Chapter 6 Trivial Matters
Looking at the furniture made of fine wood, Li Ersao led Luzhu'er, who was wandering around, towards Li Sanniang, saying as they walked, "Look, whose mother has returned."
"Mother, Mother." Dewdrop noticed Li San Niang's return, ran and pounced on Li San Niang's knees, opening her little arms for a hug.
"Thank you for your hard work, Second Sister-in-law, you still have to look after this little baby."
Responding to the child's wish, Li San Niang picked up Lu Zhu'er, took a breath of the little baby's head, and said to Li Er Sao with a smile.
It is said that at this time, children, regardless of gender, did not keep their hair. Either the back of their heads was shaved and they had bangs in the front, or the middle was shaved and they had small tufts on the sides that could be tied up. You could say they were ugly.
Dewdrop's hair was styled by Li's mother this morning, tied with two red ribbons. It's like her own child has a built-in filter, looking as soft, cute, and adorable as ever, making you want to take a big sip!
"Second sister-in-law, do you think Dewdrop can keep her head?"
“Dewdrop is only a few years old. It’s not too late to let her grow her hair back after her third birthday,” said Li’s mother, who was helping Li’s eldest brother move furniture and belongings into the unused west wing. Hearing Li’s third sister’s question, she quickly came over, took her precious daughter from Li’s third sister’s hands, and stroked Dewdrop’s little pigtail before saying, “My darling, whether she grows her hair back or not, she’s still my darling. Our Dewdrop is beautiful, isn’t she?”
From her mother's embrace to her grandmother's embrace, Dewdrop adapted well and could even speak like a little adult: "Beautiful, Dewdrop is beautiful."
Li Ersao, who was watching the scene from the side, was amused by Luzhu'er's mimicry and laughed heartily. Touching her belly, she looked at Luzhu'er and said to Li Sanniang, "Sanniang, I really hope this baby is a little girl. Looking at Luzhu'er, your second brother and I both want a little girl to spoil us."
"Haha, Erlang's wife is right. Our family is just missing a young lady, who can keep Luzhu company." Just thinking about having Luzhu on her left and a beautiful young lady on her right made Li's mother extremely happy, and she could laugh out loud at the thought.
"Is my second sister-in-law about to give birth?"
"Hmm, I estimate it will be within the next ten days to two weeks. Then we'll know whether it's a young man or a young woman."
"I won't go out during the days when Erlang's wife is about to give birth. I'll stay home and wait for our second daughter-in-law to be born." Li's mother also estimated that Li's second sister-in-law's third child was due soon, and had already decided to stay home during those days. She had also prepared all the tools to help Li's second sister-in-law deliver the baby.
The three chatted for a few minutes before Sister-in-law Li came over to ask her mother if they should eat dinner earlier. After all, everyone who went out today because of Li San Niang's matter had gone past lunchtime and hadn't had a proper meal; they had only bought some flatbread from the street vendors to stave off hunger.
Furthermore, today is a day of rebirth for Li San Niang and Lu Zhu'er. They have gotten rid of their unfaithful scumbag and are embarking on a new life. Shouldn't they add a couple of meat dishes to celebrate?
Brother Li, who had just finished his work, came over to join in the fun and said, "Today is a good day, we should celebrate! A foreign merchant from the West Market has brought a new wine. My colleagues all say it's very refreshing and flavorful. Before curfew, I'll go get a pot and we can all try it together tonight."
Li San Niang thought that what her elder brother Li said made sense, and hurriedly said, "Elder brother is right. This is a good day for my younger sister and Lu Zhu'er, and we should celebrate. I will pay for two tables of food at Jun You Lai. I will also buy two jugs of the wine that you mentioned, and go to the street corner to buy two roast geese for the children to enjoy."
Brother Li looked at Third Sister Li with surprise and delight, then turned to see if Mother Li agreed.
Sister-in-law Li patted Brother Li on the back, gave him a reproachful look, and said, "There's no need for Third Sister to pay. We can just use the public accounts."
Li San Niang was naturally unwilling to agree. She was a married woman, and although she was doted on by her parents, and even if her elder brother and sister-in-law were willing, things couldn't be done this way. Just as she was about to object again, her mother spoke up: "Eldest brother's wife, just listen to San Niang. This is a good day for the two of them. Even if they are close siblings, they should still give and take. The whole family has been busy for San Niang, so she deserves to have a meal with us."
Hearing this, Sister-in-law Li didn't say anything more. She took the money bag from Li San Niang, took out the largest silver ingot, weighing about five taels, and gave it to Brother Li. She gave him a light punch and told him to hurry up and go to the West Market to buy wine.
The clinic opened early today. As soon as the four little ones returned, Brother Li, who had just bought wine, came out to help put up the signboard to indicate that it was time to rest.
The four little ones came back later today than yesterday, but no one paid much attention, since they don't come back at the same time every day.
After all, to save money and to get some exercise, they walked back and forth between the academy and their homes twice a day. Sometimes they would run into classmates on the way and go out to play somewhere before returning, so the fact that it was a little late today didn't attract anyone's attention.
Brother Li noticed that Li Dalang and Li Erlang's hair was a bit loose, and Li Sanlang and Li Silang's scholar robes were not very neat. However, Brother Li did not say anything, but only nodded to the four little ones who came over to pay their respects.
A moment later, Junyoulai's waiter brought the feast, placing it on two bamboo tables in the courtyard. The dishes were so plentiful and dazzling that one couldn't decide which to start with.
After Li's father sat down in the main seat, Li San Niang poured a small cup of Hu wine for Li Da Lang and every other adult. Er Lang and San Lang felt that they were adults too, and strongly requested to have a cup as well, but Li San Niang refused with a smile.
Li Dalang, who was almost fifteen years old, was close to meeting the modern standard for full civil capacity. He also inherited his elder brother Li's tall and strong build, looking a head and a half taller than his peers. So, Li Sanniang poured her nephew a small cup of wine.
But Li Dalang was still very happy, as if he had been recognized. The others could only watch Li Dalang's smug and frivolous expression.
Standing before her seat, Li San Niang raised the glass of wine, its color not quite clear. She glanced at Lu Zhu'er sitting beside her, then looked around at everyone in the family, starting with Li's father, including the four children. Li San Niang raised her glass to Li's father and the others, her heart pounding, and slowly said, "Today is a good day for me and Lu Zhu'er. The confidence I have in taking Lu Zhu'er out of the Wang family for a divorce is entirely thanks to Father and Mother, as well as my eldest brother and sister-in-law, second brother and sister-in-law, and my nephews. I won't say anything more. I thank my family for their help. This glass is a toast to everyone present!"
As Li Sanniang spoke, she downed the small cup of wine in one gulp. It was indeed refreshing, perhaps due to the addition of mint, with only a hint of alcohol, probably just a few degrees. Actually, it was a small cup, and drinking it in one gulp was nothing; it certainly couldn't compare to modern baijiu with an alcohol content of fifty or sixty degrees.
Although Emperor Wu attached great importance to agriculture and sericulture and introduced sweet potatoes, grain was still quite precious, especially staple grains that could be used to brew wine.
Therefore, alcohol was strictly controlled, and the quantity was fixed and could not be exceeded, as this would affect grain production. Only taverns with a permit issued by the government could operate this business.
The wine sold by the foreign merchants in the West Market, which has a refreshing taste, is probably made from mint. They probably didn't know which of the many small countries in the Western Regions produced it. It was transported to Chang'an, and a small pot of it cost two ounces, which was really quite expensive. It was definitely a luxury item.
After Li San Niang finished speaking, Li's father picked up his chopsticks and took a piece of the roast goose that had already been torn apart in front of him, and everyone began to eat.
Dewdrop carefully gnawed on a leg of roast goose with her tiny teeth. The oily skin on the surface looked incredibly appetizing, and she was sure it would burst with juice when she bit into it.
The two roast geese had a total of four legs. Two were given to Li's father and mother, one to Luzhu'er, and the other to Li's pregnant sister-in-law.
All four of them ate with great relish.
When it was time to clear the plates, those two roast geese were the cleanest; everyone had even chewed up the bones and sucked them out.
Since the meal was ordered from a restaurant, any uneaten dishes had to be removed from the plates and placed in one's own bowls and plates. The next day, a waiter from Junyoulai would come to collect the plates.
After washing her hands and face with Lu Zhu'er, brushing her teeth with salt, washing her feet, and combing her hair, Li San Niang, lying on the bed, coaxed Lu Zhu'er to sleep. Her heart trembled with excitement as she summoned a virtual screen with her palms moving at will. She clicked on the task menu and found that the gray "Incomplete" button had turned into a green "Completed" button.
I tapped it lightly, and it instantly redirected me to the "Lottery" menu.
The interface is like the spinning wheel commonly found in modern games, with a line of small print at the bottom that reads "Number of spins available: 1". The wheel has six equal, gold-colored pieces, without any markings.
Li San Niang silently prayed, "May the Three Pure Ones grant me a lucky draw!"
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