Chapter 127 Brother, you're back from your escapades!
In the depths of winter, as the Lunar New Year approaches, red lanterns begin to be hung throughout Haicheng.
Although the government now uses the Gregorian calendar, festivals are still celebrated according to the lunar calendar. Once the Laba Festival is over, people begin to prepare for the New Year with great enthusiasm.
Despite the city being snowbound and frozen outside, preparations for the Lunar New Year are still in full swing.
Lou Hongjian drove through the street, and people walking along the street were carrying large and small bags of New Year's goods they had just bought. There were also more people in the shops than usual.
His back seat was also full of gifts for his family.
He hid away for many days. First, he went to Night Paris, and then he went to several friends' houses. He figured that things were almost over and that Lou Dashuai should be getting over his anger soon. Besides, it was almost New Year's Day—how could he not spend New Year's Day with his family? So he set off to go home.
It's been several days since I last saw him. I wonder if Mao Mao misses him.
Thinking of this, Lou Hongjian parked the car on the side of the road and went out to buy a few strings of candied hawthorns.
I haven't been home for several days, and the Marshal's Mansion has been completely renovated.
Red lanterns were hung in front of the door, and the snow cat in the courtyard was also wearing a red scarf. The paper-cut window decorations on the doors and windows were half-finished, and the rest were still being cut.
The paper-cut window decorations were made by the ladies together.
Mao Mao also held a small pair of scissors and sat obediently on a small stool, cutting paper with the ladies.
As soon as Lou Hongjian entered the room, he saw her eyes wide open, staring at the red paper in her hand. Her chubby little face tensed up with nervousness, as if facing a formidable enemy.
"Mao Mao!" Lou Hongjian opened his arms wide, a big smile spreading across his face: "Brother's back!"
Mao Mao raised her head blankly.
She was still engrossed in paper cutting when she saw her brother, whom she hadn't seen in a long time. She was a little taken aback and her little face was blank.
Until Lou Hongjian walked up to her, his handsome and dashing face close to her eyes: "Mao Mao, long time no see, come and give your big brother a kiss."
"...Third brother!" Mao Mao exclaimed excitedly, "You're back from the dead!"
Lou Hongjian: "..."
"Pah, pah, pah! It's the New Year, I'm perfectly fine." Instead of receiving a kiss from his sister, Lou Hongjian cupped her chubby little face and affectionately rubbed her cheeks: "Mao Mao, did you miss your brother? Did you? Did you dream about me every night? Your brother missed you so much!"
He hadn't seen his beloved little sister for days, and couldn't hear Mao Mao calling him "brother." He was the one who missed his sister terribly.
Mao Mao responded loudly, "I miss my brother!"
"Your brother misses you too!"
The brother and sister affectionately shared their longing for each other. Mao Mao put down her little scissors and happily ran out to call for help.
As her footsteps clattered away, her cheerful little voice drifted back: "Fourth brother, third brother's back from his mischief!"
Lou Hongjian: "..."
The third concubine, who was cutting paper snowflakes on the side, burst out laughing.
The second concubine smiled and tried to smooth things over: "Third Young Master, you didn't even say hello. You've been away from home for several days. Mao Mao asked you about it several times."
Lou Hongjian didn't need to think too much to know what the others had said.
"I don't know where he's gone," or "He's out fooling around."
Lou Yansui, who had been summoned by Mao Mao's sweet voice, had such words written all over his face.
Lou Hongjian grinned and said, "Ah Sui, it's been so many days since I last saw you. Don't you miss me?"
"Third brother, Dad is very angry."
"..." Lou Hongjian swallowed hard. "So many days have passed, Dad should have calmed down by now. Besides, it's the New Year, fighting and arguing will only hurt the harmony."
Feeling guilty, Lou Hongjian finished speaking and bowed his head to pray to Mao Mao: "Mao Mao, Dad loves you the most. If he's still angry, you must say a few good words about me in front of him."
Mao Mao looked at him blankly: "Huh?"
Lou Yansui said with disdain, "Third brother, you're too shameless."
"If Mao Mao protects her brother, her brother will take her to eat something delicious." Lou Hongjian had his own reasoning: "I'll avoid getting beaten up, and Mao Mao will get to eat something delicious. It's a win-win situation."
Mao Mao cheered happily, "It's delicious!"
Lou Yansui looked behind him again: "Third Brother, where is Miss Catherine?"
Lou Hongjian looked completely bewildered: "Who is Catherine?"
Lou Yansui: "..."
Receiving his younger brother's undisguised look of disgust, Lou Hongjian racked his brains for a long time before finally remembering: "...Oh, it's her!"
Lou Yansui said, "After you left, Miss Catherine called the house looking for you, but you weren't home. I thought you were going to see her."
After spending a few days out fooling around, Lou Hongjian had long forgotten about this encounter. He said nonchalantly, "I missed it."
If you miss it, it's because you're not meant to be. Young Master Lou has plenty of suitors, so he won't miss this one.
Lou Yansui couldn't bear to watch and quickly covered her sister's ears and walked away, afraid of polluting her ears.
"Ah Sui," the First Madam called to him from not far away, "Come and help me write Spring Festival couplets."
"I'm here, Mom."
Lou Yansui went to help with the writing.
Mao Mao sat back down on the small stool, picked up her little scissors, and continued her struggle with paper-cutting.
Lou Hongjian leaned closer and asked, "What are you all busy with... cutting paper snowflakes? Mao Mao, I'll teach you, I'm good at this."
Art is interconnected.
He has skillful hands; scissors seem to be naturally flexible in his hands. With just a little thought, he can cut out exquisite patterns from a piece of paper.
With a snip-snip of the scissors, scraps of paper fell in a flurry. When unfolded, the paper-cut window decorations he created were exquisite, far more beautiful than those made by the ladies.
The third concubine put down her work and sighed deeply: "We've put in so much effort, but it's not as good as the third young master's casual cutting. An artist's hands are just different."
As Lou Hongjian cut the paper snowflakes, he asked, "Why are you cutting them yourself this year?"
In previous years, the Lou family didn't have that much time and would buy ready-made products from outside.
Now, not only the wives have started to participate, but even Old Madam Lou has joined in.
Old Madam Lou was skilled in needlework and had dexterous hands. At this moment, she cut out a lifelike red carp.
“It’s Mao Mao.” The eldest aunt said with a smile, “Mao Mao said that we should put up Spring Festival couplets and paper-cut window decorations for the New Year, and we’ll go with her.”
Lou Hongjian lowered his head and teased his younger sister, "Our Mao Mao is so amazing, she can even cut paper!"
Mao Mao didn't even look up, immersed in her own creation. Her two little ears completely blocked out her brother's words, and scraps of paper fell all over her.
After finally finishing cutting, she put down the small scissors and let out a long breath.
"What did Mao Mao cut?"
"Look at Mao Mao!"
Mao Mao confidently held up her paper-cutting artwork to show everyone.
The crowd stared at the strangely shaped piece of paper in her hand for a long time, but they still couldn't figure out what it was originally.
Xia Xiaoxiang racked her brains, relying on her understanding of her daughter, and guessed: "This is...is it roast chicken?"
"What roast chicken?" Third Aunt rolled her eyes at her: "I think Mao Mao cut out a flower."
"flower?"
"Oh, oh." The second concubine suddenly realized, "That's right, it's Chinese New Year, and window decorations are flowers too."
Lou Hongjian stroked his chin, looking at his sister's highly abstract paper-cutting work. After pondering for a moment as an artist, he analyzed from a professional perspective: "I think it might be a sheep."
"By the way, next year is the Year of the Sheep!"
"Third Young Master is still the smartest."
"Mao Mao's haircut looks just like hers!"
Mao Mao opened her eyes slightly, looking at the adults praising each other with a puzzled expression: "It's a cat."
The big white cat rubbed its head against her feet: "Meow~"
Everyone: "..."
Xia Xiaoxiang casually picked up the scissors and paper and asked the third concubine beside her, "...How do you cut the pattern you just mentioned?"
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