Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
This trip had been highly productive and fruitful for them.
With the New Year approaching, First Mada insisted they didn’t stay for too long. She even invited them to join them after the New Year, so they could travel with the business troops to the capital.
Qiao Xuan and Shao Yunduan expressed their gratitude and appreciation for the invitation.
Traveling from the province to the capital couldn’t be done by boat; it had to be done over land. The journey was long and required careful planning. They couldn’t simply hire a single wagon and set off. It wasn’t convenient or safe.
There were unknown dangers that could be encountered along such a lengthy journey. What if they encountered robbers on the outskirts? It would spell doom for them.
Typically, a group of friends would gather together and travel to the capital collectively for the examination. It provided a sense of security and reliability.
Another option was to find a business troop heading to the capital. By offering them gifts and presents, they could gain permission to join the troop and travel together.
Usually, the business troops would approve of such requests, as the recomnded individuals traveling to the capital had the potential to beco successful officials. This created a sense of indebtedness toward the troop.
However, most business troops didn’t travel such long distances. They needed to make stops along the way to sell their goods, sotis spending days in bustling cities.
Unfortunately, Recomnded n heading to the capital couldn’t afford such delays.
Not everyone was fortunate enough to find a suitable business troop for their journey. However, First Mada had made arrangents for them in the province.
By the ti Shao Yunduan and Qiao Xuan returned ho, it was already the 20th of December. They arrived just in ti for the preparations for the upcoming New Year.
They had purchased a wide variety of exquisite and delicious snacks, including candies, candied fruits, and roasted seeds and nuts. The assortnt included delicacies such as lotus cakes, mung bean cakes, cloud cakes, Poria cakes, shortbread, small twists, dragon beard cakes, sweet-scented osmanthus sugar, peanut sesa candies, pine nuts, small walnuts, lon seeds, almonds, and more. Shao Sanlang and his wife were overjoyed to see these treats.
Each person also received six new sets of clothes, including shoes and socks, as well as won’s rouge, gouache, various silk flowers, children’s spinning tops, clay figurines, cloth tigers, tumblers, wooden knives, swords, pony puppies, and various toys. Additionally, there were dried seafood and other household items.
Qiao Xuan even purchased ornants worth 200-300 liang for each girl in the family, including Shao Qing. Shao Junyan and his younger brother received a pair of golden bracelets and a golden key with jade.
The first section of the family was ecstatic upon receiving these gifts. They spent half a day admiring and appreciating them.
The next day, Qiao Xuan was eager to begin planting the blueberries and cherry trees alongside Qi, Taotao, and Yang Xiaoni in the empty space designated for cassava cultivation.
The other family mbers understood that these were fruit trees from other regions, and they eagerly anticipated the prospect of enjoying the fruits in the coming year. Their motivation was high as they joined in the planting process.
As they set to work, so passing villagers sneered, comnting that it wasn’t the appropriate ti for tree planting. They claid that tree planting should comnce after the Lantern Festival when the weather becos warr, unless there was a sudden return of spring coldness.
Qiao Xuan responded with a smile, countering their skepticism. “l received these trees from a friend in the province. They were brought from outside the city. I can’t just leave them sitting here.. Who knows, they might actually survive?”
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