Chapter 133 Shameless
Welcoming Spring on Lunar New Year's Eve
Sweep the floor, sweep the snow, sweep the flowers, sweep the grass
Early in the morning, Niu Tielan pulled Song Jin to tidy up the small courtyard.
Although there wasn't much to tidy up—the maids cleaned the house and courtyard daily, and there wasn't a speck of dust under the cabinets—she would just dust off the remaining snow, trim the flowers and plants, and then prepare window decorations and couplets.
To my surprise, when I turned around, I saw Song Jin standing next to the crabapple blossoms, a flower dangling from her mouth, a shawl around her neck, and a handful of petals in her pocket.
Niu Tielan's heart skipped a beat, and she clutched her chest: "Song Jinjin, stay away from my crabapple blossoms!!!"
That brat is infuriating!
She had been tending to her flowers for three months, and they were finally blooming beautifully, just in time to be admired during the Lunar New Year. And then, in the blink of an eye...
Seeing the blazing fire in her mother's eyes, Song Jin shrank back, guiltily brushed the begonia petals out of her pocket, and lied, "I picked them up."
Niu Tielan's eyes were like knives stabbing at her: "You picked it from a tree, right? Get out of my way, or I'll slap you during the New Year."
Song Jin muttered, "It's like you've never slapped me."
Every Lunar New Year is her day of suffering. There's no such thing as not hitting children during the New Year; her family always settles their scores during the New Year.
Niu Tielan sneered: "Say that again."
Only a fool would say that.
Song Jin shrank back and slipped away from the lace, away from her mother's beloved flowers. She looked at the red plum blossoms, her fingers twitching slightly, when Niu Tielan's cold laughter rang out.
Song Jin coughed lightly and put down the feather duster in her hand: "I'll go get some red paper, pen, and ink."
If you won't let her sweep the floor, can't you at least let her cut paper snowflakes?
Niu Tielan glared at her, then went over to look at the ruined crabapple blossoms. She felt a pang of heartache and picked up the scissors to trim them, but found herself at a loss. That little rascal had plucked all the flowers bare.
When she was in town, she rarely went out. Her biggest hobby was growing flowers and vegetables at home. More than pests and diseases, what she needed to guard against most was the little rascal in the house. Now, in the Song family mansion, with all sorts of trouble piling up, she had almost forgotten about this annoying habit that wouldn't even be considered a flaw in a person.
Niu Tielan felt sorry for him
Her flowers
Qu Maoze was always involved in this kind of family collaboration. Standing to the side, he looked at Niu Tielan's distressed face and walked over with amusement: "It's just crabapple blossoms, we'll have the housekeeper do it later."
"Smack!"
Niu Tielan's hand, which she hadn't yet slapped, still landed. She was furious: "What do you mean, 'It's just a flower'? These are my crabapple blossoms that I've carefully tended to every day. They're in this state, and I can't even say anything?"
She'd finally found the source; that little rascal's aversion to flowers definitely stemmed from this person.
Thankfully, this person didn't raise him; otherwise, who knows what kind of unruly behavior he would have become.
Faced with her displaced anger, Qu Maoze felt utterly helpless. He squeezed her soft hand and conceded, "Fine, whatever you say."
If looking at someone a few extra times each day counts as meticulous care, then she's not wrong.
Niu Tielan sneered at his perfunctory attitude, shook off his hand, and continued to look at her flowers with heartache, pondering how to proceed.
...
After a chaotic cleaning process
The steward of the manor hurriedly led people over with blooming crabapple, blue peony, and winter chrysanthemum, adding a touch of freshness to the courtyard and reducing the impact of the New Year's Eve fireworks.
Qu Maoze stood in front of the table, holding a brush, writing couplets and the character "福" (fortune).
The things we use at home can't be as simple as those outside. Besides the ink stick, there's also ground gold powder and a gold inkstone on the table. We'll add the decorative borders after we finish writing.
He was in charge of writing, while Niu Tielan was in charge of grinding and sprinkling the powder, carefully collecting the couplets one by one.
The Song mansion was enormous, with twelve courtyards for living quarters alone, plus two large gardens, a stable, and a kitchen. Just the main gate of each courtyard alone required twelve plaques, not to mention the individual rooms.
Of course, Qu Maoze isn't that free, nor is he that loving.
At first, he only wanted to put up six sets of talismanic paper of various sizes in his yard to protect his wife and daughters and pray for good fortune in the coming year.
Song Xingzhi and his four companions rushed over upon hearing the news. The five tall and burly men stood to one side, watching expectantly.
Qu Maoze remained unmoved.
Niu Tielan couldn't stand it anymore and told them to go to the side and cut out red paper, then use stencils to draw some window decoration patterns, and cut out more in a while.
And just like that, the courtyard, which had been somewhat empty, suddenly became crowded.
Song Jin huddled in the bamboo chair, glanced at the people in the courtyard, pursed her lips without saying anything, and lowered her head to cut red paper with scissors. She did this every year, and she did it quite well.
This was the first time Song Qingzhi had done these things himself. In the past, the manor would purchase them from outside. Now that he was doing it himself, he frowned and carefully began, faced with the intricate patterns of the window decorations.
Another one broke with a snap.
Half a basket of red paper had already piled up at his feet.
Song Jin looked disgusted and handed over a simple pattern from inside, saying, "Cut this; it's too clumsy."
Song Qingzhi couldn't refute this. He muttered, "If I wanted, I could buy the most expensive window paper in the whole world."
Song Jin curled up on the bamboo chair, swinging her legs, and said with disdain, "Why don't you go? You're all crowding here and getting in the way."
Song Qingzhi muttered, "When you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. I won't argue with a little girl like you."
Song Jin rolled her eyes: "I'm not going to argue with a shorty like you."
Song Qingzhi is about the same height as Song Jin, so he's not short in public, but at home, he's quite short.
One was the youngest, the other the shortest, and both were petty. These past few days, they'd been constantly at odds over who got to speak to them, and when they got together, nothing pleasant came of it.
The other four brothers wisely kept their distance and resolutely stayed away from the two of them.
Sure enough, as everyone was busy running around, there was a loud thud. Under the eaves, the bamboo chair that Song Qingzhi was sitting on broke, and he fell to the ground, pulling on Song Jin's hair as he fell.
The two men glared at each other, baring their teeth; a fight was about to break out.
Niu Tielan looked over
On the eve of the Lunar New Year, instead of her usual light-colored clothes, she wore a robe with a jade-white base and red plum blossom embroidery. A red plum blossom cloisonné hairpin adorned her hair, and a floral design was painted on her forehead. Compared to her usual gentle demeanor, she exuded a more refined and aloof air, and her eyes held an unusually intimidating gaze.
Song Jin immediately released her clenched fist, looking completely innocent: "Mother, he pulled my hair."
Song Qingzhi clutched his backside, feeling aggrieved: "Mother, she kicked my chair!"
Niu Tielan smiled slightly: "Since you're so energetic, you two go and put up the couplets in the stable, and put new chains on the cattle and horses."
Song Qingzhi exclaimed in surprise: "What?!"
A young master like him, harnessing a cow?
Song Jin was more self-aware than him, knowing that her mother had been putting up with her for a long time. She pouted, kicked the completely unsuspecting Song Qingzhi in the butt, made a gloating face, and ran over to grab the bamboo basket filled with things and dashed away.
Song Qingzhi grinned and got up from the ground, still wanting to struggle and bargain.
Qu Maoze glanced over casually: "Aren't you leaving yet?"
Song Qingzhi's expression froze, and he quickly chased after her.
It's just putting up couplets in the stable, it's not like he's being made to work like a slave. Let him go, let him go.
Seeing his flustered state, Niu Tielan shook his head, said nothing, and carefully collected the dried couplets and talismans, placing them separately in various baskets.
She said, "These are for you. Take them back and paste them in your own yards. Remember to put the paper talismans under your pillows. After you're done, we'll go to the garden together to hang lanterns."
Normally, only the rooms of the various masters and the front and back gates of the Song residence would have candles lit.
Niu Tielan felt it was a bit dark. It was the New Year, and it needed to be brighter. She planned to clear a path of lights from the front door to the back door, hanging colorful lights and candles throughout, so that it would be brightly lit day and night, making the night watch more lively.
It's just a bit expensive.
But there are only a few days like this throughout the year, and after calculating the cost, she felt it was acceptable.
In previous years, Song Shang, as the head of the household, didn't have the time for such things. He often wouldn't see anyone during the New Year, leaving these household matters to the steward.
Every year, the mansion is magnificent and bustling, but it lacks a certain liveliness.
This year, there was a change in the head of the household, and the procedures also changed.
Looking at the couplets and talismans in the bamboo basket, Song Xingzhi was filled with emotion and said softly, "Thank you for your trouble, Mother."
Niu Tielan felt a little uncomfortable. After all, she wasn't much older than Song Xingzhi, so how could she possibly have given birth to such a big son? She suppressed her strange feeling and nodded, "It's alright. If you find it troublesome, you can ask your servants to help."
Song Shenzhi clutched the basket tightly, his voice muffled: "It's just putting up couplets, it's not like I don't have hands, why would I need outside help?"
Standing together, Song Shunzhi said calmly, "If there's anything else Mother needs our help with, please just let us know."
Song Anzhi's face was as beautiful as a peach blossom, and his eyes were as bright as the moon: "Mother, my health is weak, and I wish for more peace and blessings."
Song Shenzhi kicked him, sneering, "Get out of my way."
Song Anzhi was annoyed: "Third Brother Song, don't go too far!"
...
Niu Tielan really wasn't used to this scene.
While one son is a son, and five sons are also sons, this is still too many.
She turned her head
Qu Maoze stood to the side with a smile, his gaze fixed on her face the entire time, as if the boys had nothing to do with him. She was slightly annoyed and reached out to gently pinch him from behind.
His smile paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the group.
Song Xingzhi straightened up instantly: "Then let's go put up the decorations first. If Mother needs anything, just send a maid to call us."
Led by him, the brothers left one after another, their departing figures showing a sense of haste, much like Song Qingzhi had just left.
Qu Maoze didn't seem to care. He put down his brush and ink, reached out and grasped Niu Tielan's hand, a slight smile playing on his lips as he sighed, "Madam's temper is really getting worse and worse."
She wasn't like this before. Back then, when you teased her, she would just look at you with teary eyes, her gaze filled with tears, appearing both aggrieved and stubborn. Now, she's either pinching or guessing who you are, and occasionally even slapping you.
Qu Maoze couldn't help but exclaim, "The soil and water in the countryside truly nourish people!"
Enraged, Niu Tielan stomped down on the ground: "What? You're not happy about it?"
Qu Maoze chuckled softly, not dodging, but instead gently flicking his foot, lightly tripping her toes.
Niu Tielan instantly lost his balance and staggered backward.
Qu Maoze stretched out his arm and firmly embraced her slender waist, pulling her into his arms. He looked down at her embarrassed and annoyed expression as she bit her lip, leisurely and carefree, like a charming young master, teasing her.
"Young lady, are you perhaps deliberately bumping into my arms because you're so careless?"
Niu Tielan's cheeks immediately flushed red. She glared at him fiercely, biting her lip, and said, "Shameless!"
As she spoke, she turned to get up, but the large hand around her waist remained motionless; she couldn't budge it no matter what she did.
Qu Maoze, with an upright and refined demeanor, feigned confusion but couldn't hide the mockery in his smile: "Why isn't Madam getting up? Isn't it inappropriate in broad daylight?"
Niu Tielan took a deep breath, her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but suddenly her expression changed: "Jin Jin."
Qu Maoze subconsciously loosened his grip, and in an instant, the person in his arms was freed. She then kicked him, showing that she had learned a lot from raising children over the years.
He smiled, easily dodged with a flick of his hand, then pinched her slender ankle, teasingly saying, "Madam, be careful the floor isn't slippery."
Niu Tielan was furious and embarrassed, watching as the blush slowly spread across her cheeks.
Qu Maoze, seeing that he had succeeded, immediately let go and picked up a couplet from the side: "My hand is sore from writing so much. Madam, tell me how we should put it up."
Niu Tielan gritted his teeth and silently recited in his heart.
It's Chinese New Year, Chinese New Year, the most important Chinese New Year, we mustn't get angry.
It took her a while to calm down. She took a deep breath, walked over seemingly calmly, stepped on his foot, took the basket, and smiled: "Let's put up the 'Fu' character first. With 'Fu' hanging high, everything will go smoothly next year."
Qu Maoze followed her gaze, looking at the highest rooftop, and sighed silently.
He holds grudges so much!
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