Chapter 290: New Year's Eve
In the blink of an eye, the twenty-third day arrived—the Little New Year for worshipping the Kitchen God. The Chen Family's kitchen was adorned with portraits of the Kitchen God and his wife, offerings of fresh fruits, fermented glutinous rice, and sugar melons laid out in reverence. Sixth Master Chen was finally brought back from Bao Xiang Temple, looking noticeably thinner.
In the following days, they would return to Baoding to pay respects at the ancestral hall. Gu Jinzhao didn’t accompany Third Master Chen, waiting until the twenty-eighth when the festivities truly began.
The maids and servant women in the mansion received new clothes for the New Year. Two twelve-year-old girls had just been assigned to Gu Jinzhao’s household, one of whom was Shiye, sold from Sichuan to Beizhili.
When Gu Jinzhao went to the attendants' quarters to select maids, the prettier or more dexterous ones were lined up in front of her. Shiye, still called Erya at the time, was crouched to the side wiping cabinets, her hands covered in chilblains. Gu Jinzhao recognized her immediately—in her past life, Shiye had been sent to serve her later, but in this life, she was still toiling under the matrons in the attendants' quarters, her hair tied in two small buns, her face sallow and thin.
The matron following Gu Jinzhao scolded, "Hurry up, girl! Can’t you see the Third Madam is here?"
Erya didn’t dare raise her head, frightened, she quickly curtsied, gathered the rough cloth, and struggled to carry the wooden basin out.
Gu Jinzhao noticed her cotton shoes were badly worn, a hole gaping at the big toe.
In her past life, the three of them—master and servants—had relied on each other for survival, and in the end, Shiye had died there with her.
Gu Jinzhao pointed to a composed-looking girl standing before her. Though overjoyed at being chosen by the Third Madam, the girl quickly suppressed her excitement. Then, Gu Jinzhao gestured toward Erya, who was already at the door. "That one stays too. Send them both over later."
Erya turned around, bewildered by what had just happened. She watched as the crowd escorted the madam out, and the instructing matron walked over, eyeing her skeptically. The matron muttered, "How did she catch the Third Madam’s eye…" Regardless, being chosen by the Third Madam was an honor. Even being the lowest-ranking maid in the Third Household was better than nothing, let alone dreaming of becoming a senior maid.
Erya soon packed her belongings with the other chosen girl and headed over. The attendants' quarters buzzed with surprise at her sudden rise. Erya herself was stunned—she had once witnessed a selection when she first arrived. It was said to be Concubine You from the Fourth Household, who carried herself with great airs and picked the two most clever girls. Someone like Erya wouldn’t even warrant a glance…
Nervously, Erya arrived at the Third Household, where the madam bestowed upon her the name Shiye. The other girl was named Shiqiu.
When Qingpu got married, all the maids in Jinzhao’s quarters went to see her off, and each household’s madams sent gifts of money for her dowry. It was a grand affair, though Gu Jinzhao couldn’t attend. The arrival of the two new maids filled the staffing gap.
For now, Gu Jinzhao had no plans to promote Shiye. Shiye was too clumsy for close personal service, but letting her leave the attendants' quarters for a more comfortable life in Osmanthus Hall was manageable.
On the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth month, it was time to put up spring couplets and window decorations.
Gu Jinzhao amused herself cutting paper-cuts with Chen Xi. Chen Xuanyue, more excited than usual, insisted on pasting them up.
Third Master Chen watched from inside the room while Jinzhao stayed in the courtyard helping them decorate, all bundled up like dumplings. The wintersweet outside had just begun to bloom, so they snapped off a branch and placed it in a prunus vase on the Curio Cabinet.Third Master Chen smiled slightly; Jinchao was getting along well with the children. He lowered his head again to continue reading.
In the study, Chen Xi and Gu Jinzhao began whispering to each other. Gu Jinzhao nodded in support: "...Sure, take the brush!"
Chen Xi hesitated for a moment after gripping the brush, then after a while, she took the red paper and brush to find Third Master Chen, while Gu Jinzhao followed behind her carrying the inkstone. Third Master Chen looked up to see Gu Jinzhao and Chen Xi standing before him, clearly with a request in mind.
"What is it?" he asked softly.
Seeing Chen Xi remain silent, Gu Jinzhao spoke up: "Third Master, we seek your calligraphy."
Only then did Third Master Chen notice the red paper... So they wanted him to write spring couplets for them!
"Bring it here," he said, setting aside his book and taking the brush. He spread the red paper on the heated bed table, dipped the brush in the prepared ink, and began writing with elegant, flowing strokes.
Chen Xi's eyes held a new admiration for her father. Only after they had left with the couplets did she whisper to Gu Jinzhao.
Listening from behind as she praised him, Third Master Chen shook his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
By the time they finished pasting the couplets, it was nearly noon. The two children then returned.
Gu Jinzhao entered, and Third Master Chen took her hands to warm them. "Did you have fun?" he asked.
A maid brought over a hand warmer, and Gu Jinzhao withdrew her hands to hold it instead. She played with the children because she liked them, not because she genuinely found it amusing. The way Third Master Chen asked made it sound as if he were addressing a child. Gu Jinzhao could only nod half-heartedly.
Third Master Chen found her utterly endearing and pulled her onto his lap. Gu Jinzhao froze as his arms encircled her, and he picked up his book again. He did nothing more than hold her while they read together.
Outside, snow began to fall once more, casting a gloomy pall over the sky.
Gu Jinzhao grew worried. The wintersweet she had planted wasn't particularly cold-resistant; in such extreme weather, it might not bloom at all. Soon, she would have to pay respects to Madam Chen, but the roads might be impassable...
Sure enough, word soon came from Madam Chen that the day's greetings were excused.
As a result, she spent the entire afternoon being held by Third Master Chen while reading, her back and waist growing sore. It wasn't until dinnertime that he finally released her.
Gu Jinzhao subtly distanced herself, though Third Master Chen paid it no mind. After dinner, she went to her study to continue practicing seal script, which was now beginning to take shape. When she showed her work to Third Master Chen, even he acknowledged her clear progress.
"How will you reward me?" he asked, flipping through a few pages of paper.
Gu Jinzhao countered, "What reward?"
"I taught you calligraphy—it shouldn't be for free," Third Master Chen explained. "There ought to be compensation."
Even this required compensation? Wasn't it natural for a husband to teach his wife?
Gu Jinzhao smiled wryly. "Fine, what do you want?"
Third Master Chen thought for a moment. "I haven't decided yet. Come here first." He beckoned, and Gu Jinzhao had no choice but to approach—only to be pulled into his embrace once more. Feeling somewhat shortchanged, she gritted her teeth and said, "Third Master, let's be clear: only one reward."
"Mmm," he agreed. "But how much can you give?"
The candlelight flickered, and the western chamber fell into silence. Third Master Chen soon had an idea. Curious, Gu Jinzhao asked, "What is it?"
Third Master Chen replied, "I'll tell you tonight."
...Wasn't it already night?The next day, Gu Jinzhao finally understood what that reward was, and she thought this man was even more of a wolf in sheep's clothing. How could such a position even exist!
...On the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month, Gu Jinzhao woke up very early. She went with Third Master Chen to pay respects to Madam Chen.
The children were all dressed festively, and the atmosphere inside was lively.
Third Master Chen went to speak with Second Master Chen, while Gu Jinzhao discussed the matter of red envelopes for the third household with Yu Wanxue. Every New Year, they had to give certain red envelopes to the servants. She first informed Yu Wanxue of the amounts so she could privately reward the servants accordingly.
As they were talking, Chen Xuanran and the others arrived to pay their respects.
Madam Chen pulled Chen Xuanran aside and asked, "...Where have you been with your younger brothers? You’re only coming now!"
Chen Xuanran replied, "I was catching up with Seventh Brother on the way. I didn’t have time to return when he became the Third Scholar, so I’m making up for it now with my congratulations."
Chen Xuanqing stood behind him with his hands clasped behind his back, merely smiling.
Chen Xuanrang, however, couldn’t sit still and urged Chen Xuanran, "Eldest Brother, you haven’t been back for a year. Let’s test our Third Scholar’s literary talent!"
Chen Xuanan was curious, "Second Brother, how do we test him?"
Chen Xuanran quickly had Chen Zhao fetch her small drum. He said, "We’ll play 'Pass the Flower to the Beat of the Drum.' Whoever ends up holding the flower when the drum stops must compose a poem in parallel prose. If they can’t..." The brothers often led Chen Xuanqing into mischief, and the usual punishment was drinking. But today, at home... Chen Xuanran paused and said, "They’ll have to copy Buddhist scriptures!" This would also suit their grandmother’s taste.
Madam Chen smiled and indulged the young people in their game. Chen Xuanqing was somewhat resigned. Whenever the brothers played like this, Chen Xuanran always found a way to tease him.
Sure enough, the drum stopped just as the flower reached Chen Xuanqing’s hands. Chen Xuanran laughed and said, "Our Third Scholar is newly married—let’s have him compose parallel prose about his wife!"
Yu Wanxue blushed in embarrassment, and Gu Jinzhao also felt it was inappropriate. She was about to suggest changing the topic when Madam Chen interjected, "It’s fine. Xuanqing, go ahead!"
Yu Wanxue’s cheeks turned pink as several sisters-in-law smiled at her knowingly.
Yet Chen Xuanqing remained silent for a long time. Chen Xuanran knew his literary talent—composing parallel prose should have been effortless for him. He wondered if another year of study had refined his skills further.
Seeing his prolonged silence, Chen Xuanfeng teased him, "Third Scholar, if you can’t do it, you’ll have to copy scriptures!"
But Chen Xuanqing’s expression remained calm. After a while, he lowered his eyes and said softly, "I can’t compose it. I’ll accept the punishment of copying scriptures."
Chen Xuanran was stunned, and the atmosphere in the room instantly turned icy. Yu Wanxue’s face paled. Everyone knew the story of how Chen Xuanqing could compose a poem in seven steps—she naturally knew it too. Why couldn’t he write about her?
Chen Xuanran quickly smoothed things over, "Seventh Brother really has regressed if he hasn’t improved! Copying scriptures isn’t enough—you’ll have to drink with me later!"
Chen Xuanqing raised his head and agreed with a smile.
Third Master Chen arrived and, seeing Chen Xuanqing there, his expression involuntarily darkened.
Everyone except Madam Chen stood to greet him, and he nodded in acknowledgment. He walked over to Gu Jinzhao and asked, "What’s going on here? I could hear the laughter from far away..."
Gu Jinzhao, still feeling awkward for Yu Wanxue, simply said, "Passing the flower to the drumbeat."
Third Master Chen sat beside her and watched for a while, but there wasn’t much left to see. He spent the rest of the day by her side.In the evening, Gu Jinzhao accompanied Madam Chen in keeping vigil for the New Year. Chen Xuanfeng took Chen Xuanyu and the others to set off firecrackers, making the atmosphere lively. It wasn't until after midnight that everyone gradually dispersed. Gu Jinzhao stayed a little longer to chat with Madam Chen, feeling drowsy. After Madam Chen retired to rest, she leaned against Third Master Chen's shoulder for a short nap.
Apart from the sound of firecrackers, the surroundings were very quiet.
Gu Jinzhao suddenly spoke softly to him, "Third Master, do you suspect me..."
She had drunk some rice wine, and it had gone to her head.
Third Master Chen gently patted her head but remained silent. She must have sensed something...
After a while, he picked her up, and the two returned to Osmanthus Hall.
In the pavilion, Chen Xuanran was still drinking with Chen Xuanqing.
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