December 30th, New Year's Eve has arrived.

Yang City is getting more and more lively.

Everywhere is decorated with colorful lights and the festive atmosphere is strong.

At the Yun Mansion, red lanterns are hung everywhere, and Spring Festival couplets are pasted.

Shen Han, Madam Yun, and Cailing went out together to buy some New Year's goods.

Seeing the scenes before them, the joy of family reunion filled their hearts.

These past few days, Shen Han did not continue his practice.

After buying New Year's goods, they returned home together and began making snacks and desserts in the kitchen.

"Cailing'Er, you're in charge of kneading the dough, and making the dumplings is up to Han.

You little girl have been learning to make these pastries for so long, yet you're still not as good as Han at it~"

This snack called dumpling is actually somewhat like Tangyuan.

It involves mixing glutinous rice and flour, kneading it into a dough.

Then a small piece is pinched off the dough, some filling is added in the center, and it is wrapped up.

These steps are similar to making Tangyuan, but instead of boiling it at the end, it is pan-fried.

In the past, during New Year's at the Shen Mansion, Shen Han had many tasks to do.

Among them was making dumplings, which he had done countless times, naturally becoming very proficient.

Hearing Madam Yun's words, Cailing pouted a little, feeling unconvinced.

"I want to compete with Young Master Han, I'll definitely make the roundest dumplings!"

With that, Cailing pinched off a piece of dough and began making dumplings.

Moments later, indeed she crafted a very round and good-looking dumpling.

"Ta-da~ Madam, Young Master, look, isn't Cailing's dumpling round~"

Cailing showed off proudly with a few smug smiles on her face.

Seeing her smile so joyfully, Shen Han picked up a dumpling he made and tossed it into the pan, and also placed the one Cailing made in it.

As the two dumplings started to fry in the pan, a problem immediately became apparent.

"See, Cailing'Er~

Your dumpling, though very round, when it gets in the pan, the filling will come out~"

Madam Yun said with a laugh.

The three of them bickered joyfully, feeling truly happy.

Living at Yun Mansion was indeed much more comfortable.

With the snacks and desserts ready, they eagerly carried the plates to the hall.

Today is New Year's Eve, the entire Yun Family is busy, preparing for a grand family feast.

More than twenty tables had already been set in the hall.

Cold dishes were served first, exquisitely plated and pleasing to the eye.

Clearly the work of a chef with years of expertise.

Looking at the dumplings he made with Madam Yun and Cailing, the difference was quite stark.

Shen Han felt a bit embarrassed, sneakily extracting a few [color, aroma, and taste complete] phrases, and applying them to the snacks they made together...

7:00 PM.

The sky had darkened, fireworks were set off in many places, and occasionally a few firecrackers would go off.

These should be noisy, yet hearing them, there was an inexplicable sense of peace.

The New Year's Eve dinner at the Yun Family finally began.

Unlike the customs of the Shen Mansion, the Yun Family's New Year's Eve dinner allowed household servants to join the table.

Tonight, they didn't have to serve the hosts, everyone could drink and enjoy themselves.

As the dinner began, Patriarch Yun invited everyone to raise their glasses together, drinking three cups together.

"Everyone, after the mansion was closed for more than twenty days, you must have had some apprehension in your hearts.

Perhaps you were wondering if the family had undergone significant changes.

If offending the Shen Family might lead to the downfall of our Yun Family.

This evening, I solemnly tell everyone, the Yun Family is doing very well, and it will only get better!

After this New Year's Eve, next year, the Yun Family will be completely transformed.

Neither the Yin Family nor the Xu Family are of any consequence to us.

Even that arrogant Shen Family will, in the future, come to plead with us, begging to buy Pills from us.

If you don't believe it, just watch, see how we become the foremost aristocratic family in the Alchemy Dao of Great Wei!"

The words stirred great excitement among the Yun Family members.

Especially those at the core who knew some inside information, feeling particularly invigorated.

Previously, the Yun Family could only rely on low-grade Pills, earning profits through high volumes.

It was not only hard but also not very profitable.

If it weren't for the Yun Family's own herbal garden, the prices of Pills sold to the Shen Family would have had no profit at all.

But now, crafting middle-grade Pills not only yields more profit but is also less tiring.

The key is, it also garners more respect.

Hearing that you can craft middle-grade Pills, the townsfolk will at least respectfully call you a pharmacist.

Shen Han, Madam Yun, and Cailing were all seated at the main table.

Seeing a maid seated at the main table, the Yun Family members found it a bit odd.

But since Patriarch Yun made this arrangement, there must have been a reason.

"Han, are you sure you want to return to the Shen Mansion?

Why bother with that damn clan assessment?

Your grandfather supports you, we have already offended the Shen Family, one more time won't hurt."

Hearing Patriarch Yun's words, Shen Han smiled and shook his head.

"I know grandfather is thinking of me, but I really can't miss this clan assessment.

Regarding the annulment of the engagement, my father, the Old Duke Shen, is already extremely dissatisfied with me.

If I don't return this time, it'll give them another reason to criticize me, and surely a label of unfilial will be placed upon me.

Even claiming sickness, they might find a physician to thoroughly examine me."

Listening to Shen Han, Patriarch Yun frowned, a worried look on his face.

Beside him, Madam Yun and Cailing also showed concern in their eyes.

"Third Madam, Cailing, you don't need to worry about me.

Now that the engagement is canceled, although the Shen Family feels some resentment towards me, at least they are not as eager as before to cripple me.

Moreover, I still have the title of a Shen Family junior, in public, I am safe."

Sitting beside him, Patriarch Yun pondered for a moment before assigning two of his guards to accompany Shen Han.

"Han, you ought to call these two uncles, they are both at the peak of Fifth Grade and have been with the Yun Family for many years.

On this trip back to the Shen Mansion, let them accompany you.

The Shen Family wields power with their military, but having two guards with you will be relatively safer."

Shen Han didn't hesitate and accepted Patriarch Yun's goodwill.

"Give the Yun Family a little more time, and you'll see, Han, it won't be long before the Yun Family's Pills become popular throughout Great Wei.

By then, the Shen Family will be pleading with the Yun Family, asking us to spare some Pills for them."

"I believe in grandfather, it shouldn't take long for that day to come."

After the New Year's Eve dinner, a troupe was invited to perform.

With acrobatics and opera, it was quite lively throughout the night.

As the night deepened, Shen Han was about to return to his courtyard when Madam Yun stopped him.

She took Shi Yuezhu's Sound Transmission Magical Artifact from Shen Han and informed her of Shen Han's return to the Shen Mansion, requesting her protection.

As expected by Madam Yun, Fairy Shi agreed without much hesitation.

Evidently, her regard for Shen Han was quite special.

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