Chapter 46: Winter Solstice

On the Winter Solstice, snowflakes danced in the air, and the cold was biting. The rooftops, ground, roads, and treetops were all covered with a soft blanket of thick snow, turning the world into a vast expanse of white. After daybreak, the heavy snow intensified, and it was hard to distinguish human figures even ten steps away.

The sacrificial rites went on as usual, with the Xu family, from the elders to the young, dressed in their finest, gathering in the ancestral hall before dawn. They joined relatives who had come from other households, preparing to offer sacrifices to their ancestors at the auspicious hour.

The three sacrifices and various offerings were prepared in advance. At the signal, the steaming dishes were placed on the offering table.

Then, the male descendants of the Xu family, in order of seniority, lined up before the ancestral tablets. The ritual officer led them in a loud praise of the ancestors’ virtues, followed by kneeling and bowing repeatedly. This lasted for about an hour. Even after finishing the ritual, they still had to stand in place, listening to the elders recount the benevolent deeds of their ancestors and reminding the younger generation to carry on their noble traditions. This portion lasted for over half an hour before the male descendants were allowed to leave.

The men withdrew, but the women proceeded as usual. The women followed the same process, though it was more difficult for them. Some even suffered from sore waists or trembling legs, barely managing to endure until the end.

This was the most solemn Winter Solstice ritual of the year. As the eldest daughter in law and the future lady of the household, Meinang, dressed in her ceremonial robes and headpiece, stood in the third position. However, she was tasked with offering the first incense, facing the many ancestral tablets. Her expression was respectful and solemn, but inwardly, she grumbled: “I don’t even know if I’ll get anything out of the Xu family, and yet here I am, putting in all this effort to honor their ancestors. Sigh, but for Heng Ge’er’s sake… my dear Heng Ge’er, who will always be my son, even if he goes to the heavens.”

Yes, Heng Ge’er was the child of both Qin Meinang and Cen Mei.

And there was also Xu Jun Ying, who had a part to play in it.

It was almost laughable, but she couldn’t speak of it.

Today, Heng Ge’er also participated in the ceremony, held by a young servant who stood in his place. Dressed in a purple brocade robe, a golden pearl tiger-head hat, a long-life lock, and gemstone embellished boots, Lady Zheng had dressed him impeccably. Heng Ge’er was very composed throughout the lengthy ritual, neither crying nor fussing. He simply pouted and curiously observed the elders’ actions. The older generation, seeing the strong and adorable child, couldn’t help but smile and praise him for carrying the same noble demeanor as his father and ancestors. Xu Jun Ying only smiled faintly but did not respond.

Next came the younger generation bowing to the elders, similar to the New Year’s practice of bowing to elders. However, on this day, the younger generation needed to show their sincerity, as there were no red envelopes involved.

Meinang and Ning Rulan stood together, watching Heng Ge’er bow to his great-grandmother. Xu Old Lady, upon seeing the delightful child, immediately wanted to hold him, kissing him before letting go. Heng Ge’er then proceeded with Shen’er to bow to Xu Xi Ping, the second elder. Xu Xi Ping chuckled, helping them up, and even playfully tossed Heng Ge’er in the air, making him giggle.

When it was time to bow to Xu Jun Ying, he stood upright, hands behind his back, and simply said, “Good, grow up quickly. Rise now.” He did not assist them at all, and the two young servants had to help the children up.

As the younger generation continued with their bows, the atmosphere became lighter, with uncles usually picking the children up to play before letting them go.

Meinang watched Xu Jun Ying’s haughty demeanor with clenched teeth, thinking, “What kind of father is he? What kind of elder is that? Just because he was once a general, does that make him untouchable? He doesn’t even appreciate the effort of a child kneeling and bowing to him. His coldness is so frustrating!”

She couldn’t understand why Xu Jun Ying never showed any affection for Heng Ge’er, despite the child being so beautiful and lovable. He seemed unmoved by his own flesh and blood, without the slightest intention to hold or kiss the child.

As Meinang silently pondered, she saw Xu Jun Ying showing no warmth toward Heng Ge’er. Was this really his child? Why was he so indifferent?

At that moment, Xu Jun Ying, also under pressure, was called by Xu Old Lady, who smiled at him and said, “Come, you’ve been away for so long. You can’t neglect Heng Ge’er any longer. You’re his father now. Don’t always keep that cold expression. This is your son, not a soldier.”

Xu Jun Ying reluctantly took Heng Ge’er from the servant, and the child, perhaps unaccustomed to his father’s indifference, did not dare to laugh or cry. Father and son, both wearing stern faces, stared at each other without speaking, which only made the surrounding people laugh.

The second lady chuckled, “You see, father and son are alike. They have the same temperament, the same eyes and expressions exactly the same.”

Xu Old Lady smiled, her eyes narrowing. “Heng Ge’er looks like both his grandfather and father. How adorable! Jun Ying, how’s the son you had last night? Was he crying or fussing? Has anyone reported the news in the ancestral hall?”

The second lady happily responded, “Old Lady remembers, there’s the second elder. That child is really good, not crying or making a fuss. He’s been here for half a month and is quite alert. His hair is as black as satin, and his eyes, oh, they shine so brightly.”

Xu Old Lady nodded approvingly. “Good, good. A fine child! Heng Ge’er’s delay in birth was auspicious, according to the fortune-teller. Jun Ying’s son, though, arrived early, but we should still have his fortune read.”

The conversation continued, but Xu Jun Ying, growing impatient, turned to see Meinang watching him from across the room. Heng Ge’er, spotting Meinang, became restless and tugged at his father’s collar, pointing at her and calling out. Meinang thought that Xu Jun Ying would bring the child to her, but to her surprise, he gestured for the servant to come forward. Xu Jun Ying handed Heng Ge’er to the servant and gave some instructions. The servant took Heng Ge’er away without letting him meet Meinang’s gaze.

Fuming with anger, Meinang inhaled sharply. Ning Rulan patted her hand and whispered, “You’ll have a lot to do later. The master is probably worried that Heng Ge’er would distract you.”

Meinang reluctantly swallowed her anger, realizing that she would indeed be busy with many follow-up tasks, meeting many relatives, and preparing for the feast. With no time to hold Heng Ge’er, she stayed silent.

By noon, the ceremony was finally over. The entire family gathered in the two halls of the ancestral courtyard for a feast. Hundreds of people, young and old, ate together, but since the snow had made travel difficult, Mei Niang instructed that only small amounts of wine be served to warm everyone up. The family praised her for being considerate, noting that despite her youth, she thought ahead.

As the feast continued into the evening, a hot pot banquet was prepared, and Meinang took charge of selecting the ingredients. The family enjoyed the lively meal, and Meinang served the elders with great care, ensuring that everyone had enough to eat and drink.

At this point, Xu Old Lady, observing the lively atmosphere, began to smile, but her joy was soon interrupted. She noticed that Zheng’s Lady, distraught, had been crying throughout the ceremony.