She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 366 - 365 - s: The Joy of the New Year

Chapter 366: 365 Chapters: The Joy of the New Year

Nanny Jin, who had escaped from Duke An’s Mansion just over a year ago, had already adapted to the life of an ordinary citizen. She, who had once seen it all, squinted with joy at the sight of firecracker debris scattered all over the ground. On the one hand, she was looking after Qi Jiajia; on the other, she said to Song Ping, "No need to sweep, leave it be. It’s festive this way, shows our family is thriving."

Hearing this, Ye Xinyan’s mouth twitched with amusement. Nanny Jin was being a little too unreserved. Glancing around the village, even without the debris, just by looking at her courtyard, her house, and the imposing buildings stretching north along the main road outside her door, it was clear that her family was doing the best.

It wasn’t just Nanny Jin who felt this way; Nanny Liu also smiled and chimed in.

In the starlight, Jinrong looked towards the cowshed and dairy workshop and asked Qi Younian, "I was so busy with setting off firecrackers here, I faintly heard some from the direction of the cowshed and dairy workshop, but they didn’t sound very loud? They seemed quite muffled."

Qi Younian replied, "When they were purchasing firecrackers, they specifically chose ones that weren’t very loud. Ye Zi said she was afraid of scaring the dairy cows. If we blast loud ones just for the sound and it affects milk production, it wouldn’t be worth it."

"Is that so?" Jinrong was astonished.

Qi Younian, who also found it unbelievable, chuckled quietly and explained, "Ye Zi said, it’s like how women in confinement are afraid of being startled or upset. Perhaps it’s the same with cows, being careful can’t hurt. So they had Fan Zhengyuan and Xie Chun pick out the quieter, less popular firecrackers to buy."

While Qi Younian laughed, he also glanced in Ye Xinyan’s direction and continued, "Fan Zhengyuan, after buying the firecrackers, chuckled all the way home. He even asked the sellers which firecrackers made the least noise and tried them out. He really did end up buying the ones with the quietest and most muffled sounds, leaving the sellers staring in astonishment, completely puzzled."

"This is the first time I’ve heard of such a thing," said Jinrong. Cheung Wusi took over the conversation, "Sometimes indeed we fear startling the livestock. A horse-drawn carriage could be going smoothly, and a sudden loud noise may spook the horses. It’s generally the same idea. As merchants, being a little more cautious doesn’t hurt. If we’re careless and actually incur a loss, that’s when the loss outweighs the gain."

Jinrong nodded, "That makes sense."

Ye Xinyan watched Qi Jiajia and Jiuhua use small sticks to search through the firecracker paper scraps, picking out little firecrackers that hadn’t detonated. Picking up undetonated firecrackers was one of the joys for children during the New Year. Ye Xinyan thought it would be a shame to miss out, but with the dim light, they could only rely on the lanterns’ glow to search. If they were to pick up a still-lit firework and get injured by it, the loss would indeed not be worth the gain.

While picking up little firecrackers, Ye Xinyan overheard bits and pieces of the conversation among Jinrong and the others, knowing they were talking about the firecrackers bought for the cowshed. They might even be laughing at her for it.

Thinking so, Ye Xinyan inwardly scoffed at Jinrong’s lack of knowledge and culture. If only she had the means, she would set up a sound system, letting soothing, beautiful music flow through every corner of the cowshed. Would these people then mock her as insane?

Seeing Ye Xinyan and Qi Jiajia searching intently on the ground, Jinrong approached, "What are you looking for with such focus?"

Qi Jiajia cheerfully said, "We’re picking up little firecrackers to put in our pockets and play with Brother Sanshun tomorrow. Look, Sixth Master, I’ve already picked up quite a few." Qi Jiajia showed Jinrong the small pile of little firecrackers at his feet.

Jinrong’s gaze shifted several times between Qi Jiajia, Jiuhua, and Ye Xinyan before hesitatingly asking Ye Xinyan, "Are the firecrackers we bought not enough? Why have the kids pick them up? Can’t they just take some from a whole string of firecrackers?"

Ye Xinyan felt disdain for Jinrong’s ignorance of what counted as child’s play. Flicking out a small firecracker from the scraps with a twig, she said, "Born with a golden key in your mouth, you wouldn’t understand the joy of poor children. For a child to find a single firecracker among these scraps is more delightful than taking ten from a whole string."

"That’s a way to look at it? That doesn’t make sense," Jinrong replied in wonderment. "Everything I hear from you sounds like strange tales. Poor children pick these up because they can’t afford to buy many firecrackers, is our child the same as those of a poor family?"

Ye Xinyan disagreed, "A little woman thinks having food to eat and clothes to wear, being a poor family’s child is much happier than a rich family’s child. Qi Jiaer and Qi Sanshun running wild in the village all day long, covered in dirt and mud, in the summer drenched in sweat from head to toe, and in the winter too frozen to stretch out their hands, but they definitely have a more interesting childhood than yours, pampered with luxurious clothing and fed with delicacies."

Uh, on such a festive occasion, isn’t it bad to say something so discouraging?

When they were talking here, there was the sound of approaching footsteps in the distance. Qi Jiaer hopped on his feet and looked into the distance, "It must be Brother Sanshun and the other brothers from the village coming to play with me."

Jinrong was momentarily taken aback, "Out playing this late?" It seemed that coming to the countryside for the New Year was the right choice, so much to experience.

Then, the pitter-patter of children’s footsteps drew closer, and under the soft glow of the lanterns, Qi Ershun, Qi Sanshun, and a few other children came into view.

"Brother Ershun, Brother Sanshun," Qi Jiaer waved energetically.

As Qi Sanshun walked over, he said cheerfully, "Xiao Jiajia, we’ve found so many small firecrackers, let me show you how many."

Immediately, several little ones, along with Qi Jiaer and Jiuhua, crowded together.

"Big cousin sister," Qi Ershun greeted Ye Xinyan first, then somewhat shyly paid his respects to Jinrong and Guan He, and also acknowledged Qi Younian, Cheung Wusi, and Wong Qiao.

Looking at Qi Ershun, who had grown quite a bit taller since their return, Qi Younian patted his shoulder and asked, "Accompanied Sanshun out to play?"

Qi Ershun replied, "Grandfather was worried about Sanshun going out to pick up firecrackers, so he had me keep an eye on him."

"Mm, you should watch over him. There’s always talk about some child getting their hand blown up while picking up firecrackers," Qi Younian said. "All of you are good kids. It’s getting late today. Come over here to pay your respects to your great-uncle tomorrow, he has prepared New Year’s money for you."

Qi Ershun smiled awkwardly, "We were going to pay a visit, but I don’t want New Year’s money. I’m already an adult, I can make my own money now,"

Qi Younian laughed, "You are sensible, making money by working at such a young age. How could you be an adult? You are clearly still a child."

Over there, Qi Jiaer showed Qi Sanshun his haul of small firecrackers, "Sister wouldn’t let me put them in my pockets now, afraid that the firecrackers might suddenly go off. Not even in a while, she said to have Nanny take them and put them outside until tomorrow when we can play with them. Look, brother, there are so many."

Then came Qi Sanshun’s exclamation, "So many! Indeed, your family set off a lot of fireworks. I’ve picked up bits and pieces from several families’ doorsteps along the way, and only got this little." Compared to the small pile gathered by Qi Jiaer and Jiuhua, what was in Qi Sanshun’s pockets was indeed pitifully few.

"Let’s not go anywhere else, let’s just look around here, we’re sure to find a lot," Qi Sanshun instantly changed his plan to take Qi Jiaer out to play.

"Sister said not to use our hands to pick them up..." Qi Jiaer quietly reminded him.