Chapter Ninety-Nine: The Whole Family Goes to the City

Before the words were even out of her mouth, Old Madam Li slapped the table and cut in, “If you are not going to set up your stall, what exactly do you plan to do?”

Wen Nong ducked his head. He knew that once his mother had spoken, there would be no room left for him to argue. All he could do was lower his head and accept his fate.

Old Madam Luo glanced at him and said, “No matter the day, money still has to be made. Tomorrow, go set up your stall as usual. After we finish buying what we need, we’ll come to the dock and find you.”

Wen Yao had already told her that there were plenty of good things at the dock. She wanted to go take a look herself and see whether she could pick up any bargains.

Wen Nong had only wanted to slack off for a day; he did not truly mean to go out and play. Since his grandmother had said as much, he knew any hope of shirking was gone. He could only steel himself and work twice as hard.

Old Madam Luo then turned to Wen Jun. “Has your master finished his business? And what about Shopkeeper Qiu? How are they spending the New Year?”

“Mm.” Wen Jun nodded. “That distinguished guest left long ago. Originally, Master had planned to return to the capital for the New Year, but for some reason he suddenly changed his mind. Shopkeeper Qiu is on his own, so he’ll probably spend it with Master.”

Old Madam Luo looked over the family gathered there and thought for a moment before saying, “Then tomorrow, ask your master and Shopkeeper Qiu whether they’d be willing to come celebrate the New Year at our house.”

Wen Jun looked at her. “Grandma, would that be all right?”

To be honest, he had thought of the same thing. If the house were only the four of them, he would certainly have invited his master and Shopkeeper Qiu to celebrate with them.

The New Year was meant to be lively; the more people, the merrier. With just his master, Jin Xiuyi, and Shopkeeper Qiu, what fun would there be in it?

Old Madam Luo shot him a sideways glance. “He is your master, half your father. If you say it’s fine, then it’s fine.”

Wen Jun was delighted. He rose and gave her a respectful bow. “Thank you, Grandmother.”

Old Madam Luo smiled in satisfaction, then looked at her two sons and daughters-in-law, excluding Wen Xiuyi. “In years past, your eldest brother held you back. But times are different now. You’ve all seen what your eldest brother has done for this family with your own eyes.”

She paused, then went on, “What happened before is in the past. From now on, no one is allowed to drag it back out in this house.

Your father and I still have a little saved for our coffins. This year, each of your households will get an extra strip of meat and a length of cloth with your New Year gifts.”

“Mother, really?” Li Shi was the happiest of all. Not only was her son earning money, even her mother-in-law had started to become generous. She felt that life had become wonderfully comfortable.

Cai Shi did not dare say much, but the brightness in her eyes gave her away.

Their mother-in-law kept them in her heart, so of course they were glad.

Old Madam Luo gave her a glare. “Of course I’m serious.”

That sent everyone into laughter. Li Shi hurriedly apologized. “Mother, I was just surprised. What is it called again? Yao Yao taught them that phrase. Something about showing joy on one’s face.”

“Mother, joy overflowing from one’s expression,” Wen Ying supplied.

Li Shi grinned. “Yes, yes, that’s the one. Thank you, Mother.”

Cai Shi also blushed and thanked her. “Thank you, Mother.”

Old Madam Luo answered with a faint, indifferent hum, then glanced at Wen Xiuyi’s family of four before looking away again.

Without a daughter-in-law, there was not even any need to visit the mother-in-law’s side of the family.

She continued making arrangements. “The cloth that Doctor Jin gave us before—none of the clothes made from it have even been worn yet. We won’t be making new clothes this year.”

No one objected to that, since everyone already had some.

After that came the arrangements for New Year gifts for each branch of the family, the dishes for the New Year’s Eve meal, and what needed to be bought in town tomorrow. Everything had to be listed carefully in advance so there would be no confusion later.

As the most educated person in the Wen family, Old Madam Luo handled the speaking, and Wen Xiuyi handled the writing.

When Old Madam Luo had finished dictating and the others had nearly finished adding their own suggestions, Wen Xiuyi handed the list to her for review.

“Mother, see if there’s anything missing.”

Old Madam Luo gave him a sidelong glance. “If your mother could read it, would I have needed to send you to school?”

Still, she looked over it a few more times. Just as Wen Xiuyi was about to put it away, she suddenly asked, “Eldest, why do your characters look different now from before?”

Wen Xiuyi’s heart lurched. Wen Yao and Wen Jun both stiffened instinctively, the siblings turning to look at him at the same time.

Although Old Madam Luo could not read, when Wen Xiuyi had still been the promising son of the family, they had treated everything he wrote like treasured possessions. Later, after he had gone muddleheaded, Old Madam Luo had flown into a rage and burned every last sheet.

So she recognized Wen Xiuyi’s handwriting.

A person’s memories could be inherited, and even abilities could be inherited, but handwriting was another matter. In his previous life, Wen Xiuyi had also practiced calligraphy with a brush and had earned some renown for it. He had his own style, his own bearing in every stroke. Even after becoming Wen Xiuyi now, that habit had not changed, so the characters he wrote naturally looked different.

Wen Xiuyi had not expected Old Madam Luo to ask about it so suddenly. He only froze for a moment before answering, “It’s because I thought it looked better this way, so I practiced it. Mother, since everything else is in order, let the children go to bed early. We still have to get up early tomorrow.”

He hurried to change the subject, afraid that Old Madam Luo would keep digging.

Old Madam Luo merely looked at him and did not press further. She only waved everyone away.

Before bed, Old Madam Luo suddenly lit three sticks of incense on the altar in the main hall. Old Man Wen was in the inner room alone, and he heard her muttering outside, talking about the ancestors, about the eldest one, about how this was quite good, about blessings and protection. He rolled over and ignored it, only thinking about which son should go on foot tomorrow. With so many people, there was no telling whether Dahuang would be worn out.

Yet when they rose the next morning, Wen Nong, who had originally been expected to push the handcart to his stall, had already, with the help of Wen Xiuyi’s three brothers, loaded the prepared dishes onto the ox cart. Dahuang had already started eating his early morning fodder with his head down.

Old Man Wen: “...”

His Dahuang.

In the end, aside from Old Madam Luo taking a few of the children on the ox cart, everyone else was ordered by Old Man Wen to walk.

After entering the city, they dropped Wen Nong off at the dock. The ox cart was left there for him to watch over, and the rest of them entered the city with empty hands to go shopping.

Wen Nong tied on his apron and watched the group disappear into the distance with a pitiful little expression.

Once inside the city, it was clear that the New Year was almost here. There were far more people than usual, more than doubling the streets’ bustle. Shops along both sides overflowed with all kinds of dazzling goods, and even the street stalls were far more numerous than on ordinary days.

The whole main street was lively, filled with the joy and smoky warmth of the approaching New Year.

As planned from the start, the family split into two groups.

Wen Jun was going to the Hall of Benevolent Life, and the other three naturally went with him, since they had to invite Doctor Jin and Shopkeeper Qiu to celebrate the New Year at their house. They also had to buy the items needed specifically for their own household. The things required for the family celebration were already on the list, and Wen Yao had even turned over their share of the money to Old Madam Luo in advance.

Old Madam Luo and Old Man Wen took the two sons to do the shopping.

They agreed to meet at the dock in the afternoon, then parted ways.

They had barely reached the entrance of the Hall of Benevolent Life when they saw Shopkeeper Qiu escorting a middle-aged man out. He was speaking to him as they went. “Go back and tell your master that I appreciate his kindness. It’s the New Year, a time for family reunion. I won’t spoil his good intentions, and I’m grateful for his concern.”

The middle-aged man could not say much more. He bowed respectfully, then got into the carriage and left.

When Shopkeeper Qiu turned back, he saw the family of three standing at the door.

“Oh, big-headed has arrived.”

This smile was far more sincere than the one he had given the middle-aged man just moments before.