While fast asleep, Madam Ren felt a chill creep up from behind. She instinctively hugged herself and mumbled sleepily, " Suyue, bring me two blankets."
However, she received no response for a long time. The cold wind crept up her collar and made Madam Ren shiver and wake up completely. Only then did she realize that she was still wearing the coat she had worn during the day.
The room was pitch black, the windows were completely covered, not letting in a single ray of light. She groped her way off the kang (a heated brick bed) and lit the oil lamp.
The flames flickered, illuminating half the room.
She sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), staring blankly at the empty room... Her husband had once again spent the night in the west courtyard.
Madam Ren reached out and touched her belly; it was empty. How wonderful it would be if there were a child inside.
I remember when we first got married, the two of us would huddle on the kang (a heated brick bed) to name our child. He would suggest one, she would laugh at it and say it was too awful, so she would suggest another.
She laughed so hard she couldn't stand up straight, and he just stared at her, his eyes shining.
Madam Ren's lips curved slightly, but quickly faded... Before and after their marriage, he clearly had her in his eyes and heart, so how could he have changed?
The candlelight flickered, and her gaze was drawn to the vase on the table.
The purple porcelain vase, shimmering with tiny starlight in the candlelight, was a wedding gift bestowed by the Emperor, which her husband treasured dearly.
She got up and walked over, reaching out to touch the bottle. It was smooth and cool, just like when it was first delivered.
She recalled falling into the water when she was thirteen; if it weren't for her husband's desperate rescue, she would have perished long ago. Compared to that life-saving grace, what did this current grievance matter?
Madam Ren sighed, turned around and lay back down on the kang (a heated brick bed), still without covering herself with a quilt.
The room was quiet, with only the occasional crackling of the candlelight. She forced herself to close her eyes and go to sleep, thinking that if she fell asleep, she would know nothing more, and perhaps she could even dream of the days right after her wedding.
In her hazy state, she kept feeling someone breathing on her from beside her pillow, a cold draft that sent shivers down her spine. Normally, she would have thought it was just the cold weather.
But today, when the owner of the Anzhi Hall mentioned ghosts, her heart jumped. The more she told herself not to think about it, the clearer the thoughts became, and the more pronounced the chill became.
The thought that her inability to have children might be related to ghosts made her clench her fists and abruptly turn her head. The pillow was empty; there was nothing there.
Madam Ren sat up, looked around, and then forced a bitter smile. She was really getting more and more ambitious... she had actually started to believe in ghosts and gods.
Madam Ren lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), pulling the quilt over her shoulder, her mind a jumble of thoughts.
One moment I'm thinking, tomorrow's New Year's Eve, my husband will probably stay overnight in her courtyard. The next moment I'm thinking, all my sisters are pregnant and have given birth, why is she the only one without any news...
She finally drifted off to sleep just before dawn.
The next day, Anzhi Hall.
Qing He was carrying a tray with ten taels of silver ingots on it. Opposite her were five doctors. Meng Anzhi personally handed the silver ingots to them.
"Thank you all for your hard work these past few days over the New Year. We should have taken a break earlier to allow everyone to reunite with their families, but the shop has just arrived in the capital and its foundation is not yet stable. It is all thanks to your support that we have achieved what we have today."
She paused, a smile playing on her lips, "This isn't much; it's just a small token of the Anzhi Hall's appreciation. I'll have Shopkeeper Qin up for the time taken up during the New Year holiday."
Su Mu was surprised to receive money this year and couldn't help but smile. "Young master, what are you saying? This is just what we should do."
According to Shopkeeper Qin, the money came from the young master's own pocket and wasn't accounted for through the company account. He liked this about the Anzhi Hall; they were always quick and never hesitant to pay.
After everyone in the Anzhi Hall went on holiday, Qin Baitang and his wife came to invite Jin Shanyao to their home for the New Year.
Jin Shanyao her hand, " Old Qin, it's rare for your family to get together, so I won't join in the fun."
Qin Baitang was about to persuade her again, but she stopped him, saying, "Let's see each other every day, and set aside some time for the children."
Upon hearing this, Qin Baitang's nose tingled, and he almost burst into tears.
In previous years, his children would come to Beijing to visit him during the Spring Festival. While enjoying the reunion, he would also worry about the shop... He was afraid of candlelight, firecrackers, and that if he wasn't careful, years of hard work would be gone.
This year, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief. "Okay... then, if anything comes up, just have someone come and get me."
Jin Shanyao.
After Qin Baitang and his wife left, Qing He came over and said, "Master, everyone in the shop has left. Are we the only four left this year?"
Jin Shanyao at her. "Missing home?"
"No... it just feels a bit deserted. In previous years, there were always crowds of people during the New Year, but this year..." Qing He changed the subject, "Master, what kind of dumplings are you making tonight?"
"Pork and scallion dumplings, I want steamed dumplings..."
"Okay..." Qing He replied with a smile, "I'll put a coin in the dumpling, and whoever finds it this year will be the luckiest."
Jin Shanyao chuckled, "Why put out one? Put out more."
"That won't do... If we put too many, it won't be fun," Qing He said as she went to the kitchen to make dumplings. Since there were fewer people this year, she could just make a few at random.
Jin Shanyao walked to Meng Anci's house, knocked on the door, and then pushed it open and entered. "Still studying?"
Meng Anci glanced up at her briefly, then buried her head back into her book. "I want to memorize the new annotations the teacher gave me as soon as possible..."
Seeing that everyone else was almost at their limit, Jin Shanyao sighed softly, stepped forward, and placed her hand on the pages of the book. "Alright, you've been studying for a whole year, one more day won't make a difference."
She waited a long time after she finished speaking, but when she looked closely, she saw that the child was silently reciting his lessons through the gaps between his fingers... Jin Shanyao smiled and said, "So, I was testing your memory by covering up the text."
She simply closed the book, went around behind the desk, reached out and lifted Meng Anci up, then walked out.
Meng Anci's face flushed bright red as her aunt tucked her under her arm. "Auntie, Auntie, I'm all grown up now. You can't keep tugging at me like that."
"Okay, I got it, I won't pinch it."
But despite saying she wouldn't let go, she didn't loosen her grip at all. Meng Anci was left hanging in mid-air as she was carried into the kitchen.
Go help Qing He start the fire.
Qing He was kneading dough when she saw this and quickly said, "No need, no need, I can manage by myself."
"Let him clear his head, lest he become stupid?" Meng Anzhi's voice came from outside the stove. She walked into the kitchen, picked up a scallion from the bamboo basket, and began to peel it.
Jin Shanyao didn't do any work, just stood in the kitchen chatting with everyone with his hands behind his back.
Qing He laughed, "I'll put a copper coin in each dumpling today; whoever finds it will be the luckiest."
Meng Anzhi, her eyes stinging from the spiciness of the onions, half-closed her eyes and replied, "That's too disgusting..."
"I'll just wash it a few more times," Qing He said, walking to her side and picking up the scallion. "That's enough... no need to peel it."
After washing them in a basin, they started chopping dumpling filling and wrapping dumplings. The four of them wrapped a total of forty dumplings, which was just enough to steam a large pot.
While the dumplings were steaming, Qing He stir-fried a few side dishes. Once the dishes were cooked and the dumplings were ready, they set out the bowls and chopsticks and sat down to eat.
Meng Anci secretly examined the dumplings, wondering which one contained a copper coin.
Meng Anzhi was also watching.
Seeing that they were hesitant to eat, Jin Shanyao laughed and said, "We all said it's all about luck, why are you still being so picky... Eat up."
She then picked one up and put it in her mouth, crunch... Jin Shanyao her chewing motion, as if she had just gotten a coin. She secretly glanced at the two children and saw that they were still carefully choosing.
So, when no one was looking, Jin Shanyao secretly pressed the copper coin to the bottom of the bowl. The book says... Don't be a spoilsport.
She thought that silence was more important than anything else at that moment.