On New Year's Eve, according to the original rules, one should worship ancestors in the ancestral hall, but because they were far away in the capital, they only worshipped tablets. However, Yu attached great importance to the sacrifice and never neglected it. She even cooked many dishes herself.

Not only that, she also brought Yao Niang to work with her. The two of them gathered around a small red clay stove to make egg dumplings filled with water chestnuts and lean meat.

Yu smiled and said, "Your grandmother loved to eat this when she was young. You must not be careless when it comes to offering sacrifices to your elders. Only in this way can they protect you for a long time."

Yao Niang saw Yu holding a small spoon and cooking on the small stove for a while, then putting in egg liquid and slowly waiting for it to solidify, then putting in water chestnut and meat filling, and then stretching it with chopsticks, and an egg dumpling was out of the oven.

"Mom, why don't I see my eldest sister-in-law?" Yao Niang was a little surprised when she didn't see Fan.

On weekdays, Fan usually took care of the household chores together with Yu. After all, Fan was the eldest daughter-in-law in the eldest son's family. Yu also valued this daughter-in-law, and the two often worked together.

But Erzhen, who was beside Yu, said, "I'm afraid the eldest lady is not very comfortable. The eldest master has taken in two more children and has made a good living."

Yu said, "What are you talking about with the young lady?"

Yao Niang said, "Don't look down on me because I'm young. I should have known this long ago." She knew very well that there was nothing wrong with Fan. She was charming and pretty, had a gentle temperament, and was quite knowledgeable in literature. She was considered very good.

I heard that she and her husband were very affectionate at first, but after two or three years, they became strangers. Luo Jingxi liked fishing and sex, and was always greedy for new things. Fan often urged him to study, which made the couple even colder.

"You're so smart. Even if you know about this, you have to pretend you don't know." Yu shook her head.

When Yao Niang thought of Mrs. Fan’s sudden death the next year, she couldn’t help feeling sad and disappointed. Could it be that her eldest sister-in-law died suddenly because her eldest brother had two concubines who became ill?

Thinking of this, she wanted to go see her brother Jinghao again. No matter what, she had to stay with Jinghao.

After Yao Niang left, Yu said to Er Zhen, "I heard that Master Chen sent a pair of twin sisters. Merchants like them are like this. They invest a lot and get what they want when the time comes."

Erzhen nodded: "That's right, our master certainly feels at ease to take her in, and he even said that he took her in because he had no children."

After returning to the room, Yinrong was talking to Baizhi: "These noble young men, even if you are a fairy, what's the use? You can just change them when you get tired of them. Our eldest daughter brought four maids with her as a dowry. I think they are all going to be concubines."

The two maids whispered to each other and stopped talking when they saw Yao Niang coming back at the door.

"Don't talk about it all the time in the future. It would be fine if no one heard it, but if someone heard it, what would others say?" Yao Niang also knew that it would be more difficult to stop these servants from gossiping than to kill them, but she still had to say a few words to express her attitude.

Yinrong and Baizhi quickly admitted their mistakes.

In the evening, Yao Niang held Jing Hao's hand and they all had a banquet in the main room to celebrate the New Year. Fan had recovered as before and said to Yao Niang, "Your elder brother bought a lot of fireworks and firecrackers. After we finish our meal, let's all go to the garden to watch the fireworks. Don't worry, I have asked people to surround the pavilion. It's very warm."

Yao Niang took Fan's hand and said coquettishly: "Then I will go to see it with my sister-in-law. I like my sister-in-law the most." She had to stick with Fan often to prevent anything from happening to her.

Fan felt warm in her heart.

This scene was seen by Luo Jingrou, and she felt bad. In terms of closeness, she was Fan's sister-in-law, but now Fan didn't distinguish between close and distant relatives, and was even better with Yao Niang. This sister-in-law, not only couldn't give birth to a child, but was also angry about her brother taking a concubine. She was too petty. In this official family, who doesn't have three wives and five concubines? What's so strange about it? Is it worth getting jealous about this?

Yao Niang thought differently from Jing Rou. She thought that the reason why many children of officials could not achieve great things was that their family was too rich, so they lacked the desire to make progress. Everything was easily available, so they did not treasure it. This was also true for women. If an ordinary family married a woman like Fan, they would probably treat her like a treasure. But Luo Jingxi was surrounded by countless beauties, and Fan became insignificant.

But it was said that the area around the pavilion was full of lights, and the female family members were gathered around Old Lady Dou. There were many guests today, even Old Lady Yu came with Yu Yan.

There wasn't a single bit of New Year's joy on Yu Yan's face. She just went through the motions in front of the elders, and everything seemed indifferent.

On the contrary, Shi Yu's elder brother Luo Jingyuan was very outstanding. He had been studying hard these few days after returning from the academy. He came here on the orders of his father Luo Zhizheng to bring hot soup to the female family members, and was pulled aside by Old Madam Dou to talk for a long time.

"I've heard from your mother that you work hard. Now I see that you've grown taller, just like your father when he was young."

Luo Jingyuan felt very embarrassed. Shi Yu, who was standing beside him, was feeling embarrassed and was also observing Yu's expression.

Yu said, "Old lady, please don't praise him. I heard that all his classmates in the academy get up before dawn to study hard. For a family like ours, only in this way can the children study well."

If people didn't know, they would think that Yu was Luo Jingyuan's biological mother. Only a biological mother would urge her son to make progress, and spoiling her child would harm him.

However, Yu also said: "During the festival, we should have fun. If the old lady has anything to do, just tell him."

Old Lady Dou smiled and said, "If I send too many people, you two will cause trouble for me."

Everyone laughed, and Yao Niang laughed too. She knew that older women always liked to make fun of people.

Someone shouted, "Look, the fireworks are coming out."

Luo Jingxi led people to set off fireworks at the arch bridge in the garden. As the fireworks rose to the sky, it was gorgeous and colorful, which really reminded people of Su Weidao's "Fire trees and silver flowers merge, the star bridge is locked open".

"These fireworks are so beautiful. It's worth seeing them just once in a lifetime." Shi Fang murmured.

Shi Zhen, who was always demure, sneered: "Fourth sister, what's the point of something so fleeting that you can't catch it? Look, once you release it, it's gone, just like a passing cloud."

Yao Niang thought this made sense, and asked Shi Zhen curiously, "Then what do you think is the most important thing, Second Sister?"

"That depends on what you think. Just like the scholars, they may be good at writing articles and compose brilliant poems, but they may not necessarily become high-ranking officials." Shi Zhen said thoughtfully.

These words were different from the image she usually displayed, and they were sharp and ambitious.

Yao Niang is still just a seven-year-old girl, so she asked Fan in confusion: "Sister-in-law, why don't I understand what my second sister said?"

Mrs. Fan patted her head and said, "My dear sister, I don't quite understand you either. Let's just watch the fireworks. Even if they are fleeting, it's good to be happy for a while at this moment."

"Yeah." Yao Niang nodded with a smile.

The fireworks lasted for half an hour, the flames illuminating their faces. Yao Niang held Jing Hao in her arms and looked at Yu who was not far away. Somehow, she developed many expectations for the future.

When it comes to Chinese New Year, most people visit relatives and friends. On the first day of the new year, Yao Niang followed her parents to the Shan family. Mrs. Shan's daughter, cousin Xuxu, was a passionate and straightforward girl. Unlike her mother who was full of ideas to suppress others, she saw the three girls from the Luo family and they all chattered non-stop.

And she has a characteristic when she speaks, she speaks very fast, even if you are distracted for a moment, you can't hear what she is saying.

"Oh, it's great that you can come, Sister Jingrou, why didn't you invite me to visit you when you went to Beijing? We can only meet after your sister gets married."

Luo Jingrou was afraid that she would marry into the Shan family, so she deliberately distanced herself from Shan Xuxu. Now when she saw her, she said calmly, "I live with my great aunt, and my eldest sister is getting married, so I can't leave. But I've always been thinking about you. Here, I left you a pair of hairpins inlaid with turquoise. I've always remembered your hobby."

Xuxu was really happy to hear this. Yao Niang, who was standing by, also felt that this was Luo Jingrou's outstanding quality. She remembered other people's preferences and gave them things that suited their tastes, and she was well prepared.

As people often say, among three people walking together, there must be one who can be my teacher.

Everyone has their strengths. If I only learn from their strengths, won’t I grow quickly?

After lunch at noon, Luo Zhizheng took them home. As far as Yao Niang knew, her father Luo Zhizheng hated visiting relatives. For example, he came back early to take Yu to ice skating, and didn't care who came to visit.

"Mom, didn't you say you were very tired? Why don't you take a rest instead of going ice skating?" Yao Niang asked.

Yu smiled and said, "Because it was your mother who wanted to go. When your grandfather was still alive, I climbed Mount Hua with him. Besides, you don't know that your father is very annoyed by these trivial matters. I just want to take him out to relax."

Yao Niang then realized that her mother actually had many sides. She seemed quiet and gentle, but she actually had this hobby. Unfortunately, their children could not go. Yao Niang held her chin up and expressed deep regret.

She wanted to go play in the garden with Jinghao, but the child fell asleep again. His nurse said, "Fifth Miss, this child sleeps well and grows well. I heard that the second young master is very hardworking, but the lady said that the third young master is sick and has many troubles. Let nature take its course and don't force it."

"That's right." She heard that after her second brother Jingyuan started to learn, he got up early and went to bed late every day, never delaying. Then she looked at her own younger brother, Yao Niang scratched his little nose and said, "Forget it, just go to sleep first."

It was no wonder that Yu spared no effort in vying for favor. She was already the wife, but in fact, she was doing it for them.

The eldest brother Luo Jingxi is the eldest son, and 70% of the family's property belongs to him. He can live a life of luxury. The second brother Luo Jingyuan is a concubine's son, but he works hard and has talent. Shi Yu is also highly regarded in the family. In Daqi, where the imperial examination is king, the imperial examination is more important than the legitimate son.

If Luo Jingyuan passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi, even his elder brother Luo Jingxi would have to depend on him in the future.

As for her younger brother Jinghao, he was in a miserable situation. He was young and often sick. He has been in much better shape after her careful care since her rebirth. But as a mother, Yu still had to make more plans. Only if Jinghao got more love from her husband, would he give Jinghao more private property in the future so that they would not have to suffer financial difficulties. This was probably what the mother was thinking.

However, in order to accompany Luo Zhizheng, Yu and his wife prepared to brew wine at home, and even rejected the opera wine from the Cao family of Dongyang Hou, which made Luo Jingrou very angry.

Zhenzhu said quickly, "Miss, calm down. There may be opportunities in the future. You will go to the Marquis of Yanping's Mansion in a few days during the Lantern Festival. You will definitely be able to meet the Cao family."

"That's not the same." The more Luo Jingrou inquired about the Cao family, the more satisfied she felt. Madam Cao was related to the Luo family and was never arrogant. Her eldest son Yin was named the crown prince and was preparing to take part in the military examination. This was exactly her ideal husband. This Yu actually ruined her good fortune. It was hard to imagine that she didn't do it on purpose.