Chapter 307: Chapter 307: Another Imperial Decree Delivered
Although this rainstorm came with great momentum and indeed caused some damage, it was not disastrous.
So Concord City was not greatly affected.
Qi Quanjin had to stay in the village to take care of matters and had no time to go to the city to buy herbs or the like, so he let Qi Ercai make this trip.
When Qi Ercai returned, he not only brought back the things needed but also news.
Due to the rainstorm, the trial time for the village chief’s family in Weston Village was changed once more, and it was set for execution tomorrow.
The Qi Family discussed it over dinner.
It was clearly impossible for everyone to go watch the execution; they could only send a few representatives.
Young people were curious about beheadings, but older folks were not inclined to see such bloody scenes.
The only surprise was that Mrs. Qi wanted to watch the execution.
"I must personally see those scoundrels lose their heads; otherwise, I won’t feel at ease!"
The thought of her beloved granddaughter almost being harmed made Mrs. Qi’s anger rise uncontrollably.
The family wanted to stop her but knew how much the old lady cherished little Qi Manman.
If they insisted on stopping her, it might ignite an even bigger fire, so better to let her see for herself, to put her mind at ease.
Yi Meng also wanted to go but couldn’t bring herself to watch heads rolling.
Too gruesome.
In the end, Qi Ercai took the ox cart, brought the old lady, his own wife Qu Laodi, fourth sister-in-law Yi Meng, and a few kids to the city.
But the only one who actually watched the execution was Mrs. Qi.
Qi Ercai also went, but stayed on the outskirts of the crowd, keeping an eye in case the old lady fainted from the shock.
Watching the heads roll, the stagnation in Mrs. Qi’s heart was completely released.
Far from being scared, she left the execution ground in high spirits.
Qi Ercai didn’t see the heads being separated but saw the red bloodstains on the ground, which made him tremble with fear.
Seeing his mother’s calm demeanor, Qi Ercai couldn’t help but admire the courage of the old man.
He wondered what courage it took back then to decide to marry such a tough woman.
Tsk tsk tsk!
Qi Ercai followed behind the old lady, feeling continuously amazed.
He thought this would be the end of the matter, but unexpectedly, the old lady developed a high fever after returning home the next evening.
If Qi Manman hadn’t suddenly started crying in her sleep while guarding beside Yi Meng, waking her up and insisting on finding grandma, the family might not have known the old lady was sick until the next morning.
Illness strikes like a mountain falling, but recovery is slow as drawing silk.
Moreover, Mrs. Qi’s age in this era wasn’t considered young, even with Yi Meng secretly adding Space Spring Water to her drinks for daily nourishment, but there was too much deficit from her younger years, causing the old lady’s illness to last until the onset of winter.
With the approach of New Year, Mrs. Qi still needed daily herbal medicine, and had visibly lost considerable weight.
Because of this, the laughter in the house had greatly decreased.
In the blink of an eye, it was the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month.
The Little New Year.
Early in the morning, the Qi family’s daughters-in-law began bustling about.
Mu Yunniang found an opportunity to discuss with Yi Meng again about being friends with children.
Though greatly shocked, Mu Yunniang followed Yi Meng’s advice to become friends with her son Qilang.
Qilang was originally just mischievous, not really disobedient. Once his mother treated him like an adult, he gradually became less naughty and more mature.
In this process, Mu Yunniang also grew, no longer as silent as before.
So, this year, when preparing food, the sisters-in-law were more harmonious than in previous years.
As the best cook in the family, Yi Meng naturally became the head chef today.
However, it was not yet time to start cooking, so Yi Meng joined her sisters-in-law, chatting while preparing vegetables.
While they were chatting enthusiastically, a loud cry erupted from Qilang in the yard.
"Someone! Quick, come here! Something big has happened!"
At the sound, Mu Yunniang’s heart skipped a beat, and she rushed out, not even placing down the vegetables in her hand.
"You little rascal, what nonsense are you spouting during the holiday?"
Mu Yunniang said while flinging the vegetables in her hand toward her elder son.
Qilang nimbly dodged to the side but also caught the vegetables thrown by his mother, saying, "Mom, something really happened. Where’s Aunt Yi Meng? Hurry and change clothes!"
Yi Meng came out upon hearing this, puzzled: "Qilang, what’s wrong? Why change clothes?"
"Aunt Yi Meng, someone from the city has come! They said we need to change clothes quickly because news has arrived from the Capital City!"
Hearing this, everyone in the yard was stunned.
Yi Meng was the first to react, quickly turning back to the kitchen, urging, "It must be news from the autumn harvest sent to the Capital City. Quickly, everyone, tidy up and change clothes!"
Her words seemed to unlock everyone from a spell.
Soon, there was chaos in the Qi Family Mansion.
Qi Quanjin invited Liu Qinghe, who had come to deliver the news, to the living room for tea, while he hurried to the backyard to change clothes.
Once the Qi Family was all groomed and dressed in their New Year’s clothes, having prepared the incense table, the team delivering the imperial decree from the Capital City also arrived at Yongping Village.
For the original inhabitants of Yongping Village, receiving an imperial decree was no longer a first-time experience, but for those who had joined later, it was something they had only heard of, never imagined they could witness it.
In an instant, everyone in the village, regardless of age or gender, gathered at the entrance of the Qi Family Mansion.
The eunuch delivering the decree was a different person this time, but according to Liu Qinghe, his position was higher than the last one.
The family received the decree with a mix of nerves and excitement, then hosted the eunuch and the county magistrate for a meal.
After being well-fed, the county magistrate accompanied the decree-carrying eunuch back to the city, but Yongping Village plunged into an even bigger celebration.
Qi Quanjin and his wife discussed it and decided that today’s Little New Year meal would be shared with the entire village.
Each household brought their tables and chairs, all gathered in the Qi family’s yard.
The vegetable garden had been cleared out, with nothing planted during the winter, so tables were set up after some leveling.
Bonfires were also lit.
Yi Meng was no longer the head chef; instead, all the Qi family’s daughters-in-law were head chefs.
All the ingredients were provided by the Qi Family, with plates of chicken, duck, fish, meat, and pricey vegetables laid on the table.
In no time, the Qi Family Mansion buzzed with liveliness.
