When Tian An woke up, she found that the window paper-cuts and spring couplets she had written yesterday were already pasted up. Chen Qiang had also bought a lot of big red lanterns, and the maids and servants were hanging them.
On the way to the flower hall, there are festive colors everywhere, and the atmosphere of the New Year is everywhere.
When she arrived, Tian Mingwu had already gone to work, and they had to wait until New Year's Eve to go to the palace to attend the palace banquet before they could have a holiday.
Seeing Tian An arrive, everyone started eating breakfast. The newly hired cook was very attentive, and the breakfast menu was diverse. There were steamed dumplings, steamed cakes, fried pancakes, steamed eggs with milk, white fungus soup, porridge, and more. There was something to suit everyone's taste.
After breakfast, Chunxi came to report that each family had sent New Year gifts.
They had just arrived, and Tian Mingwu was not good at socializing, so the only families that could send her New Year gifts were those few.
However, when Tian An arrived, he discovered that there was an extra copy. After asking, he found out that one of the copies was sent by Xiao Lao San.
Tian An hurriedly asked, "Has the person left?" Knowing that the person had just arrived and had not left yet, he asked Mangzhong to give him the things he had prepared before and let him take them back.
The things were prepared in advance, but it was difficult for them to contact the other party, so they could only wait and see if Xiao Lao San would remember to give them gifts during the New Year.
If he comes, let him take the things back; if he doesn't come, then forget it.
The things she prepared were not expensive. Firstly, she didn't have them, and secondly, the other party didn't need them either. It was just a token of her appreciation.
The New Year gifts from each family were very generous, which made Tian An feel a little guilty. The things she gave were all her own products, but this one was real gold and silver.
The Zuo family's fabrics were obviously not cheap, and they also had donkey hide gelatin, which was something only the wealthy could afford in those days. The box of silver nuggets was exquisitely crafted, not to mention the value of the silver itself, the labor alone must have cost a fortune! And that pearl headpiece, though simple, was exquisite and elegant, clearly meticulously crafted.
The fabrics sent by the Wei family included not only summer gauze but also two pieces of winter leather, a box of bird's nest, various snacks, and New Year's goods.
The Song family had three sets of the four treasures of the study, two boxes of tea, two books, one of which was a chess manual and the other was a calligraphy copybook, as well as various cakes, pastries, and preserved fruits for New Year's snacks.
The Wu family sent a box of leather, various small items from the Northern Territory, and a box of various gemstones, which should also be products from the Northern Territory! The rest were various snacks.
The gifts given to Gu Jinyan's family included cloth, various supplements such as bird's nests, donkey-hide gelatin, ginseng, two boxes of silver beads, two old-fashioned hairpins, a light-colored jade bracelet, the four treasures of the study, embroidered ornaments embroidered by Gu Jinyan, and various foods.
After looking at these things, Tian An knew that there was a share for Grandma Qin and Mr. Han.
She immediately picked out the fabrics suitable for Granny Qin and Mr. Han, took out a box of silver beads, the two hairpins, and an ornament, and asked Deng Xue to deliver them to Granny Qin. If she wanted to make clothes, she could just tell the sewing room.
The supplements are temporarily placed in the warehouse, and the kitchen will stew some and send them over from time to time.
Qin Yalan's house also has fabrics, supplements, various foods, and a velvet flower hair accessory that she specially designed and made for Tian An.
Tian An took out the hair accessories and said, "Well! I'll wear this during the New Year. Put the others in the warehouse!"
Looking at the things Peng Zhang sent, Tian An couldn't help but twitch his lips. The gifts given by the rich are always different. They are both rustic and luxurious. It is the ultimate expression of the word "rich".
Four boxes of cloth, two boxes of leather, two boxes of supplements, including rare blood swallows, a box of the best tangerines, a small box of gold and silver nuts, and two large boxes filled with various cakes, snacks, and preserved fruits.
Looking at the New Year gifts that took up a corner of the warehouse, Tian An thought for a moment and asked someone to call Zhao Yiming.
"Isn't this gift from Fatty Peng too expensive? If we accept it, will it affect Father? Will the censor file a petition against us, accusing us of accepting a bribe?"
Zhao Yiming only asked: "Did these things come in through the main gate?"
Tian An nodded, "Yes!"
"Just register it. If it's done in a clear way, it won't count. But no one dares to accept bribes openly. Besides, you and Peng Zhang still have business dealings, so it's understandable that the gift is a bit more generous."
Tian An thought so too, so he asked Chun Xi to find Liu Hui to record all the New Year gifts received, including the types and quantities, the more detailed the better.
If Peng Zhang's gifts were many, then the things Xiao Lao San brought were expensive.
There was a box of fabric. Although Tian An didn't know what it was, he knew it was no ordinary stuff. There were two high-quality women's white fox fur cloaks, and two large and two small mink fur cloaks. It was obvious that they were prepared for Zhao Yiming, Tian Mingwu, Xiaokang, and Xiaoqi.
Tian An also found a pair of white jade bracelets placed in an exquisite sandalwood box.
"Brother Yiming, what a beautiful bracelet! Do you know how much it's worth in silver?"
Zhao Yiming turned around and saw the bracelet in Tian An's hand. His eyes flashed and he took it in his hand blankly. His fingers rubbed it carefully. His eyes were complicated, like nostalgia and forbearance, as if he was looking at some priceless treasure.
Although this bracelet should be very valuable, his expression is so wrong!
"Brother Yiming, Brother Yiming, Yi..."
Tian An shouted several times before he came to his senses, "Ah? Oh!"
Then he sternly warned Tian An, "An An, this pair of mutton-fat white jade bracelets is very valuable. You must take good care of them. Don't throw them away or sell them."
Tian An frowned at him, his eyes turned, and he said, "Is this the legendary mutton-fat white jade? No wonder it's so beautiful, but it's not right for us to accept such a valuable bracelet! How about returning it?"
Zhao Yiming was obviously a little anxious. He pulled Tian An's hand and said, "No, we can't retreat."
Then he realized that his attitude was a bit too extreme, and hurriedly explained: "It's not good to return the things they sent."
Tian An thought for a moment and said, "I'm afraid I'll lose it. How about you keep it for me?"
Zhao Yiming hurriedly put the bracelet into Tian An's hand and said a little embarrassedly: "This is a girl's thing, and it's obviously for you. Just keep it carefully."
Tian An even noticed a slight blush on the tip of his ear. It's just a bracelet! How could he be embarrassed to take it?
Tian An put the bracelet away and took out a slightly larger box, which contained three pieces of jade, one piece of black jade and two pieces of green jade.
Zhao Yiming picked up the black jade directly, and his eyes returned to the same way he had just looked at the white jade bracelet.
Before Tian An could figure out his abnormal behavior today, he heard him say, "An An, can you give me this black jade?"
Tian An nodded, "Of course. And this black jade might be for you."
There were only four men in their family, so Tian Mingwu certainly wouldn't use such fragile items. The box contained three pieces of jade: the black jade was larger, the green jade was smaller. It was clear at a glance that they were for Zhao Yiming, Xiaokang, and Xiaoqi. It was also clear how to distribute them.
In addition to these jade pieces, there were also several exquisite ornaments, two boxes of oriental pearls, two boxes of gemstones, two boxes of gold nuggets, some supplements, and various exquisite cakes and pastries.
The other things are also good, but Tian An always feels that the other things are just a prelude to this pair of bracelets and that piece of black jade.
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