Chapter 123 Xiao Minger wishes his parents a happy new year
This year was particularly cold. There were two heavy snowfalls before the New Year. Their daughter was not even one year old yet, so the couple still did not return to Pingshan County this New Year.
On New Year's Eve, Xie Yuduo had a reunion dinner with his wife and daughter, and then went to the courtyard to watch the fireworks.
The little guy who was originally as cute as a pink ball has grown a little bit bigger. He is now babbling and learning to walk. He can't walk steadily and falls down after two or three steps. But he is still held in his father's arms.
Seeing the fireworks burning again and again, she was so amused that she tried to rush out.
Xie Yuduo smiled and picked up his daughter, letting her ride on his neck.
Chen Qi watched the father and daughter playing with a smile, but also felt a little worried.
"Go slowly, be careful she's afraid of heights."
Xiao Ming'er, however, clapped his hands and giggled, not afraid at all.
Xie Yuduo smiled and said, "That's fine. The taller she gets, the more she smiles!"
…
The next morning, it was the New Year's Day, the time to say goodbye to the old and welcome the new.
On New Year's Day, the Xie family's screen in Kangle Street opened with peacocks, the mattress concealed lotus, the golden censer was filled with animal charcoal, and the precious seal burned orchid incense. It was a scene of clusters of flowers and a wealthy atmosphere.
Chen Qi and Xie Yuduo sat in the hall. The maids and servants in the house came over one by one to kowtow, one wave after another, kneeling on the ground in a sea of people, and they all received New Year's rewards.
After the servants in the house left, Chen Qi asked Xie Yuduo to sit opposite her, and supported Xiao Ming'er, who was dressed as a red brocade ball, to wish her father a happy new year.
"My little Ming'er wishes Dad a happy New Year. I wish Dad good health, happiness, and prosperous business!"
He was just pretending to do so, but Xiao Ming'er couldn't stand steadily for a moment, and he fell to his knees on the soft couch covered with a brocade quilt, prostrating himself on the ground and kowtowed to his father firmly.
This made Xie Yuduo happy and distressed. He couldn't stop smiling and hurriedly brought a plate of New Year's money.
Chen Qi smiled and took it for her daughter. It was heavy. When she lifted the red silk, she saw a plate full of shining solid gold ingots. They turned out to be in the shape of the twelve Chinese zodiac animals, all in pairs, neatly arranged, full and round.
Xie Yuduo picked out a golden tiger and handed it to his daughter. She really liked it and smiled.
"I knew it, my girl just likes this kind of rich and luxurious atmosphere."
Little Ming'er had long learned to call mother, but never called father. He raised the gold ingot in his hand, turned around and stuffed it into Chen Qi's arms.
"Hey hey... Mom... Hey..."
Xie Yuduo sighed.
"Look, even if I give her a mountain of gold, she will only look for her mother and won't even call me daddy."
Chen Qi responded with a smile, but she was afraid that the gold would freeze her hands, so she took a handkerchief to wrap the gold ingot before handing it to her.
"Hey dear, play with it, but be careful not to hurt your feet."
Xie Yuduo was very pleased with himself. He held his daughter in his arms again and taught her to kowtow to Chen Qi.
"Xiao Ming'er also wishes mother a happy new year, wishing her good luck and a long life."
Chen Qi, with a smile on her face, picked up her daughter and tied a new purse embroidered with gold thread on her little red brocade skirt, which was filled with gold beans and silver rice.
"Come, give my son Ming'er a New Year's gift. From now on, he will be his parents' big baby!"
The New Year in Guangling City was particularly lively. The Xie family had a large business and they had been celebrating and sending gifts for many days. Customers came in droves and the business was constant.
On the eighteenth day of the first lunar month, Chen Qi got up early in the morning, asked the maid to comb her hair well, put a golden bell and jade pendant on Xiao Ming'er, dressed her up like a little flower fairy, and took her to the Wen family for a banquet.
Today is the first birthday party of Meng's child. She, a merchant's wife who was not supposed to go, received the invitation early.
There were many officials' wives, surrounded by pearls and jades. After Meng went out for some social events, she came to the small warm room to look for Chen Qi.
Although Chen Qi came today, she didn't want to be with the officials' wives. She had to stand up and bow at every turn, and she was so tired that she just stayed in the warm room and played with her daughter.
Xiao Ming'er was crawling and playing on the red brocade crib, and Mrs. Meng also put her one-year-old son Wen Liyan on it. The two children were only two months apart in age and had always played and had fun together. After a while, they were hitting each other and playing, which was very lively.
"Look at them, don't they look like a young couple? Speaking of which, my child's appearance and wealth are not a disgrace to your daughter. You are so cruel that you still refuse to agree to my request."
She had long intended to get married, but when she brought it up again, Shen Qi still refused, to be honest.
"Don't mention that. I know what's going on. Your eldest son has a mother like you, a lady from a noble family, and a father like Master Wen, a Hanlin scholar. They are both high-ranking and prestigious. We merchants simply can't afford to marry them."
Meng smiled and glanced at her.
"Your husband runs a big business, so what's the difference between high and low? If you say that again, I'll have you kicked out."
Shen Qi took a step back.
"If you really want to, I'll ask Ming'er to recognize you as my godmother."
Meng refused to do so.
"I don't want to be a godmother. If I become your goddaughter, it will be difficult for her to become my daughter-in-law in the future."
Chen Qi still smiled and shook her head.
"No matter how big the business is, there's still a difference between officials and businessmen. If it weren't for our fate, I wouldn't even be sitting here drinking tea today. Besides, there's another reason I have to explain. Her father has repeatedly told me that he's very reluctant to arrange a child marriage, fearing that his daughter might find love when she grows up and that she'd be wronged in the marriage."
When Meng heard how thoughtful and considerate her husband was to their daughter, and thought about how her own husband died, saying that "a gentleman would rather hold his grandchildren than his sons", she felt very emotional.
"Mrs. Shen, thank you for coming and teaching me how to give birth to a daughter."
When Chen Qi heard this, she covered her mouth with a handkerchief and laughed.
Although we are close friends, I can teach you in a subtle way how to train your husband, but I really don’t know how to teach you how to give birth to a daughter.
The two were chatting and laughing when another maid came to invite them. A family like Meng Qinghui's was bound to have many distinguished guests today. She told Chen Qi not to leave until the banquet was over, and then she took her son out.
Chen Qi played with her daughter for a while. After a cup of tea, another maid came in through the curtain to deliver a message.
“Madam Shen, my wife said that the wife of the Guangling City prefect will come to talk to you later.”
The prefect of this city is in charge of taxes, civil service, and people's livelihood. He is considered the highest-ranking official in Guangling City and is also Mr. Wen's immediate superior.
Chen Qi thought it was strange, why would such a high-ranking official's wife want to see a merchant like her? Then she thought again, maybe because of Meng Qinghui's status and her good relationship with her family, she came to visit.
Just as she was thinking, there was a commotion outside. Chen Qi hurriedly handed her daughter to the maid, stood up, straightened her clothes, and prepared to pay her respects.
Meng was beside her, and a group of maids and attendants accompanied an elderly lady in.
The wife of the prefect was about sixty years old. She wore a gold-threaded emerald leaf crown and a bright red embroidered silk jacket. Her hair was gray and her face was full of smiles.
Chen Qi knew that the wife of the prefect was of noble status, so she hurriedly took two steps forward and bowed to greet him. Before she could kneel down, the lady helped her up and personally held her hand, pulling her until she sat down before letting go.
Chen Qi was suspicious. She had to bow when she met the wife of the county magistrate in the past, but this wife of the prefect was so polite. She didn't understand what she meant and didn't know if she was being rude. She took the time to give Meng a look.
Meng understood, smiled and nodded slightly to indicate that it was okay.
After the greetings, the prefect's wife took Chen Qi's hand, looked at her carefully, and praised her highly.
"What a virtuous lady! Her elegance and grace suggest the good fortune of a prosperous family and business. Thank you, Master Xie, for your great blessing."
When the lady raised her eyes, she saw the maid behind Chen Qi, holding little Ming'er who was dressed in red silk brocade. She asked her to bring him over, took a closer look at him, and praised him highly.
"What a lovely girl! She's so delicate and lovely, so pitiful and adorable! Look at how blessed she is! She's truly a match made in gold... Today is the first time I've seen her, and it's the first month of the year. This little token of my appreciation will only bring more blessings to the child."
As she spoke, a maid brought out a sandalwood tray.
Chen Qi hurriedly said that she didn't dare. After repeated requests, she finally asked the maid to take it back when she saw that the lady really didn't want to. She then stood up and knelt to thank him. Before she knelt down, the lady helped her up again, held her hand, and chatted with her affectionately for half a day before she got up and left.
Chen Qi had a smile on her face from beginning to end, but she really couldn't understand what was going on.
After seeing off the prefect's wife, Meng Qinghui turned back and took a closer look at the gift on the tray with Chen Qi.
A pair of small red gold bracelets, four gold and jade rings, a small white jade ruyi, and a small necklace inlaid with gold and gems.
Meng picked up a small gold bracelet and checked its quality.
"This lady, upon seeing me, specifically asked if the wife and eldest daughter of the Xie family from Kangle Street had arrived, insisting on coming to see them. This plate is made entirely of genuine gold, silver, and jade, all cherished possessions of a girl. This isn't a casual gift; it must have been prepared long ago."
After saying that, Meng looked up and down at Shen Qi, who was still frowning and thinking hard beside her.
"How big is your husband's business?"
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