A Good Country Wife
Chapter 503 - 497_1

Chapter 503: Chapter 497_1

Time flies, and another year is coming to an end. It’s now early December, the day of the Laba Festival, and the weather is very cold. A casual breath is enough to see a puff of white fog. There’s still no news from Zhao Erhu, and Lin Yue doesn’t know whether to miss him or worry about him. As time passes, her heart becomes even more restless. Based on the time, Zhao Erhu and his company should have returned from overseas by now. Otherwise, if the weather gets colder and the snow falls, the sea might freeze over, making it difficult to sail.

In the end, this was Zhao Erhu’s first year engaging in maritime trade, and preparations were made in haste, whether it was for preparing or departing. They set sail in late September. If they have to go again next year, they definitely need to depart earlier; they wouldn’t have ended up in a situation where they have not yet returned so late in the year. What Lin Yue fears the most is being detained at sea due to the extreme cold—not only would it delay their return, but the risks would also be much greater.

"Xixi, is the Laba congee all done?" Lin Yue stood at the window, gazing at the withered grass and trees, and asked, masking her thoughts.

"It’s all done. I personally oversaw it. We put in plenty of ingredients and boiled several big pots of it—it smells delicious." Xixi said with a smile, her covetous expression actually bringing some relief to Lin Yue’s mood.

"That’s good. Once Dalang and his brothers have made offerings to the Kitchen God, send the congee to every household in the village, making sure to give a generous portion. Also, give some to each of our servants and long-term workers. I’ll leave this task to you."

Although Lin Yue herself didn’t believe in the offering to the Kitchen God, it was the local custom, and it was natural to conform to local customs. This year, with Zhao Erhu not at home, the women couldn’t make the offering, so it fell to the five brothers to do it instead.

Lin Yue went to the kitchen to check on things and, seeing that all was indeed in order, she proceeded to the courtyard where Dalang and his brothers were. Warm from reading, Dalang greeted her, "Mother, you’ve come."

"I came to see how you were doing. Your father is not at home this year, and you brothers are the pillars of the family. The offering to the Kitchen God is your responsibility now, and also for your uncle and the relatives and friends who got along well with your father. They’re different from others; as hosts, we have to personally deliver to show our sincerity. Hand out the Laba congee yourselves. Any problems with that?"

"Don’t worry, Mother. Leave it to us, and we promise to complete the task you’ve assigned," assured Sanlang before Dalang could reply. Even though he had become more steady studying at the academy, Sanlang was still a bit unruly in front of Lin Yue, teasingly indicating a desire for his brothers’ attention. Of course, Dalang and Erlang knew he was just playing the fool.

The siblings’ affection had been forged through hardship and shared adversities from a young age, and they understood and loved each other deeply. Naturally, they wouldn’t let a small matter like this lead to misunderstandings or resentments. As for Si Lang, he had always been most concerned about food; right now, he was fixated on the pot of fragrant Laba congee.

The family’s circumstances had improved, and there wasn’t a shortage of delicacies, but Si Lang was still the same as before—unable to resist good food. The brothers found it somewhat helpless; perhaps it was an aftereffect of hunger in childhood. Yet of the four brothers, Si Lang was the one who had been spared from hunger the most. In times of scarcity, Dalang and Erlang would always ensure that their younger brother ate first, leaving them to wonder how Si Lang developed such an insatiable love for food.

After giving more instructions to Dalang and his brothers, Lin Yue called for the servant sent to Jinbei Wharf to inquire about recent activities. Had any large ships returned from their voyages?

"Madam, I have had people keeping watch at the wharf. As soon as there’s news, it will be passed on. But so far, there’s no news of the master’s return. I will ensure continuous inquiries and report any updates immediately," the servant replied.

"That’s good. Make sure those you’ve sent keep a close eye; nothing else matters, just focus on the wharf. Don’t miss any tidbits of information. As long as you do your job well, I will surely reward you handsomely." Lin Yue said as she took some broken silver out of a box as a reward.

"The journey to Jinbei Wharf takes three to four days, and based on my calculations, the master should be returning around these days. Have the lads go back and forth more frequently, sending news every day or two. I know it’s not easy for you running around in the cold, so take this broken silver for some wine money to keep you warm on the road. Just make sure you don’t neglect your duties," she said.

"Thank you, Madam. You can rest assured. I will keep a tight watch and inquire about any ship that returns, ensuring no news is missed," the servant responded with a big grin, clearly pleased with the reward. The servants were already dedicated to their duties, as the Zhao Family was known for its kindness and the servants had been sold several times before. Nevertheless, receiving a tip certainly added to their joy.

"Do you have any other instructions, Madam? I will be heading to Jinbei Wharf shortly to take over the watch. If there’s nothing more, I will prepare to leave," the servant said.

"Go ahead. Wait—remember, whether it’s our ships returning or not, stay vigilant and inquire more broadly. If there’s any troubling news, report it immediately." Lin Yue hadn’t initially wanted to say this last part, but after some thought, she decided to speak up, just in case bad news came that could delay any rescue efforts.

"Yes, I will strictly follow your instructions, Madam."

Several days passed since Laba, yet there was still no word from the wharf. Lin Yue’s worry intensified, fearing that Zhao Erhu had encountered danger at sea. Her heart felt as if it was being lifted and then dropped like fifteen buckets of water, disturbing her peace so much that she could hardly sleep at night.

In the beginning, Lin Yue only saw Zhao Erhu as a business partner, someone to share life with in partnership. However, over the past year or so, with Zhao Erhu’s tender caring and doting on her, even someone with a heart of stone would have softened, let alone Lin Yue, who had always longed for affection. Under Zhao Erhu’s gentle persuasion, she had developed deep feelings for him. The thought of him being in danger caused her heart to ache like it was being pricked with needles. Even someone who never believed in gods or Buddhas began muttering prayers, hoping for divine protection.

Despite her worries, Lin Yue was still occupied with the busyness of the New Year, not to mention the goods required by the Jiang Family, and the New Year’s gifts that needed to be sent to each household. These tasks needed her personal attention to be done well. After the rounds, the once well-nourished figure nurtured by Madam Xu had quickly become thin, and she appeared very haggard.

"Madam, are you worried about the master? The master is kind and generous, and will surely be blessed by the gods for a safe and smooth return," the Servant said, trying to comfort her.