As the Lunar New Year approached, Liuzhou City was filled with a festive atmosphere of singing and dancing!
"Children, don’t be greedy; after Laba Festival, the new year is near. Laba Porridge, in a few days, lalala the twenty-third. On the twenty-third, stick the candy lons; on the twenty-fourth, sweep the house; on the twenty-fifth, fry the tofu; on the twenty-sixth, stew the pork; on the twenty-seventh, slaughter the rooster; on the twenty-eighth, prepare the dough; on the twenty-ninth, steam the buns; stay up all night on the thirtieth; visit relatives on the first day of the New Year..."
In alleys and streets, children were playing and singing New Year rhys...
In modern cities, the atmosphere of the Spring Festival has weakened, and aside from the official holidays, it’s no longer as bustling as before!
The Gu Residence was also caught up in the excitent of the New Year, with Gu Changsheng taking his little one out to the street several tis, watching him play with the other children, his face bursting with an understanding smile!
The New Year festival, in this era, was a very important celebration!
Won stopped needlework, and n ceased using weapons; surely, even the evildoers on the borders could have a peaceful ti for a while!
"Lady Changsheng, look at this tiger-head hat, how is it? I made it beautifully, right?" Si Xi ca over with a delicately crafted tiger-head hat, seeking praise from his wife.
Hearing this, Gu Changsheng put down the scroll in his hand and looked over.
Si Xi’s virtuous woman’s skills were really superb, a tiger-head hat so lifelike, it looked like real tiger fur at a glance!
"Xiao Si Xi, where did this ’tiger fur’ co from?" Touching the tiger-head hat in his hand, Gu Changsheng’s mouth twitched slightly as he looked at Si Xi.
"I cut it from daddy’s chair!" Si Xi spoke, brazen and unabashed, "Don’t worry, Lady Changsheng, when daddy cos back, I’ll tell him to hunt another tiger. It’s just missing a small patch of fur; he won’t be angry!"
Gu Changsheng was rendered speechless upon hearing this!
This Si Xi, was almost bringing the entire Prince Mu’s Mansion into her ho!
All she did was casually ntion that other children’s tiger-head hats looked pretty, and Si Xi took it seriously, going so far as to cut out a piece of a tiger’s hide from Prince Mu’s Mansion!
Gu Changsheng really didn’t know what to say!
"Lady Changsheng, all the things needed for the New Year have been prepared, and the offerings for the ancestors’ sacrifice are ready. Could you take a look and see if there’s anything missing?" Si Xi put away the tiger-head hat and looked at his wife with a smile.
"The New Year is coming..." Gu Changsheng looked at the withered branches outside, saying hesitantly.
When she arrived in this era, it was late spring, and now, in the blink of an eye, the Lunar New Year was approaching!
Indeed, ti flies swiftly like an arrow!
"With Uncle Song and you folks managing the household and foster father overseeing everything, I’m not worried. However, those soldiers stationed in Liuzhou City probably cannot enjoy the New Year’s Eve around the stove as we do..." Gu Changsheng turned and said to Si Xi with a smile, "The Happy New Year should be celebrated by everyone under the heavens. Tell Uncle Song to give out silver from the household; for all within Liuzhou Region, whether they are defensive generals, governnt office guards, or even those watching over the City Gate, everyone shall receive a reward, regardless of their rank – each shall be given five silver taels!"
Si Xi, hearing this, was overjoyed and repeatedly bowed, "Si Xi thanks Lady Changsheng on their behalf! This silver is more useful than anything; they can use it to support their families, and their households can also enjoy a better New Year!"
"Yes, they help protect Liuzhou Region and diligently fulfill their duties. I’m not a stingy person, so naturally, I won’t treat them poorly!" Gu Changsheng agreed, feeling very pleased.
For her, wealth was an external possession; during this ti, Liuzhou Region had enjoyed good weather for the crops, and her inco had been substantial!
Although she was greedy for money, she was not stingy with it!
Everyone in the household was joyous, with lanterns and strears everywhere, and Gu Changsheng was deeply moved by this cheerful atmosphere!
Gu Changsheng felt that this sense of peaceful and tranquil passing of the years was truly wonderful, unexpectedly so!
On New Year’s Eve, each household was affixing couplets, and naturally, the Gu Residence was no exception. However, once the couplets were up, a crowd gathered at the entrance of the Gu Residence, not just for any reason, but because the couplets were personally written by Mr. Ban Shan!
Many scholars and students, upon hearing that Mr. Ban Shan was in Liuzhou City and had not spent the New Year at ho for several years, ca with the hope of eting him. Yet, how could it be easy to enter the Gu Residence? How could it be easy to et Mr. Ban Shan?
If they couldn’t et Mr. Ban Shan, seeing his handwritten couplets was also good!
Therefore, they had been waiting at the door for several days in eager anticipation!
Gu Changsheng just smiled at this; she had anticipated such excitent ever since her foster father had made a public appearance to vent her anger.
In an era that revered scholarly accomplishnts, a renowned figure like her foster father was an idol in the hearts of many intellectuals!
"Lady Changsheng, do you think our couplets could be stealthily taken?" Dong Lei asked, his face full of worry.
Gu Changsheng thought for a mont and nodded in agreent, "Damn, you’re right, there is such a possibility! Boys, go to the gate and keep an eye out, and don’t really let soone take our couplets away!"
"Yes!" The young n of the household imdiately answered with a laugh.
"Foster Father’s calligraphy is precious; if stolen, it could fetch quite a sum of silver!" Gu Changsheng spoke with pride, not willing to let such a treasure benefit others.
"You’re really sothing, Lady Changsheng!" Dong Lei laughed at her words.
"Mommy! Mommy! Look at my new clothes, aren’t they pretty?" The little one, dressed in joyous little red clothes, ran over with bouncy steps.
Gu Changsheng turned around upon hearing this, looking at the little dumpling in front of him who resembled a New Year’s painting doll. He couldn’t help but bend down and kiss him on the face, "Gorgeous! You’re so cute it’s unbelievable!"
"Mom! Grandpa said I grew another year older! You can’t kiss anymore after this year! If you kiss again, I’m going to cry harassnt!" The kissed little dumpling covered his face, voicing his dissent, "If I can’t find a wife in the future, it’ll all be your fault!"
"Haha..." Gu Changsheng burst into laughter at this!
The people around also followed with laughter!
Since Gu Changsheng no longer had any close elders alive, this New Year’s should have been simpler than that of an ordinary household!
But in reality, it was not so!
Not to ntion the endless stream of visitors paying New Year’s calls, the main branch of the Gu family in the back street had also sent over modest gifts!
Seeing this, Gu Changsheng couldn’t help but smile knowingly!
After the incident with the dical books, Gu Changsheng’s arrogance deeply intimidated the relatives from the main house. They had been quiet and did not dare to cause trouble, firmly sticking to their place. Seeing this, Mr. Ban Shan advised Gu Changsheng to also mingle a bit!
After thinking it over, Gu Changsheng did not refuse and arranged for soone to send fabrics, food, and so silver to the Gu main house. The neighbors in the area also received so gifts, albeit much smaller than those sent to the main house!
Thus, the New Year turned out to be lively. Especially for Gu Changsheng, who was overjoyed, as she managed to get a big red packet from Mr. Ban Shan!
It had been a long ti since she had received New Year’s money, and Gu Changsheng was exhilarated!
This festive mood carried on all the way to the Lantern Festival. With red lanterns hung up for the Lantern Festival, Gu Changsheng happily took her family to the lantern fair!
Rabbit lanterns, flower lanterns... A myriad of lanterns dazzled Gu Changsheng, who marveled repeatedly. The intelligence of the ancients was truly not to be underestimated. Just look at these exquisite lanterns. If they were in the modern world, they would all be considered works of art!
"Hey, did you guys hear why His Highness Prince Mu fancied the dicine God? Have you heard about it?"
"Who hasn’t heard! His Highness doesn’t like won skilled in needlework!"
"Exactly! I’ve thrown away my sewing basket. I’m never going to sew again!"
" too! If I had known earlier that His Highness didn’t like won good at needlework, I wouldn’t have listened to my mom and spent all day with a needle. Maybe His Highness might have fancied !"
"Right? Although the dicine God is beautiful, I’m not bad-looking either!"
"..."
A group of girls enjoying the lanterns were chattering non-stop, which rendered Gu Changsheng dumbstruck, almost turning into a mummy...
"Mom, Uncle Wood doesn’t like won good at needlework, isn’t that just perfect? You’re terrible at it!" The little dumpling, wearing a cute tiger-headed hat and munching on a sugar-coated haw, said with a giggly smile.
"Slap!" A little hand landed precisely on his small head.
"How can you insult your mom like that! Are you really my own child?!" Gu Changsheng glared at the little dumpling, grinding her teeth as she looked behind at Si Xi, "Your mom, what exactly is going on here?"
Upon hearing this, Si Xi touched his nose with amusent and replied, "Madam, it’s said to have started in The North..."
Gu Changsheng widened her eyes imdiately at this response!
It had spread from The North, so it wasn’t the people from her house who had leaked the news of her lack of skill in needlework!
From The North to The South, oh dear... losing face all the way to my grandma’s house!
"Damn it! What an evildoer, how could he show off like that!" Gu Changsheng looked up at the sky speechlessly, sighing, "At this rate, if all the girls stop sewing, where will we get our clothes from!"
Isn’t this just asking for trouble? Lumbered with such a huge bla, wasn’t she going to beco a sinner for the ages?
Evildoer! She and he, they truly were deep-set enemies!
"Si Xi, let’s go ho. I’ll make so sachets again!" Having enjoyed the Lantern Festival fair and seeing that her little dumpling also had his fill of fun, Gu Changsheng stomped her foot with resentnt and said to Si Xi in a stern voice.
"Pfft!"
"Haha..."
The family mbers walking beside her couldn’t help but laugh in a quite ungracious manner.
"Damn it, can’t even enjoy the New Year without troubles, they’re really giving a headache!" Gu Changsheng picked up the little dumpling and turned towards the direction of the Gu Residence, "Now I have to show off by making a decent sachet!"
If she didn’t wipe out this humiliation, she was going to lose face in all Four Kingdoms!
The fire in her heart was raging, and once the evildoer returned, she’d certainly need to torture him a thousand tis over to extinguish it!
This year passed in such a cheerful and harmonious atmosphere. As winter gave way to spring and then sumr blood with flowers, Gu Changsheng finally received a letter from The North...
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