Transmigration: A Farm Girl’s Brocade
Chapter 156 - 134: Hidden_3

Chapter 156: Chapter 134: Hidden_3

Qian Yixiu stomped her feet in frustration.

Meanwhile, in the main hall, Qian Sangui was very happy entertaining the guests, constantly asking people to pour more tea, hand out candies, and serve sunflower seeds. For so many years, their New Year’s had been quiet, with only a few relatives stopping by to wish them well. Today, however, one group of guests after another visited his house, which filled him with joy.

Lady Wu, worried that he would overexert himself and fall ill again, asked him to rest on the bed. He waved his hand dismissively, "I’m perfectly fine, not tired at all." Despite his protest, he supported himself only until lunch before finally lying down on the bed.

On the second day of the new year, Qian Xiang returned to her maternal home. Lady Wang didn’t go back to her own maternal home because she was waiting for her daughter Qian Manwan. Only Qian Sigui’s family and Qian Manchuan’s family visited their wives’ maternal homes.

Old man Qian then invited the third house’s family to dine in the big courtyard, as it was more lively with more people around. Qian Yixiu, however, stayed at home to accompany Cheng Yue and didn’t go. After several days of consolation, Cheng Yue’s mood had somewhat stabilized. Accompanied by her daughter, she was even able to do some embroidery in the eastern chamber, but she still spaced out more often than not.

On the fifth day, after breakfast, the two young girls, Qian Manxia and Qian Xiaoyu, dressed up beautifully in their fine clothes and went to the village to meet a few girls and daughters-in-law they had arranged to meet and go to town to watch a play. They had some pocket money on them and said they wouldn’t come back for lunch, planning to eat directly in town instead.

It seemed like it was the first time that the young auntie had gone out with her peers to do something she enjoyed, and Qian Yixiu felt excited for her. She even reminded her, "Today the town will definitely be bustling. Auntie, bring extra money, so you can buy something if you see something you like."

The young girl nodded and said with a smile, "Auntie understands. What do Jinwa and Xiuxiu like to eat? I’ll buy some for you two."

Qian Yixiu said, "We have plenty of delicious food at home, Auntie, just take care of yourself." Then she pulled her aside, had her bend down, and whispered in her ear, "If you happen to run into that Wan Dazhong, Auntie, please don’t pay any attention to him. He has bad intentions towards you, he’s not a good person."

Qian Manxia blushed and slapped Qian Yixiu’s bottom, scolding her, "What nonsense are you talking about? If you keep this up, I’m going to tell Mother."

Qian Yixiu rubbed her bottom in dismay, as small as she was, that’s where everyone seemed to aim when they were upset with her.

In the late afternoon as the sun was setting, the two girls, exhilarated and humming little tunes, returned. Qian Manxia even bought a small bag of white gourd candy for her nieces and nephews.

Qian Yixiu really wanted to ask her aunt if she happened to meet anyone, but she still mustered the restraint not to ask.

In the blink of an eye, the fifteenth day of the New Year passed, and the lake in the back courtyard, which hadn’t been finished before the festival, was being dug again. Qian Yixiu had already noticed before the New Year that the soil changed about forty to fifty centimeters down; it was no longer sandy soil mixed with small pebbles but mostly fertile black soil. She had specifically invited Old man Qian from the third house over to look, and he confirmed that the soil below was good, fertile earth.

This solved another of Qian Yixiu’s problems; she had been pondering over buying a small hill for planting peach trees.

Deep water lotus roots are suited to be grown in water depths between one meter twenty and one meter fifty. A lot of soil would need to be excavated from the six acres of land, so she instructed Qian Hua to dump the soil to the west of her house.

After about half a month of work, the lake was completed, and a small wooden bridge was built inside it. West of her house, a man-made small mound had been added. In the future, when she buys more land to dig a larger lake, that mound of good soil will grow larger, and that’s when she will establish her Peach Garden.

By mid-February, the earth was covered with a layer of fresh green fuzz. The small mound to the west of her house was also covered in this new green and appeared much brighter and more uniform than the barren land in front of the courtyard. The family’s chickens and cows were released there to forage for food.

Shopkeeper Cui had also returned from Capital City, and the sausages he brought back were not used for his business to sell, but were directly requisitioned by his employers. Apart from a small portion retained for the master’s household’s own consumption, the rest were given out as New Year’s gifts. It was said that even the discerning Prince Hejun had praised their taste, directing his cook to figure out how the sausages were made.

The Duke was pleased and gifted Lady Lan a sum of Silver that was even more profitable than selling the sausages. Feeling validated, and even happier, Lady Lan rewarded Shopkeeper Cui with a generous sum of money.

Eldest Young Master Liang Jinzhao, upon hearing that the ingenious young girl had made the sausages and had remembered to send him several jars of sweet fermented rice and some unique pastries, had Shopkeeper Cui bring some gifts for the Qian family on his return. He also made sure to send a set of silver dining utensils specifically for Qian Yixiu, instructing Shopkeeper Cui to ensure they were delivered directly into the little girl’s hands.

The dining set was extremely delicate and attractive, shining brightly, but it only served to plunge Qian Yixiu into further gloom.

Because the set wasn’t for use but for children to play with.

Qian Yixiu, holding a teeny bowl, plate, and basin barely bigger than her fist, and a tiny spoon and chopsticks the length of her fingers, was at a loss for words. This should be something Qian Duoduo would play with, right? Was the naughty child teasing her?