The next day was New Year’s Eve. After breakfast, Lu Shengcai told Su Qingyu a few words and took Wu Shi and others back to Shanghe Village to celebrate the New Year. Even though Lu Yuzhu was reluctant, she was scolded by Lu Shengcai and left.

The resentful look in her eyes made Wu Shi feel very uncomfortable. If it weren’t for Lu Shengcai’s pressure, she would have wanted to let her stay in the town.

After Lu Shengcai and the others left, the house suddenly seemed much emptier. The weather was too cold, so Su Qingyu didn’t stay out for long. She stayed in the house, clumsily making clothes for the children.

She could do some sewing and mending, but she was useless at cutting and embroidery. She could only prepare diapers, swaddles, bibs, and other things, and she had to hire someone to make clothes when the time came.

Time passed quickly as she prepared these things, and soon it was noon when Aunt Zhou came to bring her lunch. She ate and took a nap, and when she woke up, she got up and went to Yangwei Martial Arts Hall.

Along the way, red lanterns were hung on the doors of shops and houses to express festivity. Only the Yangwei Martial Arts School looked deserted and without any festive atmosphere.

The main door was also closed. Su Qingyu knocked on the door for a long time before Xiaodouzi ran to open it. Seeing Su Qingyu, Xiaodouzi was quite happy. He took the things Su Qingyu brought and led her to the inner courtyard.

“Sister-in-law, why are you here? Aren’t you going to spend the New Year with your family?”

“Am I not welcomed here?”

“How could that be? I can’t imagine it.”

“My family has gone to the countryside, and I am not feeling well, so I stayed in town.”

“Oh, then don’t leave later; come and have the reunion dinner with us.”

“Can you make the decision?” Su Qingyu joked.

“Yes, yes. It’s just a matter of adding a set of bowls and chopsticks. Besides, Master and his wife will definitely be very happy to see you.”

In the martial arts school, those who had families went home to celebrate the New Year, and only the homeless disciples stayed in the martial arts school.

When Su Qingyu arrived, she saw Madam Ma sitting in front of the table holding a hand warmer, tilting her head and watching Cui Yuying embroidering leisurely, while Master Ma was sitting next to her, holding a book and reading peacefully. It looked like a quiet and beautiful time.
It made people reluctant to disturb.

“Qingyu is here. Come in quickly; it’s so cold. Why are you standing at the door to get some fresh air?” Madam Ma greeted her happily.

Cui Yuying hurriedly stood up and came to help: “It’s cold, and the road is slippery. How come you came here alone? What if something goes wrong?”

“It’s okay, I walk slowly.”

“Hurry up, take this hand warmer and warm your hands. Don’t let them get frozen. The child will suffer with you.” Madam Ma handed the hand warmer to her.

Su Qingyu pushed it back to her and gathered her sleeves: “I’m fine; my body is hot, and I didn’t feel cold at all when I walked over here.”

Master Ma glanced at her, then turned to Xiao Douzi standing at the door and ordered, “Go and tell the kitchen to prepare food for Madam Su.”

“Ok,” Xiaodouzi responded and left.

“I came here uninvited to enjoy the reunion dinner. I hope I didn’t disturb you, right?”

As Su Qingyu spoke, she looked at Madam Ma’s expression. Although she was still thin, her pale face was covered with a thin layer of pink blush, so her sick look was not very obvious.

“No, no, we’re so happy that you’re here.” Madam Ma took her hand, patted it, and smiled at her.

Su Qingyu felt inexplicably sad. Such a good woman, but God still let her down.

Master Ma brought over a soft couch, and Su Qingyu and Madam Ma leaned on it. Cui Yuying covered them both with a blanket and brought a hand warmer for Su Qingyu. Su Qingyu then leaned on it and talked with Madam Ma.

Cui Yuying sat at the end of the couch, doing embroidery, occasionally responding with a word or two.

Su Qingyu listened to Madam Ma’s soft voice recalling the past and pieced together her life as a noble lady from a wealthy family. She was a noble, dignified lady, the mother of a family, with several sons sitting around her. She socialized among noble ladies and selected suitable marriage partners for her sons…

Su Qingyu had been particularly sleepy since she became pregnant, but she couldn’t fall asleep even though she was listening to the soft and gentle voice of Madam Ma, which was as sweet as the breeze and drizzle. She fell asleep while she was talking.

Master Ma came in and carried her into the room. She did not wake up until Su Qingyu left.

Su Qingyu had a reunion dinner with Master Ma, Cui Yuying, and a group of disciples at Yang Wei Martial Arts School. Because Madam Ma was not present, everyone felt a little depressed during the meal, and the disciples didn’t even dare to make jokes.

Xiao Douzi and another disciple sent Su Qingyu back. When they were leaving, Cui Yuying saw her off to the door and apologized to her with tears in her eyes. Su Qingyu was also feeling bad.

She returned to the Lu family, refused Aunt Zhou’s offer to stay with her overnight, and lay in bed for a long time without falling asleep.

The thoughts that kept turning in his mind were Lu Bocheng, who was not sure whether he was alive or dead, and Madam Ma, who was in a weak state and trying to force a smile.

The next day, she slept until noon. When she woke up, she found Xiaodouzi squatting at the door and waiting for a long time.

Madam Ma specifically asked him to come over and say sorry for not having dinner with her yesterday and specially picked out a New Year gift for Xiao Douzi to bring to her. Master Ma also told her to come over and talk to Madam Ma and have dinner with her if she had nothing to do.

“Sister-in-law, please come. Master’s wife is a person who easily keeps things in her mind. She didn’t have lunch with you yesterday, and she felt bad. You can go over to have lunch with her today and talk to her. She will be very happy when you come over. You are alone at home anyway.”

“Okay, then wait for me to clean up.”

Su Qingyu packed up and followed Xiao Douzi to the Yangwei Martial Arts School. Xiao Douzi also heard her words and ran to Zhou’s house to ask Aunt Zhou not to bring her food.

On the first day of the new year, Su Qingyu stayed with Madam Ma at Yangwei Martial Arts School. When she fell asleep, Su Qingyu would rest with her, and when she woke up, she would talk with her. Most of the time, Madam Ma talked, and she listened.

Madam Ma loved the baby in her belly very much. When the two of them were leaning against each other, her hands never left Su Qingyu’s belly. Whenever the baby moved, she would be very happy and smile kindly.

At dinner time, Madam Ma did not fall asleep and had dinner with Su Qingyu in the outer hall of her bedroom.

After dinner, Su Qingyu stayed with her for a while and only got up and said goodbye when she felt tired.

Before leaving, Madam Ma asked Xiao Douzi to bring several pieces of fine cotton cloth to her, saying that she should take them back to make clothes for her children. Su Qingyu refused but had to keep them.

The next day, the second day of the Lunar New Year, Su Qingyu did not go out. Before sunset, Su Qingliu returned to the town and brought Su Qingyu many local products from her husband’s family and Qiaotou Village.

When Yaya saw her, she jumped for joy: “Yí, yí.”

“Yaya, do you miss your yí?”

“I missed my yí.”

Su Qingyu happily hugged her and kissed her again and again. In the past six months, Yaya had become plump and cute, and she could walk steadily, speak fluently, and could even speak short sentences.

“When she returned to the village, her tài yé and tài tai ^[1]paternal great-grandparents didn’t even recognize her, saying she had changed so much. Every day, the old couple would fight over taking her for a stroll in the village, and they would praise their little zēng sūn nǚ ^[2]great-granddaughter from the son’s side as being plump and cute to everyone they met.”

“Our Yaya is so adorable.” The little thing understood that people were praising her and raised her little face towards her proudly.

Su Qingyu saw her leaning on her legs, holding a piece of preserved fruit that she had handed over and nibbling it in small bites. She looked so cute, and she thought it would be nice if she was pregnant with a daughter.

She could be pink and tender and will be loving when she grows up.

(End of this chapter)