The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 752 - 741: Winter Solstice (Supplementary update of October 3)

Chapter 752: Chapter 741: Winter Solstice (Supplementary update of October 3)

In the Great Jin, the Winter Solstice was only second to the New Year festival. The Emperor would offer sacrifices to Heaven on this day, officials and the aristocracy would worship deities, and the common people would honor their ancestors.

On this day, the city gates of border towns would close and pause conflicts. Soldiers were given the day off to rest, and officials too enjoyed a holiday. Even the merchants on the streets would close up shop.

As such, people would prepare various ingredients one or two days before the Winter Solstice to avoid the trouble of not being able to buy anything on the day itself.

Every year, government schools and academies would also take a Winter Solstice break.

When they were in Qili Village, Mr. Zhuang usually gave them only three days off, but it was only after they had moved to Yizhou City that they realized that it was common for government schools to take a five-day break.

Old Madam Liu arrived in Yizhou City on the very day Bai Shan got off from work.

This time, she also brought Ms.Zheng, her daughter-in-law.

It naturally wouldn’t do for the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law to stay in the small courtyard, but the old separate residence they previously owned was too far and had become even more remote than the city gates.

Bai Shan had been worrying about where his grandmother and mother would stay upon their arrival. Little did he expect that, after they picked them up at the city gate, the carriage would head straight to Huanxi Street next to Kangxue Street and stop in front of the entrance to a family compound.

Bai Shan hopped down from the carriage first and looked up to see the plaque, noticing the words "Bai Manor" inscribed on it, which caused him to pause in astonishment.

Old Madam Liu stepped down from the carriage with the aid of Nanny Liu’s hand, and seeing her grandson standing there in a daze, she smiled and said, "Stop staring. This is our own home. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to look at it later. Let’s go inside first."

Upon entering the main gate, Manbao couldn’t help exclaiming in amazement. She whispered to Bai Shan, "Your family has a house in Yizhou City? How come you never mentioned it?"

Bai Erlang also rushed over from behind, "Right, didn’t you say your family’s separate residence was very far away, too far from Kangxue Street to be convenient?"

Bai Shan: "...I myself only found out just now."

Nanny Liu helped Old Madam Liu toward the main courtyard, which was a triple-section compound, with three rows stretching parallel to each other, exceptionally large.

To Manbao at least, one courtyard seemed as big as the small courtyard they were currently living in, and here there were a total of eight such courtyards, including the one with the main hall—that made nine.

Old Madam Liu took her seat at the head of the room and then explained to Bai Shan, "Our family just bought this residence. Since you were admitted to the government school, I’ve had people on the lookout, and it took a great deal of effort to purchase. It was just recently renovated."

Old Madam Liu smiled and asked, "What do you think of this residence?"

Bai Shan nodded, "It seems quite good."

"How about you and Mr. Zhuang move in here?"

After a moment’s thought, Bai Shan shook his head, "Grandma, we’re used to living in the small courtyard, and it’s closer to the government school. To get to school from this residence, we’d have to make a detour to exit this neighborhood and then enter the main street to the government school—it’s quite far."

Old Madam Liu softly smiled and patted his hand, "If you don’t want to, that’s fine. I won’t force you. But you all should stay here for the next few days. I’ll have the servants prepare rooms for you."

She continued, "Later, I’ll send someone to invite Mr. Zhuang. He is your teacher and has helped you a lot. Now that we’ve arrived in Yizhou City, we must properly express our gratitude to him."

Bai Shan happily agreed.

Only then did Old Madam Liu turn to look at Manbao, took her small hand and pulled her close, carefully looking her over and smiling, "It’s only been a few months, but you’ve grown taller and even prettier."

Manbao’s eyes lit up with joy as she repeatedly asked, "Really? Really?"

"Truly. If not, ask your Auntie Zheng."

Ms.Zheng chuckled and nodded, "She’s becoming more beautiful by the day, especially with her rosy and tender cheeks."

With that said, she couldn’t resist pinching Manbao’s cheek.

Manbao: ...She knew it, every time she saw Auntie Zheng, she was sure to pinch her cheeks.

Old Madam Liu watched with a smile, showering Manbao with compliments. Then she turned to Bai Erlang and continued her praise, "Erlang is turning more and more handsome, and you’ve grown taller too. How are your studies going?"

Bai Erlang, initially happy to be praised, suddenly felt deflated. Why was it that adults always had to ask about one’s academic performance after praising them?

Although Old Madam Liu had only just moved in, she had arranged for someone to refurbish and clean the rooms in advance. With the large number of people she brought, everything was quickly tidied up, and the kitchen became busy preparing that evening’s dinner.

Before Mr. Zhuang arrived, Old Madam Liu started a conversation with the three, "On the day of the Winter Solstice, the Bai Family on Kangxue Street will be hosting a banquet, and you three will come with us."

She smiled at Bai Erlang, "Your father will also come over tomorrow, and the day after we’ll go together."

Bai Erlang: "Why is my father going too? Isn’t that your family’s relatives?"

Bai Shan: "...Are you dumb? You also share the surname Bai, don’t you?"

Manbao burst into laughter, chiming in, "Shanbao’s father is your uncle. Wouldn’t your uncle’s kin also be related to your father?"

Bai Erlang finally realized what was going on after the fact, then he complained bitterly, "My father never told me. Shan, didn’t you learn some sort of family record by heart? I’ve never done that, how would I know who ’Bai Family of Longzhou’s House of the Learned Third Branch’ refers to?"

Old Madam Liu chuckled, "That’s your father’s fault. I’ll have a word with him. How could a child of our lineage not know the family genealogy?"

She then clarified their relationship, "A family’s relocation is a joyous event. This relative who is relocating is your uncle by courtesy, his single name being Yu, the legitimate eldest of the third branch of the House of the Learned in Longzhou. He is of the fourth degree of mourning distance from our branch and already in the fifth degree from yours."

So, both the blood relation and the kinship were not very close.

Old Madam Liu said with a smile, "Although the blood ties are not close, we are still of the same clan and are in a foreign land together, which naturally means we should unite. That’s why he’s extended invitations widely. Since he has invited us, it’s our duty to go."

"However, in terms of kinship, his family and that of the lady who married into Yizhou City are actually closer. Bai Yu’s father was the cousin of the lady’s husband..."

Old Madam Liu explained, "This lady, you should call her Auntie Madam. Her son, Qiao Ji, is a Prefect’s Chief Secretary, while Bai Yu is an Imperial Attendant and Knight Errant."

Bai Shan added, "Both are of the fifth rank, but Bai Yu is half a rank higher than Qiao Ji."

Old Madam Liu tapped him on the head, "You should refer to him as ’Uncle’."

Then she continued, "As for actual power, your Cousin Qiao has the upper hand. But these are not things that children should concern themselves with."

Old Madam Liu smiled and added, "You just need to be aware of these things. When you’re visiting their home, just follow the proper etiquette. Beyond that, play and eat as you wish, but no fighting or fooling around, understand?"

The three nodded in agreement.

Old Madam Liu then pulled Manbao close and said with a smile, "On that day, you stick with me and your Auntie Zheng. It’s your first time in Yizhou City, so you should meet some girls your age to play with, which will be more enjoyable for you."

Manbao thought of Second Sister Fu, who was far away in Jiangnan, and nodded, "I understand, Grandma Liu. I’ll be friendly and make some good friends."

Bai Shan added from a side, "I think that’s going to be a bit difficult."

Old Madam Liu gently smacked him, "No bullying your sister."

"What sister? She’s actually my Senior Sister."

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