Chapter 33 : New Year

When Yuxi heard Mama Fang said that she had recognized Xiao Wei as her daughter, her face changed slightly, and she no longer reminded her obscurely. Instead, she said directly, “Is this family really reliable? Or did they come for mama’s craftsmanship?” Making 30 or 42 taels of silver a month was nothing to the masters of the residence, but it was a very attractive income for ordinary people.

 

Mama Fang hurriedly shook her head, “No, they didn’t say that. They said that I should accept the child as a disciple. It was because I am very fond of the child that I came up with the idea.”

 

Yuxi bluntly said, “Mama, I don’t agree.” It was not because she merely wouldn't let Mama Fang recognize the child as her adopted daughter. She just didn’t believe Mama Fang’s eyes.

 

Mama Fang still wanted to fight for it, as she said, “Miss, Xiao Wei’s family is also very rich. They won’t cast an evil eye on my craftsmanship.” She could hardly have said that Yuxi was being over-sensitive.

 

Mama Fang would think like that, mainly because she felt that this craft was not a great thing and wasn't worth to be calculated.

 

Yuxi sighed slightly in her heart and said, “Mama, I’ll accompany you to adopt one from the Children’s Charity Institution after a while. Mama, a child raised from a young age is more reassuring than an apprentice who comes halfway. “ After a pause, she added, “In case the adopted child is heartless, I will nurse mama till the end of the family.”

 

Mama Fang was filled with griefs and said, “Miss, I just looked at Xiao Wei, and saw that she resembles my daughter who died young. Since Miss said she was unreliable, then just forget it.“ She had been married before, but unfortunately, her marriage life was not good. The second-year she got married, her husband passed away, while her daughter passed away when she was four years old.

 

Yuxi felt a little guilty. “Mama, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have mentioned these things.” She could have said them a bit more tactfully.

 

Mama Fang shook her head, “I know Miss is thinking for my good. It’s just that the shop is very busy now, so I have no time to take care of a child for the time being. Let’s wait for two or three years before we go to Children’s Charity Institution to adopt a child.“ Although she made a lot of money by opening a shop now, she would still grow old one day. What would she do when she got old? If she adopted a child, she would be able to rely on the child when she got old, and at that time, she would not be lonely.

 

“Okay,” replied Yuxi.

 

Mama Fang almost forgot the main business of her visit, “Miss, I want to rent the shop next door to expand the storefront. How about we ask two more people to help?“ In the beginning, the baozi shop only sold baozi, but now it sold baozi and mantou, as well as other wheaten foods. Their tastes were very good, and business hours had also been changed from early morning only to one whole day. This was also the reason why their profits had been increasing.

 

Yuxi shook her head and said, “Mama, if your health breaks down, no amount of money can make up for it.” It was not worth it to let Mama Fang ruined her health for that little money.

 

After a long period of persuasion, Mama Fang finally gave up the idea of expanding the baozi shop.

 

The two talked until noon. Yuxi asked Mama Fang to have lunch before leaving and sent a lot of things to her. Now, Yuxi had Qiu Shi’s affection. Although she was not rich in terms of money, her clothes and foods were all very good.

 

The old woman bought by Yuxi, Old Woman An, heard the sound of a carriage and hurried out from inside the shop. When she lifted open the carriage, she saw the inside was filled with a lot of things, and her face was full of joy.

 

All the things were moved into the house. Old Woman An saw two pieces of blue clothes inside. One was raven blue and one was in the colour of lilac.

 

Old Woman An felt some fondness for the two pieces of material and whispered, “A piece of such good material must have costed several taels of silver!” She hadn’t worn such good material yet.

 

Old Woman An used to be a servant of a merchant family. The merchant committed an offence and was sent to jail. All the servants in the house were sold one by one. It happened that Yuxi asked Xiang Yang’s help to buy a strong old woman, and he bought her. She had gotten along with Mama Fang for more than half a year, and now their relationship was like that of blood sisters.

 

Mama Fang smiled and said, “The two pieces of clothes were given by Miss. You can make two new clothes too.” She already had gotten two sets of new clothes, one of which was a fur jacket.

 

Old Woman An’s heart ached when she listened to this. When did her family ever use these kinds of good materials? “If we can find my family, I can enjoy these with them.” She had a husband and a child. However, the family of three were sold separately, and she hadn’t seen them for half a year already. Every monthly wage she earned was spent on finding them. Unfortunately, there was no news yet.

 

Mama Fang also sympathised with Old Woman An’s experience. “Don’t worry, you will find them one day.” The capital was so big that it was not so easy to find a person. If the name was changed, it would be even more difficult to find them.

 

Old Woman An nodded and then she asked, “Fang Jie, did Miss agree with the apprenticeship?” Xiao Wei’s mother was very enthusiastic, but she was not so polite to her. She tried several times to tear the people in the front and the one in the back apart but eventually she failed. When she saw Mama Fang wanted to teach Xiao Wei the craft of making baozi, she was anxious and hurriedly said that it was a matter of great importance for Miss to agree to it first. Fortunately, Mama Fang had a lot of faith in their Miss and finally accepted her suggestion. Old Woman An hoped their Miss was a smart one and could guess that the Xiao Wei’s family had no good-intentioned.

 

Mama Fang shook her head and said “Miss did not agree. She said that this craft can only be passed to my birth child, and can not be passed to outsiders.” The children adopted in the future would be considered as her own.

 

Old Woman An asked in surprise, “Your birth child? What does that mean?”

 

Mama Fang paraphrased what Yuxi had said. “I also want to raise a child, who will support me when I get old. But now I’m so busy that I don’t have time to take care of a child. So, I’ll talk about it again with Miss in two years. “

 

Old Woman An couldn’t help exclaimed in admiration, “Miss is so kind to her mama.” Generally, some of the old women released still like to keep their faces, that they didn’t want to be rewarded with more money. Who would think so thoroughly for Mama Fang like the Fourth Miss? Even she was touched by this sight. Of course, with such a master, one’s heart would also be at ease.

 

Mama Fang liked to listen to others praising Yuxi. She smiled and said, “Yes, Miss is a really kind person.”

 

Old Woman An felt in her heart that Fourth Miss was also a formidable person. She had not met her yet, like how her Miss had also not met with Xiao Wei’s family. However, Miss knew that the family had no good-attention and had no hard time dealing with them. “Mama Fang, didn’t you promise to accept Xiao Wei as your adopted daughter before? How are you going to reply?“

 

Mama Fang did not feel at ease with this matter, “I’ll just say that Miss will not allow it.” Although she had been released from her contract, she still regarded Yuxi as her master.

 

Old Woman An hastily nodded, “Fang Jie, you are right. Since Miss does not allow it, you can’t help it either.“ With such a powerful backer like their Master, there was nothing for them to be afraid of.

 

Mama Fang sorted out what she had brought from the Duke of the State’s Residence, then divided the cake into several portions and sent them to the next neighbour’s house. Although she was not good at scheming, she was kind and got along well with the people around her. As for Xiao Wei’s family, she felt a bit guilty and brought gifts to their door in person.

 

When Xiao Wei’s family got the news, they were very angry. However, they did not dare to offend Mama Fang, so this matter was never mentioned again.

 

In a blink of an eye, it was New Year. Children wanted to celebrate the New Year the most, while adults did not like it the most, because there were too many things for them to do. Qiu Shi had been busy from the beginning of the twelfth lunar month until the twenty-ninth day without rest.

 

Sedan Chair with 8 carriers
Image credit to 落兮 via Yzz.cn (官府任务新奖励时装及坐骑展示, April 17, 2014)

On New Year’s Eve, Old Lady Han and the Lady of Duke of the State’s state residence wore their court dresses and went to the Palace on sedan chairs with eight carriers to congratulate the Emperor. Then they went to the ancestral hall to worship the ancestors.

 

Yuxi was a Young Miss of the state residence, so aside from attending family trees, she wasn’t required to go in at other times.

 

The New Year’s Eve dinner was held in the main hall. This evening, everyone from the Han Clan came. The Second Lord of the residence, Han Jingjun, who had already separated from the main residence, also came with his family.

 

The Second Lord, Han Jingjun, was an illegitimate son, and his biological mother was a beloved concubine of the Old Duke Han, who was also the paternal niece of Dowager Lady Han. Han Jingjun’s biological mother was relying on Dowager Lady Han and Old Duke to harass the Old Lady, and she even wanted to compete with her for the position of shizi. This made the Old Lady hate her to her bone. Unfortunately, Han Jingjun’s biological mother died too early, so the Old Duke left a message when he died, saying that he would let Han Jingjun move out from the residence after the seventh day of his passing.

 

Although the Old Lady did not immediately retaliate against Han Jingjun’s family, his family still returned to their hometown to keep filial piety. When he came back three years later, it was not appropriate for the Old Lady to begin her retaliation. So all these years, except when they came back to worship their ancestors on New Year’s Day, the Old Lady refused to let them go through the door of the residence. Naturally, they would not also get any help from the state residence.

Source Wes Radez via Chinese American Family (How to Give Red Envelopes at Chinese New Year, January 30th, 2019)

After dinner, the family sat together and talked. Also at this time, the elders would give red envelopes to the younger generation.

 

Han Jingjun’s wife, Ma Shi, looked at Yuchen and said with a smile, “The older the Third Girl is, the more beautiful she is.” After that, she handed Yuchen a thick red envelope.

 

Yuchen looked at the Old Lady and saw her nodded before she accepted, “Thank you, Second Aunt.”

 

Ma Shi praised Yuchen again, then handed the red envelope to Yuxi.

 

Yuxi took the red envelope, neither grateful nor disgusted. She took it and said, “Thank you, Second Aunt.” The one she got was not as thick as Yuchen’s. Even when she was given a red envelope, she was still being treated differently, which made her unhappy.

 

That night, Yuxi got a lot of red envelopes.

 

Yuxi was a girl, so she didn't have to stay up on New Year’s Eve. When the banquet was over, she took her maid and old woman back to her courtyard. On this day, the road was full of lights, and the whole Duke Han of the State’s official residence was brightly lit, so there was no need for her to carry lanterns back.

 

Ruyi
Image source Amazon

Back at Rose Courtyard, Yuxi poured out all the inside of the red packets. The one given by the Old Lady was the most generous. Each of the six small bare golden ruyi worth 1 tael. These made her earn a big profit. Combined with the ones gave by others, the red envelopes she received this night had more than 100 taels of silver.

 

On the second day of New Year, Yuxi had to visit relatives and friends. However, she had no mother’s family, and her relatives were no longer here, so there were no relatives for her to visit. When she heard that Han Jianye wanted to take her to the Qiu family residence, she was very surprised. She asked, “Er Ge, you're going to your maternal grandparents’ home to celebrate the New Year. Then, what am I supposed to do there?”

 

Han Jianye said laughingly, “Isn't my grandparents’ home your grandparents’ home too? Just go, why are there so many words of arguments?”

 

Yuxi was not willing to go, but she was not good at directly swept her Er Tangge’s kindness, so she asked, “Er Ge, does Aunt know about this?”

 

Han Jianye said with a chuckle, “I told my mother and she agreed. Just come, even if you come just as a guest, and stop giving so many words of arguments. “

 

Naturally, Yuxi didn’t believe his words.

 

Han Jianye didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, “Does Er Ge have no trust in your heart? If you don’t believe me, you can go ask my mother right now.”

 

Yuxi didn’t want to go to Qiu family residence because she was the Young Miss from the Third House. Wouldn’t it look bad if she went there in such a big way? “Er Ge, that is your maternal grandparents’ home. It will not be good if I go there.”

 

Han Jianye disliked the sound of sighing and people grinding the most, “I’ll pick you up tomorrow.” After dropping the words, he left, leaving Yuxi stunned in the same place. She didn’t know whether she should laugh or cry.

 

Hongshan who was nearby tried to persuade, “Miss, Second Master can read Miss situation. Isn’t this a good thing?” The Second Master would always feel gratitude to Lady Ning’s life-saving grace, so he could always follow and look after her Miss. This was her Miss' good luck.

 

Yuxi went to the main courtyard in an instant and talked about the matter with Qiu Shi, “Eldest Aunt, it is inappropriate for me to follow Er Ge to pay New Year’s visit to his grandparents home tomorrow.”

 

Qiu Shi stroke the small hair buns on Yuxi’s head and joked, “What’s inappropriate? It’s just a visit to relatives’ houses and you should also stretch your legs sometimes. You can’t stay inside the courtyard all the time.“ She felt that Yuxi worked too hard and normally did not have time to loosen up, which made her could not just standby and watch. It was good for a child to work hard, but Yuxi did it too much. She worried that Yuxi would become a bookworm in the future.

 

When all the words had been said, Yuxi could not refuse the invitation any more. Only that, she just felt a little puzzled in her heart. In her past life, there was no this kind of thing. So, why did everything change now?

 

NOOB TRANSLATOR'S MUSING

 

Oh, we're going to meet the Male Lead in the next chapter!