Outside the window, light snow began to fall again. Xin Jiuwei listened to the sound of the falling snow and gradually drifted off to sleep. In her dream, the old plum tree was in full bloom, and her mother stood beneath it, smiling gently at her...
Three days later was the Laba Festival, and the Xin family cooked a large pot of Laba porridge according to tradition. The maternal grandmother personally cooked and taught Xin Jiuwei and Xin Xiyao how to make Laba garlic in the style of Yuncheng. The kitchen was filled with steam and laughter.
"Wei'er, peel the garlic thoroughly," Grandma instructed. "Yes, just like that..."
Xin Xiyao clumsily peeled garlic, her hands reeking of it, which made her younger cousins laugh. Xin Kui and several maids were busy preparing other ingredients, occasionally stealing glances at Xin Yunzhou, who was chopping firewood in the yard.
"Grandmother," Xin Jiuwei seized the opportunity to ask, "what do you think of Xin Kui?"
Her grandmother gave her a shrewd look: "She's a good girl. Hardworking and reliable, with good judgment." She lowered her voice, "The way Yunzhou looks at her is exactly the same way your father looked at Ruolan back then..."
Xin Jiuwei felt a warmth in her heart. Having gained her grandmother's approval meant that her brother and Xin Kui's relationship was halfway to success.
After the Laba porridge was cooked, the first bowl was traditionally offered to the ancestors. Father Xin led the whole family in worship at the ancestral hall, while the maternal grandfather, looking at his daughter Ruolan's memorial tablet, wept uncontrollably. Xin Jiuwei knelt behind, watching her relatives' figures, silently praying: Mother, can you see? Our family is finally reunited...
After the worship ceremony, everyone returned to the main hall for porridge. Xin's father specially invited Xiao Xun to celebrate the festival with them. The steaming hot Laba porridge smelled wonderful, and paired with freshly pickled Laba garlic, it was very appetizing.
"I heard there's a Buddhist ceremony at Lingyin Temple today?" my grandfather asked.
Mr. Xin nodded: "Yes, it happens every year on Laba Festival. Would you like to go and see it, Father-in-law?"
"It's a good time to offer incense." Grandfather looked at Xin Jiuwei and Xiao Xun, "You young people should come along too, to pray for peace and good fortune."
Xin Jiuwei and Xiao Xun exchanged a glance and nodded simultaneously. Lingyin Temple held special significance for them—it was the place where they first met.
In the afternoon, the Xin family headed to Lingyin Temple. The temple was bustling with people and filled with the smoke of incense. Xin Jiuwei and Xiao Xun deliberately lagged behind and quietly went to the old pine tree on the back mountain where they had first met.
"Do you remember that day?" Xiao Xun stroked the rough tree trunk. "You looked at me with such suspicion, as if I were some kind of lecher."
Xin Jiuwei chuckled: "Who told you to act so mysterious back then..."
Xiao Xun suddenly turned around and looked at her earnestly: "Wei'er, let's get engaged when I return from the capital in the spring."
The sudden marriage proposal stunned Xin Jiuwei. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out; she could only feel her heart pounding wildly in her chest.
"I...I..."
"No need to answer now," Xiao Xun said gently. "Think it over carefully. I will spend the rest of my life proving that your choice was right."
Xin Jiuwei looked up at him and saw her own reflection in his deep eyes, along with their overflowing affection. She suddenly understood her own feelings and gently nodded: "Okay."
That single word ignited a dazzling light in Xiao Xun's eyes. He carefully took her hand, as if cradling a priceless treasure: "It's a deal."
The two smiled at each other, and the distant sound of temple bells echoed through the valley, as if witnessing their promise.
Back in the temple square, Xin Jiuwei discovered that Xin Yunzhou and Xin Kui were also nowhere to be seen. She smiled knowingly and joined her family in offering incense and praying for blessings.
Kneeling before the Buddha, Xin Jiuwei kowtowed devoutly: "Thank you, Buddha, for giving me a second chance, allowing me to make up for the regrets of my past life. May my family be safe and happy, and may Xiao Xun and I..."
She secretly glanced at Xiao Xun, who was also kneeling beside her, and silently prayed: May we grow old together and never be separated.
After offering incense, Xin's father suggested strolling through the market in front of the temple. Grandfather bought gifts for each of the younger generation, and when it was Xin Jiuwei's turn, the old man mysteriously took out a brocade box: "Wei'er, this is for you."
Inside the box was a pair of jade earrings, of excellent quality.
"This...is too valuable..." Xin Jiuwei dared not accept it.
Grandfather said lovingly, "Take it. This is your mother's dowry, and it should have been passed down to you..."
Xin Jiuwei's eyes welled up with tears as she carefully took the earrings. These were her mother's old earrings... She immediately removed her original earrings and put on these jade earrings.
"Is it pretty?" she asked, turning to Xiao Xun.
Xiao Xun's gaze was so tender it could melt your heart: "Very beautiful."
On the way back to the manor, Xin Jiuwei and Xiao Xun were still walking at the very back. As the sun set, their shadows stretched long and intertwined, as if they could never be separated again.
"I'll go back to Beijing with you after spring," Xin Jiuwei suddenly said.
Xiao Xun looked at her in surprise: "You're willing?"
"Yes." Xin Jiuwei nodded. "I want to see the place where you grew up."
A flicker of emotion crossed Xiao Xun's eyes, and he said softly, "Okay, let's go together."
Ahead, Xin Yunzhou and Xin Kui had rejoined the team at some point. Although they kept their distance, the affection in their eyes was unmistakable. Xin Jiuwei watched her brother's retreating figure and smiled with relief.
After the Laba Festival, Yingzhou City enjoyed several days of fine weather. Xin Jiuwei stood under the eaves, looking at the bluestone slabs exposed after the snow melted in the courtyard, and pondered that she should buy some new fabric to make some spring clothes for her grandmother.
"Miss, the silk shop in the south of the city has just received a new batch of Suzhou embroidery. I heard the patterns are quite novel," Xin Kui said softly as she brought over tea and snacks, noticing Xin Jiuwei's thoughtful expression.
Xin Jiuwei's eyes lit up: "Perfect, let's go take a look." She took the tea and sipped it. "Let's call my sister along; she needs some new clothes too."
Before long, the two sisters, along with Xin Kui and several maids, arrived in the south of the city by carriage. The silk shop was bustling with activity, many young ladies selecting fabrics for their new clothes for the New Year. As Xin Jiuwei stepped inside, she heard a shrill voice coming from within:
"Oh, isn't this Miss Xin, the third daughter of the Xin family? What, you're here to choose fabrics too?"
Looking up, I saw Xue Yingxue again. It had been a long time since I had seen her. I wondered how her marriage to the Prince of Ruyang was going.
"Miss Xue." Xin Jiuwei stepped forward slowly, her expression unchanged. "The silk shop is open for business; who can't come?"
Xue Yingxue glanced disdainfully at Xin Kui behind her: "I just didn't expect that Miss Xin would now be seen going in and out with someone of such a background. Doesn't she fear losing her dignity?"
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