Mo Sang – CH 297

Chapter 297. New Year

By the twenty-ninth of the twelfth lunar month, Da Chang and Meng Yanqing’s New Year’s goods project was finally completed.

Da Chang, carrying a two-chi-long hardwood stick, began inspecting the New Year’s goods, starting from the kitchen, where the five side rooms had been combined. Meng Yanqing and Dong Chao followed behind, hands behind their backs.

The three of them emerged from the kitchen, and Dong Chao patted two slabs of pork hanging under the eaves.

These were freshly slaughtered that morning for the New Year’s Eve dinner.

“How are we going to eat New Year’s Eve dinner this year?” Dong Chao asked, patting the two slabs of pork.

“Huh? What do you mean, how are we going to eat it?” Da Chang did not understand.

“Old Dong, do you mean we eat together, or…” Meng Yanqing waved his hand from side to side.

“New Year’s Eve dinner is a family reunion dinner; how can we not eat it!” Da Chang glanced at Meng Yanqing from Dong Chao.

“Old Dong means all of us, over a hundred people, should gather together, right?” Meng Yanqing rubbed his fingers together.

“What’s wrong?” Da Chang still did not understand.

Back in Jiangdu City, there were always over a hundred people celebrating the New Year every year.

“I am always a thoughtful person, Old Meng knows that,” Dong Chao said, looking at Meng Yanqing.

“You mean, with your previous status?” Da Chang seemed to understand a little.

“Gathering together for the New Year, too many people, too much noise. The Boss is not what she used to be. He’s just worried about something going wrong, like attracting taboos or something. It is not worth it,” Meng Yanqing said softly, leaning closer as Da Chang seemed to understand.

“Alright, then it will be the same as every year. You all have your New Year’s Eve dinner in your courtyard, and Hei Ma, the others, and the Boss will have ours here,” Da Chang said decisively, waving his hand.

“Should we talk to the Boss and see what she thinks?” Dong Chao asked.

“No need, Boss never cares about these things. Just tell her later. If that’s the case, then do not come over to wish her a Happy New Year on New Year’s Day either. Boss is quite afraid of people kowtowing to her anyway.

Back in Jiangdu City, every year we’d line up to kowtow to Boss, but then we could not find her.” Da Chang waved his hand.

“Alright, then that’s settled.” Meng Yanqing made the decision.

“You take these two pigs. I will cut a jin or two of ribs for myself. For the rest, we will need a cart.” Da Chang looked around at the New Year’s goods filling the courtyard.

“Wait until evening. We will not come tomorrow. When Boss comes back, Old Dong and I will represent everyone to wish her an early Happy New Year.” Meng Yanqing laughed.

………………………………

The New Year’s Eve dinner in Chaomi Alley was the same as every year. Li Sangrou held Pang’er and sat at the head of the table. Da Chang brought up the last pot, Xiao Lu opened two or three jars of wine and arranged them side by side, Datou took cups, Chuantiao filled them one by one, and Mazha took chopsticks and bowls.

Hei Ma first went to the side room to set out the New Year’s Eve dinner for Jin Mao, lit incense, came out, closed the door, took his seat, picked up his chopsticks, reached into the pot of stewed meat, and after picking for a long time, picked out a hard, long leg bone, blew on it to cool it down, and handed it to Pang’er.

“Wait, wait! Put down a cloth; Boss just put on this new outfit,” Da Chang hurriedly stopped Hei Ma from taking the bone.

“Woof!” Pang’er angrily barked at Da Chang.

“What are you barking about? Did you not see that Boss is wearing new clothes?” Hei Ma pointed at Pang’er.

“Woof!” Pang’er turned around and angrily barked at Hei Ma.

“Hey! You think you are so great! I misspoke! If you bark again, I will not give you any more food. Try barking again!” Hei Ma glared at Pang’er.

“Woof woof!” Pang’er put his two front paws on Li Sangrou’s legs and barked at Hei Ma.

Da Chang brought over two large cotton handkerchiefs. Li Sangrou lifted Pang’er with both hands, and Da Chang spread the handkerchief on her legs. Hei Ma quickly handed the bone to Pang’er, who was scratching at it with all four paws in a frantic frenzy.

Pang’er pounced on the bone, hugging it with both front paws and gnawing on it vigorously.

Li Sangrou slowly sipped her wine, listening to Hei Ma scolding Pang’er, one reprimand after another, while Pang’er just kept busy gnawing on the bone.

At midnight, Da Chang cooked vegetarian dumplings with chive and egg filling. Li Sangrou ate half a bowl, then put the exhausted Pang’er, who was hugging the bone, back into its bed.

Da Chang followed, picked up the bone, and threw it into the trash can that Datou was carrying. He looked at Pang’er’s greasy mouth, paws, and belly, wrung out a hot handkerchief, and began to wipe Pang’er clean.

Pang’er burped, its four paws dangling, as Da Chang wiped it from head to toe.

Da Chang cleaned Pang’er up, put it back in its nest, and covered it with a small quilt. Hei Ma and Xiao Lu were also ready.

Hei Ma, Xiao Lu, and Mazha followed Li Sangrou out of the courtyard to check on Shunfeng’s main branch and several delivery stations in the city.

After an article in the Gossip Evening Post about Shunfeng’s New Year’s greetings this year, all the delivery stations received a lot of pre-orders.

This year’s New Year was also the year of the autumn imperial examinations, followed by the spring imperial examinations. This autumn imperial examination in the new year was definitely the first autumn imperial examination after the unification of the country.

The unification of the empire and the establishment of the new dynasty—such a momentous occasion inevitably led to the addition of special imperial examinations. During the regular imperial examinations, these special examinations, according to custom, doubled the number of successful candidates. The autumn examinations in the new year also doubled the number of candidates from various regions, and the spring examinations followed suit—a once-in-a-century opportunity.

Scholars throughout the land were filled with anticipation. The New Year’s greeting cards, personally written and drawn by the top three scholars of the previous year, were a must-buy. To visit a scholar’s home without presenting this set of cards, a gift meant to bring good fortune and academic success, was practically an attempt to discourage them from passing the exams.

Besides, three New Year’s greeting cards were practically worthless—a cost-effective way to do it.

This year, Shunfeng’s New Year’s greeting card set featuring the top three scholars sold at record high prices since the invention of these visiting cards.

At the entrance of Shunfeng’s main branch, a dozen bright lanterns stood tall on either side of the shop door, illuminating the open space in front of the branch as if it were daytime.

Manager Zuo and all the managers and clerks at the main branch were dressed in brand-new clothes, busy moving and stacking visiting cards. They set up long tables on either side of the shop entrance, covered them with red felt, and, as instructed by Li Sangrou, placed large floor vases filled with festive silk flowers on the tabletops.

Li Sangrou walked to a large vase of silk flowers, examined them carefully, and even rubbed them between her fingers.

These silk flowers belonged to the Zhao family of Gonghua in Jianle City. It was the first time she had seen silk flowers at the Zhao family’s shop that required such a delicate touch to distinguish them from real ones, and she was amazed.

This batch of silk flowers looked even more vibrant and lifelike; they were even scented. Looking closely and smelling their rich fragrance, they seemed even more like real flowers.

Manager Zuo was so busy that he only managed a slight wave to Li Sangrou. Li Sangrou stood to the side, watched for a while, then stepped back and turned to look at the other delivery shops.

Seeing the last shop, the street was bustling with children running around, and invitations for the New Year’s feast were already on sale at Shunfeng Headquarters and various delivery shops. When Li Sangrou returned to Shunfeng Headquarters, seven or eight queues had formed in front of the tables covered with bright red felt mats.

After looking around, Li Sangrou, Hei Ma, Xiao Lu, and Mazha returned to Chaomi Alley, yawning, and went inside to catch up on sleep.

Da Chang, Chuantiao, and Datou had gotten up at dawn, taking turns guarding the courtyard gate and collecting invitations for the New Year’s feast, explaining again and again: the Boss was not home; they would definitely report when she returned.

Li Sangrou slept until around noon, then got up, washed, wrapped herself in a sheepskin coat, and, skimming over the stack of invitations that was already half her height, began to look through the New Year’s feast invitations one by one.

After flipping through a few, she came to the invitation from Prince Changsha’s Mansion. Li Sangrou opened the invitation and looked at it carefully.

Prince Changsha’s New Year’s banquet was scheduled for the seventh day of the lunar New Year.

Li Sangrou raised an eyebrow slightly.

In Jianle City, the seating arrangements for each family’s New Year’s banquet were always clearly defined.

The first day was the Grand Court Assembly, followed by the Imperial Family’s banquet; the second day was for King Rui’s residence.

This year, King Rui’s residence was experiencing a mourning period, so the second day seemed to be free. She had looked through the list and had not seen any other family scheduling their banquet for the second day.

The third day was for the Wu Chancellor’s residence, the fourth for the Du Chancellor’s residence, the fifth for the Pan Chancellor’s residence, and after that, several families each day had their own banquet.

Prince Changsha’s residence had scheduled its own banquet for the seventh day.

Li Sangrou sighed.

This reflected Shi Acai’s caution and also the current state of affairs and social dynamics.

Until the war was completely over and the world was stable and peaceful, Prince Changsha’s residence was like a large tree swaying in the wind and rain; it may be uprooted, or it may flourish even more after the storm.

Before the storm subsided, the various families of Jianle City kept their distance from Prince Changsha’s Mansion, observing with cold indifference.

Gu Fei said Shi Acai had a tough time, and indeed, she had.

Li Sangrou slowly closed the invitation from the Prince Changsha’s Mansion, placed it on the table beside her, and continued looking at the remaining invitations.

After carefully reviewing them, Li Sangrou selected three invitations, called over Xiao Lu, who was squatting on the steps watching Pang’er run and stumble while chasing a ball, and instructed him to go and tell two of the families that she would be attending the New Year’s banquet.

Watching Xiao Lu run off, Li Sangrou thought for a moment and then instructed Hei Ma to go to the Ministry of War to inquire about Pan Dingbang’s whereabouts and when he would be returning to Jianle City.

On the evening of the second day of the New Year, Pan Dingbang hurried back to Jianle City.

On the third day, after handing over his duties at the Ministry of War, Pan Dingbang turned back halfway and headed towards the Shunfeng headquarters.

Li Sangrou sat by the moat, cracking sunflower seeds and watching Chuantiao and Mazha fish.

“You are so leisurely!” Pan Dingbang stood behind Li Sangrou, hands on his hips, and said with a smirk.

“What else can I do during the New Year?” Li Sangrou kicked a stool towards Pan Dingbang.

Pan Dingbang looked disgusted, lifted the stool aside, dragged over a bamboo chair, and placed it next to Li Sangrou.

“Want some?” Li Sangrou handed Pan Dingbang a brocade bag filled with sunflower seeds.

“No, I am getting a sore throat.” Pan Dingbang grinned. “I have blisters; it hurts so much. How can I eat sunflower seeds?”

“Why are you in such a hurry? You even have blisters?” Li Sangrou peeked over.

“How can I not be in a hurry during the New Year?”

“You use such a nice bag to carry just some melon seeds? Are these seeds even worth the bag’s price?” Pan Dingbang said, not eating any, but reached into the brocade bag and casually picked up a handful of melon seeds.

“I do not know; this bag was a gift from the Emperor, and these melon seeds were also a gift from the Emperor.” Li Sangrou took back the brocade bag and placed it on her lap.

“A gift from the Emperor? A gift of melon seeds? The Emperor likes melon seeds, too?” Pan Dingbang looked shocked.

Li Sangrou looked at Pan Dingbang speechlessly.

His way of thinking was so unique that it always left her speechless.

“I heard that the Wu family is having a New Year’s banquet today. Did your mother and your Second Sister-in-law go?” Li Sangrou changed the subject.

“My mother went with Ah Tian. My Second Sister-in-law is at home. My family is having a New Year’s banquet the day after tomorrow, with a ton of things to do. How could my Second Sister-in-law leave?” Pan Dingbang spat out the melon seed shells and sighed.

“Your Second Sister-in-law cannot get away. Why are you sighing? Are you going or not?” Li Sangrou stopped eating her melon seeds and looked at Pan Dingbang with a smile, asking.

“I got back late last night! I spent half the day this morning handing over tasks; how could I have time to go? Besides, never mind, it is nothing.” Pan Dingbang ate his melon seeds. “These melon seeds are really good, better than the ones outside.”

“Why did you not say anything? What about the Du family’s New Year’s banquet tomorrow? Are you going?” Li Sangrou looked at Pan Dingbang with a smile.

“No.”

Pan Dingbang uttered the word “no” quickly and firmly.

“Why? Does your father not want you to go?” Li Sangrou asked with some surprise.

“My father wants me to go, but I do not want to. At the Du family’s New Year’s banquet, everyone’s a genius, talking about literature, politics, or how this should be done and that should be done, as if everyone at the Prime Minister’s house were a Prime Minister.

Annoying!”

You know, the Du family’s New Year’s feast is all about scholarship and literature, right? They have a poetry competition every year!

How annoying! It is the New Year!” Pan Dingbang almost spat again.

“It is annoying! The New Year should be a time to relax, not to be doing government affairs and writing essays. This is not a New Year’s feast; it is practically a court debate!” Li Sangrou wholeheartedly agreed. “And what about your family’s New Year’s feast? You do not have all this stuff, do you?”

“My family’s New Year’s feast, before my Second Sister-in-law came back, was organized by my Third Sister-in-law. What do you think?” Pan Dingbang glared at Li Sangrou.

“What can I say? I do not know.” Li Sangrou shrugged.

“Just as refined!

The same elegance!

One year, we played a guessing game, and the prize was a string of small gold ingots. I thought, ‘Guessing game, right? I know that! I am really good at it!’ So I went first.

Who knew my Third Sister-in-law’s guessing game was a test of divination using the I Ching! She’d draw a hexagram, interpret it, and guess what it represented. Tell me, is that not deliberately making things difficult?!

There’s something upside down under the bowl; it is so simple and easy to guess directly. Why make it so complicated, using the I Ching?!”

Pan Dingbang spat a melon seed shell far away.

“That’s how it is in my family! Why are you asking this? Did you not want to come over for New Year’s drinks? I am telling you, do not come! With your knowledge, you are not even as good as I am. The Wu family, the Du family, my family—we cannot afford to drink with any of the three families this New Year’s feast!” Pan Dingbang solemnly warned Li Sangrou.

“Well, I was not planning on going to any of your three families. This year, Prince Changsha’s Mansion was added to the list; have you heard? Why do we not go check them out?” Li Sangrou smiled at Pan Dingbang.

“Their family? Those two, the Third Master and the Fourth Master, it seems…” Pan Dingbang stroked his chin thoughtfully. “I’ve never heard of them being learned. What, did you receive an invitation?”

Li Sangrou nodded.

“How did their family get involved with you? You really want to go? This,” Pan Dingbang frowned, “I will go back and ask Ah Tian if she’s free.”

“Hmm.” Li Sangrou gave a vague hum. “It’s still early. The literary gathering at the Imperial Academy on the fifth night, are you going?”

“The literary gathering at the Imperial Academy, you are asking me if I am going? Do you think I should go?” Pan Dingbang pursed his lips, looking Li Sangrou up and down, his face saying, “What do you mean by asking me that?”

“Hei Ma wants to go; you know, Hei Ma is quite knowledgeable,” Li Sangrou said earnestly.

Pan Dingbang burst out laughing, stamping his foot as he laughed. “Ah! You are right! Master Ma’s knowledge is incredible! He wants to go? I will go with him! I absolutely have to go! I will go with him!”

“Then let’s go together,” Li Sangrou said with a smile.