Chapter 123: Fairness Covers a Hundred Flaws
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the maids in the Qiao family set off firecrackers at the entrance of Lucky Garden.
In previous years, Qiao Mai had refrained from setting off firecrackers to avoid scaring the horses in the house. However, with their mansion now bigger, it wouldn’t disturb the animals.
To celebrate the festive occasion, she had instructed Shopkeeper Niu to arrange the purchase of a cart full of firecrackers. The red firecrackers continued to burst for a whole hour before stopping.
The one-acre snow-covered area in front of Lucky Garden was adorned with red firecracker wrappers, resembling a bright red carpet, instantly uplifting the spirits of those who saw it.
The children were dressed in new clothes and eagerly waited in the courtyard to pay their respects.
Qiao Mai had stayed up late the previous night, so she mustered the strength to get up and smiled as she saw several sets of new clothes by her bed.
Some of these clothes had been made by Ruyi, some by Yue Hong and Yue Xia, and others she had bought herself. She chose one of the sets she had purchased, put it on, sat in front of the mirror, styled her hair beautifully, and then adorned herself with the headpiece Old Mistress Wang had given her.
Looking at herself in the bronze mirror, she noticed that she had grown significantly taller. She must have reached about 1.65 meters now.
She had gained some weight due to their improved lifestyle.
Her facial features had become more pleasing to the eye since she arrived; they say that a fair complexion could hide a multitude of flaws, and it was indeed true. Her fair and snow-like skin made her features appear more attractive.
Qiao Mai picked up a jade bracelet from her dressing table, put it on her wrist, and felt satisfied with her appearance. She then walked out of her room.
Yuan Jiaqi and the children’s eyes lit up when they saw her. “Mother, you look so beautiful!” “You all look handsome too!”
“Hehe!”
“Come into the living room. Don’t stand outside in the snow. It’s cold, and I’d worry about you catching a cold.”
In the living room, she and Yuan Jiaqi took their seats at the head of the room. When Ling’er arrived, the children approached and knelt to offer their New Year’s greetings.
Yuan Jiaqi gave each child a red envelope, and Qiao Mai prepared little golden animal figurines.
The children were thrilled and couldn’t stop playing with them.
Yue Hong and Yue Xia were also dressed in new clothes and came to pay their respects to the couple. They received a generous red envelope each.
The household staff came in groups to offer their New Year’s greetings and received red envelopes before leaving.
Before they departed, Qiao Mai reminded them to pay a visit to Shopkeeper Lu’s place.
After everyone had paid their respects, Qiao Mai turned to Yuan Jiaqi.
“Shall we go to Sister Lu’s place? She’s the eldest, and it’s only right that we visit her.”
They brought their children and arrived at Shopkeeper Lu’s place. She and Ruyi had just finished receiving New Year’s greetings from the staff. “Oh, you’re here! I was just thinking about taking Ruyi over for a visit.”
“How could I let you come to me? Happy New Year, sister!”
“Happy New Year, Auntie!”
The children immediately knelt, and Shopkeeper Lu was so delighted she couldn’t stop smiling. She quickly helped the children stand up.
She gave each of them a red envelope before letting them all take a seat.
“With the snowy weather, there’s nowhere else to go. I was thinking of going to the county town to visit my sisters. My little shop has relied on their help all these years.”
“They will understand. The roads are not in good condition.”
“Yes, you’re right. It’s either too busy or too quiet for me. I was born with a workaholic nature. ”
“Should we go to Mayor Qian’s house to pay our New Year’s respects?” Shopkeeper Lu seemed a bit uncomfortable when Mavor Qian’s name was mentioned. “You can go, I won’t.”
“Setting aside other matters, considering that he’s done a lot for us in the town over the years, we should pay our respects.”
“Alright. Let’s go, but only because we have nowhere else. We’ll pay our respects to him. He’ll be overjoyed.”
“Still reluctant, I see. Let’s go then.”
Qiao Mai took Shopkeeper Lu’s hand, and they all left for Mayor Qian’s house.
At the entrance of Mayor Qian’s large courtyard, many townspeople were coming and going. Mayor Qian sat in the living room, receiving them, with guards stationed on both sides of the entrance.
The townspeople offered their New Year’s greetings and then left. Mayor Qian had to do this every year, and while he found it tiresome, he didn’t mind. It was an annual event, and he had been a good mayor, loved and respected by the townspeople.
When Mayor Qian saw Shopkeeper Lu and her group, his eyes lit up.
“Oh my, rare guests! Please, have a seat. Don’t leave. Let’s have lunch at my place this year.”
“Who’s going to your place? We haven’t even had breakfast yet!”
Madam Lu’s response caught Mayor Qian off guard. They bantered like this every time they met as if they were close friends who loved to tease each other.
“Well, you’ve come to pay your respects to me. I’m going to your house for lunch. Your food is delicious.
“Humph, visiting someone else’s home on New Year’s Day, how shameless!”
“What’s there to feel ashamed about? It just so happens that Brother Jiaqi is alone at home. It’s boring with a bunch of women around. The two of us can have a drink.”
Qiao Mai playfully poked Shopkeeper Lu, “Come on, dear sister, let’s not bicker on New Year’s. Let’s go home, have an early lunch, and wait for Mayor Qian to join us.”
“Sounds good! By the way, don’t call me ‘Mayor Qian.’ You’re too formal. Just call me Brother Qian, okay?”
Qiao Mai chuckled, “How old are you?”
Mayor Qian playfully rolled his eyes. “Don’t be fooled by my appearance. I haven’t even reached fifty yet. I just turned forty-six after the New Year.”
Qiao Mai couldn’t help but laugh, “Oh, you do look quite mature. Without knowing, someone might think you’re sixty.”
“What are you saying? I’m only ten years older than Sanniang.”
“Alright, we’ll get going then.”
“Go ahead!”
Mayor Qian’s guards distributed red envelopes to the children. When they returned home, Mr. Qin from the town’s carpenter shop and Shopkeeper Tong waited in the living room.
They had come to offer their New Year’s greetings. “Goodness, it’s New Year’s! Where have you been?”
“Happy New Year! We just visited Mayor Qian’s house!”
“Haha, we left his place not long ago. Come, these are red envelopes for the children. ”
“Want to have lunch at my place?”
“Sure, that sounds great. We couldn’t ask for more.”
It seemed like these two felt there was nowhere to go in the snow, so they came to the Qiao family to freeload for food and drinks.
Just as they were about to have breakfast, the bosses of the butcher shop, the clothing store, the blacksmith shop — Any boss in town who benefited from Qiao Mai’s patronage — came to pay their New Year’s greetings. Anyone who saw the kids would give them a red envelope.
“How about staying for lunch? All of you.”
“Sure, that sounds great. We can’t easily get a taste of your home-cooked meals.”
“Who said that? Didn’t you come to my house for my daughter’s wedding before?”
“Haha, we’re just here for your delicious food.”
Qiao Mai asked them to sit down for the time being while she and her family quickly had a bowl of dumplings. She asked Yuan Jiaqi to keep them company and went to the kitchen.
The kitchen staff knew that guests had arrived and were busy preparing food.
“Prepare two tables of dishes, and you should also set up a few more. Today is New Year’s Day, so everyone should eat and drink well.”
“Madam, we usually eat well, whether it’s New Year’s or not. It won’t make much of a difference.
Qiao Mai smiled. “Steam some sausages, prepare pork dishes, and we’ll have dumplings for lunch too. Let them taste the flavor of our dumplings. And make some snacks.”
“Yes, Mistress.”
Qiao Mai didn’t enjoy socializing much, so she returned to the backyard.
Thinking about the candied hawthorn she made last year, Qiao Mai wondered what surprise she could prepare for the children.
Qiao Mai thought about various snacks from Earth, and one that came to mind was popcorn.
Popcorn was simple to make, requiring just a few ingredients, and easy to prepare.
Corn, butter, cream, sugar, chocolate, rice, malt sugar, molds— she prepared everything and started working in the kitchen.
First, she made two pots of butter-flavored popcorn, then two pots of chocolate-flavored popcorn. Finally, she made a pot of rice popcorn, mixed it with malt sugar, poured it into molds, and cut it into rectangular bars.
Qiao Mai placed the three snacks into clean cloth bags and carried them to the living room..
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