On the morning of the next day, the normally bustling courtyard of Su Family at an early time only started to liven up when the sky was bright. Although Su Family had no roots in Luohe Prefecture , no relatives to visit, and no ancestral hall to worship, Dafeng always had the custom of waking up early on the first day of the Lunar New Year. The meaning was that those who get up early can work hard, make a fortune in the new year, and get rich.
The children of Su Family also knew the custom of getting up early on the first day of the new year. But when they were in Cuifeng Village, the first day of the new year was the time when the sisters get beaten every year. All of them received a severe beating. Although no one will come to beat them this year, they all got up early and changed into new clothes. Then they lined up to kowtow to Mrs. Su to ask for new year's money.
"Mother, wish you a prosperous new year and good health." You Jin and You Yin led the younger sisters in two rows, properly knelt down, and kowtowed three times to Mrs. Su. Even little Eighth and Kang-er were held by □□ and Bai Zhi and kowtowed.
Sitting at the top, Mrs. Su looked at the children who were wearing new clothes. All the daughters had changed from sallow and thin appearance to fair and lovely. Her eyes couldn't help but turn slightly red: "Oh! Get up. The ground is cold!"
Sniffing, she suppressed the tears that were about to overflow. She handed out the New Year's money that she had prepared a long time ago to the daughters who raised their hands for the New Year's money: "Be obedient and sensible. Eat more this year and grow bigger."
After Su Family's girls finished paying New Year greetings to Su Family, Yu Lan led Xin Yi, □□, and others to kneel down in two rows: "New Year greetings to Madam and all the misses."
"Teacher, what are you doing?" You Jin hurried forward to help Yu Lan up. However, Yu Lan slightly pushed her away: "Miss, this bow is what Yu Lan should have done a long time ago."
If it wasn't for Su Family, whether she could be full and warm would be a different matter. She was an official slave, so she can only be a lowly person her whole life. But since she entered the gate of Su Family, everyone in Su Family respected her as a teacher. It was like the grace of second life. Due to this, she should have done this a long time ago.
Seeing her insistence, You Jin could only take a few steps back. After receiving a half-bow from Yu Lan, she hurriedly helped her up. Mrs. Su distributed the new year money prepared in advance to all the girls one by one: "Save the money. A girl should have some assets."
"Yes, Madam." □□ and the others merrily replied. On New Year's Eve, You Jin had distributed the bonuses that everyone had worked hard for over the last several months. □□ and the others who made snacks in the kitchen got two liang. In the front line, Xin Yi and the others who greeted the guests got less. But there was one liang. Plus the two months' salaries they had received before, the little maids had some money in their hands. They were all overjoyed.
Su Family didn't need to worship their ancestors. After kowtowing to Mrs. Su to pay New Year's greetings, there were children from the village who came to pay New Year's greetings and ask for snacks: "New Year's greetings to Auntie Su!"
"Oh! Get up. The ground is cold!" Mrs. Su jollily stood up and came over with a bamboo basket filled with melon seeds and snacks: "Quickly grab some back to eat!"
Su Family's snacks being delicious have already been spread among the children of Wuliqiao. Seeing Mrs. Su being so generous, the little girls felt a little embarrassed at first. You Bao hurriedly whispered: "It's okay. We still have it at home. Take it!"
It turned out that the first group of children who came to visit for New Year's greetings were the little girls who often played with You Bao. Seeing You Bao saying that, the little girls shyly smiled and grabbed some melon seeds and put them in their pockets. Seeing how meek children were, Mrs. Su reached out and grabbed a couple handfuls and stuffed them into their pockets. After the New Year greetings, the little girls made an arrangement with You Bao to play together in a few days before happily leaving.
Sending away the group of children who came to pay New Year's greetings to Su Family, Mrs. Su family called You Jin to bring the few younger sisters to Lizheng's house to pay New Year's greetings: "Lizheng and your Auntie Zhao takes good care of our family. Kowtow them later, understood?"
"Don't worry, Mother. We understand." You Jin held little Seventh's hand. Chatting and laughing, she walked towards the east of the river with the few younger sisters. Xiao Hei and Da Huang followed the seven sisters. Two large wolfhounds with shiny coats and thick fangs looked extraordinarily majestic in the bright winter sun. As well as scary.
"Eldest Sister You Jin, your family's two big dogs won't go crazy and bite people, right?" Two little girls about seven or eight years old leaned against the houses on the side of the road and stared at the big wolfdogs next to Su sisters. A little scared and a little bit curious, they asked.
You Jin snapped her fingers to beckon Xiao Hei. Then she patted Xiao Hei's head and smilingly assured, "As long as you don't provoke it, it won't bite."
Only then did the little girl put down her guard, and cheerfully walked away.
Most of the villagers in Wuliqiao Village fled here in troubled times and took root here. However, in just 20 to 30 years, the ancestors of the villagers weren't the same. Therefore, most of the villagers just worship their ancestors before eating New Year's Eve dinner at home.
There was no ancestral hall to open on the first day of the new year. The children in the village were dressed up (at least better than usual) and ran around to pay New Year's greetings to the elders in the neighborhood. Many of them were picking up some last night's firecrackers that weren't lit and set them off. The sound of laughter and firecrackers was endless. It added a lot of vitality to the bleak winter day.
The whole, they greeted the villagers. After walking a while, they arrived at Lizheng's house. The door of He Family was open today, because there were too many people who came to pay New Year's greetings. So Mrs. Zhao directly left the door open. Seeing that the door was open, You Jin led her younger sisters into He's yard.
He Xiao Ning, who was standing in the corridor, saw You Jin and the others. She hurriedly greeted them in delight: "Elder Sister You Jin! You Bao!"
"Happy New Year, Xiao Ning. Where are your parents?" You Jin smilingly asked as she stroked her little head with two braids. After getting the answer, she led little Seventh across the threshold and entered the main house of He's house.
"You Jin (You Yin, You Zhu...) wished Lizheng and Auntie Zhao give New Year's greeting." She led her younger sisters to properly kneel down and then respectfully kowtowed three times.
Mrs. Zhao, who was sitting on the kang, hurriedly stood up and helped her up: "Enough, enough. On such a cold day, your mother is willing to let you come out. Little Seventh is blushing from the cold. Come here quickly and warm up."
After finishing speaking, she picked up little Seventh, who was in a pink cotton padded jacket embroidered with patterns of auspicious clouds, and sat down on the kang. Then she grabbed a handful of peanuts and melon seeds and stuffed them into little Seventh's hands: "Little Seventh, quickly eat some snacks before we talk."
You Jin sisters also stood up. Today, Su Family sisters were dressed a bit similarly. They were all dressed in red on top and white on the bottom. The skirts were embroidered with butterfly patterns. While walking, these butterflies seemed to fly up and down.
Looking at the large group of little girls who were once all sallow and thin when they first moved here in spring last year, He Hao couldn't help feeling that the old and weak women and children of Su Family were really capable. Thinking of what his wife said the night before, this marriage could work if Su Family really had such intentions.
At the moment, He Xuan Hai, who was studying in the study room, was dragged out by Xiao Ning who received a heavy responsibility and entered the main room: "Father, Mother." After respectfully giving a scholar's salute, he turned to Su Family's sister: "Who are these?"
"Xuan Hai, these are Su Family's sisters that Mother often mentioned to you!" Mrs. Zhao merrily introduced both sides: "You Jin, this was my eldest son who was studying in Luohe Prefecture, Xuan Hai."
"Eldest Brother He." Glancing at the young man in a scholar's green shirt, You Jin politely performed a female courtesy.
Xuan Hai had heard about You Jin's deeds. He had thought she would be a vulgar country girl. Unexpectedly, it turned out to be a girl with bright eyes and bright teeth. This graceful figure was even more attractive than the girls in Luohe Prefecture. For a while, he was a little dazed. He stood still on the spot like a statue.
"Eldest Brother, Elder Sister You Jin had greeted you!" He Xiao Ning who was on the side looked at the most well-behaved eldest brother being dazed. So she tugged at his loose sleeves and called him in a low voice.
Only then did He Xuan Hai come back to his senses. A suspicious blush appeared on his face before he returned an equal bow: "Miss Su."
Seeing her son's hopeless reaction, Mrs. Zhao couldn't help showing a teasing smile. However, she still tried to save face for her son: "Xuan Hai, You Jin is three years younger than you. You will have to take care of her in the future. Don't bully her!"
Although he didn't know what Mother meant by this, He Xuan Hai still respectfully replied 'Yes'. After talking a bit, someone came to He's house to pay New Year's greetings. So You Jin took the opportunity to bid goodbye with her younger sisters and went back to the west of the river.
Back to He Family's side. After seeing off wave after wave of New Year's greetings, Mrs. Zhao whispered to He Hao: "Family Head, did you see how Xuan Hai looked standing with You Jin today? Is it like the golden boy and jade girl sitting down by Guanyin Bodhisattva?"
He Hao took a puff of tobacco. He neither agreed or disagreed. Just stated: "I don't think You Jin knows about this matter. Go to find out what Su Family had said in two days. If Su Family nods, then let's brign this matter out to the open and set the matter!"
Mrs. Zhao didn't expect that Family Head, who was opposed at the beginning, to turn around and agree today. Delighted, she acknowledged: "I will go to Su's house in two days and ask again!"
***
He Family nearly treated You Jin as their daughter-in-law, but on You Jin's side, she didn't know it yet.
Seeing her daughters come back, Mrs. Su, who was sitting on the kang teasing crawling Kang-er and little Eighth, asked, "Why did you come back so soon?"
"A lot of people went to Lizheng's family to pay New Year's greetings. We kowtowed and came back after talking for a while." You Jin helped little Seventh take off her thick cotton jacket before taking a sip of the hot tea handed over by Xin Yi. Only then, she steadily spoke.
Seeing her daughter's expression being the same as usual, Mrs. Su was a little disappointed: "Did you see the rest of your Auntie Zhao's family during your visit?"
"I met Xiao Ning's brother, what was her name Xuan Hai?" You Jin didn't have any other feelings for the goose-like He Xuan Hai who blushed when he saw a girl. Only impression was that he was dumb.
"Then what do you think of Xuan Hai?" Mrs. Su eagerly wanted to get to the bottom of this matter: "I've heard that Xuan Hai is already a Tongsheng at sixteen. He has a bright future ahead!"
"Having a bright future is their business. Why are you so agitated?" Sitting on the kang and making little Eighth giggle, You Jin became amused.
At this time, only Mrs. Su, You Jin, and ignorant little Seventh were in the main room. Mrs. Su thought about what Yu Lan said that day. She recounted what Mrs. Zhao had said before: "Then He Family's Eldest Son is good. What do you think?"