Chapter 69 (continued)

Firecrackers are out of the question, lest they frighten the little ones. Besides, firecrackers and fireworks pose safety hazards; it would be terrible if they burned down haystacks or barns. We can't buy those.

The rest is grocery shopping. We need to buy some pork, beef, chicken, duck, fish, and various vegetables. In addition to the food for the two of them, we also need to prepare food for the little ones.

Although not every ethnic group in pastoral areas celebrates the Spring Festival, most people still take a break, and most businesses also temporarily close during the holiday. If you don't stock up now, it will be really difficult to buy things during the Spring Festival.

On the afternoon of New Year's Eve.

The sun was shining brightly, Yan Kexing spread out paper and ink, using a brush to write Spring Festival couplets.

Next year is the Year of the Sheep, and after writing the Yan Kexing also painted two ink sheep under the couplets.

Shi Wen at the exquisite ink painting, Shi Wen exclaimed admiringly, "How do you know everything?"

"I learned something when I was bored." Yan Kexing drew a sheep with light ink on a piece of red paper cut into a square, then wrote the word "" and handed it to Shi Wen, "Do you like it?"

Shi Wen held up the paper with both hands, her eyes lighting up. "I love it! You drew so well, can you draw other sheep?"

Yan Kexing drew for him - standing, grazing, rolling; single, pairs, groups... He drew more than ten sheep in a row, and the sheep on each picture were different, and the word "Fu" he wrote on them was also different.

Shi Wen can't quite distinguish what kind of fonts they are, but I love them to death.

He pasted so many "Fu" characters on doors, windows, forklifts, livestock sheds, and inside wooden fences...

The deliveryman on the last shift before the Lunar New Year saw their festive atmosphere and said, "You have so many 'Fu' characters! If someone didn't know better, they'd think you were celebrating a wedding."

Shi Wen and said, "Isn't the New Year a joyous occasion?"

As he spoke, Shi Wen quickly signed for the package, had the deliveryman take a picture, and then said to the deliveryman, "Happy New Year!"

Deliveryman: "Happy New Year! Hey, why did you send me such a big red envelope?"

Shi Wen looked up and smiled, "Thank you for delivering my package during the Chinese New Year."

Deliveryman: "Of course I'll deliver your New Year's goods. These must be your new clothes for the New Year, right?"

Shi Wen, carrying a tightly wrapped box, smiled and said, "Almost."

Shi Wen when I was talking to the delivery guy at the ranch gate, his dog, along with his Hu Zai and other animals, came running out in a large group.

However, they are quite well-behaved when there are outsiders around and will not try to squeeze out of the fence.

The deliveryman, who had dealt with the family quite often, wasn't afraid of the group of small animals. He simply said to Shi Wen, "Your animals are getting better and better. They're so round and chubby, with such thick fur, and they look quite intelligent too."

Heiwa and the others must have realized the deliveryman was praising them, because they barked loudly several times.

Even the two Hu Zai started barking.

The deliverymen were delighted by their loud, clear voices. "Wow, those resonant voices are so energetic!"

Shi Wen, "We're here to wish you a Happy New Year."

Deliveryman: "Haha, Happy Chinese New Year everyone! I wish your ranch a prosperous and Huohuo year ahead. May your little ones eat well, sleep well, and be happy too."

Shi Wen, "You too, they'll bring you great wealth in the New Year, and a prosperous year to come."

After saying goodbye to the deliveryman, Shi Wen was holding a package. Shi Wen the little guys, led by Heiwa, saw the package, they enthusiastically offered to help him carry it back.

He reacted quickly, snatching the package back from the dog's mouth. "You can't take this, you can play with it."

Heiwa looked at him in confusion. "Woof?"

Shi Wen hugged the package tightly. "These are important things, I really can't let you take them. Go play, Yan Kexing is probably making New Year's Eve dinner, go see if you can get some food?"

The dogs couldn't fully understand what Shi Wen, but when he pointed to the kitchen, An Wa was always the first to understand.

An Wa happily ran towards the kitchen in the direction he pointed, followed by a group of guys.

Today, while preparing the New Year's Eve dinner, Yan Kexing not only cooked for humans but also carefully prepared food for the dogs.

Dogs also have a sense of taste, and they have their favorite foods and cooking methods. It's not enough to just boil them in water.

Shi Wen make dog food that's too simple, the dogs don't really enjoy it and aren't very enthusiastic about eating.

Yan Kexing's dog food is known for its excellent color, aroma, and taste, making it very popular with the dogs. Every time he cooks, the dogs rush to the kitchen door and sit in a row. If Shi Wen hadn't forbidden it, they would have practically dragged their own dog bowls over with them.

After sending the dogs away, Shi Wen carried the package back to her room, unpacked it, and hid the contents in the closet.

As for the outer packaging, he simply threw it in and burned it when he went to add coal to the boiler.

They ate their New Year's Eve dinner quite early; in the evening, the two of them fed all the pets in the house and then began to eat.

Shi Wen specially dug out the wine she had bought earlier. "It's the New Year, want to have some?"

Yan Kexing: "Have a drink."

Shi Wen took out his glass, poured half a glass for each of them, and then raised his glass. "Let's clink glasses to celebrate how fate brought us together."

If Gong Jiang's horse hadn't been startled and run outside the pasture, they wouldn't have met, and none of what followed would have happened.

Yan Kexing picked up his cup and gently tapped it against his, the cup making a soft "ding" sound.

A New Year's Eve dinner for just the two of you can be very romantic, though Shi Wen the meal doesn't last long.

After finishing their meal, the two cleaned up the dishes together, Shi Wen went to take a shower first.

Yan Kexing sat in the living room, his silent phone occasionally lighting up as he sent New Year's greetings to various people.

While replying to the message, he suddenly noticed that Shi Wen an unusually long time to shower today.

He stood up, strode over to the bathroom, and gently knocked on the door. "Shi Wen?"

"Just a moment." Shi Wen's voice sounded a little nervous, yet also tinged with amusement. "I'm getting my hair done."