The New Year's Day holiday was a good rest, and three new little members joined the family.
The three healthy puppies couldn't get enough milk from the female dog alone.
So, Liu Yunfeng, in a good mood, went to the pet store to buy food specifically for puppies—puppy milk powder and other necessities.
The three puppies also began to grow a bit.
With more dogs at home, Tong Tong became very enthusiastic about how to feed the little puppies. Although she was a child under four years old, she took care of the puppies in a very proper and responsible manner.
Seeing the happiness of Tong Tong and his father at home, Liu Yifeng decided to apply to the village head for a suitable plot of land to build a magnificent villa for his family.
He had originally planned to apply to the village head's house after New Year's Day, but remembering Jin Juan's previous visit, Liu Yifeng postponed the decision on when to start building the villa.
However, to prevent better plots from being taken first, he had already informed the village head.
The village head, feeling somewhat guilty due to the incident with Jin Juan, was very diligent in handling this matter.
Soon, Liu Yifeng secured the building plot he wanted and submitted the corresponding application procedures.
Due to the season, Liu Yifeng's orchard was not producing fruit. Therefore, Liu Yifeng also instructed his third aunt to arrange rest for the villagers guarding the orchard.
Since they could no longer supply large quantities of fruit to Bai Guo Yuan, Bai Guo Yuan resorted to a limited sale of the fruits previously acquired from the warehouse. This allowed them to supply for some time.
However, as the Lunar New Year approached, the limited supply of fruits was highly sought after by those who pursued high quality. At the same time, many people began to hoard Bai Guo Yuan's fragrant pears, oranges, and other fruits.
After tasting the limited-edition fragrant pears, oranges, and chestnuts from Bai Guo Yuan, customers clamored for more daily supply.
When Su Wanru discussed this matter with Liu Yifeng, he expressed some helplessness. After all, it was the season, and with the snow and ice, how could any fruit grow?
Liu Yifeng returned home, and as he thought about this matter, he mentioned it at the dinner table.
Although Liu Yifeng felt that fruit could no longer be supplied in large quantities, his vegetable greenhouses still had a good harvest.
After dinner, Tong Tong said to Liu Yifeng:
"Dad, I know there are some fruits available in winter!"
Liu Yifeng held Tong Tong on his lap and laughed, saying,
"Tong Tong is right! Of course, some fruits can grow in winter, but it's too late for us to plant them now!"
Tong Tong said, "Then Dad can buy some winter fruits at a low price like before, and then spray them with the nutrient solution and growth enhancer I formulated. That way, they will become even more delicious!"
Liu Yifeng found Tong Tong's suggestion very reasonable:
"Mmm, Tong Tong, your little brain works so fast. How did I not think of that! Sigh! We can do as we did before, buy some winter fruits at a low price and then sell them!"
Action is better than deliberation. After hearing Tong Tong's words, Liu Yifeng immediately contacted Lu Fei and others, wanting to ask if they knew any fruit farmers who grew winter fruits.
Within a few days, Liu Yifeng acquired about 400,000 catties of winter jujubes from fruit farmers in neighboring counties. In addition, there were 100,000 catties of sugarcane, a must-have for the Lunar New Year.
Liu Yifeng promptly stored the purchased winter jujubes and sugarcane in the warehouse and applied the nutrient solution and growth enhancer using the previous method.
This batch of sugarcane did not have to worry about over-ripening like the fragrant pears and oranges. The winter jujubes were already small in size, and after being sprayed with Tong Tong's formulated nutrient solution and growth enhancer, there were no significant changes in their appearance, only that their taste became crisper and more juicy.
However, this batch of winter jujubes and sugarcane also brought Liu Yifeng a good profit and improved Bai Guo Yuan's insufficient fruit supply.
Meanwhile, Green Hui Kangda Vegetable Company was gradually getting on track, and the sales of vegetables from their greenhouses were steadily increasing.
Liu Yifeng calculated his vegetable company and other businesses, thinking:
The Lunar New Year is approaching. When would be a suitable time to give employees a holiday?
Liu Yifeng pondered for a few days at home and decided on the holiday schedule:
Employees would start a rotating leave from the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month.
At the same time, the supply of vegetables would be relatively reduced to ensure that truck drivers, greenhouse employees, and villagers could all enjoy a happy New Year.
Of course, Liu Yifeng discussed his considerations with Liu Chunsheng, who also agreed with his ideas.
Finally, Liu Yifeng convened a small meeting with the villagers who had invested in the vegetable greenhouses and informed them of the plan one by one. The villagers expressed their agreement.
While everyone might prefer a holiday for the New Year, from the customers' perspective, if they stopped selling vegetables during the holiday, where would those who wanted to buy their vegetables go?
Thinking this way, everyone felt that Liu Yifeng's reasoning was sound. They could rest during the New Year while still making money.
However, this holiday arrangement left some hidden dangers.
Jin Juan's son-in-law, Chen Daodi, was not a genuinely refined person as he appeared but a scumbag hiding behind glasses. Coincidentally, Jin Juan's daughter, Yan Yan, had also been raised by Jin Juan to be mercenary and selfish.
Chen Daodi played a significant role in Jin Juan approaching Liu Yifeng again this time.
The three of them watched Liu Yifeng and Tong Tong's bright smiles on the television program "The Brain" at home, their eyes filled with envy.
Jin Juan muttered, "Hmph, he looks well-dressed and doesn't seem short of money. I wonder if he'll show me some filial piety!"
"Exactly! Mom! Dad's and big brother's things are ours. We'll visit big brother's house in a couple of days, and we can spend the New Year there!"
Chen Haidi, who was opportunistic, changed his address to Liu Chunsheng, calling him "Dad" himself.
The little grandson, sitting on the floor playing with building blocks, echoed his father's words:
"Yes! Theirs is ours! We'll spend the New Year at their house, New Year, New Year!"
Hearing her grandson's voice, Jin Juan thought to herself:
He looks silly, not even half as bright as Tong Tong.
Unbeknownst to Liu Yifeng, Jin Juan had found his phone number. To avoid a repeat of the previous incident, she called Liu Yifeng in advance.
When Liu Yifeng heard Jin Juan say she was coming to his house, he was about to tell her that he wouldn't be spending the New Year in Liu Jia Village.
However, he then thought that Jin Juan's sudden return after twenty years must have a deeper purpose, so he decided to probe her intentions.
He therefore arranged a time with Jin Juan for her to visit again.
At the same time, he informed Liu Chunsheng about this matter.
Liu Chunsheng felt that resolving Jin Juan's issues sooner rather than later would prevent further trouble, so he agreed with Liu Yifeng's approach.
Jin Juan initially thought about bringing something when she visited. However, seeing that the gifts sold outside cost easily one to two hundred yuan, whether it was food, daily necessities, or toys, she hesitated.
Li Haidi said to Jin Juan, "Mom, look, Lele doesn't play with a lot of his things anymore. Let's just take them as gifts. They look almost new anyway."
Jin Juan thought about the several boxes of toys at home. So, she had Yan Yan pack a box of her son's unwanted toys as a visiting gift.
Liu Yan Yan seemed unwilling to speak, but she muttered to herself:
Thinking of going to mooch off others, how can they not even want to spend a hundred or two hundred yuan! Mom is really going backward with age!