Chapter 589: Chapter 589: Celebrating the New Year Together
"Dear, then it’s settled. This year we’ll go to the old house for both families to spend the New Year together?" Liu Ji eagerly threw a flirtatious glance at his wife.
Qin Yao extended two fingers, pushing them apart in a figure eight shape to stop his incessant blinking.
Considering his filial piety, she nodded lightly, "Okay."
"But let me make it clear first, I’m only here to eat and drink. Don’t expect me to help with anything."
Liu Ji readily agreed, "Of course! Our whole family is at your service, dear. How could we dare trouble you?"
With habits becoming second nature, Liu Ji bent down to brush the chill off her clothes, opened the door, and let her in.
He turned his head towards the kitchen and shouted, "Serve the dishes, it’s time to eat!"
Ah Wang and Mrs. Li brought the entire pot over, followed by Yin Le who carried the rice, setting the table with chopsticks.
The lid was lifted, releasing an enticing aroma. The five members of the family were instantly captivated, all fixating their eyes on the pot. It was filled with fish, tofu, and pickled vegetables, topped with green onions and cilantro, making mouths water.
"Did you all go fishing?" Qin Yao looked at the children with delight.
Da Lang nodded, "The weather cleared up these two days, and many fish showed up in the mountain streams, but they were a bit thin from being hungry all winter."
The scent was too tempting. Qin Yao was already hungry, and seeing everyone seated, she immediately picked up her chopsticks and began to eat.
Throughout the winter, the food was monotonous, mainly smoked meats and pickled vegetables. Fresh produce was limited to hardy radishes and cabbages and pumpkins stored since early winter.
Wild vegetables had all frozen after the snow. Occasionally, a few bunches hidden under the straw in the fields could be found, but they weren’t enough for a proper meal.
Fresh meat had to be bought in town, but with the roads frozen and fewer pigs available, getting fresh pork every five days wasn’t easy.
With this in mind, today’s pot of fish seemed like a rare delicacy.
At the dining table, everyone was too focused on eating the fish to talk, with only the sounds of vigorous chewing filling the air.
After dinner, Liu Ji asked Da Lang and Second Lang to bring paper and pen to draft a shopping list for New Year’s supplies.
Qin Yao, hugging Si Niang for warmth, leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes lazily to digest, calculating the journey in her mind. Gongliang Liao and his people should have already arrived in the Capital.
The three Da Lang brothers clamored about going to town with Liu Ji for shopping the next day. Liu Ji found them troublesome and didn’t want to take them along. After much debate, Ah Wang suggested using both carts at home, and father and sons finally quieted down.
Later, Qin Yao could no longer hear what was being said, dozing off resting on the chair back.
She had been too tired these days. Finally arranging everything today, she completely relaxed and slept soundly until dawn.
At some point, it seemed Liu Ji helped her back to the room, washed her face and feet, and tucked a warm bag into the bed. She wrapped herself in the quilt and slept until daylight.
Upon waking, the house was very quiet. The five father and sons, along with Yin Le and Ah Wang, had gone to town, leaving only Little Lai Fu’s innocent chatter as he chased chickens in the backyard.
The stationery factory began its holiday on the 26th of the lunar month, and now everything was arranged for Song Yu to handle things. Qin Yao lazed around at home for two full days, soaking in the cheerful year-end atmosphere.
The villagers in Liu Family Village had money this year, with five families individually buying pigs to slaughter. From the 24th all the way to New Year’s Eve, the sound of pig slaughtering could be heard nonstop.
Every family that slaughtered a pig invited the village head over for a meal. Qin Yao refused all invitations, not wanting to step out, whereas Liu Ji took the four children around to feast, even bringing some back for her.
Today’s dish was braised pork with preserved greens, tomorrow’s was stewed pork with pickled vegetables, the day after was steamed pork, followed by red-braised pork.
In short, the villagers of Liu Family Village were visibly prosperous this year.
By New Year’s Eve, there was still no need to cook at home—everyone went to the old house to eat and drink!
Da Lang said it was the first time in his memory that both families celebrated New Year together, and the atmosphere was so good it felt unreal, like a dream.
Qin Yao glanced at the man surrounded by children writing couplets, lowered her head, and quietly said to the youth, "Da Lang, you might not believe it, but it was your father who suggested celebrating New Year together this year."
What? Da Lang was full of disbelief. He thought it was his stepmother’s suggestion.
Qin Yao shrugged, as she was quite surprised herself.
It shows that great scholars are indeed great scholars—Gongliang Liao had taught his inhuman disciple to become more human.
"Mother." Da Lang looked up at Qin Yao, tentatively saying, "Father seems to have changed a lot."
As he spoke, he lifted his foot to reveal a conspicuous patch on his shoe.
"Father sewed it on at some point," Da Lang said. It had been three days since, yet he still found it hard to believe.
As for why the boy was so certain it was his father’s handiwork and not Senior Sister Yue’s, Uncle Ah Wang’s, or Aunt Li’s, all one had to do was look at the clumsy embroidery akin to centipede legs.
"And this." Second Lang approached at some point, pulling out a slightly worn hairband from his bosom, adorned with the words "Wenquxing Protects Me" clearly visible.
Qin Yao immediately recognized it as the one Liu Ji wore during his morning readings.
Second Lang, his mood mixed, said, "Father actually gave me his hairband, saying it held the protection of Wenquxing, ensuring I’d achieve great success in the future."
Before the mother and sons could further discuss Liu Ji’s transformation, the Dragon and Phoenix Twins and Da Mao, who could now run quickly, rushed over.
"Third Aunt, Third Aunt, let’s put up the couplets!" Da Mao tugged at Qin Yao’s skirt, urging her to come along.
Qin Yao, helpless, waved her hand to signal Da Lang and Second Lang to disperse, and followed the three youngest to the table.
Liu Ji blew the ink dry and handed over the two couplets, "One goes on the main door, the other on the hall door... Ah, it’s dear. Please come inside, don’t trouble yourself with this small matter."
He hadn’t forgotten their earlier agreement that she wouldn’t do any work, giving the three little ones an annoyed look. He meant for them to find someone to hang the couplets, not bring in this esteemed guest!
The three children blinked their big eyes innocently, Huh?
Qin Yao smiled, extending her hand to take the couplets, "Give them to me. I’m bored anyway."
With a large gesture, a group of children followed her out of the courtyard, carrying paste, bringing stools, and grabbing brushes, all in order.
Qin Yao only had to wait for these kids to tear down the old couplets, apply new paste, set up the stool, and then step up to paste the new couplets neatly.
The hall door was a bit lower, and with Da Lang having grown significantly this year, he could step up on the stool to help his mother.
The handsome young man took the couplet, pasted it directly, and Qin Yao only had to stand on the ground with hands on her hips, checking its alignment.
The aroma of food wafted in as the chefs, Ah Wang and He, called everyone to eat, prompting Qin Yao and the bunch of kids to rush to wash their hands at the water barrel before dashing into the hall, scrambling to grab seats and lining up to await the New Year’s Eve feast.
The two families combined to set up three tables, with eight children at one table, the women at another, and the men at yet another, cramming the not-so-spacious hall of the old house full.
Despite being a bit crowded, the many people created a lively atmosphere, drawing everyone closer together.
