Although the Jiang family was the wealthiest household in town, this was the first time they had celebrated such a joyous New Year since the wife passed away during childbirth.
It wasn't that they were frugal during the Lunar New Year in previous years; the decorations were exactly the same, with big red lanterns, and the servants and maids working in the mansion all had new clothes, and they were rewarded with cakes, pastries, and red envelopes.
But this year is quite different. The smile on Mr. Jiang's face has never disappeared. They say that people are in high spirits when they have a happy occasion. My husband looks like a groom in his wedding robes right now.
It was genuine, heartfelt joy, happiness, and delight!
Jiang Baize got off the carriage, still holding the large bamboo gift box, on which was sprinkled gold and red paper with the words "Happy New Year" written.
Pang, along with the steward Wu Qing and the accountant Chai Daiwen, have all been handed over to the authorities. After interrogation, it was confirmed that Madam Jiang did indeed die from postpartum hemorrhage, not from being killed by Wu Qing. Although they were not sentenced to death, they were not treated well either, and were sentenced to be exiled to a barren land three thousand miles away to perform ten years of hard labor.
Even after the ten-year term expires, they cannot return and can only settle down and live locally.
Although Pang Baicheng never knew the truth, his fate was not much better. Those who had been bullied by him stood up to beat the drum and complain, and as a result, Pang Baicheng was punished with a beating and then exiled.
Jiang An also thoroughly investigated the people working in the mansion, and several of Wu Qing's confidants were expelled from the mansion.
The old gardener continued to work as a gardener.
The remaining servants in the manor liked the current atmosphere. The real young master, Jiang Baize, was upright and kind, unlike the fake one who treated his servants like dirt, beating and scolding them, and doing outrageous and disgraceful things outside.
The master was furious at his son's lack of ambition, and scolding and beating him were of no use; the boy looked much older than his peers.
When the master is angry, those of them who work below him are filled with anxiety and trepidation.
And when the counterfeiter is punished, he will vent his anger on them.
Look how good things are now, the whole household is harmonious.
"Young master, you're back." A servant stepped forward and greeted him.
"Hmm, where is my father?" Jiang Baize asked.
"Young master, the master and gentleman are having tea in the living room," the servant hurriedly reported.
Jiang Baize nodded and led the servants carrying the return gifts straight to the living room.
Before even entering the living room, Jiang Baize could hear his father and husband's voices discussing tea. Without asking, he knew that the tea was the one his aunt had given him last time.
When my father came back and tasted it, he praised it highly. He would brew only one pot every day to share with my husband.
These past few days, we've had guests visiting, but Father hasn't been willing to serve them any.
"Ze'er is back." When Jiang's father looked up and saw that his son, who had gone to pay New Year's visits, had returned, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
He desperately wanted to stay by his son's side every minute of every day, but he also knew he couldn't do that.
Therefore, since my son insisted on visiting our benefactor for the New Year by himself, he didn't go with him.
"Father, sir." Jiang Baize greeted them first, then told his father that Xiaoduo had asked him to bring him some good tea.
Upon hearing this, Jiang An immediately stepped forward happily to look through the items, exclaiming, "Wow, so many more!"
"Huh, what's this?" Jiang An looked at the tea with interest and then turned to ask his son what was in his hand.
“This is a gift from my aunt. She said it's some snacks and little trinkets,” Jiang Baicheng replied.
Then, he blurted out, "Father, sir, Bai Ze has gone back to his room and will come over later."
"Alright, go ahead and do your work." Before Jiang An could speak, Scholar Chen spoke first.
Hong Xiaoduo had left him some money so that Jiang Baize could find a doctor to prescribe medicine for him. After taking the medicine, his health improved a lot, and his mind also recovered somewhat.
After being brought here, Jiang An arranged for a doctor to examine him, and with meticulous care in terms of food, clothing, and lodging, Chen's condition improved somewhat.
Watching his son's hurried departure, Jiang An muttered, "As a father, I'm not going to fight you for snacks or trinkets."
As Jiang An happily hid the tea his son had brought back in the cellar, Jiang Baize returned to his room, gently placed the gift box on his desk, turned around and closed the door, then suddenly laughed to himself.
How could someone so old behave so childishly?
It's just snacks and trinkets, why am I making such a fuss? When my father took me back to the mansion, he took me to the storeroom and pointed to the gold, silver, jewelry, antiques, and calligraphy and paintings inside, saying they were all mine. I never felt this way before.
Jiang Baize carefully opened the gift box and was immediately taken aback. The pastries and candies inside were all things he had never seen before, let alone tasted.
He picked up the fist-sized, square object. Was this the little gadget she was talking about? Each side had small squares of various colors. He tapped them; there were six colors.
A little trinket? Is it for playing with? Or a decorative item?
He then noticed the folded paper inside. Unfolding it, he saw neat and beautiful handwriting explaining how to play with the little gadget.
It turns out that you can twist and rotate the direction to restore the scattered colored cubes so that each side is a single color.
Jiang Baize carefully studied the instructions for a while, and couldn't resist reaching out to pick up a white pastry placed in an exquisite paper cup. It looked round and snow-white. He took a small bite and found that the outer skin was soft and chewy, and the inside was filled with a delicate, milky sweetness, as well as the sweetness of some kind of fruit.
This is so delicious! It's even better than all the pastries my father bought after he picked me up. Jiang Baize took another bite and squinted his eyes in satisfaction.
After finishing the plump, white pastry, Jiang Baize couldn't wait to try one of the remaining ones. Each one had a unique flavor and was exceptionally delicious.
For the first time in his life, Jiang Baize was so hungry that he even had a thought pop into his head: could he go to pay New Year's visits once a day?
This aunt is so good to me!
After washing his hands, Jiang Baize began to work with the Rubik's Cube.
As the sun was setting, the dinner dishes were laid out on the table, but Jiang An still hadn't seen his beloved son come over, so he hurriedly asked the servant.
The servant said that the young master hadn't come out since returning to his room, and it was very quiet inside.
"What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and call the young master over for dinner." Jiang An refrained from going to see what was going on himself and instead instructed the servant.
“Bai Ze might be studying inside; that child is very studious,” Chen Juren said from the side.
Upon hearing this, Jiang An said with great satisfaction, "There's no rush to learn, it's only the first day of the new year."
Hearing the servant knock on the door, Jiang Baize, who had been playing with a Rubik's Cube all afternoon, finally noticed that it was already dark and that time had passed so quickly.
He reluctantly put the Rubik's Cube away, and just as he was about to leave, his eyes swept over the gift box. He decided to keep the little trinkets for himself, but he also wanted to share these delicious treats with his father and husband.
He took two of each type of pastry from the gift box, placed them on the tea tray, and carried them out of the house. Now he finally understood how much his father cherished the tea his aunt had given him...
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