stingy landlady

Chapter 168 New Year’s greetings

Li's face immediately darkened, and she glared at Gui Hong:

"Hmph! Dream on! I was just saying that! Watching you all leisurely go wherever you want every day, I'll at most just wander around the village!"

"I'm just envious of you young girls! You don't have to worry about anything! This age is so wonderful! Carefree!"

Gui Xiang coaxed Li Shi, saying:

"Mom! People in the village look at you with new respect now. Who outside our village would recognize us? Those city folks still talk behind our backs, calling us country bumpkins who came to the city!"

Li looked at Guixiang wearing a silver hairpin, and Qingqing blinked and smiled genuinely.

"Alright, alright! You're all just trying to fool your mother! Fine! I'll talk to the villagers for you and see how many people we can recruit!"

On New Year's Eve, the whole family sat together for the reunion dinner! In previous years, the family was poor and often didn't have enough to eat, so they had to ration meat and dumplings according to the number of people! This year, the old man's family slaughtered a pig and left a lot of meat, and Dazhu slaughtered a pig and brought over a lot more.

This year, the kids ate too much meat during Chinese New Year. In previous years, the dumplings were devoured as soon as they were served, but this year, I don't know if they made more dumplings or ate too many other snacks. The kids didn't seem to have much of an appetite.

However, the cold dishes were very popular this year and were the first to be eaten; they were refreshing and delicious! The men at the table were all happy that their wives and children were well-fed!

The women sat down and secretly compared their clothes and accessories. This time, no one compared themselves to Li Shi, nor could they. But everyone was sizing each other up; Zhao Shi wore a new auspicious cloud-shaped hairpin, and Sun Shi wore a pair of white magnolia flower earrings!

Only Madam Qian had already pawned her jewelry, keeping only a simple wooden hairpin.

Qian was secretly heartbroken. In previous years when she returned home, she was the center of attention, the apple of everyone's eye! Not to mention wearing gold and silver, she was always dressed in new clothes and looked radiant!

The scene is still vivid in my mind: Li, Zhao, and even the old lady were all wearing clothes patched upon patched. It's just that the clothes they wore for the New Year had fewer patches!

When had Qian ever worn old clothes for the New Year like this? Although there were no patches, all the women around her were dressed smartly and beautifully. She felt like a clown, a laughingstock!

Ms. Qian felt wronged and couldn't eat, but her two children, who hadn't seen meat in a long time, ate heartily. Compared to the other children, Ms. Qian felt her two children were a disgrace to her! Yet, she couldn't bear to scold them!

In his heart, however, he resented that Wang Yifei didn't earn much money, and even less of it was brought home, not even as much as Dazhu who toiled in the fields for a living!

Madam Qian secretly resented her family for being so heartless. They held a grudge over such a small matter. Even though she had pawned her jewelry to buy gifts to take back to her parents' home, her mother had accepted them, and she absolutely could not have them cook lunch together!

They also complain that the child is too young and they can't let go, saying that a woman can't do anything because she's so clumsy!

The Qian family was wallowing in self-pity! The old man had already shown his gold and jade ring to his sons!

"This is a jade gourd! Your eldest brother specially chose it! It symbolizes prosperous descendants, good health, and longevity! From now on, our family will live in harmony and prosperity!"

The old man drank some wine and happily offered his blessings!

Dazhu still took out six hundred coins, respectfully handed them to the old lady, and said loudly:

"Father and Mother! This is my filial piety gift for this year! Wishing you a Happy New Year, and good health and longevity!"

"Excellent! Excellent!" the old man exclaimed.

"Alright! I'll take it. Go eat!" The old lady put away the coins and then told Dazhu to go eat.

Erzhu, having drunk some wine, asked in confusion:

"Brother! You're so rich, why do you still only give our parents six hundred coins as a filial offering?"

Dazhu glanced at him sideways, then said loudly:

"Although my elder brother has never been to school, he has seen quite a lot in his daily life! Since Father has set a filial piety gift of six hundred coins, then of course I will give six hundred coins!"

As the eldest brother, I need to set a good example! Otherwise, how will you support yourselves after you separate from the family? Will some get more during the New Year, and others less? Wouldn't that be embarrassing? It's easy for those with money, but how will those without money support their parents?

If you have money, you can show your filial piety to your parents in other ways! We brothers are all the same; if we want to be filial to our parents, it has nothing to do with how much money we have!

Fifth brother! Am I right?

Wang Yiyun stood up, bowed to everyone, and said:

"Father and Mother! Eldest Brother is right! Propriety must not be disregarded! With the eldest brother setting an example, we brothers must follow closely behind!"

While sleeping, Zhao muttered to Erzhu:

"Big brother and fifth brother are of one mind! Don't be foolish and go against your eldest brother! Big brother is rich, so either you flatter him and get some benefits, or you offend someone!"

How much your elder brother gives to Mom and Dad is his business. If he gives too much, Mom won't give you a single penny! If he gives too little, Mom won't ask you for it! You'd better be more mindful!

In the morning, Dazhu and his family paid New Year's greetings to the old man and woman!

Erzhu, Wang Yifei, Lao Si, and Wang Yiyun also brought their families to the old house.

Following Erzhu, Dabao entered the house and kowtowed to the old man and old woman to wish them a Happy New Year. He then kowtowed to Dazhu and Li Shi to wish them a Happy New Year! Before Dazhu could react, Li Shi had already pulled out a large red envelope and said:

"Dabao! This is a big red envelope that your aunt prepared especially for you! You've grown up and become more sensible this year! You went up the mountain to collect firewood to help your aunt sprout beans, and you didn't even ask for money for the firewood! Your aunt is giving you a big red envelope!"

"Wait until next year—no, I mean this winter when we earn a little more money—and next year for Chinese New Year, your aunt will make a silk outfit for you and your fourth uncle each!"

Da Bao took the red envelope and tapped it a few more times before Li Shi quickly helped him up! Only then did she stop!

Erbao crawled out from behind, knelt on the ground, and started kowtowing without a second thought, muttering:

Happy Chinese New Year to Grandpa and Grandma! Happy Chinese New Year to Uncle and Uncle!

This made everyone laugh! Li handed a smaller red envelope to Erbao, who then got up to go find Dabao to open his red envelope!

Koizumi had already entered with his parents, but he refused to kneel and kowtow; the young boy stood ramrod straight.

"Heaven, Earth, Ruler, Parents, Teacher! A man's knees are worth more than gold! Father and Mother! I will not kneel!"

Guizhi teased him:

"Quan Di! You don't have to kneel, but will you wish to wish your grandparents, uncle, and aunt a Happy New Year?"

Koizumi's face turned bright red, and her clear voice rang out:

"Happy New Year! We must wish you a Happy New Year! Happy New Year to Grandpa and Grandma! Happy New Year to my eldest uncle and aunt! Happy New Year to my second uncle and aunt! Happy New Year to my fourth uncle and aunt!"

As Koizumi spoke, he turned to face his uncles and elders! Finally, he bowed deeply to Wang Yiyun:

"Fifth Uncle! Happy New Year!"

Guizhi watched the little one go around offering New Year's greetings and couldn't help but smile.

"Good! Good! Brother Quan! You'll get a red envelope as long as you give New Year's greetings!"

Then he reached out to Li:

"Mom! Give Quan a red envelope. He's a little scholar now! No need to kowtow! Study hard, and like Fifth Uncle, pass the imperial examination and become a scholar! Hehe!"