Chapter 1002 - 427: Lunar New Year
At the end of the year, every household is preparing for the New Year. Yueyao has also started to get busy for the New Year. Due to her lack of experience, she requires Nanny Hao’s assistance by her side.
An Zhichen has been very busy during this period, sometimes coming back every two or three days, or returning home very late, making it extremely exhausting for him.
Yueyao was busy when she heard the maid say that Tingzheng had returned. Overjoyed, Yueyao went out to welcome Tingzheng.
Originally, Yueyao had planned for Tingzheng to move out this year and relocate to Yuhua Alley, but Tingzheng was too busy and couldn’t get a leave. Besides, Yuhua Alley wasn’t fully ready yet, so Yueyao didn’t insist on having Tingzheng move in this year.
Fifteen-year-old Tingzheng had just grown taller than Yueyao and quite strong, but the only flaw was that his face was too handsome. Fortunately, having served in the army for two years made him appear very masculine, avoiding any perception of femininity.
After Yueyao got married, Tingzheng had stayed for a couple of days during his leave, so he wasn’t unfamiliar with the residence. As he entered the Main Courtyard with Yueyao and didn’t see An Zhichen, Tingzheng asked, "Sister, is Brother-in-law still busy?"
Yueyao replied with a smile, "During the New Year, they have even more responsibilities. Who knows when he’ll be able to come back. Are you on leave, or do you have business in the Capital City?" Usually, Tingzheng was on leave starting the 27th of the twelfth lunar month, hence Yueyao’s question.
Tingzheng smiled and replied, "I’m on leave, back to the barracks on the seventh day of the first month. Sister, there are many tasks at the end of the year, I can help you."
Yueyao didn’t stand on ceremony, "In the next couple of days, the people from the manor should send things over, I’ll leave this task with you." Having suffered from not caring about Silver Coin in the past, Yueyao wouldn’t want Tingzheng to suffer the same. Every summer and fall harvest in the past two years, Yueyao had Tingzheng collect the rent. This not only prevented the Farmstead from being crafty but also allowed Tingzheng to learn how to manage affairs.
While they were talking, Ruo Cui walked in and said, "Miss, Chief Xi from Yuntun Village has brought the goods over." In previous years, Yueyao would exchange the goods for silver, but this year, since she opened her household, she naturally wanted the goods.
Tingzheng laughed upon hearing this, "This person really comes when mentioned. Speaking of the devil, and the devil appears."
Looking at the list, Yueyao noticed there were many items, and they were quite complete. Their family only had three masters, these items were more than sufficient.
After checking the list, Yueyao handed it to Tingzheng, saying, "You go and verify the items with the Farmstead." After all, Tingzheng was no fool and wouldn’t be easily deceived.
Tingzheng took the list and went to the front yard. After a while, he returned saying, "Sister, everything is correct, and the delivered items are all good, no inferior goods. Is there anything else you need me to do?"
Yueyao chuckled, "Really, would I be formal with you? You’ve been traveling the whole day, take a rest first, and I’ll let you know if something comes up."
The most headache-inducing thing during the New Year is gift-giving. Gift-giving is a complex learning process, and without old customs to refer to, Yueyao had to handle everything herself, truly testing her abilities. Fortunately, there weren’t too many relatives, otherwise, Yueyao would indeed have had a headache.
Yueyao assigned the distributed items to each household and then selected a few pelts, instructing the servants, "Send these pelts to the Cloth Workshop and ask them to make two large garments." Previously, Yueyao had already had a garment made for both An Zhichen and Tingzheng, and now with more pelts, each of them would get an additional one.
As they got busy, time always passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, it was already the 28th of the Twelfth Lunar Month. Xiang Wei also returned on this day.
Upon seeing Xiang Wei, Yueyao was overjoyed, "Xiang Wei, you’re back." She then carefully looked Xiang Wei over from head to toe.
Xiang Wei lightly laughed, "No need to check further, not a single strand of hair is missing." In this month, she had indeed endured a lot, but now it was much easier than before.
Yueyao promptly said: "Good, good, good," as her mind had been restless while she couldn’t see Xiang Wei during that time. It wasn’t that Yueyao was putting on airs and didn’t go to visit Xiang Wei, but rather Xiang Wei wouldn’t allow her to visit, and Doctor Li also didn’t permit her to visit, saying that her frequent presence at the Herbarium Hall would disturb the patients. "Did Doctor Li mention when the treatment would end?"
Xiang Wei nodded, "Yes, most likely no problem by March, but I’ll have to take good care afterward." Although tormented to the point of feeling worse than dying this past month, Xiang Wei had to admit that the chubby one actually had skills. Over this past month, she indeed felt much more at ease than before.
The worst thing about staying at Herbarium Hall was the food, which was no better than pig feed. Later, when Nanny Hua went there, the meals improved, but Nanny Hua strictly followed the words of that annoying chubby guy, refusing to make anything Xiang Wei wasn’t allowed to eat.