Chapter 162 Preparing for the New Year

Zhang Juexia distributed the wages to everyone one by one according to the amount recorded in the booklet.

When Song Yu learned that he also had wages, he was very surprised, "Why is there also money for me?"

"It's a piecework record. We work harder, get more. Since you've done the work, you get yours."

Song Yu took the wages and said, "That's great. I have nothing to do on weekdays, so I will make a few more purses."

Li Yulan smiled and stood up. "Master, count me in. I'll do it with you then."

Song Yu smiled awkwardly, not knowing whether to praise Li Yulan for her diligence or say something else about her.

Liu Jinhua couldn't bear it and pulled Li Yulan to sit down, "Your master is living at your sister-in-law's house, why are you causing trouble here?

Besides, what will happen to your Eryong if you come to see your master so late at night?

Try leaving him alone at home in the middle of the night, and he'll go crazy."

Everyone burst into laughter.

Li Yulan blushed and wanted to explain something, but she was too shy to know what to say.

Zhang Juexia interrupted everyone at the right time, "I have something else to say. My husband and I discussed it yesterday. Since the New Year is coming soon, I will give each of you an extra fifty coins. You can buy whatever you want."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone laughed again.

"Bei Xiu's wife, you are such a good person!"

At this time, Ye Beixiu came in with another piece of cloth.

Zhang Juexia picked out this piece of cloth from the ones given by Madam Li. She took it from Ye Beixiu and placed it in front of Liu Jinhua. "I'll trouble Auntie and Yulan to help cut three feet of cloth for each person. It's the New Year, so everyone can make new clothes."

"Bei Xiu's wife, we've only been working for such a short time, and you're already giving us both money and cloth. It makes us feel bad!"

"That's right! My son is an apprentice in town. He works hard all year, but the shopkeeper may not give him so many things at the end of the year."

"Bei Xiu's wife, please don't give us all the money you earn just for the sake of face."

Zhang Juexia smiled and said, "I know you have good intentions, but it's Chinese New Year, and this is also a token of my husband's love. After the New Year, everyone must come!"

"Bei Xiu's wife, you are really joking! You made us money, how could we not come?"

"Bei Xiu's wife, just be at ease. Even if you don't let us come, we have to come."

Everyone talked and laughed for a while, then happily put their wages in their pockets, held the cloth in their hands, and swaggered home.

Li Yulan stayed to help clean up before leaving.

Song Yu told her to take time to practice every day so that her hands would not get rusty.

Li Yulan nodded and agreed, "Master, if I encounter something I can't embroider, I will come to you."

"Okay, as long as your husband has no objection, I'd be happy for you to come every day."

"Master, you are teasing me too."

Li Yulan shyly took her things and ran away.

Song Yu looked at Li Yulan's back and laughed.

Seeing that everyone had left, Song Yu turned around and spoke to Zhang Juexia, "Sister, please don't give me this cloth!

Look, I eat and drink at your house, and you still pay me wages. You also charge me for the purses I make on weekdays. I feel so bad about it!"

Zhang Juexia solemnly placed the cloth in Song Yu's hand, "Sister Song, since this cloth is given to you, just take it.

I was thinking of sending you some other patterned fabrics this afternoon so you can make some clothes for Sister Jin."

"That's impossible. Sister Jin already has clothes. Besides, she's just a little girl, she doesn't need any new clothes."

"Only children need new clothes! Sister Song, my craftsmanship is not as good as yours, so let's not refuse.

If you really feel bad about it, I'll bring some cloth over later and you can make a set of clothes for me and my husband."

Song Yu nodded repeatedly in response.

Zhang Juexia was happy and pulled Song Yu to help her choose cloth.

"Sister Song, you've helped me a lot. I'll make delicious food for you, and you'll help me make clothes."

"I really can't argue with you. You helped me so much, and I should be thanking you!"

Zhang Juexia chuckled, and Song Yu helped her choose a piece of lavender cloth and measured her size.

While Song Yu was memorizing the dimensions, Zhang Juexia also selected the colors for Ye Beixiu.

At the same time, she found two pieces of floral cloth and asked Song Yu to pick one to make clothes for Sister Jin.

Ye Beixiu came in and measured the size.

Song Yu took the cloth and went to the backyard to work.

Zhang Juexia breathed a sigh of relief. She patted Ye Beixiu and said, "We have new clothes for the New Year. That's great."

"Sister Song, can you help me?"

"Um."

"Then you can rest."

"I just don't have to make clothes, but I still have to cook for the family."

"I'll help you."

Zhang Juexia and Ye Beixiu delivered the gifts they had prepared for the old house, and also sent one to the headman's house.

They spent the rest of the day preparing for the New Year.

Zhang Juexia cooked meat, steamed buns, and asked Ye Beixiu to kill a few wild rabbits.

Anyway, I'm busy like a top every day.

After the Little New Year, Zhao Xiang brought Zhao Xin to deliver New Year gifts to the old house.

Ye Beixiu and Zhang Juexia went to the old house to keep them company.

Zhao Xiang set the wedding date for Ye Suyun and Zhao Xin in the second half of next year. This will be the last year that Ye Suyun will spend in the Ye family.

Zhang Juexia couldn't help feeling sad after hearing this.

But getting married is a happy event after all, so she forced herself to smile and congratulated Ye Suyun.

Ye Suyun was not in a good mood either. "Sister-in-law, why do you think people have to grow up?"

Li Yiqin persuaded her from the side, saying that all women had to get married and take this step.

She and Zhang Juexia also came this way.

Zhang Juexia was worried that Ye Suyun would cry, so she pushed Li Yiqin aside and said, "Sister-in-law, what good things did the Zhao family send to Suyun? Let's go and take a look."

Zhao Baofeng hurriedly chased them to play, "Don't make trouble in the kitchen. Your third aunt and I are here. Your grandma will come to help soon. You can go to Suyun's room to play."

Zhang Juexia and Li Yiqin accompanied Ye Suyun on both sides to see the good things sent by the Zhao family.

The Zhao family sent six gifts according to local customs, but one gift box was discovered by the sharp-eyed Zhang Juexia.

“This is definitely good stuff.”

She put it in Ye Suyun's hand and urged her to open it and take a look.

Ye Suyun blushed and opened it to see that it was a set of silver jewelry with excellent workmanship.

"This is a gift from Zhao Xin, right?"

Ye Suyun nodded shyly, "I told him not to buy it, but he insisted on buying it. Why waste such a huge sum of money!"

"Oh, you know you're worried about your husband's money."

"Sister-in-law! If you keep talking nonsense, I will ignore you."

"How can I be talking nonsense? I am telling the truth."