Chapter 159 The Passerby Who Died Before the Famine Even Began (15)
As they left the breakfast shop, the sun was already high in the sky, and the market was gradually filling up with people. The sounds of vendors hawking their wares and laughter rose and fell, a scene that hadn't been lively for several years. After the family had walked around, their hands were full of things. Jiang Yue and the twins were carrying a large pile of items. After leaving the alley, Chen said, "Let's put what we have in the car first, then have lunch before buying anything else."
After putting their things away, they found a restaurant with a lot of customers and waited in line for a while before it was their turn. They ordered a few dishes to try, but Jiang Yue felt that they weren't as good as what Chen Shi made. After finishing their meal, they put their things away twice before they could finish buying all the New Year's goods. During the New Year, many merchants from all over the country gathered in the capital. Chen Shi bought some of the food that could be stored, and they probably wouldn't be able to buy any more until the New Year.
When they got home that night, the twins were asleep. After sending them to their room, Jiang Yue wanted to help pack her things, but Chen sent her back to her room to sleep. A few days later, it was Lunar New Year's Eve. Normally, people would worship their ancestors on this day, but the current situation did not allow it. Jiang's father could only find a room in his own house to set up the ancestral tablets, and the family bowed and kowtowed a few times.
After kowtowing, Chen took her three children out. Jiang's father stayed in the house alone and told the ancestors about what had happened this year. He then apologized to the ancestors for not being able to go back to burn paper money for them this year. This was a custom that had to be done every year since they came to the capital. This was the custom now, and every household did it.
After paying respects to the ancestors, it was time for lunch. Today's lunch was very sumptuous. There were only five people in the Jiang family, so a large table was set up. The dishes were plentiful, with big bowls and plates. There was chicken stew with mushrooms, braised pork, braised fish, stewed pig's trotters, stir-fried cabbage, scrambled eggs with chives, stir-fried cured meat, and so on. It looked so delicious that it made one's mouth water.
For the main course, dumplings are definitely eaten during the New Year. Chen has already served a bowl for each person. After everyone is seated, Jiang's father said a few auspicious words and then they started eating. Chen chatted with Jiang's father while eating, and also kept an eye on the twins to make sure they didn't choke on the fish. She would also occasionally put some food on everyone's plate. Jiang Yue would occasionally respond and chat with Jiang's father and Chen, and also pour Jiang's father a drink.
The family happily finished their meal and chatted for a while. After cleaning up the table, they didn't go out for a stroll. Everyone was busy celebrating the New Year, and it wouldn't be appropriate to bother others. The next day, while Jiang Yue was still sleeping, the two children came in to celebrate the New Year. First, Lili woke Jiang Yue up, and after she got dressed, she called Xuanxuan in. The two stood side by side and bowed their little hands to Jiang Yue, saying, "Happy New Year, sister!"
Because the two girls were so sweet-talking and kept saying auspicious words, Jiang Yue gave each of them a tael of silver as New Year's money. After Jiang Yue finished getting ready, the three of them went to their father Chen's room to wish them a Happy New Year. When they arrived, their father and mother had already gotten up. The three of them said as soon as they entered the room, "Happy New Year, Father and Mother!"
Then they knelt down and kowtowed to their parents. After they finished kowtowing, Mr. Jiang and Mrs. Chen quickly helped the three children up, saying with smiles, "You are all well, and everyone is well." After the New Year's greetings, Mr. Jiang took out three red envelopes and gave one to each of them. After that, the family spent some time together, and then the twins ran out to wish Bai Ze and other neighbors a Happy New Year. Jiang Yue was already fifteen years old and it was not appropriate for her to visit other people's homes for the New Year.
After chatting for a while, Jiang Yue went back to her room to watch TV. Children from other families in the village came one after another to wish each other a Happy New Year. The process was to say some auspicious words, kowtow, and then Jiang's father would give them some copper coins, a few pieces of candy, and dried meat. By noon, most of the children in the village had come, and Jiang Yue's younger brother and sister also went home. The two were afraid that Chen would confiscate their New Year's money, so they went back to their room to hide the money.
Now, even if we have New Year's money, we can't spend it. We can only spend it when we go to the city. At lunchtime, Chen suddenly brought up something: "Husband, Xuanxuan is already seven years old. We should find a tutor to teach him to read."
After drinking a glass of wine, Mr. Jiang thought for a moment and said, "Tomorrow I'll go and ask Brother Bai. His child is the same age as our Xuanxuan. I'll see what his plans are. It would be best if both families could work together, so the children can look after each other."
"Hmm, you can ask about it tomorrow. Also, things aren't very peaceful right now. Should we go to the capital or the countryside to find a private school, or hire a teacher to come to our home? Or could we set up a private school in the village and hire a teacher? There are more than a dozen children in the village who can go to study."
It wasn't so easy to make a decision right away. The teacher was fine with Bai Ze taking the place, but the main problem was that if Jiang Xuan wanted to take the imperial examination later, then a puppet wouldn't be suitable. After all, the imperial examination wasn't something you could pass just because you were talented; it was all about interpersonal relationships. It would be best to find a teacher with a good reputation.
Of course, if it's just about learning knowledge, then probably no one can compare to Bai Ze. Moreover, with the female lead, who is like a butterfly, around, the steam engine will be invented decades later. If he can't learn the Four Books and Five Classics, he can learn other things. If that doesn't work, he can go and help the female lead.
Jiang Yue remembered that the female lead's health was not very good because she often got sick due to excessive depletion in her childhood. After she came to the capital, she would try to give her some pills to help her recover.
A few days later, the Lantern Festival, also known as the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, arrived. Today, the Jiang family and the Bai family went to the capital. At noon, they ate tangyuan (sweet rice balls) at a restaurant and enjoyed the lanterns in the evening. On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, the Jiang family and the Bai family visited the Prince's mansion. They found that there was no chance of meeting the Prince. Their main purpose was to visit the steward and ask if he would still be ordering peaches this year.
Jiang Yue and her family waited at the inn for her father and Bai Ze to return. Unexpectedly, the two returned with large bags and small packages. After Chen and Jiang Yue took the things, Chen asked Jiang's father, "Why are there so many things?"
"By a twist of fate, I met the Prince. It was a gift from the Prince. We were visiting the steward when the Prince happened to have business with him, so he also met with Brother Bai and me. He also placed an additional order. Before leaving, he asked us to give him a lot of things, which were gifts from other officials during the New Year. They didn't like them, so they gave them to us instead, hehe."
Seeing Jiang's father's annoyed expression, Chen hit him lightly. Then she looked at the gifts he had brought—good heavens, they were all nice things! Afterwards, she asked him what the prince looked like and whether he had any imposing presence. Once Chen calmed down, the family packed their things and set off for home.
When spring plowing was approaching, the problem of the children's schooling was finally solved. After discussing it with Bai Ze, Jiang's father decided to open a private school in the village. The only problem was that they were short of a qualified teacher. A few days later, a suitable teacher was found. This teacher was a retired student from the Imperial Academy. He used to like to come to the village to play, enjoy the flowers and fish. He was looking to settle down here and the village was short of a teacher. The two sides hit it off immediately.
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