The first snow of early winter arrived quietly, but the biting cold wind could not extinguish the villagers' enthusiasm.
Opening the ancestral hall~
Firecrackers and drums sounded at the same time. Men wearing red belts and yellow headscarves beat waist drums, accompanied by the rhythm of suona horns, composing a unique melody for the Wu family village.
Incense, devoutly burned by the villagers, burned in the incense burner in the center of the ancestral hall, with wisps of smoke swirling in the air above the hall.
The village chief and clan elders, dressed in their best clothes and leaning on their canes, bowed and burned incense step by step towards the ancestral tablets on the wall in the main hall.
"Please welcome the County Magistrate—"
"Please welcome the County Magistrate—"
"Please welcome the County Magistrate—"
The sound traveled clearly and lingered from the inside of the courtyard to the outside, creating a solemn atmosphere.
Wujia Village has never produced any high-ranking officials in the past hundred years, let alone any women of noble birth.
Therefore, Jiang Yue was the center of attention this time. Before she came, Yin specially came to her house to convey his grandfather's instructions that she must wear the imperial-bestowed rank clothes!
The village chief had never made any demands, nor had he ever done anything inappropriate because of the close relationship between their two families. This was the first time he had made such a request, and Jiang Yue could not refuse.
After resigning herself to wearing the robes of an eighth-rank county magistrate, her entire demeanor changed.
With the crown on, her overall demeanor becomes more aloof, sharp, and authoritative without being angry.
Her little granddaughter, who was usually close to her, became too afraid to stay in her arms after seeing her like this, and instead wiggled her little bottom, looking for her parents to hold her.
Qingyao wasn't afraid at all. No matter what her mother was wearing, she was still her mother.
"Qingshan, come with your mother~"
Jiang Yue crossed her arms, looking extremely dignified. After taking a deep breath, she called for her son to follow, then, head held high and chest out, she stepped into the ancestral hall step by step, witnessed by everyone...
Qingshan proudly bowed his head to check his clothes. Finding nothing amiss, he reverently held the imperial edict, lag behind his mother by a step...
Holding the little wonton, Da Xue watched her mother-in-law and husband leave with sparkling eyes, her heart filled with pride.
Yes, she was proud and honored to be her mother-in-law!
"Eeya ya~"
The smoky atmosphere inside was too strong; the little wonton couldn't stand it and kept sneezing.
Seeing her mother smile, the tiny baby grinned along in her swaddling clothes.
Aunt Ge and the Ye He and Ye Hua sisters, who were standing to the side, were protecting the young mistress and the young lady, while secretly feeling happy for their master!
They had never seen a woman like the head of the household before. She was widowed young, steadfast in her decision not to remarry, and through her own wisdom, she built a wealthy family and led the entire village and clan to prosperity!
Now he has offered a national policy, which has earned him the emperor's attention and rewards!
......
This time, unlike previous sacrificial ceremonies, it was more like a petition to the ancestors, to bless Wujia Village and Lord Jiang.
With Jiang Yue's consent, the imperial edict will henceforth be enshrined in the ancestral hall, where it will be offered incense and worship, so that future generations of Wujia Village may admire the emperor's might and remember his boundless grace!
Halfway through the sacrificial ceremony, news somehow reached the surrounding villages, and many gentry and village chiefs came to pay their respects to Magistrate Jiang…
Jiang Yue didn't feel anything, but the village chief was different; their fates were intertwined.
Wujia Village used to be the poorest and most inconspicuous village in the surrounding area!
Now, Wujia Village is not only a famous medicinal herb village, but also has a school and a pharmaceutical factory. It has produced two outstanding scholars and a county magistrate with an imperial title!
May God bless Wujia Village!
Wu Yongfa finally got his revenge!
"Uncle Village Chief, I have other matters to attend to, so I won't be able to receive all these people individually. I'll have to trouble you to help me deal with them."
Jiang Yue's high-ranking clothes are made of gold and silver thread, which looks beautiful, but they are very heavy!
It's already quite remarkable that she managed to hold on until the end of the ritual.
Now all she wants is to go home, shed this burden, and be herself again.
"Oh, Your Excellency, please return. Leave the rest to this old man."
The village chief, with a kind expression, ordered someone to open the side of the ancestral hall and escort the county magistrate away.
There were quite a few people around, and Jiang Yue didn't want to waste time. Too lazy to correct her form of address with the village chief, she forced herself to maintain a composed demeanor and hurriedly left...
After a short while, Jiang Yue finally returned home. As soon as she got home, she couldn't wait to go inside and take off her heavy clothes.
I really can't imagine how those actors who film period dramas manage. No wonder I saw an interview where an actress said she developed cervical spondylosis from filming period dramas...
Indeed, beauty always comes at a price!
Before the others returned, she went to the bathroom and quickly changed her sanitary pads. She collected the soiled ones into a large trash bag and disposed of them when she had the chance.
She went into the kitchen, poured in some hot water and mixed in some cold water. Once the water temperature was suitable, she put her hands in the basin and soaked them. Her meridians felt much more comfortable.
"Master, I've prepared a hand warmer for you. Please wait a moment while I add some charcoal."
Aunt Ge looked hurried, but breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her employer.
Just now, she and the Ye He and Ye Hua sisters were terrified. They waited outside the ancestral hall for a long time but did not see the master. They thought something had happened.
Fortunately, the young master said that the master had slipped away through the side door first, so they were relieved and hurriedly escorted the young mistress and the young lady home!
"Okay, thank you."
Jiang Yue was very comforted by this. After wiping away the water stains, she poured the remaining water into the drain at the corner. Seeing that the warm water melted the snow, she looked away and put the basin back...
Da Xue carried her daughter home, with her husband protecting her and preventing her from slipping.
As soon as she got home, Little Wonton was extra happy. Her father held her and lifted her high. Suddenly, she saw her familiar grandmother and waved her clumsy little paws, opening her arms, wanting her grandmother to hold her.
"Eeya ya~"
"Little rascal, you're quite clever, always trying to please your grandma~"
Qingshan was jealous. He spent all his free time at home changing and washing diapers for his daughter, without complaint. But it was obvious his daughter was very attached to her mother…
"My little wonton, let Grandma hold you. Oh, you're burping! Come here, let Grandma wipe your mouth~"
"Giggle~"
Jiang Yue doesn't dislike children, especially her own granddaughter; her affection for her is undeniable.
"Mom, come into my room. There's a kang (heated brick bed), it'll be warmer, don't catch a cold~"
Seeing that her mother's face was a little pale, Da Xue guessed that her mother had started her period. Feeling sorry for her mother and worried that she would be tired, she invited her mother to her room, where there was a kang (heated brick bed).
"Hey, Cheng, where's Yao Yao? I can't find her."
Jiang Yue agreed, and while coaxing her granddaughter in her arms, she realized that her daughter had not yet returned, and couldn't help but ask.
"Grandpa and Grandma said they felt Yao Yao had lost weight, so they told her to go to the old house for some chicken soup. You know me, I drank too much when I was pregnant with Xiao Wonton, and I drank a lot more during my postpartum period. I'm really sick of it..."
Da Xue said embarrassedly that she was just too scared to drink anymore. Even though her grandparents called her, she insisted on begging her husband for help, which saved her from this ordeal.
"Then let He'er and Hua'er go to the old house to pick Yao Yao up later, otherwise this girl will be so happy she won't want to leave!"
Jiang Yue laughed. She knew her own daughter well; she was just worried that her in-laws would spoil her too much...
"Okay, all done~"
Da Xue and her husband exchanged a smile; they thought so too.
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