Chapter 284 Catching a Thief

Before we knew it, the year was drawing to a close.

The streets and alleys of Beijing are already adorned with festive red lanterns, exuding a New Year's atmosphere everywhere.

The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, however, appeared rather deserted.

They did not wait for their maternal grandfather and elder brother to return.

What she received were two thick letters from home, as well as two large cartloads of New Year's gifts sent from both places.

My maternal grandfather's letter was written in a vigorous and powerful hand, just like him.

The letter only reported that she was safe and sound, and told her to take good care of herself and the child. His words were concise and restrained, like those of a warrior on the battlefield.

The elder brother's letter, on the other hand, was much more verbose.

He gave a detailed account of the progress at the mine.

"...A rich mineral vein of superior quality has been discovered in the mountains, and now is the critical period for its mining."

"If everything goes smoothly, the first batch of molten iron can be produced in the spring."

Shuang'er looked at the New Year's gifts filling the courtyard and sighed softly.

"Since none of them can come back, the manor will be very quiet this year."

Meng Shilan pulled the sleeping little chubby boy closer to her, a gentle smile on her face.

"It's a good thing they're not coming back."

"My maternal grandfather guarded the border, which was his loyalty to the country. My elder brother opened mines and smelted iron, which was also his way of sharing the burden of the country."

"They are all doing great things, and all we need to do is stay in the capital and quietly take care of this family. That is the best support we can give them."

Shuang'er nodded, but still felt somewhat disappointed.

"That's what they say, but according to the rules of previous years, on New Year's Eve, officials of the third rank and above, along with their families, are required to enter the palace to attend the banquet."

“Sister, you are now the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion and the fiancée of the Prince of Zhou. If you don’t go, I’m afraid it will give people something to gossip about.”

Meng Shilan lowered her eyes and gently stroked Xiao Pangxi's chubby cheeks.

"The excitement of other people's homes is ultimately theirs."

"All I want now is to stay with my children and live our own peaceful life."

She raised her head and looked at Shuang'er.

"We're not going to the palace banquet."

“Go and reply to the palace’s message, saying that I am not feeling well and need to rest.”

"As for what others say..."

She paused, a faint smile curving her lips.

Let them be.

Seeing that she had made up her mind, Shuang'er stopped trying to persuade her.

Meng Shilan's gaze fell upon the eaves outside the window, where red lanterns hung.

"The lantern festival in Beijing is the best in the world."

"Let's not join their fun, nor interfere with our own. Let's go out and see the lanterns!"

Night falls and the city lights come on.

On New Year's Eve, the capital city shed its daytime solemnity and was illuminated by a dazzling array of lights.

Fireworks burst brilliantly in the deep blue night sky, illuminating the entire imperial city as if it were daytime.

Meng Shilan held Fu'er's hand with one hand, Shuang'er followed beside her, while Guo Fan steadily carried Xiao Pangxi on his neck.

The group merged into the endless stream of people.

The streets were lined with lights, like dragons.

The lotus lanterns floating on the water drift with the current, like stars fallen to earth.

The glass lamps hanging at the shop entrance are crystal clear, shimmering with light, and exude an air of nobility.

And then there are the most common sheepskin lanterns, painted with lifelike landscapes, birds, and animals.

What fascinates children the most is the exquisite revolving lantern.

As the lamplight shifts, scenes from folk tales play out on the small lampshade in a loop.

"Mother! Mother! Look at that! It's Chang'e flying to the moon!"

Fu'er pointed to a huge revolving lantern, her face flushed with excitement.

Meng Shilan nodded with a smile, "Yes, Fu'er is really amazing, she recognizes them all."

"And that one! It's the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl!"

Little Fatty sat on Guo Fan's shoulders, enjoying a fantastic view, and excitedly kicked his little arms and legs.

His gaze, however, was firmly drawn to the various foods on the street stalls.

The little finger pointed to the sugar figurine stall not far away.

"Eat...eat that tiger!"

The sugar figurine maker was highly skilled; a golden sugar tiger came to life in his hands, making Little Fatty's mouth water.

Saliva dripped down his round chin, almost landing on Guo Fan's head.

Guo Fan was both amused and exasperated, but he could only let this little tyrant "act arrogantly" over him.

Meng Shilan smiled and shook her head, then asked Shuang'er to buy a few strings of candied hawthorns and a candied tiger stick that Xiao Pangxi had been longing for.

The group strolled along, stopping occasionally, chatting and laughing.

Fu'er and Shuang'er held their newly bought rabbit lanterns in their hands, while Xiao Pangxi licked the sugar tiger in his hand with satisfaction.

Looking at the children's satisfied smiles, Meng Shilan felt her loneliness and desolation completely replaced by the warmth of human connection.

The bustling and vibrant city of Beijing is like a beautiful dream from which one does not wish to wake.

Thousands of miles away, at Yumen.

The cold wind was like a knife, whipping up the sand and gravel on the ground, which stung people's faces.

Song Jiyun wrapped his tattered cotton-padded coat, whose original color was no longer discernible, tighter around himself, and huddled in a sheltered corner, shivering like a leaf in the wind.

From the capital to Yumen, she spent almost all of her money along the way.

Those pieces of jewelry and clothing that were once treasured were all pawned.

Now, she is disheveled, her hands are covered in chilblains, and she bears no resemblance to the former daughter of an official.

Even a beggar on the street looks more presentable than her.

Despite the harsh cold of the border region, the festive atmosphere of the New Year never ceased.

Smoke curls from the street stalls.

The aroma of food forcefully entered her nostrils, causing her empty stomach to rumble in protest.

Her gaze was fixed intently on a steamed bun stall.

The freshly steamed meat buns, plump and white, were steaming with enticing heat.

Song Jiyun's Adam's apple bobbed uncontrollably.

She hasn't eaten for two days.

She carefully, step by step, moved toward the steamed bun stall.

The stall owner was busy packing orders for customers; the shouts and the sounds of calculating bills blended together.

No one noticed the figure huddled in the corner.

Song Jiyun steeled his resolve, darted forward, and, taking advantage of the stall owner's turn, quickly grabbed a piping hot bun from the steamer and ran!

Hey! What are you doing!

The stall owner, realizing what was happening too late, jumped up and down in anger, cursing loudly.

"Someone's stealing steamed buns! Catch the thief!"

The insults were like a resounding slap across Song Jiyun's face.

She didn't care about anything else; all she knew was to clutch the still-warm bun and desperately try to squeeze into the dark alley.

Only when she could no longer hear the shouts and curses behind her did she dare to stop, leaning against the cold wall, panting heavily.

She looked down at the steamed bun in her hand, which she had squeezed until it was slightly deformed.

This is what she... stole.

She, Song Jiyun, has now become a thief who steals steamed buns.

The immense humiliation and bitterness overwhelmed her like a tidal wave.

Tears, which I could no longer control, fell in large drops.

She opened her mouth and took a big bite of the steamed bun.

She swallowed the scalding tears mixed with the steamed bun.

It was bitter, astringent, and salty.

The hardships and displacement along the way, the scorn of the world, the bone-chilling hunger and cold... all flashed before my eyes.

Why should I?!

Why is Meng Shilan allowed to be so high and mighty, enjoying the glory of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, and about to become the heir apparent's wife?

Why should she be reduced to this state, like a dog, losing all her dignity for a steamed bun?

She swallowed the last bite of the bun and wiped her face hard with the filthy back of her hand.

Meng Shilan.

Zhou Congxian.

Just you wait!

All the suffering I have endured, you will repay a thousandfold in the future!