New Year's Greetings
The Evans Family’s dinner invitation ended in disaster—May Parker got scalded by hot tea, and the family had to pay their debts with land. Governor Yao finally smiled, seeing Leonard Li’s rage subside.
From then on, Governor Yao never mentioned David Evans’ heroic deed again. He wanted nothing to do with these troublesome country folk. Kicked to the curb and saddled with debt, the Evanses faced the New Year with empty pockets—no money for holiday shopping, just misery and gossip.
Mrs. Zhao used to boast that her family’s benefactor was a big shot. Now, with their fortunes reversed, the whole village pointed at the Evans Family, laughing behind their backs. Even Mrs. Zhao’s thick skin couldn’t withstand all the gossip. She barely left the house, and the Evanses kept their doors shut, living low-profile and embarrassed.
Yet as the New Year drew near, the village grew livelier by the day.
Mrs. Chen made matching cotton jackets for Jack and Jill Evans, dressing them up like the golden boy and jade girl of the village. Hannah Lee, now Jill’s personal maid and playmate after being adopted by the Warren Family, flourished—no longer a skinny bean sprout, she’d grown into a rosy-cheeked, smiling little girl everyone adored.
“Jack, Jill, I made some sesame candy—go share it with your friends!” Lily Evans called, her mood lifted by the sweet aroma wafting from the kitchen.
Jack and Jill grabbed the candy with glee, handing some to Hannah first. The three kids dashed off to play in the village, laughter trailing behind them.
At Lily Evans’ house, red lanterns hung everywhere, the place sparkling clean. The family donned new clothes, radiating all the joy and hope of a fresh New Year.
Margaret Evans asked Belle to prepare generous New Year’s gifts. In the past, when they were poor, she had nothing to offer her neighbors. Now, she planned to deliver five pounds of pork, ten eggs, and a packet of candy to every household, grateful for the kindness shown to her and Lily in tough times.
“Village Chief, we’ve come to wish you a Happy New Year!” Margaret Evans led Lily, Belle, and Yuanbao to knock cheerfully on the chief’s door.
The Village Chief’s wife opened the door and accepted Belle’s gifts—meat, eggs, and candy. In the countryside, such bounty was rare; the Evans Family’s generosity guaranteed a festive feast for the chief’s family.
“Oh my, how can we accept so much? Just a few eggs will do!” The chief’s wife protested, embarrassed by the lavish gifts.
Margaret Evans laughed, "Take it! Lily and I never managed to give proper New Year’s gifts before—this year, we’re making up for all the past ones!"
Only then did the chief’s wife accept, ushering Lily and her family inside.
“Lily, you’re here! Happy New Year!” The Village Chief was playing with his grandson, who was about Jill’s age—cheerful, outgoing, and quick to greet everyone with a bright, “Happy New Year!”
Margaret Evans adored children. She handed the chief’s grandson some sesame candy, and his face lit up with joy. “Thank you, Auntie!” he chirped.
The Village Chief looked at Lily’s well-dressed family, arms full of gifts, and sighed, “Last year, your family was so poor you could barely get by. Now, in a blink, you’re the richest folks in Clearwater Village. Lily, you’re so capable—if I had a daughter like you, I’d wake up laughing every day!”
Lily smiled at the chief’s clever, lively grandson. "Chief, I envy you! Your grandson’s got a sharp mind—he’ll do great in school. Your family’s true blessings are just beginning!"
Mentioning school, the chief’s face fell. He sighed, "I wanted to send Shengzi to Wutong Academy, but the tuition’s too high. All I can afford is Qingmiao School. But with the riffraff there—just look at Simon Su, Ben Zhang, and Hui Liu—I worry Shengzi might pick up bad habits."
Hearing that, Lily’s eyes sparkled. Wasn’t she just worrying about how to help the villagers? Opening a school—now that would be a blessing for generations!