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This year, there were many gifts from the second and third branch, and Mrs. Hu and Chen Jue didn’t cause any trouble, making the Chen family’s New Year’s Eve dinner a delight.
Of course, the dinner table wouldn’t be complete without Mrs. Hu’s emotional reminiscences. Chen Ming and Chen Shi sincerely thanked their eldest brother, Chen Ye, who was delighted. He was happiest seeing them, three brothers harmonious and his two younger brothers united around him.
Chen Ye told Chen Ming to find a way to invite Steward Luo and his son to the Hu family on the fifth day of the lunar year. On the fifth day, Hu Laowu would host a gathering and had invited the county’s Xia Bukuai, as well as several village leaders and landlords from the vicinity, including the Chen brothers. They had also specifically invited Steward Luo and his son from Tangyuan. While everyone else readily accepted the invitation, Steward Luo and his son said they’d consider it, but hadn’t confirmed yet.
Because of Hu Laowu, Chen Ye’s relationship with Xia Bukuai had also warmed up, and he had visited Xia’s home. Hu Laowu asked him to persuade Chen Ming to ensure Steward Luo was invited to the Hu family.
Chen Ming, acknowledging the favor from Hu Laowu, promised that if Steward Luo was free that day, he would definitely take him to the Hu family. If Steward Luo had other commitments, they would find a way to invite Luo’s son.
After dinner, the second branch prepared to return to Tangyuan. Hearing that the firecrackers bought by the people from Tangyuan were better, Chen Tang and Chen Dahua wanted to go and watch the excitement. Dabao and Lu took them along. On their way, they also called out to Shitou and Sizixi as they passed their homes.
Chen Feng instructed the children to play in the area between Fengyuan and Tangyuan, where there was a large plot of wasteland. Dabao went to the back of Tangyuan and called over several children of Tangyuan’s staff and the villagers from Shangshui. These children often played near the boundary of Shangshui, rarely venturing to the front of Tangyuan, making the area seem particularly peaceful.
After returning home, Chen Feng tidied up the main hall. Since it was New Year’s, they would dine there. They had set up two tables, and both the masters and their servants would dine there.
Hearing the laughter of the children outside, along with the firecrackers and barking dogs, Chen Feng felt content. Children represented hope, and the lively atmosphere represented prosperity. She hoped this tranquil land would be filled with hope and prosperity from now on.
She took a bowl of freshly fried crispy pork outside to feed them, and even Qiqi and Gray came to play. The children, dogs, and birds lined up with their mouths open, waiting for Chen Feng to feed them. Qiqi even tried to squeeze in, but Dabao pulled her back.
Chen Feng smiled as she fed them one by one. When she looked up, she saw the red gates of Tangyuan had opened, and Chu Hanyan, clad in a red cloak, stood at the entrance, gazing at them with envy. Even though she was accompanied by Mama Song and Miao, she still seemed lonely and desolate.
Chen Feng waved to her, and after a moment’s hesitation, Chu Hanyan walked over. It seemed that Mama Song and Miao were a bit reluctant to let the young miss come over. After all, she was a young lady from an aristocratic family, and they were afraid that the servants and village children might disturb her. However, seeing Chen Feng’s gesture, they didn’t dare to stop her and followed behind Chu Hanyan.
Chen Feng understood their concerns and recognized the vast difference between the young miss of the Chu’s household and the village children. However, as Chu Hanyan was still young and had her illness, every opportunity should be taken to encourage her to socialize. Here in the countryside, there were no young ladies of her status with whom she could interact. It wouldn’t be right to prevent her from socializing just because there were no peers of her status. That would be counterproductive.
However, Chen Feng didn’t feed the remaining pieces of crispy pork to the young miss. She was too pampered, and it wasn’t proper for her to eat in such a setting, especially considering the pork had cooled down.
She fed the meat to the rougher boys, and with a smile, she wiped away the silver threads from the corners of the young miss’s mouth and whispered, “Later, Auntie will take you to her house for some good food.”
The young miss smiled in response.
Chen Feng stood there, watching the children play and seeing how their excitement grew as they noticed the beautiful young miss watching them. Their antics amused the young miss, who giggled along with them.
Her laughter was becoming more frequent, and her voice seemed to grow louder.
When she felt it was time, Chen Feng invited the children to her home, treated them to some cured meat and braised meat, and filled their purses with candies and melon seeds before sending them on their way. Since there were many of them, she allowed them to find their own way back to the village.
After giving little Yan some braised meat, Chen Feng prepared a food container containing a small pot of braised meat and a mixed vegetable salad. She sent Miao to Tangyuan, as both little Yan and her grandmother enjoyed these dishes.
Chu Hanyan clearly didn’t want to leave. Chen Feng crouched down, gently pinched her cheek, and said with a smile, “Today is New Year’s, and everyone should have their New Year’s Eve dinner at home. When you come back to Auntie’s tomorrow, Auntie will make something delicious for you.” She then placed a red packet containing six silver ingots into Chu Hanyan’s hand, and patting her head, she added, “This is Auntie’s New Year’s gift for you. Sleep with it under your pillow tonight, and you’ll have a healthy and joyful year ahead.”
Chu Hanyan patted her chest and reluctantly left.
After they left, Chen Feng had Zeng Xiaoqing take a food container as a gift to Steward Luo’s home, containing braised meats prepared by their household.
Later, the entire family sat down in the main hall to enjoy their New Year’s Eve dinner, with the masters at one table and the servants at another. They even set up a low table on the heated brick bed, where Zhui Feng and Wangcai crouched to eat, while Qiqi and Gray stood on the table to enjoy their meal.
Shanzhi took Lu and Dabao outside to set off firecrackers. As they ran out, the two dogs and two birds also followed, creating a lively atmosphere.
Seeing this lively scene, Chen Ming’s eyes welled up. Their home was flourishing.
However, there was one “person” who was particularly unhappy. Chen Feng often recalled the image of the Golden Swallow sobbing. The louder the firecrackers, the more it affected him. His eyes would swell from crying. It was New Year’s, a time when everyone was cheerful, and even the barks of the dogs and the calls of the birds were louder than usual. Yet, the little creature was all alone in the space. It was lonely.
Originally, Chen Feng had planned to spend some time with Chen Ming and Mrs. Wang, but now it seemed she had to get Dabao to bed earlier, so she could go into the space to keep the little creature company.
Around 9 o’clock, after finishing their dumplings, Chen Feng feigned tiredness and took the still-energetic Dabao to the west wing. She also sent Wangcai, Qiqi, and Gray back to their rooms to sleep. Qiqi, who was enjoying herself, became upset and called Chen Feng a “stinky lady,” which irritated Chen Feng enough to flick her twice on the head.
Dabao, tired from a day of excitement, didn’t want to sleep, but as soon as his head touched the pillow, he fell asleep. Chen Feng then went into the space and brought back two small bowls of food.
Inside the space, the Golden Swallow was holding his head with his wings, sobbing inconsolably.