In a flash, it was New Year's Eve. The popping of firecrackers echoed in ceaseless waves. Fireworks also burst in the sky from time to time.

This year, of course, was exceptionally different for Zhang Bin's family. They no longer worried about lacking new clothes, not having money for New Year's goods, or Father Zhang's illness.

Father Zhang and Mother Zhang had prepared an abundance of delicious food.

Zhang Lele was as happy as a little magpie, chirping away all day. She had even made clothes for Hong Ya, Big Fatty, and Second Fatty, leading them on a wild romp through the village.

Seeing his family so happy and content filled Zhang Bin's heart with satisfaction.

Before he got the cell phone, this was his dream—to see his father's health recover, his family prosperous, and himself married to Xiao Fang, living the happy life of a small farmer.

Now, the dream had truly come true. Xiao Fang was his girlfriend, and he even had another beauty as gorgeous as a Heavenly Immortal—Liu Ruolan—who was also his close female confidante.

Even Liu Xin, the woman he had once only dreamed of kissing, had secretly become his.

During this period, he often snuck into her small villa, where they would make love. The happiness was beyond measure.

Of course, his Cultivation Level had also greatly increased during this time. He had seized the Spiritual Medicine from the Space Rings of six Golden Core Realm Cultivators from the Daoyi Sect and crafted five furnaces of elixirs. Now, he had essentially refined all of them, significantly boosting the True Qi in his Dantian. Inside the vast space of his Dantian, the liquid formed by the True Qi had already increased by half.

He was not too far from reaching the Mid-stage Liquid Realm of cultivation.

In the past few days, he had also finished the distillery design, which he and Tutu had designed together, referencing the advanced wine-making techniques of Xuanwu Star.

As for the recipe for the exquisite wine, that too referenced formulas from Xuanwu Star. Besides grain, it required the addition of some special medicinal herbs.

However, since grain containing Spiritual Energy had not yet been cultivated, it was currently impossible to brew the exquisite wine.

But in the reservoir that Zhang Bin had transformed, he had already added many fish fry and planted a lot of aquatic plants.

Naturally, he had also added a few Spirit Stones. They would slowly dissolve, enriching the water with Spiritual Energy.

As a result, the fish fry in the water grew strong and healthy.

"Son, go to town today and buy three sets of New Year's couplets. We forgot to put them up," Mother Zhang said to Zhang Bin as he came downstairs early in the morning.

"I went to buy New Year's goods yesterday and forgot to buy the couplets," Father Zhang added, somewhat embarrassed.

"Why not just have Lele write a couplet?" Zhang Bin said. He found no appeal in the couplets sold on the streets and felt that even Zhang Lele's calligraphy was no worse than those.

Zhang Lele, who was eating breakfast, immediately perked up. "Hehe, my brother is the wise one. He knows I'm a future great calligrapher. Just watch me, I'll write a few couplets right now."

Everyone laughed.

Father Zhang, however, shook his head. "Lele, your handwriting is still too juvenile. I think Ruolan's is very good. Let's have Ruolan write them."

"My handwriting isn't as good as Lele's, Dad. Please don't make me embarrass myself," Liu Ruolan said modestly.

"You two each write a couplet. We'll use whichever is better," Mother Zhang declared with the wave of a hand, like an authoritative leader.

"As you command," Zhang Lele and Liu Ruolan said at the same time, laughing coyly.

After breakfast, Zhang Lele and Liu Ruolan got down to business and began writing couplets.

Zhang Bin, Father Zhang, Mother Zhang, and Xiao Fang watched with smiling eyes.

"Long lives and bountiful years bring joy to every home,"

"A prosperous nation and peaceful people bring spring everywhere."

"Wintersweet blossoms release their fragrance, greeting the red sun,"

"Green willows spread their branches, dancing in the spring breeze."

Zhang Lele and Liu Ruolan each wrote a set of Spring Festival couplets.

Zhang Lele's calligraphy was delicate, but a bit immature.

Liu Ruolan's calligraphy, however, was truly graceful and beautiful to look at.

Everyone praised Liu Ruolan's calligraphy endlessly. Even Zhang Lele was convinced. She put down her brush and said, "Sister-in-law, you should write them. Your writing is much better than mine."

"Your characters are already quite good, better than those couplets on the street. Just practice for a few more years, and your calligraphy will surpass mine," Liu Ruolan said with a tender smile.

"Mhmm, I'll work hard," Zhang Lele nodded obediently.

She still held a lot of respect for Liu Ruolan, who had graduated from a prestigious university and was a business prodigy who had earned a vast fortune for Zhang Bin.

"Honey, what do you think of my calligraphy?" Liu Ruolan was quite pleased with her own work and asked Zhang Bin, her face full of anticipation for his praise.

"Do you want to hear a lie or the truth?" Zhang Bin asked.

As a Grandmaster in the field of painting and calligraphy, he couldn't tell a blatant lie. That was why he asked.

"Let's hear the lie first, then the truth," Liu Ruolan said, her face blooming into a smile, as she believed Zhang Bin was just finding a clever way to compliment her work.

The others thought the same and watched Zhang Bin with expectant smiles.

"The lie is that your calligraphy is too good, fantastic, absolutely stunning. The truth is that your calligraphy hasn't even passed the threshold. It's too poor," Zhang Bin said, then quickly added with caution, "Don't be angry, okay?"

"You..."

In daily life, Liu Ruolan was very gentle and generous, only showing her strong side at the company. Today, however, she was truly angered by Zhang Bin—too upset to speak.

She had diligently practiced calligraphy for many years and had won numerous awards. Her calligraphy might not have compared to that of famous masters, but it was still quite good and had even received their praise. It certainly couldn't be described as 'too poor'.

"Son, how can you lie with a straight face? Ruolan's couplets are so beautiful. I'm mesmerized by them," Mother Zhang scolded.

"Yeah, yeah! Brother, how could you say that?" Zhang Lele chimed in. Even Father Zhang and Xiao Fang began to criticize Zhang Bin.

Zhang Bin was quite embarrassed, a bitter smile on his face. What was this all about? I didn't do anything wrong, did I?

Seeing that Zhang Bin still wouldn't apologize, Liu Ruolan shot him a fierce glare, dropped the brush, and walked out the door. She got into her car, ready to drive home and no longer spend New Year's at Zhang Bin's house.

Zhang Bin hurriedly chased after her, grabbing her arm. "I was wrong, okay? I'm sorry."

"Let me go. I want to go home."

Liu Ruolan turned her head away. She was truly angry. She had been expecting praise from her beloved, only to be harshly criticized instead. This was pure fabrication. Does he not like me anymore? Is he looking for an excuse to send me away?

"Honey, what can I do to make you not angry anymore?" Zhang Bin asked, alarmed.

"Then tell me, why did you deliberately belittle my calligraphy?" Liu Ruolan asked, turning her head back to look at him.

"I didn't do it on purpose, I really didn't," Zhang Bin said, still alarmed.

Tears welled up in Liu Ruolan's eyes. She choked out, "So you did mean it. You don't like me anymore, do you? That's why you can't stand my writing, right?"

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