CHAPTER 1148: 1226: RESPECT THE COMING YEAR

On New Year’s Eve, Dong Huiying and the others hurried back just in time. They truly suffered many hardships along the way, and although Shujun and the others didn’t explicitly say it, they all had this sentiment.

They didn’t want to leave the eldest brother alone at home for the New Year.

So, the carriage was almost falling apart from running too fast, and they changed several horses along the way. In the end, even the poor Da Bai started pulling the carriage, and finally, the dusty group managed to return on New Year’s Eve.

"You’re back."

Liang Zhichen, the well-behaved and homely man, stayed at home and finally waited for his wife and his brothers to return.

This family, once whole, had become fragmented over time. But now, with one wife and six husbands, only Little Liu was still out somewhere, whereabouts unknown.

Zhi Chen acted as the one staying home this time, which was really unpleasant, and it made him realize something. In the future, they mustn’t continue as they had before; once is enough to understand that this is simply no way to live.

He looked at Shujun and suddenly wondered how Shujun had endured those days.

"Zhi Chen!" Dong Huiying rushed forward and gave Zhi Chen a big hug.

Zhi Chen smiled as well, "It’s good to have you back." Even when she was out and not by his side or in his sight, though he knew she would be fine, she was so capable, he still couldn’t help but worry about her.

He then looked at the man standing at the door, somewhat nervous and worriedly looking at him, seemingly afraid of being reproached.

The man wore a human skin mask, appearing simple and honest, but Zhi Chen had already recognized him.

Fourth brother’s eyes couldn’t deceive anyone. Even with a new face, having lived under the same roof for over twenty years as brothers, how could he not recognize him?

"It’s good to have you back," he repeated. Just four words, exactly like what he said to his wife. Fourth brother pursed his lips, slowly lowering his head.

This New Year was lively; the wife and husbands worked together to cook and make dumplings. Of course, Dong Huiying mostly handled the cooking, while the men assisted by chopping vegetables.

After bustling about until evening, the New Year’s Eve dinner had a table with seven or eight chairs, but one spot remained empty. Dong Huiying poured each a glass of wine.

Then, she raised her glass: "To the coming year, may we be whole and together this time next year."

The brothers smiled at each other and raised their glasses.

The eldest brother, Zhi Chen, said: "To the coming year, may all go smoothly."

Second brother Shu Yu said: "To the coming year, may we have health."

Third brother Shujun said: "To the coming year, may there be no trivial matters."

Fourth brother Haoming said: "To the coming year, good!"

Little Wu, Yuenin, said: "Fourth brother, you’re messing up the sequence!"

Haoming: "Good! Everything is good!"

Yue Ning: "Fourth brother, you’re still messing up the sequence!!"

Haoming: "......"

In the end, everyone huddled together, and Haoming’s face turned red with embarrassment.

After that, the wife wiped tears of laughter from her eyes and clinked her glass with the men: "To the coming year, may Yixuan return, may we no longer be apart, may everything go smoothly, and may we live in harmony and beauty."

"To the coming year—!"

They ate dumplings, drank wine, and as midnight drew near, Yue Ning brought out a few large quilts, "Let’s go, let’s get up on the roof and watch the stars!"

Immediately, everyone recalled that year when they climbed up to the roof of Purple Garden after drinking and froze for a night. However, this year, although they still got up on the roof, it wasn’t the one at Xihui Courtyard in Purple Garden, and among the six brothers, one was missing.