Chapter 410: Chapter 212: Purchasing New Year’s Goods_2
Lian Manman smiled. Lian Shouxin would say that, but he was someone who, even without money, would still find a way to show filial respect to Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou.
"I have no objections to that," Lady Zhang agreed readily, "Although we’ve divided the family, Father and Mother are still Father and Mother. Even if we don’t have money, we mustn’t cut corners when it comes to showing filial respect to Dad and Mom."
Lian Shouxin was very pleased to hear Lady Zhang say this.
"Then, what should we get for my grandpa and grandma?" Lian Manman asked. She saw that many people visiting would bring two bundles of steamed cake.
"Let’s not buy those steamed cakes. Even if we did, your grandpa and grandma wouldn’t want to eat them. They’re just for show, not really tasty, and a waste of money," said Lian Shouxin, "Let’s buy something practical for your grandpa and grandma."
"Then let’s buy japonica rice and white flour," suggested Lady Zhang.
"That’s a good idea," Lian Shouxin immediately agreed.
After a family discussion, they decided to buy five jin of rice and an additional two jin of white liquor.
Tenant farmers hardly had any spare cash. In Thirty Mile Camp, for families like theirs that had separated, there were those who lived in the same village and whose parents wouldn’t see a single item from their children for years. Five jin of rice and two jin of white liquor were both considered top-grade gifts on their own.
Lian Shouxin felt particularly comforted seeing that Lady Zhang and the children were so willing to prepare New Year gifts for Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou.
"We should also prepare the gifts for my maternal grandparents in advance," Lian Manman reminded them, as there was a market before the New Year, and many shops would not open during the first month, making some items hard to buy at that time.
"We do need to prepare early," Lian Shouxin agreed, saying, "I was just about to mention that."
Then, Lian Shouxin asked Lady Zhang what gifts to buy for his father-in-law and mother-in-law.
"The same as what we get for the senior members of the family," said Lady Zhang.
"Let’s add a little more," Lian Shouxin thought for a while, "This year we’ve caused the elders quite some worry. Besides, we live far away and can’t take care of them usually. Our New Year gift should be more generous."
"I’ll follow your suggestion," said Lady Zhang. She also felt very comforted by Lian Shouxin’s words.
"How about ten jin of rice and ten jin of flour?" Lian Manman proposed, "My grandpa loves grape wine. Since we still have some, let’s add a small jar of grape wine."
"Okay," Lian Shouxin nodded.
"Isn’t that too much?" Lady Zhang asked.
Of course, nobody listened to Lady Zhang. Lian Manman added two more items to the list of New Year goods with a smile. They would prepare these for now, and when Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang visited Zhang Qingshan and Lady Li later, they could add more items then.
"That should cover it, unless there’s anything else we’ve missed," Lian Shouxin said.
"Hmm," Lian Manman’s eyes spun around, and then she fixed her gaze on Lian Shouxin.
"Manman, is there something else you want, expecting your father to pay for it?" Lian Shouxin wasn’t clueless and immediately caught on.
"It’s not for me," Lian Manman shook her head, "Dad, it’s almost the New Year, aren’t you going to buy something for Mom?"
Lady Zhang blushed, and Lian Shouxin chuckled foolishly.
"Mom’s head is quite bare," Lian Manman hinted.
Lady Zhang originally had quite a few pieces of jewelry, but over the years, they had all been spent. Since the division of the household, everyone had been busy with daily life and hadn’t given much thought to this aspect.
"Dad, why don’t you buy Mom a hairpin?" Lian Zhizhi and Wu Lang both smiled.
"Of course, I’ll buy one," Lian Shouxin said, feeling a bit ashamed. He should have thought of it earlier, but his children had outthought him.
"Dad, you provide the money, and let mom pick one she likes," Lian Manman suggested.
"Alright," Lian Shouxin agreed. It seemed that the word he said most today was "alright."
Lian Manman then added an entry to the ledger, and Lian Shouxin circled it at the back.
"How about this," Lady Zhang gave it some thought, "this year we have a bit of spare change. Zhizhi and Manman don’t even have a single piece of jewelry or head ornament each. Let’s not add too much—just one for each for now. Next year, if we’re doing even better, we can add more."
In wealthy families, a girl’s jewelry and head ornaments are added to every year. By the time they grow up and marry, these would naturally become their dowry. Lady Zhang didn’t want to shortchange her daughters, so she thought about taking advantage of better times to buy as much as they could. Little by little, it would add up, and they shouldn’t be too hard on their children.
...
That day, the Lian Manman family closed their breakfast shop early, pushed the flat cart from home, and hurried to Qingyang Town to buy New Year’s goods.
It was the last big market before New Year’s, and it was so crowded that people were literally rubbing shoulders. The faces of both adults and children were brimming with happiness.
Lian Manman’s family first entered a gold and silver jewelry store, which was a long-standing establishment. However, being in a town, it was much smaller in scale compared to those in the county or Prefecture City. A selection of gold and silver ornaments was displayed on the counters, and if none were to one’s taste, customers could also place custom orders. They could bring their gold and silver, and the shop would only charge a crafting fee, or one could use the shop’s materials.
"Mom, take a look and see which one you like," Lian Manman started by showing Lady Zhang the hairpins.
"They all look pretty nice, any one of them would be fine," Lady Zhang replied. The hairpins that Lian Manman pointed out to her—in the cheapest selections—cost five or six pieces of silver.
"Dad, come help Mom choose one. Mom, don’t worry about spending money. Dad won’t begrudge buying you things," Lian Manman said.
Other customers overheard Lian Manman’s words and smiled, turning their heads to look at their direction, causing Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang to blush.
Lady Zhang wanted to choose a plain hairpin because it was cheaper, but Lian Manman disagreed, believing that a hairpin should be beautiful. She picked out one with a gold-plated phoenix tail, weighing four qian, both the gold plating and the phoenix tail were delicately made, priced at five pieces of silver. Lady Zhang liked it too but felt a bit hesitant to spend the money.
After choosing one for Lady Zhang, Lian Zhizhi and Lian Manman, hand in hand, inspected the jewelry in the counter while discussing what they should buy. Lian Zhizhi was frugal by nature, feeling that although their family had made some money, life had only just improved, so they shouldn’t be extravagant.
"Manman, let’s each buy a pair of silver lilacs," said Lian Zhizhi to Lian Manman after some thought.
The simplest and smallest design for a pair of silver lilacs was the cheapest, costing just forty wen money.
Lian Manman had a different opinion; gold and silver were solid assets. If they bought better quality, they could use them as decoration usually and in case of an emergency.
"Sister, let’s each buy a pair of lilacs, but let’s not get the silver ones—let’s get the gold ones," Lian Manman said.
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Second release, seeking pink.
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Title: "Rebirth: When Flowers Bloom and the Moon is Full" (completed main story and extras) (Link below, click to go straight there)
Description: Transported into the life of a woman wrongly accused of unfaithfulness and abandoned, with her little bun in tow, she begins a sweet life hand in hand with a practical husband.(Continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation votes, monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
