I have prepared a gift for you
With the sound of firecrackers, another year has come to an end. Every household in Songbai Village has posted Spring Festival couplets and red window decorations on their doors and windows to welcome the New Year.
After Song Tiaotiao embroidered a rabbit pattern for Gu Chengjue, she asked Bo Shuang for advice and added a pony to Gu Chengjue's long coat.
Although the stitches are clumsy, they are accidentally made to add a bit of joy and cuteness.
Gu Chengjue stood beside the kang, quietly waiting for Song Tiaotiao to put on lip makeup.
His eyes first lingered on the little rabbit and pony embroidered on his long coat, then his gaze naturally moved down and quietly looked at Song Tiaotiao's lipstick-coated lips.
The lips, which had regained their color, gradually turned crimson until they were completely colored as Song Tiaotiao's fingertips moved lightly across her lips.
It is as moist as a red camellia with dewdrops dripping from its branches, delicate and beautiful.
Seeing Gu Chengjue looking at her, Song Tiaotiao raised her head and asked with a smile, "How is it? Did I apply it too heavily?"
Gu Chengjue looked at the pair of rabbit-like eyes, his eyes flickering as he said, "Just right."
Song Tiaotiao smiled and nodded: "That's good."
After she finished speaking, she sat up from the edge of the kang and was about to go out with Gu Chengjue, but she saw Gu Chengjue standing there motionless.
Song Tiaotiao turned around, waved in front of him, tilted her head and smiled, "Let's go, Gu Chengjue, we should go out and light the firecrackers."
Gu Chengjue looked at Song Tiaotiao and whispered, "Song Tiaotiao, I've prepared a gift for you." He then quietly opened his tightly clenched hands. Two red hairbands with tassels slowly unfolded in his palms.
Seeing this, Gu Chengjue frowned slightly. He then quickly combed the hair ties and carefully handed them to Song Tiaotiao: "I'm sorry, I wanted to put them in the makeup box I made for you..." At this point, he raised his eyes slightly, "But I heard Brother Zhao say that handmade red hair ties should be given to a girl personally to bring joy. I wanted to make more for you, but I learned too late and time was too tight, so I only had time to weave two for you. Do you like them?"
Song Tiaotiao looked at the red hairband, her eyes flickering: "I was wondering what you were secretly doing these days, it turns out it was for this." Then she took the gift with both hands and smiled brightly: "Thank you, Gu Chengjue, I like it very much."
Gu Chengjue's ears turned slightly red, and with a smile in his eyes, he said, "As long as you like it."
Song Tiaotiao smiled and coiled the hair tie around her hair: "How is it? Does it look good?"
Every frown and smile of the person in front of me is like the finishing touch of a painting of a beautiful lady, making it vivid and lively.
Gu Chengjue looked at Song Tiaotiao's pretty and charming appearance and nodded: "Of course she looks good."
Seeing Song Tiaotiao so happy, Gu Chengjue felt that he should ask Zhao Huaian for more relevant skills in the future.
In the courtyard, Gu Chengjue had just lit a piece of firecracker when the loud bang of exorcism was deafening.
The family looked at the festive crimson all over the yard and smiled at each other, hoping that this red, a symbol of joy, could bring blessings to everyone in the family.
According to the customs of the Southern Dynasties, Song Tiaotiao and Gu Chengjue returned to the house and formally greeted Zhao.
Zhao's eyes were filled with tenderness as she helped the two people to their feet. She pulled out two embroidered square red envelopes from her red cloth bag and handed them to each of them. "Here, Tiaotiao, Chengjue, keep them. This year is different from the past. All I can do now is to bring you happiness." After she finished speaking, she seemed a little disappointed, but still smiled. "This red cloth contains a gift I personally made for you two. Why don't you open it and take a look?"
Song Tiaotiao took the red cloth bag with both hands and took out a cotton hat embroidered with many auspicious patterns and a double fish knot with a wish-fulfilling knot hanging from it.
Zhao looked at them separately and said sincerely, "These two knots respectively symbolize abundant good fortune and success in everything. Their meanings are exactly what I wish for. Now, our family does not seek fame, wealth or honor, but only peace and security."
After Song Tiaotiao and Gu Chengjue thanked Zhao, they said some festive words to her. Seeing that the melancholy in her eyes had disappeared and her joy had returned, they turned to wish Bo Shuang a happy new year.
A hundred copper coins were strung together with red silk thread, which Song Tiaotiao and Gu Chengjue had already wrapped in red cloth. Now Song Tiaotiao was keeping it, waiting for the right opportunity to give it to Gu Zhao.
Although the younger generations exchange New Year greetings out of courtesy, exchanging a few happy words does add a bit of harmonious and joyful New Year atmosphere.
Bo Shuang's eyes lingered on Song Tiao Tiao's lips, and she smiled and praised, "When I was buying New Year's goods the other day, I fell in love with this cherry red color at first sight. It really suits you. A beauty like Tiao Tiao really lives up to the saying that light makeup or heavy makeup always suits you."
Song Tiaotiao smiled brightly and said, "Gifts chosen by my sister-in-law herself are naturally excellent."
During the conversation, Bo Shuang's eyes turned to the red string in Song Tiao Tiao's hair and whispered in her ear, "Did Cheng Jue make this?"
Song Tiaotiao was surprised and asked, "Sister-in-law, how did you see that?"
Bo Shuang lowered her eyes and chuckled softly, "The cloth shop has been receiving supplies from the Northern Dynasty these days, and the open space in the courtyard is perfect for Cheng Jue to teach his brothers martial arts. Every time he and Brother Zhao take a break, they sit together and braid red hairbands. I don't know how many days this has been going on, I just know they do it every day."
Song Tiaotiao looked at Gu Chengjue, who was chatting and laughing with Gu Zhao, and said with a flickering gaze, "I see. Such a thoughtful gesture is truly precious."
After a while, Song Tiaotiao saw that the time was right, half-knelt down, took out the roll of lucky money from his sleeve, and said to Gu Zhao with a smile: "Zhao'er, open your hands."
Gu Zhao did as he was told and waited obediently for the next step.
Although Gu Zhao didn't understand, how could Bo Shuang not know what they were thinking? However, every copper coin was hard to come by these days, let alone such a long string of copper coins.
She lowered her eyes, smiled and refused, "It's too expensive. How can I afford it?"
Song Tiaotiao patted her hands and said with a smile, "To ward off evil spirits, the more the better. Waiting for another portion on your birthday will surely ward off illness and disasters, and turn misfortune into good fortune. Sister-in-law, this is a gift from Cheng Jue and me. Just think of it as a blessing for Zhao'er. Please accept it quickly."
Seeing Song Tiaotiao's words reaching this point, Bo Shuang felt it was not right to betray their kindness. She patted Gu Zhao's shoulder and let him take it with a faint smile.
Gu Zhaofeng's eyes curved slightly. He faced the two of them and bowed to greet them. "Thank you, Uncle, Aunt. I wish you a happy New Year." His bright eyes turned and he smiled, "I also wish you a long and happy marriage..."
Song Tiaotiao and Gu Chengjue were both stunned when they heard this.
Gu Zhao was about to continue speaking, but seeing the expressions on their faces, Bo Shuang remembered the misunderstanding between them. She quickly pressed Gu Zhao's shoulder, stopping him from speaking, and smiled to smooth things over: "Kid..."
Song Tiaotiao shook her head and chuckled at the bewildered Gu Zhao, saying, "Thank you, Zhao'er, for your blessing. Auntie also wishes Zhao'er peace, health, and happiness in the future."
Gu Chengjue touched Gu Zhao's head and smiled softly, "Good Zhao'er."
In the kitchen, Zhao was holding a charcoal pencil, writing the words "Shen Tu" and "Yu Lei" on the wooden table. Her handwriting was elegant and majestic, revealing the style of a great master.
Gu Chengjue tied the two peach charms with red strings and hung them high above the door in the hope of adding auspiciousness to the days ahead.
The Ning Wang Mansion has the custom of worshiping ancestors every New Year's Day.
But times have changed, and today they can no longer afford to prepare three kinds of meat and food, nor can they provide three kinds of tea and five kinds of wine. The family simply "sent money and food", then faced south, looking for the direction of the capital. Each holding three tall incense sticks, they bowed three times in the direction of the capital to comfort the spirits of their ancestors.
It took nearly a whole morning to clean the room inside and out. By the time I had tidied up the yard, it was already sunset.
After officially getting rid of the old and welcoming the new, the family wrapped the gifts they had prepared in advance in red paper and set off for the market.
Since Jin Zhenjiao took over the Jin family shop, it has completely changed from the deserted place it once was. Although there is no bustling traffic in front of the store, it can still be said to be very lively.
Now, two big red lanterns are hung high in front of the door. Under the spacious stone steps, a thick layer of firecracker debris has accumulated, just like an endless red rain, blending with the afterglow of the setting sun, reflecting the whole room with red colors.
When the family arrived at the door, merchants of all sizes in Songbai Village were walking in one after another holding gifts.
Song Tiaotiao met several familiar faces in the market, and after greeting each other, they went in together.
As soon as we entered the door, we saw Jin Zhenjiao standing by, smiling happily as she pointed out the courtyard where the guests would have their meal.
Jin Zhenjiao spotted the family and approached them with a bright smile. "Come on, why bring a gift? Just come and have dinner with me. I haven't seen you in a few days, and I miss you so much. Please come in. The Tusu wine is warm and the appetizers are ready. Just treat yourself to your own home and have a great time." She then called over the new housekeeper, "Go and show the guests to the banquet."
As a wealthy family in the northern border, the deep courtyard hidden behind the shop made Song Tiaotiao feel as if he was back in Beijing.
There is a pavilion every ten steps and a pavilion every hundred steps, like an ever-extending scroll painting. I don’t know where the boundary of this boundless wealth is.
In the middle of the courtyard, a towering evergreen pine tree stands tall, with strips of red silk tied on it dancing freely in the north wind.
Next to the pine and cypress trees, on one side is a warm room with carved beams and painted rafters, and on the other side is a hot spring emitting rich warmth.
The butler led the group to the warm room, opened the door, and said with a smile, "Dear guests, please come in."
A heated kang, a platform that required three steps to climb, covered the entire warm room. A painting depicting the cold weather, now with a few touches, stood atop it. While it obscured the faces of those behind it, it couldn't drown out the throbbing voices.
Behind the screen are all familiar faces.
On the heated kang, men and women alike sat in a circle around the heated table, making dumplings of different flavors and shapes together.
Seeing Song Tiaotiao and his family enter the warm room, everyone present smiled warmly and stood up to lead them to their seats.
Zhao Huaian was closest to the door, so he stood up first to greet him: "Please take a seat and have a cup of tea to warm you up."
After greeting each other, the family members took their seats one by one.
Song Tiaotiao and Gu Chengjue were naturally arranged together.
Gu Chengjue looked at the people around the kotatsu who were busy making dumplings, his eyes flickering.
After a moment, his gaze fell back on Song Tiao Tiao, and he bowed his head and whispered to Song Tiao Tiao, "Little Master, can you teach me again?"
Song Tiaotiao chuckled and was about to agree.
A tall man dressed in Northern Dynasty clothing stepped forward, bowed, and said, "My name is Su Lin. I have heard of you all for a long time."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
