Life is full of surprises
Shujia was unaware of the interactions between Aunt Zhang and her biological daughter, and instead followed her own ideas. After reflection, she concluded that she truly didn't consider Shuxian a sister. She also knew she was her elder sister, and she didn't think of Shuxian as anything less than a colleague. This was a bad thing. She was closer to Shi Wenbing and Xiluo Te, experiencing a certain kinship. Fu Dali and Qingde were also okay, but her interactions with Shuxian were truly limited.
Although the relationship was mutual and Shuxian had never taken the initiative to visit her, after calming down, Shujia felt that she also needed to change.
With Xiluo Te's green light, Shujia's journey to intimacy went smoothly. It's said that having connections in higher positions makes things easier, and having connections in the court makes it easier to get a job. During their first meeting, the two sisters had very little to talk about. Fortunately, Shujia came prepared, having prepared a few small questions, such as the closure of a purse and the spelling of a certain Manchu word. Such a limited range of topics was truly embarrassing.
Fortunately, relationships in this kind of family are inherently open to each other, unlike in ordinary families where two sisters might end up sharing a room. It's impossible not to be close. Here, just by frequently answering each other's questions and visiting each other, it's perceived as goodwill. When you convey goodwill, relationships are easier to cultivate.
As they met more often and became more familiar with each other, they gradually had more topics to talk about. Shujia discovered Shuxian's many strengths, her diligence being one of them. She also mentioned Shuxian's excellent needlework. Shuxian was still young and couldn't match the skills of others, but her lace was truly beautiful. She couldn't help but praise her. Shuxian was still a child after all, so she was delighted by the compliments and gradually became more talkative. She said, "The soup for dinner last night was delicious," "It's so hot today," "I'm going to visit my great-aunt tomorrow and wonder if she's had any new things to say," and so on and so forth. It wasn't that they had no topics to talk about before, but simply that they hadn't had the conditions to start.
After Shujia had taken the initiative to visit Shuxian's yard twice, Shuxian began visiting as well, bringing the beautiful brocade that Shujia had once praised. "Look, it's done! You learned needlework years later than I did, so there's no need to rush." She then gave the brocade to Shujia, who examined it carefully. The workmanship was truly excellent. From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Shuxian's reserved pursed lips, clearly in a state of joy. Shujia thought to herself, "Appropriate compliments really do improve interpersonal relationships."
On Shuxian's birthday, Shujia would receive a handmade invitation from Shuxian, inviting her to her courtyard for tea and a chat. Shujia would also bring a handmade purse and calligraphy as a gift, and then sit across from Shuxian on the small couch to chat.
It was already September when Shuxian's birthday came. Bai Juyi had a poem about it: "How pitiful the night of the third day of September is, the dew is like pearls and the moon is like a bow." It was getting late and the dew was heavy. The two sisters were chatting happily. They were talking about housework and then about the beginning of next spring. Xiluo Te would have some free time and they might go on a spring outing.
Shuxian was at an active age, usually cautious in her words and actions, but she couldn't resist chatting with her younger sister. Besides, a spring outing was a perfectly seasonal activity, not out of the ordinary. She was quite interested. Shujia added, "Reading Su Dongpo's poems, the water shimmers beautifully on a sunny day, the mountains misty and captivating even in the rain. If I were to compare West Lake to Xi Shi, light or heavy makeup would always be a match. A trip to Hangzhou wouldn't be complete without a visit to West Lake, one of the Ten Scenic Spots..."
Shuxian said, "Yes, it's from Bai Juyi's 'Spring Walk on Qiantang Lake': North of Solitary Hill Temple, west of Jia Ting, the water is just beginning to level out, the clouds low. Early orioles vie for the warm trees, new swallows peck at the spring mud. The blossoms are so lush they're almost dazzling, only shallow grass can hide horse hooves. I love the view east of the lake, where the white sandbank lies shaded by green willows. Just hearing it makes me feel like spring is all around me."
Both of them were very interested. Hiking was very attractive to a young girl confined to a large house. Shujia said, "There must be some good things to see, but it's a pity we don't know about them." Shuxian whispered, "Why don't we ask the old lady tomorrow?"
At this time, the maids came to urge her: "Miss, it's late, it's time to go to bed, we have important things to do tomorrow."
The two of them were chatting so much, and their home life was so boring, so Shujia made up her mind: "Big sister, can I stay at your place tonight?"
Shuxian was moved. She looked around and saw that the maids were not being forceful, so she asked for their opinion. The maids saw that the two sisters wanted to sleep together for the night, so who could say anything? Nanny Wang said, "I'll ask them to bring the girls' bedding over."
The others looked at each other in confusion. Shujia saw that there was only one quilt on Shuxian's bed. It seemed that she should also get a quilt. Li Ma smiled and said, "We have a quilt in our girl's room. Although it's new, it hasn't been aired. I had to ask my elder sister to go there." Wang Ma shook her head. "It's not that hard. Even if we have a quilt, what about the pillow?" A single girl's bed can only accommodate one pillow.
She immediately brought bedding and pillows, and Xia Xi and Hong Xiu came to serve her, and she washed and settled her down.
Sharing a bed with someone was truly a novel experience. The two sisters chatted quietly in bed, remarking on nearby scenic spots they had never seen and wishing they could wake up and see the next spring so they could go for an outing and a boat trip.
It was not until the maids reminded him repeatedly that he fell into a deep sleep.
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Winter arrived in a flash. By October, Xiluo's belly had grown larger, her gait had become more pronounced, and she reportedly had to use the toilet more often. Shujia understood this was because the growing fetus was pressing on her bladder, causing her to urinate more easily. Watching Xiluo's struggles, Shujia thought to herself, "All mothers are great!" Her gaze toward Xiluo grew more affectionate. After all, this woman had gone through the same hardships to give birth to her; otherwise, who knows what would become of her now.
Mrs. Xiluo was amused and a little frustrated by her daughter's constant presence around her. Children are always curious. When she was pregnant, Fu Dali and Qingde asked her a lot of irrelevant questions, which were so difficult to answer. Fortunately, Shujia's knowledge of obstetrics, gynecology, and biology was probably the most extensive of its time, so she didn't ask any questions, and Mrs. Xiluo just let her wander around.
Now there is only one thing for Mr. Siruto to do: prepare for production.
The charcoal needed for the winter had already been purchased, and a supply of rice, flour, fruits, and vegetables had been stockpiled. Shujia, having long considered Xiluo's labor schedule, had suggested, after the Mid-Autumn Festival, that New Year gifts be prepared early. Xiluo, impressed by her daughter's sensibility and foresight, realized that she wasn't suited to handle such matters before or after the Lunar New Year, and immediately agreed—it would be helpful to provide guidance to her daughters while she was still able. Two days later, she posted a message inviting the ladies of the court to come and admire the chrysanthemums. During the feast, she specifically requested that Madam Shilin take time to teach her two daughters. She solemnly entrusted the girls' activities during the Lunar New Year to her great-aunt, and asked the ladies to take good care of them and show their understanding.
After several months of practice, Shujia had already mastered the names, duties, family relationships, and general histories of the Shi family servants in Hangzhou. It seemed likely Shuxian knew quite well, too, because when they were discussing "Who should deliver food to Father today?" Shuxian directly stated, "Wang You, Wu Da, and the others go out with Father, so even their meals need to be prepared. The other servants who are a bit idle at home are Nanny He's son and Nanny Li's nephew..."
The daily chores and reconciliation of accounts had been handed over to the two girls. Silut reviewed them every two weeks and found no problems. After two months, she simply let them go - she was about to have a baby, and her own daughter was better at math - she could see that she was completely relieved.
Xiluo Te was extremely pleased. Shujia always knew what to eat and what to prepare for the season. She was the one who came up with the New Year gifts—she was truly a natural. Of course, it was a natural. In her previous life, Shujia came from a middle-class family, so she had some common sense.
Shujia even asked Mama what to prepare for the unborn child: small clothes and shoes, small bracelets and necklaces...
Xiluo Te said, "Do you even need to tell me that? Besides, the first thing we prepare for the child is not clothes and shoes."
"Huh?"
Nanny He suppressed her laughter and said softly, "Miss, when the young master was born, the first thing he used was not clothes, shoes and socks, but a stroller. There was also a small quilt and a small pillow." Children are wrapped first when they are born, especially this one who was born in winter.
The swaddling clothes are the most important, followed by diapers, then belly bands, then tops and skirts, and finally socks. As for shoes, they may need to be a little bigger to be used.
Shujia blushed and fell silent. In the days of air conditioning and diapers, the preparations needed were obviously different.
Wuya Mama shook her head and said, "More than that..." Mama Li asked, "What else?" Wuya Mama said, "You have all forgotten that the young master hasn't decided on a mama yet."
This is the most important thing.
No, Nanny Yin asked, "Has the midwife been appointed yet?"
All preparations will only be put to use after the birth!
Midwives were already common in the capital, but who would bother bringing one with them on their journey south? She immediately bothered Madam Shi Lin to inquire, and found a reliable midwife from one of her camps. She first sent a ruler and a pair of silver ingots as an engagement gift, agreeing that she would be available at home after December. Then, Xiluo Te began selecting a wet nurse and a nanny for the unborn child.
This was something the woman could decide, but Shi Wenbing said immediately, "Don't wear bound feet. They can't even walk properly, let alone hold a baby."
The people in the camp were all bannermen, and it was rather frivolous to treat them like servants. The prince's wet nurses were all bannermen. As for bannermen wet nurses, forget it. Bannermen slaves, to put it bluntly, were not as high-ranking as the regular Eight Bannermen, but only those with the Aisin-Gioro surname could order them around like that.
Only family members were available. When Shi Wenbing's biological mother married, her family was a prince of the Bordered White Banner, and they brought several bondsers as dowry. Later, as the Shi family grew and produced a large number of people, the wet nurses for the two sons and two daughters were chosen from these people or from Xiluo Te's concubines—her family was of Mongolian origin and also had slaves.
The problem now is that the Shi family did not bring a midwife with them, and naturally they did not prepare a wet nurse in advance.
Xiluo Te thought for a moment and said, "I didn't think carefully when I went south, and now I'm afraid it's not appropriate to buy someone. First, I'll give half of the nanny to each of the sisters. The sisters are grown up, so it's just right for them to each have two maids."
The maids had been planned long ago, so Shuxian had two maids named Boli and Bixi. Shujia named her maids Zishang and Luru.
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When everything was ready and the whole family was waiting for the wife to give birth, another incident happened that caught everyone off guard and further highlighted the problem of insufficient manpower in the Shi family's backyard - the eldest daughter Shuxian, who could have taken care of some things, fell ill.
At first, it was just a sneeze and a couple of coughs. Shujia even said, "I heard that sneezing means someone is talking about you somewhere else. Is it because Mother misses us?" Shuxian smiled and said, "That's because we both sneezed together." The two of them went to see Xiluo Te together. Lamei said, "The Madam was talking about us just now."
Shujia: ...
Two days later, Shuxian was still like this. Shujia said, "Maybe she caught a cold because of the cold weather." The maids also said, "That seems to be the case." They were about to send for a doctor. Shuxian said, "Mother has a lot of things going on right now. We can't help much, so let's not make things worse."
Shujia wondered how much trouble it would take to hire a doctor. Someone would already be there to do the legwork. At most, they would just have to keep the maids from wandering around, and then charge a consultation fee for the medicine. If they insisted, the maids wouldn't want Shuxian to be seen as derelict in her duty if she got sick. They all asked for permission from Xiluotai. Seeing Shujia speak up for Shuxian, Xiluotai approved, "Let's do it."
It was already dark, so they had to wait until the next day. Shujia said, "Tomorrow morning, I'll send someone to the old lady to ask for a good doctor. I'll take Ama's invitation and invite him. Tell the maids and wives in the courtyard to stay home and hang out the laundry. The maids will bring the doctor in to see Big Sister, and then take him out after he's done. How do you say that?"
Xiluotai said: "That's it."
That night, Shuxian's condition worsened and she developed a low fever again.
The next morning, upon seeing what had happened, Xiluo's mother and daughter immediately sent for Shi Lin's house, summoning a doctor before breakfast. After taking Shi Lin's pulse, the doctor left a prescription with a scribble of words. Shujia remarked, "I heard that in ancient times, witch doctors and shamans were one family. That's quite a lesson." Xiluo glanced at her and had her maid repeat the doctor's words. She then heard that the medicines on the prescription were common herbs, and the dosages were small, so she sent the servants along to get the medicine.
Shuxian's illness was intermittent and showed no signs of improvement. When she came back, Xiluo Te said to Shi Wenbing, "Why don't we change doctors?" Shi Wenbing took the prescription and took a look. Fortunately, he could understand it, and said, "The medicine is suitable for the symptoms, and the dosage is not large. I'm afraid it will be the same if we change doctors. If we change doctors halfway through the medicine, it will probably get worse." So he didn't change the doctor and called another doctor.
The doctor explained to Shi Wenbing, "It's common for children to get sick in the fall and winter, and it's common for young ladies of your age to have minor ailments. Boys are harder to raise the younger they are, but they tend to be strong after the age of ten. Girls, on the other hand, are more delicate, and it's normal for them to be more delicate."
When Shi Wenbing heard that everything was normal, he stopped caring.
Once Shuxian fell ill, she couldn't attend classes. Xiluotai forbade her from doing homework or sewing, saying, "It's just that she's too tired on weekdays." Naturally, she couldn't manage household chores. Bored all day, she wrote small notes. Word reached Shujia about Bixi and Zishang's complicated relationship. Shujia went to talk to her morning and evening. Shuxian said, "Come less often. Don't let your illness get to you. Mother's not in a good place, and if you get sick again, there'll be no one in charge."
Shujia said, "How can that be? I can't take care of much."
Shuxian was adamantly unwilling, and Shujia pouted, forcing her to reduce her frequency. Sometimes, she would write short notes to exchange questions with Shuxian, asking questions like, "What did the teacher say today?" or "My great-aunt asked about you." She also had to assist Xiluo Te with inquiries about the family's New Year's gift preparations and handle other minor matters.
Time flew by in the hectic days. In early November, Shujia and Xiluo Te worked together to draw up a list of New Year gifts. She then accompanied her mother to inspect the items, selected escorts, and ordered the journey. Following Xiluo Te's instructions, Shujia visited the warehouse and prepared ample space for the gifts.
As Xiluotai's health gradually declined, many matters were delegated to the housekeeper. The Shi family had been around for some time, and everything had precedents. Xiluotai said, "We don't have many farms in Hangzhou, so without the big expense of renting land, it seems easier. You should study and learn more." Shujia nodded.
Then, the housekeeper asked for instructions on making new clothes and distributing red envelopes, and in early December, preparations for the New Year began. Shujia observed and noted, then asked, "Have you kept all the surplus money from the shop? Is the storehouse secure?" Fu Haijia smiled and said, "Miss, New Year's expenses are huge. Besides the New Year gifts, we also have to settle accounts with various other departments throughout the year. There won't be much left over, and there's more than enough for the family." Shujia nodded without saying anything. In fact, she really wanted to see the legendary silver bills. Poor thing, even though she was dressed like a wealthy person, she still didn't know what a silver bill looked like.
Then, Shujia discovered that Zishang and Lujin in her room were passing chopsticks to Hongxiu and Qingjin during dinner, while Hongxiu and Qingjin were setting the table for Chunxi and Xiaxi. Meanwhile, Xiluo had just given birth to a boy, and a bow and arrow were hung at the door of the delivery room. She herself had gone to sleep after seeing the child off.
This time, Shi Wenbing was very free and had already chosen a name and was waiting. As soon as he saw the bow and arrow hanging out, he immediately announced his son's name: "Let's call him Guanyinbao."
The delivery room, also known as the blood room, was off-limits. Seeing the birth go smoothly, Shujia tugged at her father's sleeve and said, "Father, we need to send someone to tell the Fourth Old Master and the Fourth Old Lady the good news. And we need to send a letter to Beijing." She had an idea for this, and she needed her parents' approval before she could proceed. Shi Wenbing immediately ordered Fuhai to report the news to Shi Lin, while he returned to his study to write the letter.
Shujia ground ink for Shi Wenbing, watched him finish his letter, and then returned to his room. She ate first; the rice had spoiled, so she had a mutton pot and some green vegetables, rare in winter. After she finished, the servants ate, and she went for a walk in the courtyard to digest her food. Unexpectedly, she wandered into the maids' room and witnessed this classic scene of seniority. She said nothing and continued her stroll.
I'm going to visit my great-aunt tomorrow. I think she's already heard the news. I also have to prepare for the third-day baptism ceremony, so I expect a lot of people will be there. And the New Year is just a few days away, so it's time to check the warehouse and receive the New Year gifts...
After the New Year, it would be the 23rd year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, and she would be eight years old. She hadn't been able to visit West Lake this year, but she was determined to go next year. Hangzhou's landscape was beautiful, and she had to see it no matter what. She'd heard there were many mountains all around, and according to the map she'd gotten from Shi Wenbing, the name of one of them made her want to climb it: Turtle Mountain. Shuxian was also very interested, and they agreed to try to get their parents' permission to go together in the spring.
Pfft. Turtle Mountain.
At this time, she didn't know that there were more than just her and Shuxian who thought, "I should have some fun in the 23rd year of Kangxi's reign."
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The third day of a baby's birth is a significant occasion. Because of her young daughter, Mrs. Xiluo, while allowing her to handle household chores, couldn't fully rely on her. She had outlined the precautions well before the birth. On the day of the third day's birth, Shujia only needed to make a list of necessary preparations early in the morning and then accompany her.
Because such busy work could be done behind closed doors, it was best not to have the girl show up in public. Shujia was young, so even if she could hold her own, it wouldn't be easy. The first thing Xiluo did after waking up was to send for Madam Shilin to come and take care of her. She also told Shujia to listen more, watch more, and not talk nonsense.
The Shi family was considered a wealthy clan, but their population in Hangzhou was small, so the celebration of the third day of the newborn's birth was not a grand affair. First, the table was set for dinner, with noodles being a must. The midwife, beaming with joy, also took a seat at the head table. Because of the guests, Shi Wenbing dined outside, not with the women.
After dinner, everyone gathered. The midwife presided over the ceremony, first setting up an altar for offerings to the gods. A large copper basin, already filled with water boiled with locust branches and mugwort leaves, was filled. The family, young and old, took turns adding spoonfuls of water to the basin, then tossing in small objects like gold and silver ingots. This was known as "adding to the basin." Shuxian was still ill and did not come out, so Shujia performed the ritual for her.
After filling the basin, it was time to watch the midwife perform. She symbolically gave Guanyinbao a bath. In Shujia's mind, the baby was the emperor of the family. Everything had to be taken care of, even the water temperature was calculated in advance, for fear that he would get cold in the winter. That was no joke.
The third-day-old ritual of bathing is auspicious. If a child cries during the bath, it's considered auspicious, the louder the better; this is called "ringing basin." The midwife was accustomed to this practice. Newborns cry easily, and being held by a stranger can make them cry even more. Even if they don't cry during the bath, they'll still be whipped with green onions. Then there's moxibustion on the forehead with moxa leaves, and Guanyinbao certainly cried loudly. Shujia thought, with all this trouble, it's hard not to cry! She also felt sorry for her younger brother, who was suffering so much right after being born. How pitiful.
The midwife rewrapped Guanyinbao, and the maids took over. Guanyinbao now had two wet nurses, Nanny He and Nanny Zhao. The former was Shujia's original wet nurse, and the latter was Shuxian's wet nurse. Nanny Zhou from Shuxian's side and Nanny Yin from Shujia's side were also considered Guanyinbao's people.
After burning the offerings to the gods, the goodies in the three basins were all given to the midwife. The midwife was overjoyed and praised Guanyin Bao's good looks, saying, "May your family be blessed with a long line of nobles and marquises." Shi Wenbing didn't want to argue with such a common woman, and since she was speaking such auspicious words, he simply sneered. Xiluo Te, listening from the inner room, smiled and spat. The others all smiled.
It was the end of December and everyone was busy. After the guests left, the ceremony was considered over.
The New Year was approaching. Yet another unexpected event occurred: Fujian Governor Yao Qisheng passed away, and Zhejiang Governor Shi Weihan was transferred to Fujian. A farewell gift needed to be prepared. Shi Wenbing said, "Even if the new governor arrives, it will be after the New Year. Governor Shi's departure will also be after the New Year. Governor Shi's departure will likely be sooner, but the new governor won't arrive until February or March, at the latest. It's best to prepare a farewell gift first."
Xiluo Te placed the order, Shi Wenbing took a look at it, and Shujia took the list to order the food.
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That year's New Year's Eve dinner was reserved for Shi Wenbing and his daughter. Xiluo was a mother, still recovering from her postpartum confinement, and Guanyinbao was still young. A large table, with a variety of soups and dishes, was served, but only for the three of them. Before the meal began, they wished Huashan good health from afar, and then the feast could begin. Shuxian held the pot, and Shujia the cup, pouring a glass of wine and offering it to Shi Wenbing.
Shi Wenbing had been enjoying himself lately. His work was gradually getting underway, his daughter had grown up and become more sensible, and after returning to Hangzhou, he had a son. His life was quite fulfilling. Taking a sip of his wine, Shi Wenbing said to Shuxian, who sat on his left, "I wish you peace and health in the New Year." He then said to Shujia, "You've grown up again in the New Year, so you should become more sensible."
The two daughters agreed, and then they began to eat. They were supposed to order a play, but they were afraid of disturbing Guanyinbao—he was really too young. But just sitting together and talking was quite relaxing. Xiluotai ate in her room, and halfway through, she sent the nanny out to say, "Madam said, please don't drink too much, Master. The girls shouldn't drink either. The eldest girl is still sick, so you have to be extra careful."
Seeing his daughters standing there listening to the lecture, Shi Wenbing waved his hand and said, "Here we go again. Tell her to just rest assured." The nanny smiled and left.
Shuxian hadn't been feeling well. She'd already coughed two or three times while she was talking, forcing herself to suppress it until her face flushed red. Shi Wenbing said, "If you're not feeling well, go back to your room and rest. Staying up like this isn't good for you, and it's going to worry your mother and me." Shuxian excused herself and left.
There were only two people left at the huge table. The father and daughter stared at each other. Shujia said, "Ama."
Shi Wenbing: "My daughter."
Well, they had to eat, so they didn't need to be so particular about not talking while eating. If they didn't, it wouldn't feel like New Year's. They ate and chatted. Shi Wenbing asked, "How did you celebrate New Year's in Beijing in previous years?" Well, the father and daughter had never celebrated New Year's together at home in Beijing.
Shujia said, "I don't remember clearly. I was too young at that time. I just remember that my mother took us to kowtow and eat. We kowtowed to the empty chair and to the south. Oh, and there were red envelopes to be won, Ama~~~~"
Shi Wenbing was feeling melancholy when he heard the final, twisting chorus and shuddered: "Oh, oh, oh, we haven't even started staying up yet, you little girl." The melancholy atmosphere disappeared. At this time, someone outside had already set off fireworks. Shi Wenbing looked around and saw that besides the maid, there was only the little girl. He felt a little sad, but he didn't care much about their status.
Carrying their daughter, they went to the courtyard to watch the fireworks. Shujia sat on Shi Wenbing's shoulders, supporting his head with her hand. Looking up at the sky, the fireworks of that era were already quite beautiful, a dazzling display of colors. Shi Wenbing was also a military officer, so he could still enjoy riding and shooting, and since he was in his prime, carrying a girl on his shoulders certainly wasn't tiring.
But… after his impulsive behavior, he realized something was wrong and put his daughter down awkwardly. He looked up at the sky, coughed, and wanted to ask everyone to leave, but then he felt that it was New Year's Eve and he couldn't do that. So he abruptly changed the subject: "Shouldn't we prepare firecrackers at home? Your wife hasn't been able to get by this year. Have we neglected anything?"
Shujia thought the first half of the sentence was a question to her and was about to answer when the second half came. She looked up and saw Shi Wenbing's face, under the light of the lantern and the flash of fireworks. Hmm, a little strange. Recalling the situation just now and seeing the expressions of the servants around her, she had to suppress a smile and pretend not to know.
The manager replied to Shi Wenbing: "Everything is ready."
Shi Wenbing cleared his throat and let it go, saying, "Don't let the sparks fly everywhere and the water run away."
Shujia raised an eyebrow and added, "Send someone to tell the maids that firecrackers are about to be set off. Cover Third Master's ears. Then set off a few more for Big Sister to see." Of course firecrackers are set off during the New Year. With the sound of firecrackers already there, who cares about the sound of gongs and drums? This makes her father embarrassed, doesn't it?
After a series of orders, Shi Wenbing's embarrassment was finally relieved, and he watched the fireworks for a while longer. Shuxian sent a little maid to say, "The eldest girl said it was beautiful. Thank you, Master and Second Miss, for your consideration. Please don't stand outside for too long, it's cold."
Shi Wenbing took advantage of the situation and stroked his mustache: "Come in and have some hot soup to warm yourself up."
…
…
…
The clock struck eleven, and Shi Wenbing said, "It's time for Jiaozi." Dumplings were served in the kitchen, and firecrackers were heard outside again.
Shujia was stunned by the bustle. "Oh my! Lunar New Year, the transition from the old to the new year must be calculated according to the Chinese zodiac. Eleven o'clock is the hour of Zi! Then... uncles, aunts, brothers and sisters from CCTV... you're such a rip-off! You're not even ringing the bell for the countdown until twelve o'clock!"
She had never thought deeply about this issue before she traveled through time (she was used to living according to the Gregorian calendar), and she would always feel extremely resentful when she couldn't make it to midnight - once she couldn't make it any longer, she would want to sleep, and as soon as she fell asleep, it would be midnight and there would be crackling noises outside... She was driven crazy.
After I traveled through time, I was young and couldn't bear it, so I didn't pay attention to when the New Year was... This year I had no choice but to stay together until now, and then I was shocked.
Life is full of surprises!
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It's New Year's Eve, and people are kowtowed and bowed to get red envelopes, which brings in a lot of money. All the hustle and bustle is just a change of place and people, so there's no need to elaborate.
During the first month of the lunar calendar, when Guanyin is the full moon, a grand ceremony is expected. Shi Wenbing's superiors, colleagues, subordinates, and every prominent official in Hangzhou will be invited. A banquet will be prepared, and a troupe of actors will be hired. One play isn't enough; at least one for the official guests and one for the guests of honor will be required.
Although Xiluo Te was released from confinement after Guanyin Bao's full month, preparing for such a grand occasion involved more than just ordering dishes; it also included entertaining guests, something she couldn't oversee personally, even if she had made arrangements before the birth. Shujia, eager to try, hesitated to agree, and ultimately asked Madam Shi Lin to take care of it.
Madam Shi Lin arrived a few days in advance and, having learned that there would be plenty of food for the New Year banquet, she felt reassured. She drafted a menu and booked a performance. Shujia accompanied her throughout the entire process, taking notes. On the day of the full moon banquet, Xiluo Te came out of confinement, and Shujia breathed a sigh of relief.
Xiluotai first thanked her aunt for her care year after year, and then said that her daughter had caused her aunt a lot of trouble. Madam Shi Lin said, "I think the second girl is very good. Isn't it a blessing for you to have such a good understanding of reason at such a young age? If you can teach her well, it will be a blessing for you." Xiluotai said, "I appreciate your kind words."
With Xiluo Te around, Shujia just had to act like a good daughter, and she would go out to see Shuxian during this time.
Shuxian seemed to be feeling much better, coughing less, but her face had become a little thinner. Shujia said, "It's Chinese New Year, everyone else is gaining weight, but you're the only one who's lost weight. Don't you have an appetite?"
Shuxian said, "When you're sick, why don't you take medicine? Pills have to be taken with water, and you have to take bowls of decoctions. My stomach is already full, and I can't eat anything." She touched her face again and said, "Are you really thinner? That's good. Do you look better now?"
Shujia made a face at her and said, "You better get better soon. Spring comes early in the south. We agreed last year that if you don't get better, we won't be able to have fun."
I don't know if this sentence worked, but on February 2nd, after Shi Wenbing shaved her head, Shuxian felt that her cough had stopped. After observing her for another seven or eight days, she found that she was truly cured.
She couldn't play around just yet; she needed to get back on track with her studies. She'd neglected her academics and needlework for two months, and even without making any progress, she needed to at least get back into the swing of things. "You're the best," Xiluo said, "you don't need to worry so much about these things. For a girl, just knowing how to read is enough. I think your handwriting is quite good already. As for needlework, you've got plenty of time ahead of you."
Xiluo Te was afraid of her daughter. She looked gentle, but she was actually very strong-willed. She said it, watched and listened, but she still hadn't given up. Shujia said, "Classes are suspended during the first month of the year. There's no need to rush now, big sister."
In academic subjects, Shuxian had given up comparing herself to her younger sister and simply remained serious, no longer pushing herself too hard. Needlework, however, was a must for any girl, and she still refused to slack off. She was mainly anxious about it. Now, she realized, "Yeah, we've all been idle for a month, so if we need to get rusty, we should get rusty together." She'd been so anxious just now that she'd forgotten about it. So, she hadn't missed out on much.
As her mood relaxed, her health improved. After another half month, her complexion became rosy, and Xiluo Te announced that the whole family would go out for an outing. The whole family was very excited. When the master went out, there must be servants. Who would go with him and who would stay behind? They were all eager to go out and see the world.
In the end, except for Guanyin Baotaixiao, the other four went, leaving two people to guard each room, and the rest of the servants followed.
There weren't many tourists outside Hangzhou—according to Shujia. Xilut also said, "There are quite a few people."
The Shi family's team also attracted onlookers. Because Han Chinese people bound their feet, it was rare for women from wealthy families to have natural feet. How could they be allowed to see their feet? Even the maids wouldn't let them see! The people around were just watching the fun. If someone recognized Shi Wenbing, they would pass the name around and then disperse.
With fewer people around, Shujia was able to lift the curtain and look outside. The surroundings were lush green, the mountains and forests beautiful. She hadn't been able to go to Turtle Mountain; it was said to be too far away and wouldn't be convenient for a large group, so she decided to just relax in the suburbs.
My heart is not broken.
Zhang Lu, who had stayed at home, sent someone rushing over to say, "Master, the general has requested an urgent document from the capital, asking you to go and discuss it. I heard that the Emperor is planning a southern tour."
Huh? Xiao Xuanzi is coming over? Shujia didn't care that her outing was interrupted. First, four solemn bold characters in black initial font appeared in her mind: "Waste of money and labor." Then, four strange, colorful, Q-version characters appeared: "Kangxi is coming."
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