"Selling Spring Festival couplets."
"Auspicious Spring Festival couplets."
With their Spring Festival couplet-selling team working hard for two weeks straight, they’ve attended nearly all gatherings in the suburbs of Beijing. And today is the 28th of the twelfth lunar month; tomorrow is the Little New Year.
Gong Ruini and the others plan to wrap up their business by today. It’s not that she doesn’t want to keep going, but business will be dull tomorrow for the Little New Year, not to ntion they’ve been working nonstop for so many days; a break is essential.
Gong Ruini is already barely holding up, but there’s no choice. She often says what doesn’t sell this year can be sold next year, right?
No matter how well they’re preserved, the red color will lose its brightness. Gong Ruini doesn’t want to be criticized for selling last year’s leftovers.
So, they sell as many as they can, and even if so remain unsold, it won’t be much of a loss.
With the constant calling out, the onlookers increased, and the couplets began to sell. anwhile, the team that went out shopping for New Year goods returned fully loaded.
Cai Xingjuan knew there would always be good stuff at the rural markets, but she could never find the ti. Today, taking advantage of Ge Yunkui being at ho, she eagerly joined Gong Ruini and the others in setting up shop.
But Cai Xingjuan was busy buying ingredients because this year’s Spring Festival would be very lively. Previously, she thought the celebrations in past years were already quite festive, but it turns out they could be even more so.
With more people, the als beco tastier, and Cai Xingjuan plans to showcase her cooking skills. As for the ingredients, she’s in no rush; Zhuge Zhi has brought back plenty, and there are items sent from the Northeast. Not to ntion Gong Ruini and the others always bring back lots of stuff from their vending trips, filling the kitchen to the brim.
"Today was great, I bought quite a bit of venison." Cai Xingjuan didn’t expect to find venison; it’s quite a delicacy.
"Freeze them when we get ho and have hot pot on New Year’s Eve." There’s nothing more comforting during the festival than hot pot. Although the house has heating, the dishes still cool down if the heating isn’t constant.
Wow, venison hot pot! Gong Ruini almost forgot when was the last ti she had venison, back when she was in the Northeast. She rembers the taste very well, "That’s great!"
"There’s also fish, live fish, not bad. Ni Zi, let’s make fish soup with black fungus when we get back; it tastes amazing."
Zhao Guangran had been busy all day, his stomach protesting, and then Cai Xingjuan kept talking about delicious dishes; how could he hold on?
"Granny Cai, you must stop talking; if you continue, I won’t be able to work!"
"Dinner’s soon." Zhao Xuran and the others were just waiting for Cai Xingjuan. Checking the ti, it wasn’t far from dinner, so they could eat first before heading ho.
Dinner, sigh, it’s stead buns again. Zhao Guangran wasn’t a fan, but couldn’t handle having them daily for lunch just because of busy business days.
Even though there were good dishes at ho every day, Zhao Guangran felt like he was being tornted these days.
Zhao Xuran remained as indifferent as ever to Zhao Guangran’s complaints. Either way, they were having stead buns, and this guy was just venting.
"Poor Guangran." Cai Xingjuan felt there was no need for such hardship. It’s not like the family lacks money; yet, the kids were so determined she could only do her best in logistics.
Previously, she hadn’t realized it; she thought the kids’ skin was not as delicate, and they looked thinner. After seeing them today, she understood that they really had it tough.
"I’ll make sure to replenish you when we get back. Cao Na, you’re welco too." Cai Xingjuan was fond of Cao Na, finding her a polite child.
"I don’t need it," said Cao Na, embarrassed. These days, she had enjoyed Cai Xingjuan’s cooking often. Though Granny Cai kept saying they were slimming down, Cao Na knew she had gained weight.
If one can gain weight despite such busyness, their als must be good. Perhaps she used to think gaining weight was a sign of prosperity.
But seeing Gong Ruini pay attention to this and that, following her lead, Cao Na also started paying attention.
"Co on, I’ve brought you so venison." Cai Xingjuan disregarded Cao Na’s protests; to her, it was just a shy little girl.
No way, she didn’t want to go for a al. No matter how she refuses, in the end, there’s still venison afterward – it’s embarrassing.
Forget it; she decided to check if Grandpa had any good stuff later. Cao Na recalled Grandpa Zhuge liked to drink, especially good wine. Her own grandpa had plenty of good wine, yet his health wasn’t good enough to enjoy it often.
Instead of letting it go to waste, better to give it to soone who needs it.
Old Master Cao happily looked at his collection and didn’t know his beloved granddaughter was scheming to take his wine.
Although Old Master Cao couldn’t drink much, to him, growing up with wine, not drinking felt like his life was being taken away. So after bargaining and offering quite a bit of good stuff, he got Zhuge Zhi to agree to let him have a little wine.
But the amount was really too little, leaving Old Master Cao dejected, not to ntion that shaless fellow pretending to pay New Year’s visit while drinking and taking from him.
"Hmph, even if I can’t drink this wine, I won’t give it to that old thing." Old Master Cao pointed at the wine, angrily telling his son.
"In any case, you hide these wines for ."
"Don’t let that old thing drink."
"If I find out you sneak him so, you’ll see what happens." Old Master Cao instructed his son.
Cao Na’s father, Cao Zheng, was really about to cry. As a junior, he owed a debt to Old Master Zhuge; could he refuse him?
Moreover, if he truly didn’t let Mr. Zhuge drink, he’d get an earful, and even his own father wouldn’t spare him; it’s unreasonably difficult.
Seeing his son’s predicant, Old Master Cao sighed. If he could choose, he wouldn’t want Cao Zheng to have it hard, but what could he do? His other sons either sacrificed on dostic battlefields or on neighboring battlefields, leaving only this son.
Cao Zheng might not be very ambitious, but he’s stable. The Cao Family needed stability now. Many of his old companions are gone, and their descendants are either gone astray or reckless, squandering all family assets.
As for whether they’ll make a coback, Old Master Cao truly doesn’t believe so. Too many people are trying to rise and elevate their family status, but there are limited positions available. They’re unlikely to see those who fell rise again.
Cao Zheng knows he’s not cut out for it, but he has no choice; he must steadily maintain status. Right now, things look fine; being honest has its advantages.
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