When Fu Xin Ci woke up again, it was already the afternoon, around the hour of Shen.
Han Xue was sitting in the main hall doing needlework. Hearing movement from the east room, she knew her young lady had woken. She hurried in to help her young lady with her washing and then helped her young lady choose a dress that was not too plain.
When they went to the front courtyard, a young girl in a light purple dress walked over with vivacity. Her fair skin was as soft and beautiful as jade, and her clear, bright eyes held a pure gaze.
This scene made everyone who saw it their eyes light up.
Fu Xin Ci walked all the way with a faint smile, speaking not a word. No matter whom she saw, she would give a slight bow, as if to greet them.
Qi He saw his young lady sister looking like this for the first time. She was no different from the noble ladies in the plays.
Grandpa Meng also nodded in approval. His granddaughter had returned to her former self before the incident at home.
Fu Yu's old father's heart was finally filled with the bittersweet pang of "my daughter is growing up."
When Madam Fang saw her daughter, a thought suddenly arose in her heart: she wanted to have a son in this pregnancy. This way, there would be two younger brothers to protect her elder sister.
Then, when she and her husband grew old, their worries for their daughter would be lessened by a bit.
Fu Xin Ci did not know that her mother was thinking so far ahead.
The New Year's Eve dinner was finally laid out on the table. The men were divided into two tables, all set up in Grandpa Meng's room.
The women were also divided into two tables, all set up in the east wing.
It was the New Year, so Grandpa Meng had ordered plain white rice and white steamed buns to be cooked.
Grandpa Meng had long said, "We have prepared enough food for today. Eat whatever you want, and don't hold back."
Old Jin looked at the ten dishes and one soup on the table and started whispering to Qi Yuan Shan.
"Yuan Shan, brother never expected that we could eat such good food for the New Year."
"Yes, last year, in order to have a meal of dumplings, the brothers went hungry for many days."
"Yes."
As they talked about these things, their hearts felt heavy, and their eyes began to turn red.
Grandpa Meng could not bear to see this scene. "You two should look forward. In the future, our Eagle Beak Cliff will surely get better and better. All the soldiers will not only not go hungry, but they will also eat well."
"Yes, when I came out today, I saw a large pot of meat stewing in the kitchen. Tomorrow, we will also make dumplings."
"Indeed, listen to Uncle, and you won't be wrong. Not only your garrison, but the people here will also live better and better."
"Uncle, I love hearing you say that." A thought suddenly surged in Qi Yuan Shan's heart. "Uncle, what do you think about moving the Thousand-Household Office back to our Eagle Beak Cliff?"
"Yuan Shan, what is it? Is it not going well there, or is someone trying to trip you up?"
"Uncle, no." Qi Yuan Shan could not say that ever since he took office at the Thousand-Household Office, unmarried women and widows would flock to the office for no reason.
Once, if it weren't for Little Linzi's quick reflexes, his clothes would have been snatched by those women to be washed.
From then on, without any proper business, he dared not easily leave the Thousand-Household Office. Even when he had to go out, he would leave early and dare not return until dark, for fear of being intercepted on the way.
Alas, in just a few days, thirteen matchmakers had already come, and he was about to go mad.
Grandpa Meng had seen all sorts of situations. Seeing Qi Yuan Shan's brows furrowed into a big knot, he picked up a piece of braised pig's ear and put it into his bowl.
"Yuan Shan, today is New Year's Eve. We must eat the most delicious food and think the best thoughts."
"Mm, Uncle is right. I'll listen to whatever Uncle says."
"Mm, it's right to listen to Uncle." Grandpa Meng saw that everyone had eaten a few bites and had something to line their stomachs, then he raised the wine cup in his hand. "Come, it's New Year, let's all have a drink, you men."
"Indeed, I've been waiting for Second Uncle to say this."
Old Jin was not a heavy drinker, but he just loved the wine from Second Uncle Meng's family. Today, he tasted this pure, clear liquid again and exclaimed dramatically, his voice even trembling slightly.
Meng Qing Huai was also drinking this wine for the first time. After taking a small sip, he leaned close to his second brother and whispered boastfully, "Second Brother, that person has never tasted such good wine."
Grandpa Meng was sure that person had never tasted it, so he glanced at Meng Qing Huai without politeness and said, "Tch, if I didn't let him drink it, he would never get to taste it in his life."
At this moment, the old man was proud.
"Mm." For this one thing, Meng Qing Huai felt that he had finally, along with his second brother, made that person look up to them once. It was worth it.
This was the first time Grandpa Meng felt that his illegitimate brother was somewhat pleasing to the eye.
Meng Qing Huai: He almost leaned on his second brother's shoulder, ready to shed tears of happiness.
The women's side was also quite lively, especially Little Madam Li. A warm, bright, and proper smile was always on her face.
No one had expected that the Duke's mansion would fall, and Madam Mei and her niece would leave, yet she, a concubine, would be elevated to the main wife.
Being the main wife was something Little Madam Li had never dared to dream of before.
Meng Yu Wu knew that her mother was happy, and she was also happy for her mother and herself.
After eating the New Year's Eve dinner, everyone automatically stayed behind to prepare to stay up for the New Year with Grandpa Meng.
Grandpa Meng also announced publicly that everyone would eat dumplings together again tomorrow morning.
Of course, everyone had no objections. Madam Li and Madam Liu took the lead in preparing the fillings, starting with picking chives.
Meng Qing Huai wanted to hug his second brother and cry. His second brother had done this for his sake.
Grandpa Meng did not give him a glance. He was talking with Qi Yuan Shan and Old Jin about what to plant in the fields next year.
Qi Yuan Shan and Old Jin had been starved too much. Both of them advocated planting grains.
"Uncle, although there is a lot of land here, it was all wasteland before. I estimate that the grain yield in the first year will not be high. So, we think you should still plant grains, such as sorghum, corn, wheat, and millet."
"Yes, Second Uncle, Yuan Shan is right. The land here is fertile, it's true. But it's not only fertile for grain, but also for weeds."
Grandpa Meng looked at the two of them, then at his granddaughter. Thinking of the plan his granddaughter had told him before, he relayed it to them.
"Our previous plan was to plant some rice."
"Second Uncle, can we plant rice here?" Old Jin felt a little uncertain.
Qi Yuan Shan, however, was quite supportive. "We have water here, so it should be fine."
"That's what we thought too. Near the small river, we will plant rice."
"Uncle, then what?"
"Then we will plant the ones you just mentioned, as well as potatoes. On the gullies and slopes, we are also thinking of planting some beans and peanuts, as well as sweet potatoes."
Qi Yuan Shan knew about sweet potatoes. His son had mentioned it to him, and he had an impression.
"Also, around this courtyard, we want to plant a few fruit trees. We'll plant whatever we like to eat."
"Grandpa Meng, I like to eat grapes and apples," Qi He spoke first.
"Grandfather, I want to eat grapes and fragrant pears too."