Chapter 50: 50. Chapter 50: Chinese New Year

Chapter 50: New Year

Village Head Zhao said, "We all know that Zhao Wei was the one with malicious intentions; Squire Zhao is not that short-sighted. Squire Zhao has said that he will control his son and won't cause you any more trouble, so please do not go around speaking ill of Zhao Wei..."

"To ruin someone's future is like killing their parents. Even though you have backing, as orphans, it is not wise to offend too many people. Once you have many enemies, they are hard to guard against, let alone someone like Squire Zhao..."

He spoke with great sincerity, both sowing discord between Feng Chuchen and Squire Zhao and maintaining the appearance of acting in Feng Chuchen's best interests.

After speaking, he presented a one-hundred-tael banknote.

Feng Chuchen did not want to clash head-on with Squire Zhao openly for the time being, but Zhao Wei certainly had to be dealt with. She had to ruin his future; such an immoral person must not be allowed to become an official.

She refused the money, her words being very tactful.

"I will not take his family's money. Originally, my brother and I were going to the capital tomorrow to see the County Magistrate, but for Uncle Zhao's sake, we won't go. However, I will leave these words here: if his family stops causing trouble, fine.

"But if they dare to cause trouble again, do not blame me for being unkind. I will settle both old and new accounts at once. I won't just go to the County Magistrate; I will also go to Lord Hu and Lord Wen..."

Seeing that Feng Chuchen listened to his advice, Village Head Zhao felt a great sense of prestige.

"If they dare to trouble you again, let alone you not agreeing, I, Zhao, will not agree either."

Feng Chuchen and Feng Buqi stayed home obediently, and she even restricted Datou from going out. Even when neighbors came to invite Auntie Wang to assist with childbirth, Feng Chuchen would not go.

She stayed locked in her room reading books and formulating medicines. While Auntie Wang was assisting with births, she, Banxia, and Shaoyao worked on the needlework tasks Feng Chuchen had assigned them.

During this time, Shaoyao's mother visited the Feng house once. Feng Chuchen checked her pulse and prescribed new medicine.

At the end of the Si hour on the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, the carriage from the Marquis of Wuyi's estate came to pick up Feng Chuchen again.

Feng Chuchen took Banxia to the Marquis's estate and was not sent home until it was dark.

By this time, the driver could no longer enter the city, so Feng Chuchen arranged for him to stay at Feng Changfu's house, and he delivered Feng Chuchen to the capital again the next morning.

After three consecutive visits, the villagers became even more envious of Feng Chuchen's relationship with the Marquis of Wuyi's estate.

Zhao Wei, who had never been submissive to his elderly father, was also filled with regret and beat the dim-witted Fourth Son several times.

In the blink of an eye, it was New Year's Eve.

Fragrances drifted from the kitchen early in the morning. Although they could not eat meat, Auntie Wang fried tofu balls, radish balls, and pancakes. Shaoyao, who was tending the fire, swallowed her saliva from time to time.

Because they were in mourning, they could not paste window flowers and couplets or hang red lanterns, which made the festive atmosphere in the house feel a bit diminished.

Feng Buqi played in the courtyard with Datou, occasionally running into the kitchen where Auntie Wang would feed him a mouthful of balls or pancakes, stuffing his small mouth full.

At the beginning of the Si hour, Feng Chuchen took Auntie Wang, Banxia, and Datou to Jiuling Slope to pay respects to her eldest aunt.

Feng Buqi's health was poor, so they did not dare let him climb the mountain in the dead of winter; it was enough for him to kowtow to the memorial tablet at home.

The snow in the mountains was thicker than at the foot of the mountain. Auntie Wang walked in front, helping Feng Chuchen through difficult spots.

The mountain wind was immense, whistling past their ears.

Auntie Wang and Banxia wore thick cotton jackets, yet they were still shivering from the cold.

Feng Chuchen only felt the wind was strong and it was a bit cooler than at the foot of the mountain, but she did not feel particularly cold.

Arriving at the grave, they unexpectedly saw unburned incense, candles, and paper money; the tombstone and the mound were also cleaned neatly.

It was obvious that someone had just come to pay their respects.

Auntie Wang said, "It must be a family my eldest sister once saved. To come and pay respects so early, it's hard on them. There are still many people with a conscience."

After laying out the offerings, the group kowtowed.

After saying what needed to be said, they went down the mountain and then visited the Feng family ancestral graves.

The Feng clan members had only just left; besides three graves, the other graves still had remnants of incense, candles, and paper money.

These three graves belonged to Midwife Feng's grandfather and the couple Feng Qiuen and his wife.

Regrettably, only Feng Buqi remained of this branch.

Taking out the offerings, incense, and paper money, the group kowtowed and paid their respects again.

Although there was no meat to eat this year, they still managed to prepare nine dishes and one soup, along with leek and egg dumplings and radish and egg dumplings. The family ate together in a lively atmosphere.

Before going to sleep, Feng Chuchen gave Feng Buqi two small gold Ruyi ingots as New Year's money, and gave Banxia and Shaoyao fifty wen each.

Auntie Wang was an elder and was respected by her masters, so it was not appropriate for Feng Chuchen to give her money; instead, Auntie Wang gave Banxia and Shaoyao ten large coins each.

Shaoyao's eyes curved with joy; it was the first time in her life she had received so much New Year's money.

On New Year's Eve, the lights were not extinguished. Feng Chuchen lay in bed, watching the flickering oil lamp, and her thoughts drifted back to her previous life.

I wonder how Grandfather is doing...

On New Year's Day, the Feng family woke up at the beginning of the Mao hour as usual.

Feng Chuchen and Feng Buqi put on blue training clothes. From today, Feng Buqi would begin learning Tai Chi and the Finger Flicking technique.

What Feng Chuchen taught was the Shui family combat style from her previous life, and she would teach him the Shui family medical arts later.

Feng Buqi was very excited and very serious.

The Feng family was still in mourning, so it was not appropriate to visit others to offer New Year's greetings.

Many villagers came to the Feng house to offer greetings, even the eldest cousin from the Yao family in the neighboring township.

An unexpected guest also arrived: a steward from the Hu residence.

The steward was also an honored guest of the Feng family; he was invited to the main room, seated, and served tea.

The Hu residence sent two jars of tea and four boxes of candy.

Steward Hu smiled and said, "My Lord and Madam have been thinking of Miss Feng and Young Master Feng constantly. They asked you to visit the estate whenever you are free. If you have any difficulties, tell them; do not be formal... The Lord and Madam also heard of Miss Feng's capability and are very pleased..."

Feng Chuchen had a very good impression of Lord Hu; people who remembered kindness like this were not many.

Primarily, Feng Buqi spoke the polite formalities: "My sister and I are very well. Thank you, Lord Hu and Madam Hu, for your concern. My health is much better; it was my sister who cured me..."

When Steward Hu left, Feng Chuchen sent him off with two pairs of cotton slippers embroidered with bears, two sheep dolls, and a basket of her own homemade soybean sprouts.

This year was the Year of the Sheep, so she had made several sheep dolls and had already sent two to the Wen residence.

The slippers were also intended as gifts, and today was the perfect time to use them.

After seeing Steward Hu off, Feng Chuchen made a silent calculation.

When her eldest aunt was alive, the Hu residence never sent anyone to the Feng house unless there was business, perhaps because they knew Midwife Feng's temperament. But now that her aunt was gone, they sent someone to provide support for the orphans.

They had remembered this kindness, so she should also take her brother to pay their respects to them.

This was etiquette, not "sucking up."

On the second day of the New Year, the Feng siblings went to visit the Yao family.

The second cousin came to pick them up in an ox cart.

The eldest uncle and aunt were waiting for their daughter, Yao Fang; the second aunt was close to giving birth, so only the eldest aunt had brought her husband and son back to her natal home.

Upon arriving at the Yao house, Yao Fang had already arrived with her son-in-law and a two-year-old son.

Feng Chuchen checked the second aunt's pulse and smiled, "The fetal position and heartbeat are both normal, and the second aunt is also doing well. Barring any accidents, it should be a smooth delivery..."

What she didn't say was that the second aunt was carrying a girl.

After a period of conversation, Feng Chuchen took out a drawing she had made. The drawing contained three patterns: a complete small round bottle, a lid, and a bottle body.

The Yao family operated a small kiln. They fired mostly coarse porcelain and very little fine porcelain, selling mostly to local villagers, so business was mediocre.

Feng Chuchen wanted the Yao family to fire small porcelain bottles to hold ointments, face creams, and perfumes, which she would use in the future.

(End of Chapter)