Meng Anci felt a warm glow in his heart. He turned to look at Jin Shanyao and asked softly, "Auntie, you already knew?"
Jin Shanyao smiled and nodded, "Your sister started looking for a house half a year ago. She personally oversaw the repairs of every brick and tile here. She said the location is good, very close to the Anzhi Hall and her private residence, making it convenient for them to visit each other."
Meng Anci a beat, and his previous joy vanished in an instant. He said urgently, "What do you mean? I'm only fifteen years old, and I'm going to be kicked out of the house?"
Meng Anzhi chuckled and tapped his forehead. "What do you mean by being kicked out? There are too many people and eyes in the shop. Now that you're an official in the court, you have to avoid suspicion to prevent people from finding fault with you and ruining your career. If you don't like it, we'll move in with you."
Meng Anci instantly turned to joy, and he couldn't help but laugh, "That's more like it. Don't think you can get rid of me with just a house. I will never leave you in my life."
"Okay, okay, I won't leave." Meng Anzhi replied helplessly but affectionately.
Meng Anci pressed further, "If Zhao Zhiyuan and I fell into the water, who would you save first?"
"Of course, I'll save you first."
"Hmph... at least you have a conscience."
While secretly letting out a sigh of relief, Meng Anci didn't forget to give the other woman a piece of her mind, "Sister, let me tell you, Zhao Zhiyuan is cunning, don't be fooled by him. Once the baby is born, don't pay any attention to him anymore."
Meng Anzhi teased him deliberately, "What if I want to have a second child?"
"Then you'd better hurry," Meng Anci said seriously. "I've heard that children born to older men aren't very smart."
Jin Shanyao stood before the hanging flower gate, listening to the siblings bickering and laughing, her thoughts drifting back to their childhood...
Back then, the two little ones leaned against the oxcart, looking up at the sky, chattering about what they would do when they had money in the future. That scene is so vivid, it feels like it was just yesterday.
"Auntie, what are you daydreaming about? Come in and take a look, my sister prepared a huge study for me!" Meng Anci's voice pulled her back to reality.
Jin Shanyao smiled and responded, then strode into the study. Just as Meng Anci had said, the study was spacious and bright, with rows of empty bookshelves neatly arranged, waiting to be filled with books, and the desk was twice the size of a normal one.
Jin Shanyao chuckled and teased, " Anci, this desk shouldn't be placed by the window; it should be placed by the door."
Meng Anci, puzzled, "Why?"
"Don't the shopkeepers of bookstores all sit at the door and watch over the business?" This remark made the siblings burst into laughter.
The three of them didn't return to the Anzhi Hall at noon; instead, they started cooking at the new house.
The siblings were still the same as when they were little. Meng Anzhi was in charge of cooking, Meng Anci tending the fire, and Jin Shanyao was still standing by with her arms crossed, watching.
Boiled eggs were specially prepared for Meng Anci, the little birthday star, while the three of them ate white noodles as their main dish.
They each held a large bowl and sat around the table, slurping noodles with their heads down. Jin Shanyao peeled two eggs and put them into the siblings' bowls respectively.
He asked casually, "Where do you want to go tonight?"
"It's too cold, I don't want to go anywhere," Meng Anci said, his mouth full of noodles.
Meng Anzhi nodded in agreement, "After dinner, we can go back and play a game of chess, then sit around the clay stove and boil some water—how pleasant!"
Jin Shanyao, holding chopsticks in her hand, poked at the noodles twice. "Last year you said you wanted to go ice skating, but you didn't have a chance. How about your aunt takes you ice skating?"
"No, it's pointless."
"Haven't you always wanted to see excerpts from traditional operas? I heard a new opera troupe recently arrived, want to go?"
"No, I'm not going." Meng Anci stuffed a big mouthful of noodles into Jin Shanyao bowl and added some pickled vegetables. "Auntie, eat quickly, then we'll go back to the Anzhi Hall."
Jin Shanyao pursed her lips and silently picked up a noodle, taking small bites.
Meng Anzhi looked up at her and asked softly, "Auntie, do you want to go out and play?"
Jin Shanyao a pang of sadness in her heart, but still smiled. "No, today is Anci's birthday. Whatever you want to play or eat, I'll make it happen."
Meng Anzhi was somewhat suspicious. Her aunt had never mistreated them before, so why was she satisfied?
She put down her chopsticks and said seriously, "If you want to go out, I'll go with you."
"I'll accompany you too!" Meng Anci quickly chimed in, afraid of being left behind. "The imperial court has a fifteen-day holiday, and I'll spend every day with you. I'll definitely do a better job than my sister."
Jin Shanyao took a big bite of noodles, chewing and chewing... "I'm not going anymore. Let's go back to the Anzhi Hall after dinner; your aunt has something for you."
"Okay!" Meng Anci smiled, his eyes crinkling, taking it as an extra birthday gift and not giving it much thought.
After finishing their meal and tidying up the kitchen, Meng Anzhi locked the door of the new house, handed the key to Meng Anci, and the three of them headed towards the Anzhi Hall.
As soon as they arrived at the main entrance of the Anzhi Hall, they saw Qin Baitang holding up a wooden board to block the window.
Jin Shanyao quickly stepped forward, took the wooden board, and pressed it down, saying softly, "You're too old for this; let the younger men do this kind of work."
Qin Baitang clicked his tongue. "What do you mean I'm old? Can't I even lift a few planks?"
Jin Shanyao glanced at the empty shop and asked, "Is everyone on holiday?"
"They've released him. Everyone's still praising the young master's kindness, saying this year's reward is exceptionally generous." Qin Baitang closed the door, clapped his hands, and said, "You can all go in now. I'll go home after I'm done cleaning up."
Jin Shanyao pulled out a red string and tied it around Qin Baitang's wrist without a word. Then she patted Qin Baitang on the shoulder, looked into his eyes, and said earnestly, " Old Qin, you're a good person."
After saying that, he walked straight to the backyard.
These words left Qin Baitang completely bewildered. He stared at the red string on his wrist, frozen in place for a long time.
Anzhi Hall officially closed down, and the siblings chatted and laughed until evening.
Qing He prepared a sumptuous meal and specially placed a plate of pork dumplings in front of Meng Anci, saying, "Young Master, happy birthday."
Meng Anci smiled and thanked her, then picked up a dumpling in front of Qing He, took a bite, and exclaimed, " Qing He, your cooking skills have improved again!"
Qing He loved being praised for her cooking skills, and she smiled from ear to ear. "Then please enjoy your meal," she said, turning to leave.
Jin Shanyao called out to her, " Qing He, sit down and eat with us."
"No, Nanny Chen and the others are waiting for me." Qing He Jin Shanyao and then withdrew.
Since the family had grown, Qing He and Qing Yang refused to eat at the same table as the host family, fearing gossip. Jin Shanyao didn't try to stop them, picked up a dumpling, took a bite, and savored its rich aroma that lingered on her tongue.
After dinner, Qing He cleaned up the kitchen and returned to her room, where she saw a book on the table. Suspicious, she opened it and found it filled with the young ladies' and masters' daily habits.
She couldn't help but frown. Her mistress was really something. She had been in the Meng Household for over ten years and knew the young ladies and masters' habits by heart. Why would she need to record them in a book?
On second thought, perhaps her master was giving her a warning. Qing He sat on the kang (heated brick bed) with a book in her hands, reflecting for half the night. She realized she had been too casual lately; what maidservant wouldn't be respectful to her master?
No, I have to get up half an hour earlier tomorrow and stand outside the master's door with a basin of water. That's how I show that I'm observant.
As she was contemplating how to behave, an invisible Spiritual Power descended upon her, instantly inducing drowsiness. She took off her shoes, climbed onto the kang (heated brick bed), closed her eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.