With Xie Weixia gone from the Xie Mansion and Xie Zhi off to the capital for the imperial exams, likely not returning for the New Year, the mansion suddenly felt emptier with three people missing. Xie Qiaoyu found himself more at ease, being the only young one left at home. Every day, he would pay his respects to Old Madam Xie and then chat idly with his father. Without Xie Weixia’s cold sarcasm and secret schemes, he was living quite happily.

“Qiaoyu, what would you like to eat for your birthday? I’ll cook for you,” Feng Su, looking much healthier though still a bit haggard, asked with a smile.

Xie Qiaoyu’s birthday fell on the second day of the first lunar month, which should have been a good day. However, with many visitors during the New Year, as a concubine’s son, his birthday often went unnoticed amidst the hustle and bustle. If it were on another day, the family might not be as busy, but it just had to be during the New Year.

“Just a bowl of longevity noodles like before is fine,” Xie Qiaoyu said, not minding much.

“You’re already sixteen,” Feng Su sighed. Though he had a gentle nature, Xie Qiaoyu was unexpectedly strong-willed, which was good as it meant he wouldn’t be easily bullied. Feng Su wanted to celebrate Xie Qiaoyu’s birthday properly, even if it was just the two of them.

After Xie Qiaoyu left, Feng Su instructed his close aides to buy some things.

When Xie Qiaoyu was young, Xie Yuan doted on him for a few years. After all, he was adorable as a child, and Xie Yuan had feelings for Feng Su. But now, he had become a heartless man. Xie Qiaoyu had seen the grand celebrations for Xie Weixia’s birthday, with Xie Yuan hosting a banquet and inviting notable people from Ningjiang County, along with many relatives bringing gifts for Xie Weixia. It was hard not to feel envious.

In the future, when he became the head of the household, he would definitely throw a grand birthday celebration.

Xie Qiaoyu gathered his resolve, bringing back the account books from the estate to study on his own. He would also visit Old Madam Xie’s courtyard to seek advice from Liu Mama.

“The third young master is progressing quickly, but he still needs to work on his arithmetic,” Liu Mama gently pointed out.

“My arithmetic isn’t very good,” Xie Qiaoyu admitted, a bit troubled.

Old Madam Xie glanced at Xie Qiaoyu and handed him a book. “Read this more when you go back.”

“Thank you, Grandmother,” Xie Qiaoyu said, though he still felt a bit overwhelmed. Seeing numbers made him sleepy, but he knew he had to work hard.

“In a few days, it’s your birthday. I can’t leave the mansion, so here’s a gift for you,” Old Madam Xie signaled Liu Mama to give Xie Qiaoyu his birthday present.

Xie Qiaoyu: “I…”

“Grandmother, you’re so kind,” Xie Qiaoyu’s eyes sparkled.

“Off you go. With such poor arithmetic, how will you become the head of the household?” Old Madam Xie said with a hint of disdain.

Liu Mama handed the box to Xie Qiaoyu with a smile. Xie Qiaoyu happily accepted it, feeling encouraged that his grandmother believed he could become the head of the household.

This was perhaps the best affirmation he had received since turning sixteen.

Xie Qiaoyu left, bouncing with joy, thinking about how his grandmother liked and acknowledged him.

Back in the courtyard, Yao He returned with the money from selling rouge. “Young master, the rouge sold for quite a bit, twenty taels.”

Yao He was puzzled. The rouge was the same as before, only the container had changed.

“That’s great,” Xie Qiaoyu said, happily putting away the money.

“Why did the young master sell it for so much more?”

“Wan Mingji gave me a jar of goat milk, and Xiubai gave me a water bottle. I thought the packaging looked nice, and people who buy rouge usually like pretty and delicate things. So, I made the rouge boxes more exquisite. Holding them is pleasing to the eye, so they’re naturally willing to spend the money.”

Xie Qiaoyu held onto the birthday gift from Old Madam Xie, planning to open it on his birthday.

*

Wan Mingji was in his room, thinking about what Xie Zhi had inadvertently told him. They were discussing their ages, and at eighteen, Wan Mingji was the youngest among them.

Xie Zhi mentioned that Xie Qiaoyu was the youngest in their family, and his birthday seemed to be around this time.

He lay back with his hands behind his head, pondering what gift to give Xie Qiaoyu.

Whether it was for a brother’s birthday or otherwise, he felt he should give a gift. As the son of the county magistrate, Xie Qiaoyu probably lacked nothing. What could he give?

His head hurt, feeling like he had no brain.

Wan Mingji had been a bit distracted these past few days. He asked Wan Xiuyue and Wan Xiubai for advice, but their answers didn’t satisfy him.

The next morning, Wan Mingji told Li Yun, “Mother, I have some business to attend to in the county town. I’ll be back once it’s done.”

“Come back early, and buy some New Year goods while you’re at it.” This was the Wan family’s first New Year in Linshui Village, and Li Yun wanted it to be beautiful and neat, with the whole family together.

They couldn’t eat meat dishes at home, but they could drink bone broth. They’d also buy some fruits, play leaf cards to stay up late, and have a harmonious and beautiful time.

During the New Year, fruit and snack shops were bustling, as were places selling firecrackers and fireworks. Wan Mingji bought a lot of fireworks from a fireworks shop.

He paid swiftly and brought the fireworks to Qingshui Alley.

Then he dismantled the fireworks.

Fireworks generally have two layers: an outer tube and an inner tube for ignition. The outer tube sends the inner tube into the sky, where it explodes. Inside the fireworks are light beads, which can form different shapes depending on their arrangement. Cherry blossom shapes are the most common.

The different colors of fireworks come from different chemical elements: copper for blue, lead for red, sodium for yellow, and so on. The small flashes in fireworks require iron powder and phosphorus powder.

These could still be found in ancient times, and Wan Mingji had come to the county town a few days early to prepare. Making fireworks explode into flowers was simple, but making them form words was more challenging.

He needed to calculate the angle, height, and distance between the light beads.

Wan Mingji took out his draft paper and began arranging calculations, quickly filling it with dense formulas and numbers.

The dismantled fireworks lay forlornly on the ground.

*

Xie Mansion

The second day of the first lunar month was a time of frequent visits from relatives. Xie Furen chatted with the ladies and fu langs, while Xie Yuan entertained guests. Xie Weixia had also returned to the mansion to accompany Xie Furen.

“Hurry! This dish needs to be served!”

“The teapot here is empty, go change it!”

“Young Master Liu’s clothes are stained with tea, quickly take him to change!”

The Xie Mansion was bustling, with everyone on high alert. The guests and relatives were important, and there was no room for mistakes.

“It’s a pity Xie Zhi isn’t home for the New Year,” someone at the banquet lamented.

Xie Furen maintained a benevolent expression. “His studies are more important. The New Year is secondary.”

Xie Weixia noticed that Xie Qiaoyu wasn’t at the banquet, immediately realizing that he and his father were likely spending the New Year in their courtyard.

For such New Year receptions, concubine’s children and concubines themselves weren’t of much use. Xie Weixia’s lips curled up.

Yiju Courtyard

Feng Su had prepared a table full of delicious dishes, placing the longevity noodles at Xie Qiaoyu’s spot.

Xie Qiaoyu lowered his head to eat the noodles.

“Here’s a set of clothes I made for you, and some jewelry I bought,” Feng Su said, helping Xie Qiaoyu into new clothes and a hairpin. Xie Qiaoyu twirled around, and Feng Su’s eyes filled with tears.

“Good, good, Qiaoyu is so handsome.”

“Thank you, Father. You should eat too,” Xie Qiaoyu said with a smile, serving Feng Su some food.

Yao He also gave Xie Qiaoyu a pouch she made. “This pattern is rare, thank you,” Xie Qiaoyu said, smiling.

Yao He blushed.

The young master looks so good when he’s serious.

Outside, the Xie Mansion was lively, making Yiju Courtyard seem even quieter. Yao He felt indignant for Xie Qiaoyu. The young master was also the lao ye’s child, yet his birthday was celebrated like this, and the lao ye never even sent someone to check on him. It was truly unfair.

Yao He stood outside, giving Feng Su and Xie Qiaoyu some space.

As night fell, someone outside was setting off fireworks.

Yao He looked up.

Suddenly, a sharp sound rang out, “Boom,” shooting into the sky and exploding into a flower, spreading in all directions. It had five layers of fireworks in different colors: red, yellow, blue, green.

Yao He was stunned, murmuring, “Oh my god.”

“Young master, come out and see the fireworks! So many colors, five layers!” Yao He shouted excitedly.

The entire sky over Ningjiang County was lit by this single firework with five colors, dazzling and beautiful, making all other fireworks pale in comparison.

It was like the moon, the brightest, while the surrounding fireworks were stars, merely its embellishments.

Xie Qiaoyu and Feng Su came out.

The fireworks continued, forming different shapes, not just the usual ones. There were peach blossoms, ginkgo leaves, fans, all sorts of shapes dazzling the eye.

Xie Qiaoyu’s eyes reflected the fireworks, sparkling. “So beautiful.”

To see such fireworks on his birthday was truly a blessing.

The people in the Xie Mansion courtyard were also amazed, standing outside to watch the fireworks.

“What a grand display. I’ve never seen five-layered fireworks with so many shapes.”

“I wonder who is setting off these fireworks. They’re so beautiful, the whole Ningjiang County must be watching.”

“Why do I feel like these fireworks are very close to the Xie Mansion?” someone remarked.

Indeed, the entire Ningjiang County was stirred. Some scholars drinking wine even composed poems about the fireworks, and people on the streets looked up in awe.

Xie Qiaoyu, having seen enough fireworks, was about to go back inside.

A loud “Boom” echoed through the sky.

Everyone watched as the fireworks formed a word in the sky.

It was the character “Xie.”

“Can fireworks really form words?!!!”

The fireworks continued, forming another character.