After the Minor New Year, households clean their hos, wipe windows, wash clothes, scrub pots and pans, for a thorough cleaning to prepare for the Spring Festival.
As Zhou Family had already been tidied up earlier due to Zhou Jiao’s efforts, there was nothing else to prepare. After Zhang Guoqing’s in-laws left for work, he also took his son to visit Doctor Hu.
The logistics departnt happened to deliver the month’s provision and Spring Festival benefits. Zhou Jiao thanked the soldiers, and after they left, she planned to steam so bean buns or the like.
With Aunt Chen’s trustworthy presence at ho, it wasn’t convenient for Zhou Jiao to take out supplies from her private stash. She could only prepare a variety of festival goods, and add more secretly while eating.
"Aunt, do you want to go ho a little early this year?"
"No, I’m not at ease leaving you after all, you’re pregnant."
Zhou Jiao nodded with a smile: "Well, let’s make more, so you can bring so for the family during the holiday and let them taste it."
"It’s better to keep it for your nourishnt. Jiao Jiao, I noticed that two families in the front yard are raising chickens. How about we start doing that in the spring? Just in ti for your postpartum confinent."
Startled at the thought of the sll, Zhou Jiao would rather go hungry. Besides, restrictions start again after the Chinese New Year, so why bother attracting attention?
She rolled her eyes, smiling: "You’re working too hard on your own already, let’s not bother. We’ll swap with others for supplies when the ti cos."
After considering, Aunt Chen nodded. But she planned to have her few sisters-in-law help gather so eggs, as those bought in town aren’t fresh in sumr.
"You sit back, I’ll handle this. It’s not urgent to make the dough now."
"I’m just pregnant, not sick."
Aunt Chen turned her head and spat on the ground several tis: "It’s never happened, never spoken."
Zhou Jiao laughed with amusent. Innocent words seed to be uttered last ti.
"I hear the Qu Family bought an electric box. Many people went over to see it out of curiosity, do you want to go have a look?"
Zhou Jiao blinked in confusion. What’s an electric box?
"I’m trying to rember how they said it. Seems to be an electric... chicken sothing, I hear when you plug it in, there are n and won inside. It’s a New Year’s gift that Qu Family’s daughter bought from Friendship Store for her family. It caused quite a stir when it was moved ho, nearly everyone in the compound went to see, but I didn’t."
Zhou Jiao realized it seed to be a TV.
"Isn’t it a waste of money? It’s more secure to keep the money at hand. If you want to watch a movie, isn’t there a cinema. Luckily, their ho is over there, otherwise, the influx of people would cause quite a scene."
Zhou Jiao smiled without saying anything. The Qu Family is practically asking for trouble!
"But people’s blessings are arranged by heaven, constant fussing is no good. That Qu Family daughter is pretty foolish. Previously, she caused an uproar getting divorced, and now she pulls another stunt, why can’t she settle down? Without children, it’s a sha not holding onto money herself."
"Why bother with them? A heart’s desire is priceless, maybe they comnd the daughter as capable and filial, without so connections would she be able to buy such precious goods." Zhou Jiao advised, contrary to her own heart.
Aunt Chen glanced at her, "If your mother wants to buy one, hold her back."
Zhou Jiao burst out laughing. So this is where the topic was heading. She promptly nodded.
As her laughter echoed, Aunt Chen chuckled and shook her head: "I shouldn’t be saying these things, but your mom spoils her kids, if Ping’an goes to the Qu Family on a cold day, she’ll surely want to buy one."
"You consider us as family, there’s nothing indiscreet about it, we’re thankful. Don’t worry, I’ve gone through my mom’s stash thoroughly, she doesn’t have the money for it."
Aunt Chen laughed heartily at that. She knew this child understood her intentions and wouldn’t resent her interference. Yesterday, observing discussions among the aunts in line, she was glad that the Zhou Family were prudent, not following others in flaunting.
"What’s the cheerful topic?" Old Mrs. Cheng walked into the kitchen smiling.
Seeing the eggs she carried, Zhou Jiao persuaded: "Aunt Granny, how much provision do you have? Don’t give it all to . I’m not short on food, you’re concerned for , but don’t I want you to live a long hundred years too?"
"Again with this nonsense, this isn’t from my supply, but from your cousin’s aunt who sent it."
Aunt Chen looked at Zhou Jiao, whether to accept them depended on her nod.
Zhou Jiao smiled and nodded. Seeing Aunt Chen accepted them she assisted Old Mrs. Cheng out of the kitchen, leading her back to the bedroom in the East Wing.
"Feeling nauseous? How’s your appetite? Anything you particularly crave?"
"Everything’s fine, just like when I was pregnant with Ping’an, no special cravings for sour or spicy food. Aunt Granny, wrap fewer dumplings this year, Brother prepared plenty of flour recently, I’ll send so after it’s done. My uncle likes seafood flavor, right? Winter is good, unlike sumr when food doesn’t keep well."
Old Mrs. Cheng patted her hand: "Good girl, keep the tasty food for yourself, you’re eating for two now, don’t skimp on your als."
Zhou Jiao opened the cabinet upon reaching the bedroom: "Don’t worry, you see here what my dad doted on with. Everything from bird’s nest, Ah Jiao, to red dates, I’ve been eating."
Old Mrs. Cheng glanced inside, dissatisfied, shook her head: "Still too little, we’re not spoiling our Jiao Jiao enough. Even with money, it’s hard to buy good items nowadays, wonder if those abroad can bring back anything decent?"
Zhou Jiao was alard: "Aunt Granny, please don’t ask anyone to bring anything from abroad. I won’t eat it even if I have it. Many people keep an eye on our two families, we mustn’t leave any evidence for them. Since knowing about the pregnancy, I’ve been mailing ho for walnuts and white fungus. Before coming here last ti I even bought a century-old ginseng, really no shortage of food, all necessities are prepared."
"Don’t worry! Your Aunt Granny knows what’s best." Old Mrs. Cheng reassured her with gentle pats.
But Zhou Jiao was still worried about the elder’s impulsiveness, she hurried out of the bedroom, pulled back the curtain from the study door, seeing no one in the yard, nor anyone hiding by the window, she dashed back to the bedroom.
"Don’t rush, walk slowly, be careful."
Zhou Jiao waved her hand, opened the wardrobe, unlocked a compartnt, and handed her a wooden box: "Look, our household wealth is abundant. Ginseng, five hundred years old."
Old Mrs. Cheng rolled her eyes, reluctant to reprimand her, her eyes reddened. If her grandmother were still here, with such a small stash why would she need to hide it so cautiously?
In those days, how much ginseng and bird’s nest she consud, without century-old ginseng, Gu Family wouldn’t even purchase. Any random item from her big sister’s room could support ordinary folks for a decade or more.
Nervously, Zhou Jiao shook her arm: "Aunt Granny?"
Old Mrs. Cheng took a deep breath, exhaling slowly: "Nothing. When old, we can’t bear to see sensible children. Okay, Aunt Granny won’t ask anyone to bring anything."
"Right, all we need is safety." Zhou Jiao monitored her expression, "The bun’s at is in the filling, I’ve got it all stashed away."
As Old Mrs. Cheng’s gaze lingered on the quilts piled on her kang bed, she disdainfully assessed Zhou Jiao’s padded jacket, prompting Zhou Jiao to humorously lift her coat and show her the fur inside.
"Mink! Most people only have a scarf, look, we’ve got plenty stored. Though everything outside looks washed out, all indoor clothes are new cotton."
Amused by Zhou Jiao’s peacock-like display, Old Mrs. Cheng laughed heartily, kneading her coat convincingly soft, she gratifyingly stroked the top of Zhou Jiao’s head.
Just as the old man said, this child grew mature through early setbacks, perhaps a good thing in disguise. More cautious than her big sister, it’s beneficial, she should be pleased.
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