This incident on New Year's Eve made Aunt Yang tremble with anger; the Third Young Master is scheduled to take the imperial examination next year. The maid is seriously injured and recuperating in the courtyard.
That very night, someone was to throw Fangtang out; they couldn't let her be tainted by bad luck in the courtyard!
Fangli knelt on the ground and begged the Third Young Master and Aunt Yang to let her stay for three more days until her injuries were slightly better before moving her out.
My sister fell outside and was already chilled for about fifteen minutes. What if her injuries get worse if she continues to suffer like this?
Aunt Yang snorted coldly, "Whether it's a blessing or a curse is her fate. If the Third Young Master gets tainted by bad luck, then none of the maids in the courtyard will have a good future!"
Having said that, it meant she disagreed. Fangli cried uncontrollably, her face covered in tears, and finally steeled her resolve.
"If Fangtang moves without permission today, she might not survive the injury to her head and could be seriously injured. That would be a real clash!"
"Please, aunt and young master, have mercy! Once her injuries are under control in three days, move her out immediately."
After saying that, he kowtowed heavily again.
After hearing this, Liu Xiang'er nudged Chun'er. Chun'er turned pale, trembled all over, and shrank to the side, not daring to say a word.
What a useless fellow! Just as she was about to speak up and offer some advice, the Third Young Master spoke up instead.
"Aunt, why don't we leave it at that? Let's hang up a red curtain to separate them, let them rest for a few days, and then send them away!"
"Manjing, you're promoted to the first rank. Fangli, you go and take care of Fangtang. You'll go with her in a couple of days. Come back to work after the New Year."
The third young master frowned slightly, "Moreover, if we report it now and send people, it will be difficult for the steward to arrange people during the New Year's Eve period."
Third Aunt thought it made sense, and glanced at Fangli with a sidelong glance, "Let's leave it at that!"
Fangli hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed again, but the Third Young Master still disliked her for talking back and thought it was bad luck.
He ignored her and told Manjing to pack her things immediately. He went to the Seventh Young Master's place, ostensibly to keep him company. The Seventh Young Master was gentle and kind, so he let him stay for a few days.
Now, in Moyuan Courtyard, Fangtang's room is quiet and lifeless every day.
"Let's pool our money and go to the main kitchen to buy some chicken soup and tonics to send to Sister Fangtang."
Xingzi frowned. Should she play the good guy at this juncture? Wouldn't that obviously offend Aunt Yang and the Third Young Master?
Although the Third Young Master said that she could stay in the courtyard, he secretly promoted Manjing's rank, which meant that he wouldn't even let her receive her monthly allowance.
It's obvious they're annoyed; who would dare to provoke them at this juncture?
But Fang Tang's current state is truly pitiful, Xingzi thought for a moment,
"How about we pool some money and send it to Sister Fangli? Let them buy whatever they want to eat?"
Upon hearing this, Chun'er became anxious, her face flushed red, and she said hurriedly, "Sister Fangli can't take care of herself; she has to take care of Fangtang every day."
We can't use the Third Young Master's name to order food, and if we want the main kitchen to make a soup, we'll have to haggle with them for ages. Where would Sister Fangli find the time for that?
Seeing her so anxious that her voice was choked with sobs, she said, "I'm just so afraid that Sister Fangtang won't make it through."
Xingzi's expression softened, and she set aside her recent prejudices, offering a rare moment of genuine comfort.
"You mean well, but things can't be done this way. If we don't do it right, we'll only implicate ourselves and make the Third Young Master even more disgusted with us."
Sigh, to be honest, I don't know which bastard put such a big rock in the road!
"I, I," Chun'er's face, which had just turned red with anxiety, turned pale now.
Just then, Wang Ying came over and brought them some rice crackers.
"Sister Ying, go and ask your dad to make a pot of chicken soup. We'll chip in the money."
Wang Ying glanced at her. "My father is on leave today. He's not in the kitchen."
Chun'er sighed, "How can you be so heartless, sister? It's just a bowl of chicken soup."
Wang Ying glanced at her again, which only fueled her enthusiasm. She felt incredibly righteous and was about to speak again.
Xingzi quickly slapped her arm, stepped forward and took the rice crust from her, "Thank you, sister, you go ahead and get busy!"
Chun'er felt even more aggrieved. "What did I do? We're just colleagues, we should be showing some kindness. Why am I being so annoying?"
Xingzi didn't go up to say anything, and chuckled to herself. She hadn't done anything wrong. She didn't know if she was really confused or scheming!
Seeing that Chun'er still wanted to nag, she packed up the oil paper package in her hand, pretended to go to the tea room to put things away, and quickly went out the door.
Wang Ying entered Fang Tang's room and softly asked Fang Li, "Did you take your medicine today? Are you feeling any better?"
Fangli got up and looked over gratefully, "I drank it, I just woke up and I'm sleeping quite soundly now."
"Thanks to Aunt Wang for opening the side gate so she could bring in hot medicine."
Although Aunt Yang agreed to let them rest for three days, she forbade them from brewing medicine and only allowed them to take pills.
It was Wang Ying who helped find a way to have the doctor deliver the medicine to Fang Li's house, brew it, and then deliver it to the corner gate.
Aunt Wang helped open the door, and when she and Manjing went to get their food, they brought it back to drink. It was better than taking pills.
Three days later, Fangli brought Fangtang home. Chun'er hesitated for a long time before bringing over a bag of copper coins, with two or three silver melon seeds buried inside.
"Sister, take this and buy some tonics for Sister Fangtang to help her recover."
Fangli took the purse, a thought flashing through her mind. She glanced discreetly at Liu Xiang'er's room, but on the surface, she thanked her casually and even gave her a handful of pine nut candies to take away.
……………………
On the night of the 28th of the twelfth lunar month, it snowed heavily. After a night, Wang Yan opened the door and saw this scene. She was in a great mood, and the words of the great poet Huang Sheng came to mind: "A heart of ice and snow, a world of crystal, the night air is so clear."
Indeed, a world after a snowfall is like a world of crystal-clear, pure glass.
After a moment of reflection, he resignedly lowered his head and began sweeping. But it was so cold that his hands were practically frozen; thankfully, he had already sent a message to Granny Wang through someone.
She even drew a pattern for modern fingerless gloves and masks, asking Aunt Wang to make two pairs for her and bring them over.
If it gets this cold, their hands will get frostbite. Their faces start to itch when they get home at night. Grandma Sun now leaves them two pieces of ginger every day so they can apply it to their skin.
Halfway through the sweeping, Sister Qingping came over to tell the lady that she was being understanding and that it was enough to clear the main road and leave the rest of the snow alone.
Chunyan was overjoyed; the workload had been reduced to one-fifth. She finished cleaning in one morning and then hid in the small kitchen to drink ginger tea with Fuling and the others.
In the afternoon, a group of servants brought over several wooden baskets to fill with snow, saying they were going to build a snow lion in front of the main courtyard gate.
Everyone exclaimed how wonderful the snow was, saying they could build a few snow lions before New Year's Eve. Truly auspicious!
With only two days left until Lunar New Year's Eve, out of habit, Wang Yan went to ask Sister Qingqian when she would be on vacation.
Qingqian assumed she was just homesick and replied with a soft laugh, "After the New Year, you should be the first to rest!"
"What?" Wang Yan was shocked. No holiday during the Spring Festival! (?????)
Qingqian asked in confusion, "Of course not. We go to each family to deliver our calling cards, worship our ancestors at the Marquis's mansion, have a spring banquet when our aunt returns home, and offer incense and light lamps at the temple to worship."
You tell me, how could any of these things be done without us? What holidays are there?
Wang Yan was speechless. She had forgotten, forgotten. She thought it was like modern times, with a 15-day holiday starting from New Year's Eve.
Seeing her head hanging low, Qingmei chuckled and took two crimson silk flowers to pin on her hair.
"On the 30th, we can watch fireworks and listen to firecrackers. Madam doesn't restrict everyone from going to the side gate to play."
If your mother is on duty there, you'll be able to see her. Don't look so sad, go play in the snow!
Hearing this, Wang Yan smiled shyly, took Chunye's hand, and went with Chunxue and Chunyu to see how to build a snow lion.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com