Transmigration: A Farm Girl’s Brocade
Chapter 159 - 135: Attending the Birthday Banquet_3

Chapter 159: Chapter 135: Attending the Birthday Banquet_3

On the fourth day of the third month, Lady Wu went to the courtyard to help out. Qian Sangui also went; although he couldn’t contribute much physically, he could offer suggestions. Qian Manxia and the young mother were holed up in their room, busy making clothes and embroidering, with no time to spare for anything else.

Qian Yixiu began preparing the things she needed to take with her, which included not only her own belongings but also those for Monkey Brother and White Wolf.

Especially for White Wolf, a carnivore with a voracious appetite, Qian Yixiu went to Xie Huzi to buy five pounds of meat, which she cut into fist-sized chunks, packed into a hemp sack, and then placed in a previously made backpack.

She also prepared her clothes, as well as food for Monkey Brother, along with ropes, shovels, flint, two torches, bags for holding items, and packed them into two other backpacks.

Having a large courtyard was truly a benefit, as Qian Yixiu was able to carry out these small actions in corners without anyone noticing.

Qian Xiaoyu had made several of these backpacks earlier. Now, the young girl hardly did anything else, spending most of her time on needlework and teaching it.

With her "House of Animals" in tow carrying the three backpacks, she left the courtyard through the back door, entered the fork between Xijing Mountain and Xishi Mountain, walked forward a bit, then headed west, passed through a peculiar stone forest, and entered Shixi Mountain. Climbing up the layers of small rocks, she ascended a small Stone Mountain and, standing on its peak, she could see her family’s large courtyard.

Qian Yixiu hid the three backpacks in a secret little rock cave and instructed Monkey Brother and White Wolf, mainly Monkey Brother, who could truly understand her. She told them to wait there for her the morning after next if it didn’t rain.

Fearing they might cause trouble, she warned them repeatedly not to go into the mountains over the next few days and to stay at home instead.

The next morning, Qian Yixiu got up early and took Monkey Brother to a secluded spot to remind it repeatedly to meet her in Shixi Mountain the following morning with White Wolf.

After breakfast, Qian Yixiu dressed herself properly. Underneath, she wore a light pink undershirt, over which she donned an apricot-colored sleeveless drape vest, and a matching light pink skirt. Small flowers were embroidered around the cuffs and hem of the skirt, and two large flowers were embroidered on the front and back of the drape vest.

This outfit was made by Qian Xiaoyu, following the latest fashion for young girls in Capital City.

Her hair was tied up with apricot and pink ribbons, and she wore the agate bead bracelet from Old Lady Zhang on her wrist, along with a pair of apricot-colored embroidered shoes on her feet.

Wherever the little girl stood, she instantly outshone everyone.

Qian Yeejin, with excitement reddening her face, took her hand and said, "My sister is so beautiful, nobody can compare to her."

Cheng Yue also nodded in agreement, saying, "Yes, Yixiu is beautiful; even more so than mother."

Quick to please, Qian Yeejin then added obsequiously, "Sister is as beautiful as mother; no one can compare to either of you, not even the fairies in heaven."

The sweet-talking young child seemed to have taken after their non-blood-related little father.

Qian Yixiu bade farewell to her family and boarded the oxcart. The cart also carried gifts for the Old Lady’s birthday, including six boxes of longevity peaches from Old Brother’s pastry shop, a set of clothes with the "luck" character for Old Lady, and a fox fur shawl. Naturally, the fox fur was a gift from White Wolf.

The Zhang family received a similar set of presents, except the shawl was replaced with a hat, and the "luck" on the clothes was hand-embroidered by Qian Manxia, causing the old master to gain quite a reputation in the village thereafter.

Huang Tie drove the oxcart that took Qian Yixiu to the Zhang Mansion, and then he went back into town to run errands and to wish Old Man Qian a happy birthday.

Qian Yixiu arrived at the Old Lady’s courtyard. She was early, and there were only a few scattered guests in the hall. She kowtowed several times to the Old Lady, who beckoned her over and introduced her to the guests as a distant relative.

The elders gave Qian Yixiu small items as meeting gifts, such as little pendants and strands of beads.

It was customary for the servants of wealthy families to carry small gifts when going out, so when they met juniors from friendly families, especially upon a first encounter, they would offer gifts.

Qian Yixiu quietly explained to the Old Lady why her grandparents and brother hadn’t come and mentioned that she wanted to stay at her house for a night to keep her company. The Old Lady was delighted and hastily asked Ah Zhu to clean up her warm chamber so that Qian Yixiu could sleep with her that night.

Gradually, more guests arrived.

The Zhang family had a wide network, comprising officials, medical professionals, merchants, farmers, and people from all walks of life; there were even quite a few from the provincial city, neighboring counties, and nearby provinces.

This time, Qian Yixiu also had the honor of seeing Zhang Yang’s fiancée, Huang Yue’e, who came with her wealthy businessman father and mother.