Chapter 245 Letter of Peace
Sheng An was completely unaware of the conversation between Uncle Fu and Aunt Niu. Looking at the gloomy sky above, she returned to the courtyard and said to Xu Jinnian, "It might rain or snow in the next couple of days."
Xu Jinnian helped her take off her fur coat and gently instructed her, "It's common for it to snow in the capital in winter. Don't go out then. Just tell me what you need to do."
Sheng An readily agreed, sat down in front of the blazing fire to warm himself, and grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds to peel: "Neither of us are home, and we don't know how Grandpa, Grandma, and Dad are doing."
Having lived in this time and space for more than three years, this is the first time I haven't spent the Lunar New Year with my three elders.
At this moment, she missed them terribly, missing the time when her family would stay up all night to make dumplings.
Perhaps it was because of her pregnancy, but Sheng An felt she had become more sentimental.
Xu Jinnian gently put his long arms around her and kissed her forehead:
"Grandpa and Grandma should have received the letter that they are safe. We can go back after the imperial examinations are over."
Sheng An suppressed the tears welling up in her eyes and said in a muffled voice:
"We'll buy gifts together then. We'll buy gifts for Grandpa and Grandma, and for my aunt and uncle. They'll definitely love the gifts we brought back from Beijing."
Xu Jinnian naturally agreed, and used this topic to divert her attention, explaining in detail what specific items the elders would like to buy.
Qingzhou, Shengyuan.
"Tomorrow is Chinese New Year, and I don't know what the two kids will eat for New Year's Eve dinner. I wonder if they will miss the food at home."
In the kitchen, Grandma Sheng poured boiling water to scald the chicken feathers while talking to Grandpa Sheng, who was sitting in front of the stove tending the fire.
Grandpa Sheng looked at the warm sunshine outside, feeling more depressed than ever before, but he still mustered his spirits to comfort his wife:
"The capital is the most prosperous place in the world. The food, drink and entertainment here are far superior to those in Qingzhou. The two children have a lot of money with them, so they certainly won't skimp on themselves. What do you have to worry about, old woman?"
Grandma Sheng wasn't happy to hear it and glared at him:
"There's no place like home, no matter how nice the capital is. I've heard that rice isn't grown in the north, and everyone eats noodles. Our An'an prefers rice; she can't stand eating noodles every day!"
After his wife said that, Grandpa Sheng couldn't help but worry: "I wonder if our southern rice is being transported to Beijing for sale. If it is, the two kids will probably buy some."
Grandma Sheng's heart ached at the thought that her granddaughter and grandson-in-law might not even have rice to eat, and tears welled up in her eyes.
"We haven't heard a word in so long. If I had known it would turn out like this, I shouldn't have agreed to let An'an go to the capital. What if she gets sick from the change in environment, or what if she encounters bad people!"
"Pah, pah, pah! What nonsense are you spouting, you old woman, on New Year's Day!"
Grandpa Sheng was quite frightened by Grandma Sheng's words and immediately spat on the ground several times:
"It's not just the two of them who went to the capital. Young Fang and his group went together and stayed at their teacher's house, so they'll definitely be fine!"
Grandma Sheng realized she had said the wrong thing, so she quickly went to the kitchen doorway and bowed to the sky.
"Please, Bodhisattva, please don't be offended. This old woman was just talking nonsense. I pray that the Bodhisattva will bless my granddaughter and grandson-in-law with all good things, and that everything will go smoothly for them..."
Xu Chenglin returned excitedly from the front yard, only to find this scene.
Hearing the old lady's prayer, Xu Chenglin felt a lump in his throat and called out to Grandma Sheng, "Auntie, Jin Nian and An An have sent a letter!"
Upon hearing this, Grandma Sheng rushed over, and Grandpa Sheng also ran out of the kitchen.
Urged by his parents, Xu Chenglin tore open the envelope, took out the letter inside, and read it aloud word by word:
"Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, it is a pleasure to receive this letter. My husband and I have arrived safely in the capital and are staying at Master's residence there..."
The letter of reassurance was written by the couple on the second day after they arrived in the capital, and was delivered by Ye Yunhua's guards. It was just delivered today.
At that time, Sheng An didn't know she was pregnant, so she didn't have time to write down the good news.
Xu Chenglin read those few hundred words aloud three times.
Only after confirming that the two children were safe and sound did the three of them finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Grandma Sheng wiped her eyes and smiled, "There is rice available in the capital. The cook at the Master's house cooks rice for the children every day according to their preferences, so there's no worry about them not having enough to eat."
Grandpa Sheng was also laughing, but he said, "You're always worrying about this and that. The two kids aren't stupid. They wouldn't let themselves go hungry."
Grandma Sheng was in a good mood and didn't bother to care about her husband's attitude. She took the letter of peace from Xu Chenglin and read it over and over again.
Even though she was illiterate.
Fearing that Xu Cuilian and the others would worry, Xu Chenglin specially brought a letter of reassurance to the Zhang family.
Knowing that her nephew and niece-in-law were both well, Xu Cuilian finally felt relieved after two months of worry and said to Xu Chenglin:
"With the two children not home, the three of you old folks must be bored celebrating the New Year at home. Come over tomorrow for New Year's dinner together, and we can all have some fun together!"
Xu Chenglin thought the suggestion was good and readily agreed: "Okay, we'll come over tomorrow morning."
Tomorrow morning I must pay respects to my ancestors and burn incense and paper money for them, asking them to bless the two children in Beijing.
In the evening, Zhang Zhaodi and her family of four returned from Huai Shu Village and heard the good news that her good friend and her husband had arrived safely in Beijing.
She happily picked up her infant son and kissed him, then said to Zhang Daikui, who was holding her older son:
“With An’an and the others not at home, Grandpa Sheng and the others must be very worried. Since we don’t have much to do during the Spring Festival, we can take the children to visit Sheng Garden more often.”
Zhang Daikui nodded vigorously: "Yes, yes."
Zhang Zhaodi smiled and looked at her two sons, one big and one small, and said to herself, "Now that we've changed places, I hope An'an will bring good news next year."
If all else fails, she and Da Kui can try harder to have more children, and then adopt one that they both like best so that it can bring them joy in the future.
Her child with Da Kui is her cousin's nephew, and they are related by blood, so her cousin probably wouldn't mind.
In any case, she couldn't give her cousin the opportunity to take a concubine, and making An'an raise the concubine's child was a further blow to An'an's heart.
On New Year's Eve, the sky over Beijing was even more gloomy, with rain and snow possible at any moment.
After arriving in the capital, Sheng An became someone who had difficulty getting up in the morning. When she opened her eyes and saw that the room was dimly lit, she thought it was still early and closed her eyes to fall back asleep.
Suddenly, a warm handkerchief was slapped on her face, forcing Sheng An to open her eyes. Looking at the man standing by the bed, leaning over to wash her face, she mumbled indistinctly, "I'll get up first."
Xu Jinnian smiled as she put away the handkerchief, went to the small hall to take down the clothes that had been heated, and personally helped Sheng An put them on.
Sheng An was warm and not cold at all, but the thick clothes made it difficult for her to move around.
She touched her belly and looked at Xu Jinnian with relief, saying:
"Fortunately, the baby was born in June or July. If the baby had been born in the dead of winter, not only would the baby have been more likely to suffer from the cold, but the adults would have had an endless supply of diapers to wash and dry."
Summer is much more lovely than winter.
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