Opening it, she found a wool coat.
Cheng You subconsciously looked at Qi Chengyan. She had tried on this coat before, but it cost over twenty yuan, and she had found it too expensive to buy.
It looked good, but for the cold weather, a padded jacket was more practical.
"You bought it?"
Qi Chengyan smiled and said, "Try it on."
Cheng You had tried it on in the store, but back then, the coat hadn't been hers.
Now, wearing it again, a gift from the one she liked, felt entirely different.
She wasn't particularly tall, but this coat was a small size, fitting her perfectly.
Combined with Cheng You's fair complexion, the red color made her as radiant as a peach blossom.
"Does it look good?" she asked, turning around.
Qi Chengyan nodded, "It looks good."
Cheng You chided playfully, "I doubt you'd dare say it didn't."
She then picked up another bag.
"We have the best chemistry today. See what I bought for you."
It was also a coat, one she had immediately fallen in love with.
It wasn't practical for work, but for the New Year, when there was no work, one had to look good.
Qi Chengyan had a tall and straight figure, looking good in anything, like a human mannequin.
As he wore this coat, Cheng You couldn't shake the feeling, perhaps it was her imagination, that he exuded an indescribable air of nobility.
She had never seen Qi Chengyan in his military uniform, but she could imagine it would be filled with integrity.
But now, he looked like a wealthy young master.
"It looks great! Wear this for the New Year!"
Cheng You was more and more pleased the more she looked, regretting not buying him a few more outfits.
She sat down again to distribute the items, then suddenly thought of something and looked up at him, "What about your family? Should we mail some things back?"
She didn't have a good impression of Qi Chengyan's family, but everyone knew that blood ties couldn't be severed.
Just like Cheng Tianhua, no matter how much she disliked him, she still had to send him some token gifts for the New Year.
It was to avoid giving people something to gossip about.
Qi Chengyan nodded, "I've prepared some."
Cheng You took out two more jars of chapped skin cream, "Let's mail this back too. I wonder if your family can use it."
Qi Chengyan didn't refuse. He had intended to write to them anyway, to inform them of Cheng You's existence.
Just to inform them.
He had decided on his future wife and didn't need anyone's permission.
But according to custom, as family members, they should be informed. This was a mark of respect for Cheng You.
After all the necessary items were mailed and the New Year's shopping was complete, it was suddenly New Year's Eve.
In the past few days, Cheng You had cleaned the house inside and out.
All that was left was to put up the couplets and hang the red lanterns today, and the festive atmosphere would be complete.
"Qi Chengyan, the right side needs to be higher, no wait, lower... or maybe higher!"
Qi Chengyan put down the lantern and looked at her expressionlessly.
Cheng You chuckled sheepishly and instinctively shrunk her neck.
"Let's just leave it like this, it's good enough. Let's go inside and cook!"
The New Year's Eve dinner was originally planned to be at Uncle Li's house, but Uncle Li insisted it would be better at her place since it was her first New Year in her new home.
Cheng You had already bought the ingredients. After changing her clothes, she busied herself in the kitchen.
With Qi Chengyan and Cheng Wenyu helping, everything was done quickly.
By the time Uncle Li and Madam Li arrived, Qi Chengyan was bringing out the last dish.
Everyone sat down to a table laden with dishes.
Uncle Li brought out his homemade wine.
"Fruit wine. Everyone can have some."
Even Cheng Wenyu received a small cup.
Cheng You, not having a high tolerance for alcohol, could only manage a small cup.
She raised her cup, a smile on her lips, "Cheers! May we all prosper!"
"Cheers!"
Warm lights and delicious food filled the room, while the sound of firecrackers erupted outside, and white snowflakes began to drift down from the sky.
Qi Chengyan smiled helplessly as he watched Cheng You, who was already tipsy after one cup.
The table was littered with remnants of the feast.
Uncle Li, having eaten his fill, got up to leave, "Take good care of these two siblings. We're heading back."
Madam Li's health wasn't good, and she couldn't stay up late.
"Alright."
Qi Chengyan stood up to see them out, then took Cheng Wenyu back to his room. Seeing him fast asleep, he tucked him in before leaving.
Cheng You rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought. Cheng Wenyu looked well-behaved, but he was actually a little drunkard.
"I'll take you back to your room to sleep."
Cheng You reacted a beat late, getting up only after a while.
"Sleep."
She reached out to Qi Chengyan, "Hug."
Qi Chengyan picked her up. Cheng You wrapped her arms around his neck, her slender legs hooked around his waist, and buried her face in his chest.
"Mama," she murmured.
Qi Chengyan held the girl in his arms tighter, his large hands awkwardly patting her back, causing the girl to snuggle into him.
"I'm very happy now, don't worry about me."
She had lived well even without her mother.
Qi Chengyan remained silent, thinking, *I will protect you well, don't worry.*
When he placed Cheng You on the kang, she was still tightly clutching his clothes.
He tried to pry her fingers open. As soon as he loosened one finger, Cheng You whined stubbornly, "Don't leave me!"
Qi Chengyan had no choice but to let go, and he lay down with her, coaxing her to sleep.
...
Cheng You had a happy New Year, but Cheng Tao's was different.
She couldn't cook, yet Wang Hongxia insisted she make the New Year's Eve dinner.
In the end, she ruined the dishes. Wang Hongxia scolded her relentlessly, from New Year's Eve right through to the first day of the New Year, without any regard for the bad luck.
The scolding was so loud that the neighbors found it grating.
Cheng Tao couldn't stand it and returned to her maiden home that very day.
Upon her return, she was scolded again by Cheng Tianhua.
But she had nowhere else to go, so she had to endure it.
A few days later, Pan Yu came to see her.
"It's all here. Take a look for yourself."
Cheng Tao took the notebook and her eyes lit up as she read the recorded medicinal herbs and their preparation methods.
These were Cheng You's money-making methods!
The ginseng pills were also listed, but she hadn't seen her make the hair growth pills in front of them.
Cheng Tao nodded, "It's fine, this is enough."
She could also go find Zhang Fuhai tomorrow and negotiate cooperation with him at an even lower price.
Pan Yu hadn't left yet and seemed hesitant to speak.
She wanted to remind Cheng Tao that these were common formulas, found in the books Uncle Li had shown them.
But Cheng Tao's fervent expression clearly indicated she wouldn't listen.
Pan Yu shook her head and decided not to interfere.
"My money. You should give it to me now."
Cheng Tao casually handed her ten yuan and said, "Keep an eye on things for me. If Cheng You makes any other medicines in the future, you must tell me."
Pan Yu nodded, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
She didn't expect there to be a next time.
She figured that after this, Cheng Tao would give up.
If money were that easy to make, who would bother with arduous farm work?
Cheng Tao happily carried the notebook into the room.
Song Yulian saw it and her face was filled with worry.
"You can still smile? I say you should go apologize to your mother-in-law right now. Yunlin isn't even coming to pick you up. You'll have to bow your head eventually."
Cheng Tao patted the notebook in her hands and said, "When I make money, Zhao Yunlin will naturally come to pick me up!"