all things of the past."

  "Don't mention what happened in the past. If I had thought like you do now back then, do you think you would still have your current status? I'm tired, just leave." The old lady didn't even want to see her own son anymore.

  Yang Tianming was rebuffed, Shen Rou's purpose was not unknown to himself. There were only a few people in the family who knew Feng Huang's true identity - Tong Yangxiu (adopted daughter-in-law). Moreover, they all knew that this adopted daughter-in-law was determined by the old master when he was still alive. His own father, at that time, could be called an old master with divine power, so everyone knew that Feng Huang's eight characters were auspicious for her husband.

  Yang Tianming didn't have this idea at first, and still thought it was just between Lao Taitai and Shen Rou. But today Yang Zongbao appeared in front of Lao Taitai for the first time, and the balance completely shifted. So he couldn't help but fight for Yang Shuo a bit, with one woman by each son's side, which would be beneficial for balance, as both sides would have their own advantages. However, he didn't expect Lao Taitai to have such a tough attitude, and he had no way out, and when he returned, Shen Rou would also have some rumors in her ear.

  Forget it, Yang Tianming simply didn't care anymore and became a absentee owner. Household chores were much harder to deal with than outside matters.

  After Yang Tianming left, an old man came to the old lady's place. He was very thin and small, even shorter than the old lady when standing up, with dark skin, three strands of whiskers, hunched back, wearing cloth shoes, and on a cold day, he only wore a blue old man's overcoat with some cotton padding.

  "You've come." The old lady's face finally had some smile on it.

  "You arrived early, didn't you notice." The old man was also unpretentious, found a stool and sat down: "The surveillance here has made progress."

  "Surveillance no matter how advanced can't stop you." The old lady smiled and said, "Have you seen my grandson?"

  "No, but Bao Guo always brings it up, so I'm somewhat familiar with it." The old man picked up the sesame candy on the table and started chewing.

  "How do you see?" asked the old lady.

  "Bao Guo is exaggerating him to be a god on earth and in heaven, I haven't seen it myself, so I don't dare comment."

  "Let's take a look tonight, and tomorrow morning we'll have a big show, Zongbao will be right here."

  "Cheng, you have no idea how hard that kid is to invite. I had Bao Guo pass on the message, but he didn't even respond." The old man was deeply resentful.

  "That's because you're always dressed like a Taoist priest and live in the temple, of course no one believes you. My grandson didn't take you seriously because he's smart."

  "Yes, yes, yes, everything is good for your grandson."

  "It's enough to know..."

  In the afternoon, Yang Zongbao took a nap. Close to dusk, Baoguo woke him up and asked him to put on his clothes and go to the gate.

  A big red lantern was hung at the gate, and a full circle along the wall.

  Two construction cranes stood on either side of the gate, with two strings of large firecrackers hanging high above.

  Rural people love excitement. The entrance of the Yang family's house suddenly set up such a momentum, and adults and children from nearby all rushed over to surround the entrance excitedly.

  Two trucks were loaded with fireworks...

  Yang Zongbao came out with such a lively scene.

  "It's okay, there will be a good show tonight." Bao Guo stood behind Yang Zongbao, and anyone with discerning eyes could tell that they were on opposite sides.

  "What's so good-looking?" Yang Zongbao thought that the smoke and dust after the firecracker exploded was very choking, so he stood in the doorway.

  "What's wrong? Brother Bao, afraid of this firework?" Bao Guo retreated behind Yang Zongbao.

  "I don't quite like this thing." Yang Zongbao frankly admitted, without feeling embarrassed.

  "Actually, I don't like it very much either, hehe." Baoguo said with a smile.

  "You don't think this sounds fake?" Yang Zongbao said with a bad tone.

  The yard of the Yang family, which was neither earthy nor foreign, neither Chinese nor Western, quickly gathered a large crowd of onlookers in front of it. They were all villagers from nearby villages. Farmers are the most down-to-earth people in China, no matter how much society changes, their way of thinking has not changed much at its core.

  For example, during the New Year, people love to wear red and green, they like to join in the excitement... of course, the most distinctive feature is that there are many children.

  Children are chasing each other in the crowd, at this time everyone is most tolerant of noisy children.

  When night fell completely, all the candles in the fiery lanterns were lit. Someone shouted: "It's started."

  Suddenly the scene became lively, firecrackers on the crane, loud noises, red paper scraps scattered everywhere, as if red snowflakes were floating in the sky. The sparks of the exploding firecrackers were particularly noticeable in the darkness, the noisy sounds, children's cries, adults had to use their loudest voices to convey meaning to each other...

  Fireworks supported by a crane lasted for eight minutes. As the fireworks fell, the soaring fireworks illuminated piece after piece of dark sky, and the colorful lights hid the stars in the night sky...

  The fireworks display that never stopped. At first, people would marvel at the beauty of the fireworks, but by the end, even children were quietly appreciating the fleeting colors in the sky.

  The fireworks lasted for 1 hour. As the fireworks were nearing their end, a bonfire three people high was lit, with the outer layer covered in pine needles and bark.

  Sizzling sounds filled the air as the aroma of roasted chestnuts blended with the smell of fireworks, creating a unique flavor.

  "This bonfire will be burning until the 15th of the first month, it's said that the longer it burns, the more prosperous it becomes." Bao Guo explained as he followed behind Yang Zongbao.

  "Yes, the more one does business, the more superstitious they become." Yang Zongbao nodded.

  "By the way, do you know where your childhood friend is?" Baoguo suddenly said out of nowhere.

  "Where is she?" With so many people around, no one really knew where the woman had gone.

  "Look for yourself."

  Following the direction of Bao Guo's finger, I found Shen Lianlian and Yang Shuo standing together, their appearance was as if they couldn't bear to be separated from each other.

  "It's very open." Yang Zongbao could only say this.

  "They think that just because they're related, they can be so close and intimate with each other. Do they think others are blind? Those two people are actually quite annoying when they're together." Bao Guo said unhappily, thinking that Shen Lianlian was Yang Zongbao's woman, so he didn't approve of her current intimacy with Yang Shuo.

  "Suit yourself."

  "That's your woman."

  Yang Zongbao's nonchalant attitude made Bao Gu anxious.

  "Alright, I'm no match for him anyway. It's only natural that a woman chooses the better man." Yang Zongbao's tone was genuinely without any reluctance.

  "Brother Bao, are you telling the truth?" Baoguo didn't dare to believe it.

  "What do you think?"

  "Uh..."

  "The old lady has come to give out red envelopes."

  Suddenly a group of people surrounded Old Lady Yang and walked to the door, while the children who were previously picking up unexploded firecrackers on the ground swarmed around Old Lady Yang.

  "Happy New Year, give me red envelopes."

  Children surrounded the old lady happily asking for red envelopes.

  "Alright, one by one."

  The old lady smiled and handed out red envelopes to the children, a thick stack quickly disappeared. Because the red envelope was very thick, some villagers let the children come forward repeatedly to receive it. Mrs. Yang didn't know if she knew this or not, as long as the child stretched out her hand, she gave one.

  "It's gone, maybe next year." The old lady patted her empty palm and said.

  The children scattered with a shout, the ones who got red envelopes and their families were overjoyed, while those who didn't surrounded Old Lady Yang, hoping to get some more benefits. However, Old Lady Yang showed no intention of taking out any more money.

  The Yang family's old house is on the golf course lawn with nearly a hundred large round tables set up, starting a banquet for a hundred families.

  Almost all the men and women, young and old in the village have come. They can reunite and eat for free, why not?

  Nor did I know when the Yang family set up those street lamps commonly used in squares in their courtyard.

  The courtyard was brightly lit. What's even more exaggerated is that they actually set up a stage, preparing to perform a big show.

  "Come here, Zongbao." The old lady beckoned.

  Yang Zongbao walked past.

  "Come on, let's go eat New Year's Eve dinner." The old lady warmly pulled Yang Zongbao's hand and headed inside.

  "Grandma." Yang Shuo also walked over with Shen Lianlian.

  "Go find your mom, she's busy." The old lady apparently didn't want to bother with Yang Shuo.

  "Yes." Yang Shuo was still somewhat afraid of the de facto ruler of the Yang family. The old lady of the Yang family had not given him a good face since he entered the door, and it had always been so. Because on the surface, Yang Shuo was the only third-generation heir of the Yang family, so Yang Shuo didn't have any ideas, anyway, he would outlive the old lady.

  Now there is an extra Yang Zongbao, and for some reason the old lady likes him, which makes Yang Shuo a bit at a loss. That's why he just rushed over to get close to her. Unexpectedly, it caused a stir.

  The more he thought about it, the more he felt that he had been treated unfairly because of Yang Zongbao's sudden appearance. Thinking of this, he looked at Yang Zongbao's back with great displeasure.

  Shen Lianlian, who was waiting on one side, saw this situation and hastily abandoned Yang Shuo to follow up.

  "Grandma." Shen Lianlian squeezed out Baoguo who was originally following the old lady on her right.

  "Hmm." Old Lady Yang showed no special expression.

  In front of the main house, a stage about 1 meter high was set up. The scene had already been arranged on it. The old lady pulled Yang Zongbao to sit in the main seat directly opposite the stage. Yang Zongbao didn't feel uneasy and went with the flow.

  "What would you like to hear?" asked Mrs. Yang.

  "There's nothing special about it, just for the excitement, Sanjiaokou is fine." Yang Zongbao didn't have much love for Peking Opera, he could only listen to it when there were no other entertainment options, and it was a way to pass the time.

  But those people at the dinner table didn't have such thoughts, they just wanted a lively atmosphere.

  The main table was gradually filled with people.

  Yang Tianming sat on the right side of Old Lady Yang, Yang Zongbao sat on the left side, and Shen Lianlian was fortunate enough to get a seat next to Yang Zongbao. Bao Guo had no seat and stood behind Yang Zongbao.

  Yang Shuo, Yang Jing, Shen Rou, and some others he didn't know took their seats one after another.

  "Mom, what kind of play are you watching?" Yang Tianming took out a small booklet with these titles written on it.

  "Ask my grandson," said Old Lady Yang.

  "Grandma, you decide, I don't quite understand." Yang Shuo hastily chimed in.

  "Didn't ask you." The old lady of the Yang family directly handed the play script to Yang Zongbao.

  The already unpleasant atmosphere on the main table suddenly became even more silent.

  "San Cha Kou, Mo Mei An..." Yang Zongbao also didn't mince words, rattling off 5 play codes in one breath.

  "Tell them to start." Yang Tianming took a look at his son, but since his mother had already spoken up, he could only instruct someone to go and follow this for now.

  "Eat more, eat a bit." The old lady's eyes seemed to be fixed on Yang Zongbao alone, as if everyone else was just an accessory, making the whole table feel awkward and uncomfortable, while the surrounding tables were much livelier.

  Everyone was silent, eating their food in awkward mouthfuls.