Yi Xin as a concubine

Chapter 148 The 1st New Year

Mo Xuan Yifan's return made the family seem to come alive, and there was more laughter.

The New Year finally arrived amid laughter and joy.

When the New Year comes, people are laughing and every household is setting off firecrackers.

Early in the morning, the sounds of firecrackers from all directions were so loud that Wei Yu rarely let go. Xin Baoer, who didn't have to get up early to exercise, frowned and was very irritable.

"My girl, today is the New Year's Day. We can't sleep in, otherwise we will be out of energy for the whole year. You have put away the new clothes. I still have to watch Lancao steam the cakes. Please hurry up."

Mother Lin's mumbling voice became increasingly distant, and Xin Baoer finally opened her eyes as if something had suddenly dawned on her.

"It's been almost a year since I came here. Time flies!"

Even though he was sighing, he still quickly stood up. After all, it was his first year here, and he was somewhat looking forward to it.

Xin Baoer came out the latest. The dining room was bustling with activity, and the yard seemed a little empty. Xin Baoer looked around and saw that the window paper-cuts had been cut and pasted long ago, but there were still a few couplets missing on the door.

"I wonder how the Xin family celebrates the New Year?" Xin Baoer felt regretful that she didn't spend her first New Year in the home that gave her warmth and comfort.

"Bao'er, you're the only one missing. Come in quickly. Lancao's cooking skills are getting better and better. Look at the steamed cakes. They're golden, soft, glutinous, fragrant and sweet." Seeing Xin Bao'er come in, Zhao Xian took a piece of steamed cake and handed it to her like a treasure, waiting for her to taste it with anticipation, as if she had made it.

Xin Baoer took it and took a small bite gracefully under everyone's expectant gazes. Then a smile crept up to the corners of her eyes, "Mm, it's delicious. Have you sent it to other courtyards?"

"It's served, it's served, girl. Please eat more." Lancao was happier than anything else to hear that her master recognized her cooking skills. She even forgot the sarcasm of those three dead women.

She was doing this for her own master. Others were just taking advantage of her master's influence and giving them some things was just alms. It was New Year's Day, so it was okay for her to suffer a little, but she couldn't make her master unhappy.

Breakfast ended quickly amid the chatter of a group of girls.

"You have a rest today and are not allowed to exercise. We'll have dumplings for lunch. There are many people in our family, so let's all start making dumplings together." Xin Baoer instructed the girls before leaving.

After saying that, she walked to the gate of Chu Xingchen's yard holding a pile of red papers. There was a lot of noise inside. Xin Baoer hesitated for a long time before she carefully pushed the door open and looked inside cautiously with her little head poked out.

"Mother, stop making trouble. It's New Year's Day, can't we just celebrate it well? It's rare that there are so many people this year. Sheng'er has never celebrated New Year with so many people." In the yard, little Duanhong grabbed Xiang Qing, who was about to settle accounts with Chu Xingchen, and tried to persuade her.

"You are Xiaobao, just Xiaobao. Don't call her by those names given by those messy people. You respect her. She didn't even want to make you a new dress during the New Year. But I heard that even the servants in their courtyard have new clothes to wear. Could it be that those slaves are more noble than us masters?"

Xiang Qing screamed hysterically. She looked so crazy that she didn't look like a lady from a noble family at all. She was even worse than the couple in the village who had some sense.

"Ayu, what's going on with the clothes? I remember asking my second brother to send over a batch of fabrics. Isn't there enough to share?" Xin Baoer asked Wei Yu behind her in a low voice.

"I seem to have heard Xian'er say that the cloth was shared by Lancao and her, and there was a piece of dark green fine cotton cloth which was the best. Although it was not enough for a whole piece, it was enough for making clothes for a child, so it was all sent to the madam, and Bijun was specifically reminded that the extra one was for making clothes for the young master." Wei Yu thought for a while and replied.

Xin Baoer pushed open the gate and said, "Go call Xian'er over and bring the account book. I'll go in and take a look."

"Okay, then you be careful." Wei Yu looked inside worriedly and left quickly.

"What happened?" Xin Baoer asked, pretending that she had just arrived and didn't know what happened.

"It's okay. Mother wants to discuss something with father." Little Duanhong said in a low voice, a little reserved.

"Oh, I'll also ask your father to write a few couplets. Do you want to join us? You should be able to write the word 'Fu'." Xin Baoer asked gently, just as she had taught him before.

"You are so hypocritical. You dress so beautifully and care so much about him, but why don't you even prepare new clothes for him? Xiaobao, I am your real mother. Can't you see that she is just using you to win her favor? When she has her own child, what will you have to do with her? Besides, you are not a..."

"Enough!" Before Xiang Qing could finish her words, Chu Xingchen's angry voice came from the room. Soon the door was opened and a man in neat clothes stood at the door.

Before dawn today, several subordinates who had been away for many years came back. However, since there were outsiders at home, they could not show up in person. Chu Xingchen had to meet them in the secret passage.

As soon as I walked out of the secret passage, I heard Xiang Qing's loud yelling and I could only shout to stop her through the door.

"What are you making trouble for? Today is New Year's Day and everyone is happy, but you have to make trouble today and make everyone uneasy, right?" Chu Xingchen's eyes were filled with disappointment and his tone was cold.

Xiang Qing was a very traditional woman. Once the man got angry, she didn't dare to talk back. She looked at Chu Xingchen pitifully, "Achen, how can you say that to me? I just feel sorry for Xiaobao. As a mother, I am incompetent. I can't teach him, manage the household affairs, or give him a better life..."

"Okay, it's New Year's Day, stop crying and talk about what you want to say." Chu Xingchen saw Xin Baoer standing outside for a long time, her little face and hands turned red from the cold, and said impatiently.

"Dad, it's okay. I'll take Mom back right now." Little Duanhong's face flushed as he begged in embarrassment.

Xin Baoer felt so sorry for the child, but her mother didn't care about her child's emotions at all. She continued to cry and suspense, and accused Xin Baoer of her "crimes".

"Bullshit, the fabrics given to you and the young master were obviously the best in the batch. Even my Baoer had to settle for second best. The fabrics were received by Bijun, and her signature and seal are here. Do you still want to deny it?" Zhao Xian was small but had a bad temper. He hated being wronged the most, so he retorted loudly.

"You...you lowly little bitch, what nonsense are you talking about~" Xiang Qing was exposed and became furious and started to curse.

Chu Xingchen's handsome face became darker and darker, "Okay, you still think you are the master, so you should act like a master. It's not decent to quarrel in front of the children." Suppressing the anger in his heart, he continued: "Since the fabric was received by Bijun, just ask her."

When Bijun came in, her face was extremely pale, her head was lowered, and her shoulders were trembling slightly. It was obvious that she was very frightened.

"Bijun, this is where you signed and sealed, right?" As soon as he saw her, Zhao Xian pointed at the account book and asked.

"What do you mean by signing...signing and sealing? I...I don't know what you are going to say." Bijun replied in a low voice.

"You're hesitating and evasive, which clearly shows that you're guilty. Bijun, you're so bold that you actually dared to embezzle. Tell me, where did the fabric go?" Xin Baoer shouted coldly.

Bijun's trembling became more obvious. She looked at Xiang Qing intentionally or unintentionally, with a timid look as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

"You, you slut, look... look at what I am doing...what I am doing!" Xiang Qing's momentum obviously weakened.

"Dad, aunt, today is New Year, we should celebrate happily. I don't care whether I have new clothes or not. I am very happy to have dad, mother, uncles and aunts accompany me. I will take mother back first."

The little boy tried his best to appear indifferent, his face flushed red from nervousness and anxiety, but his tone could not hide his loneliness, and his words were obviously inconsistent with his words.

Chu Xingchen wanted to say something, but Xin Baoer quickly stopped him and whispered, "The place is so small, we will find it sooner or later. It's New Year's Day, don't reject the child's kindness."

Chu Xingchen frowned slightly, somewhat disapproving, but seeing Xin Baoer's soft expression, he finally nodded, as a sign of his agreement.

"Sheng'er, send your mother back home. Don't forget to come over and write the word 'Fu' later. Don't be lazy."

"I understand, Auntie." The little boy raised his head, his eyes reddened, and he tried hard to hold back his tears and whispered, "Thank you."