Chapter 446: Visiting the Night Market
"Please sit down," Lin Ruhai said with a smile. "No need for formalities today."
Everyone took their seats in turn. Yuan Hongqu deliberately sat next to Daiyu, constantly serving her food.
"This fish is fresh, eat more."
"Have a bowl of soup to warm yourself up."
Daiyu's bowl quickly became piled high with food, and she said, both amused and exasperated, "Granny, I can do it myself."
Lan Su joked, "Is Sister Yuan going to fatten Yu'er up like a little chubby boy?"
Amidst the laughter and conversation, the sound of firecrackers came from outside the window.
Daiyu suddenly remembered something and asked, "Why didn't Sister Qiu come?"
“Today is New Year’s Eve. The future madam will naturally be spending the New Year at her own home this year. Next year she will be able to celebrate the New Year with the young lady,” Zijuan reminded him gently from the side.
Daiyu herself had spoken too quickly, forgetting about avoiding suspicion. She only felt that Sister Qiu was family and should celebrate the New Year with them, completely forgetting that Sister Qiu was not yet married to her father...
Yuan Hongqu said, "If you want to see her, you might as well go to the Qiu family to pay your respects in advance and invite her to go out for a stroll. From tonight until the Lantern Festival, there is no curfew in the city, and it will be very lively everywhere."
Daiyu nodded excitedly. This was the first time her nanny had suggested she go out for a stroll since she had recovered. She knew that it had been incredibly difficult for her to go out these past few days.
"You've just recovered, so don't eat anything from outside. Eat well at home, and come back after playing for a while," Lin Ruhai also instructed Daiyu.
After several rounds of drinks and several dishes, the servants brought out dessert.
There are osmanthus cake, eight-treasure rice, sweet fermented rice balls, and candied hawthorn skewers specially made by Yuan Hongqu.
These tiny candied hawthorn skewers have only two hawthorns on each skewer. Eating one of these skewers will prevent you from getting stomach acid.
In addition, there are strawberries, grapes, cherry tomatoes, yams, kumquats, walnuts, etc. specially made by Yuan Hongqu. Some are coated with crystal clear sugar coating, like ice sculptures; others are coated with gold and silver threads, which look elegant and luxurious, making people reluctant to eat them.
Daiyu picked up a string of candied hawthorns, took a bite, and found it sweet and sour. She couldn't help but smile and say, "Granny, take a box of these to Sister Qiu later so she can have a taste."
Yuan Hongqu said softly, "There's plenty, just eat as much as you like. I knew you would definitely bring some for the Qiu family, so I had someone prepare it a while ago."
"Granny, you're too kind!" Daiyu accidentally stuck a few gold threads on her nose without realizing it, and then rushed towards Yuan Hongqu. Yuan Hongqu pretended to look disgusted and dodged, and everyone burst into laughter.
After the meal, Daiyu indeed had Xueyan pack a food box full of candied hawthorns, and then rode in a sedan chair to the Qiu family's old residence.
The Qiu family's old residence is located in the west of the city. Although it is not as grand as the Qiu family mansion in the capital, it is still very elegant.
As soon as Qiu Hui heard the servants say that Daiyu had arrived, she was already waiting at the door. Upon seeing Daiyu, she greeted her, "I was just wondering if Mr. Yuan would let you go out today, and what a coincidence that you've arrived!"
Madam Qiu was also waiting in the hall. When she saw Daiyu arrive, she hurriedly had tea and snacks served.
Daiyu asked Xueyan to bring over a food box: "These are candied hawthorns made by the nanny. I brought them especially for Madam and Sister to try."
The food box was opened, revealing a dazzling array of candied hawthorns.
Madam Qiu was dazzled by the sight. She picked up a kumquat and tasted it, praising it repeatedly: "Lord Yuan, you have excellent skills! The sugar coating is thin and not sticky, and the fruit aroma is rich. It's truly rare."
Qiu Hui then took a liking to the bunch of cherry tomatoes, took a bite, and the sweet and sour juice burst in her mouth. She couldn't help but squint her eyes and say, "This is delicious! Yu'er, please thank Mr. Yuan for me."
Daiyu smiled and said, "I'm glad you like it, sister. The nanny also said that if you and sister have time, you can go to the Lin residence to get some more peaches. They've made a lot."
Amidst the laughter and chatter, several younger members of the Qiu family arrived, chattering excitedly around the food box.
This person wants yams, that person wants walnuts, it's quite a lively scene.
Seeing this, Madam Qiu laughed and said, "Look at these greedy cats, please forgive them, Princess."
Daiyu found the lively and casual atmosphere very heartwarming, and asked Xueyan to bring several purses to distribute to the children. The purses were filled with gold melon seeds, and the children thanked her repeatedly.
After tea and snacks, Qiu Hui pulled Daiyu aside and said, "There's a night market at the City God Temple today, shall we go and have a look?"
Daiyu had the same idea, so the two bid farewell to Madam Qiu and took a sedan chair to the City God Temple.
As soon as I reached the street corner, I could hear a great commotion.
The entire street was brightly decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and all kinds of vendors lined up along the street, selling everything: sugar figurines, dough figurines, clay figurines, paper cuttings, New Year pictures, lanterns... a dazzling array of goods that were hard to resist.
Qiu Hui pulled Daiyu to a stop in front of a lantern stall: "Look at this rabbit lantern, it's so exquisite."
The rabbit lantern had a frame made of thin bamboo, covered with white silk, and had red eyes, making it very lifelike.
Daiyu also took a fancy to a hibiscus flower lantern, with layers of petals and a small candle that could be placed in the middle.
"You two ladies have excellent taste," the stall owner said with a smile. "These hibiscus flower lanterns are limited edition; there are only ten in the entire city of Suzhou."
Just as Daiyu was about to buy it, she suddenly heard a familiar voice beside her: "I'll take this one."
Turning around, I saw it was the Tenth Prince.
He was dressed casually today, looking exceptionally handsome, and was already carrying several gift boxes in his hands.
Qiu Hui joked, "Is Your Highness going to bring the entire night market home?"
The Tenth Prince laughed and said, "Indeed! My brother sent me to Suzhou on business, and it just so happens to be New Year's Day, so naturally I have to bring back some local specialties." As he spoke, he took the hibiscus lantern and handed it to Daiyu, "Consider this my New Year's gift to the Princess."
Just as Daiyu was about to decline, the Tenth Prince bought the rabbit lantern that Qiu Hui had just picked out and had the stall owner hand it to Qiu Hui, saying, "Miss Qiu also has one."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Qiu Hui saw that it was just a lamp, and she and Daiyu had accepted it, so it couldn't be considered a private exchange.
The Tenth Prince waved his hand: "It's just a little trinket. You two continue browsing, I still need to buy some things." With that, he took his leave.
Daiyu and Qiu Hui exchanged a smile and continued strolling through the night market.
Passing by a sugar painting stall, the old artist's skillful technique made the syrup seem to come alive in his hands, and in an instant he painted a phoenix with outstretched wings.
"Wow, that's amazing!" Daiyu exclaimed, captivated by the sight, and couldn't resist buying a butterfly sugar painting.
Further ahead, there are various food stalls.
Lamb skewers, stinky tofu, roasted chestnuts, sweet fermented rice balls... the aroma is irresistible, making one's mouth water.
Qiu Hui stopped in front of a stall selling lotus root starch: "This stall sells the most authentic lotus root starch, Yu'er, would you like to try some?"
Daiyu pouted slightly, but still shook her head resolutely.
"I promised my father that I wouldn't eat food from outside."
Seeing this, Qiu Hui pulled Daiyu away from the lotus root starch stall, so that she wouldn't feel uncomfortable if she could only look but not eat.
"Sister Qiu, although I can't eat it, you can," Daiyu said, puzzled.
"What's the point of me eating this all by myself? Let's go home and make something else to eat another day; it'll be even more delicious!" Qiu Hui said with a smile.
The two exchanged a smile and were about to continue walking when suddenly a commotion arose, and the crowd began to stir. A large group of people surged in from nowhere, making the already crowded street completely jammed.
"Make way! Make way!" someone shouted. "The horse is spooked! Get out of the way!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
