Chapter 136 Laba Festival "It's all Third Brother's fault!"

No matter how many tears the Wang family shed, Wang Ziteng will not come back to life.

After a seven-day period of mourning, the coffin was transported to Shangyi Temple on the outskirts of Beijing. Wang Ziteng's widow and his two sons had already discussed that once the roads were clearer next spring, they would escort the coffin back to Nanjing.

The whole family is going back, and we'll have to sell our house in Beijing.

With Wang Ziteng's entire household moving out, there were many things to do. Wang Xifeng, Madam Wang, and Aunt Xue went back every few days to help, with Wang Xifeng being the most important among them.

That noon, Sister You was serving Jia Lian wine.

December is the time to visit relatives and friends and strengthen relationships. Even Mu Chuan's down-to-earth parents were busy, just like the Mu family. People from Linjia Village often came to visit, and Lin Daiyu also had to go out every few days. She even had to scramble to book a theatrical troupe and prepare a banquet for guests at home.

Even farmers, when there's not much work to do in the twelfth lunar month, still go to the market, gather their farm tools, and chat under the big tree at the village entrance.

The fact that Jia Lian was already drinking at noon in the twelfth lunar month only proves that, apart from the imperial plaque of the Rongguo Mansion, the Rongguo Mansion had fallen to the same level as the Xue family.

However, You Erjie was unaware of this, especially after her mother and sister passed away. She wished she could spend ten out of every twelve hours of the day with Jia Lian.

"Second Master." You Erjie leaned against Jia Lian, unbuttoned two buttons on her collar, and poured him some wine. "Second Madam is really disrespectful to you. What in this house doesn't belong to you? What do you mean by 'you took her things'? It's laughable."

Jia Lian frowned, thinking about You Erjie's identity, her mother who raised her, and the Ningguo Mansion where she later stayed. He figured she probably didn't understand what a formal marriage and dowry really meant.

"Why are you saying all this?" Jia Lian said coldly. "Did I come here to talk to you about her?"

You Erjie chuckled twice to ease the tension, and then poured wine for Jia Lian.

She has been recuperating for more than half a year, and then she went outside to ask someone to go to the City God Temple to ask for some incense ash to eat. She needs to have another child.

Back then, Master Lian promised her that once Wang Xifeng died, he would make her his second wife, but now, let alone a wife, she's not even a concubine.

Besides, Wang Xifeng's health seems to have improved quite a bit since then. It would be better to hope that the Second Master will divorce her than to wait for her to die of illness.

The second master is already thirty. If she can give birth to a son, she can at least be promoted to a concubine.

Seeing that Jia Lian was drunk and seeing things clearly, You Erjie said again, "I originally thought that Second Mistress was not in good health, but now I see that she is not in any bad condition at all. She has abandoned her own family affairs and run back to her parents' home. How can she be on the same side as Second Master?"

These words struck a nerve with Jia Lian, who sneered twice: "One heart? She just wants me to listen to her! She's the most capable person in the entire Wei!"

Sister You Erjie now knew where to focus her efforts.

"Second Master should also keep an eye on Second Madam, otherwise even when Qiu Tong and I go out, people will laugh at us."

Jia Lian squinted and chuckled twice: "What does she think she has to rely on? It's just the Wang family. Now that Wang Ziteng is dead, I'll wait until the Wang family returns to Jinling next year. That'll be the time I can deal with her! I'll divorce her no matter what! I'll make sure she has nowhere to go!"

Hearing this, You Erjie's heart pounded. She quickly poured more wine for Jia Lian. She felt that such a thing should never be heard by Wang Xifeng. That person was vicious and ruthless. If there were any more trouble, how could she remain Jia Lian's wife?

"Second Master, you're drunk." Sister You changed the subject, then helped Jia Lian onto the bed and helped him fall asleep.

On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, the palace bestowed Laba porridge.

For a family like the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion, the palace would send someone to deliver the gifts. However, the Rongguo Mansion had been punished several times and had to go to invite the gifts themselves. The Sun Shaozu family was not even worthy of such treatment.

"Thank goodness." Mu Chuan opened the lid of the clay pot and smelled the most traditional eight-treasure porridge. He said with relief, "You have no idea what I ate last time."

Lin Daiyu really liked this kind of thick and sticky porridge. She served herself a bowl and said, "Although you don't like sweet food, you must eat eight-treasure porridge on Laba Festival. You should drink at least one bowl."

The two chatted as they ate a hearty breakfast.

Lin Daiyu said, "You have no idea how hard it is to get a theatrical troupe in the capital. Luckily they reminded me, otherwise what would we have done if we didn't have a theatrical troupe to entertain guests at home during the New Year?"

"No problem," Mu Chuan said. "The best opera troupe in the capital is at Prince Zhongshun's residence, I can borrow them. If all else fails, I can borrow some court musicians, so you won't get too tired. I'll always be there for you, I didn't marry you to make you suffer."

Lin Daiyu rolled her eyes at him, and Mu Chuan immediately said, "You've worked hard. For the first time, the steward has been so thoughtful and managed so well. I don't know how to praise you enough. Is there anything you want? I'll find it for you, no matter where it is."

The praise was a bit exaggerated, but the sentiment was very touching. Lin Daiyu was pleased and gently served him another bowl of porridge: "Third Brother, eat more. It's especially delicious when it's hot."

After breakfast, Lin Daiyu asked, "Aren't you going to the North Camp today?"

Mu Chuan shook his head: "It's almost Chinese New Year, let them relax a bit. If I go, they'll be on edge all day. They'll probably also be thinking about how to catch up with me, so they have to work hard."

Lin Daiyu chuckled: "You are exceptionally talented; how could training possibly catch up with you?"

"Exactly." Mu Chuan nodded. "What are you planning to do today?"

Lin Daiyu chuckled twice, a little shy, yet also seeming to be holding back a mischievous glint in her eyes. She took out a huge bodice from the cupboard and laughed almost uncontrollably, "Third Brother, this is a dress I made for you."

Mu Chuan glared at her, and Lin Daiyu felt a little embarrassed.

Her third brother sleeps without clothes on, and she always feels a bit... Whenever she turns over, she subconsciously puts her hand on his and starts rubbing him unconsciously.

Such a life is so decadent!

She can't continue living like this!

Her hands are the hands of someone who reads and writes!

So Lin Daiyu decided to make a sleeping outfit for her third brother, to cover his stomach and chest a little, so he wouldn't catch a cold.

Men's underwear is actually similar to women's main waistbands, except that the shoulder straps are slightly wider and it doesn't cinch at the waist.

However... Lin Daiyu thought about it when she was cutting the cloth. She had measured it herself and found that her third brother's chest and waist measurements were much different from hers. If she didn't tighten the waist, he would always look too bulky in the clothes.

Even when it came to clothes she wore to bed, Lin Daiyu wanted them to look good.

So by the time she realized it, the dress had already been made into a waist-length style.

Yes, it is indeed more curved than her main waist.

"Good Third Brother, I've already done it, why don't you give it a try?" Lin Daiyu smiled, her face flushed with a beautiful rosy hue. "I made it myself, even the thread was cut by myself. Are you going to let me down?"

Mu Chuan took the clothes. Although he was a little helpless, he could tell from the style that his beautiful wife liked him the most.

Mu Chuan pulled in his stomach and straightened his chest, using his pectoral muscles to stretch out the well-fitting undergarment.

Lin Daiyu looked a little shy, but it was impossible for her to look away. After a long while, she could only say, "I'll make you two more later."

"Why don't you come and see if it suits you?" Mu Chuan said enticingly in a deep voice.

What decent family could resist such temptation?

"I think it's quite suitable." Lin Daiyu's smile was now impossible to suppress. She took a step forward and was about to reach out when she heard the maid's voice from below.

"The old lady said that today is Laba Festival and she wants to pickle Laba garlic. She asked the master and mistress to peel the garlic."

Lin Daiyu chuckled. The garlic had completely ruined the romantic atmosphere. Without any hesitation, she stepped forward and patted Mu Chuan on the chest: "Aren't you going to change your clothes? You're a grown man, do you expect the whole family to wait for you?"

I'll deal with you tonight.

The two went to the East Courtyard together. Huang Guihua and Mu Dazhuang sat at the head of the table, with Mu Chuntao and Mu Yousheng beside them.

Seeing the two of them come over, Huang Guihua smiled and said, "Each of you peel a clove of garlic for good luck. The cook can peel the rest, but I have to keep an eye on them."

Mu Chuan picked out the biggest and easiest-to-peel garlic for Lin Daiyu, but Lin Daiyu glared at him and gave the garlic to You Sheng instead.

Mu Chuan sighed, "Her hands are much more skillful than yours."

Mu Chuntao also laughed and said, "Sister-in-law, you used to peel garlic all the time before you were born."

Oh no, I forgot about her skillful hands.

Lin Daiyu glared at Mu Chuan again, and Mu Chuan, being perceptive, picked out another clove for her: "Don't break the inside, you need whole garlic cloves to pickle."

As he spoke, he demonstrated for Lin Daiyu.

Huang Guihua didn't start peeling the garlic. She thought it was already quite an achievement to have her angelic daughter-in-law peel it. Peeling garlic was easy for them, but it might not be so difficult for her daughter-in-law. So Huang Guihua decided to wait until her daughter-in-law finished peeling before starting.

To her surprise, all five people present thought the same thing. Even Mu Dazhuang looked at the sky and the ground with an honest expression, but didn't look at the garlic.

What's going on here? What if she gets nervous? And the way she's gauging things is like she's waiting for her to embarrass herself.

This isn't about setting rules!

Huang Guihua glared fiercely at him and slapped Mu Dazhuang on the back again.

Lin Daiyu was startled. Huang Guihua chuckled awkwardly. She suddenly realized that this seemed to be the first time she had hit her father-in-law in front of her daughter-in-law.

“He has a mosquito on his back,” Huang Guihua said calmly, then picked up a clove of garlic and started peeling it. “This Laba garlic can’t be made with just one kind of vinegar. It has to be a mix of different flavors to taste good. This year we have vinegar from Zhenjiang, vinegar from Shanxi, vinegar from Qishan, and vinegar that was bestowed by the palace. It’s said to be a fragrant vinegar made from black glutinous rice. In short, this year’s Laba garlic is sure to be especially delicious.”

How long would it take for one person to peel just one clove of garlic? It was Lin Daiyu's first time doing this, and it wasn't difficult at all. Before she could even taste the flavor, it was all over.

She washed her hands somewhat reluctantly, then followed Mu Chuan out: "When are we going to eat Zha Jiang Mian (noodles with soybean paste)?" This also needs to be eaten with garlic.

"You want to eat this?" Mu Chuan tilted his head, and after receiving an affirmative answer, he turned back and called out, "Mom, your daughter-in-law wants to eat noodles with soybean paste."

The next second, Huang Guihua came out of the hall, her face full of wrinkles from smiling: "I'll go knead the dough right now!"

Lin Daiyu was satisfied and just waited to eat the noodles.

She had a very happy day on Laba Festival, except for one thing.

She had another nightmare in the middle of the night.

She dreamt that someone tied her hands, and she struggled for a long time before waking up. But when she opened her eyes—

Without her noticing, her hand had already slipped inside her third brother's waistband. The clothes were already made to fit him tightly, so putting her hand inside... wouldn't that be like tying him up?

"I can't take this anymore!" Lin Daiyu huffed and pinched him twice more. "It's all Third Brother's fault!"