Chapter 386 Giving Gifts

Perhaps because they were eager to return home, Qin Yao and his wife did not stop along the way. When they were hungry, Qin Yao would drive the carriage, and Liu Ji would go into the carriage and use the charcoal stove to heat up the dry food he brought from the inn the day before.

By the evening of the next day, they arrived at Kaiyang County.

It was already very late, but the two did not hesitate. They continued to light torches and traveled for three hours in the cold wind. They arrived at Liujia Village late at night.

The small village was so quiet late at night that only the barking of awakened dogs could be heard.

Everyone in the family was asleep, except Awang, who heard the noise outside the yard. He came down from the attic in disbelief, and when he opened the back door, he saw the smiling faces of the couple in the firelight.

Liu Ji's nose was red from the cold, but when he saw the familiar courtyard, all his fatigue and coldness disappeared, and he felt at peace and warmth in his heart.

Awang thought that the couple must be crazy. Snowflakes were already falling from the sky. They were still traveling at night in such bad weather. What if something happened? It was scary to think about it.

"Give!"

Qin Yao handed the candied haws that she had found after searching the carriage for a long time to Awang.

A big bunch, about twenty of them.

Awang was shocked and said, "I can't finish it."

Qin Yao said with a smile: "You eat first. If you can't finish the rest, we will help you eat it." They had originally planned to buy it back for the whole family to eat together.

When Liu Ji saw Awang, he didn't want to do anything else and snatched the candied haws from his hand, "Master, I'll take it in and put it away for you. You can eat it after you wake up tomorrow."

As he spoke, he entered the yard and went to the kitchen, saying that he would light two pots of charcoal so that he could put them in the house later to smoke some air so that he could sleep warmly.

Awang's eyes were fixed on Liu Ji's hand until he could no longer see the bunch of candied haws. Then he rolled up his sleeves and went forward to unload the carriage.

Old Huang was exhausted, panting with his tongue hanging out. Awang rubbed his head with concern and said, "I'll give you something good to eat later."

Old Huang seemed to understand and immediately tilted his head and licked Awang.

Qin Yao moved all the New Year gifts from the carriage into the house very carefully for fear of disturbing the children.

After traveling all the way, they were tired and hungry, even the strongest man could not stand it. They left the carriage to Awang. Qin Yao and Liu Ji soaked their feet in hot water, washed their faces, and ate a few mouthfuls of the soup and rice that Liu Ji had made with the leftovers from the kitchen. Then they returned to their respective places and went to bed.

Qin Yao slept until dawn.

There had been rustling noises outside the door since morning. Dalang's four brothers and sisters took turns to come over four times. Seeing that A'niang hadn't woken up yet, they sighed, returned to the main room, and waited quietly while looking at the things on the table.

Qin Yao didn't get up, and no one was allowed to touch the things on the table. Liu Ji wanted to take out a bag of cakes to eat first, but the four children immediately surrounded the table and said stubbornly: "We can only share them after mother comes!"

Awang brought in the hot and salty Yuanxiao and added, "It will be more ceremonial if Madam comes over."

Well, this word has spread from Si Niang to Awang.

So, with the whole family's expectation, the door of Qin Yao's room was finally opened, and she walked in yawning with disheveled hair.

Si Niang screamed in surprise and rushed over immediately, "Mother!"

Saburo followed closely behind and hugged his thighs.

Dalang and Erlang also happily surrounded him, asking about his well-being.

Qin Yao stretched out her arms and gathered the four warm stoves into her arms, and the coldness that had just come out of the quilt was instantly dispelled.

"Mother, here's a comb for you." Si Niang ran to the window sill of the shower room and tiptoed to present the wooden comb to Qin Yao.

Sanlang helped her hold the small bronze mirror, while Dalang and Erlang went to fetch hot water for washing, and then they carefully wrung out the handkerchief and held it in their hands, waiting for her "favor".

Sitting opposite the brazier and eating Yuanxiao, Liu Ji felt like he was watching a play.

The play was right in front of him, and he could touch the characters in the play with his hand. He should have been integrated into it, but now he had become a background board.

Awang placed all the Yuanxiao he brought on the small table. None of Dalang's three siblings wanted to eat any of them. Their eyes were all on the pile of New Year gifts on the big table.

It was so obvious, Qin Yao had already seen it. It was really hard for them to wait for her until this time.

After tidying herself up, Qin Yao stood up and walked to the table. The eyes of the whole family immediately followed her.

Qin Yao gave out gifts to everyone one by one.

A silver lock and a book called "Miscellaneous Notes on Travels in Shu".

"Da Lang, this is for you."

Dalang happily accepted it, as he liked the book very much. However, such a valuable item as the silver lock was somewhat unexpected. Dalang looked at Qin Yao in surprise, "Mother, this is a silver lock."

"Yes, I made some money this year, so I gave each of you four brothers and sisters a piece of silver jewelry as a New Year gift for you this year." Qin Yao smiled and motioned for him to put it on, and then said to Awang who was standing by the door: "You have one too, one for each family member."

New Year, new beginnings. Qin Yao feels that she must get a brand new outfit on New Year’s Day to bring good fortune in the coming year!

Liu Ji, who was so conspicuous, immediately raised his hand to fiddle with his hairstyle to show off his white jade hairpin.

This time, Erlang, Sanlang and Si Niang became even more excited.

Erlang rubbed his hands and said, "Mother, where is mine?"

Qin Yao picked up Liu Ji's book box, which was full of the rare gadgets he wanted - zodiac windmills.

There is also a silver lock with scriptures like Dalang's.

Erlang was not polite at all. He put on the silver lock immediately and dragged the windmill with a book box to the side for inspection. He was thinking about the price, when to sell it, where to sell it and so on.

Seeing the look of desire in Sanlang and Si Niang's eyes, he generously took out one and let the two of them play with it.

The twins were flattered. The second brother was so generous today!

"Sanlang and Siniang!" Qin Yao called out, and the brother and sister immediately came to her.

Qin Yao hung two silver collars around the necks of the brother and sister. In the middle of the collars was a silver lock bag with three small bells on the lock bag. When shaken, it would make a crisp sound, ding-dong. Si Niang loved it so much.

This was her first piece of jewelry, and the little girl treasured it very much. She would take it off after wearing it for a while in the house for fear that it would be damaged.

"Mother, I want to save it for the New Year."

Sanlang follows his sister around, so he also wants to take off the collar. He asks Qin Yao to help him put it away first, and then he and his sister will wear it during the Chinese New Year to pay New Year's greetings and get money to ward off evil spirits.

"Okay, then I'll help you put it away first." Qin Yao asked Dalang and Erlang again, "Do you want to keep it yourselves or give it to me?"

"Is there another choice?" Erlang asked in surprise.

In his mind, adults do not allow children to keep valuable items by themselves, and they are not even allowed to touch them on a normal day.

Qin Yao nodded, "You can keep your own things, but I also told you in advance that if the things are lost, you will bear the consequences yourself, and next time if you have valuables, you have to give them to adults for safekeeping."

(End of this chapter)