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Chapter 371: 367: The Mainstay_1
Chapter 371: 367: The Mainstay_1
Chapter 371: Chapter 367: The Mainstay_1
Madam Wang also kept no secrets, she took Yingbao with her all the time from when she selected the weavers.
After going through a selection process, twenty deft-handed weavers were chosen to be on a probation period for a month.
During this month, they could live in the workshop with food provided for free, but there was no wage.
If they passed the probation period, they would sign a contract and officially join the workshop.
The weavers’ wages depended on how much cotton yarn and fabric they could spin and weave, the more effort they put in, the more pay they could obtain.
If they were diligent, they could earn several coins a month.
These weavers were daughters and daughters-in-law from poor families. Several of them were daughters from refugee families. To have the opportunity to work there, they accepted all conditions without complaint.
Close to the New Year’s Day, Yingbao gave these weavers a day off and gave each of them a fish to bring home for the New Year celebration.
These fishes were caught by Wei Zhan and Huzi Jiang Wu. They caught dozens in total.
Yingbao’s miraculous fish bait brought good luck to the villagers, and many others also caught a good number of fish.
The villagers living on the South Slope were overjoyed, forming crowds to catch fish along the Chuanhe River. The sight was overwhelming; even Master Zhou went to join in the fun, becoming even more curious about his young apprentice.
Could there really be such a thing as a reincarnated fairy child in this world? Otherwise, it was hard to explain Yingbao’s peculiarities.
On New Year’s Eve, the Jiang family set up several tables, Master Zhou and his two disciples, Madam Wen and her two sons, Chuchu’s family of four together with her brother Chu Qing, and also Madam Wang and her son and Li Xu and his mother, all gathered together to have the New Year’s Eve dinner.
Jiang Sanlang brought out over ten jars of fruit wine and rice wine, and juice he made himself, to entertain everyone.
After they had enough food and wine, Madam Wang and Madam Wen went home, but the boys insisted on staying at the Jiang house to celebrate the New Year with lanterns.
Normally, this was considered improper, but Madam Wang and Madam Wen both had their own agendas, so they didn’t stop them.
“Yingbao, do you like my lantern?” Wei Zhan held up his lantern smiling, “I made it myself.”
Yingbao glanced at the rabbit lantern in his hand, and nodded: “It’s good.”
She lifted her tiny Palace Lantern: “This one is even better. Look at the top, it’s made of coloured glaze.”
The coloured glaze lantern was a gift from Sister Wen, a pair in total, one for her brother Wen Hengyin and one for Yingbao.
Wei Zhan pouted, snatching the palace lantern from Yingbao and shoving his rabbit lantern into her hand: “What’s a girl doing with a palace lantern? The rabbit is cuter, I’ll swap it with you!”
Yingbao was not happy now, chasing him to get it back, “No swap! Give it back!”
Wei Zhan turned and ran away, making faces at her as he fled.
Jiang Jie, Jiang Wu, Huzi and Yuanbao also joined in the chase, a gaggle of children running a lap around the village.
Most families in the village had set up offering tables and hung up lanterns in their courtyards, lighting up the village streets.
The children from the refugee families living outside the village also came in, each carrying self-made lanterns, tripping over each other to grab the cakes and pastries placed on the offering tables.
The offerings on the Jiang’s family offering table were the most abundant, not only did it hold pastries but also various kinds of fruits, bowls of apples and mandarin oranges.
When it was the second day of the New Year, Chunniang took her husband and children back to her maiden home to wish everyone a Happy New Year.
They had not even arrived at the Xu village yet when they saw several people standing by the road. It turned out to be Mother Xu and her grandchildren.
Seeing her daughter’s carriage approaching, Mother Xu waved excitedly, “Chunniang! Sanlang!”
Chunniang lifted the curtain of the carriage and quickly hopped down, running to her mother and scolding, “Why have you come all this way in this cold weather?”
Mother Xu laughed, “I am idle and have nothing to do, so I came out to see.”
Xu Da, his brother Xu Erniu, and sister Xu Lan greeted Chunniang and Jiang Sanlang together, “Auntie, Uncle.”
Jiang Sanlang nodded in response.
Madame Chun said, “Why did you all suddenly come out? Hurry back, it’s so chilly!”
Yingbao and her two younger brothers popped their heads out from behind the carriage curtain, shouting in unison, “Grandma, first cousin, second cousin, cousin, Happy New Year.”
“Happy New Year, Happy New Year.” Madame Xu laughed like a blooming chrysanthemum.
Xu Dan and his siblings also quickly said, “Happy New Year, cousins.”
Madame Xu waved her hand, “Hurry home, your Auntie has made a lot of delicious food.”
Then, Madame Chun walked with the elderly lady towards the village, while Jiang Sanlang followed slowly with the carriage. The Xu siblings talked with their cousins on the side of the carriage.
As the crowd entered the village, many villagers gathered around to watch. Some even approached Jiang Jie to greet him politely. “Happy New Year, Scholar Jiang.”
Jiang Jie replied hastily, “Happy New Year to you too.”
“Great… Great…” The man was overjoyed to receive a reply. He didn’t know where to put his hands and feet.
Seeing this, others came to greet him as well.
For a moment, Jiang Jie and Jiang Wu were overwhelmed.
Xu Dan and Xu Erniu, seeing this, hurried over to squeeze through the crowd, protecting their young cousins as they walked home.
Xu Da had been waiting at the door, and seeing Jiang Jie laughing so cheerfully, he warmly welcomed him into the house, calling for his wife to serve tea.
Xu Da’s wife complied, carrying out the almond tea that had been prepared earlier. She poured a bowl for her niece, her nephew, and another bowl for her elder sister and brother-in-law.
Then she smiled at Jiang Jie and Yingbao, “This is made from the almonds from our own trees. I collected a lot this year. I roasted them yesterday, and ground them into thick paste before dawn. I even added sheep’s milk and honey.”
Xu Lan giggled and said, “Enough Ma, your food is going to burn.”
Xu Da’s wife gasped and rushed into the kitchen.
Afterwards, Yingbao and her brothers respectfully greeted their grandmother, followed by their uncle and aunt, to offer their New Year greetings.
Both Xu Da and his wife were shocked to see Jiang Jie kneeling with the kids to offer his greetings. They hurriedly assisted him up.
This was, after all, a gifted scholar! Normally, even a county magistrate wouldn’t have to kneel before him. Now he was kneeling to them, it was astonishing.
Just then, there was a commotion outside. It turned out that Madame Xu’s two brothers had arrived.
Both old men brought New Year’s gifts, one of which was for Jiang Sanlang.
So, Yingbao and her brothers offered their respectful greetings to their grand-uncles.
The two grand-uncles had smiles in their eyes as they looked at Jiang Jie. They couldn’t help but wish to pull him into a hug and pat him on the back.
“Xiaojie, you are our family’s pillar of support. From now on, our Xu family will rely on you.”
“Yes! Xiaojie, your grand-uncles have several good-for-nothing grandchildren. Please take the time to guide them too.”
Jiang Jie’s face twitched.
How did he suddenly become the pillar of the Xu family? And as for disciplining the grandchildren of his grand-uncles, gosh, they were almost old enough to be married!
Seeing the grand-uncles had settled down to chat with their dad, Yingbao and Jiang Wu quietly slipped out of the house.
Jiang Jie noticed his siblings sneaking out and decided to follow suit as well. But he was caught by the grand-uncles: “Xiaojie, don’t leave today – have dinner with us at your elder Grand-uncle’s house.”
Jiang Jie stiffly returned a smile and looked at his father.
Knowing that he couldn’t refuse, Jiang Sanlang nodded in agreement: “Then we are in the debt of elder Grand-uncle.”
“What nonsense about being in debt, Sanlang, you’re being too polite.” Another Grand-uncle said, “Come to my house tomorrow at noon, your Aunt has prepared all the dishes. We’re even slaughtering a pig this year, especially to host Xiaojie.”