After returning to the Zheng residence and settling in, Zheng Yuanyuan prepared eight gift boxes and personally took them to the bamboo paper shop.
Zhou Ersao was resting in the backyard, while Zhou Erzhu was busy with Gouwazi in front of her. When he saw Zheng Yuanyuan coming, he quickly went to greet her.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Zheng Yuanyuan was led to the backyard by Gouwazi. When Zhou Ersao saw Zheng Yuanyuan arrive, she quickly sat up from the kang (a heated brick bed).
Zheng Yuanyuan helped her up and said, "Don't get up, just rest."
Zhou Ersao said somewhat embarrassedly, "Coming to the city makes you feel pampered. Back in our hometown, let alone lying on the kang (heated brick bed) during the day, you have to finish all the work in the fields without fail."
Looking at Zhou Ersao's rosy complexion, Zheng Yuanyuan said with some disapproval, "I heard from my aunt that when a woman is pregnant, she must take good care of her body. Zhou Ersao, don't think about those chores. We only have one body, but there's always work to be done."
Aunt Zhou, not understanding what Zheng Yuanyuan meant by that, smiled and said, "Okay, I'll listen to you, Miss."
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Zheng Yuanyuan noticed that Zhou Ersao looked a bit tired, so she quickly said goodbye.
The streets were bustling with people. Looking at the endless stream of people, Zheng Yuanyuan felt a little warmer in her lonely heart. Everyone was busy preparing things for the New Year, and the atmosphere was different from usual because the New Year was coming. Zheng Yuanyuan rarely wanted to take a walk on the street.
Qinglian knew that Zheng Yuanyuan had been unhappy these days, and seeing that she really wanted to stroll around the streets, she agreed. She told the coachman to drive the carriage to the front and wait, while she and Honglian each accompanied her. The three of them slowly walked north along the main street.
Seeing that Zheng Yuanyuan looked unwell, Qinglian advised, "Miss, why don't we sit in the carriage? It's cold, and you'll easily catch a cold if you stay like this."
Zheng Yuanyuan gently shook her head. Qinglian pulled Zheng Yuanyuan away from a man carrying a carrying pole. There was a basket on each end of the pole, containing many items needed for the New Year. After the man passed by, Zheng Yuanyuan turned around and stared at his back, her expression blank.
Qinglian asked worriedly, "Miss, is there something wrong?"
Zheng Yuanyuan gently shook her head and said, "No, let's go to the front and take the carriage."
Sitting in the carriage, Zheng Yuanyuan thought about the joy on that man's face. Everyone was happy as the New Year approached. He had bought so many things for the New Year to take home. Would his wife and children be very happy?
Zheng Yuanyuan couldn't help but imagine her family gathered together, happy about the things they had bought. Then, thinking about herself, her expression became even more somber.
Qinglian paid close attention to Zheng Yuanyuan's expression. Seeing Zheng Yuanyuan's appearance, she asked with concern, "Miss, what's wrong?"
Zheng Yuanyuan wanted to say that nothing was wrong, but she felt like she was going to die if she kept these things bottled up inside and didn't talk to someone about them. Especially after Zong Chengping passed away, Zheng Yuanyuan was utterly despondent and couldn't muster any energy to do anything.
Zheng Yuanyuan sighed and said, "Sister Qinglian, I feel so pitiful."
Qinglian was slightly taken aback by these words, then smiled and said, "Miss, what's wrong? Why are you suddenly saying you're pitiful?"
Zheng Yuanyuan shook her head slightly, looking at the bustling scene outside through the gap in the carriage curtain. She said sadly, "I lost my mother when I was young and grew up with my grandmother. My grandmother was in poor health, but she never let me go hungry or cold. Later, I went to Hexi with my older brother, and that's when I realized that life was actually quite interesting. But my older brother and sister-in-law are the real family. How can I, as their younger sister and aunt, stay at home forever? But I don't want to get married like this. Sister Qinglian, don't you think I'm quite pitiful?"
Although Qinglian was two years older than Zheng Yuanyuan, she didn't have Zheng Yuanyuan's experiences and naturally couldn't understand Zheng Yuanyuan's current feelings. Seeing that Zheng Yuanyuan looked really sad, she said, "Miss, why don't we go to the Yongning Marquis's residence again? We can have a good talk with the Third Madam and ask her to comfort you. Maybe that will make you feel better."
Zheng Yuanyuan shook her head and said, "No, I'd better not. I've already bothered Auntie's house for too long. It's almost the end of the year, and everyone is busy. How can I go and cause Auntie any more trouble?"
Qinglian sighed inwardly, unsure of what to say next. Ideally, Xu Zhi could return now and spend a few days with Zheng Yuanyuan, offering her some words of comfort. However, Qinglian knew that the workshops in Luzhou were busiest at this time of year, especially since next year was the year of the grand competition, and the demand for writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones would only increase. Xu Zhi must be incredibly busy.
Back at the Zheng residence, Zheng Yuanyuan immediately destroyed her own courtyard. After Wang Mama helped her lie down, she went to ask Qinglian what she had done outside.
Wang Mama was Zheng Yuanyuan's personal attendant, so Qinglian naturally wouldn't hide it from her. She repeated what Zheng Yuanyuan had said to her in the carriage. After a long while, Wang Mama sighed softly and said to Qinglian, "Our young lady has something on her mind, but she won't say it herself, and none of us can pry it out of her."
The two were talking at the front gate when they saw the steward of the house come in from outside with a happy face. When he saw Wang Mama, he said happily, "Wang Mama, our eldest mistress is back."
Not only did Granny Wang not believe the steward's words, but Qinglian was also completely bewildered. After a long while, Granny Wang asked again, "Who did you say came back?"
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