That evening, the entire family settled into the new house. Lin Erniu couldn't begin to describe the elation bubbling inside him. It was all blue-brick and grey-tiled construction, with several translucent roof tiles fitted atop each room, ensuring the interiors were bright as day, never dim. All the furniture was new, emitting a faint, refreshing woody scent that was utterly soul-cleansing.

He recalled the preceding months, when they barely scraped by meal to meal—those days were truly grueling. A man who couldn't keep his wife and children fed and clothed felt a perpetual sting of guilt. Lin Erniu reached over to hug Huang Shi, who was sleeping beside him. "Wife, it must have been so hard for you all these years. Marrying me meant you never knew a good life."

Huang Shi shot him a playful, reproving glance. "Why bring that up now? When I married you, this was all we had. Besides, everyone else lives the same way; what's the big deal?"

Erniu looked at her, but the gnawing guilt didn't vanish with such simple words. Huang Shi was still young, around thirty, but the constant toil in the fields had tanned her skin deeply, and she never had time for finery, making her appear older than her years.

Erniu said, "Wife, things are better for the family now. You won't be going to the fields with me anymore. Next spring, I'll take Dabao. Now that we have the ox, and Old Man Qin can lend a hand, you can manage things here. After the New Year, Erya will be eight; you should focus on teaching her needlework at home."

Huang Shi shook her head. "We have so much land now; how can you manage it all just taking Dabao? Besides, Dabao is still small. I should go with you both."

Erniu didn't press the issue, but he had firmly resolved that his wife would not return to the fields next year. Conditions were better now, and Dabao was home. Letting the mother and children manage the household affairs was enough.

Huang Shi continued, "Our Erya is much more sensible now than before. She makes most of the decisions around here, and this house was built entirely thanks to her quick thinking. This girl has been running non-stop these past weeks overseeing the construction."

Erniu nodded in agreement. His daughter truly was exceptional—clever, beautiful, and responsible. As they talked, they eventually drifted off to sleep.

Meanwhile, Lin He and Sanya were ecstatic in their room. Sanya, eyes wide, grinned and said, "Second Sister, you are truly capable to have built such a big house."

Lin He knew Sanya was referring to the money she made selling her toys. She laughed, playfully teasing her, "I didn't build this house; we hired people. How would I know how to build anything?"

Sanya puffed out her cheeks. "Second Sister is making fun of me. You know what I mean."

Lin He pulled Sanya onto her own small bed. "Silly girl, building the house was a contribution from the whole family, not just me. Look at Mom and Dad, they raised us. Big Brother endures daily beatings at the blacksmith shop rather than coming home, just to earn more money. As for me, I only came up with the idea; Mother taught me the sewing skills. And Big Brother took us to the shop where we sold things, didn't he?"

Sanya, still possessing a child's heart, realized that while Erya praised everyone else in the family, she hadn't mentioned her or Xiaobao. She quickly interjected, "What about Xiaobao and me? If Xiaobao and I hadn't said your toys were fun, you wouldn't have made any money selling them."

Lin He burst into a soft laugh. "Yes, that’s right, you and Xiaobao are included. Your contribution is the greatest of all."

Lin He pulled Sanya into her arms. The two sisters slept in the same bed, and she whispered to Sanya, "We are a family, blood relations. It should always be this way. Whether in poverty or hardship, we must stick together. If one person in the family thrives, everyone else does too. In this world, the closest people we have are each other; no one can be closer to us. No matter where you are in the future, you must remember these words of mine."

Sanya nodded, understanding little of the deeper meaning, but Lin He didn't elaborate. As long as Sanya held onto those words, she would grasp their significance when she grew older.

In her previous life, Lin He had no family. Whenever she saw families sharing joy together, she felt intense envy. Now that she had so many relatives around her, she was determined to cherish them and put them first, no matter what.

Lying in bed, Lin He looked at the room she was occupying. It was similar to her university dormitories, but infinitely warmer. This was her home; these were the people who loved her. Though it lacked the affluence of her past life, she adored it deeply.

Lin He then remembered that the end of the month was approaching. She needed to sketch out new designs tomorrow to finish them before the deadline to deliver them to the Cai Die Xuan shop. This time, Lin He planned to make a small fox, using red and white cloth, complete with a large bushy tail—it should look exquisite.

Then, she would use yellow fabric to create something resembling a big-mouthed monkey. Delivering these two pieces to Boss Wen this month would suffice. From now on, she would aim for two new styles each month, and they would see how far they got through the winter. Lin He had considered opening her own shop to sell these dolls, but the family lacked the capital to secure a storefront, and they had no connections. Even if she managed to open a shop, there was a high risk of ill-intentioned people causing trouble. So, that was not something to plan for yet.

With the house finished and the family’s basic needs covered, Lin He realized that Dabao was growing up. She couldn't let him just farm with their father forever. Lin He felt it was necessary for Dabao to receive some schooling. He might not be a scholar, but knowing how to read would be essential if the family ever pursued business or other ventures.

Xiaobao was still young; Lin He planned to wait another year or two before sending him to an academy. If the family could produce a scholar, that would truly be wonderful. In this era, having a literate person in the family offered advantages in many areas.

The family’s future path would certainly lean toward commerce, although Lin He wasn't sure how grand that undertaking might become. However, having a scholar would significantly benefit them regarding official taxes. Furthermore, if a scholar could pass the exams and secure a minor official post, it would be even more advantageous for her family. But those were future considerations.

The immediate concern was Dabao's age; he might need to be arranged for marriage in a few years. Over the next few years, she needed to ensure he learned as much as possible. Studying wasn't just about recognizing characters; it expanded one's vision and broadens one's knowledge, naturally enriching their life experience. Dabao was a good child—dutiful to his elders and loving to his siblings—but he was overly earnest, even a bit slow-witted, to put it bluntly.

He was the eldest son. Lin He and Sanya would eventually marry out, and Xiaobao was being steered toward scholarship. The family’s foundation would ultimately rest on Dabao’s shoulders. This was one reason why Lin He only brought Dabao along when meeting Boss Wen—she hoped he could gain some worldly insight.

Lin He mulled over these matters, but her body was still that of a seven-year-old child. After a tiring day, she couldn't hold out any longer, and soon, she fell asleep.