On this New Year's Eve, the bustle of fireworks was wrapped in the crisp chill of auspicious snow.
It had blanketed Jiangdu early on.
At daybreak, Lu Chen put on festive clothes and arrived at his family's temple.
Under Zeng Rou's arrangements, all the staff wore bright red New Year attire, brimming with celebration.
"Leader, everything is ready!" Zeng Rou said with a smile, cupping her hands. "Wishing the Leader a happy New Year, peace year after year, and success the moment you mount your horse!"
"Come, joy to us both!"
Lu Chen laughed heartily and handed out red envelopes one by one.
Once the red envelopes had all been distributed,
he went straight to the Lord God of Wealth Hall.
He lit a stick of incense and placed it in the censer.
"Worthy brother!" Before long, the Lord God of Wealth's laughter rang out.
"Elder brother, today is New Year's Eve. Happy New Year!"
"Joy to us both!"
Lu Chen then changed the subject. "On such a fine day, Elder Brother, why not bestow more blessings, so that all the honored readers may have a smooth year ahead and wealth flowing in from all directions?"
The Lord God of Wealth nodded with a smile. "Good, an excellent idea. But I am the God of Wealth for merchants. Could it be that all these young reader friends are merchants?"
"This..." Lu Chen thought about it and realized that was true. "Then what should we do?"
"No matter. Taking advantage of this auspicious day, I shall invite the other four Gods of Wealth to bestow blessings upon everyone together."
"Truly?"
"Naturally! Worthy brother, wait a moment!"
The faint glow on the statue faded away.
Before long,
divine light blazed across the skies above Jiangcheng City.
The carriages of the Five Gods