The next day was New Year's Eve. Early in the morning, Shi Lan was woken up by her mother, Ruan. In a flurry of activity, Shi Lan was dressed up like a child girl in a New Year's painting and sent out the door.
It was just dawn, and Shi Lan was still a little drowsy. From behind the path shaded by flowering trees, Pan Jinxuan hurriedly came over, "Fourth Sister, wait for me."
Shi Lan turned her head and saw Pan Jinxuan, who was dressed similarly to her.
After exchanging greetings, the two, worried that it was getting late, hurried to Shou'an Hall. On the way, they encountered Pan Jinjing, who looked dazed and was being held in her mother's arms.
Shi Lan had always liked this soft little dumpling, so she gently pinched her tender little face to wake her up.
Pan Jinjing, who was dozing off, didn't cry when she was woken up. When she saw Shi Lan, she called her softly, "Big sister, fourth sister," which shows that she was well-mannered.
Looking at the sky behind her, Madam Ruan tugged at Shi Lan's sleeve.
Shi Lan had been taught by her mother Ruan early in the morning that it was better to pay New Year's visits early rather than late, so she didn't dare to play around too much.
Soon the three sisters arrived at the entrance of Shou'an Hall. The maids who were serving them all bowed to them. Shi Lan nodded slightly. Mama Ruan smiled and gave each of the little maids a purse. She did this almost at the same time as Mama Feng, who was with Pan Jinxuan. The mama who brought Pan Jinjing was stunned for a moment and turned to look at the little maid who was with her.
The young maid frowned, looking troubled, as if she hadn't made any preparations.
Shi Lan then glanced at Ruan's mother.
Madam Ruan immediately understood and slipped some of her extra purse into the maid's hand, thus resolving the awkward situation. (Latest and fastest updates, providing free reading)
On the veranda, Pan Jinyue, who was bowing her head and preparing to enter the house, noticed that the maids in the courtyard were all gathered around the three Shi sisters. Her expression changed, and she turned to look at Mama Yuan.
Yuan's mother quickly lowered her face, not daring to speak.
Pan Jinyue's face immediately darkened. Looking at the smiling faces all over the courtyard, she suddenly felt particularly stung by them, so much so that she couldn't help but clench her fists and glare fiercely at Yuan Mama, who had failed in her duties.
Yuan's mother felt very wronged.
Everyone in the Marquis's mansion knows that the lady is raised by the old lady's side. In previous years, the old lady would reward her along with the lady, so why would they need to prepare anything special?
Now things have really changed. My wife has only moved to a different place, and these little hussies don't even respect her anymore.
Madam Yuan was determined to speak to Bao Ping, who was by the old lady's side, and not let her mistress suffer such humiliation for nothing.
A frail-looking girl, her figure swaying precariously in the wind, stood far away on the veranda outside the courtyard. She glanced at the undercurrents in the courtyard, then pulled the boy beside her back two steps and hid in the shadows.
The maids received their rewards one by one and ran back happily. One of them, who was responsible for holding up the curtain, diligently lifted the curtain. Baoping, who was inside, heard the noise and came out. She saw the maids smiling as if they had found treasures, so she asked them a couple of questions.
One of the quick-witted ones spread out his hand, showing Bao Ping his purse, and said, "These are a gift from the two young ladies."
Bao Ping glanced at them, estimating they were either small silver coins or copper coins, smiled, said a few auspicious words, and ushered the young ladies inside. (Latest and fastest updates, providing free reading)
Inside the room, the old lady finished washing and dressing, and was helped to sit on the kang by Yue'e. All the ladies got up, and Baoping placed a soft cushion on the ground.
Pan Jinxuan then stepped forward and respectfully kowtowed, offering New Year's greetings in a refined manner.
The old lady herself wasn't very learned, but the prevailing social trend was to promote literature and suppress martial arts. She had a strange fondness for those who enjoyed playing with words, so even though she didn't understand most of Pan Jinxuan's congratulatory message, she still smiled broadly and said, "Thank you."
Bao Ping readily agreed and handed Pan Jinxuan a red envelope.
Pan Jinxuan thanked her and got up to step aside.
In the corner of the room, a graceful young girl whom Shi Lan had never seen before came to the cushion and knelt down like a willow swaying in the wind, kowtowing six times without hesitation.
The old lady had already stopped smiling. She looked at the girl and gently called out "Rise," then glanced at the vase.
The bottle was also handed over with a red envelope.
Upon seeing this, Shi Lan knew that the thin, slightly sickly girl was Pan Jinyao, the second-born daughter of her third uncle, whom she had never met before.
Shi Lan turned to look at the child who had been closely following Pan Jinyao and standing in the shadows. That must be Erlang Pan Chenzhao.
Pan Chenzhao lowered his head slightly, looking at the ground diagonally in front of him. It was unclear what he was thinking, but from his tightly pursed lips and the tense lines of his jaw, Shi Lan guessed that it was definitely not something good that would make him happy.
Shi Lan found it strange; what could possibly make such a young boy so serious?
A faint scent of medicine wafted past her nose, and Pan Jinyao, dressed in a light lilac-colored dress, came to his side and protectively shielded him behind her.
Shi Lan was slightly taken aback, not quite understanding where Pan Jinyao's wariness came from, and wondered if she should find an opportunity to ask Pan Jinxuan.
Just then, Pan Jinyue gave a coquettish reply. Turning around, I saw Pan Jinyue run across the cushions to the old lady's side, grabbing her arm and softly calling out, "Grandmother."
The old lady was shaken a little by her, and smiled with a mixture of affection and helplessness: "What is it now?"
Pan Jinyue then claimed that she had neglected to prepare a purse for tipping, and used her charm and nagging to get the old lady to tip her.
The old lady was so flustered by her shaking that she looked at the treasure bottle and said, "Later, make the reward for our courtyard even more generous, and say it's Third Sister's thoughtfulness."
Bao Ping pursed her lips, responded, and handed over the red envelope.
Pan Jinyue glanced at it, but didn't take it. Instead, she leaned her head against the old lady's chest and said, "Grandmother, I can't let you spend money. Let Baoping come from my red envelope as a reward."
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