Chapter 679: Chapter 451: Preparing New Year’s Goods
As the days passed, on the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, Xiaomi and Wei Ziang rode off on horseback early in the morning.
They were going out for a big shopping trip to buy what they wanted, and they had informed their family that, at the earliest, they wouldn’t be back until the night of the twenty-ninth.
At the latest, it would probably be the morning of New Year’s Eve.
The family couldn’t persuade them otherwise, so they just let them go, knowing that when they returned, they would surely be laden with gifts.
However, while the two went shopping, the family didn’t stay idle either. The second aunt and Jiang Hu also took the children to Lishi City.
It was too far from Anning Village to Lishi City, and considering the shopping time, it would take three days for a round trip.
They left on the twenty-seventh, shopped on the twenty-eighth, and returned home on the twenty-ninth. By the next day, they had to start preparing the New Year’s Eve dinner.
This year, they had settled in Anning Village and bought dozens of pigs, which were still only hundred-pound piglets.
But to make the New Year more festive, they decided to have ten pigs slaughtered on the twenty-ninth. Over a thousand pounds of pork would be enough for everyone to enjoy a great New Year.
Moreover, they all knew that when Xiaomi and Wei Ziang returned, the amount of meat would only increase, not decrease.
After winter set in, it was very cold here, much colder than in Cheng County. Even a freshly killed chicken would freeze solid if left for an hour or two in a shaded area without sun.
If a bowl of water was left outside overnight, it would turn into a block of ice by morning.
So, they set up a bathing tub under a tree where it wouldn’t get any sun, placed a large water tank inside, and surrounded it with water.
After leaving it outside for two days, all the water would freeze into ice. By wrapping it with straw and oilcloth for insulation, the large water tank could store meat.
The meat would remain frozen solid for five or six days without spoiling.
So even if there was more meat, there was nothing to worry about.
Fortunately, the climate here was a bit drier than Cheng County, avoiding the cold dampness. Although it was cold, thicker clothing would keep them warm.
Back in Cheng County, no matter how thickly one dressed, a walk outside felt like stepping into cold water. Without warming by the fire, it always felt like wearing wet clothes, unable to get warm.
Additionally, meat and vegetables left outside would not freeze but would quickly rot due to humidity.
It’s surprising how such a big difference could exist between two places just ten days apart by carriage.
Jiang Hu and the second aunt returned with large and small carts, nearly ten combined, including ox carts and horse-drawn carts, bringing not only their family’s New Year’s goods but also supplies for the entire village’s six to seven hundred people.
The five hundred imperial guards had been dutifully protecting them for so long, often helping with fieldwork without complaint.
Over a hundred villagers were employed almost like permanent workers by the Jiang family, and so far, none of them had thought of setting up their own households.
Thus, the Jiang family naturally had to prepare their New Year’s things as well.
They had bought red paper for couplets and window decorations long ago, with several children writing couplets themselves and everyone cutting window decorations together.
They had also prepared a new set of clothes for each person.
The main purchases this time, of course, were all kinds of food, as this was the first New Year in Anning Village, especially meaningful for the other villagers.
So, the second aunt and Jiang Hu were generous in preparing lots of delicious food for everyone.
Moreover, they had prepared small red envelopes for the village children.
These children had lost their parents and were collectively raised by the villagers, so naturally, they had to be made happy for the New Year.
This was also the first time Jiang Hu and the second aunt had gone to Lishi City since settling in Anning Village.
They left Lishi City early on the twenty-ninth with fewer people, making the journey faster than last time, arriving home by dusk.
Jiang Hu was over there distributing food with Commander Yang and several imperial guards, while here, the second aunt called over a young woman in her twenties.
"Xiao Liu, I bought a few things for everyone. Come and take them, and distribute them later."
Xiao Liu had her hair simply styled with a wooden hairpin, and despite wearing plain cotton and linen clothes, her good looks shone through.
What the second aunt liked most about the villagers was that, whether male or female, they all had good looks and figures.
Despite working in the fields all day, their only roughness was in their hands, while their faces looked increasingly attractive.
Of course, this had changed from their initial poor complexion and mood, thanks to proper care, and Xiaomi occasionally providing Spiritual Spring water.
Xiao Liu, who was watching the distribution of New Year’s goods, quickly came over when she heard the second aunt calling her.
"Madam, you’ve already bought so much. You and the marquis don’t need to spend more."
"It’s not anything valuable, just a few hairpins and headscarves. Take them over, and everyone can choose their preferred style and color later. There are also a few plush flower pins for the little girls."
The second aunt spoke as Xiaoxue arrived with two baskets.
"Sister Liu, although it’s all simple peach wood hairpins, they come in different patterns and styles. Everyone can choose two each."
"Over here are the headscarves and men’s hairpins, likewise, and the plush flowers are one each for the little girls."
Xiao Liu hurriedly accepted the two baskets, bowed to both, and said, "Thank you, madam and miss."
The second aunt replied with a smile, "No thanks needed. Take them back now; the goods will be distributed to your side soon."
People no longer ate from a communal pot but lived with those they were close to, three to five people staying together for meals and rest.
The distribution of food was carried out according to the number of people in each household.
Xiao Liu bowed again before taking the basket back. After just a few steps, a young man stepped forward to help.
Xiaoxue saw this and tugged on her mother’s sleeve.
"Mom, I’ve noticed several times now. That man always helps Sister Liu. Do you think he likes her?"
She had grown up, no longer the innocent little girl who knew nothing.
The second aunt had also noticed but led Xiaoxue to turn and go back.
"Whether he likes her or not, we’d better not gossip. Your Sister Liu is a smart woman; she knows what to do."
Xiaoxue glanced back and saw Xiao Liu talking to the young man. They weren’t too close but not distant either.
"I think if they can be together, it would be nice."
But what her mother said was true; it was best not to meddle in Sister Liu’s affairs.
Mother and daughter didn’t discuss it further. Instead, they began talking about the siblings who had gone off somewhere. With nightfall approaching, would they really only return tomorrow?