The closer it got to New Year, the busier things beca. The entire Qi household began bustling with organizing belongings and cleaning courtyards. Only the shop workers who wanted to earn extra monthly wages stayed behind, while others could all go ho for New Year. The estate also gave tenants ti off and distributed New Year bonus silver.
With the estate sowhat empty, Qi Zhao returned ho early to help with preparations. Qi Ming, who had also returned ho, didn't need to go out and work because of his young age.
But the young man, free from studying these past few days, rarely let loose. He either stayed in Liu Shi's courtyard or wandered in the back garden, holding paper and brush, pondering what good poems or phrases he could write.
Today looking at flowers, tomorrow at grass, always pondering what he could compose.
When Qi Yun asked him the reason, Qi Ming's answer was very honest.
"I made an agreent with Third Young Master, whom I t before. We promised that the next ti we et, we'd think up new poetry. Last ti in our couplet competition I lost to him. This ti I absolutely cannot lose."
This made Qi Yun feel helpless, thinking his third brother had truly buried himself in books and couldn't erge. Finally making a friend, it still ended up being about poetry and literature.
But Qi Yun wasn't curious about who this Third Young Master was, just pleased that his third brother finally had a friend.
The family's liveliness didn't leave out the servants. Bonus silver was several percent more than previous years, and Little Su and Tie Zi's families also received quite a bit.
Since the two had always followed Ye Jiao and Qi Yun, they received an extra bonus from their masters, naturally making them very happy.
Little Su especially hurried to sew Tie Zi a shirt, embroider a handkerchief for Ye Jiao, and even made a red flower garnt for the big rooster Little Black in the coop.
The little girl took special care to cover its tail, comforting its feelings about losing tail feathers. With its bald tail hidden, the big rooster's morning crow finally beca loud again.
But while everyone else was relaxing, Qi Yun didn't slack off.
His shops would undergo major changes when business resud next year. The wine shop needed expansion, which naturally required more attention given its large inco.
Qi Yun had also promised Manager Dong at the dicine garden that he would provide funding next year to expand the dicine garden as well.
Though Manager Dong wasn't as shrewd as Manager Song, he understood in his heart that Qi Yun's willingness to agree wasn't because the dicine shop's business was particularly good, but because of Second Young Mistress.
His daughter Dong Shi had a good relationship with Ye Jiao, so Second Young Master looked favorably on him.
Regardless of whether Qi Yun truly thought this way, Manager Dong firmly believed he was benefiting from Ye Jiao's influence.
When Manager Dong ca today, he specifically brought a wild ginseng root, saying it was for Second Young Mistress, but didn't rashly bring up specific requirents about expanding the dicine garden with Qi Yun.
Second Young Master's agreent was already not easy to obtain. Since he was currently busy with wine shop matters, Manager Dong tactfully planned to bring it up together after the holidays.
After leaving the study, Manager Dong happened to see Ye Jiao flying a kite in the garden.
Ye Jiao was flying her kite in the courtyard where plum trees had been planted before. The snow had been cleared away, and the ground was laid flat and smooth. Ye Jiao, wearing her red cloak and holding the kite string, looked beautiful as a figure in a painting from afar.
Manager Dong couldn't help thinking that others said Ye Jiao had married above her station into the Qi family, but anyone who had seen Ye Jiao, who could say she wasn't ant to be a wealthy person?
Ordinary people couldn't carry themselves as Second Young Mistress. That Ye Jiao could do so ant she was naturally blessed.
Ye Jiao didn't notice soone watching her. She was pulling the string in her hand, smiling as she watched the kite in the sky.
Flying a kite sounded like just sending sothing up, nothing special, but when the kite actually flew and you held the string feeling the pulling force, it felt quite magical.
Pull a bit, and it would fly back.
Loosen a bit, and it could fly higher.
Ye Jiao found the interesting aspects and turned to Little Su: "This is well-made. Teach how to do it later."
Little Su had always followed Ye Jiao and knew her mistress particularly enjoyed learning various things, always taking them very seriously.
Whether it was learning to write with Qi Yun or learning household managent with Liu Shi, Ye Jiao could always put in sufficient effort.
As long as she said she wanted to learn, she would definitely learn to do it well.
But the current Little Su wasn't the ignorant little girl she used to be. If it had been when she was naive before, Little Su would definitely have agreed imdiately, but now she wouldn't nod right away.
After following Ye Jiao for so long, with Nanny Liu often giving her guidance privately, Little Su knew what to say and do.
Hearing Ye Jiao's words, Little Su imdiately said: "Second Young Mistress, making kites is hard on the hands, and even after learning, you usually wouldn't make them often. If you want them, just tell . Brother Tie Zi and I can naturally make them. If Second Young Mistress likes them, you can draw the patterns and designs on the kites yourself."
Ye Jiao thought about it and nodded. Her bright, clear eyes looked at the kite in the sky as she smiled: "Then when I go back, I'll write so characters on it."
Little Su thought Ye Jiao's writing looked about the sa as drawing, so she cheerfully agreed, thinking she should ask Brother Tie Zi if they could make a round kite.
That way it would match Second Young Mistress's characters.
At this mont, Manager Dong bowed outside the garden: "Second Young Mistress flies this kite extrely well."
Hearing this, Ye Jiao turned to look and imdiately recognized this as Manager Dong from the dicine garden, whom she had t once before.
The Stone Sprout Grass had been discovered during that visit to the dicine garden. Ye Jiao had a good impression of Manager Dong, so she gave the spool of string to Little Su to hold for her while she walked over.
These days, Ye Jiao had learned quite a bit from Liu Shi. Besides household managent thods, Liu Shi emphasized teaching her how to interact with people.
Ye Jiao was intelligent, learned quickly, and rembered clearly. Now seeing Manager Dong, she almost unconsciously showed a gentle smile, stopping about five steps away from him: "Manager Dong, were you looking for my husband?"
Manager Dong smiled: "I just ca from Second Young Master's place. Seeing Second Young Mistress here reminded of what my daughter told to say, so I ca over to pass along a ssage."
Spring Orchid?
Ye Jiao hadn't seen Dong Shi these past days. Each family had a pile of things to handle at year's end. Ye Jiao had no ti to visit the dicine shop, and she had no ti to co over.
She had sent over two pots of dicinal flowers through others, but hadn't sent any verbal ssages.
Ye Jiao's face showed a smile: "How is Spring Orchid lately?"
Manager Dong quickly said: "She's doing well. My daughter is lively by nature and can't stay idle. These days she's been busy inside and out at the dicine shop. Even I have trouble seeing her. Last ti I saw her, she ntioned Second Young Mistress to , asking to pass along word that the Auspicious Flowers are growing extrely well and blood two more flowers recently."
In one sentence, Manager Dong first explained why his daughter hadn't co recently, then ntioned her concern for Ye Jiao.
These were all true, but how to present them better to others depended on eloquence.
Clearly, Manager Dong's eloquence was quite good.
Ye Jiao wasn't surprised the Auspicious Flowers could survive. After all, these flowers were aquatic plants that could grow on their own when thrown in water, requiring little care.
But from Manager Dong's ssage, Dong Shi had clearly been caring for the Auspicious Flowers. Calculating the ti, the little fox had gained offspring fortune after two months of care. If it really worked, Dong Shi wouldn't be far behind either.
That would be wonderful.
Since it was nearly New Year, Manager Dong said a few more auspicious words to her before leaving.
After he left, Little Ginseng returned to continue flying the kite. When the sun rose and the breeze gradually stopped, the kite couldn't fly high anymore, so she reluctantly reeled it in and returned to the courtyard.
Upon entering, Ye Jiao saw Qi Yun waiting for her to eat.
Seeing her return, the man smiled and beckoned to her: "Let's eat. I've stewed chicken soup to drive away the cold."
Ye Jiao imdiately went to remove her cloak and wash her hands, then happily sat beside Qi Yun.
Usually when the family ate together in the evening, they mostly sat fairly far apart. Last ti Ye Jiao had seen Liu Shi and Father Qi eat, they sat facing each other.
But Ye Jiao didn't like that.
Though Ye Jiao had learned many things from Liu Shi, once she entered the room, she couldn't maintain proper form.
She directly sat beside Qi Yun and handed him her bowl. Qi Yun naturally took the bowl and served her soup.
Ye Jiao watched eagerly: "I don't want mushrooms, I want at."
Qi Yun imdiately served her a chicken leg and ladled hot soup, placing the full bowl in front of Ye Jiao.
This chicken soup had been stewing all morning. The at was extrely tender, easily torn off with chopstick tips.
In front of Ye Jiao was a small dish of dipping sauce. Dipping the white chicken at in it and eating, her mouth filled with fragrance.
Little Ginseng drank so warm soup and exhaled softly.
After eating more chicken, Ye Jiao seed to rember sothing: "Husband, you didn't stew Little Black, did you?"
Qi Yun's chopsticks paused as he looked at Ye Jiao and said gently: "Are you afraid I stewed it?"
"Not really, it's just that Little Su just finished sewing clothes for it." Ye Jiao spoke while drinking more chicken soup.
So fragrant.
Qi Yun smiled: "Don't worry. I'm still hoping it will work harder and grow its tail feathers back completely."
Ye Jiao also curved her lips: "Yes, it looked better when it wasn't bald."
Qi Yun really wanted to tell her it was because Ye Jiao had been kicking the shuttlecock for so long that the feathers on it were falling off. He planned to pluck a few more after Little Black regrew its feathers.
But looking at Ye Jiao, Qi Yun swallowed this thought.
He served her so osmanthus honey lotus root: "It's gotten much colder these days. Drinking so chicken soup for nourishnt is good."
Ye Jiao blinked and nodded with a smile.
Actually, Little Ginseng felt that all these things combined couldn't compare to her own nourishing effects.
But the chicken soup was so delicious and the chicken at so tasty, of course she had to eat when she could!
Qi Yun also served himself soup. While eating, they would chat.
Silent eating and sleeping was for use outside. Behind closed doors in daily life, being truly silent would be too cold.
Qi Yun had lived enough cold days before. Now that he was a man with a wife, he naturally wanted to talk when there was sothing to say. No one could restrict him.
After eating almost enough, Qi Yun rembered sothing: "Manager Dong brought sothing today."
He was referring to the wild ginseng root Manager Dong had brought.
This ginseng looked extrely good, otherwise Manager Dong wouldn't have eagerly brought it to Qi Yun after obtaining it.
Qi Yun knew he was trying to curry favor and didn't refuse, accepting it instead.
As for why Manager Dong ca at this ti, besides next year's dicine garden expansion, it was probably because Manager Dong wanted to see with his own eyes whether Qi Yun's health was still good.
Thinking of this, Qi Yun lowered his eyes slightly.
Last ti when Liu Shi mistakenly thought Qi Ming had injured his arm, she hurriedly had soone fetch a doctor. The person sent was also anxious and just shouted that a young master was injured, without specifying which young master.
Doctor Li usually took care of Qi Yun's health. Outsiders seeing this would only say Qi Yun had fallen ill again.
This wasn't news anymore. After all, Qi Yun had been drinking dicine like water for years. Especially in winter, he had episodes every New Year. The family was used to it, and outsiders should find it unremarkable too.
But sohow this ti the news got exaggerated, changing from "Second Young Master Qi fell ill again" to "Second Young Master Qi is dying"...
The rumors spread as if people had seen it firsthand.
Though Qi Yun rarely went out and others kept it from him, he naturally had his own channels for information.
He had no intention of clarifying and was too lazy to care, but hadn't expected it would frighten his managers.
Today's eting with Manager Dong and accepting his gift could be considered reassuring him.
But Qi Yun never liked ntioning outside matters that would worry Ye Jiao. He just smiled: "Manager Dong brought a wild ginseng root with excellent quality. I'll find ti to stew it for you."
Qi Yun ant well, but hearing these words, Ye Jiao got a mouthful of chicken soup stuck in her throat, unable to go up or down, choking her into several coughs!
The man was startled and quickly put down his chopsticks to help her breathe.
Ye Jiao covered her mouth with her handkerchief, leaning on Qi Yun's shoulder with sowhat bewildered eyes.
Stew ginseng for to eat...
I'm supposed to eat myself?
Ye Jiao suddenly felt confused, grabbing Qi Yun's wrist: "I don't want ginseng soup, and you don't need to drink that either."
She wouldn't eat it because there was no need. She wouldn't let Qi Yun drink it because Ye Jiao felt, could any ginseng compare to nourishnt from a thousand-year ginseng spirit's essence?
Her husband already had her, why look for other ginseng!
And listen to that na, wild ginseng... it didn't sound like ginseng from a good family!
Ye Jiao knew she was being unreasonable, but she still insisted.
But Qi Yun didn't ask for Ye Jiao's reasons. In his heart, whatever his wife didn't like shouldn't be done. He imdiately replied: "Alright, I'll just put it away."
But Ye Jiao looked up at him, blinking: "Do you want to drink it?"
Qi Yun smiled: "Not really... mmm."
Before he could finish, Ye Jiao straightened up slightly, put her hands on his chest, looked up, and precisely bit Qi Yun's mouth.
Her soft tongue swept across the man's teeth. Qi Yun could faintly taste the light osmanthus flavor in the woman's mouth.
But before he could react, Ye Jiao had already released him.
Little Ginseng sat up straight, picked up her chopsticks again, and smiled at him: "There, you've drunk it now." As if for emphasis, she added: "From now on, you're not allowed to drink other ginseng soup."
Qi Yun held his chopsticks, staring at Ye Jiao for a long ti without understanding why she had kissed him.
But Second Young Master Qi soon felt at peace, deciding to store away that wild ginseng root.
Whether to eat it or not was no longer important. After all, what his Jiao Niang gave tasted much better than ginseng soup.
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