Chapter 163 Lunar New Year's Eve

The same scene unfolded in a small town dozens of miles away from Hanmen Pass, with children running and laughing everywhere.

All the necessary New Year's goods for the family have already been prepared.

This year is different from previous years. There is so much New Year's food at home that it fills up a storage room. To prevent mice from stealing it, Chen specially made a wooden cabinet.

"Mother, you take a rest. Today, Father and I will go to the kitchen to lend a hand."

Xiao Qi got up early, replaced the peach wood charms at the door with new ones, and hung up big red lanterns, finally bringing joy to the house.

A few days ago, Master Jiang returned from trading goods in the north and specially delivered a cartload of New Year's goods, including food, fabrics, and some dried goods and delicacies that are not usually available. In addition, there was the chicken, duck, fish and meat that his family had prepared. Ordinary people could not afford such a prosperous New Year.

Chen was lost in her memories. Last year was a bad year. She and her daughter stayed at her parents' house, eating and drinking for free. There was only two jin of meat in the house. When they had to cook and make dumplings, there were nearly ten people in the family, and each person could only get a few pieces.

In just one year, the family had a solid foundation.

"I already chopped the chicken and put it on the big stove to stew last night. It's almost falling off the bone now."

Mrs. Chen waved her hand, saying she could manage making the New Year's Eve dinner all by herself.

"If my younger sister were home, she could help you with some chores. I miss her cooking."

Xiao Qi smiled and deliberately steered the conversation toward Lin Yuesha. The little girl adapts well wherever she goes, and although she's staying in Hanmen Pass for now, it's not bad either.

“I’m worried that Xiaoya will offend people. I used to feel sorry for her because she grew up without a father and raised her to be like this, not understanding social etiquette.”

In wealthy families, especially those in positions of power, life is never easy. A moment of carelessness can cost you your head.

We are just ordinary people at the bottom of society, and we really have nowhere to reason with others.

"Mother, I have already gone to Hanmen Pass to see my little sister. She will be back after the New Year. She even brought so much silver with her, which shows that she is doing well."

Xiao Qi comforted Chen Shi, and upon hearing this, Chen Shi realized it made sense and a smile appeared on her face.

Her little girl is really sensible, wholeheartedly helping the family earn money. As parents, they can't let their daughter down, so they have to work even harder than her.

Running a small business before the Lunar New Year was tough, with people working day and night, but the rewards were plentiful.

“Tingyun, your father and I have discussed that after the New Year, when we build a house, we should buy some land so that we can have a harvest in the future.”

Having eaten rice and noodles from my mother's family for so many years, it's time to repay them.

Now that Chen's parents are getting old, it would be better for her eldest brother, Chen Tieniu, to take over the land. After the family builds a large courtyard, Chen plans to pool the remaining money and buy a house in the prefectural city.

“I’ve thought about it. If our family does business in the future, we won’t be able to make a difference if we stay in the town. Sooner or later we’ll have to go to the prefectural city.”

Xiao Qi wanted to study, so Lin Yuesha also had to be sent to the girls' school. If they rented a small courtyard in the prefectural city, they would be living under someone else's roof and would never feel a sense of belonging.

With money in hand, Chen felt a surge of confidence.

Buy a small yard, enough for the whole family to live in, and set aside a guest room to entertain family members.

“You’re not getting any younger. Although your father isn’t in a hurry for you to get married, you should still have a plan in mind.”

When to get married, what kind of woman to choose, and plans for the future—all these things need to be thought out.

As he was her stepson after all, Chen cared about him but couldn't interfere too much.

"Mother, you don't need to worry about that. Let's get my little sister married first."

Xiao Qi thought of Lin Yuesha; the little girl was already thirteen at the beginning of the year, and she needed to learn proper manners first. Madam Chen probably didn't know how bold the little girl was, chasing after men outside the family to ask if they were married—it was simply…

After a few words of conversation between the mother and son, Chen went into the kitchen to get busy.

...

Lunar New Year's Eve is a time for family reunion.

With the helpers of the He family absent, He Xingniang had to prepare the New Year's Eve dinner herself. She slaughtered chickens and ducks and also prepared a jar of fine osmanthus wine.

My son went to Hanmenguan. Before he left, he told me that he must come home on New Year's Eve to have New Year's Eve dinner with her.

The mother and son had always depended on each other for survival. He Xingniang listened to her son's every word and waited for him from before dawn until dark.

All the surrounding households had already set up tables, filled with laughter and chatter, but at home, she was all alone, staring blankly at the stew in the iron pot.

It's very late, and He Xing hasn't returned yet.

He Xingniang couldn't sit still any longer. She changed into a new set of clothes and headed straight for the Xuan family.

The Xuan family broke off the engagement, and Xuan Yao became the prince's concubine. Almost everyone in the town knew about it, and they all said that the Xuan family's daughter was lucky.

He Xingniang received a sum of money as compensation from the Xuan family. With the money to keep quiet, she couldn't say anything. She was secretly pleased. Compared to Xuan Yao, she felt that Jiang Baozhu was better. After all, she had watched her grow up since she was a child, and Jiang Baozhu was not so spoiled.

Xuan Yao is different; she loves to complain. If there's a conflict between her and her mother-in-law, Xuan Yao will definitely try to get her father to mediate.

He Xingniang also disliked this troublemaker.

After getting dressed, He Xingniang headed straight for the Xuan family's house. At that moment, the back door of the Xuan family's house was open, and there was no sound.

Have all the servants gone to celebrate the New Year? Or has this family climbed the social ladder and been brought to a poor family?

He Xingniang stood at the door and stamped her feet, finally deciding to go in and take a look first.

Along the way, passing through the backyard of the Xuan family, there wasn't a single servant; it was as silent as death.

He Xingniang sensed something was amiss and backed out. Perhaps she should go home and wait a bit before deciding?

However, since she was already there, and He Xing and the Xuan family were together, it wasn't unreasonable for her to come and ask about the news.

The lights were still on in the main house in the front yard.

"Master Xuan, Young Master Xuan, are you both home?"

To be polite, He Xingniang called out at the door, but no one answered.

There was an oil lamp burning inside; there shouldn't be no one here!

When He Xingniang walked in, she was so frightened that her soul left her body. Master Xuan was lying face down on the table, his neck had been chopped down to just a thin layer of skin!

Oh no! Someone has died!

He Xingniang wanted to scream, but she couldn't utter a sound. She took two steps back and stared blankly at the scene.

Perhaps due to the great shock, she suddenly became bold and entered the inner room behind the screen. Madam Xuan was also dead in the same state, and the inner room was ransacked, indicating that it had been burgled!

Where are all the servants in the manor? Are they all dead?

Master Xuan had bled to death, his blood pooling on the ground; he looked like he had been dead for a long time.

He Xingniang walked around the mansion and finally found Xuanzhi in a side room. Xuanzhi was embracing a woman, trying to maintain this posture before she breathed her last.

Without He Xing, her son was not among them, and He Xing's mother took a deep breath while feeling frightened.

The Xuan family offended a notorious bandit and were wiped out on New Year's Eve, not even making it into the new year!

He Xingniang stumbled out of the Xuan family's house and headed straight for the yamen (government office) to file a complaint!