Chapter 68 Full of New Year's Flavor

Chapter 68 Full of New Year's Flavor

Wu's eyes darted around as Wang Xiaozhi questioned her. She didn't dare to speak, but she was muttering to herself:

"That girl was scooped up by your brother while she was soaking wet. Her body had already been seen by countless people. Not to mention, your brother carried her all the way home, and afterwards, she lived under the same roof with your brother, a single man and a single woman."

"Even if they didn't have anything going on, her reputation is already pretty much ruined, okay? If it weren't for her ability to make money, do you think we'd be willing to let a girl with such a ruined reputation marry into our own family?"

She and Mrs. He exchanged a glance, signaling for her to say a few words on their behalf.

Despite her inner turmoil and her enthusiastic internal criticism of Xie Wanniang, she dared not reveal her true thoughts on the surface.

Unlike her eldest sister-in-law, who, though petty and vengeful, never directly confronts anyone, her second sister-in-law is a formidable figure who, if you cross her line, will flip the table without regard for the consequences.

Not to mention her, as her sister-in-law, even Wang Xiaozhi's uncles, aunts, and other relatives in the Wang family who had a natural advantage in status were genuinely afraid of her.

He Shi received her signal in her eyes and smiled as she continued, "Second Sister-in-law, you make it sound so easy. It's not so easy for wealthy families in town and county to marry their daughters off. They're not short of money, so they'll definitely choose a daughter-in-law who's a good match for them, right?"

“Even if Miss Xie seems perfect in every way, it can’t be helped that she has no family to rely on. And don’t forget, she was pulled out of the water by your A Yuan.”

Wang Xiaozhi's eyes sharpened, and just as she was about to speak, Madam He quickened her pace and added another sentence.

“I know what you’re trying to say, but you have to admit that most people in this world think differently from you, especially those prominent families, for whom reputation and face are the most important things.”

Wang Xiaozhi was not convinced, but she couldn't find a way to refute her sharply. So she could only glance at He Shi and Wu Shi indifferently and say, "These are none of your concern, my two sisters-in-law. Miss Xie is a woman of her own mind and she doesn't like others interfering in her affairs."

Their plan failed, and Mrs. He and Mrs. Wu were very disappointed, but they wisely stopped talking and did not continue to try to persuade Wang Xiaozhi.

After everyone returned to their rooms, Chen Zhao's third brother asked his wife, "Why did you and your fourth sister-in-law suddenly decide to act as matchmakers?"

He glared at him. "Do you think I want to be treated coldly by your second sister-in-law? I'm doing this for the children, for our family."

For impoverished families like theirs, where generations have toiled in the fields, it's incredibly difficult for their descendants to rise above their circumstances.

Not to mention education or martial arts training, even sending their children to learn a trade is extremely difficult for them.

Now that she finally has Jiang Yuan and Xie Wanniang around her, who are both capable and good at making money, how could she not go to great lengths to get close to them?

Gaining an advantage in terms of money and food was secondary; He's biggest goal was to send her children to Jiang Yuan and Xie Wanniang so that they could learn skills from "their own relatives."

She sighed as she carefully mended her son's clothes. "Just you wait and see," she said. "In a few years, your second brother's family will be far behind us."

Similar conversations also took place between Chen Zhao's fourth brother and Wu.

Of course, Xie Wanniang and Jiang Yuan, as the parties involved, were completely unaware of these unimportant matters.

The next day, the 25th of the twelfth lunar month, Xie Wanniang spent the whole day making fried meatballs, shredded radish and tofu meatballs, honey-glazed fried dough twists, salt and pepper fried dough twists, and layered fried dough leaves.

The others weren't idle either. Xiao Yang continued to help with the fire, while Jiang Yuan and Hao Yu were responsible for chores such as washing and chopping vegetables, washing and chopping meat, kneading dough, fetching water, and adding firewood.

On the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month, Xie Wanniang steamed a large pot of steamed buns and a large pot of flower rolls with the fermented dough. In the pot of flower rolls, there were also six "coiled dragons" made by coiling long strips of dough together with mung beans for eyes.

These uniquely shaped "coiled dragons" are placed in a storage room after they have cooled down. They are not taken out of the storage room until after the Lantern Festival (January 15th of the lunar calendar) or even the Second Day of the Second Lunar Month.

This act is called "filling the granary" or "making a granary," and it has the meaning of worshipping the granary god and praying for a good harvest in the coming year. It also has the meaning of dragons guarding the granary, warding off evil spirits and bringing good fortune, and avoiding insect and rodent damage, fire and other disasters.

According to Xie Wanniang, in addition to using flour to shape dragons, some places also use wood ash to "draw dragons" and use grains to form the "dragon's body".

On the 27th of the twelfth lunar month, Jiang Yuan boiled several pots of water. The four of them first locked themselves in their rooms and took a comfortable hot bath. Then they took the opportunity to wash the bed sheets, pillowcases, pillow towels, and dirty clothes.

Xiao Yang is small and not very strong, so Xie Wan Niang helped wash the bed sheets, pillowcases, and pillow towels in her room again.

Xiao Yang felt embarrassed about this. While she was diligently adding water to the basin for Xie Wan Niang, she puffed out her cheeks and said to Xie Wan Niang, "Sister, can I wash next time? I'm sure I can wash it clean."

Xie Wanniang smiled and shook her head. "How old are you? A five-year-old child who can start a fire, pick vegetables, wash pots and dishes, and even do his own clothes, you are already very impressive."

Some five-year-olds, let alone helping with chores, still occasionally wet the bed.

Xiao Yang not only knows how to do the chores Xie Wan Niang just mentioned, but she also helps Xie Wan Niang harvest and clean medicinal herbs, and tries to do some simple needlework under Xie Wan Niang's guidance.

Xie Wanniang genuinely felt that this child was already very capable.

Xiao Yang blushed as she was praised. "Then, when will I be able to wash my own bedding?"

"That's hard to say," Xie Wanniang said with a smile to Xiaoyang while working. "It depends on when you grow taller, stronger, and have enough strength."

Xiao Yang was a little embarrassed. "Then, I'll eat more next time."

Xie Wanniang nodded with a smile, "That's right, you have to make sure you eat well and grow strong, otherwise where will you get the strength to do chores for me?"

The two chatted and laughed, and Xie Wanniang quickly finished washing everything that needed to be washed.

Jiang Yuan took the bed sheets and blankets and wrung them out for her, then hung them up to dry. She didn't need Jiang Yuan's help with the other small items.

On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, Jiang Yuan and Hao Yu worked together to prepare four ingredients for the reunion dinner: chicken, duck, fish, and rabbit. Xie Wanniang, on the other hand, braised a large pot of meat.

After dark, the four locked the door and went to Chen Lizheng's house and Chen Dafu's house separately.

Hao Yu and Jiang Yuan each sent tea and wine to Chen Lizheng, while Xie Wanniang asked them to bring her a box of steamed rice cakes, a box of mung bean cakes, and a rabbit she had just braised.

As for Doctor Chen, Xie Wanniang, along with Xiao Yang, personally delivered a box of steamed rice cakes, a box of jujube blossom pastries, and a chicken she had just braised.

After returning from Chen Lizheng's house, Jiang Yuan went to Wang Xiaozhi's house alone.

He was going to deliver a holiday gift to Chen Zhao's parents. The gift was a pheasant and two catties of brown sugar, the total value of which was about the same as what he had given to the two elders in previous years.