On the 30th day of the twelfth lunar month, the whole city of Tianjin was immersed in the joy of the Spring Festival. From the mottled brick walls of the old city to the carved columns of the foreign-style buildings in the concession area, lights and decorations were hung everywhere.
Red lanterns are hung high in front of every house, and the streets and alleys are filled with the smell of gunpowder after firecrackers are set off, which is intertwined with the aroma of delicacies wafting from each house.
Under the corridor of the main courtyard of Xie's mansion, maids wearing bright blue cotton jackets hurriedly walked by, holding gilded bronze basins.
In the kitchen, hot mist rising from the steamer was swirling. The master chef was kneading the glutinous rice cake using Tianjin's unique "kneading dough" technique. The veins on his sturdy arms were slightly protruding, and the dough made a rhythmic "pa pa" sound on the chopping board.
The steaming mist covered the window lattice with a layer of hazy white gauze, and two servants could be vaguely seen outside the window stepping on a red-painted wooden ladder, hanging the last lantern on the hanging flower gate. The gold characters in Yan style on the lantern, "㩙谷丰登", were particularly eye-catching in winter.
The entire mansion was shrouded in a busy yet peaceful atmosphere. Even the plum blossoms in the courtyard seemed to understand human nature, blooming little red stamens in the cold wind, adding a bit of vitality to this end-of-year scene.
The personal maid stood behind Zheng Wanqing, helping her change clothes carefully. Her fingers nimbly fastened the buttons, smoothing out every wrinkle.
Zheng Wanqing sipped her lipstick in the mirror and slightly opened her lips: "Where is the young commander?"
"I'm waiting for you in the front hall." The maid smiled and caught a glimpse of the slightly upturned corners of the person's lips in the mirror from the corner of her eye. That smile made the entire dressing table brighter.
When I opened the door, fine snow was falling on the branches of the plum tree in the courtyard.
Zheng Wanqing saw Xie Yun standing in the corridor watching the snow, his figure in a straight military uniform standing between the vermilion columns, with golden braids hanging on the dark blue woolen material, making his shoulders and back look as straight as pine and cypress. The outline of his face was particularly sharp in the snow, and the heroic spirit between his eyebrows made people unable to take their eyes away.
Hearing the familiar footsteps, Xie Yun suddenly raised his head. Zheng Wanqing was wearing a bright red Suzhou embroidered cheongsam, wrapping her slender figure and walking slowly. The peony embroidered with gold thread was faintly visible between the hems of her skirt. The mink velvet waistcoat she was wearing was shiny like satin, making the skin on her neck look as white and translucent as the first snow.
Her makeup on that day was particularly delicate, with her eyebrows lightly brushed into her temples, her almond-shaped eyes full of affection, and a touch of rouge smudged at the end of her eyes. The most striking thing was her red lips, which were full and plump, painted in a Western red, as bright as a ripe cherry, and revealing a hint of seductive charm.
Xie Yun stared at the person in front of him, and suddenly remembered the poem "A dot of peach blossom on the red lips". The girl who used to be "a lotus emerging from clear water, naturally beautiful and graceful" has now become a gorgeous girl "a red skirt that kills pomegranate flowers with envy".
His eyes darkened, he took two steps forward and took her cool hand: "Madam, you are dressed like this today, do you want to outshine all the red plum blossoms in the garden?" His voice was a little hoarse from suppressed repression, and the amazement in his eyes could no longer be hidden.
"Young Marshal, you are very sweet-talker." Zheng Wanqing raised the corners of her eyes slightly, her eyes were full of charm, and she pretended to pull her hand away, but the warm palm held it tighter.
Xie Yun's deep voice was filled with a smile, his eyes lingering on her beautiful face: "Let's go."
In the main hall, Uncle Zhou led everyone in a grand ceremony. The orderly kowtows on the blue brick floor sounded like the beat of a drum: "Young Marshal and Young Madam, wish you a happy spring!"
Uncle Zhou stood with his back straight, his graying temples trembling slightly when his forehead touched the ground. Behind him followed a group of maids and servants, all of them wearing cotton-padded jackets, with unconcealable joy on their faces.
A few young girls secretly raised their eyes and met Zheng Wanqing's smiling gaze, then quickly lowered their heads, their ears blushing with shame.
Xie Yun gave them a little help: "Everyone, get up." There was a rare gentleness in his deep voice.
Zheng Wanqing signaled to the maid to bring a gold-painted red lacquer tray. Each red envelope was embroidered with a different auspicious pattern. Inside were not only brand new silver dollars, but also a paper-cut that meant "peace in all seasons."
When the maids took the red envelopes, they couldn't help but gently stroke the delicate embroidery patterns with their fingertips.
"Thank you, Madam Young, for the gift!" the servants said in loud voices, their eyes sparkling with surprise as they took the red envelopes.
There was a brave one who secretly weighed it, and his mouth was almost stretched to his ears.
The maid felt the thickness of the red envelope and whispered to the maid next to her: "It's thicker than a silk bag!" Although her voice was soft, it couldn't hide her excitement.
"You don't need to serve me today. Just take a rest." Xie Yun waved his hand, and everyone left happily.
As soon as they turned around the screen wall, a few young boys couldn't help jumping up and down, pushing and shoving each other to see whose red envelope was bigger.
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